Chapter 134: Because of the Heart Beating Within You!

Perhaps he never did...

Shi Runrun thought that he might have never loved her at all. From the moment she married him until now, all the affection she had harbored for so long had finally turned to ash and been buried in the earth. Therefore, Shi Runrun decided that once she saved Grandpa and repaid the debt of gratitude she owed to his grandparents, she would leave him and leave this place. She would take her babies, choose a new city, settle down, put down roots, and live a good life. As for her studies, she would consider them later; she had hands and feet, and she still had some savings left over. She did not believe that she would be unable to survive in another city. In this world, no one was ever unable to go on just because someone else had left. There was no such thing as a peaceful and quiet life; it was merely others carrying the heavy burden for you.

In the blink of an eye, the remaining two days vanished. It felt as if only a single moment had passed before the day of the heart transplant surgery arrived. That morning, under the doctor's arrangements, Shi Runrun underwent one final physical examination. The results were excellent; all her vital signs were normal. What brought her comfort was that she had specifically requested the doctor to include a prenatal checkup for the babies, and the results showed they were healthy as well. The medication she had been taking and the days of agonizing stress had not harmed them.

That’s good... so good... Shi Runrun whispered to herself, preparing for the surgery scheduled for the afternoon.

As for Xiao Xuezheng, he had not come to see her once since that day in her hospital room. Shi Runrun could not understand how he could be so cold. She knew he did not love her, but even for the sake of her saving his grandfather, he should have come to face her and agree to her request for a divorce. Yet, he seemed to have hidden himself away, refusing to appear.

In truth, what Shi Runrun did not know was that over these past few days, he had visited the area outside her room time and again to catch a glimpse of her. How many times had he wanted to walk through that door, speak to her, and look at her small face? But that impulse was always suppressed by his own will. He was terrified that if they met, she would once again pull out that divorce agreement that tore at his heart and force him to sign it... Thus, he remained in the shadows, watching her secretly, his heart aching for her.

Xiao Xuezheng had made a secret decision: once the matter regarding his grandfather was resolved, he would explain everything to her and win her back. In any case, divorce was out of the question. He had only ever loved two women in his life—one was already dead, and the other, he would never let go.

At noon, as Shi Runrun left the outpatient department with her results, heading back to her room, she ran into an unexpected guest.

Chi Wanwan!

The woman who had risked her own life to frame her—now recovered from her grave illness—stood there with a thin, pale face and a sinister smile.

Watching Shi Runrun take a step back and clutch her medical reports cautiously, Chi Wanwan walked over, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "How pathetic. You’re about to have a piece of your heart cut out to transplant into Grandpa Xiao. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Shi Runrun, tell me, how can you be so cheap?!"

Shi Runrun looked at her calmly, ignoring her taunts, and pulled out her phone, pressing a button. "What do you want, Chi Wanwan? My phone is already recording. This time, don't even think about using any tricks to frame me!"

Chi Wanwan’s lips lifted further, and then she burst into laughter. "Hahaha! A recording? Perfect! Record the truth I’m about to tell you, so you can go back and savor the taste of bone-deep agony!"

Shi Runrun’s small hand tightened around her phone, her brow furrowing. Chi Wanwan noticed the confusion on her face, and the hysterical laughter on her delicate features grew even louder. "What a fool! You still don't understand what I mean, do you? Xuezheng is truly something, isn't he? How could he be so cruel to you? It’s so cruel that even I can't bear to watch! I pity you, which is why I'm telling you this: Shi Runrun, the truth is, Xuezheng has known all along that your heart was a match for Grandpa’s—that you could save him!"

At these words, Shi Runrun froze in place, her ears ringing as if struck by lightning. Her whole body trembled violently, and her eyes widened in shock. What did she say... Xiao Xuezheng had known all along that she could save his grandfather? How long had he known... what did Chi Wanwan mean by this?

Seeing the deepening confusion on her face, Chi Wanwan tilted her head, brushed back a strand of her hair, and smiled beautifully. "My child is gone, so don't you dare think about finding happiness! Let me tell you something, Shi Runrun. Do you remember how you and Xuezheng first met?"

Shi Runrun: "..."

Memories flooded her mind, but before she could reflect, Chi Wanwan began to help her recall.

"A one-night mistake? Rising to status through your child? Marrying into a wealthy family? Do you really think a fairy-tale Cinderella story like that would be lucky enough to happen to you? Let me tell you, do you know why you were brought back from the countryside to the Shi family half a year ago? Long before that, Grandpa's heart was already failing, and you were the living heart donor pre-selected by Xuezheng!"

Shi Runrun: "..."

Her breath hitched for a moment. What was she saying?

Chi Wanwan watched the wave of shock wash over Shi Runrun’s face and continued to laugh and mock her. "I truly admire Xuezheng! There is a reason he was able to build the Guangzheng Group and the Xiao family to this scale and status! Do you know why you, drugged that night, just happened to run into Xuezheng? You thought you were lucky enough to meet a prince? I’m telling you! That was a trap designed by Xuezheng! Because you had a heart that could save his grandfather, that is why you appeared before him that night! Then, one night, you got pregnant, and naturally, you married into the Xiao family. It all unfolded exactly as he planned!"

At this moment, Shi Runrun felt as though she had gone deaf. She could not believe what Chi Wanwan was saying... What was she talking about? Was it... could it possibly be true? A voice inside her was telling her not to believe it, that this wicked woman was just trying to hurt her, but... yet... there was another voice urging her to accept this cruel truth.

Shi Runrun tried to take a deep breath, or she felt she would suffocate to death. She could not help but back away, step by step, until she leaned against the hospital wall.

Yet, Chi Wanwan continued to close in.

"You thought you were living a beautiful dream, flying up to the branches to become a phoenix! But do you know why Xuezheng pampered you and cared for you so much? It was because of the heart beating inside your body! He married you, fed you well, and had his grandparents treat you with such care—all so that one day, when Grandpa’s heart could no longer hold on, you would willingly let them cut out your heart to save him! Shi Runrun, tell me, was that not a shrewd deal made by Xuezheng?"