Chapter 36: She Moved

"Doctor, is there... any possibility of her waking up?" Julian asked.

The doctor replied: "Theoretically, yes."

"Then what can be done to wake her up?"

As long as there was even the slightest chance of waking Gu Roujia, he had to try.

"In cases like this, the patient needs stimulation. There can be subconscious responses. Mr. Lin, you can recall the happy times you shared with your wife and recount them to her. These happy memories will make her long to wake up," the doctor said slowly.

Julian nodded, keeping watch by Gu Roujia’s bedside, trying hard to recall the things he had done for her.

He suddenly realized he hadn't done anything to make Gu Roujia feel happy, but the things that had caused her sorrow were too numerous to count.

Julian gently stroked Gu Roujia’s face. Once, such a simple gesture would have made her smile happily.

Julian’s eyes were full of sorrow, apology, and intense guilt. It wasn't about anything else; it was simply because the things he had done were truly heartbreaking.

"How could I believe Eva and let you suffer so much harm?" Julian whispered to himself. Some people have to lose something to learn to cherish it; some walls one only learns to turn away from after hitting them.

"If I could have a chance to do it all over again, I would definitely cherish you well, and never let you suffer another bit of injustice or harm. Roujia," Julian’s eyes were bloodshot, "please, give me a chance to atone..." He held Gu Roujia’s hand, his heart feeling like it was being sliced by knives. Looking at that pale face and those tightly closed eyes, Julian didn't know if he would ever have the chance to see her gentle gaze again.

"Do you remember when you were little, you were always following behind me, asking for food?" Julian said, his voice choking, "You were such a little shadow."

"You always liked to save the best things for last, and secretly give them to me..."

"Hey, remember that time the bully in the orphanage, Dazhuang, bullied you? I was the one who stood up for you, the hero who saved the damsel in distress. Was it from that moment you started to like me?"

"If you had told me sooner, just a little bit sooner, perhaps so many things wouldn't have happened between us," Julian said, tears falling uncontrollably, "Why couldn't we just have lived happily like before?"

"You loved to play on the swings. The director was afraid you’d get hurt. Remember that time you fell from it and landed on top of me? I was thinking, you don't look that heavy, why are you so heavy..."

"And that time during the Mid-Autumn Festival, you seemed to have added some 'seasonings' to my mooncake. Who would have thought that the mischievous little girl from back then would grow up to be so gentle and kind, and become my wife..."

Julian told Gu Roujia everything about their time in the orphanage, but Gu Roujia showed no reaction. Julian’s throat went dry, yet he didn't want to stop. He held her hand, refusing to look away from her face, hoping she might blink even once.

"If our child were still... with us..." When Julian mentioned the child, a flash of insight crossed his mind: "Roujia, you must wake up. Our child is still alive, do you know that? You must wake up. You surely wouldn't want him to become an orphan like us—no, a child without a mother, would you?"

Julian grabbed Gu Roujia’s hand and revealed a secret he had hidden in his heart for a long time.

When Eva returned, Gu Roujia had already been nine months pregnant.

They had just been preparing to get engaged, but Eva arrived, Julian and Eva rekindled their romance, and Gu Roujia was heartbroken, falling down a flight of stairs. When she was sent to the hospital, the situation was critical. He chose to save the mother, and eventually, the surgery was successful; both mother and child survived.

But he had told Gu Roujia that the baby didn't survive.

In truth, he had lied to her. Because of Eva, he had deeply believed Gu Roujia was a venomous woman, and this incident had happened right at that time.

Such a woman didn't deserve to raise their child; she would lead the child astray.

The child had not died, but had been secretly hidden away by Julian.

"Roujia, our child is alive. I’ll bring him to see you. You have to wake up. He’s all grown up, and he’s so adorable..."

The child!

Just then, as he held Gu Roujia’s hand, he sensed her fingers twitch. Julian suspected he had felt wrong and hurriedly let go.

Gu Roujia’s fingers twitched again. Julian was beyond excited; nothing could make him more thrilled or happy.

"Doctor! Doctor!" Julian shouted.

The attending physician hurried over, thinking something had happened. Julian pointed at Gu Roujia’s hand, looking cautious, fearing that if he woke up from this, he would find it was all a dream.

"Just now... Roujia’s fingers moved... her fingers moved..." Julian said excitedly.

The doctor examined her and said: "The injuries the patient suffered previously were not fatal and she will recover quickly after treatment. However, I cannot guarantee anything about the head injury. But the fact that you say her fingers moved—while she won't wake up immediately, it is a very good sign."

Hearing the doctor’s positive response, the gloom that had hung over Julian for days finally began to lift.

The doctor said: "Don't thank me. It was your sincerity that gave her signs of waking up. In the future, keep telling her positive, memorable stories; it will help her wake up faster."

"Okay, okay, thank you, doctor. I’m sorry for the trouble." Julian bowed to the doctor. No one knew his current feelings better than he did.

As long as there was the slightest possibility of Gu Roujia waking up, he would amplify that possibility to infinity!

Chapter 37: Their Child is Still Alive

Julian knew how important the child was to Gu Roujia, and since Gu Roujia had only shown a reaction once she learned about the child, Julian had his assistant bring the child back from school.

"Baobao" (Baby) was wearing a little pink dress. Seeing her father, she happily jumped into his arms, calling out in a milky voice: "Daddy hasn't come to see Baobao for a long time. Baobao missed you so much."

Baobao was five years old this year, with delicate features that looked very much like Gu Roujia's. If Roujia woke up and saw the child, she would surely be very happy.

Thinking of this, Julian’s nose felt sore.

He supported the child’s little bottom and said: "Baobao, later Daddy is going to take you to the hospital..."

"I don't want shots, Baobao is a good girl." Baobao was most afraid of going to the hospital.

Julian was caught between laughter and tears: "I'm not taking you to see a doctor. Doesn't Baobao want to see Mommy? Mommy is sick and is in the hospital. She misses Baobao very much. How about Daddy takes Baobao to the hospital to see Mommy?"

Baobao’s black-grape-like eyes blinked. She hugged Julian’s neck and said excitedly: "Baobao wants to see Mommy! Baobao will blow on Mommy's hurts, and then Mommy won't hurt anymore."

Baobao’s childish words made Julian’s heart ache even more. He pulled the child closer.

Julian brought the child to the hospital to visit Gu Roujia.

"Baobao, this is Mommy."

"But why isn't Mommy looking at Baobao, or talking?" The child didn't understand what a vegetative state was. She called out for a long time, but Gu Roujia on the bed didn't react. Baobao said dejectedly: "Does Mommy not like Baobao?"

"That's not true. Mommy loves Baobao very much—even more than Daddy loves you. Mommy is just sick, so she can't wake up."

Baobao looked curiously at Gu Roujia lying on the hospital bed, then looked up at Julian and asked: "Daddy, why does Baobao feel so sad in my heart..."

"Be a good girl and keep Mommy company, okay? If you stay with Mommy, she will be happy." Julian brushed the loose hair from Baobao’s forehead and took Gu Roujia’s hand: "Roujia, did you hear that just now? Our child is still alive—a lovely little girl."

"You don't know how mischievous she was when she was little, always peeing on me..." Julian said. Baobao was instantly displeased, tugging at Julian’s collar: "We agreed, you can't say that..."

"Not even to Mommy?" Julian asked with a smile, though there was a hint of bitterness in it. Baobao had wanted a mommy for a long time. She sat in Julian’s lap and murmured: "Only if you say it to Mommy... just this once..."

Julian talked about things from when Baobao was little—the funny moments, the happy ones, and the times she was scolded for being naughty. He told her everything, all the moments of Baobao’s life that Gu Roujia had missed.