Shi Che walked over, his body slightly bent, as his long fingers slowly touched her face and immediately felt the moisture. His hand trembled involuntarily.
She really cried... But why?
Shi Che stared at her with wide, dark eyes, the light slowly moving in his pupils as his heart gently throbbed, bit by bit.
Was she crying over the child they had lost? Or... was it over today’s divorce?
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Shi Che laughed at himself in self-mockery. How could it be? Why would she cry over these things?
If she truly felt sad, then she wouldn’t have aborted their child and insisted on divorcing him.
Shi Che slowly sat down by the bed. With the faint light coming through from the corridor, he fixed his gaze on Ling Chuxia. She seemed to be sleeping restlessly, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed into a small peak, with what looked like tears still lingering at the edges of her eyes, slowly seeping out. Drop by drop, they rolled down her cheeks, dampening the pillowcase.
Why was she crying? Had she had a nightmare?
A trace of heartache crossed Shi Che’s eyes. His warm fingertips caressed her eyelid, gently wiping away the tears. Then his hand stayed there, moving to her forehead, gently smoothing it until her brows completely relaxed. Watching her peacefully calm face, he couldn’t help but lean in and plant a light, slow kiss on her forehead.
She seemed to feel something, sensing the comforting presence. Gradually, her tears stopped, her eyes and eyebrows slowly unfurled, and she unconsciously rubbed his hand, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
In that moment, Shi Che’s heart felt as if a string had been lightly plucked at its very depth, resonating for a long time.
Such attachment from Ling Chuxia usually only appeared unconsciously. Yet even so, his heart was so easily moved.
Today had been exhausting for him. It was as if all things, all misfortunes, had conspired to assail him together.
The loss of the child, Chuxia wanting a divorce, and then his mother...
In a single day, one bad news had followed another. If he had not been so strong, he might not have been able to bear it any longer.
But now, sitting next to her, with just a reach away from her face, so close to her, his agitated and anxious heart involuntarily calmed down, and even the tiredness was instantly dispelled.
His hand gently caressed her face, his fingers moving lovingly. His voice was low and raspy as he slowly began to speak, "Chuxia..."
He softly called her name, filled with repressed emotions, "Mother is sick; she has liver cancer, and it has reached a severe stage. The doctor said she may have only six months left to live."
"She was such a strong woman; I never imagined she could fall. She was always so dignified and elegant, so beautiful and charming, but today, looking at her, she has lost weight, her complexion was terrible, her temples graying, no longer the powerful Mrs. Shi but just an old, frail woman."
"But she is Mrs. Shi, Mrs. Shi who could never fall. How could she possibly fall?"
Shi Che’s brows suddenly tightened, his eyes rimmed red, and his voice grew even hoarser.