Chapter 046: Everything Will End Today

Xiao Xuezheng collapsed helplessly against the wall, his tall, slender figure slumping as he struck it without strength.

Ji Yunan rushed to his side just in time, grabbing his shoulder anxiously, “Xuezheng?! Are you alright?”

Xiao Xuezheng’s features were dark and shadowed; his gaze fell to the hand resting on his shoulder, then shifted with a deep, heavy look to Ji Yunan’s concerned face. In a hoarse voice, he said, “Yunan… She’s still unwell, and yet, even sick, she insists on leaving me. She’s truly made up her mind to leave me this time!”

Ji Yunan fell silent at once.

Especially hearing such words spoken in a tone of powerless despair by his old friend—his heart too was filled with bitter sorrow.

He didn’t know what to say in response…

What kind of person was Xuezheng? Raised in comfort and privilege from childhood, aside from losing Zaozao at eighteen, he had never spoken with such unguarded grief before…

The next moment, Xiao Xuezheng pushed Ji Yunan’s hand away, steadied his towering frame, and strode off down the corridor.

Ji Yunan called after him, “Xuezheng?! Where are you going?!”

Without answering, Xiao Xuezheng walked straight into the room where Shi Runrun had stayed.

The spacious, luxurious hospital room was now cold and empty in the absence of Shi Runrun.

Xiao Xuezheng looked around: the IV drip still hung there, fluid slowly falling, unfinished; the bedside table, once cluttered with medicines, was now utterly bare.

He furrowed his sword-like brows tightly and pressed his lips into a thin line.

He dared not imagine what kind of resolve she must have clung to, what determined attitude she wore, as she pulled the needle from her hand, gathered her medicine, and escaped the hospital, fled from this place.

The more he thought about it, the colder and more forbidding his finely sculpted features became.

The anger within him radiated outward, filling the room with an almost tangible hostility, so much so that none of the doctors or nurses dared approach.

Ji Yunan soon caught up and said, “Xuezheng, I've already sent someone to retrieve the surveillance footage, but the hospital’s footage can’t be released easily—it needs the approval of the administration.”

Xuezheng waved a hand dismissively and said in a cold voice, “No need. Just find out how many exits this hospital has and get me the footage from all those exits. That will suffice.”

Ji Yunan understood at once and hurried off to make the necessary calls.

When he left, Xuezheng walked deeper into the room and, gazing at the empty hospital bed, reached out and touched it.

The touch was cold to the point of chill; she must have left long ago.

Did she leave as soon as he left the hospital at noon?

So resolute... She truly had made up her mind to forsake him…

What was she feeling when she went? Was there any reluctance in her heart?

Had she, after all these days of marriage, not the slightest attachment to him…

Just because the child was lost, did she have to sentence him to a lifetime apart as well…

The man closed his eyes, his body sinking helplessly onto the bed, and as his thoughts spiraled, his anger grew until, unable to contain it, he slammed a fist down onto the mattress.

Luckily, the bedding was thick and soft—otherwise, his fist would have been bloodied by the force.

Before long, Ji Yunan returned with news.

“Xuezheng! The hospital’s main entrance footage just came through. At one in the afternoon, there’s a clear image of her—she left the hospital, got into a taxi, and the taxi drove away, but its destination is unknown!”

At these words, Xiao Xuezheng let out a cold laugh, opened his ebony eyes, and strode out of the room, down the stairs, to the hospital’s main entrance.

At this hour the entrance was crowded, and he stood there, watching the endless stream of vehicles, racking his brain: Where could she have gone?

What mattered more was her health—she’d only just undergone uterine surgery, her injuries from the car accident weren’t yet healed, her fever had barely subsided!

Even so, she had to leave him… Even if it cost her life, she had to go…

It proved she had truly given up on him…

Beneath the broad daylight, Xiao Xuezheng found the glare almost unbearable.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were filled with resolve.

He turned to Ji Yunan. “Yunan, get in touch with the Director of the Capital City Traffic Bureau—have them pull up all the surveillance between the hospital entrance and every intersection beyond. Tell them it’s at my request, and make it fast.”

Even if it meant turning the city upside down, he would find her.

…

Crossing the boarding bridge, Shi Runrun joined the other passengers and boarded the plane.

Her eyes were swollen and red from crying, her vision blurred, her movements sluggish.

On top of that, it was her first time flying; once on board, she couldn’t find her seat for a moment.

Fortunately, a flight attendant noticed her distress and came to help, guiding her to her seat.

Her body was exhausted, her head ached, and it felt as if her fever was returning.

After sitting down, Shi Runrun reached into her pocket for a fever-reducing pill. She wanted to swallow it, but worried that, without water, such a large tablet would get stuck in her throat.

After a moment’s hesitation, she raised her hand and asked the flight attendant if she could buy a bottle of water—just ordinary mineral water.

She was worried the price would be high; she had only a little over a thousand yuan left, which she’d need once she reached City B. Reality was harsh—alone in a strange city, she’d need money for everything.

To her surprise, the flight attendant smiled and brought her a glass of water for free, kindly asking if she was unwell and if she wanted to switch to a more comfortable seat.

Shi Runrun was stunned, shook her head, and only after confirming the water was free did she accept it, thank the attendant, and swallow her pill.

Soon, all the passengers were on board.

The announcement sounded—doors closing, the plane about to depart.

With swollen eyes, Shi Runrun watched the people around her chatting and laughing, guessing they were probably off on holidays.

She had once wondered what her first flight would be like.

But she had never imagined her first time flying would be to escape from him.

She was about to arrive in a strange city, her baby gone from her body, and in the future, no man would ever cherish her or care for her so devotedly.

In the mornings, she’d no longer wake in his arms, be fed breakfast by him, be driven to class.

At noon, there would be no more special prenatal meals at home.

In the evenings, he would no longer pick her up from school, take her out on sweet dates, shopping, or help her with her studies at home…

All the beauty of her past life would end at this very moment.