Tang Yi was shocked by her own thought.
When did she become an unfilial daughter, actually harboring malicious thoughts towards her own mother?
Tang Yi tried to adjust her mindset, walked to her mother's side, took her hand, and said softly, "Mom, I'm sorry, I know I was wrong. Can you forgive me this time? Can you speak to me? Even if you don't say a word, just opening your eyes to look at me would be enough."
However, the only response Tang Yi received was silence.
Tang Yi was not discouraged. She sat by the hospital bed, unsure if her mother could hear her words, but Tang Yi insisted on telling her mother these things.
Gradually, Tang Yi's mother's breathing stabilized. Tang Yi thought her mother was out of danger and excitedly called for the doctor. The doctor came, examined Tang Yi's mother, and finally said soothingly, "Miss Tang, you can prepare for the funeral arrangements."
Tang Yi didn't understand what the doctor meant.
Her mother's breathing had just stabilized; why would the doctor say that? Had the doctor made a mistake?
Seeing that Tang Yi couldn't accept the reality, the doctor explained, "Your mother's organs are severely failing and cannot function normally. Coupled with her lack of will to live, the recent stabilization of her breathing was a final surge of vitality."
Tang Yi shook her head.
No, she hadn't apologized to her mother yet.
She hadn't sought her mother's forgiveness.
She couldn't let her mother leave her world like this.
After the doctor left, Zheng Zemin entered. He had been standing at the doorway, and though he hadn't entered, the ward door was open, so he had heard everything the doctor said.
Zheng Zemin knew Tang Yi couldn't accept this reality.
But in this situation, Tang Yi had to accept it.
Zheng Zemin walked up to Tang Yi and gently comforted her, "If your mother has a telepathic connection with you, seeing you so sad and distressed would also make her sad and distressed."
But no matter how Zheng Zemin comforted her, Tang Yi couldn't hear him.
Tang Yi looked at her mother's frail face and said softly, "I was just thinking of pulling out her oxygen mask myself. Do you think, perhaps, she had a telepathic connection with me and knew my wicked thoughts, and that's why she's angry and wants to abandon me?"
Zheng Zemin was a straightforward man and didn't know how to comfort people.
He had initially wanted to say, "Your mother wouldn't rest in peace if she knew," but then he thought, Tang Yi's mother wasn't dead yet.
That phrase was truly inappropriate.
This was why Zheng Zemin had said what he did, and unexpectedly, he had still said the wrong thing.
As Zheng Zemin was about to apologize to Tang Yi, he heard her say in a low voice, "It's okay. I know you didn't mean it that way. Actually, I feel like my life is a failure. I clearly wanted to do one thing well, but in the end, I realized I couldn't do anything right.
After speaking, Tang Yi looked at her mother. After a long pause, she steeled herself and personally removed her mother's oxygen mask.
After the oxygen mask was removed, Tang Yi's mother quickly had difficulty breathing, which gradually worsened, and then she stopped breathing.
Tang Yi stared intently at her mother, neither crying nor making a sound.
Her stubbornness was heartbreaking to anyone who saw it.
Zheng Zemin looked at Tang Yi, feeling an indescribable emotion.
Although Tang Yi had personally removed the oxygen mask, her heart was more sorrowful and pained than anyone else's.
How much courage it must have taken to make such a decision.
Tang Yi handled her mother's funeral with a composed and calm demeanor throughout.
She did not shed any tears during this time.
Such strength was unbearable to witness.
Zheng Zemin also postponed many of his work commitments these past few days, helping Tang Yi with her mother's funeral arrangements.
Fu Yan Ting learned of Tang Yi's mother's passing and sent Xin Yi to pay his respects.
Previously, Tang Yi hadn't known Xin Yi, nor who he was. But when Fu Yan Ting appeared, Tang Yi realized that Xin Yi was Fu Yan Ting's most capable assistant.
Tang Yi looked at Xin Yi, nodded, and said softly, "Thank you for coming to see my mother off on her final journey."
Xin Yi glanced at Tang Yi and said lightly, "I'm here on behalf of my boss. My boss said that if you ever need help, you can go to him."
Tang Yi nodded politely, but inwardly, she wished to have no further dealings with them.
If it weren't for Fu Yan Ting and Yan Xi, those people wouldn't have approached her, making her take those photos.
Her mother wouldn't have been angered to death.
Tang Yi was filled with regret now.
However, since they had come to pay their respects, despite her inner discomfort, Tang Yi couldn't show it.
So, when Xin Yi said that, Tang Yi responded politely.
Tang Yi had no background or influence in Yan Cheng, nor was she wealthy.
She was a young woman who had just graduated from university and hadn't found a suitable job.
Over the years, all the money she earned from working had gone towards her mother's medical expenses, and she had almost no savings.
Therefore, the funeral was very frugal.
Even the wreaths were paid for by Zheng Zemin.
However, it wouldn't have been appropriate to have only his name, so Zheng Zemin included the names of their village neighbors.
After handling her mother's funeral, Zheng Zemin remained by Tang Yi's side.
Tang Yi had been too calm these past few days, uncharacteristically so.
Zheng Zemin was very worried about Tang Yi's current state.
He feared Tang Yi might do something drastic and commit suicide.
Tang Yi knew Zheng Zemin was worried about her, but with her mother's death, Tang Yi didn't want to think about those messy things. She had taken those photos.
Even her own mother couldn't accept such photos; how could Zheng Zemin accept them?
Even if Zheng Zemin had feelings for Tang Yi now, it was likely because she was somewhat attractive. If they were to be together, Zheng Zemin might eventually bring up the past.
Tang Yi was already afraid and didn't want to face all this anymore.
Therefore, Tang Yi decided to keep Zheng Zemin at a distance.
Furthermore, the most important point was that Zheng Zemin had been the lawyer in Yan Xi's case.
Perhaps Zheng Zemin didn't actually like Tang Yi; he was just feeling guilty towards her, which was why he was being so kind.
With this realization, Tang Yi's attitude towards Zheng Zemin became even more indifferent and distant.
Zheng Zemin wasn't oblivious to this, but he attributed it to Tang Yi being upset due to her mother's recent death and didn't dwell on it too much.
Zheng Zemin stayed by Tang Yi's side, doting on her and taking excellent care of her.
Tang Yi gradually began to accept Zheng Zemin's kindness.
Chapter 473: Don't Be So Good to Me Anymore, I Don't Deserve It
Perhaps she could try dating Zheng Zemin; Tang Yi's heart wavered slightly.