Chapter 132: Shi Runrun made a silent resolution in her heart!

Shi Runrun never imagined that just as she had steeled herself to leave, the doctor would deliver such earth-shattering news.

Her heart was a perfect match for Grandfather’s.

What did this mean? That she could use her own heart to save him? But wouldn't that mean she would die? A person only has one heart; if she gave it to him, then she... And she was carrying three children, besides.

The doctor continued to explain the test results, but Shi Runrun could no longer register his words. Her brows knitted tightly, and she swallowed hard, her hands resting limply on her knees before clenching into fists, wrinkling her trousers. In an instant, she was at a loss for what to do.

"Ms. Shi, that is the situation. Whether you choose to donate or not is entirely up to you."

The doctor spoke quietly. Listening, Shi Runrun could not help but voice her deepest fear. "Doctor, even if my heart matches Grandfather Xiao’s, there is only one heart. If I give mine to him, won't I..."

The doctor smiled faintly and explained, "Ms. Shi, I think you have misunderstood. While Mr. Xiao is indeed suffering from heart failure, it is only a localized necrosis of the heart muscle tissue. It does not require a full heart transplant. If you agree to donate, we only need to excise a portion of the muscle tissue from your heart and transplant it into Mr. Xiao’s to perform a cardiac reconstruction. It will not pose any risk to your physical safety."

So that was it.

Shi Runrun felt the tension in her chest loosen slightly. Yet, she remained afraid. She knew nothing of medicine, and the thought that a part of her body would be taken away was terrifying. It would be painful, and she was, after all, a pregnant woman carrying three lives. Furthermore, given how Xiao Xuezheng had treated her, she selfishly did not want to do it.

However, remembering the kindness Grandfather had shown her, the care Grandmother had bestowed upon her, and the way her aunt had protected her, she began to hesitate. Xiao Xuezheng was one thing, but Grandfather was another. Could she truly stand by and watch him die? Even if it were a stranger, she might have agreed, let alone for him.

A myriad of conflicting emotions surged within her. Looking at the doctor, she said in a low voice, "Doctor, I need some time to think."

The doctor nodded slowly. "Very well. However, Ms. Shi, Mr. Xiao’s condition is critical; he likely only has a few days left. If you are inclined to donate, I hope you will decide as soon as possible..."

"I understand. But doctor, please, do not tell anyone that my heart matches Grandfather Xiao’s, especially not Xiao Xuezheng."

***

Leaving the examination room, Shi Runrun returned to her ward, feeling utterly lost. She looked at the divorce agreement on the bedside table and found herself drifting into a daze. What a cruel twist of fate this was. She had been hurt so deeply that, just as she was losing all hope in Xiao Xuezheng, she discovered she was carrying his children. And just as she had decided to leave him and fly far away, she was told that a part of her heart could save his grandfather’s life.

Shi Runrun sat quietly, watching the night grow deeper outside. Her mind replayed the doctor’s detailed explanation and the simulated surgery process he had shown her. According to him, it was a low-risk procedure. Even with her pregnancy, the hospital’s medical team was ninety percent confident that she, her grandfather, and her children would all be safe.

But what about the remaining ten percent? Even with a ninety percent success rate, what if it failed? Would she die? That was not the most important thing; the real question was, if it failed, what would happen to the babies in her womb? This was a gamble involving four lives.

Logic told her not to agree, but her compassion stirred. Even though Xiao Xuezheng had hurt her so, she could not bring herself to watch his grandfather die. Sitting in the darkness, Shi Runrun opened her eyes wide, her small hands trembling as she gently stroked her abdomen. The doctor had made it sound so simple: she would go into the operating room, fall asleep, and upon waking, everything would be over, and her grandfather would live. She understood his words, yet she could not suppress the fear in her heart.

She pulled out her phone and searched online for information regarding partial heart donation, including precautions and side effects. Some sources said that any organ donation, regardless of the part, could have a significant impact on one's future life. Others claimed that even with high success rates, there was always a risk of dying on the operating table. Still others suggested that partial tissue donation had little impact on the body or daily life.

It was all so contradictory.

The more she read, the more chaotic her mind became. Her breathing grew shallow, and her face turned pale. She remained sitting in the ward, lost in thought.

In the meantime, a call came from Brother Qiao. He said that an urgent matter had arisen at his company, and he could not come to see her. He had already arranged for someone to deliver dinner and nutritional supplements, urging her to eat. Shi Runrun whispered her agreement, but after hanging up, she had no appetite.

The clock ticked on until ten o’clock at night. Shi Runrun suddenly rose and walked out of the room. She remembered that her grandfather’s ward was in the VIP section on the top floor. She took the elevator up; at this hour, only one nurse was on duty. She bypassed the nurse’s station and reached the door of her grandfather’s room.

Through the glass, she could see everything clearly. Grandmother sat by the bed, holding Grandfather’s hand. He lay there, covered in tubes, an oxygen mask over his aged face, his breathing heavy. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was punctuated by the sound of Grandmother’s weeping.

Standing outside, Shi Runrun heard her grandmother’s sobs clearly. "Old man, how could you leave me and go first... You promised we would watch our great-grandchild be born, that we would raise him together... Old man..."

Grandmother was sobbing uncontrollably. The sound tightened Shi Runrun’s chest, and her own eyes grew red, tears spilling down her cheeks. The two of them had spent a lifetime supporting each other, and now, one was leaving the other to face this cruel world alone.

Shi Runrun turned away, leaning against the wall, her small hands trembling as she clutched her chest. Grandmother was crying inside, and she was crying outside, unable to stop.

In that moment, she made a silent decision.