It’s rather strange that soone like Mu Shaocheng would say such a thing, but then again, maybe it’s not strange at all.
Everyone has soone they love the most.
It’s just that Jiang Xiaoxiao has seen the evil in Mu Shaocheng, but not his goodness.
People on opposing sides will always see each other as the most wicked.
"Daddy!"
A cheerful voice as pure as top-grade crystal.
A young girl turned the wheelchair around, sitting on it was a doll-like little girl with transparent tubes inserted into her nostrils, connected to an oxygen tank at the back of the wheelchair.
"Ziluo!"
Mu Shaocheng’s voice was instantly filled with tenderness as he bent down to kiss the top of her head.
"This is Doctor Jiang, Doctor Jiang, this is my darling daughter, Ziluo."
At this mont, Mu Shaocheng transford into a complete loving father.
Jiang Xiaoxiao leaned forward and extended her hand.
"Ziluo, it’s nice to et you."
"It’s nice to et you too, I’ve never seen a female doctor before. Whenever soone cos to see , it’s either a white-bearded old man or a serious middle-aged uncle. Ma’am, you’re really pretty."
The little girl, Ziluo, politely shook hands with Jiang Xiaoxiao. Her fingers, even in Jiang Xiaoxiao’s careful grasp, remained frail and heart-wrenching.
Mu Feng had said that Ziluo was already twelve, but her figure looked only six years old, possibly weighing less than twenty-five kilograms.
She was extrely thin, her skin was pale with a bluish tint, her bright black eyes were like her father’s, and a smile as angelic as her snow-white face. Her soft, yellow hair was tied into ponytails with butterfly bands.
"Wild lass, you mustn’t be reckless. This is Doctor Jiang."
Mu Shaocheng scolded Ziluo in a rarely loving tone, yet it was clearly without any reproach.
Ziluo giggled upon hearing her father call her a wild lass.
Then she turned her innocent face to Mu Shaocheng’s reprimanding eyes and shrugged.
"I’m just speaking the truth! Doctor Jiang, you’re too pretty. If Daddy hadn’t introduced you as a doctor, I would have thought you were one of his many girlfriends."
Hearing his innocent daughter utter such words left him speechless, staring at her.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not one of your father’s won,"
"I’m just a doctor."
Jiang Xiaoxiao clarified.
"I know, you’re different from those won who try hard to please . They all just want to marry my daddy, but not you. My daddy spoils . No matter what I ask for, he’ll get it for .
So I try to keep my demands in check, or else he’ll be too busy for anything else."
A mixture of childish innocence and precocious cleverness in her words.
The illness forced her to learn introspection earlier than most young people.
"While he’s not recovered yet, let take you to see my room."
She deftly turned her wheelchair.
Jiang Xiaoxiao followed beside the wheelchair, circling around the room.
A middle-aged woman with a smiling face approached, introduced as Ziluo’s nurse, Aunt Pei.
Her bedroom was connected to Ziluo’s, enabling imdiate care.
Anything that could possibly interest the little girl was found in the room.
Books, videotapes, dolls, toys, and trendy magazines were all shown to Jiang Xiaoxiao.
Mu Shaocheng followed behind them, feeling both puzzled and bewildered by the sense of not being needed.
Ziluo even took out her makeup kit to show Jiang Xiaoxiao, making Mu Shaocheng cough again.
It was not a child’s playset; packed in the silver suitcase was a complete set of genuine branded costics.
"If I die, use this to do my makeup. Daddy, promise ."
Mu Shaocheng’s face turned pale instantly.
At that mont, Jiang Xiaoxiao genuinely felt sorry for the father and daughter.
"Don’t say such things. It won’t happen; Doctor Jiang is here to treat you, and you’ll get well soon."
"But if... Promise , Daddy."
"I promise you."
Mu Shaocheng’s voice was hoarse and unnatural.
Ziluo reached out to pat his knee in comfort.
"I hope there won’t be a need for it."
Mu Shaocheng lifted her from the wheelchair onto his lap, resting his cheek silently on the top of her head.
"You’ll need those a long, long ti from now, long after they’ve expired."
He finally said.
"I know."
But her eyes revealed a different thought.
She looked a bit tired.
He gently touched her cheek.
"Do you want to lie down?"
"Put on the recliner," she said.
Aunt Pei ca over to help push the wheelchair and the oxygen tank so that Mu Shaocheng could carry Ziluo to the recliner.
He covered Ziluo’s legs with a thin blanket as Aunt Pei adjusted the cushion for her to comfortably lean back.
Jiang Xiaoxiao took the initiative to examine her at her side, knowing she wasn’t a god even with her eyes.
"Alright,"
She leaned back on the pillow. "Watching movies is the most comfortable this way."
She gave him a sly glance.
"It’s a romantic drama."
Mu Shaocheng had already resud his composed deanor.
"You’ll turn my hair white."
He deliberately furrowed his brow. "A romantic drama."
"There’s even a bedroom scene in it," she mischievously added.
"No more talking."
He raised his hands in a mocking gesture of defense.
"I don’t want to hear it. A father can only endure so much. Say goodbye to Doctor Jiang, and we won’t disturb your romantic drama watching."
Ziluo extended her hand.
"Goodbye, Doctor Jiang. Today was really fun. Will you co to see again?"
"Of course I will."
Jiang Xiaoxiao smiled tenderly.
"eting you was truly a pleasure; your dad is very lucky to have you as his daughter."
Ziluo looked up at her father, her eyes once again showing their maturity.
"I’m the lucky one," she said.
He kissed her, gently caressed her small face, and left with a smile. But the hand gripping Jiang Xiaoxiao’s arm was so strong it almost crushed her bones.
After leaving his daughter’s room, he choked and said,
"Oh my God!"
He bent over, placing his hands on his knees, gasping for air.
Monts later, he stood straight and continued walking forward.
Jiang Xiaoxiao could only follow behind him. After reaching the study, only then did Mu Shaocheng speak again.
"Sotis I really can’t bear it."
He said, his voice still a bit hoarse.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t expect her to—I’ve tried not to let her know how serious her condition is, but she’s too smart..."
He couldn’t finish his sentence.
"What illness does she have?"
"Doctor Jiang, can’t you tell?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao paused for a mont, was this a test?
"I see too many problems."
Mu Shaocheng pondered as he turned the empty wine glass in his hand.
"Her heart has a defect, she only has one kidney, and there’s cystic fibrosis. The cystic fibrosis seems to affect her digestive system more than her lungs; otherwise, she might have already..."
He couldn’t speak, swallowing several tis before he could continue again.
"New drugs help, but she still struggles to absorb the nutrients she needs. She eats frequently, but doesn’t grow and doesn’t gain weight. Growth only increases the burden on her heart. A heart transplant is impossible because she has cystic fibrosis."
He let out a bitter smile.
"Finding a suitable heart is nearly impossible. Her body can only accept a child’s heart, but child organ donors are extrely rare. Her blood type is A negative, which reduces the chances of finding a suitable heart to near zero.
Even if such a heart appears, dical institutions still believe that a healthy heart shouldn’t be wasted on soone with so many other problems."
Jiang Xiaoxiao had nothing to say; empty encouragents and false hope wouldn’t help Ziluo’s condition.
"Doctor Jiang, you have a way, don’t you?"
Mu Shaocheng looked intently at Jiang Xiaoxiao.
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