Chapter Nine: Qizhou, I Do Not Blame Her

Pei Qizhou was unaware that after he left, Xu Miao and Pei Yi had quietly followed him. Xu Miao had originally intended to follow out of concern, fearing the two might engage in something overly intimate. However, she never expected that upon arriving at the hospital, they would witness such a scene.

"Daddy!" Pei Yi’s voice rang out at the doorway of the hospital room, filled with surprise and excitement. He quickly ran into Pei Qizhou’s arms, as if seeking safety and support. His gaze did not linger even for a moment on Yao Shan, who lay in the hospital bed—despite the fact that she was his mother, the person he should have been showing care and concern for.

"Xiao Yi, why are you here?" A flash of surprise crossed Pei Qizhou’s face.

Yao Shan stared blankly at her son, longing to reach out and hold him, yet his eyes were filled with nothing but disgust for her.

"Mommy Miao brought me here. She said she was very worried about your health," Pei Yi said, pointing at Yao Shan on the bed. His eyes revealed a flicker of aversion; he could not even bring himself to call her "Mother."

Only then did the others notice Xu Miao standing in the doorway, her figure appearing lonely and helpless.

"You just recovered, why push yourself like this?" Pei Qizhou asked, his tone heavy with worry and concern. He walked to the door and gently helped Xu Miao sit down, as if afraid she might suffer the slightest harm. Feeling his care, a warm current surged through Xu Miao’s heart.

"Do you need me to give up my bed for her?" Yao Shan asked with a cold laugh, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Her eyes were filled with disdain, as if mocking the legitimacy of Xu Miao’s illness.

Her words made Xu Miao’s expression shift slightly; she had not expected Yao Shan to insult her so directly. Xu Miao wanted to retort, but seeing Pei Qizhou’s tense expression, she chose silence. She knew this was not the time to speak; she needed his sympathy and support, not to incite further conflict. She understood that only by remaining calm could she better handle the predicament at hand.

Pei Qizhou stood there, his gaze locked onto Yao Shan, his heart churning with complex emotions. He tried to discern his feelings for her—whether they were filled with love, resentment, or perhaps both. He felt conflicted, yet unable to shake these contradictory feelings. He only knew that, regardless of anything else, he could not let Yao Shan leave his life like this, and he certainly could not let her end up with Chu Xun.

Pei Qizhou took a deep breath, trying to calm the waves within him. "Miao is here out of the kindness of her heart to see you. What is this attitude?" His voice carried a hint of reproach, but it was mostly laced with helplessness.

As soon as he finished speaking, a flicker of pain—hard to detect—crossed Yao Shan’s face. She bit her lower lip, struggling to suppress her emotions. Her eyes revealed a complex mix of anger, disappointment, and an indescribable sorrow, seemingly tangled with a sense of resignation as she fought an internal battle.

"I don't need it," she finally said, her tone chillingly calm. There was no fluctuation in her voice, as if she had sealed away all her feelings, refusing to let anyone touch them again.

"You...!" Pei Qizhou’s voice was clearly tinged with anger, but what he was about to say was cut off by Xu Miao.

"Qizhou, I don't blame Ms. Yao." Xu Miao gripped the corner of his coat, her eyes filled with grievance, as if she had suffered a great injustice. This gesture eased Pei Qizhou’s anger slightly, though the conflict in his heart deepened. He looked at Xu Miao, a complicated emotion rising within him.

"Stop with the fake act," Yao Shan said coldly, refusing to look at her. She no longer wanted to maintain any pretense of kindness toward her in front of others.

Unexpectedly, Xu Miao began to shed tears. "Ms. Xu, how can you say that to me?" she choked out. "I came to see you with genuine intentions, without a hint of falsehood. Or is it that because we caught you and Dr. Chu together, you are lashing out in anger?" She cast a provocative glance at Chu Xun as she spoke, specifically mentioning it in front of Pei Qizhou as if to remind him and suggest that all of this was Yao Shan’s fault.

Faced with her accusation, Chu Xun simply replied calmly, "Ms. Xu, there is nothing shameful between us. As a doctor, I am merely performing my duties." His voice was steady and firm, showing no signs of wavering, as if he were long accustomed to remaining calm and rational when faced with doubt.

Pei Yi, still young, could not grasp the subtext of their words; he only saw that Xu Miao had been brought to tears by Yao Shan. His face filled with anger and confusion. He could not understand why Yao Shan would make Xu Miao so sad. He rushed to the side of the bed, shouting excitedly, "You stinking woman, you bad woman! You must apologize to Mommy Miao!" His small hands were balled into fists, and he began to lash out, attempting to seek justice for Xu Miao.

His actions shocked everyone present. "Pei Yi, stop it!" Pei Qizhou tried to restrain him, but the boy was like a wild horse, completely out of control. In a moment of distraction, Pei Yi yanked the needle out of Yao Shan’s hand. The smell of medication filled the air, and Yao Shan frowned in pain.

"What are you doing?" Chu Xun cried out, rushing to her side to check the wound. He ignored Pei Yi, who stood nearby holding the needle. As Pei Qizhou pushed the boy away, his own bare skin was scratched by the needle.

Pei Qizhou’s brow furrowed, and he said sternly to Pei Yi, "You cannot treat a patient like that, especially not your mother."

"I don't want her to be my mother!" Pei Yi wailed, showing no remorse whatsoever.

Chu Xun maintained his composure, taking the needle from the boy to ensure no further accidents occurred. He turned to Pei Qizhou and said calmly, "Mr. Pei, I suggest you take the child out of the room. This place needs quiet."

Pei Qizhou nodded, acknowledging the validity of his words. He gently patted Xu Miao’s shoulder, signaling for her to leave as well. Though unwilling, Xu Miao obediently followed him out of the room.