Chapter 173 - 172: Mrs. Lin Is Dying

The doctor took off his mask, his expression calm. He saw countless patients every day. Compared to most, Ye Xuan’s injuries were considered minor.

Hearing that Ye Xuan was going to be fine, Lin Aoxue finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, she still couldn’t forgive Yang Bingyu. No matter what happened, one shouldn’t treat their own life as a joke. What’s more, Yang Bingyu had nearly caused her to lose the man she loved most. No matter how magnanimous Lin Aoxue was, she could never forgive that.

Soon, the anesthesia wore off, and Ye Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

"Bingyu? Where’s Bingyu? Is she okay?" He looked around anxiously, asking for Yang Bingyu’s whereabouts.

Lin Aoxue, who had been guarding his bedside, curled her lips, her eyes filled with displeasure.

"It’s always ’Bingyu, Bingyu.’ You almost died because of her, do you know that? And another thing, Ye Xuan, what were you thinking? If you died with Yang Bingyu, what about me? What am I supposed to do?"

The more Lin Aoxue spoke, the more upset she felt. By the end, her nose stung. She looked at Ye Xuan with teary eyes, choking on her words.

"I’m sorry..." Seeing her so heartbroken, Ye Xuan didn’t know what else to say besides apologizing.

He admitted that he had acted impulsively when he decided to fall with Yang Bingyu. He hadn’t thought things through, simply assuming that maybe doing so would make Yang Bingyu feel a little better. Besides, he had already seen that the safety cushion had been deployed on the ground; otherwise, he never would have let go.

"Ye Xuan! You bastard! You jerk! How could you do this to me!" Hearing his apology, Lin Aoxue couldn’t hold it in any longer. She threw herself into Ye Xuan’s arms and burst into loud sobs.

Her small fists pounded against his chest. Despite the slight pain, Ye Xuan smiled. He gently pulled Lin Aoxue into his embrace with his uninjured arm and lowered his head to kiss her forehead.

"I’m sorry, baby. I was in the wrong this time. I made you worry.

"Please don’t cry, okay? It really breaks my heart to see you like this.

"Besides, I’m perfectly fine now, aren’t I? I only dared to jump with Yang Bingyu because I saw the safety cushion was ready.

"I wasn’t trying to get myself killed. I still have so many things left to do. I haven’t even remarried you yet. How could I bear to die?"

Ye Xuan’s words gradually calmed the agitated Lin Aoxue. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, pouted, and gave him a hard pinch on the waist. Ye Xuan winced in pain but didn’t dare utter a single complaint.

"Hehe, has my dearest wife calmed down?" Ye Xuan asked with a cheeky smile after being pinched by Lin Aoxue.

Lin Aoxue glared at him and replied grumpily, "If you ever joke around with your life like this again, don’t bother coming to see me. I’ll just assume the man I love is dead. Do you hear me?"

Seeing Lin Aoxue warning him so sternly, Ye Xuan felt a warmth spread through his heart.

"I promise you, there will absolutely not be a next time. If there is, then let me be struck by—Mmph!"

Ye Xuan was just about to swear a deadly oath when Lin Aoxue clamped her hand over his mouth.

"Don’t say it! I want you to live well. That’s an order!"

His arm tightened around her. He swore in his heart that he would never fail her in this lifetime. "Yes, Ma’am."

With that, Ye Xuan lowered his head and kissed her red lips.

Just as the two of them lost themselves in the moment, an urgent ringtone shattered the tender atmosphere.

"Lin Guodong?" Lin Aoxue frowned the moment she saw the caller ID on her phone. She had already completely broken ties with the Lin Family and resigned from her position as the company’s vice president. Why would Lin Guodong be calling her now?

"Answer it. Let’s see what his motive is for calling today," Ye Xuan said soothingly, squeezing her hand when he saw her hesitate.

Lin Aoxue paused for a moment before pressing the answer button.

"Hello? What do you want?" she asked in a stiff tone.

Lin Guodong was silent on the other end of the line for a moment before speaking in a hoarse voice. "Come back for a visit. Your grandmother is not going to make it."

His words were like a bombshell that sent shockwaves through Lin Aoxue’s heart. Although Mrs. Li had suffered brain damage from prolonged oxygen deprivation during her shock—leaving her in a state of severe dementia—living another five or six years shouldn’t have been a problem based on her usual physical condition. How could she suddenly be dying?

Lin Aoxue was full of doubts. Given everything Lin Guodong had done in the past, she could no longer trust him unconditionally.

"I’ve long severed ties with your Lin Family. What happens to Mrs. Lin has nothing to do with me," Lin Aoxue said, feigning coldness as she suppressed the ache in her heart.

Lin Guodong hadn’t expected her to be so ruthless. After another bout of silence, he let out a heavy sigh, his tone laced with helplessness and a hint of pleading.

"I know you won’t be able to forgive me or the Lin Family for the rest of your life. But your grandmother treated you well in the past. If you still have a conscience, come back and see her one last time. I’m not forcing you to do anything. Decide for yourself."

With that, Lin Guodong hung up.

Lin Aoxue stared blankly at her darkened phone screen for a long time, unsure if she should believe his words. She feared that going back to the Lin Family would only reveal another trap.

"If you want to go back, then go. I’ll have Yu Ling protect you from the shadows," Ye Xuan said, taking her hand as he guessed what was on her mind.

Although Mrs. Lin had chilled Lin Aoxue’s heart, the kindness she had shown in the past remained. It was impossible for Lin Aoxue to truly not care about her.

Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Lin Aoxue’s resolve began to waver. She decided that she should go back. Regardless of whether Lin Guodong was telling the truth, she would go see her grandmother one last time. Besides, she had already decided to return to Jingcheng with Ye Xuan. There was nothing left for her to hold on to in Jianghai City.

"Then I’ll go back and take a look. You stay in the hospital and recover properly. Also, you’re not allowed to see that woman, Yang Bingyu. Just thinking about her makes my blood boil," Lin Aoxue huffed.

Ye Xuan smiled helplessly and nodded. It seemed Lin Aoxue had a huge grudge against Yang Bingyu because of what happened today.

"Just go home like a good girl. I know what I’m doing."

Hearing his response, Lin Aoxue curled her lips. She knew that Ye Xuan would inevitably see Yang Bingyu anyway. Just thinking about the tangled feelings between the three of them gave her a headache. She wondered how much longer they were going to keep this up. Was she expected to accept polygamy? That was absolutely impossible.

Even if she had to live out her days alone, Lin Aoxue would never share the man she loved with another woman.