Chapter 141: The Luo Family Faces Difficulties — An Extra Chapter Dedicated to Yuan Qingqing

I nodded. "Yes, I am terrified. In the past, I was afraid he would misunderstand me, abandon me, humiliate me, or find another woman. But now, my greatest fear is that one day I will suddenly wake up and never see him again."

Brad looked somewhat relieved. "Actually, there is a way..."

I was startled and instinctively grabbed his arm, shaking him. "Is there really a way? Is there really a way?"

Unable to bear the shaking, he signaled me to let go, then said with the utmost caution, "My recommendation is still surgery. Although the success rate is very low, it is worth a try. Only..."

I stared at him. "Only what?"

He looked at me. "The surgery could cause various complications, such as amnesia or a persistent vegetative state. The most severe outcome is that the surgery fails."

My heart constricted painfully. "And what if we don't do the surgery?"

He lowered his head. "Without surgery, it's just waiting for death."

Now that it had come to this, the situation was crystal clear. Brad was asking me to make a choice.

Without a single moment of hesitation, I said, "Surgery. As soon as possible."

He looked astonished. "Aren't you afraid?"

I laughed through my tears. "No."

In truth, only I knew how terrified I was. I was scared to death. I was afraid Luo Ange would go blind, afraid he would forget who I was, and afraid he would never wake up again. But I had no other choice now. This was the only path left for me.

After Brad left, Guan Shanyuan and the others entered shortly after, all looking at me with sorrowful expressions. They knew that, in reality, I had no choice at all.

I smiled to comfort them, "It's fine, it's fine. It's not the worst possible outcome. At least there's still a glimmer of hope."

Guan Shanyuan sighed. "Let's hope so."

In the dead of night, I told them to go back. There were still long battles to be fought ahead, and there would be many times when I would need them. They could not afford to collapse.

Guan Shanyuan nodded. "I have to head back tomorrow. The rest of you can take turns on duty. The Yuan family doesn't dare to cause trouble for now, so the next step is the surgery. My opinion is to transfer him abroad. The facilities there are better than here, and recuperation will be more convenient."

Since the eldest of the group had spoken, naturally no one else had any objections, and they all looked back at me.

My mind was a chaotic mess. Whatever they decided would be fine by me.

Guan Shanyuan immediately drew up a schedule for shifts. Until the surgery was confirmed, Mei Xiuji and Yong Changzhi would take the morning shift; Ganie and Lei Ling the afternoon shift; and Long Jue and Zhou Yang the night shift. Regardless of the circumstances, someone had to stay at the hospital to accompany me.

I understood Guan Shanyuan's concern. Luo Ange's canceled engagement had caused a massive uproar across the city. Although the Yuan family wouldn't dare stir up trouble right now, what about the people from the Luo family? What about the people from the Guan family? Would they really spare me from harassment?

Guan Shanyuan asked A'Mu, "Did your young master only assign A'Yun to protect Lanshan's safety?"

A'Mu replied, "Aside from A'Yun, there is also Sam, and Xiao Wu."

Guan Shanyuan looked at Lei Ling. "Didn't Third Master Luo give you two exceptionally skilled fighters back then? Transfer them to the hospital just in case."

Lei Ling glanced at me and nodded. "For the sake of our third sister-in-law, this is the only way."

I felt a twinge of unease. Was this really necessary? Even if people from the Luo and Guan families truly decided to give me a hard time, would bodyguards actually throw Elder Luo out on the street?

Lei Ling said, "Third Sister-in-law, don't underestimate Luo Third's grandfather. Back in the day, he was a legendary martial arts champion renowned across the country, a master of Wing Chun who once single-handedly took down thirty martial arts experts with his bare hands. Tell me, is it necessary or not?"

I recalled the exaggerated scenes of heroes ripping enemies apart in anti-Japanese television dramas and shuddered involuntarily.

Only then did Guan Shanyuan look satisfied. After offering me a few more words of comfort, he left.

I hadn't realized that the people from the Luo family would arrive so quickly. It was already late in the night. I was keeping vigil with Luo Ange in the inner room while Long Jue and Zhou Yang rested in the outer room when my phone suddenly rang.

Shu Congxuan's voice was laced with urgency. "Lanshan, run!"

"What's wrong?"

He seemed to be driving; the sounds of rushing wind and car horns echoed through the receiver. He shouted, "The Luo family is about to arrive at the hospital. Get out of here right now!"

"Why should I run?"

He sighed. "You fool, the Elder is bringing people to give you a hard time. Hurry up and leave."

My voice was a bit too loud, and Long Jue and Zhou Yang were startled awake. They hurried in to ask what had happened.

Zhou Yang took the phone from my hand and exchanged a few words with Shu Congxuan. A hint of tension crept into his expression as well. "Alright, understood. Thank you."

I thought they would tell me to run just as Shu Congxuan had. Instead, Zhou Yang gently pressed me down onto the sofa, squatted in front of me, and looked into my eyes. "Young Aunt, are you afraid?"

I shook my head, and he smiled. "Good. That's the way the Young Uncle's woman should act."

Long Jue looked worried. "Are we really not leaving?"

Zhou Yang shook his head. "We aren't leaving. No one understands Grandfather's temper better than I do. We'll stay and face him. The Young Aunt can't hide away for the rest of her life, can she?"

Long Jue thought about it and decided it made sense, raising no further objections.

Little did they know, my hands were slick with sweat, and my throat felt completely parched from nervousness.

If only Luo Ange were awake. How wonderful that would be. He would surely protect me and prevent anyone from making things difficult for me.

The three of us sat quietly on the sofa until a commotion suddenly broke out outside, followed by a sharp command: "A'Mu, tell your men to get out of my way."

Among Luo Ange's bodyguards, the ones I was most familiar with were A'Mu and A'Yun. Both had poker faces, and both obeyed only Luo Ange's orders.

A'Mu's voice remained completely level. "Elder, I apologize. The Young Master gave strict instructions."

Luo Lianci let out a cold laugh. "What, are you planning to raise your hands against this old man? Are you forcing me to take someone by force?"

I abruptly stood up, but Zhou Yang stopped me. "Don't panic. Keep your composure."

I paused, turned my head to look at Luo Ange lying on the hospital bed, and then signaled Zhou Yang and Long Jue to sit back down. I took a deep breath and told myself in a whisper only I could hear, "Yi Lanshan, you can do this."

I slowly walked over, pushed the door open, and then slowly walked to the outermost door, calling out, "A'Mu..."

A'Mu and several bodyguards were standing side by side in the doorway, blocking outsiders from entering. Hearing my voice, he turned his head and greeted me politely, "Miss."

I walked over, glanced at the white-haired yet stern and formidable elder, and then looked at the people accompanying him, trying my best to appear neither servile nor overbearing. "Grandfather is here."

Luo Lianci grunted, casting a contemptuous look in my direction. "I was wondering what kind of prestigious young lady she was. So this is the person who has completely bewitched my grandson?"

His words dripped with disdain, but I could not afford to bicker with him. I had to force a smile. "Grandfather is right to scold me. I forgot my manners, and I ask for your forgiveness."

He glanced at A'Mu and his men, then turned back to me. "What? I haven't even consented to your marriage into the Luo family, yet you're already putting on airs here. Since when does visiting my own grandson require the permission of an outsider?"

I looked at A'Mu. "Take your men and step back."

How could A'Mu possibly obey? "Miss..."

I raised my voice. "Step back."

He paused, and with no other recourse, he reluctantly led the bodyguards back to clear the passage.

Only then did I gesture politely for Luo Lianci to enter. He looked me up and down twice before walking straight in, though the people he brought with him were still blocked by my stance.

Luo Lianci stopped in his tracks. "What, is the young lady afraid I'll snatch someone away from you? Don't worry, I am old now and no longer call the shots."

I told myself not to argue with this old man; he was deliberately trying to provoke me. If I took him seriously, I would have already lost.

I stepped forward, stood right before him, and gave a slight bow. "Grandfather, I know your heart aches for your grandson. If even you would wish him harm, then there are no good people left in this world. I also know you blame me, but this is not the time for reproaches. Once Luo Ange's surgery is successful, you may dispose of me however you see fit."

He looked at me in astonishment. "He agreed to the surgery?"

I braced myself and nodded. "He... will agree."

He seemed to realize I was bluffing. "On what grounds do you think he'll agree?"

"On the grounds that I am willing to descend into hell right alongside him."

He visibly shuddered, staring at me in disbelief, while I met his gaze without a shred of fear.

At that moment, I was riding a tiger and could not dismount. As long as I could get Luo Ange through this danger, I was willing to bear all the pain and condemnation entirely on my own shoulders.

Let all the swords and blades strike at me alone.

He let out something resembling a sigh, his footing slightly unsteady, and finally walked inside.

Bathed in a cold sweat, I hurriedly followed after them.

Zhou Yang and Long Jue were standing by the sofa. Seeing Luo Lianci's back turned to us, they both flashed me thumbs-up gestures.

I returned a weak smile to them, then spoke softly, "I'm hungry. Would the two of you accompany me to get something to eat?"

Luo Lianci stood there with his back to us. I was certain that someone as intelligent as he was knew perfectly well that I was deliberately clearing the space so grandfather and grandson could speak their hearts.

Zhou Yang and Long Jue naturally understood my intention. Though worried, they could only accompany me out.

Right next to the hospital was a time-honored congee shop. Zhou Yang ordered one of everything and placed it before me, helping himself to some pickled side dishes while asking, "You really are bold enough to toy with danger. Weren't you afraid the Elder would actually take the Young Uncle away?"

I shook my head. Of course I was afraid. If the commander truly wanted to take someone by force, how could I possibly stop him?

Yet at that moment, I was willing to take a gamble. I gambled that this veteran who had spent half his life on the battlefield shared my heart, and that he wanted Luo Ange to get well just as much as I did.

I figured that if he knew the surgery might cause amnesia—if Luo Ange woke up and truly no longer remembered this grandfather of his—he would still feel a sense of relief.

After all, compared to the eternal separation of death, amnesia was the greatest mercy the heavens could grant us.

After hearing me out, Long Jue sighed, sipping his corn congee in silence, looking somewhat melancholic.

After a moment, he asked me, "If the Young Uncle really loses his memories, will you be at peace with it?"

How could I possibly be at peace? It would be as if someone had ripped my heart out; I would essentially be dying. How could I accept that willingly?

Yet even if I wasn't at peace, what other options did I have? People always had to make choices. I couldn't be so willful as to actually drag him down into hell with me, could I?

If this truly was a test bestowed upon me by the heavens, then I harbored no grievances and would accept it with a calm heart.

I said, "Don't worry. I can enjoy the best of things, and I can endure the worst as well."

We deliberately lingered outside for a while. Upon our return, we happened to run into Luo Lianci and his entourage heading down. His eyes were red-rimmed, as though he had been crying.

My heart suddenly softened. After all, what wrong had he done?

Seeing us, he waved a hand, though unsure whom he was beckoning to, I remained standing in place without moving.