Thinking of her son, who had called with a cold, business-like tone, Mrs. Tang rolled her eyes and said with disdain, "Probably. Who knows with him?"

Then she said to Clara, "Call Qinghe. Ask her if she’s free today and have her come home for dinner."

Clara agreed with a smile.

...

On the other side, at the hospital.

Marcus Tang’s expression turned cold the moment he saw Ethan Shaw walking toward him.

Ethan didn't care about his hostile attitude at all, meeting him directly. "What did the doctor say?"

Marcus’s mouth twitched. "The doctor said surgery is possible, but Cece would be gambling with her life. If she wins, she can see. If she loses, everything is gone."

Ethan’s hands, hanging at his sides, clenched tightly. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Half a month ago, Marcus had run into Ethan in Thirteenth Alley and naturally realized he knew everything.

Before he could even confront Ethan, Ethan had brought up the fact that he had found a doctor.

The two men, who were originally on opposing sides, had reached a brief consensus because of Clara’s blindness. Their current trip, ostensibly for business, was actually to track down this world-renowned doctor in City N.

After using many connections, they finally got the medical records into the hands of this foreign doctor, but things were not as smooth as they had imagined.

Chapter 37

The location of the blood clot in Clara Tang's brain was so peculiar that even the world-class specialist felt uncertain.

However, these experts thrived on challenging cases and immediately convened a meeting to discuss her records.

When he heard the phrase "gambling with her life," Marcus Tang’s first instinct was to refuse.

But the doctors saw through his thoughts instantly. One female doctor said meaningfully, "No one can truly understand a patient's perspective. Perhaps she has a different opinion."

Marcus thought of Clara’s current state and began to waver. He called home first, but his mother’s reaction was exceptionally violent.

Marcus felt a suffocating tightness in his chest as he recalled the period after Clara’s accident years ago; his mother had been completely broken during that time.

"How would you choose?" Marcus stared directly into Ethan Shaw’s eyes, asking with a trace of malice.

Ethan’s heart constricted. How should he choose?

He did not want to lose Clara; he lacked the courage to endure that suffocating despair a second time.

Yet he understood Clara’s pride all too well. Her current display of strength and hard work was merely a facade.

In the dark of night, she had likely cried many times—for her blindness and for her uncertain future.

"Let’s listen to Cece’s opinion. I cannot make this choice for her."

"If she chooses not to have the surgery and remains blind for the rest of her life, I will stay... and accompany her forever." Ethan’s voice was full of bitterness. He felt he no longer had the right to use the word "care," at least not for now.

By using the more ambiguous word "accompany," he intended to declare his stance: even if Clara never recovered, he would stay; even if Clara never accepted him again, he would stay.

Marcus was a sharp man and understood his meaning immediately.

He merely curled his lip in a mocking smile, but ultimately, he said nothing.

The two men brushed past each other. Ethan headed to the doctor’s office, attempting to find a more hopeful outcome through repeated inquiries.

For an entire week, both men remained consumed by the hospital.

Finally, the foreign doctor issued a final ultimatum: "I will be in the country for two more months. If you do not decide by then, I will not wait for you."

Ethan and Marcus both looked down, their equally handsome faces masked in coldness, yet their hearts were in absolute turmoil.

Marcus returned to the capital earlier than Ethan, and Song Qinghe came to pick him up.

He leaned tiredly against the passenger seat, covering his eyes with one hand, his expression unreadable.

"What’s wrong? Are you exhausted?" Song Qinghe’s voice dropped instinctively.

"Mm," Marcus responded lowly.

A trace of a smile touched Song Qinghe’s eyes. Since their last phone call, Marcus had changed a lot; perhaps he was truly beginning to let her in.

"Did something happen?"

"I didn't actually go on a business trip. I found a doctor who might be able to treat Cece’s eyes." Marcus’s voice was heavy.

Song Qinghe’s heart, which had leaped with joy at the word "treat," sank instantly. "Is the outcome not good?"

"If she has the surgery, there is a fifty percent chance she won't wake up. It’s even more likely she will die on the operating table."

Every word Marcus spoke weighed heavily on Song Qinghe. She hadn't known Clara for long, but she liked her immensely.

She could only imagine the pressure Marcus was under, dealing with his own sister.

"How do you think we should choose?" Marcus fixed his gaze on Song Qinghe.

Song Qinghe looked straight ahead, her logic clear. "Marcus, from my perspective, I wouldn't want her to have the surgery. I imagine your parents feel the same way."

Recalling the Tang parents' poor mood over the past few days, she finally understood.

"We all instinctively feel that things are best as they are—as long as she is alive, anything is fine."

"But this is Cece’s life. No matter what, she should be the one to decide."

Chapter 38

Marcus remained silent for a long time before replying, "I understand."

When the two returned to Thirteenth Alley, the table in the courtyard was already set, filled with aromatic and colorful dishes.

In this gathering, the only one whose mind was elsewhere was likely Clara. The atmosphere throughout the meal was subdued.

When the last person set down their chopsticks, Marcus prepared to speak.

Mrs. Tang instinctively tried to stop him, but Mr. Tang held her back.

A flash of pity crossed Song Qinghe’s eyes, but she remained silent.

Clara could not see, but she was highly sensitive to the atmosphere.

For instance, at this moment, her heart was racing.

"Cece, I found a doctor for you." Marcus rarely called her "Cece" like that, and rarely referred to himself as "brother" so formally.

As soon as he spoke, Clara realized something was wrong.

"He can perform surgery on you, but..."

Before Marcus could finish, Mrs. Tang burst out, "Marcus, we agreed we wouldn't do it!"

"Mom, Cece has the right to know." Marcus’s expression was solemn but firm.

He looked at his pale-faced sister, his heart softening uncontrollably. He instinctively lowered his voice: "There might be danger."

"What is the probability of failure?" Clara’s voice was unprecedentedly calm and steady.

"Over fifty percent..." Marcus’s eyes were full of pain.

Clara was a doctor; she understood exactly what that meant.

A surgery that was essentially gambling with her life.

"I don't agree!" Mrs. Tang was the first to state her stance. "Cece, you are fine as you are. Mom truly doesn't care; I can look after you forever..."

As she spoke, Mrs. Tang began to cry. Mr. Tang and Song Qinghe quietly comforted her.

Amidst the noise, Clara’s heart was very peaceful. She was rapidly calculating the risks and the consequences of a failed surgery.

The dinner ultimately reached no conclusion, and Marcus did not push her.

However, as he was leaving with Song Qinghe, he received a call from Ethan Shaw.

"Marcus, what did she say?" Ethan’s voice was pulled tight.

Marcus masked his emotions, his tone ambiguous. "She didn't say."

"Can I come and see her?" Ethan couldn't help but ask.

"Ethan Shaw, what right do you have to see her? You were the one who forgot her and wanted to marry someone else. It was because she saved you that she became blind and is now caught between a rock and a hard place."

"Isn't all her misery brought upon her by you?"

The high pressure of recent days finally affected Marcus, and his anger poured out toward the "culprit" on the other end of the line.

Each of Marcus’s accusations was like a blade cutting into Ethan, and he had no way to refute them.

Because every word was the truth.

The call ended. Song Qinghe looked at Marcus beside her with some surprise.

Marcus realized her gaze and paused, then pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry. My mood is a bit unstable."

Song Qinghe merely shook her head and leaned over to give Marcus a hug.

She didn't know the full history, so she had no right to judge Marcus’s behavior.

On the other end of the line, Ethan listened to the dial tone, feeling as if a large hole had been ripped in his heart.

He desperately wanted to see Clara, to hold her, and to hear her voice.

But in reality, even seeing her once was a luxury.

He hadn't told Marcus the truth: he actually didn't want Clara to have the surgery at all.