Every word that echoed from his tiny mouth, pierced Yueyao's heart like a needle. This was her son, her birth son!
"Xuan'er..." Shen Xiao frowned, his deep voice carrying unspoken authority, "Where are your manners? Stop crying."
Shen Xuan instantly fell silent, but his eyes were still red and teary, his little chest heaving with sobs.
"Ah Xiao, don't be so harsh on him. He's just a child and can say anything!" Bai Zhi said softly, calling him by his nickname. She knelt down and opened her arms wide, "Come here, Xuan'er."
"Xuan'er!" Yueyao called out desperately, reaching her trembling hands toward him... "Come to Mommy."
She could give Shen Xiao to Bai Zhi, but Shen Xuan was her son. Her flesh and blood. How could he choose another woman over her?
Her eyes glistened with pleading hope.
Shen Xuan looked between her and Bai Zhi for a moment. Then, he ran straight into Bai Zhi's arms.
Yueyao's world went silent.
She watched as her son buried his little face against Bai Zhi's shoulder, sobbing softly.
He had never relied on Yueyao like that before.
Something inside her chest cracked, sharp and deep, almost audible.
"Why is she suddenly in the hospital?" Shen Xiao queried, his cold gaze sweeping over Yueyao's pale face and colourless lips as if examining a stranger he didn't know of her existence.
"Ah Xiao, Dr Song said Xuan'er ran out last night, so we came to check up on him, but it seems like Yueyao is sick too…" Bai Zhi said gently, her soft voice tinged with just the right amount of concern as she turned her beautiful, worried eyes over to Yueyao, "Are you okay, Yueyao? Do you need me to stay with you?"
"It's nothing serious. She doesn't need you here to take care of her," Shen Xiao cut in flatly, his tone void of any warmth, not even the politeness one would extend to a mere acquaintance.
Yueyao lowered her gaze, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill. How pathetic she was. Had she really believed Shen Xiao had come because he cared? How foolish. How utterly foolish she was!
"Don't say that, Ah Xiao. Yueyao is your legally wedded wife," Bai Zhi's voice carried a gentle reproach as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before turning back to Yueyao with a soft, caring smile, "Don't misunderstand him Yueyao. Ah Xiao just isn't good at expressing himself and his emotions. When I was sick overseas, he took such good care of me. Please… don't feel hurt."
Each word was a dagger plunged straight into Yueyao's fragile heart, twisting deeper with every sweet syllable.
"I'm fine…" Yueyao forced her voice to remain calm, gripping the blanket so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She hoarsely whispered, "Take Xuan'er home. It's late already and he should be resting."
For a fleeting second, Shen Xiao's dark eyes flickered with something unreadable as he stared at her hollow, broken expression while she lay there on the bed hopelessly.
"Daddy, I'm sleepy," Shen Xuan mumbled, tugging Shen Xiao's pant leg while he lifted his head gazing at him adorably.
Bai Zhi leaned down with a soft smile, brushing her fingers over Shen Xuan's chubby cheek caressing them with care and tenderness, "Xuan'er, why don't you come home with Aunt Bai? Aunt Bai will make you warm milk before bed."
"Okay!" Shen Xuan chirped happily, clinging onto Shen Xiao's hand with one hand and Bai Zhi's with the other. Suddenly, it seemed like his hands were full and no extra hands would be needed, "Let's go home, Auntie Bai."
Yueyao turned away, burying her face under the thin hospital blanket as tears streamed silently down her cheeks, soaking the pillow beneath her. Her shoulders trembled, yet no sob escaped her lips.