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The child's condition has been diagnosed as Complex Congenital Heart Disease.
This felt like a bucket of ice water poured over my head. After a long moment, I managed to catch my breath and asked, "Have you notified the child's mother?"
The doctor said that Liu Ya had been discharged and was resting at home. Currently, only nurses were available to look after the child in the hospital. He also mentioned that they couldn't reach the mother and hoped I would come to the hospital soon to arrange for treatment.
I was stunned for a while before I understood what the doctor meant. He was saying that Liu Ya and my mother-in-law had left the child alone in the hospital without informing me, the father!
After hanging up with the doctor, I struggled to control my emotions and refrained from calling Liu Ya to confront her. I called Lao Liu and rushed to Obstetrics and Gynecology. Under the nurse's guidance, I finally looked at my child for the first time.
Amidst the sounds of crying, she lay quietly in the incubator, her eyes tightly shut, breathing very faintly. Her tiny fists were clenched loosely, and her skin showed an unusual, unhealthy color.
Is this sick child mine?
I found it hard to accept at that moment. It wasn't that I despised her unhealthiness, but rather... to put it bluntly, this frail child is my Xu Zhou's offspring?
"Mr. Xu," the doctor greeted me upon arrival.
"Oh, hello," I gestured hurriedly and then asked, "Have you determined the cause?"
"We can't pinpoint it exactly; many factors can lead to fetal deformities. For example, poor maternal emotional health during pregnancy or certain medications taken can contribute to this. It could also be due to the mother's own physical condition. We need family cooperation to devise the most accurate and effective treatment plan for the child."
"Has the child's mother... never come to see her?"
The doctor displayed a strange expression. "Well, how should I put this? It's due to your family circumstances; we can't ask too much. But I believe that regardless of your relationship with your wife, since you've brought a child into this world, you should take on the basic responsibility of raising her. Your wife... well... I hope you can communicate more within your family; the child is innocent, and any conflicts should remain between adults; they shouldn't affect her."
"I understand, thank you. As for treatment, I'm not an expert; you can choose the plan that is best for the child. Money shouldn't be an issue; if you need anything, just call me directly."
"You mean," the doctor seemed surprised by my words and dropped his formal tone, "you are completely leaving the child in our care?"
"That's not how it is; I'm entrusting you with her treatment. My company is very busy, and I can't be there all the time, but I'll try to persuade her mother to visit more often. Here, I'll also hire a professional infant caregiver to look after her so as not to trouble you too much."
The doctor smiled slightly—a smile that barely concealed his frustration—"Understood. You stay busy; I have other patients to attend to."
"Wait, what is the child's name?"
"..." The doctor opened his mouth in shock for a moment before responding, "Xu Xiaoran; that's what is written on the birth certificate by the child's mother."
Xu Xiaoran—a name so common it couldn't be more ordinary. Liu Ya had received a college education and prided herself on being an artistic youth; how could she choose such a name? I could almost imagine her filling it out on the birth certificate without a second thought.
I looked down at Xu Xiaoran, who was blissfully unaware of this cruel world as she slept peacefully, and let out a long sigh.
Not wanting to linger in the hospital any longer, I hurried back to my company. Anyone in business knows that once you take that first step, things will only get busier from there; work only increases without any chance of easing up.
Since deciding to start my own business, I moved out of the Liu Family's home and rented an apartment near the office. However, recently, I have rarely returned to the apartment, spending all my time eating and living in the office.
The situation with Xiao Ran was relayed to me by the professional caregiver I hired after consulting with her attending physician. It sounded very complicated, involving experts from the capital and consultations with multiple academicians, leaving me feeling dizzy with all the technical terms.
I hadn't visited the hospital in six months. For some reason, seeing Xiao Ran felt terrifying to me; it was almost torturous, and I couldn't even understand what kind of psychology this was for myself. I asked Liu Ya if she had visited, but the caregiver said no one had come to see Xiao Ran, not even the caregiver herself, who seemed somewhat indignant about it.
But what could I do? I could only cling to a sense of hope. They say children start remembering things at three years old; she had just been born, so she wouldn't remember her current experiences and thus wouldn't suffer any psychological harm.
"Wait until you grow up, child. When you are healthy enough to survive, I will take good care of you," I told myself.
However, Xiao Ran's condition fluctuated repeatedly, seeming more tumultuous than my business dealings. It wasn't until over a year later that the doctor issued a diagnosis stating that Xiao Ran's condition had stabilized enough for her to be discharged.
After receiving the notice, I returned to the Liu Family's home and met Liu Ya. She had recovered well; her spirits were good, and she looked much fuller and healthier.
I asked her if she planned to bring Xiao Ran home now that she was being discharged.
"Xiao Ran?" You wouldn't believe it; upon hearing that name, she paused slightly as if trying to recall someone vaguely familiar. "Oh, oh, I don't have time," she quickly replied.
"No time?"
She spread her palms. "I went back to work at school; didn't you know? Ha! It seems you really don't care about this family at all. I returned to school right after my confinement. High school is the most important stage in a child's life; I can't neglect them for my personal matters."
Listen to that—how noble!
"I understand. The child will stay with me; you don't need to worry about it."
"Oh," she responded flatly. Even if she had tasted something unappetizing, she would have frowned and complained a bit, yet at that moment, there wasn't even a visible expression on her face.
I felt disheartened for Xiao Ran. With a mother like this, perhaps I shouldn't have stopped Liu Ya from having an abortion; then Xiao Ran wouldn't have had to come into this world and suffer.
Later, I brought Xiao Ran back to my apartment. She looked much better; at least there was some flesh on her once pale arms, showing signs of health. I hired a nanny specifically to take care of her.
Perhaps it was an escape born from guilt; after Xiao Ran moved in, I increasingly stayed away from the apartment. Eventually, I bought another house altogether, leaving the apartment for the nanny and Xiao Ran. When I found time to return for a quick visit and leave some regular expenses behind, at least Xiao Ran would know that I am her father.
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