There Is Only Mother in the World

(A bit heartbreaking this chapter. Feel free to skip it if you don't like that sort of thing.)

No one knew how much time had passed. Maybe five hours, maybe ten. Bai Yang sat slumped on the floor without moving, his face blank and numb, his eyes bloodshot and tears streaming nonstop.

His mother's death had dealt him a devastating blow. He looked much more haggard, with sunken eyes, a pale face, stubble on his chin, and a lifeless gaze. The deathly pallor on his face was heartrending to see.

He got to his feet instinctively, like a walking corpse, and slowly approached the hospital bed. Gazing at his mother before him, he bent his knees and knelt down in front of Zhen Guoping's body.

Thud!

His head slammed hard against the floor, which even trembled slightly. That was how hard he had hit it.

"Mom!"

His head struck the floor, and a single word—Mom—came from his mouth, his voice hoarse and torn with grief.

Thud!

His head slammed against the floor again. His forehead split open, blood pouring down, but Bai Yang paid it no mind.

"Mom, I'm sorry!"

Thud!

He bowed again, his head striking the floor hard, again and again, until it was battered and bloody...

"Mom, I'm sorry. I came too late."

"Mom, I'm so sorry. Your son failed you. I came too late."

"Mom, I'm truly sorry. I'm so, so sorry, my mom... Sob..."

Thud, thud, thud...

He kept bowing and saying he was sorry. He hated himself for coming too late, for failing to save his mother in time, for letting her leave this world while she was still so young. From now on, he would be a child without a mother...

No one knew how many times he had bowed. Blood spread across