As she rushed back, Li Caiyi saw people eating and thought that the brothers perhaps hadn't eaten anything. So she stopped by the store and bought food and drinks before returning.

In front of the surgery chamber, the Dai brothers sat with a dark and heavy mood around them. It couldn't be helped since they must be worried sick about their father, but Li Caiyi wouldn't allow them to starve themselves.

"Uncle will be very sad if he sees you guys like this, you know?" Li Caiyi said as lightheartedly as she could. "I bought you guys some food and drinks. You guys probably don't have any appetite, but you will still have to eat."

Both of them raised their heads simultaneously. Dai Shenqiang looked visibly relieved, while Dai Zhiqiang had that brooding look on his face as if trying to analyze her.

"Caiyi, I thought you already went back home because I didn't see you with my brother."

Li Caiyi shook her head. "How could I leave you two here just like that? You guys should eat first to replenish your energy. Only with that can you welcome Uncle back with a smile."

There was a small gap between where they sat, so Li Caiyi shamelessly filled the gap by squeezing herself in between. It surprised them, but she paid it no heed. Her hand skilfully tore the wrapper of the bread, and she split the bread in half.

"Here. Take it. I won't accept no as an answer. It's not that much food, so you must finish it all."

The brothers exchanged glances before slowly following her order. They obediently ate when she told them to and felt a little better after filling their empty stomach. Li Caiyi smiled in satisfaction.

"Caiyi, are you going to go home after this?" Dai Shenqiang asked hesitantly.

"Why do you keep mentioning that? Do you want me to go home that badly?"

"No, of course not! It's just, isn't tonight supposed to be your birthday party? You came here while still wearing your dress too..."

Before Li Caiyi could answer, Dai Zhiqiang had gotten ahead of her. "You should go home now. Nothing would change even if the number of people waiting increased. You should return before your family is worried about you. Don't worry. I will tell you about the result later."

Li Caiyi harrumphed. "I did a favor for you by chasing some disturbance away, and you wanted to kick me as soon as I have no use for you? How cold."

"Of course, I'm grateful, but we don't want to be a burden for you."

"Oh? But your little brother certainly has a different opinion from you."

Dai Zhiqiang stared sharply at Dai Shenqiang while the latter pretended to be busy drinking water as he avoided his eyes.

"Stop glaring at him. I'm actually happy he has enough sense to tell me about it. Seriously, how can you even think of hiding something so big from me?"

Dai Zhiqiang couldn't answer and only looked down with a conflicted expression. "I don't know what to do. Perhaps I don't want you to see me look pathetic like this."

Li Caiyi was at a loss for words. "I'm really curious about how your mind works. This isn't something you can control, so why are you so harsh on yourself?"

"But I..hurt you last time, didn't I?"

She didn't expect him to bring that up so suddenly. Dai Zhiqiang made a face that roughly said, 'I knew it', while Dai Shenqiang stared at the two in confusion.

"What happened? Did the two of you fight?" He asked.

"It's not a fight. And Zhiqiang, I'm not that heartless to pretend not to know when you are having a hard time. What kind of person do you think I am?"

"I know you are a kind person. But that's precisely what makes it harder for me to tell you." Dai Zhiqiang answered in a small voice, only enough for Li Caiyi to hear.

She sighed helplessly. "Let's not talk about that for now. Uncle is currently fighting inside, and I refuse to leave until I make sure he's alright."

No one answered her, so she would just take their silence as a form of agreement.

An hour passed, but there was no sign of the surgery ending anytime soon. Dai Bolin's condition must be terrible if it took so long for the surgery to finish. The situation wasn't looking good, and the previously light atmosphere slowly became heavy with anxiety again.

The two brothers were so tense it unknowingly affected Li Caiyi's mood too. She came there to become their source of strength. What's the point if she only added to their stress by freaking out too?

Feeling like she should do something, Li Caiyi slowly took their hand in both of hers. She gripped them firmly enough to let them know they weren't alone in this.

"I'm sure it will be alright. Uncle will not leave you guys easily because he cares about you so much."

The words felt bitter on her tongue as she knew Dai Bolin's plan to leave them in his ex-wife's care after his death. She could only hope that Dai Bolin would survive this and stay with the boys longer. How miserable they would be if what Yue Ling said really happened.

Just when she prayed for the nth time, the light on top of the surgery chamber was turned off, signaling that the surgery was finally completed. Dai Zhiqiang was the first to leap from his seat when a doctor clad in blue surgery outfit came out of the room.

"Are you the patient's family?"

"Yes, that's correct." Dai Zhiqiang nodded. His voice was stiff as he asked with a severe expression, "How is my father's condition?"

Behind him, Li Caiyi and Dai Shenqiang also stared at the doctor with hopeful and anxious faces.

"The surgery was a success. Thankfully, your father was treated in time, so we managed to stabilize his condition. His life is no longer in danger; however, he needs to be monitored as closely as possible."

Their faces brightened instantly as a sigh of relief escaped them simultaneously. The doctor said a few more words before he bade his goodbye, leaving the three of them who cheered on the successful surgery.

Li Caiyi was so happy and relieved that tears came out of her eyes. She opened her arms wide and tightly pulled the brothers into a group hug. "I'm so happy for you guys. Thank goodness, Uncle is alright.

"Caiyi, our family owes you a huge debt. Thank you so much for everything you have done for us. My brother sure is lucky to have you as a girlfriend."

While Dai Shenqiang was busy saying comforting words to her, Dai Zhiqiang said nothing and only patted her back gently.

***

After surgery ended, Dai Bolin was moved to another room. Dai Shenqiang, aware that something had happened between them, tactfully gave them some time to talk as he followed the nurse to Dai Bolin's room.

Only Li Caiyi and Dai Zhiqiang were left behind. They stood awkwardly for some time before the latter opened his mouth first.

"It's already too late. Let me take you home."

"No, it's alright. You must be worried about your father. Stay with him."

Dai Zhiqiang gave it some thought before speaking, "Then, at least let me see you off."

"En. Thank you."

The walk toward the hospital's entrance felt so long. This was their first meeting after a week or so, and she felt reluctant to end it just like that.

'But what should I say? He is exhausted, and the timing is just not right to talk about anything.' Li Caiyi debated herself.

She couldn't decide even until they finally arrived at the side of the road, so she chose to let it go for now.

"I'm fine up until here. You should go back inside." Li Caiyi smiled. "Don't forget to eat and take care of yourself."

Dai Zhiqiang's eyes shook around wildly. He seemed like he had a lot to say, so she waited patiently for him to continue.

"Really.. I don't know where to start."

"About what?"

"Everything," Dai Zhiqiang reached his hand to gently caress her cheek. The street should be pretty dark, but Li Caiyi could see his conflicted expression clearly. "You are very precious to me. After I hurt you like that, I thought you finally came to hate me."

Li Caiyi's heart skipped a beat when he slowly put a chaste kiss on her lips. "I didn't expect you to speak so daringly to my mother like that. I'm sorry for making you go through all that."

Her eyes widened in astonishment. "You... heard everything?"

Dai Zhiqiang smiled faintly. "There's no way I will leave you with her alone. I need to make sure she won't do anything to you."historical

Out of all things, he just had to hear his biological mother say all those hurtful things. Li Caiyi felt distressed and heartache for him. "Zhi, I—"

He silenced her by kissing her again. This time it lingered long enough to warm her body all over.

"Don't feel bad. I never expected anything from that woman, so knowing her true motive behind all this made me feel at ease instead." Dai Zhiqiang chuckled, "And thank you for what you said back then, in our defense. Your words touched me deeply, and they saved me once again."

Li Caiyi's breath hitched in her throat when his hand slowly traveled down her back, tracing her spine. It made her legs grow weak.

"I want everything about you. Even your thoughts and breaths, I want to have all of it. What you saw the other day was the true me. I tried to rein it in, but in the end, I scared and hurt you. I'm sorry for being greedy."

Li Caiyi: "...."

"Yi Yi, I didn't have a chance to say it before, but happy birthday. Thank you for loving me and everything I cared about."