Julian rushed to the hospital, and Baobao jumped off the bed and threw herself into his arms, calling out sweetly: "Daddy~"

Julian held Baobao and asked Gu Roujia: "Are... are you feeling better?"

"With Baobao here, my mood is much better, and I'm recovering quite well," Gu Roujia said softly. She didn't look at Julian, but instead kept her gaze on Baobao, though her peripheral vision could still see how haggard Julian looked.

Her own heart felt a bit pained as well.

Gu Roujia watched Baobao laughing so happily while riding on Julian’s shoulders and couldn't help but reveal a smile. In a daze, she felt as if she were looking at the home she had hoped for, the love she had hoped for. This was the life she had once wanted most.

Suddenly, meeting Julian’s gaze, Gu Roujia’s heart gave a jump, and she quickly turned her head away. Julian revealed a warm smile and continued playing with Baobao.

Baobao soon grew tired. Julian looked at her with reluctance, appearing as if he had many things he wanted to say, but Gu Roujia pretended not to understand Julian’s meaning and told him to take the child home to rest.

Before leaving, Julian couldn't help but ask: "Roujia, can I come back to accompany you and our daughter tomorrow?"

He just wanted to be sure.

"En."

With just that one word, his world bloomed with countless fireworks.

"Thank you, Roujia."

Julian was immersed in his joy, not noticing that Gu Roujia had been avoiding his gaze the entire time.

Chapter 44: A Home

Gu Roujia recovered very well. Recently, Julian had been bringing Baobao to keep her company. The father and daughter constantly found ways to make her laugh, and she suddenly discovered that her hatred for Julian had quietly disappeared, leaving no trace behind.

Gu Roujia couldn't help but smile bitterly: "I really am soft-hearted; as long as he shows a little bit of care and vulnerability, my heart softens..."

Ding. A text message arrived. Gu Roujia picked up her phone and took a look; the flight booking was confirmed, and the departure time was tomorrow.

For the past few days, Julian had mentioned several times that he wanted to help her with discharge procedures and move her things back home, but she had refused every time.

She had agreed to let Julian come over, but that was actually for Baobao's sake.

The child had always longed for Daddy and Mommy to be together, and she couldn't bear to refuse the child’s request.

In fact, she had long ago made up her mind to leave. The hurt Julian had inflicted on her was carved into her very marrow. Struggling on the edge of death several times had made her completely clear-headed about this love.

However, she owed this child too much.

That was why she had promised Baobao, allowing Julian to come over so that both parents could be with her.

Once is enough to be hurt by love. Regardless of what Julian had done before or was doing now, she didn't want to be hurt again. She only wanted to take Baobao far away from this place that had buried all her sincerity. Let all those misunderstandings and affections remain here, deep in the recesses of her memory, never to be recalled again.

Baobao hooked her arms around Gu Roujia’s neck, affectionately rubbing her face against Gu Roujia’s. "Mommy, are we going home?"

"Mm." Gu Roujia was being dishonest. Home? Where was there a home left? There was only a shattered heart with nowhere to rest.

"Yay!" Baobao jumped for joy. Gu Roujia had the assistant handle the discharge procedures while she took the luggage and led Baobao out. "Didn't you always want to ride the carousel?" Gu Roujia said with a smile, "Mommy will take you today."

"But Daddy hasn't come yet..." Baobao pouted.

Gu Roujia put Baobao in the car and laughed: "Let's give him a surprise, okay? We’ll wait for him at the amusement park!"

Baobao looked thoughtful and said solemnly: "Hee hee, Mommy is so smart." Baobao lay in Gu Roujia’s arms, looking out the window, thinking to herself: I'm sorry, Baobao, Mommy lied to you.

"Go to the airport." Seeing that Baobao had fallen asleep, Gu Roujia told the driver.

When the assistant came out and couldn't find Gu Roujia and Baobao, he recalled Gu Roujia’s luggage and realized something must have happened. He immediately called Julian: "Mr. Lin, Lin..."

"What happened to her? She was supposed to be discharged today, right?" Julian asked gently.

The assistant replied: "No, Mr. Lin. Both Baobao and Madam are gone. I just saw that Madam’s luggage is also missing. I had someone look into Madam’s card, and there was a transaction for international flight tickets."

Julian froze upon hearing the assistant’s words. He couldn't help but smile bitterly and said to the assistant: "Go to the airport immediately."

"Mother Wang, don't prepare those things for now. I'm going out."

"Sir, didn't you say we were welcoming Madam home today?"

Julian felt a wave of bitterness. He looked at the house filled with flowers—this was meant to be a surprise for Gu Roujia’s discharge today. He hadn't expected only shock, with no joy at all.

He sped to the airport in his sports car, even arriving a step faster than Gu Roujia.

Gu Roujia got out of the car holding the child and immediately saw Julian at the airport entrance.

"Roujia, have you forgotten what you promised me? You said you would give me a chance, and give Baobao a home."

He held her hand, looking like an abandoned child.

Gu Roujia paused, then peeled his fingers away one by one, saying: "I'm sorry, Julian, I lied. I can't forgive you, and I can't love you again without any resentment. Every moment by your side is a torture for me. Every night, I wake up from nightmares about losing our child. You say you feel guilty, Julian, so I will tell you the way to make amends: let me go!"

Every word of Gu Roujia’s felt like a heavy stone falling onto his chest, making his heart ache so much he couldn't breathe.

"Move!"

"No!" He didn't know how to persuade Gu Roujia, but only one thought filled his mind: he couldn't let her go.

Because he had a strong premonition that if he missed this chance, it would be forever.

Gu Roujia struggled with all her might, accidentally tripping Baobao. Julian moved quickly and pulled Baobao to safety, but he let go of Gu Roujia. Gu Roujia took this opportunity to break free and ran toward the airport.

Julian held the child, and as he turned, he saw a scene that tore his heart to pieces.

Gu Roujia rushed across the crosswalk just as a taxi sped toward her.

"No—" His mind went blank.

Without thinking of anything else, he lunged and pushed Gu Roujia out of the way.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Gu Roujia fell to the ground, but the expected pain didn't come. She opened her eyes to see Julian hit by the car and falling into a pool of blood with a smile on his face. Baobao was crying her heart out: "Daddy!"

"Julian!" Gu Roujia’s tears gushed out uncontrollably. "Julian!" She knelt beside him. "Julian, Julian, how are you? Why are you so stupid?"

Julian was covered in blood, his face pale as gold leaf. He held Gu Roujia’s hand tightly, his eyes showing no pain, only deep tenderness and apology.

"This time, I... I really... have to... let you go..." Blood flowed from Julian’s nose and mouth. The assistant held Baobao, covering her eyes while anxiously dialing emergency services.

"Roujia, don't do such silly things again in the future. If I see you get hurt, I would rather the person hurt be me."

"No, don't say silly things." She shook her head, large teardrops falling from her eyes.

"Gu Roujia, thank you for loving me so much." Julian gripped her hand, seemingly using the last of his strength to lean toward her, whispering in her ear: "I'm sorry, I couldn't walk with you to the end."

Gu Roujia kept shaking her head, "Don't say that! It shouldn't be like this."

The ambulance arrived quickly, and Julian was rushed to the hospital for surgery. Gu Roujia felt as though she had lost her soul, standing outside the operating room like a puppet.

The assistant asked someone to take Gu Roujia to the nearby lounge, but she refused to budge.

The assistant’s eyes were red, clearly having cried. He held a document in his hand: "Miss Gu, please sign this."

Gu Roujia caught a glimpse of the words "Property Transfer" and turned her head away, saying: "I won't sign. Julian’s life is hanging in the balance. I want him to wake up and come to me himself."

"This was prepared by Mr. Lin a long time ago, transferring the property under his name to you and Baobao," the assistant said, keeping the document in a position for her to sign. "I know the truth about Baobao and your second child better than anyone. Zhao Feng only knew because I told him. Mr. Lin really loves you; it’s just that you and he were always caught in misunderstandings, and these things happened in the end."