Chapter 69: Coma

Chapter 69: Coma

Shi Ning explained Yun Fan's condition to Wen Zhaofu, watching as Wen Zhaofu's expression grew increasingly grim.

After Yun Fan fell into a coma, he remained unresponsive. At the hospital, every conceivable treatment was tried, but there was still no sign of improvement. Shi Ning checked Yun Fan's vital signs and felt something was amiss. Regardless of the circumstances, he shouldn't have been unable to wake up.

After careful consideration, Shi Ning requested further tests for Yun Fan, which revealed a brain lesion—the true cause of his unconsciousness.

"What?" Cheng Yu abandoned all decorum, glaring furiously at Wen Zhaofu. "He was by your side every day. Didn't you notice he was unwell?"

Wen Zhaofu closed his eyes briefly, then looked at Shi Ning. "When is the surgery?"

"Tomorrow morning," Shi Ning nodded. "The risks are considerable, but without it, he might never regain consciousness."

"Do we need to call in specialists? I can arrange for some from Beijing," Liu Erxing said, surprisingly calm. "Or if a transfer is necessary, I can arrange a helicopter."

"We'll do the surgery here," Wen Zhaofu stated firmly. "Don't move him again; it only introduces more instability."

"Yes, Zhaofu is right," Shi Ning explained. "Rest assured about the medical care here; we will do our utmost."

Wen Zhaofu composed himself and looked at Shi Ning. "Bring the surgical documents. I'll sign them."

The news of Yun Fan being found, along with his comatose state, reached the Wen estate. Grandma was frantic and had someone take her to the hospital.

In the lounge, the principal members of the Wen family were gathered, all with solemn expressions. Everyone scrutinized Wen Zhaofu, their eyes lingering on his legs, yet no one dared to utter a single word.

If Wen Zhaofu had managed to conceal his ability to walk until now, he surely had other strategies. At this moment, avoiding him was the best form of self-preservation.

Seeing his father, Wen Qichang, had also arrived, Wen Zhaofu looked up, a hint of a plea in his eyes. "Dad, could you cover for me at work for a while?"

"Ah? I don't—" Before Wen Qichang could finish his refusal, a sharp glare from Grandma silenced him.

"If I knew how to run the business, I'd do it myself," Wen Haochen muttered under his breath.

The matter was thus settled. The Wen family's business couldn't halt, but Wen Zhaofu was utterly preoccupied and exhausted, otherwise, he wouldn't have entrusted it to his unreliable father.

Others might have advised Wen Zhaofu against relinquishing control, but with Yun Fan's life hanging in the balance, he had no capacity to consider such things.

"Proceed as Zhaofu has arranged. Unless it's an urgent matter requiring Zhaofu's direct attention, do not bring any other business to the hospital," Grandma said slowly. "Yun Fan's condition is critical; saving him is the utmost priority."

The old steward had never witnessed the entire family mobilize like this. It had never occurred to him that the Wen family cared so deeply for Yun Fan, but then he reconsidered, thinking they were likely acting out of deference to Wen Zhaofu.

"Wen Cheng," Grandma addressed the old steward by his full name.

The old steward stiffened, his heart tightening, as he hadn't heard that address in the Wen household for a very long time.

"Yes, Madam," the old steward replied respectfully.

Grandma clasped her hands, resting them on the armrest of the sofa, and looked at him with a knowing smile. "Have you seen your precious son these past few days?"

"No, I haven't. His phone goes straight to voicemail," the old steward replied, quickly glancing at Wen Zhaofu beside him.

Today, Wen Zhaofu seemed disinclined to speak on his behalf, instead repeatedly pinching the web between his thumb and forefinger, his face etched with anxiety.

It was clear that Wen Zhaofu's attention was not in the room, but entirely focused on Yun Fan in the operating theater.

"We have evidence proving that Zhu Zhiqian was involved in Yun Fan's kidnapping," Grandma stated sternly. "If you have any information, tell us immediately."

"What?!" the old steward exclaimed in shock. "How could that be? Little Qian would never do such a thing!"

Amidst the tension, Shi Ning called Wen Zhaofu out. The start of the surgery did not guarantee a successful outcome. On the contrary, after signing numerous documents earlier, Wen Zhaofu was repeatedly pulled away to sign yet another series of new consent forms.

As Shi Ning explained, the sound of Grandma loudly reprimanding the old steward in the lounge reached them, the cacophony of voices making Wen Zhaofu's ears ring.

"Xiao Yun…" In the end, Wen Zhaofu could only utter that one name.

Shi Ning patted Wen Zhaofu's shoulder. "The surgery is proceeding as planned. It's more complex than anticipated, but it's manageable."

"Zhaofu, you need to stay strong. Yun Fan needs you."

"Okay, I will," Wen Zhaofu sniffed, forced a weak smile, and quickly signed the documents.

After Wen Zhaofu finished signing, Shi Ning looked at him and asked in a low voice, "So you've abandoned the wheelchair?"

"Yes. Everything has two sides. Using the wheelchair allowed me to appear vulnerable, making some believe I was truly weak and easily bullied," Wen Zhaofu said gravely. "That Xiao Yun came to such harm is entirely my fault."

Shi Ning knew that nothing he said would console him at this moment. He patted Wen Zhaofu's shoulder and returned to the operating room.

*

After that day, the old steward never returned to the Wen estate. Grandma hadn't issued such an order, but he felt too ashamed to go back.

Even if Yun Fan wasn't Wen Zhaofu's beloved, he felt his son's actions were unforgivable.

Langyuntai had undergone so many upheavals that Uncle Man and the little gardener were completely overwhelmed. After much deliberation, they decided to go to the hospital to find Wen Zhaofu. Seeing him standing on his own two feet, they were utterly astonished, their mouths agape.

Seeing them, Wen Zhaofu realized he had overlooked many things.

"Uncle Man, Xiao Shan, I have things covered with Xiao Yun. You don't need to worry," Wen Zhaofu said with a faint smile. "As for Uncle Cheng… please pack up his belongings and find an opportunity to deliver them to him."

"I will personally give him some compensation. Please take that to him as well."

"I've wanted to say this for a long time—the old steward spoiled his son too much and failed to raise him properly," Uncle Man said indignantly. "How could he commit such a heinous act out of jealousy?"

The task of apprehending Zhu Zhiqian and Zhuo Yan was entrusted to Wen Zhaofu's third grandfather, Wen Tingwang. With Liu Erxing's assistance, they wouldn't get far.

Wen Zhaofu patted Uncle Man's shoulder. "Uncle Man, make some of Xiao Yun's favorite dishes. When he wakes up…"

"Young Master!" Uncle Man and the little gardener exclaimed in unison, gripping Wen Zhaofu's arm. "Yun Fan will definitely wake up!"

"Yes, you're right," Wen Zhaofu said, digging his fingers into his palm, using the physical pain to mask the anguish in his heart.

After Cheng Yu was taken home by his mother, he didn't reappear. Liu Erxing, having followed Wen Tingwang, was nowhere to be found. Wen Haochen, however, remained at the hospital with Wen Zhaofu the entire time.

The long hours of surgery were agonizing. Watching Wen Zhaofu calmly review one medical document after another made Wen Haochen even more anxious.

In this regard, Wen Haochen felt he truly couldn't compare to Wen Zhaofu. If there weren't so many people around, and with Grandma present, he would have broken down crying already.

When Wen Zhaofu finally paused, Wen Haochen rushed over, sat beside him, and tightly embraced his arm. Wen Zhaofu tried to shake him off a couple of times but couldn't.

"Big brother, truly, I just want Yun Fan to recover. I don't care about anything else," Wen Haochen couldn't hold back his tears any longer. "I'm giving up on him. He can be with anyone he wants."

Wen Zhaofu sighed helplessly but didn't forget to correct him. "Xiao Yun will only ever be your sister-in-law."

"Okay, my sister-in-law," Wen Haochen replied sadly.

Seeing Wen Haochen offer no resistance, Wen Zhaofu sighed softly and asked, "After you graduate, how about going to the company in Singapore? There's a suitable position for you there. Gain some experience for a few years, then return to Hong Kong."

"I'm not going," Wen Haochen shook his head, looking earnestly at Wen Zhaofu. "Yun Fan once told me to think carefully about what I truly want to do and what I'm capable of. I know business isn't for me. If you try to mentor me, it would be too much trouble for you."

"Rather than sending me, it would be better to send Yun Fan. He's the one who can truly help you, big brother."

"Big brother, I want to learn skiing and become a professional athlete," Wen Haochen said, his eyes lighting up. "I think I have some talent in sports. After trying many things, I feel most interested in skiing."

"Alright," Wen Zhaofu agreed immediately, nodding approvingly. "After this busy period, I'll contact some friends and send you to a professional club."

"No need, big brother. You shouldn't have to worry about everything for me," Wen Haochen smiled. "I've already found a club. I can join after graduation."

Wen Zhaofu looked at Wen Haochen, genuinely surprised. In his impression, this younger brother was always unreliable, full of ideas but rarely acting on them. But then it struck him that Wen Haochen was indeed an adult now, and he shouldn't judge him by past perceptions.

"Alright, I'll listen to you," Wen Zhaofu said, raising his hand to ruffle the top of Wen Haochen's head.

At nine in the evening, Yun Fan's surgery was finally completed. He was transferred to the ICU, and Wen Zhaofu only caught a fleeting glimpse before being asked to leave.

"When will he wake up?" Wen Zhaofu seized Shi Ning and asked the crucial question.

Shi Ning didn't want to mislead him, giving him hope only to see it dashed. "The issues and underlying risks in Yun Fan's brain have been resolved, but it's hard to say when he'll regain consciousness."

"Until he wakes up, I'll be here around the clock," Shi Ning reassured him. "Any problems can be observed and treated promptly."

"Thank you for your hard work, Shi Ning," Wen Zhaofu took a deep breath and smiled at him.

The one truly struggling was Wen Zhaofu himself. Shi Ning knew all too well how much Wen Zhaofu worried. Although Wen Zhaofu's own surgery was approaching, Shi Ning chose not to bring it up yet.

Firstly, Wen Zhaofu was in no state to deal with it now. Secondly, the Wen family was in turmoil, and its leader couldn't afford any more problems—otherwise, everything could truly fall apart.

A week later, Wen Zhaofu still hadn't received any news of Yun Fan waking up. Once his vital signs stabilized, Yun Fan was moved back to a regular room. Wen Zhaofu would spend hours on end there every day, until Shi Ning insisted he must rest.

"Where's Liu Erxing?" Wen Zhaofu asked two weeks later, suddenly realizing he hadn't seen him in a long time.

His assistant glanced at him, seeming to hold back. Wen Zhaofu frowned and asked again.

"Young Master Liu has gone to pray to Buddha, hoping to bring health and well-being to Butler Yun."

"Oh, let him go," Wen Zhaofu paused before responding calmly.

It was good that someone could do what he couldn't—that was Wen Zhaofu's first thought. He didn't even consider whether such an act would actually be useful.

He didn't ask about Cheng Yu. He'd heard Cheng Yu was locked at home by his mother, Cheng Bixia, having daily meltdowns. Cheng Bixia couldn't understand it—no matter what, Cheng Yu should prioritize his work. How could he be so heartbroken over a mere butler?

Wen Haochen came every day but didn't stay long, busy working toward graduation. He thought that when Yun Fan woke up, he'd give him a surprise.

A good surprise, one that would reassure Yun Fan about his future. Now Wen Haochen clearly understood that Yun Fan wished him well but had no other romantic feelings for him.

During this time, Wen Haochen video-called Liu Erxing once—just once—and never dared to again. Liu Erxing was unshaven, with strands of hair hanging over his forehead, nothing like his usual dashing young master appearance.

They faced each other in silence, unable to find words to comfort one another. In the end, Wen Haochen blurted out, "Brother Xing, I've given up. As long as Yun Fan wakes up, I'll back off."

"Oh, one less competitor," Liu Erxing gave a bitter smile.

Wen Zhaofu spent more and more time smoking. Shi Ning would cough every time he visited and noticed that Wen Zhaofu had started inhaling cigar smoke.

"Zhaofu!" Shi Ning snatched the cigar from Wen Zhaofu's hand, put it out, and threw it in the trash.

"Ah, sorry, Doctor Shi," Wen Zhaofu smiled self-deprecatingly. "I wasn't paying attention."

That night, Wen Zhaofu read many foreign medical papers, trying to find a way to wake Yun Fan through his own efforts.

"Even if he wakes up and remembers nothing, it's fine," Wen Zhaofu said hoarsely. "As long as he wakes up."

Shi Ning couldn't bear it and comforted him, "Medicine is advancing. We will always strive to find ways to overcome difficulties."

The pain was overwhelming. Wen Zhaofu didn't know if he could keep going anymore. For others, it might be easy to watch from a safe distance, but he had experienced kidnapping himself—he knew how deeply it could hurt, something that couldn't be gotten over in just a year or two.

Not to mention now, Yun Fan was still critically ill and unconscious.

"Shi Ning, I..." Wen Zhaofu hadn't finished speaking when a nurse rushed over.

"Mr. Wen, Yun Fan is awake!"

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Author's note: Off tomorrow, see you Wednesday! [Heart]