His body felt like it had shattered into countless pieces, unable to move even a finger, with excruciating pain invading every inch of his skin.

But these seemed to be the least of his worries. His chest felt unbearably uncomfortable, worse than ever before. Yu Sen slightly opened his mouth, but what he inhaled seemed to be the seawater rushing into his body, the suffocation and blockage making his lungs swell as if they were about to burst.

He moaned, only to suddenly realize that he had returned to the real world, back to the bed where he and Si Xuanyang had been sleeping in each other’s arms.

The surrounding noise of chaotic turmoil gradually surged into his mind. He slowly realized that there was no longer any cold seawater. He opened his mouth to breathe, but unexpectedly choked and coughed up a mouthful of salty, sweet blood.

He heard the heart-wrenching sobs of a nearby blurred figure, a sound that made him feel deeply sad.

Yu Sen closed his mouth and stopped struggling.

Then, he felt something covering his mouth and nose, his clothes were removed, and tubes were inserted into various parts of his body. His exhausted mind could no longer hold on, so he let himself drift into a deep sleep.

…

Two days later, Shu Yuqing called home. She remembered a hot spring resort she had visited before and wanted to invite Yu Sen and her sons to join her. The place was quiet, perfect for recuperation, and beneficial for the body.

She had even planned the trip, but during the call, Aunt Zhang told her that Mr. Yu had almost died. He had undergone three rounds of resuscitation two mornings ago, coughed up blood that stained most of his body, and was only pulled back from the brink of death. He still hadn’t woken up.

Her precious youngest son had endured two full days and nights by his side, never leaving, not even daring to close his eyes.

Shu Yuqing hung up the phone in a daze, realizing that her hand holding the phone was trembling uncontrollably.

Just a few days ago, she had seen the boy. His face was pale and sickly, but didn’t Si Nan say he was almost cured and just needed time to recuperate?

How did it become this serious again? Serious enough to require resuscitation?

Shu Yuqing felt a pang of panic.

She knew her son’s personality well and had clearly noticed the change in his gaze when he looked at that person.

That was why she felt so uneasy and scared.

If Yu Sen hadn’t been saved, would she have lost this son as well?

Her fingers spasmed suddenly, and the phone fell onto the thick carpet, making only a slight sound.

She pressed her dry lips together, suddenly standing up: “Old Li, prepare the car!”

…

When she arrived at their house, the whole place was silent. There were many people working on the first floor, and something was always simmering in the kitchen, kept at the right temperature, ready to eat at any time.

Aunt Zhang came to greet her and explained the situation. The ventilator was still connected, and Yu Sen hadn’t woken up yet. Yesterday, they had delivered another batch of medical equipment. The noise had startled him, causing his heart rate to go haywire for a while, and the second young master had nearly gone mad…

Shu Yuqing’s heart tightened, and she asked softly, “What did the doctor say? What went wrong? Is the critical period over?”

“It’s over, it’s over,” Aunt Zhang hurriedly reassured her. “They said there was a problem with his lungs—aspiration pneumonia or bronchiectasis, something difficult to treat, but his life is no longer in danger, madam, rest assured.”

Shu Yuqing nodded slightly, but the worry on her face did not ease. She handed her bag and coat to Aunt Zhang. “I’ll go upstairs and have a look.”

…

The door wasn’t fully closed, and it opened with a gentle push.

There was no smell of disinfectant in the room. It was fresh and dry, with the curtains fully drawn and only a few wall lamps on, casting a dim, soft light. The presence of some medical equipment made the room feel less empty.

But the bed in the room was spacious, the bedding thick, making the person in the bed appear even weaker and paler.

If it weren’t for the occasional fogging on the breathing mask, Shu Yuqing wouldn’t have been able to tell if the person was still alive.

However, as she approached, she noticed that Yu Sen’s condition wasn’t too bad. The various body indicators displayed on the monitor were relatively normal. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned her gaze to Si Xuanyang, who was sitting by the bed.

Just one look, and she nearly burst into tears. She hadn’t seen what Si Xuanyang was like when Yu Sen was injured before, but now he didn’t seem like her once spirited, fearless son.

Those once clear eyes were bloodshot, his face clouded with stubborn gloom, his lips colorless. He stared fixedly at the person in the bed, and it was unclear how long he had been doing so.

Shu Yuqing held back her tears, gripping Si Xuanyang’s shoulder as she bent down and said, “Son, go downstairs and eat something. If Yu Sen wakes up and you’re the one who collapses, how will you take care of him?”

Si Xuanyang’s body trembled slightly, as if just now realizing who was in front of him. He dazedly met Shu Yuqing’s eyes, “…Mom? Mom…”

His voice was soft, and Shu Yuqing couldn’t hold back the sadness in her heart. She pulled her son’s head into her arms, gently patting his back, her voice low and tinged with tears, “It’s okay now, it’s okay. The doctors said he’s out of danger. Don’t be like this, Mom can’t take it…”

The fabric on her stomach slowly became soaked with warm tears. She knew Si Xuanyang was crying, but he made no sound. Even when he spoke a moment later, his voice held no trace of breakdown.

But Shu Yuqing could tell it was the calm after extreme despair and breakdown, a peace that came after making a resolution.

He spoke slowly, “I’m so scared. I’m afraid he’ll never wake up, afraid he’ll die, so scared my heart went cold. But then I thought, what’s there to be afraid of? Call me selfish, but if he doesn’t want to open his eyes again, then fine, I’ll just go with him…”

Shu Yuqing stiffened all over, covering her mouth with her hand, not daring to cry out loud. Tears streamed down her face.

Nothing could shatter her heart more than those words.

Si Xuanyang gently pulled away from her embrace, as if embarrassed, wiping away his tears. He took Shu Yuqing’s hand, his face stiff from long disuse of the muscles, his smile somewhat forced, “But it’s okay now. He’ll get better. He’ll get better, so don’t worry, Mom.”

Seeing him like this, Shu Yuqing wished he could cry his heart out, releasing some of his sorrow instead of forcing a smile.

Or perhaps, at some point when she wasn’t aware, he had already cried alone.

Shu Yuqing glanced at the person in the bed and said, “I’ve already asked your father to contact an expert overseas. Do you think we should transfer him to a hospital abroad for treatment?”

“No need,” Si Xuanyang’s gaze softly settled on Yu Sen. “This wound won’t recur. It’s just that his recovery process will be difficult, but I’ll be with him through it.”

The person lying on the bed suddenly had a slight tremor in their thick eyelashes. Si Xuanyang’s gaze instantly froze. As he abruptly stood up, his body swayed slightly. He then quickly walked over and pressed the call button by the bed, swallowing nervously, and stared intently at Yu Sen.

The thin eyelids slowly opened and blinked twice to adjust to the light.

Yu Sen’s pupils were darker than the average person’s brown, resembling a deep, cold pool that could draw someone into a mysterious temptation.

When he saw Si Xuanyang, a spark of life appeared in his eyes. His mouth moved slightly, but due to the breathing mask on his face, he looked somewhat confused and moved his fingers.

Si Xuanyang knew he wanted to speak and, after a moment of hesitation, helped him remove the breathing mask.

Yu Sen took a somewhat labored breath, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and his voice was soft and light: “I dreamt of you.”

Si Xuanyang held back his tears, holding his breath, “What did you dream about me?”

“I dreamt you said you missed me.”

^[1]Author’s note:

Hehe, the illnesses are all made up, don’t hit me~~