Chapter 76: Her Grandparents Asked If the Child Was Still There

Not long after Chi Wanwan left, Old Master Xiao picked up the newspaper again. At this moment, the door to the hospital room opened, and two nurses entered, smiling respectfully as they addressed the old man. “Mr. Xiao, it’s time to change your dressing.”

Old Master Xiao didn’t lift his gaze, merely answering with a soft grunt, allowing the nurses to tend to him. As they changed his dressing, the nurses began chatting quietly to themselves.

“Hey, did you know? Today I ran into the rumored young madam of the Xiao family. She came to the hospital to see the obstetrician and then picked up some fertility medicine from the pharmacy!”

“What? Isn’t the young madam said to have married into the Xiao family because she was pregnant? Why would she need fertility medicine now?”

The first nurse, still tending to Old Master Xiao, paused deliberately, then raised her voice slightly. “I heard that nearly a month ago, the young madam was in a car accident and lost the baby long ago!”

Old Master Xiao, who had been reading his newspaper, widened his eyes instantly, lowering the paper to stare at the nurses in disbelief. It took him a long moment to regain his senses, his eyes still wide with shock. His lips trembled as he spoke: “What did you just say?! Say it again! The young madam you’re talking about, the one who miscarried—her name is Shi Runrun, isn’t it?!”

…

Shi Runrun took the private car home, a sense of unease lingering in her chest. An ominous feeling rose within her and refused to dissipate. Her chest felt heavy, as though something significant was about to happen, though she couldn’t quite say what.

After sitting in the living room for a while, Mrs. Li brought her a dessert. Once she’d eaten, she planned to go upstairs to rest. Just then, a sudden, sharp screech of brakes sounded from the courtyard.

Before Shi Runrun could wonder who might be arriving at this hour, Xiao Xuezheng’s tall and commanding voice echoed from the entryway.

“Xiao Xuezheng? Why are you back?” Shi Runrun asked in surprise. Hadn’t he gone to the company for an emergency meeting? Why was he back so soon?

At the entryway, Xiao Xuezheng was changing his shoes. His expression was grave as he addressed her. “I got a call from Grandfather. He wants me to take you to the hospital immediately.”

Shi Runrun fell silent. The foreboding in her heart only grew stronger.

Could it be… that Grandfather has found out something?

On the way to the hospital, Shi Runrun’s heart thudded violently in her chest.

Sitting in the passenger seat, she clasped her hands at her chest, her face pale. After a long silence, she turned to look at him and asked in a low voice, “Xiao Xuezheng, Grandfather suddenly summoned us. Do you think… could he have found out…?”

The man driving cast her a sidelong glance, his lips pressed into a tight line. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head and replied in a deep voice, “No. He’s been in the hospital all along. We haven’t let any news slip, and you’ve been careful. He shouldn’t know! It’s probably something else he wants to tell us, that’s why he called us over in such a hurry.”

Shi Runrun listened, but the heaviness and anxiety in her heart didn’t lessen; if anything, they intensified. She couldn’t explain why, but a woman’s intuition told her that Grandfather’s sudden, urgent summons couldn’t be so simple.

She suddenly recalled the scene when Aunt Xiao Shujing had seen through her secret before—if her aunt could so easily tell she’d lost the child, then Grandfather, with his keen mind, might see through her as well… might realize she had miscarried, that the child was gone…

With these worries in mind, they arrived at the hospital. Shi Runrun followed Xiao Xuezheng into the inpatient wing and took the elevator upstairs.

They reached the VIP ward on the top floor and stopped in front of Grandfather’s door.

Shi Runrun hesitated, pulling at Xiao Xuezheng, who was about to open the door.

He turned back, glanced at her a few times, and finally sighed helplessly. He turned, bent down, took her trembling shoulders in his hands, and looked into her eyes with deep tenderness. “Don’t be nervous. I’m here. As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you. Trust me.”

Hearing this, Shi Runrun’s heart eased instantly.

She gazed at him in a daze, and after a long moment, she exhaled heavily and nodded at him with resolve.

Then she said, “Thank you, Xiao Xuezheng.”

He was always like this—able to bring a sense of reassurance and security to others.

They opened the door and entered. As soon as Shi Runrun stepped inside, she sensed that the atmosphere was different.

Grandfather Xiao lay on the hospital bed, his aged eyes lowered and empty, while Grandmother Xiao sat by the bed, her eyes red and obviously having cried.

Aunt Xiao Shujing was there as well, standing beside Grandmother, comforting her, passing tissues and patting her back.

Their arrival immediately drew the attention of all three in the ward.

Most of all, their heavy, intense gazes landed squarely on Shi Runrun.

She couldn’t help but shiver, anxiety and unease flooding back into her heart.

“Grandfather, Grandmother, you called us here so urgently—what’s happened?”

Xiao Xuezheng stepped forward to shield Shi Runrun, speaking first. But after he spoke, neither Grandfather nor Grandmother Xiao replied. Instead, their heavy gazes remained fixed on Shi Runrun.

Her heart began to race under their scrutiny. She too called out softly, “Grandfather, Grandmother.” After a long silence, Grandfather Xiao, lying in bed, looked at her and finally spoke.

His voice was old and hoarse, but carried the sternness of an interrogation. “Run girl, I have something to ask you. You must answer honestly—no lies!”

Shi Runrun fell silent.

Grandfather Xiao narrowed his aged eyes like a hawk, staring at her, enunciating each word: “Tell me the truth—is the child still there?”

Shi Runrun was stunned, as if struck by lightning, rooted to the spot.

Her eyes widened in shock, her entire body trembling uncontrollably, her face turning deathly pale in an instant.

“I…”

She opened her trembling mouth, but no words would come.

The next second, Grandmother Xiao, eyes red, demanded in a quivering voice, “Runrun, tell us the truth! Is the child still there or not? Give us old folks an answer!”

Grandmother’s tone grew sharper, making Shi Runrun’s already tense eyes fill instantly with tears.

At that moment, Xiao Xuezheng stepped forward, shielding Shi Runrun from their piercing gazes. He said solemnly to the elders, “Grandfather, Grandmother, please don’t press her. Let me speak.”

“We had planned to tell you about the child.”

Behind him, Shi Runrun trembled, looking up at him in disbelief. Was he going to reveal the truth…?

Was it really possible…?