Chapter 78: Grandfather Has Grown to Completely Dislike Her

Shi Runrun was suddenly seized by regret. Had she known things would turn out this way, she would have risked everything to protect her baby. Now, the baby was gone, and her grandfather had been sent into the operating room. She felt utterly unforgivable... The surgery lasted an eternity, stretching into the dead of night. Only when everyone’s hearts were suspended in dread did the crimson light above the operating room finally go dark.

The surgeon, clad in scrubs, emerged exhausted from the operating room. Before he could even remove his mask, the crowd surged forward, anxious for news. Shi Runrun, too overcome to linger in guilt or remorse, wiped away her tears and followed Xiao Xuezheng up to the doctor.

“Doctor, how is my grandfather?” she asked, voice trembling.

The surgeon peeled off his mask, wiped the sweat from his brow, and sighed. “Old Mr. Xiao suffered a severe shock, causing heart failure. We gave it everything we had and managed to save him. But, Young Master Xiao, you must be cautious—his heart grows weaker by the day. He could relapse at any moment. You should urgently consider a heart transplant. Meanwhile, he must rest quietly. Absolutely no more shocks.”

As the doctor finished, Grandma Xiao couldn’t hold back her sobs, covering her mouth as tears spilled forth. Fortunately, Xiao Shujing was supporting her firmly, or else Grandma Xiao might have collapsed as well.

Xiao Xuezheng listened, lips pressed tight, and replied, “Thank you, doctor. We’ll take your advice into consideration.”

At that moment, Grandpa Xiao was wheeled out, unconscious on a hospital bed. His withered, pale face was covered by an oxygen mask, his body bristling with tubes, eyes closed in deep sleep.

Just seeing him like that, Shi Runrun couldn’t help but look away. The guilt and regret weighing on her heart only grew heavier.

Grandma Xiao, wiping her eyes, glanced at Shi Runrun’s abdomen and, sighing, cried to Xiao Xuezheng, “Your grandfather’s health has been failing for a long time, that’s why he kept urging you to marry—he wanted to see his great-grandson before he died, to hold him in his arms. You finally settled down, and Runrun was pregnant, but now... now the baby is gone!”

At her words, Shi Runrun and Xiao Xuezheng exchanged a silent, bitter glance.

Grandpa Xiao was transferred into the intensive care unit for observation.

Xiao Xuezheng and Shi Runrun stayed behind for paperwork and to keep vigil. Grandma Xiao wanted to stay too, but her own health was frail; after much persuasion, Aunt Xiao Shujing took her home.

After Grandma left, Shi Runrun followed the nurse to complete the paperwork, while Xiao Xuezheng discussed Grandpa’s follow-up treatment with the doctors outside the ward.

By the time everything was settled, it was already one in the morning.

The two met at the ward door, exchanging glances but having nothing to say. Their minds were consumed only by Grandpa Xiao lying inside, leaving no room for other words.

Shi Runrun took out her phone and sent a text to Cen Huan, asking her to request a long leave from the school authorities on her behalf the next day. With things as they were, she knew she wouldn’t be able to leave the hospital anytime soon.

Though Xiao Xuezheng could stay at the hospital, he was responsible for the vast Guangzheng Group, and emergencies often called him away. With no one else to watch over Grandpa, it all fell to her.

They spent the night on the benches outside the ward. Shi Runrun nestled against Xiao Xuezheng’s chest, curled in his arms, unable to sleep. She kept apologizing, whispering “I’m sorry” to him over and over, tears flowing silently.

Xiao Xuezheng listened and watched, feeling just as miserable, gently wiping her tears and comforting her. Yet Shi Runrun knew his heart must hurt too—he was a man, skilled at enduring silently, but this time, she had truly made a grave mistake.

Around four in the morning, Ji Yunan arrived. Having learned the news, he came all the way from home, bringing two reclining chairs and blankets—solving their sleeping problem for the night.

So, they spent the night outside the ward.

At six the next morning, Shi Runrun awoke groggily to find Aunt Xiao Shujing had arrived. She and Xiao Xuezheng stood a little way off, talking in hushed tones. From where she sat, Shi Runrun couldn’t catch their conversation, but she noticed Xiao Xuezheng’s expression was tense.

Aunt Xiao Shujing brought breakfast and toiletries. Shi Runrun thanked her, then went to wash up in the bathroom. Breakfast held no appeal for her; with Grandpa still in danger, she couldn’t eat a thing.

Grandpa truly woke up at four in the afternoon. After the doctors made their rounds, they came out to tell the family Grandpa Xiao was awake, and they could visit briefly.

At that moment, Grandma Xiao arrived from home. Shi Runrun, ever observant, noticed that Grandma’s hair had gained many new strands of white overnight. Seeing this, a sharp pain seized her heart.

This family, she thought, had suffered so much turmoil because of her.

Inside the ward, everyone was delighted to find Grandpa awake, gazing at the snowy-white ceiling.

“Old man!” Grandma Xiao, unable to restrain her emotion, rushed to his bedside and took his hand. Aunt Xiao Shujing followed, calling softly, “Dad.”

Shi Runrun walked behind Xiao Xuezheng to the bedside, but as her eyes met Grandpa Xiao’s, she felt his gaze instantly turn cold.

The indifference and disregard in his eyes were unmistakable.

What truly made Shi Runrun realize Grandpa was angry with her, disliked her, was when she reached the bedside, and Grandpa Xiao, with effort, turned his head away, refusing to look at her.

Everyone’s gaze shifted, settling on her.

Shi Runrun forced a bitter smile. “I think I’d better step out for now. You all talk with Grandpa.”

With that, she turned to leave.

“Runrun!” Xiao Xuezheng called after her. Shi Runrun paused, looked back at him, shook her head, and walked out of the ward.

Grandpa disliked her now, didn’t want to see her—she understood. She deserved it.

Shi Runrun sat on the bench outside the ward for a long, long time. Grandpa Xiao never called her back in.

People passed by in the corridor, but she felt as if she’d been abandoned by the world—no one stopped to ask about her.

Finally, Shi Runrun couldn’t bear it, and called Cen Huan.

The moment the call connected, Shi Runrun burst into tears.

She poured out everything that had happened these past days to Cen Huan, crying her heart out.

Luckily, her dear friend was still at her side, willing to listen to her complaints, to comfort her, to help her untangle the knots in her heart.

At that moment, aside from Xiao Xuezheng, Cen Huan was the only one in the world standing by Shi Runrun’s side.