The CEO's Substitute Ex-Wife
Chapter 233: Child’s Trauma

Chapter 233: Child’s Trauma

Wen Lan only suffered minor scratches, nothing serious. Xiao Nian was extremely well-protected by his grandmother and father, but he was terrified. For a three-year-old, such a sudden turn of events, with Tang Shuwen shielding him and taking a bullet, Xiao Nian experienced such a bloody scene for the first time, heard terrifying gunshots for the first time, and saw his father collapse in front of him for the first time. He was traumatized.

The child’s tender, pale face was devoid of color. He sat blankly on the hospital bed, not saying a word, neither crying nor fussing. Chen Xueru immediately embraced her son upon seeing him, the tears she had held back for hours now streaming down her face, but Xiao Nian showed no reaction at all.

Tang Si and Wen Lan felt the situation was serious and had the doctor perform a thorough examination on Xiao Nian. Regarding Tang Shuwen’s emergency room, Chen Xueru heard from Ye Feimo that the bullet had struck his chest, and the exact condition would depend on what the doctor said. From his tone, it sounded very serious.

Chen Xueru’s hands and feet grew cold. She sat blankly on the long bench outside. After a busy day, the Ye family was also tired. Tang Si told Young Master Ye Third and Cheng Anya to go home first, as there was nothing to do by staying at the hospital.

Young Master Ye Third nodded, telling Tang Si to inform them immediately if there was any news.

Tang Si nodded. His son was seriously injured, and his grandson was too traumatized to speak. His mood was also grim. Young Master Ye Third and the others didn’t say much, leading everyone away. Ye Feimo handled the remaining affairs and returned to Longmen.

Xiao Nian had no physical injuries, but his gaze was vacant, and he was silent. That sight tore at Chen Xueru’s heart. She coaxed him for a long time, but couldn’t get a sound out of him. She was deeply distressed.

"Xiao Nian, will you say something to Mommy, please? Don’t be afraid, we’re home," Chen Xueru coaxed her son. Tang Mandong also tried to soothe him, but Xiao Nian’s gaze was unfocused, and he said nothing. Chen Xueru felt as if all her strength had been drained.

Wen Lan said, "Xueru, don’t worry. Xiao Nian is just startled. Let him recover for a couple of days; he’ll be fine."

The child was too young to withstand such a shock.

"Mom, I’m sorry," Chen Xueru said. Wen Lan held her hand and shook her head. "You silly child, what are you sorry for? We are family. If anyone should be sorry, it’s that today’s security wasn’t good enough. It has nothing to do with you. Shuwen taking a bullet for his son is only natural. It’s what a good father, a good man, should do. You don’t need to apologize. Both father and son will be fine. Don’t be sad."

Chen Xueru didn’t know how to express the pain in her heart. Tang Shuwen, Xiao Nian... one whose life was uncertain, the other with a vacant gaze. Half of her heart felt ripped out.

"It will be fine," Wen Lan said. She felt even more apologetic. It was supposed to be a perfect wedding, but such an incident occurred. They were the ones who owed her. She shouldn’t have said any words of apology.

And in the future, it might bring her even more danger.

Three hours later, the operating room light went out. The doctor walked out, looking exhausted. Tang Si and Wen Lan quickly went to meet him. The doctor said the bullet had been removed, but the patient was not yet out of danger and had to be transferred to the intensive care unit. If he couldn’t get out of the critical period within these three days, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Tang Si frowned. Wen Lan closed her eyes. Chen Xueru subconsciously hugged Xiao Nian tighter.

Tang Shuwen, I finally dared to take a step.

I finally made up my mind to be your wife; you cannot be in trouble.

You absolutely cannot be in trouble.

Wen Nuan didn’t wake up until evening. Her head ached terribly. Mrs. Wen had made hangover soup, which she drank, then her body went limp, and she collapsed back onto the bed. The weather was slightly cool, and it felt very comfortable to snuggle under the covers.

Mrs. Wen called several times, but Wen Nuan lay in bed, grumbling, "How did I get home?"

"You silly girl, why did you drink so much? Mr. Ye brought you home," Mrs. Wen said, helping Wen Nuan up. "Hurry and wash up, then come downstairs for dinner. Liucheng has been here all afternoon."

"My head hurts, Mom, don’t make noise. I want to sleep."

"It’s polite. Hurry up and get ready," Mrs. Wen said, pulling her up. Wen Nuan slowly went to the bathroom to wash up only after much coaxing. Mrs. Wen went downstairs first.

Wen Jing had already set the table for Mrs. Wen. After washing up, Wen Nuan changed into a long dress and casually put on a gray cotton jacket before going downstairs. Fang Liucheng and Mr. Wen were discussing business matters, waiting only for her.

Wen Nuan wished Fang Liucheng a Happy New Year. She wasn’t very hungry; she had drunk too much and had no appetite. She felt sluggish, and she didn’t pay much attention when Fang Liucheng spoke.

Fortunately, Mrs. Wen and Mr. Wen were there, so the New Year’s atmosphere wasn’t too bad.

"Mr. Ye said you didn’t eat much for lunch, just drank. Drink more soup and eat your vegetables; don’t leave your stomach empty," Mrs. Wen said, helping Wen Nuan with some dishes. Fang Liucheng glanced at Wen Nuan, then pursed his lips and asked, "Was Tang Shuwen’s wedding lively?"

Wen Nuan nodded. "Lively."

Wen Jing interjected, "Of course it was lively! You could tell how grand it was just from watching it on TV; it must have been even livelier in person, so many cars."

Wen Nuan smiled and lowered her head to drink her soup.

Ye Feimo brought her back. What about him?

It was New Year’s Day; he must have gone home. Holidays were always spent with family.

Mrs. Wen, seeing that she wasn’t very talkative, smiled and explained to Fang Liucheng, "This girl is probably still recovering from the alcohol. Liucheng, eat more. Auntie prepared a lot of your favorites today."

Fang Liucheng smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over Wen Nuan. "Thank you, Auntie."

The family enjoyed a happy reunion dinner. Mr. Wen and Mrs. Wen watched the New Year’s Eve gala in the living room. Wen Nuan cut a plate of apples for everyone and washed a plate of grapes.

Mrs. Wen wanted to pull her to watch the gala, but Wen Nuan said her head hurt and she wouldn’t join them. She got up and went upstairs.

Her phone vibrated. Wen Nuan picked it up. It was a text message from Ye Feimo, asking what she was doing. Wen Nuan thought, "What’s there to say after breaking up?" She simply ignored him and snuggled into bed to sleep.

The phone kept vibrating incessantly. Wen Nuan felt a slight pang in her heart. No matter how much the phone rang, she covered her head with the blanket. The sound was too noisy. Wen Nuan got up, picked up her phone, and saw that all the messages were the same: "What are you doing?"

Wen Nuan replied grumpily, "Sleeping."

What was he doing now?

Wen Nuan secretly wondered, but a faint, unidentifiable ache rose in her heart. She was the one who said they should break up, yet she couldn’t help but miss him. It was truly a tragedy. Everything about him was like a brand, etched into her heart.

Her phone vibrated again. Wen Nuan grabbed it and saw a text, a smile escaping her lips. He asked, "What kind of flowers do you like?"

Wen Nuan chuckled. What was this silly guy asking this for? She picked up her phone and typed a few words: "Champagne roses."

For a long time, he didn’t reply.

It felt like silken threads, layer upon layer, wrapping around her heart, making her feel even more choked up. Wen Nuan leaned sadly against the headboard, staring blankly at her phone, hoping it would vibrate, that his message would come through.

But for a long time, there was no vibration.

Wen Nuan was disappointed.

Perhaps he was just acting on a whim, teasing her for fun.

She was foolish to take it seriously.

At the wedding today, she and he had made everything very clear. Wen Nuan’s heart ached. She took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and rolled over. Just as she was about to lie down, her phone vibrated again.

Ye Feimo’s message: "No breaking up."

Only four words. Wen Nuan muttered to herself, "Just four words, did you really need to type for so long?" She typed back indignantly, "You don’t love me anyway."

Ye Feimo: "Nonsense."

Wen Nuan: "You admitted it yourself."

Ye Feimo: "Self-important."

Wen Nuan sneered. If they weren’t breaking up, what were they saying and doing now? Wasn’t it a joke? Did he perhaps want to reconcile? At the thought of this possibility, Wen Nuan’s brow furrowed, her heart confused.

They had broken up, yet she missed him so much. It was probably because she still thought of him, still couldn’t let go of those ambiguous days.

She still couldn’t let go of his fleeting words of love, sometimes tender, sometimes feigned coldness, spoken before they parted ways.

But he probably didn’t know that.

Wen Nuan didn’t reply for a long time, and Ye Feimo remained silent too. After a while, he sent another text message, asking, "What do I need to do for you to come back?"

Wen Nuan didn’t know how to answer. She held her head, curled up, and pondered. She still loved Ye Feimo, but she couldn’t accept the presence of another person in his heart. She was just a tiny, insignificant corner of his heart, and this feeling was terrible.

What should she do to fulfill herself and fulfill him?

She didn’t know.

The phone vibrated; the ringtone sounded. It was him. Wen Nuan pursed her lips, unsure whether to answer. Feimo, Ye Feimo, what do you want to say by calling?

This was a new experience. Was Ye Feimo actively trying to make amends?

He rarely took the initiative like this.

Wen Nuan answered the phone. Ye Feimo’s magnetic voice came through, "Wen Nuan, no breaking up."

His voice was as cool and domineering as ever, allowing no room for dispute, with that characteristic Ye Feimo arrogance. Wen Nuan’s lips moved, but she didn’t speak. Did it mean "no" just because he said so? Why?

"I..." Ye Feimo’s voice was difficult, coming in fits and starts. He said "I" for a long time, stammering. Wen Nuan’s curiosity was piqued. What did he want to say?

"What do you want to say?" Seeing him stammering and not speaking, Wen Nuan asked directly. This was a miracle; she had never seen him so conflicted. He was always calm, decisive, firm, and resolute. When had he ever been so abnormal?

"I... I... that... you, like you."