Chapter 041: Her Child Is Gone

A woman, apart from her beloved, treasures her child above all else.

Especially for Runrun—she had just conceived. If she lost the child…

Cen Huan dared not imagine further. She feared Runrun might collapse from grief.

Thinking this, Cen Huan bit her lip hard, then lifted her gaze to Ji Yunian, who was holding her, and spoke coldly, “Where’s Xiao Xuezheng?! Where did he disappear to?!”

“His wife is in surgery after a car accident, her life hanging by a thread, and his child is gone. How is he still not here?”

Ji Yunian frowned deeply, looking at her, patiently coaxing, then said, “I just called Xuezheng a dozen times, but none were answered… He’s probably busy…”

He didn’t dare continue. As expected, Cen Huan’s temper exploded. She shoved him away and shouted angrily, “Busy, busy, busy! He’s so amazing, isn’t he? With his wife and child barely clinging to life in the operating room, he’s still only concerned with his own affairs! I regret it—I wish I’d advised Runrun not to marry him… sob… sob…”

As she spoke, Cen Huan couldn’t help but break down in tears.

The child was gone, and surely Runrun would be devastated.

Ji Yunian’s brows remained tightly knit; he dared not say a word. She was furious—anything he said now would only make it worse. Yet truly, Xuezheng’s behavior was infuriating; how could he not answer at such a crucial moment?

Half an hour later, the red light above the operating room suddenly went out.

The three waiting outside rushed forward, paying no heed to their own emotions.

The doors swung open, and the patient cart was rolled out. Runrun lay on the bed, oxygen mask over her face, an IV attached, her eyes closed, asleep.

Her complexion, pale as the hospital walls, was terrifyingly white.

“Runrun… Runrun…” Cen Huan cried as she ran to the bedside, reaching for her hand, but was stopped by the doctor.

“Miss, please don’t touch the patient. She’s just come out of surgery; the child is lost. Her body’s been severely traumatized, with multiple abrasions. She’ll need careful recuperation, and must not be further agitated. When she wakes, comfort her as much as possible.”

The child was gone…

It was true…

Once again, Cen Huan couldn’t hold back her tears, and with the nurse’s guidance, she accompanied the sleeping Runrun to the ward.

Qiao Yu followed, leaving Ji Yunian alone.

His face grim, Ji Yunian pulled out his phone and dialed again. This time, miraculously, the call was answered.

“Yunian, what’s up? My phone was on silent.”

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Ji Yunian could no longer restrain himself, roaring into the receiver, “Good heavens! You finally picked up! Get to the city hospital, fast! Your wife’s in trouble!”

Xiao Xuezheng: “…”

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When Runrun opened her eyes, the first thing she saw above was a bleak expanse of white.

The sharp scent of disinfectant filled her nose, jolting her to awareness—she was in the hospital.

So the accident, being knocked down, blood pooling beneath her—that had not been a dream.

Instinctively, she reached for her abdomen.

A wave of intense pain surged, and the emptiness where her child should have been made her whole body tremble violently.

She turned her head slightly, and a man’s handsome face, enlarged by proximity, came into view.

Her blurred vision slowly cleared, and she recognized him—Qiao Yu.

Not him… Not Xiao Xuezheng…

From the moment she was hurt until now, he had not appeared.

Runrun curled her lips into a cold smile, her eyes reddening as icy tears slid down her cheeks.

Of course—busy with another woman, he had no time to care if she lived or died.

What did she matter, after all?

And the child—what did the child mean to him…?

The child…

She slowly turned to Qiao Yu, struggling to part her pale lips, and asked in a hoarse voice, “Qiao Yu, is the child… gone?”

Qiao Yu’s weary brow furrowed as he looked at her, pressing his thin lips together; for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.

He lacked the courage to say that word.

But his hesitation, the pain etched on his face, told Runrun all she needed to know.

She turned away, withdrawing her gaze, staring blankly at the snow-white ceiling above, feeling the blood in her veins freeze, her body rigid.

Qiao Yu leaned in, placing a hand gently on her cold face, asking softly, “Runrun, don’t be like this. You’ll have another child someday. How do you feel now? Are you still in pain?”

Runrun did not answer, only closed her stinging eyes.

Qiao Yu watched her, sighed, and withdrew his hand.

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Gradually, Runrun’s hand on her abdomen clenched tighter and tighter, her nails digging hard into her flesh, yet she didn’t notice.

It hurt so much… so much…

Her body ached, but her heart hurt even more.

“Runrun… why won’t you speak?” Qiao Yu asked.

Runrun could bear it no longer; tears fell from her eyes, and with a hoarse voice she said, “Brother Qiao Yu, please leave. I’m tired—I want to sleep for a while.”

With that, she closed her eyes.

Qiao Yu looked at her, sighed helplessly. “Alright, I’ll go. But I’ll be right outside. If you need anything, call me.”

He quietly left, closing the door behind him.

The spacious hospital room was now left with only Runrun.

Everything was terrifyingly quiet, save for the beeping of the machines attached to her.

Runrun shrank into herself, moved painfully, and, amid the agony, began to cry.

“Baby… baby… Mama is so sorry… so sorry…”

She tried to keep her voice low, whispering.

But as she went on, she lost control—her soft sobs grew into wailing cries.

“My child… my child is gone…”

Outside the ward, Qiao Yu leaned against the wall, listening to the crying from within, his heart twisting in anguish.

Just then, Cen Huan returned with medicine, and upon hearing the cries, her eyes reddened, tears threatening to fall.

She was about to enter and comfort Runrun, but Qiao Yu stopped her.

He shook his head at her, saying, “Cen Huan, give her some space. She’s just lost her child and is very fragile. Let her vent…”

Cen Huan bit her lip and nodded slowly.

Qiao Yu looked at her, wiped his eyes, and asked, “Where’s Xiao Xuezheng? Still no contact?”

The mention of him made Cen Huan angry. “Who cares about him?! Even if he’s dead, it has nothing to do with Runrun anymore!”

Yet, in the next moment, the very man they’d been discussing—Xiao Xuezheng—suddenly appeared before them…