in2ebook Chapter 58 Yukimura's Surgery in Progress
Chapter 58 Yukimura's Surgery in Progress
Kirihara's demonization is related to his blood pressure problem.
He wasn't sure if Sanada's daily hammering would have any impact, so he decided to protect him.
We can't talk about Kirihara before Yukimura's surgery; it will affect his mood. We should talk to Yanagi properly after the surgery, and while the medical team is still around, we should have Professor Zhang give us a thorough check-up and treatment to be on the safe side.
He snapped out of his reverie, looked at Yukimura again, his eyes gentle, and chatted about small things related to his post-operative recovery.
Niou suddenly remembered the handmade doll beside Yukimura's pillow, looked at Mochizuki Ryo, straightened up and walked over, twirling the little braid with a meaningful smile on his lips.
"Mochizuki-kun, I have a question for you, Puri~" He leaned closer and lowered his voice.
Wang Yueling looked up at him.
"Did you make that doll for the minister?"
"Hmm." Wang Yueling did not deny it, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes.
Niou's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward, his voice brimming with the hidden excitement of finding a kindred spirit, "The cuffs of that school uniform must have used backstitch and hidden stitch, right?"
Wang Yueling looked him up and down, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "You figured it out?"
"I do that too." Niou shrugged, his tone casual, but his eyes couldn't hide his excitement. He lowered his voice, "But I do more prank crafts. Yesterday I even made a lifelike spider and put it in Sanada's hat. He only found out after he put it on, and he made me run twenty laps as punishment."
Wang Yueling couldn't help but laugh out loud. After laughing, she seriously commented, "The spider is not bad. Next time, you could try making it into a staring frog; that would suit his temperament better."
Niou raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Good idea."
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the same sly, mischievous glint in each other's eyes. Niou happily pulled his phone from his pocket. "Add me as a friend? We can exchange information about fabric sourcing, stitching techniques, and... hehe."
"OK."
Wang Yueling also took out her phone, and the two scanned the QR code to add each other as Line friends.
When Renwang saved the note, he typed several words and then deleted them, finally leaving only a few words and a symbol: "Fellow traveler." Wangyue Ling glanced at it, then looked down and saved "White-haired fox," a slight smile curving her lips.
Niou put his phone back in his pocket with satisfaction.
He didn't say he wanted to challenge Mochizuki Ryo, because compared to being beaten on the court, this kind of like-minded person who is not only a fellow craft enthusiast but also shares Sanada's subtle feelings is much harder to find than an opponent on the court.
Ryo Mochizuki shifted his gaze from Niou and inadvertently glanced at Marui, who was still eating canelés.
The red-haired boy was chewing with his cheeks puffed out, the tuft of hair on his head swaying with each chew.
Bunta Marui.
Suddenly, the image of Cilang's round face flashed through Wang Yueling's mind, along with the promise she had made that morning to coax him into obediently getting his acupuncture: a "limited edition autographed photo."
He lowered his eyes and tapped his knee lightly with his fingertips.
Of course, you can't find rare autographed photos on the market. But if the person in question is alive and well right under his nose, then it's not entirely hopeless.
Want to secretly take some private photos?
Not good, too plain.
Bribe Marui with desserts to get him to sign a few papers.
The success rate should be quite high, after all, this genius has no resistance to sweets and new things. But I need to find a suitable excuse, and not directly reveal that I'm using the autographed photo to hook up with the little lamb.
This matter requires careful consideration.
Marui had no idea that he had been sold out in other people's minds. He swallowed the daifuku in his mouth, licked his fingers, and suddenly remembered something important.
"Oh, right, Mochizuki-kun!"
He leaned closer, his eyes sparkling, "The Napoleon pastry we ate in the minister's hospital room last time, I couldn't figure out how it was made even after I got back."
"What was the butter ratio? What type of flour was used? What was the baking temperature? How many times was it refrigerated?"
He asked questions quickly and urgently, one after another, and Kuwabara silently rubbed his forehead.
Mochizuki Ryo was amused by his barrage of questions. Yukimura leaned against the headboard, a slight smile playing on his lips, and suddenly interjected, "Bunta, your drool is almost dripping onto Ryo's sleeve."
Marui immediately covered his mouth, "I didn't drool!"
Kirihara muttered under his breath, "It's obvious," only to be met with a sharp glare from Marui.
The ward became lively again.
Taking advantage of the situation, Niou stole the last canelé from behind Marui. After being discovered by Marui, he chased after Sanada around the hospital bed twice, but was finally subdued by a single look from Sanada.
Wang Yueling sat on the edge of the bed, watching the group of boys making a ruckus, then turned to look at Yukimura. Yukimura was also looking at him, and the two locked eyes for a second.
The ward door was pushed open again, and Yukimura Yuko walked in carrying a cup of warm water, followed by Yukimura's father, Yukimura Masaya.
The noise in the ward subsided a bit. Marui stopped chasing after Niou, Kirihara peeked out from behind Mochizuki Ryo, and Sanada straightened up and adjusted his hat brim.
When Yukimura Yuko saw Mochizuki Ryo, a gentle smile immediately spread across her face: "Ryo-chan is here too. Thank you for making the trip."
"Auntie, you're too kind."
Wang Yueling took the water from her and placed it on the bedside table, then tidied up the scattered dessert box lids on the table.
Yukimura Masaya placed his briefcase on the windowsill, walked over, and patted Mochizuki Ryo on the shoulder with a very light touch.
"Ling Jun, about that essential oil brand you mentioned last time, Yuko has been using it for a few days and her sleep has improved a lot. Could you help your uncle see where he can order some?"
"That lavender essential oil is produced in a small workshop in Provence; it's not easy to find in stores. I'll have someone send a few bottles over later; no need to order."
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
Yukimura Masaya nodded, his tone as casual as if he were speaking to a junior member of his family.
Prince Yanagi and Prince Ren exchanged a glance.
Last time in the hospital room, Liu analyzed a bunch of data and said there was a 70% chance the other person was pursuing the department head. Now, seeing Mochizuki Ryo chatting with Yukimura's parents, that number could probably be raised by another 20%.
……
It was almost 2 o'clock.
The nurse pushed open the door and announced that the preoperative preparations were complete and that we could prepare to enter the operating room.
The atmosphere in the ward gradually quieted down, but a sense of tension crept in.
Yukimura sat on the edge of the bed, his bluish-purple hair softened by the light from the window. His expression was as calm as before, even carrying a faint smile.
But Mochizuki Ryou noticed that his fingers, which were resting on the blanket, curled up slightly.
Before Yukimura was wheeled out of the ward, he glanced back. This time, he didn't look at anyone else; his gaze passed over his teammates' shoulders and landed precisely on Mochizuki Ryo's face.
Wang Yueling nodded slightly to him.
Yukimura smiled and nodded slightly, as if to comfort him or to make a promise.
The operating room door closed.
The red light above the door came on.
The corridor outside was quiet, with only the low hum of the air conditioner vents.
The students from Rikkai University sat scattered on the benches in the waiting area, and no one spoke.
Wang Yueling leaned against the wall opposite the operating room, her shoulder blades pressed against the cold surface, her hands in her coat pockets. Her posture appeared as relaxed as usual, her shoulders relaxed, and her breathing steady.
But... he was trembling.
The fingers in his pocket were curled up, the nails dug into his palms, and the knuckles trembled slightly.
He had felt nervous standing on the world stage in his past life, but it was a different kind of nervousness. It was the excitement of an adrenaline rush, a signal that his body was ready for battle.
It's not as oppressive as it is now.
He felt as if something was gripping his heart, slowly tightening; it didn't hurt, but he couldn't breathe.
He imagined many scenes.
He thought back to the first time he met Yukimura. The boy was sitting on the rooftop drawing flowers, his blue-purple hair swaying in the morning light. When he looked up at him, his heart skipped a beat.
Thinking of last night on the rooftop, Yukimura stood in front of the barbed wire fence, the sleeves of his hospital gown billowing in the night wind. When he turned around, the moonlight reflected in his eyes, revealing a faint, well-hidden unease.
I think back to when I watched anime DVDs in my past life.
Yukimura was wheeled into the operating room, and Rikkai University lost to Seigaku in the Kanto Tournament finals.
The boy on the operating table was unaware that the outside world was collapsing. When he woke up, he was greeted with the bitterness of failure and a summer of devastation.
His gaze shifted from the operating room door, slowly sweeping over the Rikkai members sitting on the bench. It lingered on Yanagi Renji for a second, then settled on Sanada Genichiro by the window, lingering there for a long time.
This is the person.
He simply couldn't hold onto Rikkai's throne.
His stubbornness and hidden trump card ultimately led to his defeat at the hands of the protagonist, Ryoma Echizen. When Seiichi awoke from the anesthesia, he was greeted not with news of victory, but with news of his teammates' defeat.
His gaze was as cold as ice.
Sanada sensed it.
He turned his head to look in the direction of that gaze. Wang Yueling had already looked away, leaving only a calm profile.
Sanada frowned; for a brief moment, he had clearly sensed a hostile intent.
It's not a misunderstanding; it's genuine and substantial hostility.
He recalled what Mochizuki Ryo had said before, "I've wanted to deal with you for a long time," and clenched his fists, feeling utterly confused. He had only met this Hyotei coach for the first time today.
Where does this hostility come from?!
Renji Yanagi opened his eyes at the same time that Sanada turned his head.
He noticed that gaze even earlier than Sanada. He had been keeping a record of the other person's behavior ever since he met Mochizuki Ryo, and every subtle change in the other person's expression was within his observation range.
Just now, when Mochizuki Ryo glanced at Sanada, her pupils contracted slightly, her lips tightened, and her breathing rhythm changed for a moment—it was suppressed anger.
He couldn't understand it either, since today was indeed their first formal meeting with Mochizuki-kun, and they had no prior interaction.
He silently wrote down this abnormal data in his notebook and added a question mark next to it.
Kirihara stood up from the chair.
She quietly moved closer to Wang Yueling, gently tugging at the hem of his trench coat, her voice barely audible, a stark contrast to her usual boisterous manner: "Senior, the department head will be alright, won't he?"
The boy's voice was unease, and he looked up into his bright, trusting eyes.
Wang Yueling looked down at him, her tense expression softening. She nodded gently, her tone resolute: "He'll be alright. He'll return to the court and step onto the field that belongs to him."
He spoke softly, but his voice was steady.
"He will soon return to his divine position." Wang Yueling leaned back against the wall, her gaze fixed on the closed door of the operating room.
"When he returns, he will no longer be the son of God."
"It is... God."
The coldness in his azure eyes had vanished, replaced by certainty and gentleness. Kirihara looked into his eyes, and the slight panic hidden in his heart slowly dissipated. He nodded vigorously in response.
Others also heard this.
Marui slowed his chewing of gum, glancing at him sideways. Kuwabara nodded silently. Niou snapped the coin he was flipping between his fingers into his palm. Yagyu wiped his lenses, put his glasses back on, and his gaze behind the lenses fell on Mochizuki Ryo.
They were all well aware of the minister's power.
Because I know this, those words carry extra weight coming from the person in front of me. The words of someone who can take on two hundred people are not the same as the flattery of an ordinary person.
Kirihara was still standing next to Mochizuki Ryo.
Sanada looked at the back of his head, a complex emotion welling up inside him.
Akaya, that guy, usually doesn't respect anyone except the regular third-year students. He even sometimes talks back to Ryu's data coach. Today, he was picked up from the alley by Mochizuki Ryo, fed, and given strawberry daifuku. In just one afternoon, he was completely won over.
This is probably what they call personal charm.
He had to admit that the person before him possessed a compelling power that inspired unconscious conviction. It wasn't oppressive, but rather a steady composure, as if no matter what happened, he would have a solution.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Every second felt incredibly long.
The light in the corridor slowly changed from the bright white of midday to the warm yellow of the afternoon, and then gradually took on the orange hues of evening.
Afternoon tea from Flower Dessert Shop was delivered on time, with an exquisite dessert table filling the hospital's lounge. Everyone noticed the lavish spending of this wealthy young master, but no one found it abrupt.
Wang Yueling had little appetite and only drank half a glass of warm water, her gaze fixed on the red light of the operating room.
5:10 PM.
The red light above the operating room door went out with a "snap".
Everyone in the waiting area stood up at the same time.
Dr. Laurent came out, took off his mask, and showed a relaxed expression. He spoke in German, which Mochizuki Ryou translated simultaneously: "The surgery was very successful. The lesion has been completely removed. Now you just need to focus on your recovery."
As soon as he finished speaking, a long-suppressed cheer erupted in the corridor.
Yukimura's parents hurried over from the other end of the corridor, their eyes red-rimmed. They grasped Dr. Laurent's hands and repeatedly thanked him in broken English.
Kirihara jumped up excitedly, his eyes reddening, repeatedly muttering "That's great," looking like a child at a loss.
Marui hugged Kuwabara, overjoyed, his face beaming with happiness. Niou and Yagyu exchanged a glance, both letting out a sigh of relief and revealing relaxed smiles.
Sanada's tense back finally relaxed, his eyebrows and eyes under the brim of his hat softened a little, and a heavy weight was lifted from his heart.
Liu slowly opened her eyes, a smile curving her lips. The data record finally showed the words "surgery successful".
Wang Yueling remained leaning against the wall, her posture unchanged. Her gaze swept over the cheering crowd and landed on the newly closed operating room door, a sincere smile playing on her lips.
The unease in my heart completely dissipated.
Medical staff wheeled Yukimura out; the boy was pale and wearing a breathing mask as he was carefully taken to the "special private room" intensive care unit.
The sky outside the window had already darkened, and the clock showed 5:30.
"We're going to miss the train," Marui said anxiously, glancing at the time.
The group looked at each other, all wanting to wait for Yukimura to wake up, but the last train wouldn't wait.
Yukimura Yuko smiled and advised, "You guys go back first. We and Xiaoling will stay here. I'll let everyone know when Seiichi wakes up."
Left with no other choice, the Rikkai students could only nod. A few of them stood outside the glass of the intensive care unit, quietly watching the sleeping Yukimura for a while.
Marui was the first to move.
He took a handful of candy from his pocket, placed it on the table, picked up a sticky note, wrote a line, and stuck it next to the candy. It read "Minister, eat candy," but after looking at it for two seconds, he realized it was wrong, crossed it out, and changed it to "Minister, eat when you're better."
Niou took a small amulet from his pocket; it was purple with gold thread and the edges were slightly worn. He didn't say anything, but simply placed the amulet next to Marui's candy and gently pressed it with his fingertip.
Liu Sheng walked into the ward carrying a glass vase.
While everyone was waiting for Yukimura to wake up, he went to the flower shop near the hospital entrance and picked out a few white and pale yellow daisies, which he then put in a vase on the table.
Kuwabara drew the curtains halfway. Not all the way, just enough to let in the last bit of orange twilight, but not so brightly as to be too dazzling.
He stood by the window for two seconds, making sure the light wouldn't shine on Yukimura's face, before turning back into the crowd.
Sanada left nothing behind.
He stood in the ward for about two minutes, quietly watching his childhood friend sleeping peacefully on the bed, without saying anything.
Kirihara was the last to leave.
He gently placed the strawberry daifuku he had been keeping close to his chest on the table and muttered softly, "Minister, I'm leaving now. Get well soon."
After saying that, she blushed and ran out to catch up with the main group.
Yukimura's parents stood at the door of the hospital room, watching the boys leave.
After the elevator doors closed, Masaya Yukimura raised his hand to look at his watch and frowned slightly.
Company business couldn't be postponed any longer; the evening meeting involved an important contract. He walked over to his wife and whispered a few words. Yukimura Yuko nodded and straightened his tie.
Yukimura Masaya walked up to Mochizuki Ryo and patted him on the shoulder. The pat was a little harder than the one he had in the afternoon, but he didn't say anything.
There were some things they no longer needed to say to each other.
Only Mochizuki Ryo and Yukimura Yuko remained outside the glass door of the ward.
Yukimura Yuko put on her protective suit, sat on a chair by the bed, and slowly reached out to gently brush the hair from her son's forehead.
An hour and a half passed, and Yukimura still showed no signs of waking up.
Her phone rang; it was her neighbor's number.
She walked out of the ward and answered the call.
On the other end of the phone came the voice of her daughter, Meiya, choked with sobs, calling out "Mama, Mama" incoherently. Beside her, a neighbor explained helplessly that Meiya had been crying and fussing, wanting her mother and brother, and nothing she did could soothe her.
Yukimura Yuko hung up the phone, her lips pursed, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the phone.
Wang Yueling stood up from her chair and walked to her side. "Auntie, you should go back first. I'll keep watch over things here in Jing City. I'll send you a message when I wake up."
"Xiao Ling, this won't do. You've been waiting here all afternoon..."
"I'm fine." Wang Yueling smiled, her voice very soft. "Don't worry, I won't let Jing Shi wake up alone in the ward."
Yukimura Yuko looked at him, her eyes slightly warm.
She lowered her head and gently wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand. Then she stood up, without saying thank you again, but simply shook Wang Yueling's hand.
He picked up his bag and quickly walked out of the ward.
The door closed gently.
Night fell through the window, enveloping the entire room.
After disinfecting and changing into protective clothing, Wang Yueling stood by the bedside, quietly watching the sleeping boy.
He picked up a cotton swab, dipped it in warm water, and gently wiped Yukimura's dry lips. He then reached out and brushed a few strands of hair from Yukimura's forehead, his fingertips touching the skin very lightly.
Then he continued to sit quietly.
He did this several times over an hour. A nurse came in to check on him once, glanced at the monitor data, said "everything is normal," and then left.
Around eight o'clock, the person in bed moved.
Yukimura, lying on the hospital bed, trembled slightly with his eyelashes and slowly opened his eyes.
As the vision gradually cleared, the first thing that caught my eye was Wang Yueling's gentle features, her golden hair shimmering softly under the light, and her azure eyes filled with concern.
"Ling...you're still here." Yukimura's voice was soft, hoarse from the surgery.
Wang Yueling reached out and gently placed her palm on the back of his hand. The warmth came through, and the action felt so natural, as if she had done it a thousand times before.
"I've said it before, I'll be there for you whenever you need me."
His tone was calm, yet it felt like a heavy promise, settling deep in my heart.
Yukimura's fingers twitched slightly, but he didn't pull them away, letting him hold them.
Wang Yueling looked down at her clasped hands, a faint smile playing on her lips, a tenderness she herself was unaware of.
The Tokyo night outside the window was deep, and the only sound in the ward was the beeping of the monitor.
He lowered his eyes, looking at the pale yet still handsome young man before him, and a delicate emotion welled up in his heart, restrained yet burning.
Whispered softly in French, it drifts away on the night:
"Que mon amour soit en sécurité."
(May my beloved be safe and well.)
The voice was so soft it was like a sigh, almost a breath, as if it were being spoken to oneself.
Yukimura didn't hear clearly or understand, and a hint of doubt flashed in his blue-purple eyes, but he didn't ask any further questions.
He understood the solemnity in those words.
Wang Yueling withdrew her gaze, took out her phone from her pocket, and quickly tapped a few times on the screen.
"I messaged your parents to tell them you're awake... I also told Kirihara and the others."
"Yes, thank you for keeping watch all this time." Yukimura's voice was still hoarse, but it was clearer than before.
Wang Yueling put her phone on the bedside table, leaned back in her chair, shook her head, and spoke in a soft, playful voice.
"It's not hard work."
"Once you're fully recovered, we still have an epic, earth-shattering competition to compete in."
"Then you'll know whether what I said yesterday about being 'the best in the world' is truly deserved."
Yukimura looked at him, a faint smile slowly rising on his lips, weak yet incredibly resolute.
"Okay, I'll wait."
The long wait has finally come to an end, and all the worries have turned into peace of mind at this moment.
Moonlight streamed through the window, gently enveloping the two people in the ward, creating a tranquil and warm atmosphere.