Han Muzi had been having the time of her life for the past few days because ever since that night, Ye Moxuan stopped pestering her via messages to visit him at the hospital. His contact had been silent in her WeChat APP as if it had never been active before.
Suddenly, Han Muzi felt as if she hadn’t paid her phone bill or that her wireless internet connection at home was faulty. Otherwise… why haven’t I received any WeChat messages from Ye Moxuan?
However, apart from his messages, she was receiving messages from others as usual, and that included phone calls.
Hence, this means that my phone bill isn’t overdue, nor is my wireless internet at home faulty. Ye Moxuan has truly stopped contacting me.
She thought to herself, Perhaps… he is bored because he sees no sense in sending me messages daily just to beg me to visit him in the hospital. After all, not everyone would be silly enough to wait at the same spot for me. Maybe he’s just going back to his normal life. This is a good thing. We all should live our separate lives. However… I feel as if there’s a hole in my heart.
Han Muzi slumped backward on the couch while holding tightly onto her phone. The depressed feeling she felt made her feel slightly disgusted with herself.
I was the one who had been rejecting him. I was also the one who wanted to cut ties with him and never be in contact again. So why do I feel so empty now that he doesn’t contact me? I feel as if something was taken from me.
Perhaps it is just a habit? Ever since we bumped into each other, he has been constantly showing up in my life. He has taken over a large part of my daily life. Humans tend to get used to the company of another person. I got used to his presence. In that case, from now on… I’ll just have to get used to his absence.
Han Muzi calmed down upon deciding that because she was clear-minded now. That’s what I’ll do from now on.
After dinner, Han Muzi relaxed at home. The kittens and mother cat were living in her house now.
The other day after Yan and Little Bean brought the cats to a pet store for some disinfection and deworming procedures, they bought a small cage and took the cats back home.
The mother cat looked after the little kittens well. They all looked much healthier after living in their house for about a week.
Since they found a place called home, the mother cat became very close to Han Muzi and her family. It allowed them to touch its kittens.
After it was done breastfeeding, the mother cat would roll around alone on the balcony under the sun. It would lie lazily on the balcony with half-closed eyes, looking extremely relaxed.
On the other hand, the kindle of kittens would run around on the carpet at home. However, since they were all less than a month old, they were barely stable on their feet. They would stumble around, but they were rather persistent as they would get back up to continue for several steps before tripping again.
If the kittens were to see someone walk past them, they’d start following whomever it was from behind as well.
As such, after adopting the cats, Han Muzi felt that… she had to be extra careful whenever she was walking at home because the kittens were extremely small. She was worried that she might step on them by accident.
“Meow…” Han Muzi was lying on the couch while feeling down. Suddenly, she heard a high-pitched meow right beside her leg. She turned around and saw a kitten had gotten out of its cattery. It was now beside her leg and stared curiously at her with two beady, black eyes.
Han Muzi met its gaze for several moments before suddenly bending down to pick the kitten up.
She caressed the kitten’s head gently with three fingers while speaking to it, “What do you think… he is doing now?”
“Why… don’t I visit him at the hospital? I wonder how his wounds are.”
“Mommy, what happened to whose wounds?” Little Bean asked casually since he heard the last part of her sentence when he was running down the stairs.
Han Muzi snapped back to her senses with a start, and she looked slightly stricken.
“Nothing, you must have heard wrongly.”
Little Bean stared at her with wide eyes. “Really? But I heard…”
“Previously, the mother cat had some injuries on its leg. And so I was just asking the kitten. Otherwise, why would you think I’d be hugging the kitten while asking that?” Han Muzi explained with a smile.
Although she didn’t like lying to Little Bean, she couldn’t very well tell him that she was talking about Ye Moxuan, could she? Otherwise, it would open up the topic of him asking for a father again.
At the thought of Little Bean’s father, Han Muzi realized that she was taking this issue rather seriously.
I can’t be living alone for the rest of my life. Even if I could endure loneliness forever, Little Bean is a child. He needs a healthy and complete family to grow together with other children.
Han Muzi gradually concluded after processing her thoughts.
Little Bean accompanied her on the couch for a while. After the kitten stayed in her arms for some time, Han Muzi placed it back on the floor. Then, Little Bean left to play with the kitten as well.
Once they were gone, Han Muzi realized with a start that she was covered in a cold sweat. I can’t believe I’ve said such a thing!
She clenched her fists instinctively, and she squeezed so tightly that her fingernails dug into her skin. She loosened her fists at the sharp pain.
If I’m worried, why don’t I go to the hospital to have a look? Maybe I should buy some fruits for him? It’s still early anyway… so I’d just drop by. In fact, I’ll come home after a quick visit.
Han Muzi started moving once she had that thought.
She took her coat and handbag before leaving the house and making her way out.
She chose some fruits in a nearby store, then left the shop with a bag of fruits and took a cab to the hospital.
Initially, everything was going smoothly, but when she arrived at the hospital entrance, Han Muzi had the urge to retreat. I already decided to sever ties with him. So what am I doing now? Why am I here to see him?
Would he have the wrong impression—that I am just playing hard-to-get? Forget it, I can’t care so much. I’m here, after all. I just have to go in and have a look. I’ll decide in due course.
Han Muzi then walked toward the familiar-looking hospital room with a bag of fruits.
She inhaled deeply while standing at the entrance of the ward. Then, she pushed the door open and entered the room.
Han Muzi was stumped when she opened the door, and she stood rooted to the spot while staring into the room. The hospital room was empty, and even the bedsheets were stripped off and replaced with new ones. Everything was folded neatly, and there was no one in sight.
Suddenly, Han Muzi thought she might have entered the wrong room. Hence, she retreated from the room to check, but it was the right one indeed.
Coincidentally, a nurse walked by, and Han Muzi stopped her. “Excuse me, sorry to bother you. May I know where the man who stays in this room is?”
“Eh, weren’t you the one who has always been around to look after him? Didn’t you know that he was discharged?”
“D-Discharged?” Han Muzi sounded shocked. Has he been discharged so quickly?
“That’s right. He was discharged today. We just finished tidying up the room.”
“I see. Thank you.” Han Muzi stood silently in a daze after the nurse left.
After several moments, she looked down at the bag of fruits and smiled in resignation.
