Chapter 280: Sincere apology

Huian’s treatment finally started after Liang Shin mapped out her recovery plan. Almost fifteen days passed by. Initially, he helped her do light movements of her arms and legs as much as she could do and as much pain she could bear.

Liang Shin held her fingers one by one and slowly tried to lift them and the same with the toes. Huian did her best to co-operate. But it was excruciating. She gritted her teeth and sweat was trickling down the side of her head.

“You are doing very well.” Liang Shin nodded. With the additional heat treatment, her muscles and nerves were slowly starting to relax.

Liang Shin taught her many exercises that she could also do on her own when he wasn’t there. And Huian diligently did them every day. At the very least, she was now able to move her arms and feet on her own.

“Next week, we will work on your upper body. And once you can do that, you won’t need to lie on the bed anymore. You will be able to use the wheelchair.”

Huian slowly nodded.

Liang Shin smiled. “Really, I haven’t seen a patient as determined as you. People are usually afraid of pain.”

Huian sadly smiled.

I don’t have any choice but to be determined. And pain? I have already seen the worst of it. This physical pain is nothing as compared to that.

“Okay, this is enough for today. I will take my leave. And as always, if you feel uncomfortable, then you can ask the nurse to call me anytime. I will be here.”

Huian nodded again. Once again, she stared at him.

No matter how many times she looked at him, she would always think of Nana. She could see a little familiarity between them, not only on his face but the way he smiled too. It was very similar to her.

Liang Shin noticed her staring at him…again. He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but he often found her looking at him. He didn’t understand.

But he was sure of one thing that it wasn’t any sort of love or crush. Her gaze meant contemplation or like she was trying to put something together.

“Um…”

Huian snapped out of her stupor.

“Is there something on my face?”

Huian widened her eyes.

Shit! Did he catch me staring at him?

She shook her head.

Liang Shin scratched his head sheepishly. “Actually, I have seen you staring at me a few times.” He didn’t want to sound like a narcissist.

Huian felt utterly embarrassed. She didn’t even realize that he noticed that.

Ah, did he take the wrong meaning!? I am so stupid!

She nervously bit her lip and shook her head. “I…” Her throat hurt when she tried to say something.

“It’s okay. You should take rest now.”

“You…look like…” Huian felt exhausted after saying another three words.

Liang Shin blinked his eyes.

Look like? Who?

He was curious now, but he knew he couldn’t push her for answers.

He sighed. “I told you that it’s fine. Don’t worry. You can tell me when you will be able to talk again properly. Don’t stress out.”

Liang Shin stood up. “I will leave now. Take care.”

Huian smiled.

As he left, Huian’s expression turned grim. After days of working hard, she was finally able to move her arms and even talk a little.

She looked at the side and saw her phone lying on the table beside the jar of water. She slowly raised her arm towards it and picked it up.

She hoped that Nana’s number was still the same. She typed a message with a little difficulty and sent it.

—

Nana was resting on the bed, listening to some good music. Now, she was starting to feel really bored of just sitting in the bedroom.

She really missed doing her work. But from the sixth month onwards, Jinhai made her stop from going to Natsukashi. She was practically free for the entire day.

Her phone buzzed. Nana saw a message from an unknown number.

‘Nana, I’m Huian. Can you please meet me in the hospital? I have something important to tell you. Please don’t tell Jinhai.’

Nana blinked her eyes in shock. She couldn’t believe that Huian wanted to meet her.

Why does she want me to meet her so suddenly? I thought she wouldn’t even like to see me.

She reread the message. It was written not to tell about this meeting to Jinhai.

Nana frowned. She thought about it a little and dialed the number.

After a few rings, it was picked up.

“Hello.”

“…Nana…” Huian’s voice came from the other end.

Nana widened her eyes. It was indeed Huian’s voice. So it was also Huian’s number.

“Miss Xiang?”

“Y-yes…”

Nana could feel that she was having a little difficulty in talking.

“You saw…my message?” Her voice was hoarse.

Nana said, “Yes, I just saw it.”

“P-please come…here…tell you…important.”

“But-“

“Don’t tell…Jinhai…please…”

And with that, the phone hung up.

“Hello? Hello?”

Nana was puzzled. But if she wanted to meet her despite it was hurting her to talk, then it might be something important.

But why did she tell to hide it from Jinhai?

What should I do?

After the episode with Hui Xiao Fan, she really didn’t want to hide anything from Jinhai. But Huian also sounded desperate. And Nana never thought in a million years that Huian would want to meet her instead of Jinhai.

She thought for a few minutes.

I will see what Miss Huian has to say to me first.

—

City X hospital.

Nana hesitated a little before she opened the door to Huian’s ward. She slowly stepped in, holding her belly. She saw Huian was quietly resting on the bed. Her complexion was a bit pale, and she was skinny, naturally, because she was in a coma.

Huian opened her eyes. She widened her eyes in surprise as she looked at Nana, particularly her big belly.

Right, …she was pregnant.

Huian didn’t want to, but it still pricked her heart a little. The place where she wanted to stand was where Nana stood right now. After all, she had loved Jinhai for all these years. It was not that easy to completely uproot him from her heart.

Her love for him had already faded out, but it would take time for her heart to heal and truly forget him.

Nana felt a little awkward to see Huian in this state. Huian was the ex-wife, and now she was Mrs. Liu, carrying his child.

She must be feeling uncomfortable seeing me like this.

Nana awkwardly smiled at her. She sat in the chair beside her.

“Miss Xiang. How are you feeling now?”

Huian stared at her for a few moments. She thought that Nana might have changed. She thought Nana might mock and laugh at her for being the ex-wife. But she didn’t look down on her. She seemed the same, just how she was seven months back.

There was no sneer, no haughtiness of being Jinhai’s wife, or the arrogance of being Lady Liu. Her face carried the same gentle and genuine smile. Huian even wondered if she would come here to meet the ex-wife lying in such a pathetic state.

She was living her life happily with Jinhai. Why would she want anything to do with the woman who once treated her as the enemy?

I really misunderstood her all this time.

“Miss Xiang? How are you..”

Huian smiled. “…I’m fine…”

Nana was surprised to see her smile at her. It felt as if she held no grudges against her anymore. Her gaze was warm, but a little sad too.

It made Nana feel relieved a bit. If possible, she wanted to clear the misgivings and mend things between them. Maybe, if she could talk things out with her today, then the strain and tension between them can ease up.

“That’s really nice to hear about it. I’m so glad that you woke up. Uncle and Aunt Xiang and everybody in the Liu villa was so happy with the news.”

Everybody? How can Jinhai be happy? Huian mocked inwardly.

Her gaze then shifted towards Nana’s belly. She blinked a few times. “How many…months?”

Nana paused for a second. She hesitated for a while, but then she softly smiled. “Eight. It will be nine in the next fifteen days.”

Huian’s eyes slightly stung with tears. But she didn’t let them out. She had decided not to cry for Jinhai anymore.

But Nana noticed it. She knew it wasn’t wise to speak anything or console her in this situation, so she just kept quiet. Huian needed time, and Nana understood that.

“I see…”

After a few moments of silence, Huian said, I want to…start with…apologizing to you…” she was a little breathless.

Apologize?

“For what Miss Xiang?” Nana furrowed her brows.

Huian pursed her lips. A tear slid down from the side of her eye.

“Please forgive me…for abandoning you…that night…”