Momo's Gradual Change

C67. Back to the Hospital.

Chapter 67: Back to the Hospital

The attending physician was a man in his fifties. Upon seeing Song Yi, he nodded in acknowledgment. “Is there any change in the patient…”

Song Yi stepped forward, and Miao Jun followed closely behind her. “Zhuo'er is fine. Miao Jun, this is Zhuo'er’s attending physician, Deputy Director Guo. You can ask him anything you don't understand.”

Miao Jun glanced at the nameplate on the man’s chest: Deputy Director Guo Chao.

He extended his hand, saying, “Hello.”

Guo Chao shook his hand gently.

“Deputy Director Guo, may I ask if doctors have an obligation to inform donors about the potential dangers and discomforts they may encounter during the donation process?”

Guo Chao nodded. “Of course. Moreover, since the donor is a minor, a consent form must be signed by a parent for it to be valid.”

Miao Jun directed a sarcastic glance at the evasive Song Yi. “So, the consent form for Yi Mo was signed by you, Song Yi?”

Before Song Yi could respond, Guo Chao interjected, “Isn’t Ms. Song the mother of the donor?”

“Biologically, yes. But emotionally, to Yi Mo, she is a stranger,” Miao Jun replied coldly, looking at Song Yi with disdain. “To abandon a three-year-old child for so long, had it not been for her son’s leukemia, she would likely have forgotten she even has a daughter.”

Confronted publicly, Song Yi felt the heat of embarrassment wash over her. She darkened her expression and retorted, “Miao Jun, you have no right to meddle in my family affairs. Regardless, I am Song Yi Mo’s mother, and I have the right to sign this.”

Miao Jun slammed a pile of documents onto her with force. “Did you inform Yi Mo that she could die during the donation process before you signed?”

Song Yi turned her face away in distress, memories flooding back of Yi Mo asking her, with a gentle smile, whether she knew the donor could potentially die.
What had she said?
Nothing. She had said nothing at all.

But, “Yi Mo knows. She knows more than we think.”

“But what she knows is not what you told her!” Miao Jun shouted, unable to contain his fury. The usually reserved man was now like a volcano ready to erupt.

“Song Yi, what have you forced Yi Mo into? Knowing the truth, how could she still go through with this? How heartless can one be to disregard their own daughter’s life and death?”

Guo Chao sensed the underlying tension and his expression turned serious. “Ms. Song, I need an explanation.”

“Deputy Director Guo, there’s nothing to explain. Regardless of how Song Yi Mo came to know the situation, she knows and she still wishes to donate. That is the outcome. Besides, Zhuo'er has already undergone all the preliminary preparations; we cannot delay the surgery and let him wait to die.”

Her audacious words infuriated Guo Chao. Given Shen Zhuo's condition, as Song Yi described, halting the surgery would indeed equate to waiting for death.

The hospital could not bear that responsibility, and as the attending physician, he could not afford the consequences. Thus, the surgery must proceed.

Guo Chao felt his dignity severely offended. For a doctor to compromise the integrity of a surgery was a grave transgression, and he would never stoop to such a level. However, that did not mean he was powerless.

“I must report this matter and await the dean's approval.”

Song Yi panicked. “Deputy Director Guo, my son cannot wait.”

“If Ms. Song does not wish to waste time, please leave immediately. I will go find the dean.”

Song Yi hurriedly turned and left.

Guo Chao stood up and took Miao Jun’s hand, who was about to leave. “Thank you. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have known about this situation. If something goes wrong… in any case, thank you.”

Miao Jun glanced back; Song Yi had already exited. He leaned in closer and whispered, “It would be best to have her sign a statement or something. To be frank with you, I’m wary of Song Yi. Although the child is not my own, I’ve watched her grow up. She’s obedient and well-liked by teachers, classmates, and neighbors. I fear that if Song Yi loses her shame, she might use various excuses to come back and harm the child.”

Guo Chao agreed that Song Yi had indeed gone too far. What kind of mother could be so cold-hearted?

He mentioned reporting only to put pressure on Song Yi; he had no intention of stopping the surgery. Miao Jun’s insight reminded him that this could be a starting point.

Given Song Yi's nature, if anything went wrong during the operation, it was entirely possible she would pin the blame on him.

Guo Chao nodded slightly to Miao Jun, who understood and turned to leave.

Song Yi rushed out of the office and headed straight for the ward. Zhuo'er, tormented by illness, had become increasingly frail, and she was never at ease when away from him.

However, just as she turned the corner, she abruptly halted.

At the entrance of the intensive care unit, Song Yi Mo stood there, her expression calm as she gazed into the room surrounded by machines, her form entangled in various lines.

The last time she had seen Shen Zhuo was during her senior year, when she interned at a middle school where he happened to be a student.

She taught a first-year class while he was in the second.

For reasons unknown, he avoided her like a mouse evading a cat, and she had no interest in acknowledging him, treating him as just another unfamiliar student.

Yet their encounters were frequent. Every time she taught, he would circle outside the classroom before and after class. Once, he was even punished for entering too slowly.

It was evident he wanted to approach her but lacked the courage.

Her rejection was too apparent, and as a result, they had never exchanged a word in those three months of her internship.

She had also seen Song Yi come to pick Shen Zhuo up.

Song Yi had remarried well; though her new husband was much older, he was wealthy and, as Shen Zhuo was his only son, he always fulfilled their requests.

Even Shen Zhuo’s desire to attend a regular middle school was reluctantly agreed to after some time.

A woman who understood how to care for herself, who was wealthy and had leisure to maintain her appearance, would inevitably look good.

Song Yi had been blessed in this regard; she was nearing fifty yet could easily pass for a young woman. But now, due to her son’s illness, she had lost her luster.

After all, this was her only son with her current husband, a link to her future quality of life and social standing.

The children of her ex-husband, who could possibly bring her trouble instead of support, were nothing to her.

On the hospital bed, Shen Zhuo opened his eyes and gazed out the window, blinking before suddenly smiling at Song Yi Mo.

Instinctively, she smiled back but quickly turned her gaze away. “Dage, let’s go,” she said to the silent Zhai Mu Yang beside her.

Zhai Mu Yang gently patted her head and wrapped his arm around her as they left, seemingly oblivious to Song Yi leaning against the wall at the corner.

With her eyes covered by her hands, tears seeped through her fingers.

Sometimes, she would wonder if she had given a little bit of her heart to Yi Mo, if she hadn’t abandoned her all those years ago, would she have had a caring daughter?

Surely… she would have, right?