Chapter 39: Chapter 39: I Never Blamed You

The scene at the entrance to the emergency room, where the doctor urged her to make a quick decision, replayed in her mind over and over.

She kept wondering what would have happened if she had chosen to save her husband then. Would he still be by her side? Even if he were in a vegetative state, living in pain, would she and her daughter at least still be able to see him?

At least that way… her husband would still be with her…

Overwhelming guilt tormented her, leaving her restless day and night.

Although her rational mind told her she had made the right choice…

…emotionally, her guilt toward her husband could never be erased.

[If I were her husband, I’d definitely blame her. There was a chance to save him, so why didn’t she?]

[Exactly! Just keep him alive first. If things didn’t work out later, she could have given up then. The lady acts so guilty, but she was probably just afraid her husband would become a vegetable and be a burden, right?]

[Holy crap, you guys are such saints! Do you know what cerebral hypoxia is? Do you know what a ventilator and intubation are? Once you’re intubated, you’ll definitely stay alive, just barely hanging on, living a life worse than death. If you regret it later, what are you going to do, murder him?]

[What a tragedy. The same thing happened to my grandpa years ago. At first, his son and daughter were filial and did everything to save him. But he ended up in a vegetative state. My dad and uncle would visit at first, but after a while, their feelings wore thin, and they gradually stopped coming. They left the old man to the nurses, but the caregivers didn’t put their hearts into it. Eventually, my grandpa’s entire back developed sores and rotted away. The saying ’no filial son at the sickbed’ isn’t just a saying.]

[It’s one thing if you have money, but the worst is losing both the person and your wealth! That happened to our neighbors. They couldn’t afford a caregiver, so the daughter-in-law had to take care of her mother-in-law. She did it for eight long years before she couldn’t take it anymore and divorced him, taking the kids with her. The guy was drowning in debt, had to care for his vegetative mother, and couldn’t focus on work. After struggling for another three or four years, he finally snapped and strangled his own mom. Sigh, a good son turned into a matricidal killer.]

[So by your logic, we should just give up on a seriously ill relative? What kind of ethics is that! Anyway, if it were my parents, I’d save them no matter the cost!]

[This isn’t just about saving them or not. Living without any dignity like that might not be a good thing for the patient either!]

[Oh my god, that’s terrifying. I’m going to write a will. If I’m ever in a similar situation, please don’t save me. I don’t want to become a vegetable, living a life worse than death!]

[What the hell do you know! A bad life is better than a good death. You have to save them!]

In truth, there were reasons for both saving and not saving someone. There was no absolute right or wrong.

It was just that, subjectively, everyone projected their own emotions onto the situation, which led to disagreement and debate.

After all, no one wanted to face such a day, yet anyone could find themselves forced to make such a life-or-death choice.

Meng Man said, “I don’t care what other people think of me. I just want to know if my husband blames me.”

“Host, I went to a master for a reading before, and he taught me a Dream Entering Spell. I recite it every night, hoping my husband will appear in my dreams. I want to ask him myself, but no matter how many times I chant it, it’s useless. It’s been over five years, and he hasn’t entered my dreams even once. Host, does he still blame me? Is that why he doesn’t even want to see me in my dreams?”

Shen Zhiyao shook her head. “His soul departed long ago. It’s even possible he has already been reincarnated. That’s why no matter how many times you recite the Dream Entering Spell, you can’t summon him. This also means he never blamed you. You can let it go.”

Meng Man said anxiously, “But I just want to ask him in person, or my conscience will never be clear. Host, is there any way for me to speak with him?”

Shen Zhiyao said, “I’ll draw a talisman for you and have someone deliver it. After you receive the talisman, go to his grave at midnight, burn it, and silently chant his name. If he hasn’t been reincarnated yet, he may be able to return briefly to see you.”

She had anticipated needing to use talismans, so she had ordered paper charms and cinnabar online in advance. They would come in handy tonight.

In front of all the viewers, Shen Zhiyao raised her hand, and with a single stroke, the talisman was drawn.

Meng Man thanked her profusely before reluctantly disconnecting from the call.

The viewers, once again, were stunned by Shen Zhiyao’s actions:

[Fortune-telling, spirit channeling, talisman drawing… Host, fess up, is there anything you can’t do?]

[I bet the Host is a Chen Family member from Wudang Mountain. I heard that place is a hub for Daoists, an officially recognized Xuanmen. Its disciples are masters of yin-yang and feng shui, all mysterious and low-key.]

[I’ve heard of Wudang Mountain, but isn’t the Host’s surname Shen?]

[Duh! If she were just a regular Inner Sect Disciple and not the biological child of the Wudang Mountain Master, then of course her surname wouldn’t be Chen.]

Seeing the viewers start to guess at her origins, Shen Zhiyao immediately clarified, “I don’t belong to any sect. Please don’t speculate.”

Just as she was speaking, a knock suddenly sounded at the door. It was the courier Shen Zhiyao had specifically summoned.

Meng Man lived in Beijing City, so a dedicated courier could deliver it tonight.

Of course, she had selected cash on delivery. After all, when it came to money, Shen Zhiyao was always crystal clear.

“Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s connect to the next lucky fan!”

Soon, a young woman appeared on the screen. Her screen name was “Shengming Ru Ge.”

Shengming Ru Ge wore a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a face mask, keeping herself completely covered.

“Shengming Ru Ge, what do you wish to have divined?”

Shengming Ru Ge said, “Host, my boss is the one who got the connection slot, but her identity is sensitive, and it’s not convenient for her to show her face. Since it involves privacy, we were hoping to meet in person to discuss the details. Of course, we can be flexible on the fee; we won’t let you work for free.”

Shen Zhiyao said, “I need to know what you want divined first. If you don’t explain the situation, I won’t take the case under any circumstances.”

Shengming Ru Ge said, “Host, it’s a private matter. Can’t you make an exception?”

Shen Zhiyao said, “No. I’m afraid you’ll arrange for people to come after me offline.”

[HAHAHA, I’m dying! So the Host does get scared of things!]

[She has to be careful! The Host is so beautiful and talented. What if some bad people target her?]

[Exactly! I support the Host! Besides, if everyone asked for offline meetings like you, where would we get our livestream drama?!]

[Right, what happened to other people was private too, and they still talked about it openly in front of everyone. What makes you so special? This is a livestream. It’s meant to be broadcast for everyone to see.]

Shen Zhiyao said, “Are you still getting a reading? If not, I’m moving on to the next person.”

In fact, Shengming Ru Ge had sent Shen Zhiyao a private message a few days ago, requesting an offline meeting.

But Shen Zhiyao was completely unyielding. She would only do readings for those who managed to get a connection slot during the livestream; she rejected all other private invitations.

And getting a connection slot wasn’t easy. They had used many accounts and had only just managed to get one. If they missed this chance, they might not get another one next time.

Shengming Ru Ge hesitated and glanced at the person beside her.

The woman hiding off-camera nodded, and Shengming Ru Ge said, “Host, we’ll do the reading!”

Shen Zhiyao said, “What is it you want divined? Just say it.”

Shengming Ru Ge said, “…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep