Tang Yi could have lied to her mother, but she didn't.
She didn't want to disappoint her mother again.
Since childhood, Tang Yi had been the pride of her family. If it hadn't been for her mother's serious illness, Tang Yi wouldn't have resorted to taking those photos.
Now that her mother knew, Tang Yi felt sad that her actions had caused her mother's current condition. However, even so, Tang Yi never considered deceiving her mother.
As the saying goes, one lie requires countless others to cover it up.
If Tang Yi lied, she would have to spin more lies to justify that initial falsehood. Tang Yi was not good at lying, nor did she want to become the person her mother disliked the most.
Therefore, even though she knew her mother would be angry, Tang Yi still said, "Mom, I'm sorry."
Hearing her apology, Tang Yi's mother understood what was in her heart.
Tang Yi's mother took a deep breath and closed her eyes in despair.
After a long pause, she finally spoke, "You go out. I want to be alone for a while."
"Mom, if you're angry, hit me, scold me, but please don't ignore me, okay?"
Tang Yi was most afraid of her mother ignoring her.
She would rather be hit.
Tang Yi's mother looked at her. She wasn't as hysterical as Tang Yi had imagined. She spoke calmly, "Yi Yi, you've always been my pride, but I never imagined that my illness would ruin your life."
"Mom..."
"If I hadn't been sick, if I hadn't needed money for treatment, perhaps you wouldn't have done these things for money. Now I truly regret it."
If she had known her illness would implicate Tang Yi, she should have given up treatment from the beginning and not burdened her daughter. But it was too late to say such things now.
"Mom, please don't say that to me. I beg you, don't be so cruel to me. You know I can't live without you."
"I want to be alone for a while. You should go back now."
No matter how much Tang Yi pleaded, she refused to see her.
Recalling the doctor's words, Tang Yi dared not stay any longer, fearing she might anger her mother and cause her to become emotionally agitated again.
Tang Yi had no choice but to ask the nurse to take care of her mother while she went to find a caregiver in the city.
Even though her mother was angry with her and didn't want to see her, Tang Yi couldn't abandon her mother's well-being.
As Tang Yi walked out of the hospital, a dim, misty rain began to fall.
Tang Yi wiped her cheeks with her sleeve, unsure if she was wiping away rain or her tears.
Tang Yi never imagined that her mother would find out about this.
After Tang Yi left, her mother lay in bed, trembling, and raised her hand to remove the oxygen mask and all the tubes.
She didn't want to be a burden to her daughter, and she couldn't be.
If it weren't for her, Tang Yi wouldn't have taken those photos. Tang Yi was a young woman, just graduated from college.
If such photos were taken of her now, how could she ever get married or have children?
Even if she went out to work, people would make things difficult for her.
Thinking of this, Tang Yi's mother struggled to breathe. She had lost the courage to live.
Perhaps only by dying could everything be resolved.
Although she was reluctant to leave Tang Yi, it was better to be completely free now, rather than being a burden to Tang Yi.
Tang Yi had only walked a few steps when she received a call from the doctor.
The doctor simply informed her on the phone that her mother was in critical condition.
Tang Yi had no idea what had happened, or why her mother would suddenly become critically ill.
Tang Yi returned to the hospital, feeling completely dejected.
Perhaps Tang Yi never expected that her mother would fall critically ill at such a crucial juncture.
Upon returning to the hospital, Tang Yi's mother had already been moved from her ward to the emergency room.
Tang Yi rushed to wait outside the emergency room.
Time ticked by, each minute an agony for Tang Yi.
She was alone and had no one to rely on. For some reason, Tang Yi thought of Zheng Ze Min and sent him a WeChat message.
[Lawyer Zheng, if you have time, can you come to the hospital?]
After sending it, Tang Yi regretted it. Even if she sent Zheng Ze Min a message and he happened to be free, what could he do?
Zheng Ze Min wouldn't visit her mother for her sake.
There was no relationship between them.
Tang Yi sending a message to Zheng Ze Min was somewhat presumptuous.
Thinking this, Tang Yi quickly recalled her message.
But Tang Yi didn't know it was too late. Zheng Ze Min had already opened and read her message.
Zheng Ze Min had just returned from the hospital not long ago when Tang Yi sent him such a message.
The sensitive Zheng Ze Min asked, "Did something happen?"
Although it was a question, Zheng Ze Min knew very well that Tang Yi wouldn't send him such a message if nothing had happened.
Tang Yi thought she had recalled the message before Zheng Ze Min saw it, so after recalling it, she put her phone aside, her eyes fixed on the light of the emergency room, and didn't reply to Zheng Ze Min's message.
After sending the message, Zheng Ze Min began to change his clothes to go to the hospital. When he was dressed, Tang Yi still hadn't replied.
This made Zheng Ze Min even more certain that something bad had indeed happened.
Ten minutes later, Zheng Ze Min parked his car at the hospital entrance and went to the ward, but it was empty.
Zheng Ze Min asked the duty nurse and learned that Tang Yi's mother had suddenly become critically ill and had been rushed to the emergency room.
Zheng Ze Min suddenly understood why Tang Yi had messaged him.
When she received the news, she must have been terrified. As a girl, alone and helpless, Zheng Ze Min didn't dare to waste any time and hurried to the emergency room to find Tang Yi.
As expected, he saw Tang Yi, pale and with vacant eyes, standing outside the emergency room.
Zheng Ze Min walked up to Tang Yi and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, Auntie will be safe."
Hearing the familiar voice, Tang Yi suddenly looked up and saw Zheng Ze Min.
At that moment, Tang Yi couldn't care about anything else. She rushed forward and hugged Zheng Ze Min, starting to cry.
Like a helpless child, finally finding her support, Tang Yi didn't want to let go, fearing that it was all a dream and that Zheng Ze Min would disappear from her world as soon as she released him.
Zheng Ze Min didn't flinch, allowing Tang Yi to hold him tightly.
After an unknown amount of time, Tang Yi finally let go of Zheng Ze Min and said with a hoarse voice, "Lawyer Zheng, I'm sorry. I got a little too emotional just now."
Zheng Ze Min replied calmly, "It's alright."