The real moment Xu Ruyi regained consciousness was at 1 AM. Qin Guan had arranged a luxurious single ward for her. The room was quiet, their daughter Little Pear already asleep on the small adjacent bed - the child had refused to go home after seeing her mother injured.
Auntie Feng had also refused to leave. No matter how Qin Guan tried to persuade her, the elderly woman stubbornly remained seated by the hospital bed like a statue, her eyes rimmed red, refusing to rest until Xu Ruyi woke properly. The first time Xu Ruyi had briefly opened her eyes hours earlier, she'd only managed a groggy few minutes before slipping back into unconsciousness. This time was different.
"Madam! Madam, you're finally awake!" Auntie Feng was the first to notice. She immediately called Qin Guan over while rushing to the bedside, "How do you feel? Any discomfort? Should I call the doctor?"
Xu Ruyi weakly shook her head.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty? Let me get you some water. Don't worry about Little Pear - she's been so good, fell asleep right away. At dawn I'll take her home to bathe and change clothes, make her breakfast..." The old woman kept chattering anxiously.
But Xu Ruyi wasn't listening. Her slender eyes had locked onto Qin Guan standing behind Auntie Feng with a gaze like a blade drawn from ice - sharp, frigent, and utterly merciless.
The concerned words that had been rising in Qin Guan's throat shriveled under that frozen stare. He stood motionless at the foot of the bed, studying his wife's battered face: the bandaged forehead, nose wrapped in thick gauze, split lip, left cheek still swollen and bruised purple. She appeared fragile enough to break, yet her barely contained fury radiated through clenched teeth and blazing eyes.
"Madam, whatever it is, discuss it calmly. Between husband and wife, no problem is too big..." Auntie Feng's eyes welled up as she glanced between them, mistaking this for a marital quarrel.
Qin Guan knew evasion was impossible. He understood Xu Ruyi too well - that look meant she'd discovered everything about Qi Min. Of course that bitch would have spilled everything during their meeting. He should have confessed first. Through countless infidelity cases he'd witnessed, men always erred by denying until cornered. The smart play was to admit guilt immediately - women were ultimately emotional slaves who'd swallow any disgust if the apology seemed sincere enough.
"I'm sorry, Ruyi. This is all my fault." Gently moving Auntie Feng aside, he met his wife's gaze head-on. The key was balancing remorse with dignity - too groveling would invite contempt, but measured penitence might salvage this. Closing his eyes, he summoned every ounce of regret into his expression before delivering his rehearsed confession.
"I cheated. Qi Min and I have been involved for two years. I betrayed you, failed your parents' trust, failed your devotion. I'm unworthy to be your husband or Little Pear's father."
As expected, Xu Ruyi's eyes instantly flooded with tears, her lower lip trembling as she struggled against the emotional tide.
"I lost myself after achieving career success," Qin Guan continued, his own eyes reddening on cue. "By the time I realized my mistakes, the damage was done. I don't deserve forgiveness... I just beg you to recover soon." His voice broke authentically as he bowed deeply, hand tentatively reaching for hers.
Xu Ruyi violently slapped his hand away. "Get out!" Her voice held none of the heartbroken vulnerability he'd anticipated - the prelude to forgiveness. Only glacial fury. "Now!"
Auntie Feng hastily rose to leave, but Xu Ruyi seized her wrist - the dismissal was solely for Qin Guan. Defeated, he slunk out. At the door, Auntie Feng heard his whispered request: "Find out exactly what happened."
"Don't worry, sir. She just needs time to cool down," the old woman reassured before closing the door. Qin Guan lingered outside, ear pressed to the gap.
Inside, Xu Ruyi's anger erupted. "That woman... the humiliation! She called during dinner, demanded I meet her at Xinhe Hotel Room 201." Qin Guan memorized the address. "Can you believe her audacity? She claimed you were planning to divorce me for her!"
"Fucking lies!" Qin Guan silently seethed, fists clenching. Of course Qi Min would pull this stunt without her three million.
Xu Ruyi's voice trembled. "She bragged about your promises, your love... Then she and some middle-aged woman attacked me when I refused the divorce! Threatened to ruin your career and Little Pear's reputation!"
Zeng Demei. Those madwomen!
"But the worst..." Xu Ruyi's breath hitched. "She mentioned... my father's death..."