Omegaverse: Salted Fish Life in the Yaoi Novel
Chapter 70: Ch 70: When Two Small Hands Meet
The hospital room was filled with a fragile, hopeful quiet as the soft morning light continued to filter through the curtains, casting gentle golden patterns across the white sheets and medical equipment.
The three of them—Su Wanyan, Mo Xingxue, and little Mo Yan—stood frozen, staring at the small figure on the bed. Their mouths hung open in collective shock, eyes wide with disbelief and budding joy. The only sound in the room was the steady beeping of the monitor, marking each precious second of this unexpected awakening.
Su Wanyan snapped out of her daze when she felt warm drool dripping onto her hand from Mo Yan. "Ah," she let out softly. She glanced down at the baby in her arms and silently wiped the saliva away with her sleeve, a small, fond smile tugging at her lips despite everything.
Su Wanyan looked at Mo Yan, who had also snapped out of her daze and was now smiling back at her, though the baby’s eyes still held traces of surprise. Su Wanyan let out a soft chuckle. That sound seemed to pull Mo Xingxue from her stupor as well. She stopped stroking Shen Guoxing’s hair and looked down at the child with worried eyes. "How are you feeling?" Mo Xingxue asked softly, her voice gentle and full of concern.
Su Wanyan smiled and reached out to hold Shen Guoxing’s small hand, stroking her knuckle with her thumb. "Do you need some water?" she asked, her tone warm and reassuring.
Shen Guoxing finally turned her head toward them, blinking rapidly as clarity slowly returned to her gaze. She first looked at Mo Xingxue, who was closest, then at Su Wanyan, and finally at little Mo Yan nestled in Su Wanyan’s arms.
Shen Guoxing opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, repeating the motion a few times as if testing her voice. The two women waited patiently, the room filled with anticipatory silence. Even Mo Yan, as if sensing the importance of the moment, stayed quiet, sucking her drool that was about to fall.
Finally, Shen Guoxing managed a single, croaked word. "Wa-water," she said, her voice soft and melodic, carrying the innocent pitch of a child.
Mo Xingxue quickly grabbed the glass of water from the bedside table and adjusted the bed’s angle with the remote, gently lifting Shen Guoxing’s upper body so she wouldn’t choke. She brought the glass to the child’s lips, and Shen Guoxing drank eagerly. "Slow down, slow down," Mo Xingxue said worriedly. "You’ll choke." Shen Guoxing obliged, sipping more carefully.
Su Wanyan watched the interaction with a soft, relieved smile. She glanced down at Mo Yan in her arms, and the baby flashed her another bright smile. The two returned their attention to the child on the bed, watching closely.
Shen Guoxing finally finished drinking the water, and Mo Xingxue set the glass of water aside on the bedside table with careful movements. Su Wanyan and Shen Guoxing stared at each other for a long moment.
Then Su Wanyan smiled, though it was tinged with complicated emotions. "Congratulations on your successful surgery, Xing’er," she said, her voice warm but carrying an undercurrent of apology and resignation beneath the feigned calmness.
Shen Guoxing looked down at her chest and placed her small hand over the area, clearly feeling the difference between her body now and before the surgery. She pursed her lips, and so did Su Wanyan, the shared silence heavy with unspoken feelings.
Shen Guoxing then shifted her gaze to Su Wanyan before quickly withdrawing it. She looked down at her tiny hands resting above her thighs and clenched them tightly, so tightly that her small fists trembled.
Su Wanyan silently handed Mo Yan to Mo Xingxue, who took the baby gently and decided to sit on the sofa with her. Little Mo Yan sensibly kept quiet, her drool in check as she watched the scene with wide, curious eyes.
Su Wanyan remained standing for a moment longer, looking quietly at Shen Guoxing whose shoulders were now trembling. Su Wanyan felt her own eyes water at the sight, and she decided to sit near the bed.
She looked at the child, whose tears were falling silently down her pale cheeks. Su Wanyan felt a deep heartache at the sight, her own eyes shedding some tears. Still, she knew it wasn’t the time to cry sadly, so she hastily wiped her tears and mustered a small, reassuring smile.
Su Wanyan slowly reached out to the child’s hand, which fortunately the child didn’t swat away. "I’m sorry, Xing’er," Su Wanyan said, her voice trembling. At that, Shen Guoxing whimpered pitifully.
Su Wanyan felt her eyes water again, her chest tightening painfully. "You see," her voice trembled once more, "that was the only way so I don’t lose you," Su Wanyan said, her voice cracking at the end.
Shen Guoxing sobbed, "I didn’t wa-want to get sur-surgery," she said, her soft childish voice pitiful as she tried to sound firm but failed miserably. Su Wanyan’s heart tightened, and her throat felt choked up. She tightened her hold on Shen Guoxing’s hand. "I’m sorry. I’m really sorry," Su Wanyan said, bowing her head and letting her tears fall freely.
Shen Guoxing clenched her little hands tighter. Listening to Su Wanyan sob broke her small heart, but what broke it even more was the fact that she still couldn’t ease the burden Su Wanyan had to carry.
Shen Guoxing was incredibly grateful that Su Wanyan did all of this for her, but she was aware of her own status and felt she didn’t deserve this kind of treatment. Even her own parents hadn’t treated her like this.
But she also felt angry—not at Su Wanyan, but at herself. She had once again burdened the only person in the world who genuinely cared for her. She had once again wasted the hard-earned money of the only person who loved her by not healing naturally. She had once again become a burden to her Aunt Wanyan.
And for Shen Guoxing, that was the most atrocious thing she had ever done.
She also hated herself because she knew that those unfaithful nurses would once again bad-mouth her Aunt Wanyan for taking in a "bad luck" like her—a money-draining bastard, they would say.
A fool her Aunt Wanyan was for willingly spending money on her even though she wasn’t a blood relative. A fool and a parasite, they would laugh and joke about.
When Shen Guoxing first overheard them, she had felt mad at the nurses. But by the second, third, fourth, and fifth time, she had lost all anger. Instead, she felt only shame. Because what they said was true—she was a parasite. She was nothing but a burden and bad luck to her Aunt Wanyan.
Ever since that day, she had decided not to burden her Aunt Wanyan with more treatment and surgery. It’s childish, yes. But this childish method was the only thing she could do to protect her aunt. Of course, she had tried to unalive herself before, but she was caught by her Aunt Wanyan, and that was the first time she had ever seen her aunt cry so pitifully.
"You’re the only one I have left," her Aunt Wanyan would say. But Shen Guoxing couldn’t fully understand it. After all, her Aunt Wanyan still had her parents. Still, Shen Guoxing didn’t question it. That was also the day she decided not to try again, lest she hurt her Aunt Wanyan more.
That was how she had survived until this day. But on the day she had a cardiac arrest, Shen Guoxing could still remember it clearly—how her chest had tightened, how she couldn’t breathe, the shouts of the doctors and nurses.. and even as she closed her eyes, she remembered it all.
The only thought she had at that time was I hope Aunt Wanyan would be happy without me. And I hope next time, I’ll be able to protect someone.
Then, darkness. But then, she had opened her eyes and seen her Aunt Wanyan congratulating her on the surgery. Shen Guoxing felt ashamed and angry again. I couldn’t protect Aunt Wanyan again, she thought bitterly, causing her to cry pitifully. "I-I’m sorry for be-being.. for being a bu-burden, Aunt Wanyan," Shen Guoxing said. She remembered the nurses’ mocking laughs, how they gazed at her Aunt Wanyan like a fool.
Su Wanyan looked up and hugged the child tightly. "You’re not a burden," Su Wanyan said as she held her close. "You’ll never be a burden," she choked out. At that, Shen Guoxing wailed pitifully, finally crying like the child that she was. Shen Guoxing returned the hug, and the two cried together, their sobs echoing softly in the quiet room.
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After a while, the two had finally stopped crying. They remained there, hugging each other tightly. Mo Xingxue walked up to them, holding two water bottles in one hand and Mo Yan in the other.
Su Wanyan looked gratefully at Mo Xingxue and accepted the water bottles with a small "thank you." Mo Xingxue smiled at her, then looked at the child. Su Wanyan uncapped one bottle and slowly fed Shen Guoxing the water. Shen Guoxing drank it slowly, still letting out little sobs. After she finished, Su Wanyan uncapped the other and drank it herself.
"Are you okay?" Mo Xingxue asked the little kid gently.
Shen Guoxing looked at her and nodded. Then, she looked closely at Mo Xingxue, and her eyes widened with realization. "Mo Xingxue?! The three-time Grand Slam actress?!" Shen Guoxing asked excitedly, her eyes shining with a childish glint.
Mo Xingxue smiled and teased, "You’re a fan of mine?"
Shen Guoxing nodded enthusiastically. "A big fan! I’ve watched all your dramas, movies, and TV variety shows you attended!" she said, practically bouncing with excitement, yet her tear-streaked face still made her look pitiful.
Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue chuckled warmly. Su Wanyan wiped her remaining tears and introduced the two children. "Oh, by the way, I want you to meet someone," Su Wanyan said, flashing Shen Guoxing a soft smile.
Mo Xingxue presented Mo Yan, who flashed Shen Guoxing a bright, gummy smile, literally brightening up the otherwise cold and gloomy white room. Shen Guoxing looked at the cute baby and hastily wiped her own tears. "Who is she, Aunt Wanyan?" she asked, trying to reach out weakly. Mo Yan made it easier by clumsily stretching her tiny hands toward her.
Su Wanyan felt her heart warm at the sweet interaction. She glanced at Mo Xingxue, and they both chuckled softly. "She’s my daughter," Mo Xingxue said, reaching out her hand to take ruffle Shen Guoxing’s hair. Shen Guoxing calmly accepted it, even enjoying Mo Xingxue’s warm touch.
After Mo Xingxue withdrew her hand, Shen Guoxing looked up at Mo Xingxue and smiled. "She’s so cute, Teacher Mo!" she said, managing a weak but bright smile of her own. The two women chuckled again, and Mo Yan responded with an even brighter grin, her gums showing adorably.
"Mo Yan, this is your jiejie Shen Guoxing," Su Wanyan said, Mo Xingxue then moved the baby closer. Then Su Wanyan turned to Shen Guoxing. "Shen Guoxing, this is your meimei Mo Yan." Shen Guoxing’s gaze settled on the baby just an arm’s length away. A tender smile bloomed on her pale face.
"Hello, Mo.... Yan?" she murmured. The name caught on her tongue. For a heartbeat, everything seemed fine—then something shattered behind her eyes. "Ahh—!"
Shen Guoxing suddenly clutched her head with both hands, her body curling inward as a sharp cry tore from her throat. The pain was immediate and overwhelming, like a dam bursting inside her skull. "Shen Guoxing!" Su Wanyan exclaimed, rushing forward to pat her back in frantic worry. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"Shen Guoxing! Shen Guoxing!" Mo Xingxue called out, her voice tight with alarm.
But it was as if Shen Guoxing couldn’t hear them anymore. Her face twisted in agony, fingers digging into her temples. Through gritted teeth, fragmented words slipped out: "Mo Yan....! The girl on the—!" her voice cut off abruptly. Shen Guoxing’s eyes rolled back, and she collapsed against the pillows, unconscious.
A startled gasp escaped both Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue. The sudden movement and tension in the room frightened little Mo Yan, who had been peacefully nestled in Mo Xingxue’s arms. The baby let out a loud, heartbroken wail, her tiny face scrunching up as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.
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A few minutes had passed since Shen Guoxing had fainted, and she finally opened her eyes again. She looked groggily at the three people watching her intently and couldn’t help but ask, "Wh-what happened, Aunt Wanyan?"
Su Wanyan paused, then smiled gently. "We checked your vital signs and ran some simple tests, and we didn’t find anything wrong," she said, looking at Shen Guoxing with her usual warm gaze. "This normally happens, so don’t worry too much, Xing’er." Su Wanyan continued stroking the child’s hair, her touch light and comforting.
Shen Guoxing looked at the two figures near Su Wanyan and smiled sheepishly. "I’m sorry for suddenly scaring you two," she said.
Mo Xingxue smiled softly. "No, no, don’t be," she said, holding Shen Guoxing’s hand with her own. "We’re glad you’re alright." Mo Yan in her arms also let out a string of happy babbles, as if trying to reassure the older child too. Shen Guoxing smiled at them and stretched out her hand toward Mo Yan. Mo Xingxue understood immediately and moved the baby closer.
Mo Yan eagerly held Shen Guoxing’s finger, her warm and soft hands enveloping it. The baby then shot her a bright, gummy smile, and Shen Guoxing returned it with a weak but genuine one. "Hi there, I’m your jiejie," Shen Guoxing said gently.
The two children simply looked at each other for a moment, a quiet connection forming in their innocent gazes.
Recalling the memories that had suddenly attacked her earlier and her wish when the darkness consumed her, Shen Guoxing made up her mind. She vowed out loud, "As your jiejie, I’ll protect you. Whatever happens, I’ll be there at your side." Her voice was soft but carried firm determination.
The two adults watched the sweet interaction with joyous smiles. Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue looked at each other and chuckled softly.
Su Wanyan stroked Shen Guoxing’s back. "Wow, how dependable," she teased.
Instead of feeling embarrassed, Shen Guoxing puffed out her chest. "Of course, I’m a jiejie now!" she declared, earning laughs from Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue, along with delighted babbles from Mo Yan.
Mo Xingxue looked at Mo Yan in her arms. "Wow, our Mo Yan is so lucky that she’s the meimei of an amazing jiejie like you, Xing’er," she said gently.
Shen Guoxing blushed slightly. "Don’t worry, Teacher....." Before she could continue, Mo Xingxue corrected her with a playful sternness. "It’s Aunt Xingxue to you."
Shen Guoxing revealed a shy smile. "Aunt Xingxue.." she murmured, then nodded firmly. "Don’t worry, Aunt Xingxue! I’ll protect Mo Yan in the future!" she vowed to them, her eyes burning with determination.
The two women laughed warmly. "Okay, okay, you’ll protect her in the future. But for now, you little guardian, should get well first," Su Wanyan said, pinching Shen Guoxing’s nose endearingly. "We can’t let the protector faint on the protected now, do we?" she teased.
Shen Guoxing protested cutely, and the four of them—two adults and two children—shared a laugh that filled the room with warmth and light.
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Thanks again, AshesOT, for proofreading this Chapter and providing valuable insights! Applause, guys. Applause!
Also, y’all, the small angst part there is not my idea. It’s all AshesOT’s fault. She told me it would be much more better if I added angst. I was only fulfilling requests, it ain’t my fault. Y’all know I can’t bear to hurt y’all, right?
Anyway, I just found out that y’all can’t read my replies? I seriously didn’t know that THAT was happening, and I would’ve remain oblivious if yuriconnoisseur didn’t voice that out in the server. But yeah, I just wanted to inform y’all that I’m replying to everyone of y’all, alright? It’s just that the restrictions are a pain in the butthol—I’m kidding (please don’t ban me, lol)