Chapter 10: Awakening to Truth
My voice wouldn't come out.
When they saw I was awake, they rushed out in excitement to call the doctor.
The doctor hurried in and examined me thoroughly.
"Good, you're awake. Recovery is progressing well. You should be ready for discharge in a few days."
"Thank you, thank you, Doctor!"
Mom grabbed the doctor's hand, bowing repeatedly in gratitude.
Dad, wiping his tears, tried stuffing a red envelope into the doctor's pocket, sending the poor man fleeing from the room.
Watching this, I let out a weak laugh.
So they did still care about me this much.
"Nuan Nuan, Mom's so sorry... I failed you. I let you suffer," Mom choked out.
"Yeah, Nuan Nuan, Dad knows you hate me. Go ahead—hit me if it makes you feel better!"
"What kind of joke is this at a time like this?!" Mom smacked Dad's forehead.
I laughed again.
Dad was still the same—always joking, never putting on parental airs.
How did such a good family fall apart?
After sipping some water, my throat felt less parched. After much hesitation, I decided to face reality.
"Mom... Luo Ping. How is he?"
I looked at her, gripping the sheets tightly. At this point, there was nothing left I couldn't face.
"Luo Ping was a good boy... but his injuries from the accident were too severe. He... didn't make it."
"The accident... wasn't that a long time ago?"
"What are you talking about? You're in this hospital because of the accident! You two went to visit Grandma without telling anyone!"
"Your Dad could've driven you! Luo Ping was just a kid—freshly licensed—and he took you out in that weather..."
Mom quickly changed the subject, probably to spare me more grief.
So Luo Ping was really gone. I'd already guessed the outcome, thought I could accept it calmly.
But my traitorous tears betrayed me again.
The doctor insisted I needed rest, so Dad left first, leaving Mom to care for me.
Slowly, I began piecing together the nightmares of the past few days.
The female ghost in my dreams was likely my own demon—my inner torment given form.
Luo Ping had come to my home twice in those dreams, and both times ended in tragedy.
He wasn't a "stranger." He was a ghost.
God, are you even watching what you're doing?
I was exhausted, too drained to think anymore.
A few days later, the doctor finally cleared me for discharge. Dad came to pick me up.
With a clearer mind, my resentment toward him resurfaced. When we met again, I gave him the cold shoulder.
"Nuan Nuan, adult matters are complicated... but your Mom and I have decided to remarry."
"What? Don't you already have a child? Don't drag Mom back into your mess."
Dad flushed red, stammering, "Must you dig so deep into this?"
"Do I have to admit the kid isn't mine? That your old man got scammed?"
"..."
The air froze instantly.
At this point, Dad threw dignity aside and came clean.
"Back then, the company was near bankruptcy. I didn't want another child partly due to financial stress..."
"But mostly, it was for you. A new baby would've split our money, love, and energy in half."
"The moment you were born, I held you and swore you'd be the happiest little princess in the world. That's why I refused to have another all these years."
"As for the divorce... My former secretary left to have a baby. I hired a temp, who turned out to be... ambitious."