Chapter 686: Chapter 375: A Brand New Life
Huang Zirong said, "Don’t stay up late or drink alcohol today, eat some food that’s easy to digest. No food or water after eight tonight. Also, try to relax and don’t be nervous."
"Okay, thank you, doctor," Wen Shulin and Chen Cheng replied in unison.
...
...
Tan Palace, inside the villa.
Wen Shulin sat on the sofa with a slightly vacant look in her eyes, holding her phone but hesitating to make the call.
Chen Cheng came downstairs, carrying a suitcase with some clothes and toiletries already packed inside.
"What are you thinking about?" he approached Wen Shulin.
"I’m thinking about whether to tell Li Ya."
Chen Cheng was silent for a moment; he knew Wen Shulin had always hidden this painful past from Li Ya.
He understood her concerns and her love for Li Ya.
"Do you want to tell her?"
"I don’t know," Wen Shulin was also indecisive, "I initially thought of coming here secretly, having the surgery done, and then we’d go back. But hearing the doctor today makes me feel..."
"Uneasy?"
Wen Shulin nodded.
Chen Cheng comforted her, "You don’t have to tell her everything; you can choose to share some details selectively."
Wen Shulin nodded and picked up her phone, dialing Li Ya’s video call.
Once connected, Li Ya’s bright smile appeared on the screen. "Mommy, good evening!"
"Sweetheart, good evening."
"Mommy, you don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?" Li Ya sensitively noticed Wen Shulin’s unusual appearance.
Wen Shulin took a deep breath, "Mommy’s fine, just a bit tired."
She paused, "The day after tomorrow, Mommy is going to the hospital for a minor surgery, so I wanted to see you today."
"Surgery? What kind of surgery? Is it serious?" Even though Li Ya was rebellious and ignorant at times, she was very worried when she heard this, "Weren’t you and Chen Cheng going to sign a contract? Why is there suddenly a surgery?"
"The contract was signed, but I wasn’t feeling well, so I had it checked at the hospital."
"The doctor said Mommy has something bad in her stomach that needs to be taken out," Wen Shulin continued, "so that I can live better in the future."
"Something bad?" Li Ya looked puzzled.
"It’s just something that’s not good and makes Mommy uncomfortable," Wen Shulin carefully chose her words, "like... when you’re playing games, a bug appears in the system that needs to be fixed."
"Is it dangerous?"
Wen Shulin shook her head, "No, it will be fine once I sleep."
"Then Mommy has to get better quickly, I will wait for you to come back!"
"Mm!" Wen Shulin finally smiled, "Li Ya, this is a secret between you and Mommy; you mustn’t tell anyone else."
Li Ya nodded earnestly, "Okay!"
After hanging up the video call, Wen Shulin exhaled deeply, "Well, now I have nothing to worry about."
"Relax, I’ll be with you."
"Have you packed everything for me, husband?"
Chen Cheng stood up and opened the suitcase.
"Pajamas, slippers, toiletries, a few books, a tablet, a charger... it seems like everything is packed," Chen Cheng said, "Can you check if anything is missing."
"What about cosmetics?" Wen Shulin asked on purpose.
Chen Cheng chuckled, "You’re getting hospitalized, do you still need makeup?"
"I don’t want you to see me without it," Wen Shulin cradled Chen Cheng’s face, "then you’d think I’m not pretty anymore."
"What nonsense, you look the most beautiful in my heart even without makeup."
As he spoke, he took out a small bag from the bottom of the suitcase, "Don’t worry, I’ve got everything ready for you. Even just for touch-up makeup, my sweetheart can’t be wronged."
Wen Shulin touched Chen Cheng’s chest lightly, "Looks like you still like me like this."
"Heaven knows, I really don’t mind," Chen Cheng said with a smile, "No matter what you look like, you’re the Wen Shulin I know."
Wen Shulin leaned on Chen Cheng’s shoulder, "After tomorrow, my past will truly be over."
"After tomorrow, your future life will all be with me."
The two exchanged smiles, a mutual understanding which forever bonded Chen Wen.
That night, for the first time, they did nothing but simply snuggled together.
They reminisced about many things, from their first meeting, to the incident of secret photos, and to all sorts of events afterwards.
Although the time wasn’t long, for Chen Cheng and Wen Shulin, every moment was deeply etched in their memories.
"Asleep?"
"Mm, good night."
...
...
The next day, Chen Cheng and Wen Shulin went together to the Red House Hospital.
After completing the admission procedures, Wen Shulin was arranged into a VIP ward.
Chen Cheng carefully placed all the items they brought, and even ordered fresh flowers specially.
"Ms. Wen, you can change clothes now," a nurse came in to remind her, "Your surgery is scheduled in an hour."
She handed the pink hospital gown to Wen Shulin, "Additionally, you need to remove your makeup; someone will come to escort you later."
"Okay, thank you."
Wen Shulin took the hospital gown and turned to look at Chen Cheng, with a hint of vulnerability in her eyes that was hard to detect.
Chen Cheng smiled gently and handed over the makeup pouch, "Go ahead, I’ll be waiting outside."
Receiving his encouragement, Wen Shulin nodded and walked into the changing room.
In the changing room, Wen Shulin slowly took off her Chanel suit.
This outfit was specially chosen by her, in pearl white color, with a simple yet elegant style, reflecting her usual style.
She originally hoped to bid farewell to the past in the best state and embrace a new beginning, yet at this moment, the expensive outfit seemed somewhat out of place.
The pink hospital gown was put on, the buttons fastened, looking at herself in the mirror, she couldn’t help but laugh at herself.
Once she was glamorous, but now, the hospital gown erased all her beauty.
But so what?
What she desired was not external beauty, but inner peace and freedom.
Wen Shulin took a deep breath, picked up the makeup remover from the cosmetics pouch, and removed her eyebrows, eyeliner, blush, and highlight.
She faced her new life with her truest appearance.
Once everything was ready, Wen Shulin pushed open the door and came out.
She stood at the door, looking at Chen Cheng not far away, "Am I ugly?"
Chen Cheng stood up and walked over to her; although they had been together for over two months, this was the first time he saw Wen Shulin in this way.
He reached out his hand, touching that familiar face, "Very pretty, naturally beautiful."
Wen Shulin chuckled, "Men’s words, I don’t believe them."
"You don’t believe me? Not even now?" Chen Cheng was soothing Wen Shulin’s anxiety, "When will you believe me then?"
"I believe, I believe, I believe!" Wen Shulin said three times, "I believe you!"
"Ms. Wen, are you ready? We can go to the operating room," the nurse at the door reminded.
The smile on Wen Shulin’s face froze, and she helplessly looked at Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng took her hand, "Let’s go, we’ll do it together."
Walking down the long corridor to the operating room, both sides were lined with red banners, very quiet, with only their footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.
Wen Shulin’s palm was sweaty, Chen Cheng noticed and held her hand even tighter.
"If you’re scared, just think of me," Chen Cheng smiled at her.
"Mm!"
As they reached the operating room entrance, the body temperature seemed to drop a few degrees, making the already nervous Wen Shulin feel even more scared.
Chen Cheng obviously sensed she was struggling with herself, trembling all over.
Unease, fear, trust, reliance simultaneously appeared in Wen Shulin’s eyes, while her hands held by Chen Cheng instinctively tightened their grip.
Chen Cheng looked at her and said resolutely, "Shulin, I’ll be right here waiting for you, I won’t go anywhere."
Wen Shulin nodded, "Husband, wait for me to come out."
Having said this, she finally followed the nurse into the operating room.
The automatic door of the operating room slowly closed, separating Wen Shulin and Chen Cheng.
Until the last second, their gazes never broke.
Chen Cheng stared at the tightly closed door; he knew this door not only separated the space but also Wen Shulin’s past and future.
And he would stay here, waiting for her, accompanying her to start a brand-new life.