novelraw Chapter 716 - 718: Xia Xiao is Among the Best in the Industry
Chapter 716 - 718: Xia Xiao is Among the Best in the Industry
Chapter 716: Chapter 718: Xia Xiao is Among the Best in the Industry Yang Xuehua felt a deep disappointment towards Yu Zhen, never expecting Yu Zhen to become so unreasonable. Thinking that she and Yu Shijie were both old now, having traveled such a long distance only to hear these distressing words from Yu Zhen, she felt angry.
But at that moment, Yu Zhen was still very aggrieved, sobbing and crying. Yang Xuehua simply grabbed her purse and left, aware that Yu Shijie and He Xuebing were outside, along with younger generations, who had evidently heard their exchange.
"Let’s go back," Yang Xuehua concluded, believing Yu Zhen was beyond help. Coming to see her was simply a waste of affection and time.
"Please take good care of her." That was all Yu Shijie could say to He Xuebing about his sister, as he didn’t know what else could be said.
It wasn’t like the siblings had a deep affection for each other. They had a good relationship in childhood, but as they grew up, they met infrequently. Yu Shijie hardly even went home and seldom contacted his family.
Yu Zhen didn’t reach out to Yu Shijie either. The bond between the siblings gradually faded, everyone busy with their own lives and families, with only a sense of duty remaining.
After Yu Weiming and Xue Baozhu passed away, Yu Shijie took some care of his sister for the sake of Xue Baozhu, who had been a decent stepmother. He didn’t have any dislike or dissatisfaction towards his sister Yu Zhen.
But after hearing Yu Zhen’s recent words, Yu Shijie felt Yu Zhen’s behavior was becoming increasingly unacceptable, and her life more confused.
When Yu Zhen heard Yu Shijie and Yang Xuehua were leaving just after arriving, she couldn’t accept it. Rushing outside, she tripped and fell at the door, ending up sitting on the ground, crying.
"Do even you not want me, brother? I’m your only sister. Our parents are gone, we’re the closest people in the world. If I were to die, would you not care at all...?"
Yang Xuehua could hardly bear to listen, and Yu Shijie’s temples throbbed, thinking such discipline would never have been tolerated in his troops.
"Shut up, look at yourself. You’re a grandmother, soon to be a great-grandmother in a year or two. Can’t you calm down? Over the phone, it’s life or death, blaming one and resenting another, as if the whole world owes you. I never realized before how ridiculous you were," Yu Shijie couldn’t help scolding her.
"Still crying so loudly; are you afraid people can’t hear? This is a hospital. Do you want everyone to come and watch your performance? What do you have to feel wronged about? Although it takes two hands to clap, look at how you’ve lived your life. Don’t you have any self-reflection? If you continue like this, alienating your whole family, your husband and children, I won’t care for you either. Just fend for yourself."
Was it easy for him being an elder brother? Over the years, every few days, he had to listen to Yu Zhen’s crying, complaints, and grievances—his ears were almost calloused.
But he had been understanding due to Yu Zhen’s poor health and hadn’t made much of it, but now he couldn’t tolerate it anymore.
If he didn’t know about the issues between Yu Zhen and He Xuebing, Yu Shijie might have blamed He Xuebing for not taking good care of Yu Zhen. But knowing the facts, he had no sympathy for his sister.
Especially since Yu Zhen put all the blame on Xia Xiao, which was completely unreasonable, and spoke so offensively that Yu Shijie blushed simply hearing it.
Having such a sister, Yu Shijie couldn’t uphold his dignity in front of He Xuebing.
He used to occasionally reprimand He Xuebing, saying Yu Zhen was sick and in a bad mood, which was normal, and asked He Xuebing to be more patient, to take good care of Yu Zhen.
They had been spouses for decades, had grandchildren, were an old couple. They should be living peacefully in their later years.
But now Yu Zhen seemed truly ill, not just physically, but mentally beyond help.
Yu Zhen looked at Yu Shijie’s ashen face and stopped crying loudly, only sobbing gently. Yet, she still felt very wronged, as if everyone had stopped loving her, as if everyone had grown tired of her.
At that moment, Yu Zhen felt disheartened and even thought that life had lost its meaning.
Although Yu Shijie and Yang Xuehua had left, they had not truly returned to S City, but had instead gone back to the Yu Family home.
Unexpectedly, just as they had stepped through the door, the phone rang with news from the hospital: Yu Zhen had attempted suicide and was now in the operating room.
They naturally knew people at the Military District Hospital, and Yu Shijie had even asked the doctors and nurses to take good care of Yu Zhen. However, now with this call, both Yu Shijie and Yang Xuehua felt utterly drained.
Both nearing their eighties, they had gone directly to the hospital to see Yu Zhen upon their return. They hadn’t even rested properly when the news of Yu Zhen’s suicide attempt broke.
"Slit her wrists—why didn’t she just stab herself to death, would not slitting her throat have been quicker?" Yu Shijie was furious, wanting to crack open Yu Zhen’s head to see what kind of rubbish filled it.
Outside the operating room, He Xuebing, leaning on a cane, sat in a chair, his head bowed, lost in thought.
His son, He Yingnan, and daughter-in-law, Ma Yuxiu, stood by. His daughter who married far away hadn’t come, and He Xuebing hadn’t asked her to come either.
"Dad, I’ll have Xiao Li take you back to rest, I can keep watch here," He Yingnan said, noticing his father’s silent, weary demeanor.
He Xuebing shook his head, "No need, you guys sit as well, there’s no need to stand."
He Yingnan and Ma Yuxiu, also somewhat tired, then sat down, their gazes fixed on the operating room as they sighed deep in their hearts.
He Xuebing remained silent for a while, then slowly said, "Your mother and I, our life has been like this, she always thinks I’ve wronged her, but honestly, I’ve been quite annoyed with her."
These were words He Xuebing would not have shared with others in the past, nor would he have told his children, nor would he have spoken so directly as he did now.
He hadn’t been as fed up with Yu Zhen previously, after all, life had to go on. Although He Xuebing had never fallen in love with Yu Zhen nor particularly liked her, they were still husband and wife.
But since when did he start to dislike Yu Zhen? Because she constantly brought up Xia Xiao in front of him, digging out the deep-seated issues in He Xuebing’s heart time and again, then verbally criticizing Xia Xiao.
Indeed, the tension between He Xuebing and Yu Zhen stemmed from Xia Xiao, although Xia Xiao had nothing to do with other people’s lives. However, He Xuebing admitted he had loved Xia Xiao, and had loved her for many years.
But he and Xia Xiao had lost all possibility decades ago, and Xia Xiao’s beauty was such that He Xuebing could not truly force her out of his heart.
Moreover, even without trying, He Xuebing sometimes learned of Xia Xiao’s activities and contributions through news media.
Beautifully intelligent, knowledgeable and elegant, with exceptional talent, whether in scientific research or business finance, Xia Xiao was a standout in her field.
Such an outstanding and excellent woman, not just He Xuebing who had loved her for many years, but most men would admire and even be drawn to such a woman.