Chapter 11 I’m barefoot and not afraid of wearing shoes

The next day, Qiu Zhan and his team performed surgery on Xiao Guang early in the morning. They entered the operating room at seven and finished by ten-thirty. Qiu Zhan made a point to visit Shen Weiguo's ward to tell him that Xiao Guang's surgery was very successful. In a month, when the cochlear implant is activated, Xiao Guang will be able to hear the outside world and gradually start language training.

"Thank you... thank you!" Shen Weiguo tried to sit up.

Qiu Zhan pressed his shoulder down, "Uncle, there's no need to thank me. You need to relax and focus on recovering. Everything will get better."

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the importance of maintaining and nurturing one's fundamental health. A person's mental state is the root of all illnesses. Besides genetic factors, liver disease is closely related to anxiety. Shen Weiguo's condition is likely due to the heavy burden he's carried for years, worrying about his children, which eventually led to illness. If he relaxes from now on, he might live a few days longer.

"Okay, okay, I'll relax," Shen Weiguo said, very emotional and happy. He fervently hoped that he could live a few more days to see Xiao Guang speak.

Today, Huo Mingze had business to attend to. After sending Xiao Guang into the operating room, he went to his company. He hurried back around ten, just in time to accompany Xiao Guang back to the ward.

"Actually, you didn't need to rush over," Shen Mofei said gratefully as she saw Huo Mingze arrive.

"For such an important surgery for my brother-in-law, I should have been here with you the whole time." Huo Mingze noticed a strand of hair falling over Shen Mofei's face and tucked it behind her ear.

Shen Mofei's ears instantly turned red.

Seeing her reaction, Huo Mingze's lips curled up slightly. He then reported his schedule, "I have a lot to do today. I'm here now to spend some time with you and check on Dad and Xiao Guang. I can't join you for lunch; I need to meet a client."

"You have your work to do; you don't have to come specifically," Shen Mofei said immediately.

Huo Mingze smiled at her, "We're married now. I should report my schedule to you."

Shen Mofei's ears turned red again. She felt a bit uncomfortable but also secure and even looked forward to married life. She said, "There's no need. You can prioritize your work. I can take care of myself and the family."

"Okay," Huo Mingze said with a smile.

Shen Mofei quickly looked away, her cheeks feeling warm.

Confirming that her father and brother were stable, Shen Mofei arrived at the Qinya Club promptly at three in the afternoon. This was the most upscale business club in Haicheng, frequented by many businesspeople for work discussions. As she entered the club, Shen Mofei immediately spotted Song Keying sitting by the window. Song Keying had taken off her coat, revealing a figure-hugging gray cashmere sweater, and was elegantly sipping coffee. Seeing Shen Mofei enter, she rolled her eyes and sneered, "Not chickening out this time?"

Shen Mofei walked over. Song Keying rolled her eyes disdainfully again, turned to grab her bag, and arrogantly pulled out an envelope. "There's a check for 100,000 yuan here..."

Smack—Shen Mofei walked up and slapped Song Keying across the face.

"You!" Song Keying stared wide-eyed in shock. Shen Mofei dared to hit her?

"Bitch, how dare you hit me!" Song Keying went crazy, leaping up and wildly swinging her bag at Shen Mofei. Shen Mofei grabbed the bag, pulled it away, and slapped Song Keying again.

Her eyes cold and resolute, Shen Mofei looked at Song Keying. "Song Keying, that first slap was for the dirty things you did to me behind my back three years ago. This one is for the harm you caused my father."

"What did I do to you? You bitch!" Song Keying's voice was sharp.

"Try insulting me again!" Shen Mofei warned.

"Bitch, bitch... ah..." Shen Mofei grabbed the coffee in front of her and splashed it directly into Song Keying's face and mouth. Coffee soaked Song Keying's clothes and face, and she screamed, clutching at her chest and quickly shaking her clothes, then grabbing napkins to wipe off.

Shen Mofei looked at her coldly. "Do you think I haven't seen those photos you edited?"

Song Keying's eyes flashed with guilt, but she stubbornly raised her chin, denying everything. "I don't know what you're talking about, Shen Mofei. For hitting and splashing me today, you need to let me hit you back, or I'll make your family's life miserable."

"What more can you do? You nearly killed my father. Song Keying, I came here today to tell you that I have nothing to lose. Bring it on. If I so much as frown, I'm not Shen Mofei. And if you dare to harm my father or brother again, I will make sure everyone knows what happened between you and Ding Fan."

Song Keying rolled her eyes again. "Are you delusional? Ding Fan and I were just ordinary classmates; the whole school knows that."

Shen Mofei leaned close to Song Keying's ear and whispered, "Do you really think no one saw what happened the night Ding Fan had that accident?"

Song Keying's face turned pale instantly. Shen Mofei pulled back and warned, "Song Keying, if you don't want anyone to know, don't do it. If you disturb my life again, I will make sure you end up in prison. Do you think your connections can cover everything? Song Keying, if you touch my family, even if I can't get you imprisoned, I will drag you to hell with me."

"You're insane," Song Keying glared at Shen Mofei furiously. Suddenly, her expression turned from fury to one of feigned pitifulness. She staggered back a step and covered her face with her hand.

Seeing Song Keying's expression, Shen Mofei suddenly realized something, and her spine involuntarily stiffened. Her fists clenched slightly at her sides, as if needing this gesture to give herself some strength. Yet, her fingertips still trembled uncontrollably. It had been so long since they broke up—how long? Three years, over a thousand days! On the day they broke up, his mother had arranged to meet her, throwing a pile of photos in her face and telling her to leave. Despite the burning pain from the photos cutting her skin, she tried to explain to his mother that it was a misunderstanding, that the photos were not real. His mother hurled a slew of harsh words and left.

How could she not feel aggrieved after such humiliation? However, after so many years of love, she wanted to hold on. She swallowed her grievances, composed herself, and called him to tell him that his mother had come to see her, barely having the chance to explain about the photos. He coldly said over the phone, "Mofei, let's break up. Whether the photos are real or not doesn't matter anymore."

In that moment, her heart felt as if it had been crushed by an invisible hand. It shattered into pieces like glass, never to be pieced back together. How could she remember it so clearly even after so much time? It was as if he had said those words to her just yesterday. After three years, she thought she had long forgotten the past. Yet at this moment, her body was paralyzed with tension. She clenched her fists, telling herself internally, Shen Mofei, you must be strong. What is there that you can't face? It was Gu Tianxi who said they should break up, wasn't it? Years of love couldn't withstand a few maliciously edited photos. The one who gave up on her, misunderstood her, and hurt her… it was Gu Tianxi, wasn't it?

Song Keying's voice came again, sweetly and affectingly: "Tianxi… Mofei might have some misunderstandings about me."