Mrs. Liu immediately understood Liu Yilan’s subtle emotions and stood up with a smile to greet the visitors, asking them to help move Liu Yilan’s belongings.
"Yilan is being discharged from the hospital today," she announced, "The house is a mess, so everyone should head back. We’ll invite you all over for a visit some other time."
"Of course! Thank you!"
"Liu Yilan, you must take good care of yourself! We’ll be waiting for your return!"
One by one, everyone filed out, but Sheng Ning stayed until the end. Only when the room was empty did she grasp Liu Yilan’s hand, trying to transfer her own strength to her.
She had experienced despair and sorrow herself. She knew the listlessness in the depths of Liu Yilan’s eyes might fool others, but not her.
"We’ll be waiting for you to come back! I’ll be waiting for you!"
Liu Yilan managed a smile, but it was even uglier than tears.
"Believe in yourself, your face will definitely recover. Think about Da Vinci, think about Van Gogh! Every world-renowned art master has faced hardships."
Listening to this, Mrs. Liu couldn’t hold back, "Yilan, Sheng Ning is right. It’s your face that is injured, not your hands. For a great pianist, if you can’t get over this hurdle, how can you talk about future achievements?"
The integrity of the literati sometimes commands such respect. Despite their delicate hands being too weak to truss a chicken, they can exhibit a tenacity that takes others by surprise.
This kind of tenacity could even influence everyone around them.
Sheng Ning looked up at Mrs. Liu with admiration, her eyes brimming with almost uncontrollable veneration.
If it were a typical woman, an ordinary mother, she would have already given in to tears.
When leaving the hospital room, it was Mrs. Liu herself who accompanied her to the corridor outside.
"Comrade Sheng Ning, please wait a moment!"
"Yes, Auntie!" Sheng Ning bowed respectfully, knowing that Mrs. Liu must have something important to say to her since she had personally escorted her out.
And after all, it was for Sheng Ning that Liu Yilan’s face was injured; even if Mrs. Liu slapped her twice, she would not dodge.
Mrs. Liu quietly sized up Sheng Ning, her gaze traveling over Sheng Ning’s deeply bowed waist to the tall man standing behind her.
The man’s dangerous aura was palpable, prompting Mrs. Liu to narrow her eyes. Then, with a meaningful nod toward Sheng Ning, she gestured a silent acknowledgment.
Xu Qigang stood at the end of the corridor, his deep-set eyes focused intently in their direction. It wasn’t until Mrs. Liu nodded that his commanding presence subsided, and he turned to leave first.
"I want to ask you, why are you not worried at all?" Mrs. Liu looked at Sheng Ning with piercing scrutiny. "I saw sadness and sympathy in Chen Huaying, Lu Dabao, and Yang Xiaoman’s eyes. Why aren’t those emotions present in yours?"
She truly couldn’t understand; this girl wasn’t heartless. She could see that she genuinely cared for her daughter, or else she wouldn’t have done what she did.
But why wasn’t she sad? Why wasn’t she upset? She really couldn’t figure it out.
So that was the question! Sheng Ning’s tense heart gradually relaxed.
"Because I believe Liu Yilan will definitely recover! I have even more faith that disfigurement cannot stop her from shining bright!"
A surge of emotion, long suppressed in Mrs. Liu’s heart, erupted, and her eyes welled up slightly.
"How wonderful! Because that’s exactly what I believe too. I am convinced that my daughter will neither wallow in self-pity nor falter. I have decided to send her to the Vienna Music College!"
Since the accident, the relatives in the family had been nothing but self-seeking and nauseating. It had already been decided by various family activities that within three years, Yilan was to be sent to the Vienna Music College for studies. But now that her face was disfigured, the family had stated they would no longer support Yilan’s endeavor in Vienna.
This matter had actually hit Mrs. Liu harder than Yilan’s disfigurement.