He was not by her side!

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Before Wen Shuang entered the operating room, she never saw Ji Shen.

Tang Yan used Wen Shuang’s phone to call Ji Shen several times, but each time it was, “The number you have dialed is currently on another call. Please try again later!”

Wen Shuang kept glancing anxiously around.

Ji Shen had promised her just last night—he would stay with her the entire time during her surgery. If possible, he’d even hold her hand.

Whenever the pain became unbearable and she opened her eyes, he’d be right there in front of her!

But where was he now…

“Miss Wen, we’re about to begin,” a nurse informed her.

Wen Shuang, her face pale as paper, pleaded, “Wait, my boyfriend isn’t here yet… He’s probably still on the phone, he’ll be here soon!”

The specialists, hearing this, agreed to wait another five minutes.

But as the seconds ticked by, Ji Shen’s figure never appeared. The surgery had to begin.

A doctor arrived from upstairs and, seeing Wen Shuang waiting, said, “Miss Wen, are you waiting for Officer Ji? He got a call about ten minutes ago and left the hospital in a hurry. Didn’t he tell you?”

Wen Shuang was stunned.

So Ji Shen had left because of something urgent!

Her heart suddenly felt hollow and aching, painfully empty. Even if there was an emergency, why hadn’t he told her in advance…

“Miss Wen, since Officer Ji can’t come, let’s start,” the doctors said as they wheeled Wen Shuang into the operating room. “This will be a very painful procedure, but you must persevere!”

Because it involved nerves in her leg, they couldn’t use much anesthesia—everything depended on her own will.

Seeing Wen Shuang’s sudden anxiety and pallor, Tang Yan quickly put on a sterile gown. “Shuang, I’m staying with you! If it hurts, squeeze my hand as hard as you need to! I don’t mind!”

Tears welled up in Wen Shuang’s eyes.

The surgery lasted seven hours.

Wen Shuang felt worse than death.

She experienced agony beyond anything she’d ever known. She’d thought the pain of stretching and tearing muscles for basic dance training as a child was the worst, but this was a thousand times more excruciating.

“Ah—!”

She was drenched in sweat from the pain.

In her heart, she cried out helplessly, Ji Shen! Ji Shen! Where are you?

Didn’t you promise you’d stay with me?

For a moment, the pain made her feel she couldn’t go on.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Tang Yan at her side, eyes red, gripping her hand tightly. “Shuang, you can do this! I believe in you—you’re going to get through this! You still have to dance on stage, you’ll become the greatest dancer in the world!”

Of course, Tang Yan knew exactly who Wen Shuang was desperately searching for in her pain.

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She was choking up almost to the point of tears.

Wen Shuang let out a hoarse, desperate scream.

She was right—she would never give up!

She would remember this pain for the rest of her life.

…………

After seven hours, the surgery was finally over.

A group of people waited outside the operating room.

As soon as she was wheeled out, they crowded around anxiously. “Shuang, how are you?”

Tang Yan’s sterile gown was soaked through, her eyes swollen from crying for as long as Wen Shuang had been in pain.

The doctor said, “Miss Wen is the most determined patient I have ever seen. The surgery was a great success. As long as she perseveres with her rehabilitation, barring any accidents, she’ll be able to stand on stage again!”

Wen Fanhai wept tears of joy. “This is wonderful, truly wonderful! Heaven has finally shown mercy!”

Wen Yao and Aunt Chun, mother and daughter, exchanged looks of disappointment.

Who would have thought this little wretch would be so resilient? Even after such a terrible accident, she could stand again!

Wen Shuang, pale and exhausted, was wheeled out.

Only then did Ji Shen rush over. “Shuang!”

But she was already being taken into a sterile ward by the medical team. After surgery, she needed two days of absolute rest, with very limited visitors.

Tang Yan stopped Ji Shen. “Where were you?”

Ji Shen barely caught a glimpse of Wen Shuang before she was taken away.

“I… had something urgent.”

“Officer Ji, I know you’re a police officer and your job is busy! But you promised Shuang you’d be there for her. You knew how important this surgery was to her, and yet you disappeared. Do you know how scared she looked going into that operating room alone?”

Tang Yan choked up at the memory. “And the surgery was excruciating. Even standing on the side, I could feel her pain. Think about it—Shuang has danced since she was a child. Every difficult move she learned, she learned through pain. Yet in surgery, she screamed in agony—she even wanted to give up for a moment. In that moment, all she wanted was you by her side. But where were you?”

Ji Shen was left speechless by her accusations.

“And while she was in a haze of pain, the only name she kept calling was yours, Officer Ji!”

Tang Yan couldn’t go on.

She knew Ji Shen had stayed with Wen Shuang for the whole time she was hospitalized, and he was exhausted too.

But on this most important day, he hadn’t been there—nearly breaking Wen Shuang’s spirit.

Ji Shen’s face was clouded with remorse. “I was wrong. When she wakes up, I’ll explain everything to her.”

“Wen Shuang has had a hard life, Officer Ji. I hope you’ll cherish her.”

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With reddened eyes, Tang Yan walked away.

A day and a night later.

Wen Shuang woke.

Her first instinct was to feel her legs.

They hurt!

But that meant she could finally feel them again.

Thank goodness—she’d made it! She’d survived!

“Shuang, you’re awake!”

That familiar deep male voice sounded at her ear.

Wen Shuang looked up and saw Ji Shen. Her expression instantly turned cold. “Officer Ji, what are you doing here? Didn’t you disappear without a word?”

Ji Shen knew she was still angry. He tucked the blanket gently around her. “Are you feeling any discomfort? I’ll call the doctor right away.”

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, Officer Ji.”

She still remembered, in the depths of her agony during surgery, how desperately she had wanted Ji Shen by her side—but he wasn’t there!

“Shuang, please don’t be like this. I really did have something urgent that day, and I just couldn’t make it in time.” Ji Shen apologized.

He hadn’t slept well for days; since she came out of surgery, he’d barely left her side.

Wen Shuang gave a faint smile. “Officer Ji, I know everything else is more important than me. I shouldn’t meddle—it’s your freedom.”

“Shuang, I was wrong! Please forgive me! Please?” Ji Shen was truly afraid of her cold distance.

“I promise this will never happen again. Whenever you need me, I’ll be there for you!”

Wen Shuang replied, “That’s exactly what you promised me the night before the surgery. But where were you?”

Author’s Note:
The second wave of COVID has started—everyone, please take care… I’m about to collapse from exhaustion…
Darlings, please give me a five-star review and urge me to update, love you all!!
The second female lead is about to appear.