10 The Past— Five Years Ago Part - 3

Meng Yao was furious and at the same time concerned. She treasured her son very much and the thought of something bad might happen or that he never wakes up again, scared her. It made her angry at Shi Lian because she was at fault. Shi Lian is a lovely child, and she do love her as well, however, her mind was only at Atian. 

Sha Sha left her alone and went to her husband. They both looked at Shi Lian in worry. Her face was pale like a ghost and she was sobbing silently. "She hasn't had anything since afternoon. I should bring her something to eat" Sha Sha tells to her husband. 

"She will not eat. Not until Atian is fine" Zheng Yuan reasons with a small sigh. His daughter was fragile and it worried her if this accident left deep scars in her heart. He doesn't want to see her depressed. 

Few minutes later, Sha Sha went to Shi Lian and gently asks if she would like to eat anything. Shi Lian shook her head, refusing to look up. "Darling, you are not well too, you should take rest."

She shool her head again. Even if she tried closing her eyes and sleep, she couldn't. The scene of the accident would always haunt her. 

Sha Sha didn't forced her. She went up to Zheng Yuan telling him to go and rest since he had an important meeting tomorrow. He insisted to stay but Sha Sha assuree him she would take care of everything here. Zheng Yuan agreed after resisting and left the hospital. 

~

The next morning, at around eight in the morning, Shi Lian heard Meng Yao's squeal. Her eyes shot open and she hissed when she felt slight pain around her neck. She had slept in a poor position in that seat which resulted in her body to ache. She blinked and stood up, looking at Meng Yao and then at the doctor. She went up to the doctor and asked, "Doctor, is Atian....?"

"He is out of danger, Miss Shi Lian" said the doctor. Shi Lian felt a huge relieve and she desperately wanted to meet him. 

"Can I meet him, please?" she requested. 

"He is resting at the moment. I would suggest you to meet him after a while. He needs rest the most right now."

Shi Lian's face fell. "I understand" she said in a small voice. The doctor told that Atian had been shifted to the normal room from the emergency theatre a while ago. She saw him lying on the hospital bed with oxygen mask covering his mouth and nose. Her heart bled at the sight of him. She whimpered as she watched him through the small round transparent area of the door. 

"Step away!" came the sharp tone of Meng Yao which made her flinch. Shi Lian meekly stepped aside and looked at her. Meng Yao took a step towards her, in a way which intimidated Shi Lian. "You are not allowed to meet him, Shi Lian."

"Why?" 

"Because of your recklessness, my son is in danger! Do you think I will let you be around him anymore?" she told her in grimace. 

Shi Lian's heart shattered hearing Meng Yao say such things to her. Ever has she imagined, Meng Yao would say such cruel things to her. Meng Yao was always sweet her, treated her like her daughter and that was the reason that Shi Lian couldn't understand why her attitude had changed so much. 

"I didn't do intentionally, Aunt Yao. Please, I want to see him. Don't do this to me" she begged. 

"No, Shi Lian. You will not see him anymore. You need to stay away from my son" Meng Yao warned her, widening her eyes at her. 

At that moment, Sha Sha came and heard what she said. "Yao!" she yelled in fury, marching towards them. "How could you say her to not see Atian?"

"Sha Sha, please. Take your daughter away from here. I don't want her near my son" Meng Yao said with despisement.

"Yao! What has gotten into you? We have been friends for years! Our children are dating! I don't understand why are you being so hostile towards my daughter?"

"No one's dating! They broke up!" yelled Meng Yao. Sha Sha and Meng Yao have been friends since they were in colleges and never had they fought like this. 

"When did that happen?"

"Now. I made the decision!" 

Shi Lian couldn't control her emotions and covering her mouth, she ran away from there, outside the hospital building. 

"Yao, I understand you are concerned about your son but that doesn't give you the right to be cruel to others. Shi Lian isn't at fault here. Accidents happen. Instead of blaming others, you should be happy that Atian is safe and sound" Sha Sha explained in a calm way. 

"I don't want to hear anything! Leave, Sha Sha."

Sha Sha said nothing further. It felt worthless. She took a deep breath and before leaving, she said, "Your present actions will affect you later. You will regret it, Yao." She told her as a friend and she hoped Meng Yao could come around, back to being sweet and spontaneous. 

On her way to the reception area, she bumped into Wucheng. When he saw her sobbing, he worriedly asked if she way okay. "I don't know what go say son. Your mother is being unreasonable here."

Wucheng, after filling the forms and gone to the company but had later came to check on her mother. She insisted him to go home and sleep which he did. He doesn't know what happened.

"What happened, Aunt?" 

"She blames Shi Lian for Atian's accident and because of it, she doesn't want Shi Lian to see Atian."

"Is Atian out of danger?" Sha Sha nods. "Ah, that is a great news. I will talk to Mom about this. She is very much concerned about Atian at the moment."

"I do understand that, Wucheng. She is having a rough time but that doesn't mean she will say whatever she pleases?" 

"Please don't be upset, Aunt. I will talk to her. I'm sure she will be okay once Atian himself tells her" he assured her but he wasn't himself sure. 

"I hope that too."

Sha Sha said goodbye and went out realizing Shi Lian wasn't with her. She ran away and Sha Sha doesn't where she would be. Panicked, Sha Sha went to search the parking area. She thought she would need to call Zheng Yuan, but fortunately Shi Lian was sitting there right beside their car, crying. Sha She's heart ached to see her daughter hurting. She gently patted her shoulder and taking her hand, she led her inside the car. "Mother, I want to see Atian" she mewled, sitting inside the car. Sha Sha gestured the driver to start the car and he did. Sha Sha consoled her somehow, telling her she would take her there to meet Atian. 

They reached Mo Mansion. Nanny Zhang helped Shi Lian take her upstairs, to her room. "Young Miss, you haven't taken shower. Shall I warm the prepare the bath for you?" she asked to her as if she was a small child. 

Shi Lian shook her head and lied down on her bed with her face covered inside the pillow. "Miss...shall I bring something for you to eat? You must be starving."

"Leave me alone, Nanny Zhang" Shi Lian said rudely and without further saying anything, Nanny Zhang left, closing the door mildly. 

Shi Lian sighed heavily, feeling guilty for talking to her. Her mind drifts towards Atian. She desperately waned to see him. She couldn't accept to break up with him just like that. They promised to be with each other even if the hurdles are difficult. 

Removing the pillow, she got up and dialed Wucheng's number. Her heart skipped a beat when he picked up the call. "Hello, Shi Lian?"

"Brother Wucheng, can i request you for one thing?" she asked, hesitant and worried, thinking if Meng Yao was beside him. 

"If it's about Atian, I really don't know how to help you, Shi Lian. Mom, is not letting anyone to see him."

Shi Lian bit her lower lip, feeling heartbroken. "Please, help me Brother Wucheng. I'll only talk to him for few minutes. After that, I will leave I swear."

Shi Lian heard him sighing. "I'll try to keep Mom occupied for a while and using that chance, you can meet him. But only for few minutes okay?"

"Yes."

"Come during evening around five o clock."

Shi Lian smiled, relief flooding over her. "Thank you very much, brother Wucheng!" With that she ended the call and sat down on the bed. She could finally see him. 

She went to freshen up and later went downstairs . 

~

YAOWU HOSPITAL

Shi Lian waited at the ground floor for the sign of Wucheng. He mentioned he would take Mang Yao out for that time and Shi Lian could utilize that time to meet Atian. 

Shi Lian hid her face with a mask ans baseball cap so as to not let Meng Yao notice her. A minute later, Wucheng and Meng Yao stepped out of the elevator. Shi Lian hid behind the pillar, only sneaking out her face every now and then. She texted him to let him know she was there. Wucheng read the text and directed his gaze towards the pillar. He nodded when he saw her. 

"I don't want to leave Atan alone. What if he wakes up and needs me?" Meng Yao whined. 

"Mom, you need some fresh air. The doctors are there with him. If he wakes up, they will call you."

Meng Yao gave in and walked out of the hospital with her son. 

Shi Lian hurried towards the elevator, taking the first floor. She passed the hallway and made her way to Atian's room. There was a nurse inside when she entered. She panicked thinking if the nurse would tell this to Meng Yao. 

The nurse gave her a questioning look. "Are you here to meet him?" 

"I- yes. I am" Shi Lian replied meekly. 

"He hasn't woken up yet. When he wakes up, I'll let you know by then."

"Its fine. I'll just talk to him and leave. "

The nurse didn't asked anything further and nodded. She left the room, leaving Shi Lian and Atisn alone. Shi Lian's gaze shifted to Atian who was lying on the bed, his eyes closed. He looked serene but at the same time, it pained her to see him like this. 

She dragged the stool beside the bed and sat on it. Her hand trembled when she reached to take his hand in hers. "Atian.... "

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn't stop her emotions. "I'm sorry, Atian. It's all my fault. If I wasn't too reckless, if I had listened to you, you wouldn't be.....please forgive me, Atian."

Shi Lian sobbed, and continued. "When I saw you, covered in blood and lying unconscious, I thought I have lost you. I felt as if my soul was leaving me when you weren't responding me. It was then I realized that you mean so much to me, Atian. I love you very much."

Just at that moment, Atian's finger moved. Shi Lian didn't notice that, she was busy expressing her feelings to him. Atian slowly opened his eyes and then saw Shi Lian in front of him. There was a slight furrow of his brows. 

"....get well soon Atian. We have so much to talk. And, we still have to go to our trip, don't we?"

When Shi Lian lifted her gaze, she found him staring at her. Surprised, she almost choked. "Atian? Atian! You are awake!" she said, beaming. "H-how are you feeling?" she asked. 

"Who are you?" Atian asked. His face held no emotion at all. Just an expressionless canvas. At first Shi Lian thought he was fooling around but he asked her the same question again, and the way he said it, it didn't sounded Atian at all. 

"You don't recognize me?" she stammered, feeling the hollowness in her gut. 

"Do we know each other?" another question. He tried to lift his body to sit. Shi Lian gaped at him, anger fueling inside her. 

"Atian, don't fool me! This isn't funny!"

"Excuse me? I clearly said I do not know you. Why would I fool around? Are you Mom's friend?"

Was he serious? Was he acting or had he....really not know her. Shi Lian stumbled, too shocked that she almost lose her footing. She couldn't believe this. Atian couldn't forget her. He loved her deeply, how could he forget everything about her? 

"Atian! It's me, Shi Lian. I'm your girlfriend. Do you really not remember anything?" she asked frantically. 

Atian took a moment to think, which only made her feel worse. He doesn't remember her. Shi Lian couldn't understand what has happened to him. She assumed it might be because of too much anesthetic. 

"Sorry, I don't recognize you. I– the pain is affecting me" he hissed, pressing his palms on both his temples. Worried, Shi Lian called the nurse and the doctor. 

"What happened?" asked the doctor. 

"Doctor, he is feeling discomfort and why can't be remember me?"

The doctor first calmed Atian by giving him an soothing injection. Once he was asleep, they exited the room. 

She asked the doctor about Atian's condition again. The doctor sighed. "It's the case where he has lost his memory. He do remembers few members for example his mother and brother. But it seems he has forgotten about you. Maybe because remembering is too much for him to take."

The last sentence stung her. Was she that cruel? Was he mad at her because of the accident? Shi Lian felt worse. Her stomach hurled and she felt like puking. The doctor, giving her an apologetic smile. Shi Lian stood there, outside the room, and watched Atian through the small transparent hole.