Shu Yi'an, who had been holding back her tears, suddenly burst into tears again after he finished speaking. Chu Mu smiled, a smile that seemed both mocking and self-deprecating.
"See, I was right, wasn't I?"
"When I came back from Germany, your luggage was left at the door and it didn't move for two whole days. When Su Ying got into trouble, you would rather carry it for her yourself than say a word to me. If I hadn't come back the day she was kidnapped, would we have really been over? And you don't ask about anything in my life as long as I don't talk about it, as if it's all my own business and has nothing to do with you."
“After every argument, instead of questioning me, you want to leave me. You don’t listen to my explanations and choose to avoid the issue. Shu Yi’an, this is your most basic right. I give it to you, but you always think about giving it to someone else… Is this really fair to me?”
Something was seeping from his chest, and Chu Mu forced himself to lower his arms from hers, suppressing the discomfort. "During the days I wasn't home, I kept thinking, did I really do something to disappoint you so much that you don't trust me? But Yi'an, from beginning to end, you've lived in your own self-deprecation. You think I might have betrayed you, might not love you, might have been kind to you out of guilt, but you never knew that I wanted to spend my whole life with you."
Shu Yi'an's vision blurred, and she felt terribly cold. Watching Chu Mu's retreating figure step by step, she felt her body growing heavier and heavier, and her lower abdomen ached as if something was pulling at it. Warm liquid slowly trickled down her legs, a crimson stain.
She slowly slid her body down the wall, using all her strength but only able to let out a pitiful cry of pain.
“Chu Mu…”
Author's Note: Tao Yunjia is not pregnant, not pregnant, not pregnant!!! Damn it, it's clearly Meimei who's pregnant, okay?! Are you guys really okay with this?!
Chapter 48 Farewell, Farewell
In the hospital ward, Shu Yi'an slept soundly. A sharp, cool needle was inserted into her slender wrist, and the intravenous medicine dripped slowly into the tubing, creating an eerily quiet atmosphere.
Chu Mu leaned against the outer wall, head down, and no one knew what he was thinking.
The doctor's words just now exploded in his ears like a verdict. In fact, the female head of the obstetrics department was also very surprised. She had a deep impression of Shu Yi'an. In the morning, this young girl had told her gently that she wanted this baby, but in the afternoon, she was rushed in and taken to the operating room in a disheveled state.
Looking at the man in front of her, the female director's expression could be described as indifferent. She slammed the medical record shut with a snap and quickly signed her name.
"The miscarriage was caused by excessive mental stress. She needs to rest. We added sedatives to her medication. Are you her husband?" The female director asked again, still somewhat doubtful. Seeing Chu Mu's silent expression, the female director shook her head helplessly. "She is physically weak and cannot withstand any more stimulation. Her family needs to pay close attention to her both physically and mentally."
Chu Mu didn't know how to answer her... Could he still be called her husband now? What husband wouldn't even know his wife was pregnant? When he turned around, she was squatting on the ground, looking so pitiful, with blood everywhere he looked.
Chu Mu's mind went blank for a moment. Without asking any questions, he quickly wrapped the person up and rushed her to the hospital. But from that instant, he knew something in his life might be leaving him. On the way, Shu Yi'an was half-conscious, half-dazed, curled up tightly in her seat, clutching her lower abdomen, her eyes filled with unconcealed pain and fear. She thought, this little life was only sixty-odd days old; she hadn't even had a chance to witness its growth, and it was already leaving her like this… Could this be considered retribution…?
"Child," Chu Mu silently repeated the word in his heart, then slowly turned away, his eyes revealing obvious loss and despair. The bloodstains on his chest, whether from Shu Yi'an or his own wounds, made him stand out starkly alone in the quiet, white hospital corridor. Chu Mu, at the age of thirty, had lost his child and severely injured his wife—truly, he deserved it.
Ji Hengdong hurriedly walked down the corridor with the clothes in his hand, his brows furrowed as he tossed them to him. "Get her wound treated at the surgery department first. If you leave her like this, she might die before she even wakes up!"
Despite the clothes cascading down his body, Chu Mu seemed unmoved. He simply leaned against the wall without uttering a word.
Ji Hengdong was furious and slammed the things in his hand onto the chair. "You're so down now? What were you doing all this time! Look, this matter has alarmed your old man, and he's found out."
Chu Mu looked at the few sheets of paper but didn't even bother to flip through them. He had no interest in pursuing the matter any further. "Let them handle it. I'm not in the mood."
Ji Hengdong sighed, leaning against the wall alongside Chu Mu, and swore in frustration. "What the hell is this?! How could you two let those two bastards surnamed Tao hurt you like this? Chu Mu, you're a jerk!"
Yeah, he's a bastard.
Chu Mu's sudden return to the capital disrupted the city's underlying order, leading many to openly or covertly sabotage him out of jealousy or resentment. While Chu Zhoutong intended to favor his nephew, he couldn't go too far; some tasks still needed to be done by Chu Mu. The trip to Africa was the best way to silence the gossip, and also to prove Chu Mu's abilities.
The African climate is harsh, and there are many bacteria and diseases. Chu Mu couldn't handle it after just two days there, spending two days on IV drips at a local hospital. He was often so busy that he would collapse into bed as soon as he got back to the hotel, sleeping only four or five hours at a time. Every time he tried to call Shu Yi'an, she was either asleep due to the time difference or didn't answer. He finally finished a week of work and was looking forward to returning to Beijing, only to be informed by Chu Zhoutong that a major reshuffle was underway, requiring the review of every current cadre. Furthermore, during the review and investigation, no contact with the outside world was permitted. This effectively isolated Chu Mu for two whole days. Every major reshuffle involves a person's future and career path, and even someone of Chu Zhoutong's status couldn't afford to be negligent. Although his family and several friends told him that Shu Yi'an was emotionally stable and everything was fine, he was still very worried. Just as he was planning to go home, the unexpected happened.
Tao Yunjia had returned from Germany sometime earlier, and stood in front of his car looking haggard and uneasy. Chu Mu only paused for a moment when he saw her, then looked away and went to open the car door.
Tao Yunjia hurriedly slammed the car door he had just opened shut, his voice filled with desolation and urgency. "You hate me that much?"
Chu Mu had no interest in her at all, and he showed no mercy. He removed her hand from the car door handle, his tone cold. "It's not that I hate you, it's that I have no feelings for you whatsoever."
"Tao Yunjia, I thought you were smart enough. Letting you work as a translator in Germany without any trouble was already the greatest concession I could make. Who told you that I still love you? And where do you get the confidence that I will definitely wait for you? Don't you think everything you're doing right now is ridiculous?"
Tao Yunjia stood stubbornly in front of him, unmoving. "Aren't you going to take responsibility for me? I gave you the best years of my youth!"
"Take responsibility?" Chu Mu suddenly laughed coldly. "When you and Old Wang were trying to trip me up, was that what you were thinking too?"
Perhaps it was because Chu Mu's words to Director Wang in the lounge that day were too harsh. This man, over fifty years old and having served as an official for nearly thirty years, was deeply offended by such a seemingly insignificant remark from a junior, which touched upon his pitiful pride and sense of self-worth. He had used his position and connections to cause Chu Mu considerable trouble, some minor, some major. Chu Zhoutong's silence on this didn't mean he was unaware.
"That's exactly why I came!" Tao Yunjia was clearly agitated. "It has nothing to do with me! He did it all by himself! I only found out later... I came today to tell you..."
Chu Mu stood there quietly, watching her mouth open and close, his eyes clearly filled with pity. He really couldn't understand how such a proud and outstanding girl from the Foreign Affairs Academy had become like this, scheming, ruining herself, her eyes filled with ruthlessness and jealousy.
As soon as the words were spoken, a piercing roar of an engine suddenly came from the street in the distance. Three motorcycles roared and sped towards them side by side. All six people on the motorcycles were wearing helmets, and the headlights were particularly dazzling. Chu Mu and Tao Yunjia, who were standing on the side of the street, subconsciously squinted. At the same time, the six people on the motorcycles, the three in the back, were holding long knives and were driving recklessly towards the two of them.
Tao Yunjia cried out in alarm and abruptly stood in front of Chu Mu. "No!!!"
"Tao Yunjia!!!" Chu Mu exclaimed in shock. The cold, sharp blade pierced Tao Yunjia's abdomen, but fortunately, Chu Mu reacted quickly, grabbing Tao Yunjia and pushing her to the side of the road. One of the motorcycles, unable to dodge in time, headed straight for Chu Mu. The rider panicked and slashed wildly, stabbing Chu Mu squarely in the chest.
When the police car and ambulance arrived, Tao Yunjia was already unconscious. Chu Mu's injury wasn't serious; the cut wasn't deep or shallow, and because it was horizontal, it was much easier to treat. In contrast, Tao Yunjia's injury was more serious; the cut was deep, and there was a risk of abdominal infection, so she was sent to the intensive care unit after surgery.
The secretary rushed to the hospital that night to handle some related matters for Chu Mu and saw off the police officers who came to investigate. In the ward, Chu Mu specifically instructed him not to make a fuss or notify his family. After all, it was a knife wound; even if it wasn't serious, it was still quite shocking. Knowing Sui Qing and Shu Yi'an's personalities, they would definitely be worried and frightened.
The situation was dire. For a full day and night, Tao Yunjia's post-operative infection worsened, with a persistent high fever. However, since she was injured because of Chu Mu, Chu Mu had no reason to leave, whether out of a sense of duty or basic morality. At the very least, he had to wait until she recovered. Meanwhile, the truth about the motorcycle incident that night came to light, and within hours, the police notified them that the perpetrators had been arrested. According to their confessions, a woman had approached them and instructed them to do so. After identification, Tao Yunjia's identity was confirmed. Because Chu Mu's attack was no small matter and could not be concealed, Chu's father quickly learned of it and flew into a rage, declaring that he would investigate thoroughly. This investigation led to the discovery of Tao Yunjia's affair with Old Wang, revealing that Tao Yunjia's actions were instigated by Old Wang. Tao Yunjia probably couldn't bring herself to be ruthless. After Old Wang's despicable deeds and her own involvement as an accomplice, she still felt uneasy and went to find Chu Mu, subconsciously taking the blow for him.
Chu Mu was changing his dressing at the time, and after listening to the call with a calm expression, he showed little emotion. Seeing his phone ring, he quickly got dressed and went outside to answer Shu Yi'an's call. Hearing the voice he had longed for for so long on the other end, much of the anger he had felt vanished. When he heard her say, "I'll wait for you to come back," he felt an overwhelming urge to return her to his side immediately. Looking out at the city lights of the night, Chu Mu knew he was doomed. He was sinking deeper and deeper into the memory of Shu Yi'an.
"Old Wang was executed on the spot by your second uncle, what about Tao Yunjia?" Ji Hengdong asked casually, playing with his car keys. "Besides, this matter with Sister Shu can't be kept secret. Your mother will definitely find out, and she might even come to your house to catch you red-handed tomorrow."
"Find out exactly what Tao Yunjia said to Yi'an," Chu Mu said, his expression darkening further as he could vaguely see Shu Yi'an's sleeping face through the glass of the ward door. "I have to make her pay the price."
In the end, he listened to Ji Hengdong's advice and went downstairs to the surgical department to change the dressing and re-treat the wound. He changed into clean clothes, thinking that he couldn't let her wake up and see him still arguing with her in the villa, even if she didn't want to see him. Slowly opening the door to the ward, Chu Mu sat down gently by her bedside, afraid of waking her.
Gently holding Shu Yi'an's hand, which wasn't covered by the injection needle, its temperature was alarmingly cold. Wearing a striped hospital gown, she looked incredibly thin and small. Even in her unconscious state, she hadn't slept soundly; her long eyelashes trembled constantly.
Chu Mu suddenly remembered the day she graduated. She was lying quietly in a hospital bed, unconscious, just like now. The sunlight cast a beautiful halo on her young face, making her so beautiful that it was hard to look away. Back then, she woke up with a mix of confusion and anticipation. It was also on that day that he had forcefully and bluntly asked her, "Shu Yi'an, will you marry me?" Now, a full two years have passed. Now she is still lying here, but the vitality and the soft smile on her lips are gone.
Slowly, he placed her finger to his lips, and the moment it touched her skin, Chu Mu's eyes finally reddened and his voice became hoarse.
"sorry."
As Shu Yi'an lay asleep in the hospital bed, two tears suddenly slid down her cheeks.