Chapter 143: Did You Ever Love Me?
Ye Fuli, weary from her journey, her hair still damp with the night's dew.
Her eyes held less of their usual darkness and more of a rare tenderness.
The woman on the sickbed sat up slightly, smiling at her. "You're back."
That smile made Ye Fuli instinctively grow wary.
Her biological mother had never once smiled at her with such gentleness.
Ye Fuli paused for a moment before stepping into the hospital room.
She sat down on the chair furthest from the bed, and another long silence fell.
"Have you eaten?"
Though Ye Dad had lost all hope in this daughter, she was still his own flesh and blood.
He couldn't completely sever that bond of kinship.
Nor could he ignore Ye Fuli entirely.
"I'll go order you something to eat."
He stood up, about to walk out of the hospital room.
Ye Fuli called out to him, "No need."
She finally couldn't bear the atmosphere in this hospital room any longer. Rising to her feet, she walked straight toward her biological mother.
This once formidable
powerhouse
woman now bore a faint pallor of death, as if her life were nearing its end at any moment.
Based on her memories from the previous life, Mrs. Ye's illness shouldn't have flared up at this moment, nor should it have reached such severity.
Her current state was largely due to her refusal of treatment and reckless self-destructive behavior.
Ye Fuli pressed her lips together.
She couldn't find words of comfort, nor did she know how to communicate with them anymore. Now, even if she wanted to say something sincere, she didn't know where to begin…
"My daughter, I want to leave the hospital. Is that okay?"
Mrs. Ye reached out and gently took Ye Fuli's hand.
In this moment, she truly resembled a loving mother.
Yet Ye Fuli's gut instinct told her this was utterly uncharacteristic.
These weren't words Mrs. Ye would normally utter.
She remembered clearly how, before being hospitalized, this woman had been cursing her loudly at home.
"I want to go home. These past few days, I've been missing home terribly. I want our family to gather together properly—to eat, to go shopping."
Ye Fuli's body trembled slightly.
Uncontrollable emotions began to spread through her heart.
She didn't know where this panic was coming from.
She withdrew her hand as quickly as possible.
The sarcastic retort that had formed on her lips was forced back down. She managed a smile in response to the other's warmth:
"Alright, let's go home."
Ye Dad stared at her blankly.
After a few seconds, he hurriedly spoke up to stop her: "Ye Fuli, this won't do! Your mother… her health is truly poor. She refuses to take her medicine, and her condition keeps fluctuating. She really shouldn't be discharged."
"If she insists on leaving, then let her leave."
Ye Fuli recalled that moment when Ye Zhen had desperately tried to leave the hospital.
Her heart trembled.
If only she had found a better way to express her love back then, would her mother have avoided choosing that extreme path?
But she had never been truly loved herself. How could she possibly know how to love another…?
"When a patient resists treatment this strongly, forcing her to stay won't help her recovery. If she wants to leave, let her go."
Ye Fuli sighed as she spoke.
She dug her nails into her arm, instinctively using pain to steady her emotions.
"I'll go find the attending physician. You pack your things. We're leaving the hospital now."
Watching Ye Fuli turn and walk out of the ward, Ye Dad's expression was one of utter bewilderment.
He seemed unable to believe that his daughter, who was usually stubborn to the point of madness, could be so considerate at times.
But leaving the hospital…
It was still impossible!
"Ye Fuli, wait! Don't listen to your mother…"
Ye Dad tried to stop her, but Mrs. Ye suddenly began coughing violently, glaring at him with a fierce look: "Even if I'm dying, I won't die in this hospital!"
"If you keep this up, you really will die!"
Mrs. Ye laughed. "My daughter is right. By refusing treatment, forcing me to stay here won't help my recovery at all."
Her tone softened slightly as she continued.
"My greatest wish now is to go home. If you still care about our marital bond, don't force me any longer."
Ye Dad fell silent and slowly sat down.
A primal sixth sense told him something terrible was unfolding.
But what could it be?
After all this time of conflict, mother and daughter were finally showing signs of reconciliation—clearly a positive development.
……
…
Before dawn.
Under Ye Fuli's constant care, Ye's parents safely returned to the Ye family villa.
Since the household staff had been maintaining the place, it didn't feel neglected at all.
"I'll arrange for the kitchen to prepare some light meals and have them delivered over."
Ye Fuli said, heading toward the kitchen.
Watching her retreating figure, Mrs. Ye's gaze held an expression that was difficult to decipher.
A rare family dinner commenced half an hour later.
Ye Fuli instinctively sought the farthest corner, but Mrs. Ye insisted on sitting beside her.
"We've never eaten together like this before, have we?" Mrs. Ye smiled, picked up a shrimp, thoughtfully peeled it for Ye Fuli, and placed it in her bowl. "Try it."
Ye Fuli felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.
Staring at the shrimp in her bowl, she felt an unfamiliar sense of unease.
Her instinct was to refuse, but remembering Ye Zhen's hope for family harmony, she picked up her chopsticks, lifted the shrimp, and placed it in her mouth.
"After dinner, let's go shopping together. My hair hasn't been styled in ages—it's all messy and frizzy."
Mrs. Ye stood up again, ladled a spoonful of soup into Ye Fuli's bowl, and placed it beside her.
"I've never bought you a gift either. Let me make it up to you today."
These words sounded like final instructions.
Ye Fuli's heart sank. She couldn't help but scrutinize her biological mother with a more cautious gaze: "What exactly are you trying to do?"
Madam Ye sighed. "I just want to fulfill my duty as a mother."
Responsibility?
Talking about duty at a time like this?
Ye Fuli lowered her eyes, remaining silent for a long moment before asking, "Just duty? So you never loved me at all, did you?"
Mrs. Ye's hand paused momentarily as she peeled the shrimp.
"You prefer Ye Zhen, don't you?"
"Actually, the one you wanted to see today was Ye Zhen, not me, right?"
"There's never been a place for me in your hearts, is there!"
Ye Fuli's emotions shattered, her eyes brimming with tears.
But she merely pulled a tissue from the box with indifference and wiped her eyes.
Just then, Mrs. Ye suddenly reached out, gently wrapping her arms around Ye Fuli’s shoulders. She stroked her hair, letting her lean against her shoulder.
"Don't mention Zhenzhen anymore. She's gone—let her go. From now on, the three of us will stay together forever…"
Ye Fuli slowly relaxed her stiffened body.
Tears surged forth.
She had returned this time to let go of her hatred.
It wasn't easy, but the thought that she too might find a place to call home made her reach out, grasping at that sliver of hope.
Over the next few days, Mrs. Ye took her shopping. They bought elegant evening gowns, professional work attire for daily wear, various jewelry and handbags, and explored every street and alley in the neighborhood.
Ye Fuli's wariness gradually melted away in this mundane routine.
Following behind them, Ye Fu Li's father gradually came to believe that his wife had truly let go of all her obsessions and was willing to return to the family.
It felt like a lifetime had passed.
If only Zhenzhen were still here at this moment, how wonderful that would be.
How wonderful it would be for the four of them to live out their days in quiet simplicity.
"I want to celebrate our daughter's birthday. Honey, take a look—which cake do you think would be best?"
The trio passed a cake shop on the street. Glancing at the display cakes in the glass window, they began discussing Ye Fuli's birthday celebration—from the cake itself to the brand of champagne and the menu for the meal…
Ye Fuli lifted her head and glanced at the shop's name.
Unsurprisingly, it was "Take a Cue."
"Let's get this one!"
Mrs. Ye pointed to the black swan-shaped cake on the top shelf of the display window.
Before finalizing her choice, she glanced at Yefuli again.
"What do you think, dear?"
Ye Fuli nodded. "They're all fine."
"Then have them wrap it up."
……
A huge birthday cake was soon delivered to the Ye family's dining room.
Tonight's dinner spread was exceptionally lavish.
Ye Fuli, who had been advised to wear a formal gown, was soon pulled over by Mrs. Ye and seated on the sofa. The family maid helped them take a family portrait.
"Alright. Once the kitchen is tidied up, you may all go home."
"Yes, ma'am."
"What? Don't you all know to wish the young lady a happy birthday?"
"Happy Birthday to Miss Ye Fuli!"
The household servants gratefully accepted the red envelopes Mrs. Ye handed them, each sincerely wishing Ye Fuli a happy birthday.
Ye Fuli accepted their blessings awkwardly, saying nothing.
Champagne was opened, cake was cut, and wishes were made over the enormous birthday cake.
Yet Ye Fuli had no wishes to make.
Others could make wishes to her, and she could grant most reasonable desires of ordinary people.
But when it came to herself, it seemed she lacked nothing.
"Cheers!"
Mrs. Ye raised her glass, clinking it against both father and daughter.
All three drank their wine in one gulp by candlelight.
As they sat back down, Mrs. Ye's laughter dissolved into tears.
"Ye Fuli, you were right about one thing—I never loved you. Because you carry the blood of a demon. You destroyed our family, leaving everyone, including Zhenzhen, trapped in pain and despair."
"You simply don't deserve love, do you?"
"But it doesn't matter. After tonight, we'll go to hell together."
Madam Ye tossed the wine glass from her hand.
Tears streaming down her face, she laughed with a hideous grin.
"Why didn't you just die in Zhenzhen's place back then?"