Qin Yu and Shao Xiaofei were both taken aback; the doctor's somber expression gave them a bad feeling.

"Director Zhang, what exactly is going on?"

Dr. Zhang handed Qin Nuan's medical examination report to them.

"When the young lady was first found, she had injuries, so we gave her a thorough full-body examination, which revealed a blood disorder..."

Qin Yu and Shao Xiaofei stared intently at him.

"Simply put, it's leukemia."

"What?" Shao Xiaofei felt weak all over, had difficulty breathing, and almost collapsed.

Qin Yu supported her with all his might, but he himself felt completely drained and could only force himself to remain calm.

"Are you sure?" he emphasized each word. "Director Zhang, this... is really my daughter's medical report?"

“I really hope it was a mistake.” Dr. Zhang said sadly. “When the medical report came out, I was worried, so I personally did the test again, and the result was the same. It’s leukemia, but it’s in the early stage, which means the child can still be saved.”

"Please, please save her! You must save her!" Shao Xiaofei's heart was breaking, and she sobbed uncontrollably. "She's my only daughter... I've raised her since she was born, she's my life! If anything happens to her, I don't want to live anymore..."

"Calm down!" Qin Yu whispered. "Didn't the doctor say that Nuannuan can be saved?"

"Mr. Qin, Mrs. Qin, you mustn't panic right now." Dr. Zhang looked at the two of them. "We will soon develop a detailed treatment plan. The medications and injections used in the treatment process may have side effects due to individual differences in physical condition, but..."

"But no matter what, I want my daughter to be safe and sound!" Qin Yu's gaze was firm.

Shao Xiaofei turned to look at him, and only at this moment did she realize that this man was her husband, the one she could rely on for the rest of her life.

Thinking back on all the arguments and misunderstandings we had, they all seemed insignificant in the face of our daughter's illness.

Qin Yu loves children.

She was too.

Shao Xiaofei's tears flowed uncontrollably. She gently rested her head on Qin Yu's chest. Qin Yu was taken aback, then raised his hand to gently stroke her back and silently embraced her.

"Don't worry, Nuannuan will be fine," he whispered in her ear. "She has loving parents; how could she bear to leave us?"

Shao Xiaofei nodded with tears in her eyes.

"Mr. Qin, Mrs. Qin, the treatment plan also requires your cooperation," Dr. Zhang continued. "Currently, the best way to treat leukemia is a bone marrow transplant, and the success rate of bone marrow matching among relatives is very high, so you should try to have all your family members undergo matching."

"Okay, I understand."

"We will definitely use the best medicines and the most advanced equipment to do everything we can to treat Miss!"

*

After that day, Pei Nian locked herself in the bathroom and took showers over and over again.

Huo Jingnan called her from outside. She heard his voice, but didn't want to go out to see him. She buried her head in the water until her chest felt like it was going to burst, her mind went blank, and bubbles rose to the surface of the water. Only then did she lift her head and gasp for breath.

She sprayed the showerhead over her body, trying to wash away the nightmarish night from her memory.

She had clearly forgotten, so why did Ding Daming bring it up again?

Pei Nian closed her eyes, tears mingling with the water, slowly streaming down her cheeks.

She didn't know how much time had passed before Huo Jingnan's voice disappeared. She dried herself off, put on a bathrobe, and went out. When she entered the living room, she found freshly cooked food on the table.

There was still hot soup in the casserole dish in the kitchen.

Just then, her phone vibrated, and she received a message from Huo Jingnan: "No matter what, you can't starve yourself. Eat your food, okay?"

Pei Nian's heart clenched, and a feeling of sadness welled up inside her.

For the next few days, it was the same. Huo Jingnan would come while she was asleep and leave quietly when she was awake. Her meals were always varied, and her home was spotless, making one feel happy just looking at it. He did all this for her silently, without disturbing her.

Until that day, he made her a bowl of beef noodles. The beef slices were thinly cut and cooked to perfection, so tender they melted in her mouth.

Pei Nian's tears streamed down her face like an uncontrollable flood, shattering the heart she had so desperately tried to protect.

She rushed out and, upon opening the door, saw Huo Jingnan's back.

She wanted to call out to him, but her throat felt blocked by something; she could only open her mouth but couldn't make a sound.

However, Huo Jingnan stopped and slowly turned around. The moment their eyes met, a gentle smile appeared on his lips.

Pei Nian ran over crying and hugged him tightly.

"It's alright, Niannian." Huo Jingnan patted her head. "It's all over now. I'm here for you. You don't have to be afraid of anything."

Pei Nian could do nothing but cry. Huo Jingnan let her cry, knowing she needed a chance to vent; she usually suppressed too much.

When she was tired from crying, he gently put his arm around her shoulder and they went back to sit on the soft sofa. She still nestled in his arms like a lazy kitten, unwilling to let go.

She finally mustered the courage to tell him everything that had happened before.

After she finished speaking, she lowered her head. The room was quiet, and she could hear her own frantic heartbeat.

"So..." Huo Jingnan grasped her hand, "that time you hit me, was it because you remembered this experience?"

"Um."

“Niannian,” Huo Jingnan said softly after a moment of silence, “Actually, I don’t care about this kind of thing. What I feel sorry for is you.”

Pei Nian bit her lip, her eyelids twitched, and her nose tingled slightly.

"Even though he didn't succeed, the damage he caused you is indelible. I only regret not meeting you sooner. If only I could have been there to protect you back then!"

“Jingnan…”

"You need to resolve this issue, but there's no need to rush," Huo Jingnan smiled. "I'll always be there for you, and I'm patient enough to wait."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Pei Nian cried.

Huo Jingnan wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and pulled her into his arms.

"You didn't do anything wrong, why should you apologize? The one who's wrong is Ding Daming, he's the one who should go to hell!"

Pei Nian trembled; the mere mention of "Ding Daming" made her feel as if she were experiencing a nightmare.

Huo Jingnan reheated the food and then took her hand and sat her down at the table.

Sometimes, loving someone doesn't require grand vows; all the details are hidden in a steaming bowl of beef noodles.

Pei Nian had just picked up her chopsticks when her phone rang.

"Sister, are you...are you home?"

Pei Nian was taken aback. "Ding Cheng? What happened?"

"Don't worry, I didn't skip class, I'm still at school." Ding Cheng's voice sounded a little frustrated. "I just... I just wanted to ask you how Nuannuan is doing lately?"

"Warm and cozy?"

"The day I came back from the hospital, she promised to bring her little doll to play on the school playground, but I haven't seen her since... Has she forgotten about me?"