Chapter 861: 863, end it in a joking manner. (One more update)

"Alright, then let’s go together," Chu Jin nodded and continued, "But you have to behave yourselves, don’t disturb Auntie, and don’t speak out of turn." Mo Qingyi was already in such a state, and Chu Jin worried that Bao Bao and Bei Bei, with their unfiltered mouths, might say something hurtful and sadden Duanmu Zhe.

Children’s mouths can be very fast, and without careful attention, they might blurt out something unpleasant.

Bao Bao and Bei Bei nodded obediently, "Mommy, don’t worry, we know our limits." The two little ones chorused together, sounding like little adults, which made Chu Jin unable to help but smile.

The Duanmu Family.

Zhou Jin was kneeling in front of the Buddhist hall, praying for Mo Qingyi.

The words of Lin Xiyuan echoed in her ears over and over again.

Was the Duanmu Family really going to come to an end?

Zhou Jin closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.

So many days had passed, and Mo Qingyi was still the same, with no sign of improvement...

Maintaining life on expensive medicines every day, if Mo Qingyi had been born in an ordinary family, she might have long since passed away.

After a while, Zhou Jin stood up from the meditation cushion, picked up the cell phone next to her, and called Lin Xiyuan.

After so many days, it was time to give Lin Xiyuan a response.

Lin Xiyuan’s eyes flashed with a glimmer of delight when she saw the incoming call from Zhou Jin, but she didn’t answer right away. She waited for a while, letting the ringing continue for a second time before picking up.

"Hello, Auntie? I’m sorry, I was just a bit busy and didn’t hear the phone ring, so I’m only answering now."

Whatever was said on the other end, the smile remained on Lin Xiyuan’s face, "Mhm, I understand. Goodbye, Auntie."

After hanging up, Lin Xiyuan’s smile faded as she entered the restroom, changed into a new set of clothes, and then drove out.

If Zhou Jin refused to help her, she would have to find her own way out.

In this life, she really couldn’t afford to lose again.

Lin Xiyuan arrived at the hospital just as Chu Jin and Mo Zhixuan were leaving.

They brushed past each other, but neither paid any attention to the other.

Lin Xiyuan was carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers as she walked straight into Mo Qingyi’s hospital room.

In the room, Duanmu Zhe heard the knock and answered faintly with two words, "Come in."

Lin Xiyuan pushed the door open, her face wearing a faint smile, "Big Brother Duanmu, I’ve come to see how Sister Qingyi is doing."

Duanmu Zhe looked up at Lin Xiyuan, "Thank you, please have a seat." Compared to before, Duanmu Zhe looked much more haggard. Some stubble was showing on his chin, and Lin Xiyuan, who had never seen him like this, momentarily felt a twinge of pity.

She looked at Duanmu Zhe with a bit of nervousness, "Big Brother Duanmu, are you alright? Sister Qingyi has become like this; you need to stay strong."

Duanmu Zhe nodded, his voice low, "I’m fine."

"Big Brother Duanmu, I brought some chicken soup, why don’t you have some first?" Lin Xiyuan set the flowers on the table and took out an insulated container from her bag. As she unscrewed it, the sweet scent of chicken soup filled the room, tantalizing the taste buds.

But Duanmu Zhe showed no expression on his face and said indifferently, "Put it away, I don’t want any."

Lin Xiyuan ladled some chicken soup into a small bowl and offered it to Duanmu Zhe, gently saying, "Big Brother Duanmu, please have a little bit. You can’t not eat anything. It’s not good for you either."

Duanmu Zhe pushed the bowl away, "No need, thank you."

At a time like this, how could Duanmu Zhe have any appetite for chicken soup.

Lin Xiyuan sighed and sat across from Duanmu Zhe, "It’s heartbreaking to see Sister Qingyi like this, but what’s done is done, and you have to face reality. Life goes on, and you must continue to walk the path ahead."

"I believe Qingyi will definitely wake up," Duanmu Zhe lifted his gaze to Lin Xiyuan, his tone steady, "Qingyi will not leave me."

Lin Xiyuan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking somewhat concerned, "But, Brother Duanmu, have you ever thought about what if Sister Qingyi can’t hold on... and she leaves you? One cannot dwell in the past forever; we must face reality."

Duanmu Zhe closed his eyes, "Then I’ll go with her. Wherever she goes, I will follow, and devote my life to being by her side."

That was the sincerest of confessions.

Regrettably, the present Mo Qingyi couldn’t hear it.

A pang of sorrow briefly flitted across the depths of Lin Xiyuan’s eyes.

Duanmu Zhe then spoke, "If there’s nothing else, you should go back, Qingyi likes quiet."

That statement was a polite way to dismiss her, and Lin Xiyuan could certainly discern that.

However, since she had come, she wouldn’t leave so easily.

"Brother Duanmu," Lin Xiyuan stood up, facing Duanmu Zhe, "I have a way to save Mo Qingyi’s life."

"You have a way? What is this way?" With these words, Duanmu Zhe stood up in excitement, even failing to notice the change in how Lin Xiyuan addressed Mo Qingyi.

"If I say I have a way, naturally I won’t disappoint you," Lin Xiyuan spoke slowly, "However, I have one condition."

Duanmu Zhe grabbed Lin Xiyuan’s shoulders, his voice urgent, "What condition, say it! As long as it’s within my power, I will agree." As long as Mo Qingyi could be saved, Duanmu Zhe was willing to do anything.

Lin Xiyuan looked at the hands Duanmu Zhe had on her shoulders, a hint of a smile appearing on her lips.

Duanmu Zhe also realized his own impropriety and quickly retracted his hands, his eyes filled with endless hope.

Lin Xiyuan continued, "Brother Duanmu, this condition of mine is really very simple for you, just a nod of your head will suffice."

"Just tell me directly," Duanmu Zhe maintained some calm.

Lin Xiyuan gazed at Duanmu Zhe, her expression somber, its depths unfathomable, as she slowly began, "Brother Duanmu, I won’t hide it from you, ever since you saved me that time, I’ve been irretrievably in love with you. I love everything about you, and I want to be with you. I don’t need any status, nor will I compete with Sister Qingyi for her place. I just want to give you a child, Brother Duanmu, please let me have your child."

Lin Xiyuan spoke with utmost seriousness, without a trace of jest in her words.

Duanmu Zhe frowned slightly and quickly interrupted Lin Xiyuan, "Stop! This is impossible!" To Duanmu Zhe, this proposition was utterly preposterous. How could he possibly have a child with any woman other than Mo Qingyi?

Lin Xiyuan grabbed Duanmu Zhe’s hand, "Brother Duanmu, even as a way of repaying a debt of gratitude? You saved my life, and I’m repaying you with a life, making us even from then on!"

Duanmu Zhe shook off Lin Xiyuan’s hand, saying firmly, "Lin Xiyuan, I saved you that day because it was my duty as a soldier! And because of the affection between our parents. I don’t need your gratitude, you should leave. I’ll treat today’s words as if you’ve never said them."

"Brother Duanmu, don’t you want to save her life?" Lin Xiyuan pointed to Mo Qingyi on the bed.

Duanmu Zhe was silent for a moment before saying, "Apart from this matter, I can agree to any other condition." No matter what, he would not do anything that would disappoint or hurt Mo Qingyi.

Lin Xiyuan laughed briefly, then continued, "Brother Duanmu, I know you want to save her life. You love her so much; you wouldn’t ignore her plight. My condition isn’t too excessive; I merely want to bear your child. Why won’t you even agree to that? After all, you and she haven’t managed to have a child up until now. If I have a child for you and it saves her life, so she can stand by your side once more, wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds? Why make things so difficult for yourself?"

Lin Xiyuan’s words had reached this point, but Duanmu Zhe had no intention to compromise at all.

In the eyes of others, this proposition no matter how you looked at it, was a boon for Duanmu Zhe — after all, having a woman offer to bear his child and save a life at that, was an opportunity hard to find even with a lantern.

But to Duanmu Zhe, it was unbearable.

The love between him and Mo Qingyi was something no one had the right to desecrate.

"There’s no use in more words where sentiments do not align, you should leave," Duanmu Zhe made a gesture of farewell.

Lin Xiyuan looked at Duanmu Zhe, her voice raised, "Duanmu Zhe, does having a child with me humiliate you that much? Are you going to just watch Mo Qingyi die?" Lin Xiyuan’s eyes had reddened, not knowing what place she held in Duanmu Zhe’s heart, nor understanding whether all her efforts in these two lifetimes were right or wrong...

She really didn’t know.

Love was like a poppy seed in her heart, taking root and sprouting, growing unceasingly.

Once, she thought time could erase everything.

In the end, she realized that time only deepened love instead of mitigating it.

Time was never a good medicine; it was poison.

She tried so hard to get what she wanted.

But in the end...

A bitter smile crept onto Lin Xiyuan’s face.

Duanmu Zhe looked up at Lin Xiyuan, "If she really died, then it was just fate. When the time comes, on the road to the underworld, I won’t let her be alone. My Qingyi, she’s afraid of the dark." The meaning behind Duanmu Zhe’s words was very clear.

If something really happened to Mo Qingyi, he would follow her in death.

Lin Xiyuan nodded, as tears unconsciously fell from her eyes, "Alright, alright, I understand. Your love is stronger than gold, I truly envy you."

Duanmu Zhe sighed, "You can go out now."

Lin Xiyuan stood there without moving.

"Please leave," Duanmu Zhe repeated.

Lin Xiyuan looked at Duanmu Zhe, took out a pill from her pocket, and handed it to him, speaking coldly, "This is a poison pill, with no antidote. Once taken, it will dissolve into a pool of blood within three minutes. If you refuse to give me a child, then swallow this pill, and I will allow Mo Qingyi a path to reincarnation."

This act intended to use Duanmu Zhe’s death to secure Mo Qingyi’s life.

They were in love, weren’t they? Then she would ensure that they could never meet again, not in life nor in death!

Similarly, Lin Xiyuan was also forcing Duanmu Zhe’s hand.

She knew how much Duanmu Zhe loved Mo Qingyi; he surely couldn’t bear to leave her and go on his own. Compared to his life, what was having a child with her?

Alive, at least he could continue to love Mo Qingyi.

If he died, their destiny would truly come to an end.

So, Lin Xiyuan was confident that Duanmu Zhe would never swallow the poison pill.

Compared to death, Duanmu Zhe might prefer to live.

"Is that really true?" Duanmu Zhe looked at Lin Xiyuan, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"I never lie to you," Lin Xiyuan stated with certainty, her eyes filled with resolute determination. She continued, "It’s up to you whether you’re willing to die or not."

In the face of Mo Qingyi’s life and death, Duanmu Zhe didn’t have the luxury of time to think it over. He took the pill from Lin Xiyuan’s hand and, without any hesitation, swallowed it.

Faced with the choice of death or betraying Mo Qingyi, he chose the former.

He would rather die than betray Mo Qingyi.

Lin Xiyuan stood there stunned, her face devoid of any expression, the image of Duanmu Zhe swallowing the pill replaying in her mind.

She had never expected Duanmu Zhe to choose death over having a child with her when faced with the choice.

He would rather die than have a child with her.

Lin Xiyuan watched Duanmu Zhe, took a deep breath, and her face broke into a relaxed smile, "Big Brother Duanmu, I’m sorry, I was just joking with you. I don’t have the power to save Sister Qingyi, the pill is fake, just a piece of candy. I really just wanted to test how deep your feelings for each other were. I’m sorry, Big Brother Duanmu, I won’t joke about your feelings for Sister Qingyi ever again. Please forgive me." Full of guilt, Lin Xiyuan deeply bowed to Duanmu Zhe and then left the hospital room.

At that moment, Lin Xiyuan felt like a complete fool.

She had planned for today for so long.

In the end, she had not been able to shake Duanmu Zhe in the slightest.

Suddenly, Lin Xiyuan began to understand how Duanmu Zhe felt.

Duanmu Zhe was willing to die for Mo Qingyi, and she had already died for Duanmu Zhe once.

In some ways, she and Duanmu Zhe were the same, extraordinarily devoted.

The only difference was, Duanmu Zhe and his love were in a mutual relationship.

While she was just hopelessly in love.

She loved Duanmu Zhe too deeply to extricate herself.

Duanmu Zhe loved Mo Qingyi too deeply to extricate himself.

She would never fall in love with anyone else in her lifetime, and Duanmu Zhe would never waver in his devotion. Putting herself in his shoes, she suddenly understood Duanmu Zhe...

It was all her fault, all her fault for falling in love with someone she shouldn’t have.

Thinking this, Lin Xiyuan’s silhouette grew straighter, and from an angle where Duanmu Zhe couldn’t see her, she was already in tears.

The story began in the most real way but ended as a joke.

Duanmu Zhe stared at Lin Xiyuan’s retreating figure for a long, long time, unable to react.

He thought that with his death, he could exchange it for Mo Qingyi’s life.

He never imagined that all this was just a joke in the eyes of others...

Duanmu Zhe clenched his fist and smashed it onto the table, leaving a deep dent, his eyes bloodshot.

Why?

Why do people give him hope only to disappoint him?

This feeling of seeing a glimmer of dawn only to be engulfed in darkness again was truly unbearable...

No one could understand.

"Qingyi, please get well, okay?" Duanmu Zhe took Mo Qingyi’s hand in his, pressed it against his forehead, and cried silently.

He so wished that what Lin Xiyuan had said before was serious.

He wanted Mo Qingyi to come back to life.

"Little Zhe." Duanmu Sheng entered from outside, carrying takeout food in her hands. She said softly, "Little Zhe, eat something first."

Duanmu Zhe looked up at Duanmu Sheng, trying to muster a smile, "Big Sister, I’m not hungry."

Duanmu Sheng sighed, "Hungry or not, eat something first."

"I really am not hungry," Duanmu Zhe gently pushed away the bowl offered by Duanmu Sheng.

"Little Zhe, look at what you’ve become! If you keep this up, your body won’t be able to take it! If Qingyi wakes up and sees you like this, she will be sad too!" Her voice softened as she spoke. "Little Zhe, at least eat something for Qingyi’s sake, okay?"

The current Duanmu Zhe was nothing like his former self.

To Duanmu Sheng, as his sister, it pained her heart to see him like this.

"Sis, do you think Qingyi can still wake up?" Duanmu Zhe looked at Duanmu Sheng, his voice hoarse.

Duanmu Sheng nodded firmly, "She can, definitely."

A smile suddenly spread across Duanmu Zhe’s lips, "Sis, I believe you."

"Then eat something quickly." Duanmu Sheng handed him a bowl of century egg porridge.

"Okay," Duanmu Zhe nodded and, with tears mixed in, devoured the food hungrily.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read