The good news came, and the sick old Qiu recalled his oath and tears.
The surgery was scheduled for the next day.
Seeing Xue Jiuyue still unhappy, Elder Qiu asked, "Xiaoyue, do you still think the cornea was donated by Dr. Xiao Liu?"
"Yes, he mentioned before that there is a cornea bank for the cornea."
"I know you two... but what I want to say is that this is just a possibility. I just checked with a friend, and there are indeed critically ill patients who donated their organs today, including corneas. Previously, Jian Jun'er also mobilized friends to contact the nurses in every hospital in Dongyuan, asking them to help persuade critically ill patients to donate their organs."
"Ah? Godfather, you've done so much for me, especially you, who even planned to donate your corneas to me. How can I bear all this kindness?"
"Hey, I just said that, and the donation didn't happen. Jianjun shouldn't have been so quick to tell you!" Old Qiu complained to Qian Jianjun.
Mrs. Qiu advised, "Silly child, those who truly care about you simply wish you happiness and don't need your gratitude. If the cornea was truly donated by Dr. Liu, I believe he would certainly feel the same way. If you truly want to express your gratitude, you must live a happy life. Otherwise, you will be letting down those who care about you and love you!"
"I understand, Godfather, Godmother, thank you! You two should go back and rest early. You must be exhausted after so many days."
Elder Qiu smiled and shook his head. "It's okay. You don't know. Being able to be with you and take care of you is God's blessing to me. I just hope you can be safe and sound. Even if it costs me my old bones, I would be willing to do it. Being able to devote my life to my daughter is the most perfect ending for a father."
"Godfather..." Xue Jiuyue was so moved that she was speechless.
When Mrs. Qiu helped Mr. Qiu leave, he was still filled with worry. He was worried about tomorrow's surgery and also worried about Liu Che.
He was well aware of Liu Che and Xue Jiuyue's relationship. He had helped pick up the phone for Xue Jiuyue to send him messages several times. He was also the one who informed Liu Che about Xue Jiuyue's situation every day. Just now, he had called Liu Che behind Xue Jiuyue's back to inquire about the details, but Liu Che had simply denied it with a dry "I didn't!"
In fact, before leaving Xialin, Qiu Lao went to look for Liu Che once.
"Doctor Liu, why didn't you answer Xiaoyue's call? You didn't even reply to the message. That's very rude." Old man Qiu said sternly to Liu Che.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Qiu, I have my own difficulties."
"What's your dilemma? I know you broke your right foot and can't come to take care of Xiaoyue now. But you can answer the phone and reply to messages, even if it's just a greeting. Do you know how much Xiaoyue wants to hear from you? She not only cares about you, but now she needs you even more!"
After hearing Elder Qiu's words, Liu Che's heart ached, his entire body trembling. He pinched the back of his right hand desperately, but his tone remained firm. "You know, I can't see, I can't help at all. What's the point of all that verbal concern? What she needs most right now is someone like you who has money and can actually help her."
When Elder Qiu saw Liu Che's situation, he understood something. "Doctor Liu, Xiaoyue loves you, very much. Your role cannot be replaced by any of us. No matter how much we care about you, it is not as good as a greeting from you. Love does not care whether you can see it or not."
"I know, I know..." Liu Che was bent over by pain. He lowered his head and muttered for a moment before looking up at Elder Qiu. "Elder Qiu, I know you have already determined in your heart that Xiaoyue is your daughter. So, I want to ask Xiaoyue's father a question."
"You ask."
Silent tears of farewell filled Liu Che's dark eyes, staining them red, but did not soften the firmness in his voice. "As a father, from an objective perspective, please tell me truthfully, between me and Mr. Qian, who can bring more happiness to Xiaoyue?"
Elder Qiu was stumped by this soul-searching question. He couldn't lie, but he also didn't want Liu Che to get hurt. He carefully considered his words before slowly saying, "Xiaoyue's happiness is her own. None of us can make decisions for her."
"Thank you. I know the answer in your heart. You didn't say it out loud because you were afraid that it would make me feel bad. Actually, you are worrying too much. I know it's like this, so I did this..."
"That's what I said..."
Elder Qiu wanted to explain but was interrupted by Liu Che, "Elder Qiu, out of love, a father will always give his daughter what he thinks is right, right? So why can't I? Whether it's now or in the future, Mr. Qian can help Xiaoyue better than I can and bring her happiness. Even if I can see it, there's only so much I can do."
"Child, I've been through this, and I understand Xiaoyue. She doesn't care about material things, she only cares about feelings. Why don't you believe it?" Mr. Qiu said earnestly.
"I believe it, Mr. Qiu, I believe it. But if it weren't for me, if I hadn't happened to walk into her heart, would Xiaoyue have feelings for me? This is called transference in psychology. Maybe Xiaoyue herself is not sure whether it is transference! Even if she has feelings for me, doesn't Mr. Qian have feelings for Xiaoyue? Which relationship is more beautiful? At least in the future, I can't make her happier. Just like, no matter whether Xiaoyue is your biological daughter or not, you are unwilling to confirm..."
Elder Qiu was speechless for a moment! He understood Liu Che's deep love, and he also knew that he couldn't persuade Liu Che today. In the end, he could only compromise and said, "Xiaoyue is old now. None of us can make decisions for her in the name of love. Doctor Liu, I hope you can reconsider. I will take good care of Xiaoyue and tell you about her condition every day. Xiaoyue may be able to guess what you are thinking. When she recovers, I will tell her. She can make the specific decision herself."
"Okay, but could you please not tell her we were in contact until she recovers?"
"OK!"
After several hours of waiting, amidst everyone's expectant gaze, the doctor delivered the good news, "The operation was a complete success!"
The next step was a long healing period. Once the cornea healed, the retina could be repaired, and full recovery of sight would likely take another two months. Xue Jiuyue urged everyone to return to their jobs, but no one was willing to leave.
"Xiaoyue, I've adapted to this work rhythm now. It's quite good. Xiaoyu and Xinyue keep me informed of any issues, and I direct them remotely. Not only does this not delay anything, but it also gives me more time to think about future development strategies. I'm realizing now that I don't need to be personally involved in many things. I can't be like Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, who failed miserably on his first attempt!" Qian Jianjun continued with his previous rhetoric, seemingly benefiting greatly from it. He also cited extensively, "I'm only now understanding why the Ming Dynasty emperors often skipped court for years. We can criticize their laxity, but we also have to admire that they were the pinnacle of ancient civil service governance. The so-called "emperor ruling without effort" was nothing more than that. Modern corporate management should absorb their essence."
Qiu Nian's answer was more practical. "Sister, remote work is now encouraged. We need to keep up with the times."
Ke Yike and the others' reason was much simpler, "You are the boss lady, we are wherever you are."
There was really no other way, so Xue Jiuyue advised the young people to spend more time in Dongyuan and even dictated a travel guide to them.
But when she thinks back on these things, Liu Che is always a pain that she can't get around.
She left messages to Liu Che, getting angry, furious, crying, begging... but nothing came of it. Many times, it made Old Qiu sigh and shake his head.
With everyone's careful care, Xue Jiuyue's cornea recovered better than expected, and she soon underwent retinal repair surgery.
The doctor once again brought good news to everyone, "The operation was very successful, and the patient's vision will be completely restored after a period of rest."
The tension that had been taut suddenly slackened. After everyone had spent the Mid-Autumn Festival reunited in the hospital ward, Elder Qiu fell ill. It was merely a cold, but it had led to a high fever. Although the fever subsided after treatment, the underlying condition could not be ignored. Xue Jiuyue, having overheard something from Zhou Ying and Ke Yike's conversation, insisted that Elder Qiu and his wife rest well. She also ordered the two nurses who had followed from Xialin, as well as Qiu Nian and Lin Yiyi, to constantly care for him.
Qian Jianjun still tried his best to stay by Xue Jiuyue's bedside.
Ke Yike and Zhou Ying, who had come to relieve their shift that day, were still stuck in traffic, leaving Qian Jianjun alone. He persisted in reading jokes to Xue Jiuyue. His exaggerated interpretations made even the most unflattering jokes elicit laughter.
"Mr. Qian, please pass me a glass of water. I'm a little thirsty!" Xue Jiuyue was tired of laughing.
"Oh ok, wait a minute."
Qian Jianjun was the only one there. Not only did the CEO pour water for Xue Jiuyue himself, he also very skillfully tested the water temperature before bringing it over. After so long, he had become very skilled at trivial matters such as pouring water and peeling fruit.
"Here, the water temperature is just right."
Maybe she was thirsty. When she heard Qian Jianjun's voice, Xue Jiuyue reached out her hand without waiting any longer and it happened to touch Qian Jianjun's hand.
"I'm sorry, are you okay?" Qian Jianjun shuddered nervously, as his nerves had been tense since he found out.
"It's okay..." Xue Jiuyue thought of something and changed her words: "It's okay, it's my fault."
"How can I blame you? I should have been more careful about what I handed to you."
Xue Jiuyue didn't hesitate any longer, but instead called out shyly, "Mr. Qian."
Qian Jianjun didn't notice the change in Xue Jiuyue's expression. "What's wrong, Xiaoyue? Are you still feeling uncomfortable?"
"No...if, if I said, I said I could..."
Qian Jianjun noticed Xue Jiuyue's hesitation and blushing face. He guessed something and began to get nervous. His breathing became heavy. Finally, he heard Tianlai's voice, "I can accept you. Will you be happy?"
"Really? Are you telling the truth?" Qian Jianjun didn't quite believe what he heard.
Xue Jiuyue didn't answer directly, but asked again, "Will you be happy?"
"Happy, of course I'm happy, very happy."
"Mr. Qian, could you please hand me the bag I'm carrying?"
"Okay... here you go!" Qian Jianjun now walked with the wind.
"Calm down for a moment, take a few deep breaths, and then feel it again. Are you really happy?"
Qian Jianjun was now filled with doubt, but he still did as he was told. After taking a few deep breaths, he realized that the air seemed to have diluted his joy, and he actually felt a slight sense of loss, as if there was even a hint of guilt.
"No, no, how could I feel guilty?!" Qian Jianjun decisively denied himself.
"This time, including the last time you misunderstood me and agreed to your promise, Mr. Qian, think carefully. If you remove that fleeting pleasure after achieving your goal, how much true joy is left?"
Qian Jianjun asked himself, "It seems to be true. Everything between Xiaoyue and I is still the same. We chat as usual, and do whatever we do as usual. It seems that nothing has changed. It seems that my joy is just due to a knot in my heart. On the contrary, the feeling of being held down just now is even stronger."
But Qian Jianjun still said stubbornly, "Of course I'm happy!"
"Are you happier than you were then?" Xue Jiuyue took out her right hand, which had been groping in her bag, and handed over a heart-shaped card.
"This is?"
After Qian Jianjun took the card, he was petrified instantly.
It was a plain pink heart-shaped paper card, oxidized by time to a faint yellowish hue. Written on it in precise cursive script was the following: "When you were at your most beautiful, you chose me without regrets. When I am at my strongest, I will never let you down, even if the seas run dry and the rocks crumble."
Back then, on that drunken night, that dark red dress, that intoxication, that lingering tenderness, that silly smile, that infatuated sweetness, those vows of eternal love still ring in my ears... I was so happy, so joyful, it felt like I owned the whole world. I can still clearly remember that hug, the feeling of standing taller than everyone else! I looked down upon everyone! I burst into tears without even realizing it.
Yes, back then, I had nothing but ideals, except for her beside me! And that was when she was at her most beautiful, not inferior in any way to Xue Jiuyue in front of me. No, in fact, until now, she has only been blossoming with the charm of life, but I haven't appreciated it for a long time, and even deliberately avoided thinking about it...
After a long while, Qian Jianjun choked up and said, "You, how come you have this..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
