Chapter 264

The only sounds were his own heartbeat and breathing, the sounds of doors opening and closing. Xia Yan didn't know how to describe his feelings. A rare sense of irritability and agitation surged within him like raging, unpredictable flames. Even when he tried to calm himself, his fingers kept tapping the armrest of his chair. Or perhaps, as an independent man, his pride and responsibility wouldn't allow him to act like a child, completely lost. Xia Yan could only lean against the wall, close his eyes, and wait for time to tick by, waiting for the outcome he hoped for—nothing to have happened, just a false alarm. Because there was someone else sitting not far from him. From the moment they met until now, Xia Yan had only exchanged a few words with him, nothing more than polite greetings and a fleeting glance. In front of Xia Zhongshan, Xia Yan would never show any other emotions or expressions, nor would he reveal weakness or fear, even though... even though he was actually very scared. Xia Yan's hand slowly clenched into a fist, the extreme worry in his heart gradually eroding his reason. For several hours since arriving here from home, he had been constantly worried, constantly afraid of whether his grandfather's condition was good or bad, and he still couldn't calm down. For Xia Yan, his grandfather had always been the one who played the role of his parents. From the moment they Xia Yan and abandoned him to start their own families, his grandfather was the only family he had left. All other relatives were no different from strangers. From childhood until he finished junior high school, his grandfather was always there to encourage him, giving him the love and companionship that others had never given him. Although from high school onwards, Xia Yan took the initiative to ask his grandfather not to worry about him anymore and suggested that he return to his hometown so that he could live well and independently in a big city like Shanghai, he became alone again. Because his grandfather was getting old. At the beginning of this year, Xia Yan came back to visit his grandfather. Xia Fen was still alive then. Everyone except the two grandchildren had left to avoid seeing them, and no other relatives came to bother them. During that time, his health was clearly very good. Xia Yan remembered that he was full of energy then, playing chess and chatting about recent events without showing any signs of fatigue. He looked just as energetic as he had a few years ago. Why did he suddenly become like this in just a few months? Before leaving Shanghai, his grandfather didn't have many friends. His only hobbies were reading and gardening. Without peers to interact with, humans, being social creatures, naturally develop feelings of loneliness, which affects their health. Clearly, his grandfather understood his concerns. Seeing Xia Yan grow up, he finally let go of his lingering worries and agreed to the request. Facing the broken family left by Xia Zhongshan, he was equally exhausted, both physically and mentally. The older generation highly values family harmony. He believed that only with a harmonious family can everything prosper. But the final outcome was quite dramatic. Xia Yan felt a slight pang in his heart, as if even breathing had become difficult and agonizing. The passage of time not only brought about the final result but also acted as a file, slowly eroding his heart. Whose fault was it? Xia Fen's mother? Or someone else? They were not at fault. Could he blame Xia Fen's mother, who was equally unaware of the situation, or the even more innocent Xia Fen? Xia Yan had never harbored any hostility or disgust towards his half-sister, and he felt the same way about Xia Fen's mother. They kept in frequent contact, whether it was during holidays or vacations. He and Xia Fen also had a good relationship; otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed with him for a while during every holiday. If he had to say who was at fault, perhaps... Xia Yan turned his head slightly, turning to the opposite side of Xia Zhongshan's position on his right. Perhaps Xia Zhongshan and he were both at fault. If he hadn't come into this world, perhaps none of this would have happened, and they could have openly chosen the life they wanted. Xia Yan still remembered the car he saw after seeing Xia Fen off at the cat cafe last winter. Clearly, compared to the substantial sum of money his grandfather transferred to him every year out of guilt, he cherished Xia Fen far more, even making time to pick her up from his busy work schedule. Xia Yan wasn't immune to overthinking; as a child, he had spent nights alone in bed wondering why he was inferior to their new family and their new children. He gradually came to terms with it as he grew up. And Xia Yan always made his grandfather return all that money, ostensibly for living expenses. From the moment Xia Yan smashed that cup, their bond shattered completely, leaving only that laughable blood relation. So... Xia Yan stood up, his expression somewhat suppressed as he stared at the glowing operating room sign. He then silently walked down the stairs, unwilling to linger any longer, and quietly leaned against the wall at the corner of the corridor. This seemed to calm him slightly, preventing him from losing control of his emotions in front of Xia Zhongshan. As if suddenly remembering something, Xia Yan took out his phone from his pocket, but the dark screen remained unlit despite his taps. Out of battery... Xia Yan's tightly furrowed brows deepened. He didn't seem to have fully charged his phone when he left home, and in his hurried journey, he hadn't paid attention to how much battery was left. Hopefully, Hua Xin and the others won't worry... Xia Yan let out a soft breath, recalling the time earlier this year when he visited his grandfather. Because of Xia Fen's mischievousness, he had revealed that he was in a relationship, and his grandfather had excitedly questioned him why he hadn't brought her along. It seemed that Xia Yan's marriage had become a wish of his. Grandpa. I'll bring Xin Hua to see you. You'll be alright, right? 202. "Home" "Meow meow meow..." A series of pitiful meows, neither loud nor soft, echoed in the corridor, causing the girl, who was listlessly eating chicken and chicken Thirteen Spices rice porridge at the dining table, to put down her chopsticks with a sullen expression. Gone was her usual calm and composure upon hearing the sound, along with any hint of happiness. Until she received concrete news about Xia Yan, the girl would likely maintain this deeply resentful and bitter demeanor, with her happiness level reduced by ninety-nine percent. Hua Xin slowly got up and walked to the entrance. Her small hand gently moved the doorknob, opening the door wide enough for some creature to enter. Her gaze lingered on the crack. Chun Qiu pawed at the wide-open door, squeezed it open a little with its body, and then walked in slowly with an innocent look on its face. It even politely rubbed its dirty paws on a towel placed by the door..."Sigh..." Hua Xin looked at Chun Qiu who had just walked in, and sighed...