Wei Nan was almost crying from anger. She held her forehead as if she were an ant on a hot pan.
“How about this – I’ll call Mr. He personally and not make things difficult for you,” Mo Yibai said as she picked up the phone and dialed He Guangji’s number, putting it on speakerphone.
Soon, He Guangji’s voice came through: “What’s up, beautiful? Is the show filming going smoothly?”
“I want to go back to Stillwater, right away,” Mo Yibai said directly.
He Guangji was silent for a while before replying, “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” Mo Yibai said firmly.
Some things don’t need to be said too clearly. He Guangji was in Oakland, so of course he had better information than Mo Yibai.
So when Mo Yibai said she wanted to return to Stillwater immediately, He Guangji naturally knew why.
Of course he had his own considerations for not immediately telling Mo Yibai about Xiao Shun’s injury.
Mo Yibai was currently his cash cow, and at this critical juncture where she had the potential to become even more successful, he really didn’t want to delay her over this.
“Alright, if you’ve made up your mind, then go back,” He Guangji readily agreed without stopping her.
“The TV station – the company will handle that side of things. Any losses incurred will be fully borne by the company.”
“I’m sorry,” Mo Yibai said, feeling a little guilty.
“Don’t worry, the company can still bear it,” He Guangji said.
After hanging up the phone, he saw Wei Nan slump into a chair and mutter to herself, “Crazy, you’re all crazy.”
That night at 8pm.
Mo Yibai appeared alone at Brighouse International Airport.
…
“Who’s staying in Special Care Room 6? Our hospital has been so lively these past few days, all the visitors coming to see him. I heard even people from the provincial government came yesterday.”
“I heard it’s a big boss. Have you heard of Wang Ye and Qin Guangyuan?”
“Of course, the two great masters of traditional medicine! I heard about them when I was in nursing school. One of my teachers often mentioned those two.”
“They’re both here now treating him. I even saw Mo Yibai come visit him a few days ago. Mo Yibai – she’s a big celebrity now. She came back specially to our Stillwater. Don’t you think she and that patient have something going on?”
“It’s possible. Rich men do seem to like celebrity women. But not necessarily – I saw his wife too, she’s also very pretty, not inferior to Mo Yibai at all.”
Two young nurses gossiped in the hallway of the inpatient department at Stillwater Hospital.
It had already been five days since the incident.
Xiao Shun was still unconscious, naturally unaware of how many people were worried for his safety.
He seemed to have lived through a century in the fragmented nightmares, his body alternating between burning agony and icy torment. Every minute, every second, every nerve and cell was being tested to its limits.
Reborn through fire, honed in extreme cold.
Perhaps it was hatred that fueled his will to live. He had persisted until today.
Scenes of Song Linger kneeling before Yang Zino, her small hand mangled and bloody, flashed repeatedly like a looping movie, tearing his heart again and again, fueling his towering hatred.
The hospital room was very quiet. Outside, the sunshine was bright and a ray of soft light shone through the window onto the potted orchid on the sill, glossy and brimming with vitality.
On the pristine white hospital bed, Xiao Shun was drenched in sweat, his face twitching ceaselessly, clearly in great pain.
He felt a heart-wrenching pain like his flesh being ripped from his bones.
Like a dying fish, mouth gaping desperately to breathe.
Suddenly his eyes snapped open, his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes blazing with fortitude and hysteria.
Just then, the door opened and Yao Cen entered holding a bowl of herbal medicine, boiled according to the prescription of Wang Ye and Qin Guangyuan after extensive consultation.
Crash!
Seeing Xiao Shun finally awake, her body quivered and the ceramic bowl slipped from her hand. Ignoring the mess, she rushed to the bedside, gazing at him as tears sprang uncontrollably from her eyes.
The torment she had endured these past few days was no less than Xiao Shun’s.
Her eyes were now bloodshot, the rims red and swollen. Her hair was casually draped over her shoulders. Her originally bright and charming face was haggard and weary.
She had never imagined a day would come where she would suddenly face losing Xiao Shun. It made her realize how much she loved him. Seeing him lying in bed every day made her heart ache and brought her to tears despite herself.
The image of a strong, capable woman had crumbled, leaving her fragile and vulnerable.
At this moment, she desperately tried to restrain her sobs, tightly pressing her lips together before choking out, “You’re awake.”
She could restrain herself no longer – she threw herself onto Xiao Shun, burying her face in his chest as she wept uncontrollably.
“Dear… it hurts…” Xiao Shun was still weak and feebly groaned.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Yao Cen quickly climbed off him, repeatedly apologizing.
Xiao Shun arduously smiled, “Are you trying to murder your husband?”
In that instant, Yao Cen both laughed and cried. She complained angrily, “Even like this, you’re still cracking jokes!”
He worked his throat, swallowing with difficulty, “Get me some water.”
Just now he had sweated so much that he felt as if he had just been fished from water. He was probably dehydrated, his mouth dry.
“Oh,” Yao Cen hurriedly grabbed a cup from the bedside table and poured him some water.
But Xiao Shun was lying on his back. If she tried to pour it like this, he could easily choke. And she was worried that moving him to prop him up would aggravate his injuries.
Suddenly an idea flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help blushing a little.
Xiao Shun felt exhausted, his eyelids heavy. Just as he closed his eyes, he sensed a flash of darkness before feeling something warm and tender press against his lips. Then a trickle of delicious, sweet moisture flowed into his mouth.
Opening his eyes, he saw Yao Cen’s face flushed crimson, her eyes full of tenderness and some embarrassment as she gazed at him.
Of course he knew what had just happened. He gulped down the water in his mouth and blinked rapidly, “Dear, you’re taking advantage of an injured man.”
“Do you want more or not?” Yao Cen narrowed her eyes at him.
“More…” he swallowed and said.
After a few satisfying mouthfuls, Yao Cen was no longer as shy as the first time.
“Dear, you just wanted to kiss me but were too embarrassed to say it outright, so you thought of this method, didn’t you?” Xiao Shun teased.
Yao Cen glanced at him, “Other women have kissed you, why can’t I? Are you mistreating me?”
He was stunned for a moment, perplexed, “Other women?”
“The day after you lost consciousness, that Ms. Tang rushed over specially from the capital to see you and secretly kissed you,” Yao Cen said jealously.