Chapter 06
Tears streamed down Hong Jian’s cheeks.
All the emotions she had been suppressing exploded at once, and she couldn’t control herself.
Crouched in a corner, Jian’s tears soon poured out like a torrent.
She cried bitterly, over and over again.
How long had she been crying?
After releasing all her pent-up emotions, her tangled thoughts slowly began to clear.
For the first time, Jian thought of a word she had never wanted to admit.
Vegetative state.
Yes, Hong Jian. It’s time to acknowledge and accept it.
Her mother had a low chance of recovery.
Although timely intervention had saved her life, she had been unconscious for an entire year, trapped in a vegetative state.
From now on, Jian’s role, following the doctor’s advice, was to focus on sustaining her mother’s life and patiently waiting, helping her body endure.
Being forced to continue brain-stimulation therapy under her grandmother’s threats only caused her mother more suffering.
Her mother, who wished for Jian’s happiness, would never have wanted that…
Her nose tingled, and tears welled up again.
Acknowledging her mother’s condition felt like giving up. That’s why, as a guardian rather than a doctor, she had been swept away by emotion.
But now, she could finally see clearly.
She had to accept the painful reality she had been avoiding.
Only then could she endure, both physically and mentally, and wait for her mother to the end.
“Phew…”
Jian wiped her reddened, tear-streaked eyes with determination.
Get up, Hong Jian.
If I fall apart, Mom will hurt more than anyone.
Her mother had always said:
“Jian! You must be happy for me to be happy. Our daughter is my only dream.”
Yes, I am my mother’s dream. I can’t break down.
It hurts, but she would move her mother to Han-Young Nursing Hospital.
She changed her mind about rushing to any doctor who demanded high fees just because she was desperate.
Even though expensive, non-insured treatments were difficult, with her resident salary, she could manage the nursing home and caregiver costs.
“Have you finished crying now?”
Just as she was steadying herself, a deep, gentle male voice reached her ears.
Startled, Jian lifted her head.
The man she had long forgotten appeared before her.
He stood like a large umbrella, shielding her from the world.
Only then did Jian realize she had been sitting in a corner of the hotel, crying in a disheveled state.
Embarrassed and flustered, she sprang to her feet, but dizziness hit, and she staggered weakly.
“You’re really hard to take my eyes off,” he said.
The man effortlessly enveloped her in his arms, as naturally as ever.
She had lost count of how many times she had been held in his embrace.
Though she should have pushed him away, she had no strength to stand properly.
Leaning into his warmth, her body grew heavy, and her eyelids drooped.
Ah, why am I like this?
After crying so much, she must have exhausted herself emotionally.
Her whole body felt drained, almost as if she were dehydrated.
No wonder she had no strength—she had spent days in the ER and hadn’t eaten properly since yesterday.
“You should go to a hospital. I’ll help you,” the man said seriously, seeing her struggle to maintain her balance.
“No, I’m fine,” Jian said, shaking her head with effort.
She wasn’t in a condition that required hospitalization. She didn’t want to waste her precious day off at a hospital either.
“I’m just a little dizzy. I’ll be fine after resting for a bit,” she said.
She just wanted to lie down and rest, but she staggered again, unable to stand on her own.
“This won’t do. Let’s go,” the man said, suddenly lifting her up like a child.
“Ah, no, I can walk on my—” Jian tried to protest, but…
“Hold on tight if you don’t want to fall,” he said, moving without hesitation.
Startled by his quick movements, she instinctively clutched him.
The man brought Jian to a cozy Italian restaurant.
Every dish, beautifully plated, looked exquisite.
But Jian could only stare, unable to touch anything.
At first, his overly kind gestures made her uncomfortable, and when the food arrived, her chest grew heavy with emotion.
When her father was alive, they dressed up and had family dinners at fancy restaurants for special occasions.
Her mother, who loved pretty things, had enjoyed the romantic atmosphere. But after raising Jian alone, she hadn’t experienced much beauty or even a proper meal out.
If she had known, she would have gone to restaurants with her mother more often.
In college, she was too busy with studies, and during her internship and residency, she never had a relaxed meal with her mother.
Thinking of her mother lying in bed made Jian’s nose sting.
Can she really be enjoying this now? She should check if there’s a spot at Han-Young Nursing Hospital first.
As she fretted with a tearful face, the man, who had been silently watching, spoke.
“You don’t look well.”
“……”
“Still, you’ll feel a bit better.”
“No, I really…”
As Jian tried to rise, he held her back.
“You said you need to rest. Eat first, take a breath. Then you’ll have energy to cry again, and to fight.”
Though ordinary words, they were immensely comforting. She couldn’t just remain down forever.
She let out a small sigh and picked up her fork.
“Thank you,” she said, barely managing the words, and slowly began to eat.
The food was as delicious as it looked.
After finishing, dessert arrived—cake.
Remembering it was her birthday today, Jian swallowed a dry laugh.
The cake was unusually sweet and delicious.
Next birthday, she promised herself, she would come here with her mother.
Enjoy the food, light the candles on the cake…
“Eat some of mine too,” the man suddenly pushed his cake plate toward her.
“No, I’m fine,” she quickly refused, lost in her own thoughts.
“Eat. You don’t have enough,” he insisted.
Only then did she realize her plate was already empty—she had eaten all the cake.
Sneaking a glance, she saw him smirk charmingly.
He had helped her during the matchmaking meeting, stayed by her side while she cried, and now…
She suddenly remembered her earlier flood of tears and felt embarrassed.
Trying to cool her flushed face, she lifted a glass to her lips.
But…
“That’s wine…” he murmured, and the hot liquid slid down her throat, bitter with the scent of red wine.
“Ugh.”
She had thought it was water, but it was the red wine served with the meal.
The bitter, astringent taste startled her, and she coughed, opening her mouth.
At that moment, he gently pushed a piece of cake into her mouth.
Jian’s eyes widened.
“I told you to eat mine, didn’t I?”
“…!”
“You’ll have trouble if you eat just anything,” he said, smiling.
Her face flushed at the sweetness, leaving her speechless.
“Really, I can’t take my eyes off you,” he said, pouring her a glass of water.
“Drink. Seems like you can’t handle alcohol.”
“I’m not drunk at all. It’s just that wine is too bitter for me. Bitter things don’t suit me.”
Jian spoke without thinking, flustered.
Her face wasn’t red from alcohol—it was because of him.
He was staring too intently. His gaze was so deep she felt drawn in.
“Do you like sweet things?” he asked, intrigued.
“…Yes. I like sweet wine,” she replied softly, trying to avoid his gaze.
“That’s good. I like sweet things too,” he said.
“Liar. You look like someone who’d prefer strong whiskey,” she teased.
He didn’t deny it, only smiled playfully, never taking his eyes off her.
Why does he keep looking at me like that?
It’s the perfect situation for a misunderstanding.
But even stranger was how she, almost entranced, followed his gaze and answered without thinking.
She might actually be getting drunk.
Trying to regain composure, Jian drank the rest of her water.
“Curious? Want to find out?” he asked.
…Find out what?
She looked up, unable to speak, and saw him standing, approaching closer.
