Xiao Shu desperately wanted to grant Xiao Yu’s final wish: to restore Hua Gu’s eyes, allowing Xiao Yu to depart this world without regret. But a sudden call from his father gave him an overwhelming urge to flee, to take Xiao Yu and escape this world currently dominated by Li Tai Zheng and Li Xiao Hao. It wasn't that he refused to help Xiao Yu; it was that the impending situation felt utterly beyond his control. If they pulled a switch—a classic ‘weasel replacing the prince’—and gave Xiao Yu’s eyes to Xing Er, even though Xing Er was his own nephew, the regret of failing his friend’s dying wish would linger forever.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, he stood frozen in the hall, clutching the phone, unsure whether to voice these troubling thoughts and suspicions to Xiao Yu.

Seeing Xiao Shu’s stunned silence after the call, Xiao Yu felt a familiar, unwelcome premonition stirring within him. He approached and asked, “What is it? Is the doctor unavailable?”

“No,” Xiao Shu turned, his expression laced with apology. “There are other people here.”

“Others?” Xiao Yu instinctively furrowed his brow, pressing further, “Has the surgery taken a turn?”

“Well, perhaps. That call was from my father. He said Li Xiao Hao is also at the hospital, and instructed me to take you to the elevator on the second floor, and not to concern myself with anything else…” Xiao Shu had intended to blurt out their suspicions about a potential sleight of hand, but the words caught in his throat as he was about to speak. Why? Because Xing Er was Ying Zi’s son. On that count alone, objectively speaking, Li Xiao Shu’s position was already compromised.

Even though Xiao Shu hadn't broken the silence completely, Xiao Yu sensed the probable direction events were heading. He proactively placed both hands on Xiao Shu’s shoulders, gazing earnestly into his friend’s profound eyes, and said, “Let me tell you something.”

“Yes,” Xiao Shu nodded slowly, as if silently promising to fulfill any charge Xiao Yu laid upon him.

“Do you remember how I died?”

“A Li said it was while protecting her and Xing Er.”

“So, whether the eyes go to Xing Er or Hua Gu, it makes no difference to me. There is only one thing I need you to do.”

“Whatever it is, as long as I can manage it, I will do my utmost.”

“If my eyes are given to Xing Er, then you must find a good hospital for Hua Gu and make sure she is settled properly. Father left both my older sister and me an inheritance; all of Hua Gu’s expenses are to be covered by my share.”

At these words, Xiao Shu fell silent. In truth, it was his family who should have been responsible for Hua Gu’s remaining life. Who had gouged out her eyes? And who was now attempting to snatch away her only hope just as she was about to have them restored? His father and his elder brother, all for the sake of his most beloved nephew. All these intertwined threads left Xiao Shu unable to sort them out or separate them. He could only respond to Xiao Yu with overwhelming guilt, “You don’t need to worry about Hua Gu’s future. I will make arrangements.”

As he finished speaking, Xiao Shu’s phone rang for a second time—still his father. He gently pressed the device to his ear, remaining silent, awaiting his father’s directives.

“Why haven’t you come up yet?” His father’s reprimand burst forth immediately.

As if he hadn't heard, Xiao Shu moved away from Xiao Yu to the other side of the hall and said coolly, “Tell me one thing, and I will take him up.”

“You want to ask if the transplant goes to your nephew, or to that woman, correct?” His father, just as before, seemed to know Xiao Shu inside and out, understanding the words he hadn't even spoken aloud.

“Fine, then I won’t beat around the bush. If they go to Xing Er, we must take responsibility for Hua Gu’s care for the rest of her life. If you tolerate Xiao Hao and the others who harm the innocent like this, you can forget about ever seeing me again in this life.” With that, Xiao Shu abruptly ended the call. In his heart, he had already made his resolve: if Hua Gu were cast aside like some discarded woman from the roadside, he would leave that family forever and sever all ties with them.