Outside the operating room, Zhan Yichen waited anxiously. Yesterday, it was Mu Linjing who was sent in, and today it was Wen Yulan. These two women most important to him had been successively sent into the operating room. The fresh bloodstains still clung to his hands and body.
Looking at the blood, he fell into a daze, unable to tell if it belonged to Mu Linjing or Wen Yulan.
The immense mental pressure caused him to slowly squat down, leaning against the wall. He didn't understand how things had escalated to this point. Recalling the scene just now, he increasingly believed that his own words had harmed Wen Yulan.
Old Master Zhan arrived with Cen Yuan. Seeing his near-breakdown state, he directly had Cen Yuan pull him up.
"Listen, this was an accident. No one is to blame, understand?"
He didn't want his grandson to be traumatized by this incident, especially since Wen Yulan had brought it upon herself. If she hadn't caused such a scene, it wouldn't have come to this.
Zhan Yichen listened to his words without nodding or speaking, his gaze fixed on the operating room door, waiting for the doctor to emerge.
Soon, a doctor approached them with a surgical consent form. "Who is the patient's family member?"
He immediately stepped forward. "I am, I'm her son. How is she?"
"We suspect damage to brain tissue and require a craniotomy for further diagnosis. The family needs to sign this consent form."
He was handed the consent form. He paused with the pen in his hand. This was the second time he had signed such a document. Although he knew surgery was inevitable, at this moment, he felt a sense of fear. His hand trembled, and the pen tip couldn't land on the paper.
At this moment, a warm hand landed on his back. Mu Linjing gently brushed away the tears he was desperately trying to hold back and softly reassured him, "Sign it. I'm here with you."
At this moment, Zhan Yichen's heart seemed to calm down. Looking at Mu Linjing, he signed the surgical consent form.
The operating room door closed once more, the red light above illuminated, and the two sat down in the corridor.
Seeing this, Old Master Zhan said no more, and with Cen Yuan, he silently left. Mu Linjing was enough here.
Mu Linjing knew that the man beside her was exhausted. She remained silent, simply holding Zhan Yichen in her arms, letting him lean on her shoulder.
She couldn't always rely on Zhan Yichen; sometimes, she needed to be his support.
They waited like this. As noon approached, Wei Yumeng arrived to bring them lunch, breaking the silence.
"Yichen, I'm very sorry about what happened today."
Although it wasn't certain that she had pushed Wen Yulan, in the chaos of that moment, everyone's hands were tainted. No one could escape the condemnation of their conscience.
By this time, Zhan Yichen had calmed down. He shook his head. "Sister-in-law, it was my fault for saying those hurtful things to her."
Everyone bore some responsibility; it couldn't be shirked, nor could it be solely shouldered. Discussing who was to blame now was pointless, as everyone understood that the root cause was Wen Yulan's aggressive behavior.
Even Zhan Yichen, as Wen Yulan's closest relation, had to admit that she was largely responsible for her own predicament.
Wei Yumeng's visit was not merely to deliver food; she also brought another piece of news.
"Fang Xun went to investigate. The money Amy spent on her trip abroad was indeed not her own. Her account suddenly received two million yuan last month, transferred from Madam Zhan's account."
Hearing this news, Zhan Yichen was not surprised. The two had a prior relationship. Amy's revenge against Mu Linjing was naturally due to their personal grudges and her previous unemployment.
However, if someone were to provide Amy with financial support, Wen Yulan was a strong suspect.
While it was uncertain whether Wen Yulan had a hand in the hotel disfigurement incident, her assistance to Amy was tantamount to harming Mu Linjing.
However, there was no point in discussing this now. Wen Yulan was already on the operating table, her fate uncertain. What more could they pursue?
"Have Amy been found?"
Even if Wen Yulan's charges could be overlooked, Amy remained a threat. They had been caught off guard and had harmed Mu Linjing to this extent. Such a woman should be sent to join Jiang Siyu.
Wei Yumeng replied, "Fang Xun has already taken people to search for her. I believe she will be found soon."
During lunch, the operating room door finally opened, and several people quickly gathered around. "How is she?"
The doctor shook his head. "The patient has severe brain damage, irreversible damage caused by a violent impact. Please prepare yourselves psychologically. The patient may very likely become a vegetative state."
Hearing this outcome, Zhan Yichen staggered back several steps. A vegetative state? How was that possible?
Just a fall had turned her into a vegetative state? He couldn't believe this result and lunged forward, grabbing the doctor's collar.
"What do you mean vegetative state? I want you to cure her. I want her to be able to open her eyes and talk to me. Go inside and cure her!"
If Wei Yumeng and Mu Linjing hadn't stopped him, he would have nearly punched the doctor.
The doctor, accustomed to emotionally unstable patient families, simply distanced himself. "We did our best. The patient will be out soon."
Zhan Yichen collapsed on the floor, unable to believe that his mother, who had argued with him that morning, would be informed of becoming a vegetative state that afternoon.
Guilt, self-blame, and regret flooded him. He couldn't help but wonder if things wouldn't have turned out this way if he hadn't spoken such heartless words.
Soon, Wen Yulan was wheeled out of the operating room and taken directly to her ward. Seeing his mother, covered in tubes and lifeless, Zhan Yichen wished he could slap himself twice. Why had he said those words?
The doctor, accustomed to such scenes, simply explained the patient's condition to them. "If the patient does not regain consciousness within forty-eight hours, it is highly likely she will remain in this state. Therefore, during this period, try to talk to her as much as possible. It would be good if you could awaken her."
Zhan Mohan, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, also heard the doctor's words. Although in his eyes, Wen Yulan's current state was deserved, he was not heartless. Seeing Zhan Yichen's self-reproach, he naturally could not stand idly by.
He reached out and patted Zhan Yichen's shoulder. "I have already requested Dr. William, a neurosurgeon, to return to the country in Grandpa's name."
Zhan Yichen knew that his mother had wronged Zhan Mohan and his wife. At this moment, he was deeply touched.
While waiting for William, he stayed by Wen Yulan's bedside, taking care of her day and night.
As for Mu Linjing, although she was also a patient and should not have been tending to Wen Yulan, she couldn't bear to see Zhan Yichen so distressed and also stayed by Wen Yulan's bedside.