To make up for the debt owed to Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

The hospital's intensive care unit.

Zhiyuan stood in front of Wenxiao.

In my memory, Wenxiao is still the young man he was when he was a child.

Back then, she wore two long, black braids, always cried, always argued with her father, and always scolded him. But even so, as a child, he still liked to cling to her, wanting her to hug him. He would try to hug her when she cried, but most of the time, she would push him away in annoyance.

He thought it was because he was naughty that she disliked him, so he tried his best to be a good boy, not making a fuss, eating obediently, and dressing and putting on his own shoes. But she still left, no matter how much he cried, begged, or promised to be good from now on, she still left without looking back...

He remembered that when she turned away that day, her two long black braids swung forcefully in the air, the ends of which brushed against his face, stinging him.

However, the patient in front of him was now thin and emaciated, with most of his hair turned white, and he looked as if he had withered away.

She shouldn't be like this at her age.

He stood there for a long time. Later, the nurse came to urge him, saying that visiting hours were over. He then realized that he had gone out to change his clothes, thanked the nurse, and went home.

On his way back, he sent a message to Qingtian.

Sunny asked him: How is it?

The question was about how he was framed by two of his uncles.

Actually, there are already clarification posts online, and she has even proudly stated on Tieba: Look, didn't I say something wrong?

Public opinion shifted quickly, with everyone instantly defending him and demanding severe punishment for those who spread rumors.

Zhiyuan replied to her: It's all taken care of. I'll be back at the hospital tomorrow.

"That's good!" Qingtian's exclamation mark expressed her feelings at that moment.

Zhiyuan dialed her number, and a soft "hello" rang in his ears across thousands of miles.

“I went to see her,” Zhiyuan said. “My biological mother.”

“Hmm.” Qingtian instantly knew what he wanted to say. “Zhiyuan, whatever decision you make, you’re right.”

Zhiyuan paused for a moment, then chuckled, "I haven't even said anything yet, how do you know what I'm going to say?"

"My guess."

Zhiyuan let out a long sigh of relief. "I stood beside her for a long time, asking myself whether I should hate her or pity her."

"So you've figured it out now?"

"I've figured it out." He walked slowly down the street, the winter wind howling and stinging his face. "There should be no hatred, no resentment. If there is any pity, it's the pity a doctor has for a patient. Seeing her old and seriously ill appearance, I wasn't very sad, but I think I'm still grateful to her. I'm grateful that she brought me into this world and let me meet so many wonderful people, like my mom, my dad, my precious daughter, and you."

"Zhiyuan..."

“There are so many people, and we’ve experienced so many wonderful and interesting things.” He took another deep breath, a sense of relief and clarity. “I will take responsibility for her illness, whether as a doctor or as… a former friend.”

He didn't mention his son. In his mind, he only had one mother, a mother who would stay up all night to take care of him when he was sick, a mother who raised him from a homeless orphan to adulthood, and a mother who would do anything to protect him throughout his life.

He didn't know how Qingtian would view this statement. "Qingtian, do you think I'm cold-blooded?"

“No way!” Qingtian quickly said, “I told you, whatever decision you make, you’re right. Blood ties… are not chains of moral coercion.”

Zhiyuan then remembered that Qingtian also had an unreliable father...

She can empathize.