Chapter 231: Return

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=2188414

This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

Xi Mo was slightly taken aback by the kiss, then immediately and gently grabbed Ruan Yesheng's arm to prevent her from retreating, and kissed her back.

Ruan Yesheng smiled. Xi Mo only gave her a light kiss and did not continue. Instead, she held her tightly.

"...I'm very scared." Xi Mo said softly.

"I know." Wrapped in this embrace, Ruan Yesheng's heart ached. She could only use all the gentleness she had to comfort her. "I'm also very scared. Even now, it still feels unreal. I can't believe something like this happened. Luckily... luckily you're safe now."

Xi Mo rested her head on Ruan Yesheng's shoulder and gently shook it. "I'm scared... that I might never see you again. I'm really... very scared."

Ruan Yesheng froze for a moment and hugged her even tighter, afraid she would leave her. At the same time, tears rolled down her face.

From yesterday until this morning, it actually had not been that long. Yet she had already lost count of how many times she cried.

In this life, she could no longer bear losing someone again.

"I've made you cry so many times." Feeling her burning tears fall onto her neck, Xi Mo's heart hurt. She quickly let her go, took a tissue from the side, wiped away her tears, and comforted her. "I'll get better as soon as I can."

Ruan Yesheng nodded, her voice choked with emotion.

"Come over here. Sleep beside me for a while, okay?" Xi Mo felt heartbroken seeing the exhaustion on her face from not sleeping all night.

Of course Ruan Yesheng wanted to sleep beside her. But she still looked at the hospital room door and said, "If I sleep beside you, the door will have to stay closed for a long time. It won't be convenient for people visiting you, or for the doctors and nurses to come in. We can't do that."

"Then don't lock the door. Just sleep anyway. If someone comes in and sees it, they'll just think you're my best 'friend' who got tired from taking care of me and fell asleep beside me. Isn't that allowed?" Xi Mo frowned.

Taking care of a patient in the hospital was already very tiring. So what if Ruan Yesheng slept beside her for a while? She had already thought of many ways to make it up to Ruan Yesheng. They were not choices. She would do every one of them after she recovered. But even then, she still felt they were far from enough to repay all of Ruan Yesheng's hardship.

Ruan Yesheng almost laughed at her frowning face and said, "Normally, people wouldn't think too much about it. But you're different. Too many people pay attention to you and interpret everything. Maybe a little later, the entertainment reporters will smell the news and come over. If the door gets opened during the doctor's rounds or while family and friends are visiting, and this gets photographed, there will probably be trouble later. You're always so careful. How could you let something like that happen?"

Xi Mo lowered her head slightly and said nothing.

"I know you just want me to sleep more comfortably. You can't bear to see me like this." Ruan Yesheng said softly. "It's okay. I'll nap by your bedside for a while, or lie on the folding bed later. That's fine too. It'll also be easier when the nurse comes to give you an IV. If there's another person on your bed, how can the nurse work?"

Xi Mo stayed silent for a long while before saying, "I'll listen to you."

How could she not understand all those reasons and concerns? But even if she understood them, what could she do? She could not control the distress and reluctance in her heart.

"Good girl." Ruan Yesheng smiled brightly.

Xi Mo was amused. She lowered her eyes, put the file box into the cabinet beside her, and lay down. She thought she had to sleep. Even if she could not fall asleep for now, she still had to keep her eyes closed and pretend to sleep. Otherwise, Ruan Yesheng would have no way to rest properly.

"Are you tired?" Seeing the exhaustion on her face, Ruan Yesheng stopped smiling and asked worriedly.

"I want to sleep a little longer." Lying under the blanket, Xi Mo looked at her and said, "You have to remember to sleep later too."

Ruan Yesheng was quick to understand. When she heard the first sentence, she thought Xi Mo was really tired. But after hearing the second sentence, she immediately understood what Xi Mo was thinking. She did not expose it and simply went along with her.

"Okay. I'm a little sleepy too."

Xi Mo looked at her for a long while before finally closing her eyes.

"Good little wooden block." Ruan Yesheng smiled and patted Xi Mo's blanket.

Xi Mo's whole body stiffened. She kept her eyes closed and said nothing.

Ruan Yesheng smiled as she looked at her for a long time. Then she got up and unlocked the door again, though she still kept it closed.

Xi Mo's body had already gone through complete exhaustion, and she had many scrapes and leg injuries. Gradually, she really fell asleep, her breathing becoming steady. Looking at her sleeping face, Ruan Yesheng felt another wave of sadness. She rested beside her and took a short nap.

Ruan Yesheng was half asleep when she felt her phone vibrating. By the time she woke up, the first vibration had already ended. But when the caller saw the call was not answered, they immediately called again.

The vibration sounded as urgent as a drumbeat.

Ruan Yesheng quickly took out her phone and saw it was the neighbor aunt calling. Her first thought was whether something had happened at home. She was not there. Maybe there was a problem with the water or electricity. The neighbor aunt was kind and had always taken good care of her. Whenever something happened at home while Ruan Yesheng was working, or if the property management sent an important notice that she missed because she was busy, the aunt would call to remind her.

She did not dare waste even a second and immediately answered.

"Auntie..."

Before Ruan Yesheng could finish greeting her, the neighbor aunt's voice came through, trembling with urgency.

"Ruanruan, Ruanruan, where are you now? Can you come back right away? Your mom... your mom has come back!"

Ruan Yesheng's mind buzzed, and in that instant, every other sound in the world seemed to disappear.

...What?

Ruan Yesheng froze.

All she could hear was the neighbor aunt's voice repeating again and again in her ears.

"I... when I went out, I saw someone lying on the ground outside your door. I was so frightened. It wasn't you, so I gathered my courage and went over to see what happened. I thought maybe someone got drunk, went to the wrong door, and fell asleep there. But... but when I turned that person over, it was actually Xijian! Her hair... her hair was dyed another color. I didn't recognize her at first. You weren't home, so I brought Xijian to my place first. Where are you? Come back quickly..."

That word, "come back," made Ruan Yesheng's heart tighten.

Mom... had come back!

Ruan Yesheng trembled all over. Even her voice shook as she whispered, "What's wrong with Mom? Why was she lying on the ground? Should we call an ambulance? I... I'll come back right now!"

"She's covered in injuries!" The neighbor aunt was so frightened that she was almost crying. "Big and small wounds everywhere! But... but some of them have already scabbed over, and some are scars. At least there's no blood on her now. They were probably old injuries. My daughter and I carried her inside. She woke up for a while and said she had low blood sugar because she hadn't eaten anything. I quickly gave her some candy and chocolate first."

Covered in injuries... scabs... scars...

Those words echoed through Ruan Yesheng's mind. She was almost going crazy.

"I wanted to call an ambulance, but Xijian looked terrified and told me not to. She said the ambulance would probably take her to the nearest hospital, and she couldn't go to a nearby hospital. Someone is searching for her everywhere, and they might find her there. She escaped... She told me to contact you immediately. She said she had to see you, and that you should take her to a safe place. If there isn't a safe place for now, then stay together in a crowded square or in a twenty-four-hour store. That way, even if those people find her, they won't dare make a move for now... I... I couldn't understand everything. She was talking without making sense. I can only roughly repeat it to you. Ruanruan, come back quickly. Auntie... Auntie really doesn't know what to do."

"I... I'll come back right away!" Ruan Yesheng said with a trembling voice. "Listen to her first. Don't call an ambulance. If Mom said that, she must have her reasons! How is she now? Can she talk to me?"

"Xijian fainted." The neighbor aunt could not hold back her tears. "How could she have so many injuries? Who did this to her? I don't dare do anything now. Let's wait until you get back and discuss it together. We have to call the police!"

"Okay... okay. Auntie, please take care of her first. I'm coming back now." Ruan Yesheng was almost unable to stop crying. "Right away, right away... If anything happens to Mom while I'm on my way, please call me immediately!"

"...Okay. Don't worry. Be careful and drive safely."

The call ended for now. Ruan Yesheng's hand holding the phone was still trembling. She quickly looked at the sleeping Xi Mo on the hospital bed.

Xi Mo was already physically and mentally exhausted, and her leg was still injured. Before bringing her mother here, she absolutely could not tell Xi Mo about this.

Only Xi Mo knew how much Ruan Yesheng had sacrificed over the years searching for her mother. If Xi Mo woke up now and learned about this while she was stuck in a hospital bed, unable to help, it would only bring her more pressure and guilt.

The most urgent thing now was to bring her mother to this hospital first. Her mother had said they needed a safe place with many people, and it could not be a nearby hospital. This hospital was the best choice. Xi Ji had already secretly arranged many people to protect Xi Mo.

As long as they were safe, then after Xi Mo woke up and learned everything, the situation would already be stable. After that, both her mother and Xi Mo could recover, and then she could ask her mother what had really happened to her.

Ruan Yesheng's mind raced. Despite her panic, she quickly came up with an orderly plan. She immediately opened the door and walked out.

She had to leave for now, which meant someone she trusted had to stay and take care of Xi Mo. While on the way, she would call Lin Tingyu, Cui Jiayu, Lu Qingming, and the others, arranging everything she could first. They were all nearby and could return very quickly.

Zhou Wenxu was in the hallway. Seeing Ruan Yesheng rush out in panic, he quickly asked nervously, "Miss Ruan, what happened? Did something happen to Xi Mo?"

"I... I can't explain it clearly right now. There's no time." Ruan Yesheng quickly instructed him. "Mr. Two, please stay here and watch over Xi Mo. Call a few more people over too. My mom has come back. She's in bad condition, and I have to go bring her here immediately. But if Xi Mo wakes up, just tell her I had to go take care of something and that I'll be back after a while. If my mom and I haven't returned to the hospital yet, don't tell her."

Zhou Wenxu still did not understand what was going on. But seeing how anxious Ruan Yesheng was, he hurriedly said, "How can you go alone? Xi Mo already told me that if you go out, I have to go with you. Miss Ruan, don't worry. I just saw Miss Lin Tingyu come back. She's over there asking the nurse about Xi Mo's IV. We'll have her stay here with Xi Mo. I'll go back with you!"

Ruan Yesheng looked up and saw Lin Tingyu already walking toward the hallway. Not daring to speak loudly, she quickly called Lin Tingyu.

Hearing Ruan Yesheng tell her over the phone to come over quickly, Lin Tingyu immediately ran over.

"Ruanruan, what's wrong?"

Ruan Yesheng briefly explained the situation. Lin Tingyu did not know about Ruan Xijian, but from Ruan Yesheng's instructions, she knew it was extremely important.

"You and Mr. Zhou go first. Leave Xi Mo to me. We'll stay in contact."

Seeing that Xi Mo was now in trustworthy hands, Ruan Yesheng hurried to the parking lot with Zhou Wenxu.

Zhou Wenxu drove while Ruan Yesheng sat in the back seat, feeling as though nothing was real.

Everything...

It all felt like a dream.

They finally returned to Ruan Yesheng's neighborhood. She and Zhou Wenxu took the elevator upstairs and arrived at the neighbor aunt's door. Ruan Yesheng rang the bell. The neighbor aunt opened the door with a worried face and hurried her inside.

"Ruanruan, hurry and see your mom! She's in the room."

Ruan Yesheng thanked her repeatedly, her voice trembling the whole time. She hurried into the room and saw a thin woman lying on the bed. Her hair had been dyed chestnut brown. Besides bruises, there were also wounds on her face.

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=2188414

This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

Ruan Yesheng walked to the bedside and bent down to look at her.

"...Mom." Ruan Yesheng's voice trembled as she slowly reached out her hand and called softly.

Author's Note:

[Poor][Poor] Mom came back. [Crying][Crying][Crying]