After I Married the Comatose CEO - Chapter 21

Xie Qiu blinked blankly. He raised one hand and pinched his cheek hard.

“Ow!” He let out a small cry of pain, confirming that he hadn’t accidentally fallen asleep and started dreaming.

Xie Qiu snapped out of it and grabbed the man’s hand. His voice was more excited than ever before: “Husband! You’re finally awake!”

He Siyan looked at him without moving his eyes. He was so focused that he didn’t even blink.

The man’s eyes were so deep that Xie Qiu felt his scalp go a bit numb under his gaze. “Husband?”

He Siyan only stared at him and had no other reaction.

Xie Qiu frowned slightly. He suddenly remembered Dr. Chen saying that some people in a vegetative state might open their eyes. To judge if they are truly conscious, one must see if the patient can continuously follow an object with their eyes.

Could it be that his husband just opened his eyes but hasn’t actually regained consciousness?

Thinking of this, Xie Qiu climbed up and knelt on one knee at the edge of the bed. He held out a finger in front of the man.

His fingers were long and beautiful, with a pale pink tint at the tips. He held his finger before the man’s eyes and moved it from left to right, then right to left.

However, He Siyan’s gaze remained fixed on his face. His eyes did not follow the finger at all.

Xie Qiu was a bit disappointed. “Husband, can you still not see?”

But the man had opened his eyes with great difficulty, so Xie Qiu didn’t want to give up easily. He kept testing him by moving his index finger back and forth.

Just as Xie Qiu was about to lose hope, a large, warm hand grabbed his wrist and guided his hand down.

His body froze. Once again, his eyes met those dark eyes without any obstacles.

“Husband, are you awake or not?” Xie Qiu looked uncertain and couldn’t help but urge him, “Husband, say something!”

After several seconds, He Siyan made a low, raspy sound from his throat: “Mhm…”

Only then did Xie Qiu finally realize the truth. His husband wasn’t ignoring him on purpose. It was because he had been asleep for so long that his speech hadn’t returned to normal yet.

“That’s wonderful!” Xie Qiu was so happy he forgot himself. He lunged onto the man and gave him a big hug. “Husband, you are really, really awake!”

He Siyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Just as he was about to raise his hand, the person leaning on his chest suddenly popped up.

“I almost forgot! I have to tell Mom this good news quickly!” Xie Qiu fast-tracked his phone out of his pocket to call Su Wanrong.

He wanted her to be the first to know her son had woken up.

But she was likely busy with guests. The phone rang for a long time without anyone answering, and the call eventually ended automatically.

Xie Qiu put his phone away. “Husband, rest for a bit. I’m going downstairs for a moment and will be right back.”

After saying that, he turned and left the bedside, missing the hand that reached out toward him.

He Siyan lay on the bed, his eyes slowly following Xie Qiu’s back until he completely disappeared behind the door.

Xie Qiu reached the stairs, thought for a second, and then went back to the door of the caregiver’s room.

The caregiver stood up to meet him. “Eldest Young Madam, is something wrong?”

Xie Qiu was in a hurry, so he kept it short: “The Eldest Young Master is awake.”

The caregiver couldn’t believe it. “Awake? Are you serious?”

He had just finished a stimulation treatment half an hour ago, and it had ended in failure.

“Really, he’s actually awake this time.” Xie Qiu gave instructions as he turned around. “I’m going to notify the Madam. You call Dr. Chen and tell him to come for a check-up.”

The caregiver jumped into action. “Yes, yes! I’ll call Dr. Chen right away!”

Xie Qiu ran all the way downstairs, expertly moving through the long hallways until he reached the banquet hall.

Just as he was about to enter, he looked down at his home clothes and stepped back a few paces.

In his excitement, he had forgotten to change. If he walked into the banquet hall looking like this, everyone would stare at him.

Xie Qiu stood by the door for a while and stopped a staff member coming out of the hall. “Hello, could you please do me a favor?”

The waiter glanced at him. “What is it?”

This group of staff members was hired from outside and didn’t know Xie Qiu. Seeing him dressed so casually, his tone wasn’t very polite.

Xie Qiu didn’t mind and made a polite request: “Please tell Mrs. He that Xie Qiu has something very important to tell her.”

The waiter was a bit impatient. “Is Mrs. He someone you can just see whenever you want?”

“Please just do me this favor; it’s really important.” Xie Qiu spoke sincerely. “I can promise you that Mrs. He will be very happy to hear this news, and she certainly won’t treat you poorly for it.”

The waiter looked at him with doubt. “Really?”

Xie Qiu nodded. “Go ahead and try. It’s just passing a message, anyway.”

“Fine.” The waiter turned around. “I’m only responsible for passing the message. I can’t guarantee Mrs. He will come to see you.”

Xie Qiu thanked him and stood quietly to the side to wait.

Soon, Su Wanrong walked out in her high heels. “Xiao Qiu, what’s the big hurry?”

Without a word, Xie Qiu grabbed her arm and led her forward. “Come with me first.”

“Xiao Qiu, tell Mom what it is first.” Su Wanrong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she still spoke gently, “There are so many guests in the hall; Mom can’t just leave them.”

Xie Qiu pulled her around a corner before saying, “Mom, my husband is awake.”

“If Siyan is awake, then he’s awa—” Su Wanrong stopped dead in her tracks and cried out in shock, “What did you say? Siyan is awake?”

Xie Qiu looked her in the eye and nodded seriously. “Yes, he’s awake. He even spoke to me.”

Even if he only said two words: “Who” and “Mhm.”

Su Wanrong looked stunned for a moment, as if waking up from a dream. Then she immediately started walking forward.

She walked faster and faster, and faster still, until she was almost running.

Xie Qiu followed behind her. Seeing her running in high heels, he couldn’t help but worry. “Mom, slow down. Don’t fall.”

“It’s fine, Xiao Qiu…” Su Wanrong was so excited she was becoming incoherent. “Let’s hurry, don’t keep Siyan waiting!”

When they actually reached the door of the sickroom, Su Wanrong hesitated and stopped.

Xie Qiu understood the feeling of being nervous when close to home. He helped push open the slightly ajar door and said softly, “Mom, go in and see him.”

Su Wanrong took a deep breath and stepped into the room.

The caregiver had raised the head of the bed. He Siyan was lying against it with his eyes closed, looking no different than usual.

Su Wanrong approached the bed, her voice trembling. “Siyan…”

A few seconds later, He Siyan slowly lifted his eyelids and looked in her direction.

Su Wanrong covered her mouth with her hand. Tears poured down instantly, and she broke into sobs. “Siyan… you… you finally…”

He Siyan’s thin lips moved. His voice was deep and raspy, and his words were very slurred. “Mom…”

“Siyan!” Su Wanrong collapsed onto the bed and cried uncontrollably for the first time. “You’re finally awake! How could you be so cruel as to stay asleep for so long!”

He Siyan frowned and closed his eyes again.

“Mom, my husband just woke up. His body is still very weak.” Xie Qiu stepped forward and helped Su Wanrong up. “You must also take care of your own health.”

Su Wanrong realized she had lost her composure. She took the tissue he offered, hurried to wipe the tears from her face, and choked out, “Xiao Qiu, Mom is just too happy…”

“I know, and I’m very happy too.” Xie Qiu helped her sit in a chair. “I’ve already had the caregiver notify the doctor. Dr. Chen should be here soon.”

“Good, good…” Su Wanrong tightly gripped her son’s hand, which was resting by the bed. “Xiao Qiu is the thoughtful one. Without you, Mom really wouldn’t know what to do…”

As she spoke, tears uncontrollably filled her eyes again.

But He Siyan seemed very tired; he didn’t open his eyes again or give any further reaction.

After a while, Xie Qiu suggested, “Mom, how about you go back to the banquet first? I’ll stay here.”

“Alright.” Su Wanrong’s emotions had calmed down quite a bit. “Xiao Qiu, let me know immediately if anything happens.”

On such a formal occasion, the disappearance of Mrs. He halfway through would inevitably cause all sorts of rumors.

Xie Qiu nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry.”

After Su Wanrong left, Xie Qiu sat in the chair to wait for the doctor.

After a long while, He Siyan suddenly opened his eyes again.

Xie Qiu instinctively leaned over. “Husband, what do you want to say?”

He Siyan didn’t speak; he just stared straight at him with those deep, dark eyes.

“Sorry, Husband, I forgot you don’t really know how to talk yet.” Xie Qiu tapped his forehead and asked tentatively, “Do you want some water?”

The gaze He Siyan had fixed on his face slowly slid downward and stopped at his collar.

Xie Qiu also looked down. “Is there something on me?”

At that look, he realized that a button on his home clothes had somehow come undone, exposing a large patch of pale skin on his chest.

Xie Qiu’s cheeks heated up. His nimble fingers flew as he quickly fastened all the buttons.

No wonder the man had been staring at him since he woke up; it turned out he had been wandering around while being improperly dressed for a long time.

It seemed his husband didn’t just have a thing for cleanliness; he also had a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Xie Qiu cleared his throat, just about to say something to ease the awkwardness, when the caregiver’s voice rang out behind him: “He’s here! Dr. Chen is here!”

Dr. Chen walked in with his medical bag. Seeing He Siyan with his eyes open, he gave a relieved smile. “President He, you’re finally awake.”

He Siyan gave a slight nod as a greeting.

“Dr. Chen.” Xie Qiu stood up to give him space and stepped to the side.

Dr. Chen began checking all of He Siyan’s vital signs and engaged in simple communication with him to determine his state of consciousness.

After a long time, Dr. Chen turned to Xie Qiu, nodded to him, and said, “Eldest Young Madam, let’s talk outside. Let President He rest first.”

The two went out into the hallway. Dr. Chen said emotionally, “This is truly a miracle. In my twenty-plus years of practicing medicine, President He is the only case like this I have ever seen.”

Xie Qiu smiled. “I think it’s a miracle, too.”

He had always known He Siyan would wake up, but he thought the wait would be much longer. He never expected this day to come so soon.

“For those in a vegetative state, miracles are what they need most.” Dr. Chen also smiled. “Eldest Young Madam, for President He to wake up so quickly, it surely has a lot to do with your company and support.”

Xie Qiu replied humbly, “It is the result of everyone’s hard work.”

“Back to the main point: President He’s current vitals are stable, but he has just woken up after all. His body is still very weak, and the subsequent rehabilitation process will be quite difficult.” Dr. Chen gave advice from a professional perspective. “I suggest arranging for President He to be hospitalized as soon as possible for a full physical check-up. Then, a rehabilitation plan can be made to help him return to normal as soon as possible.”

“Okay, I understand.” Xie Qiu nodded. “I will pass on your opinion to Mrs. He.”

Dr. Chen checked the time on his watch. “Then let’s leave it at that for tonight. I will come back tomorrow to discuss the details with the Madam.”

“Thank you for coming all this way late at night, Dr. Chen,” Xie Qiu said politely. “I’ll walk you downstairs.”

“You’re far too kind, Eldest Young Madam. This is my job.” Dr. Chen made a gesture. “Please, stay here.”

Xie Qiu still walked the doctor to the stairs before returning to the sickroom door.

He pushed open the door and walked quietly to the bedside. He found He Siyan’s breathing was steady; he seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.

Xie Qiu carefully tucked the man in and whispered a silent goodnight: “Goodnight, Husband. Have sweet dreams tonight.”

After leaving the sickroom, Xie Qiu went downstairs and sat on the sofa in the living room to wait for Su Wanrong to return.

He took his phone out of his pocket and suddenly remembered that Meng Ziye was still at the banquet hall. He quickly checked his WeChat messages.

As expected, Meng Ziye had sent several messages. Fortunately, the last one said that Su Wanrong had arranged a private car for him and he was almost back at school.

Xie Qiu: [I’m so sorry, Ziye. Things were a bit chaotic tonight, so I didn’t check my phone.]

Meng Ziye: [No worries at all! Mrs. He already explained things to me.]

Meng Ziye: [Besides, look at our friendship—do you really need to apologize for something so small?]

Xie Qiu: [I’m glad you’re not mad.]

Meng Ziye: [I am a bit curious, though. What exactly happened?]

Xie Qiu: [I can’t share the details just yet, but I can tell you it’s something good.]

Meng Ziye: [As long as it’s not something bad!]

Xie Qiu: [Did you have fun tonight?]

Meng Ziye: [Of course I did!]

Meng Ziye: [After you left, He Jingchen sat me at a table with Shen Xibai. Oh, by the way, do you know who Shen Xibai is?]

Xie Qiu raised an eyebrow and typed back.

Xie Qiu: [I guess you could say I know him. Why?]

Meng Ziye: [This Shen Xibai is actually a pretty good guy. He looks cold, but he doesn’t have the bad temper of those other rich young masters!]

Xie Qiu: [Did you two become friends?]

Meng Ziye: [No, no. You know I’m not that much of a social butterfly!]

Xie Qiu: […]

Meng Ziye: [But I think I found some gossip. Do you want to hear it, Xiao Qiu?]

Xie Qiu: [What gossip? Let’s hear it.]

Meng Ziye: [I noticed a lot of tension between the two Shen brothers and the second Young Master He!]

Xie Qiu: [You even noticed that.]

Meng Ziye: [Yep!]

Meng Ziye: [I also saw that the younger brother likes He Jingchen, but He Jingchen seems to have feelings for Shen Xibai.]

Xie Qiu: [How could you tell?]

Meng Ziye: [Well, He Jingchen keeps a serious face all day because he knows he’s handsome, but his attitude toward Shen Xibai is different.]

Xie Qiu: [Shen Xibai is good-looking. People usually get better treatment when they look that good.]

Meng Ziye: [Not necessarily!]

Meng Ziye: [You’re also very good-looking, but the second Young Master He is always so cold and mean to you!]

Xie Qiu: “…”

That hurt, but then again, he was only set up to be a “villain” character in this book.

Meng Ziye: [I’m at the school gate now. Talk to you later, Xiao Qiu.]

Xie Qiu: [Okay, take care.]

Meng Ziye: [Thanks for taking me out to see the world tonight and for giving me such a nice suit!]

Meng Ziye: [Love ya.gif]

Xie Qiu smiled and put his phone away, grabbing a pillow to hug.

A lot had happened tonight. Most of it followed the story in the book, but the biggest change was He Siyan waking up early.

He wasn’t sure yet if this change was good or bad, but he was truly happy in his heart.

At 10:15, the sound of high heels echoed behind him, along with another set of footsteps.

Su Wanrong walked quickly in front, followed by He Jingchen in his suit.

Xie Qiu stood up from the sofa. “Mom, is the banquet over?”

“It’s over, finally over.” Su Wanrong took off her high heels as she walked and put on the slippers a servant handed her. “Xiao Qiu, did Dr. Chen come?”

Xie Qiu replied, “Dr. Chen came and just left.”

Su Wanrong asked urgently, “What did he say?”

“Dr. Chen said all his vitals are stable for now. He suggested he go to the hospital as soon as possible for rehabilitation,” Xie Qiu explained. “He will come back tomorrow to discuss the details with you.”

“Good, as long as he’s okay.” Su Wanrong breathed a long sigh of relief and sat on the sofa. “Xiao Qiu, I still feel like I’m dreaming.”

“Don’t worry, you’re definitely not dreaming,” Xie Qiu comforted her. “How could a dream last this long?”

“Xiao Qiu is right. This is real.” Su Wanrong smiled through her tears. “This time, Siyan is truly awake.”

He Jingchen, standing to the side, spoke up: “Mother, I want to go see my brother.”

Su Wanrong asked, “Xiao Qiu, is Siyan still awake?”

“He’s already fallen asleep.” Xie Qiu paused. “If Jingchen wants to go look, please be very quiet.”

“Jingchen, did you hear that?” Su Wanrong turned to her younger son. “Don’t disturb your brother tonight. Go see him tomorrow instead.”

He Jingchen looked down. “Okay, I understand.”

“Xiao Qiu, you worked so hard tonight and must be exhausted.” Su Wanrong looked at Xie Qiu with love in her eyes. “Go back and rest. We will talk about everything tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Xie Qiu answered obediently. “I’ll go to my room then. You two should rest early, too.”

Xie Qiu went back to his room and took another shower.

After coming out, he picked up his phone and saw that he had been bombarded with missed calls from Mrs. Yao.

He didn’t even have to guess. Someone at the banquet must have told the Xie family he was there, and now Mrs. Yao was calling to scold him.

As he was thinking of how to brush her off, a WeChat message arrived.

Mrs. Yao: [Xie Qiu, I never expected you to become such a liar! I am so disappointed in you!]

Mrs. Yao: [Is this how you repay your father and me for all the years we spent raising you?]

Xie Qiu: “…”

The “raising” Mrs. Yao mentioned was probably just teaching the original Xie Qiu how to marry into the He family.

Xie Qiu didn’t want to deal with it. He put his phone on airplane mode and flopped onto his soft, large bed.

Now that He Siyan was awake, he would likely be leaving the He family soon, whether he wanted to or not. To the Xie couple, he would no longer have any use.

So when the time comes, he will finally be a free man.

The next morning, Xie Qiu woke up and got ready. As usual, he wanted to go to the room next door to see his “vegetative husband.”

Oh, wait—that’s not right. To be more accurate, it was his husband who had just woken up from a vegetative state.

Still not quite right. A conscious He Siyan probably wasn’t his husband anymore.

Xie Qiu shook his head, tossing these messy thoughts away.

He walked through his room to the connecting door. Just as he was about to push it open, he heard voices inside. He hesitated for a moment and stepped back into his room.

A few minutes later, Xie Qiu walked to the main door of the sickroom and knocked gently.

Su Wanrong’s voice called out: “Come in.”

Xie Qiu pushed the door open. He saw Su Wanrong and Dr. Chen standing around the bed talking, while He Jingchen stood silently to the side.

“Xiao Qiu, you’re up,” Su Wanrong greeted him warmly. “Come and see Siyan.”

Xie Qiu took a couple of steps closer and looked at the man sitting up in bed.

He Siyan was wide awake. His pale, thin face looked livelier than it had the night before. There seemed to be a faint glow in his deep black eyes, and his heavy gaze carried a natural sense of pressure.

Xie Qiu’s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively looked away, focusing instead on the man’s large hand resting on the sheets.

He remembered the videos he had seen of He Siyan online. It was true—the real, conscious He Siyan had an aura that was much more powerful and terrifying than it appeared on a screen.

“Xiao Qiu, come a little closer,” Su Wanrong waved him over. “Siyan has been looking for you since he woke up this morning.”

Xie Qiu’s body stiffened. He straightened his back as if preparing for a battle.

Why was He Siyan looking for him? To settle the score?

Surely not. The man just woke up; he wouldn’t start a confrontation this quickly, would he?

He Siyan didn’t speak. He simply moved his gaze away without any expression.

Su Wanrong suddenly realized something and stood up. “Dr. Chen, you haven’t had breakfast yet, right? Let’s go downstairs and chat while we eat.”

“I ate—” Dr. Chen started to say. But catching her signal, he immediately changed his tune. “Yes, Madam, I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

“Then let’s go.” Su Wanrong grabbed her younger son. “Jingchen, you come too.”

He Jingchen looked a bit reluctant, but he followed his mother out anyway.

Xie Qiu looked at Su Wanrong expectantly, trying to spark a bit of motherly love: “Mom, I also—”

Su Wanrong winked at him. “Dear Xiao Qiu, you stay and chat with Siyan for a bit. Mom will save some breakfast for you.”

Xie Qiu: “…”

Well, there really is a difference between a biological mother and a mother-in-law.

The room became quiet. Xie Qiu stood by the bed, not knowing what to do.

When his husband was in a coma, Xie Qiu could do whatever he wanted. But now, under that heavy gaze, he felt awkward.

Still, staying silent felt even weirder. Xie Qiu forced himself to speak: “Husband, do you need anything?”

The way He Siyan looked at him became subtle. He slowly raised his right hand.

Xie Qiu took a step forward and grabbed his hand out of habit. “Hus—Mr. He!”

He suddenly realized he was still calling him “Husband” out of habit. He hit the brakes so fast he almost bit his tongue.

Just as Xie Qiu was feeling lucky that he corrected himself in time, a deep, raspy voice sounded in his ear.

“Am…” He Siyan’s speech hadn’t fully recovered yet. He spoke very, very slowly, almost one word at a time. “I… old?”

Xie Qiu: “?”