The atmosphere in the hospital ward was filled with unspoken tension. The steady beeping of the machines was the only sign that Old Madam Huo was still alive despite being unconscious.
Yue Ning sighed softly, staring at the Matriarch who lay motionless on the bed with a pale face, several tubes attached to her frail body, and an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. Her condition was delicate.
Huo Feng stood by her bedside, his eyes fixed on the woman who had been his and his sister’s pillar of support ever since they lost their parents.
Zhang Yuxiu moved closer to the bedside, her handkerchief pressed tightly to her eyes as she sobbed loudly.
"Mother, how could this have happened? You were even laughing heartily during breakfast. How could Heaven be this cruel?" Original content can be found at novel•fire.net
Yue Ning brows creased. She had endured enough of the exaggerated display. Finally, she spoke up. Her voice was steady and composed.
"Aunt, please compose yourself. Grandmother is not gone, rather she is still fighting for her life. If you cry so loudly, others may think the worst has already happened. That is not what she needs right now. She only needs a conducive environment."
Zhang Yuxiu’s tears faltered. "I am only worried about her. You can’t tell me how to feel and how to express these feelings."
Yue Ning’s expression did not waver as she replied. "We are all worried, perhaps even more than you. But everyone else has chosen to endure quietly. For grandmother’s sake, you should also do the same."
"That’s enough." Huo Hapieng’s voice cut in sharply. His voice was low, but enough to show his authoritative stance, and his expression darkened with irritation.
He shot his wife a cold glare. "This isn’t the place for noisy crying. Mother needs peace, not wailing. Behave yourself." He rebuked her without any form of consideration.
Huo Mingjie who stood on the side didn’t say anything as he watched his father scold his mother.
Zhang Yuxiu’s lips pressed into a thin line as her tears froze. Being rebuked so directly in front of everyone made her cheeks flush with humiliation and anger.
Yue Ning’s brows lifted slightly, though she quickly smoothed her expression. She knew Huo Hapieng wasn’t defending her.
His words were born out of irritation, not fairness or justice. Still, the silence that followed was enough and worthwhile. Old Madam Huo needed the silence to recuperate.
Yue Ning noticed Zhang Yuxiu glaring at her, but she ignored her as she reached for Huo Feng’s hand. "Everything will be fine. Grandma will survive this. I assure you."
Huo Feng exhaled, then nodded.
"Do you want to take a walk, or stay with her?" she whispered.
"I will stay." He declined. How could he leave his grandmother especially when he couldn’t trust his uncle’s family.
She didn’t argue further. She knew how much the old lady meant to him.
Huo Hapieng rose to his feet, exhaustion written all over his face. "Nephew, I’ll be leaving now. There are matters I must attend to urgently."
Huo Feng didn’t respond. Instead, his gaze never left the bed. Hapieng took the silence as an acknowledgment.
"Xiao Mingjie, let’s go. The meeting won’t begin without us."
"Yes, Father." Huo Mingjie glanced at his mother. "Mother, let’s go. I’ll drop you off."
Zhang Yuxiu cleaned her eyes and shook her head. "No, I’ll stay with Mother. I can’t leave her ."
Mingjie frowned. "But—"
"We’ll be late if we keep arguing," Hapieng cut him off curtly, though there was a slight irritation in his voice. "Let her be."
With that, the father and son left the ward, their footsteps fading down the corridor.
Yue Ning fixed her gaze on Zhang Yuxiu. It was strange she hadn’t followed them. From what she knew, Zhang Yuxiu was a self-centred woman. Staying behind didn’t fit her character—unless something was wrong.
After a while, Zhang Yuxiu finally spoke, her tone dripping with feigned concern. "Xiao Ning."
Goosebumps ran across Yue Ning’s skin due to the sickly sweet way her name was called.
Huo Feng also frowned, reacting the same way. But he didn’t comment, his eyes never leaving his grandmother’s face. He knew that Yue Ning could handle whatever was thrown to her.
Suppressing her disgust, Yue Ning asked, "What is it, Aunt?"
’Host, I feel she’s about to make a ridiculous request. Be careful,’ the system warned.
"I know. Thank you for reminding me," Yue Ning replied inwardly.
Zhang Yuxiu smiled sweetly. "You both look tired. Why don’t you go home and rest? I can stay here and take care of Mother. What do you say?"
Yue Ning returned her smile politely. "Thank you for your concern, Aunt, but there’s no need. Grandmother is most at ease with Feng by her side. Since he is still here, I’ll remain with him."
The smile on Zhang Yuxiu’s face stiffened at the polite but sharp rejection.
"I’m only worried about you," she protested quickly. "I can manage just fine."
Yue Ning’s smile deepened as she answered steadily. "We’re grateful, but we won’t leave. Grandmother deserves to wake up to familiar faces. That’s what she needs the most."
’Host, well done,’ the system praised. ’You blocked her without lowering yourself. That’s how you win against someone like her.’
Yue Ning’s lips curved faintly, though her gaze never left Zhang Yuxiu. "It’s only right," she replied inwardly
Zhang Yuxiu’s expression stiffened, but she quickly feigned a concerned expression."I’m only worried about you. I’m not so old that I can’t take care of Mother," she insisted.
But deep down, her heart was racing. She had to get them out. If the old lady regained consciousness, her carefully buried secret would come to light. She couldn’t let that happen.
Her gaze flickered toward Huo Feng, but his face gave nothing away.
He hadn’t spoken a word since she’d made her suggestion. His silence pressed heavily in the room, yet it wasn’t the silence of ignorance.
His expression was blank, his shoulders was tense, and though his eyes remained on the old lady, there was something guarded about them. He was observing the entire situation.
Yue Ning sensed it too. Huo Feng wasn’t blind to Zhang Yuxiu’s act. He was simply biding his time.
The realization made the air grow heavy with tension and dread.
Zhang Yuxiu gripped her handkerchief tighter. She couldn’t let him suspect her. She needed to act fast.