Chapter 57: 057 Sad mother and daughter
Zhang Wei, hidden in the shadows, didn't need to look closely to know who those people on the stretchers were, crying out in pain. He even saw some police officers among them, and to his dismay, Xu Xiaowei was also there.
What frustrated Zhang Wei even more was seeing Xu Qianqian sitting in a chair outside the emergency room, looking around without seeing him. She went straight to sit beside Xu Qianqian, whispering to her.
Zhang Wei couldn't hear their conversation, but he didn't need to guess to know what the beautiful neighbor was asking about.
From beginning to end, Xu Qianqian kept her head down, saying nothing, only shaking her head slightly. A slight smile appeared on Zhang Wei's lips, feeling comforted. That little girl was smart, knowing that speaking too much could cause trouble.
It seemed Xu Xiaowei didn't get any useful information. She sighed softly, reached out, and put her arm around Xu Qianqian's thin shoulders, as if to let Xu Qianqian lean on her.
Strangely, Xu Qianqian obediently rested her little head on Xu Xiaowei's shoulder. Through her tears, Xu Qianqian looked pitiful and delicate.
The two beauties, one big and one small, leaned on each other quietly, forming a serene and beautiful picture.
From the shadows, Zhang Wei sighed inwardly. He hadn't expected to see the gentle side of the usually cold-faced neighbor. It seemed she wasn't all bad.
Time passed slowly. During the wait, two assistant doctors entered the emergency room. Finally, the door opened, and two assistant doctors came out first, followed by two nurses pushing a stretcher.
Sister Xu lay quietly on the stretcher, her condition unclear. The nurses pushed the stretcher towards the elevator, with Xu Qianqian and Xu Xiaowei on either side, following into the elevator.
The elevator doors closed silently. At this moment, the chief doctor also came out of the emergency room, removing his mask as he walked.
Zhang Wei stepped out from the shadows and caught up with the doctor in the corridor.
"Doctor, how is my sister?"
The doctor stopped, recognizing Zhang Wei as the young man who brought the patient. However, he seemed displeased with Zhang Wei and said coldly, "Young man, you were too careless. How could you let your sister get so badly injured? You'd better go see her one last time."
"One last time?" Zhang Wei's heart skipped a beat. "What... what's going on?"
The doctor stared at Zhang Wei and said coldly, "What's going on? Your sister has leukemia. Didn't you know? She has no resistance left. A leukemia patient needs to take care of their body and avoid injuries to prevent infections and complications. Think about it, her ribs are broken, her chest is bleeding. Can she still be saved?"
After speaking, the doctor glared at Zhang Wei. Although he had seen many deaths, the patient's condition made him angry. Based on his experience, he could tell that the patient had been severely beaten. Blaming Zhang Wei for the condition, he quickened his pace, not wanting to face the young man any longer.
In the corridor, Zhang Wei stood motionless. No hope left... He knew what such severe trauma meant for a leukemia patient. And he didn't know how to face the pitiful Xu Qianqian.
At that moment, Zhang Wei deeply regretted not taking action sooner. Although Sister Xu had a terminal illness, maybe she could have lived a few more years if he had acted earlier. But he couldn't dwell on it; there was no remedy for regret.
On the fifth floor, in the intensive care unit, the chance of survival for patients was only one percent, giving the floor a gloomy feeling. Family members of patients moved quietly through the corridors, their faces etched with sorrow.
Zhang Wei stood silently outside the ward. Inside, Xu Xiaowei and Xu Qianqian sat on small stools on either side of the bed. A nurse had just finished setting up medical equipment for the quietly lying Sister Xu. The lines on the heart monitor were faint.
Looking at Xu Qianqian's frightened and sorrowful face, Zhang Wei felt heavy-hearted. He didn't know how to tell her the truth. She was too young to bear such a blow. Moreover, he suspected Xu Qianqian didn't know about her mother's terminal illness. Otherwise, Sister Xu wouldn't have worked so hard at the night market.
Just as Zhang Wei hesitated about whether to go in, Sister Xu, who had been silent, let out a weak sound. Her eyelids slowly lifted, and she barely opened her eyes.
Seeing her mother stir, Xu Qianqian quickly stood up from the stool and softly called, "Mom... Mom, it's me, Qianqian..."
Sister Xu seemed to hear the call, her barely open eyes looking at Xu Qianqian with a touch of affection, sorrow, and an indescribable longing.
Her lips moved, uttering a very weak sound, "Qianqian..."
"Mom... are you feeling better? Don't scare Qianqian..." Xu Qianqian called softly, her voice tinged with sobs.
Xu Xiaowei, watching the sorrowful mother and daughter, had tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. She turned her head, unable to bear watching any longer, trying to hold back her own tears.
She then noticed Zhang Wei standing quietly at the door. Their eyes met, and Xu Xiaowei, with tears in her eyes, was slightly stunned. She hadn't expected Zhang Wei to still be there. After causing such a huge mess, he had been missing, and she thought he had already run away.
Zhang Wei made a shushing gesture towards her and then quietly entered the ICU, tiptoeing to the bedside. He gazed silently at Sister Xu on the bed.
Sister Xu's condition was already very poor. Her face was deathly pale, lips slightly purple, and she was breathing through an oxygen tube. She was barely hanging on.
Seeing Zhang Wei come in, Xu Qianqian pitifully called out, "Uncle Zhang..."
Sister Xu noticed Zhang Wei, and for some reason, her weak, squinting eyes brightened a bit. Her deathly pale face even showed a hint of color. Zhang Wei's heart ached; he knew this was a sign of a final burst of energy before death.
Sister Xu stared intently at Zhang Wei and weakly reached out her hand, as if wanting to hold his.
Zhang Wei quickly bent down, gently holding her cold hand. At this moment, Sister Xu's other hand, with an IV drip attached, reached out towards Xu Qianqian.
Then, Sister Xu struggled to move Xu Qianqian's hand towards Zhang Wei's. Zhang Wei's heart skipped a beat. He vaguely understood her intention. He cooperated by gently placing Xu Qianqian's hand on top of his own, helping the almost powerless Sister Xu place her daughter's hand on his.
When Zhang Wei's hand gently touched Xu Qianqian's, Sister Xu's dim eyes showed a trace of comfort. Her lips moved slightly as if wanting to say something to Zhang Wei.
Zhang Wei bent lower, putting his ear close to Sister Xu's lips.
"Mr. Zhang... Qian... Qianqian... please... please take care... of her..."
Zhang Wei was shaken to his core. He knew exactly what Sister Xu's words meant.
"Qianqian has... has never... had a father... I... I can't... rest in peace... You... you are a good... good man... please... please..." Sister Xu's breath became labored, and she could no longer speak.
Zhang Wei didn't need to hear more. He fully understood her meaning. He showed a serious expression and softly said, "Sister Xu, don't worry. I will take care of Qianqian. I promise you, I won't let her suffer any harm."
Hearing Zhang Wei's words and seeing the seriousness in his eyes, Sister Xu's eyes showed a hint of relief. She looked at Xu Qianqian with longing. Gradually, her eyes dimmed, and her pupils began to dilate...
"Mom! Mom—"
Xu Qianqian let out a heart-wrenching cry...
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