Chapter 118 Still Unable to Let Go

Jiang Yunzhu had been waiting anxiously outside the operating room, pacing back and forth, her heart pounding with unease. Hours passed with no news, and her eyes filled with tears. She dared not imagine what she would do if something happened to Shen Ruizhang. And if Shen Grandmother found out about his accident—what would become of her? Despair and helplessness threatened to overwhelm her.

Just as she was at a complete loss, the doors to the operating room swung open and a nurse stepped out.

"The patient is out of danger. As long as he makes it through tonight, he'll be fine."

Only then did Jiang Yunzhu finally breathe a sigh of relief. She quickly wiped the tears from her face and peered anxiously into the operating room. Soon, the nurse wheeled Shen Ruizhang out.

Seeing him lying there with his eyes closed, Jiang Yunzhu’s heart clenched. "How is he now?" she asked.

"He’s been given anesthesia, and there are some sedatives as well. Once he wakes up, he’ll be alright," the nurse replied.

Jiang Yunzhu nodded fervently, “Alright, I understand. I’ll stay by his side the whole time!”

After the nurse settled Shen Ruizhang into the ward, Jiang Yunzhu sat at his bedside, her gaze never leaving him. She rubbed her reddened eyes and whispered, “You must wake up, you have to! Shen Grandmother could never bear to lose you—she can’t survive the pain of outliving her grandson.”

All night long, I spoke softly into Shen Ruizhang’s ear, never daring to close my eyes, afraid I might miss the moment he awoke.

It was not until morning, when Shen Ruizhang slowly opened his eyes, that I broke down in tears of joy.

“You’re finally awake!”

As soon as I spoke, I pressed the call button for the doctor to come check on him.

“Mr. Shen is doing well,” the doctor assured. “With proper rest, there shouldn’t be any issue.”

After the doctor left, Shen Ruizhang lay on the bed and gazed at her with deep affection.

Jiang Yunzhu hesitated, then slowly sat back down.

Shen Ruizhang carefully moved his hand, placing it gently over hers. In a low voice, he said, “I remember you said that if I woke up, you would forgive me. Does that still count?”

Jiang Yunzhu pressed her lips together, and under the pleading look in his eyes, she nodded slowly. “It counts.”

Shen Ruizhang’s gaze drifted to Jiang Yunzhu’s wrist. She took a bracelet from her bag.

He seemed to want to sit up, but she quickly pressed him back down. “What are you doing?”

Pausing, Shen Ruizhang said with a hint of pitifulness, “I just wanted to put it on for you.”

Jiang Yunzhu opened her mouth, saw the determination in his eyes, and fell silent. In a low voice, she said, “I’ll do it myself. You’ve just woken up, don’t move.”

Shen Ruizhang’s lips curled into a gentle smile. “Alright.”

Jiang Yunzhu slipped the bracelet onto her wrist. As Shen Ruizhang’s gaze landed on it, his expression softened. He then held her hand tightly.

After their reconciliation, Jiang Yunzhu cared for Shen Ruizhang at the hospital, but she dared not reveal a word of his accident to the old madam. After all, the last time something happened to him, Shen Grandmother was so shaken she ended up in the emergency room. She could not withstand any more turmoil.

So Jiang Yunzhu kept the accident a secret.

With her attentive care, Shen Ruizhang’s health improved, color returning to his cheeks. He gazed at her tenderly as she bustled about for him.

“Zhouzhou, the company has succeeded in its overseas expansion. We’re planning a celebration banquet. Will you come with me?” he asked.

Jiang Yunzhu paused, her eyes falling on his figure in the hospital bed. Frowning, she replied with dissatisfaction, “You haven’t fully recovered. You shouldn’t go.”

“I have to go. As the company’s CEO, I need to make an appearance at the banquet.”

Seeing her continued frown, he quickly added, “Don’t worry, I won’t drink! I know my limits.”

Jiang Yunzhu knew he couldn’t avoid attending, and could only nod. “Alright, but promise me you won’t touch a drop. The doctor said you mustn’t drink at all right now.”

Shen Ruizhang, moved by her concern, beamed with joy. “I know.”

On the day of the celebration, Shen Ruizhang and Jiang Yunzhu attended together. Everyone at the company wanted to toast him.

Jiang Yunzhu immediately stepped in to stop them.

Shen Ruizhang looked at her with gentle affection, then smiled apologetically at the guests. “I’m sorry—my wife keeps me on a tight leash. I’m not allowed to drink much.”

The others watched the couple with teasing glances. Jiang Yunzhu pressed her lips together, managing only a faint, awkward smile in response.

But there were some toasts that couldn’t be refused, so Jiang Yunzhu drank in his stead.

After two or three glasses, her cheeks flushed. Her mind remained clear, and she found herself thinking of Shen Tingxiao.

Suddenly, her thoughts were filled with sweet memories of their time together, of the promises he’d made. But after the sweetness came the bitterness, the image of Shen Tingxiao walking past her with his fiancée, pretending not to know her.

Jiang Yunzhu’s grip on her glass tightened as she silently poured herself another drink, downing it in one go with those who came to toast.

The others hadn’t even had a chance to drink, stunned as they watched Jiang Yunzhu finish glass after glass alone.

“Madam Shen, you—you don’t have to do this…”

Her actions startled her companions. No one dared risk getting Madam Shen drunk.

Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes turned red, her cheeks burned with heat, and her hand holding the glass trembled in the air.

Sensing something was wrong, Shen Ruizhang came over and took the glass from her hand.

“Zhouzhou, you’re drunk! Don’t drink anymore, let’s go home.”

Jiang Yunzhu pressed her lips together, her anger flaring as her glass was taken away. “Give it back! Why won’t you let me drink?”

“I’m not stopping you, but you’re already drunk. You can’t have any more!”

“I’m not drunk! Shen Tingxiao, who are you to stop me? Who are you! Since you’re already engaged, don’t bother with me. I don’t need you to care!”

Shen Ruizhang froze, stunned that she had called out Shen Tingxiao’s name.

While he was still in shock, Jiang Yunzhu stood up, trying to snatch the glass back, but accidentally knocked over the champagne tower in front of her.

Snapping back to himself, Shen Ruizhang looked at her flushed face and the sorrow in her eyes, and in that moment, he understood.

In Jiang Yunzhu’s heart, she still couldn’t let go of Shen Tingxiao, even though he was already engaged to someone else.