Free Web NovelChapter 285: Chapter 285: Accepting the Cruel Reality
Little Tang Mo was transferred to the ENT department.
Su Li didn’t even know how she managed to walk over there.
Little Tang Mo sat there quietly, his eyes red and swollen, an expression of indescribable sadness and silence on his face.
He didn’t smile at Su Li. In the blink of an eye, he seemed to have reverted to the cold, distant child he used to be.
Su Li didn’t dare open her mouth, afraid she would burst into tears the moment she did.
In the end, it was Wu Sheng who went up to speak with the doctor.
"We didn’t force him to practice speaking. He must have been pushing himself to practice on his own."
Wu Sheng glanced at Su Li and Little Tang Mo, then said thoughtfully.
"He was acting so normally before that we didn’t notice. But I suspect it might have something to do with his classmates at school. The things kids say... he was probably unintentionally hurt by their words, so..."
Little Tang Mo’s head snapped up to look at Wu Sheng.
His reaction was a tacit confirmation of Wu Sheng’s words.
Su Li’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.
’Is that what happened? Why didn’t I see it? Even Wu Sheng noticed.’
Seeing the look on Su Li’s face, Wu Sheng knew what she was thinking and felt a sense of helplessness.
It was only by chance that he’d seen how Little Tang Mo acted at school. He had also noticed how differently the boy behaved in front of Su Li and others. If not for that, he wouldn’t have been able to guess, either.
The doctor looked at the group and asked Little Tang Mo in a gentle voice.
"Is that right, Tang Mo? Have you been forcing yourself to make sounds?"
Little Tang Mo clenched his jaw and didn’t move, but his expression said it all.
"Don’t do this anymore. I know you want to talk, but forcing yourself to speak like this won’t work."
The doctor continued to gently coax Little Tang Mo for a while. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"I’ll prescribe some medicine for you. You have to take it properly, and don’t try to force yourself to talk like that anymore, okay? Otherwise, your mother will cry her eyes out."
At the mention of Su Li, Little Tang Mo’s eyes shifted, and he finally gave a silent nod.
The doctor nodded and told Su Li to take Little Tang Mo outside so he could speak with Wu Sheng.
Wu Sheng shook his head, took Little Tang Mo out himself, and let Su Li talk with the doctor instead.
The moment Little Tang Mo was out the door, Su Li’s tears started to fall uncontrollably.
The doctor sighed and waited for her to calm down.
"You were very lucky this time. The boy’s problem was discovered before it could worsen. Don’t blame yourself too much. From what I can see, the child is very smart, which is why you didn’t notice."
The doctor comforted Su Li for a bit. Once she had composed herself, he spoke again, his tone serious.
"Given the child’s situation, I have to give you a heads-up. A large part of the reason he’s under so much pressure is probably you."
"Me... it’s because of me?" Su Li stammered.
"Yes, a large part of it is likely you. After the accident when he lost his voice, did you constantly reassure him that it was okay, that one day he would get better and be able to speak again?"
Su Li nodded. "Yes..."
The doctor sighed. "That’s a good thing to do, to keep the child in a positive state of mind. However, your attitude and your current mentality also reveal a problem."
"Is it that you can’t accept the fact that he might never be able to speak for the rest of his life?"
The doctor’s words struck a chord deep inside Su Li. She swayed slightly before rasping out a "Yes."
’She couldn’t accept it. How could she?’
"The child himself can’t accept it, and on top of that, you can’t accept it either. That’s why he feels so much pressure and practices so desperately."
The doctor took off his glasses and rubbed the corners of his eyes. "You should go home and try to understand how he’s been at school. Have a good talk with him. There’s a limit to what we doctors can do. The most important role falls to you, the parents."
If the boy continued to do this in secret, there was nothing they could do.
It took a long while for Su Li to manage a "Mm."
The doctor put his glasses back on, his gentle, wise gaze resting quietly on Su Li.
"Go home and think about it carefully. Try to accept the fact that your child may never speak again for the rest of his life."
"If you can adjust your own mindset, it will affect your son. Once his pressure is reduced, this kind of problem won’t happen again. In fact, that might be what allows him to speak."
Su Li bit her lip hard and nodded desperately.
"You have to let your son know that even if he can never speak, he will always be your precious child."
"I’ve been a doctor for many years and I’ve seen far too many things. Although my job is to save lives and heal the wounded, there are many times when I, too, believe in fate."
Su Li covered her mouth, finally letting out a sob. She thanked the doctor through her tears.
"I understand. Thank you, doctor."
"No need for thanks. Once you’re done crying, you should go. Your son is waiting for you."
Su Li nodded emphatically and did her best to compose herself.
A moment later, she had calmed down. She wiped her tears and walked out.
Wu Sheng and Little Tang Mo were sitting on a bench not far away, looking like a pair of brothers in misfortune with their bandaged hands.
Su Li stood at the doorway and watched them for a moment, forcing a smile onto her lips.
Seeing Su Li come out, both Wu Sheng and Little Tang Mo stood up.
Su Li walked over and told them to sit down. freёweɓnovel.com
"Stay seated. I’m going to pay and get the medicine."
She waved the prescription slips the doctor had given her.
One was for Wu Sheng, and the other for Little Tang Mo.
"I’ll go get it." Wu Sheng held out his uninjured hand.
"Get what? You’re a patient yourself."
Su Li gently pushed his hand away. "Just sit tight."
Su Li paused, then touched his injured wrist. "It feels a little hot. Does it hurt a lot?"
"It’s okay. It’s much better than before."
Su Li nodded. "I know words aren’t enough for such a great kindness, but I still want to say thank you."
"Thank you for everything you’ve done for Little Mo."
Wu Sheng rubbed his nose. "Don’t say that. He’s just a little kid. It was the right thing to do."
Su Li knew that wasn’t the whole story, but she didn’t argue.
’Was it the right thing to do just because Little Mo was young?’
’No. It all happened in an instant; there was no time to think.’
’He wasn’t thinking about how young Little Mo was back then. It was a reflex, an instinct to protect him without a second thought.’
Su Li looked at Wu Sheng’s face, a slow smile spreading across her lips.
’Maybe fate had played a huge joke on her, but it had also let her meet a man as good and as warm as Wu Sheng.’
Su Li turned to Little Tang Mo. "Little Mo, remember to thank Uncle."
Su Li checked Little Tang Mo’s hand, and after feeling that it wasn’t hot, she went to get the medicine.
After Su Li left, Little Tang Mo looked at Wu Sheng, then suddenly reached out and tugged on his clothes.
Wu Sheng turned his head to look at him, his eyes asking, ’What’s wrong?’
Little Tang Mo looked at Wu Sheng’s hand, thought back to the heart-stopping scene from earlier, and wrote on a notepad with a pen.
"Thank you, Uncle."
Wu Sheng nodded and replied earnestly, "Mm, you’re welcome."
Little Tang Mo looked at Wu Sheng, hesitated for a moment, and then suddenly pulled a milk candy from his pocket.
He unwrapped it and held the candy to Wu Sheng’s lips.
Wu Sheng’s mouth moved. He bit down on the candy, and along with it... Little Tang Mo’s fingers.
Little Tang Mo flinched but didn’t pull his hand back.
Wu Sheng grunted before letting go of his fingers.
"If you dare to bite yourself again, I’ll bite you back every single time."
