Volume One, Chapter 49: Going to the Hospital

I hung up the phone, and Lin Feifei laughed so heartily that her whole body seemed to tremble with joy. She exaggeratedly touched her eyes and said to me, “You’re going to kill me laughing. She’s probably about to be driven crazy by you.”

Looking at her radiant smile, my heart stirred involuntarily. “That’s exactly what I thought. If I were in her shoes, she might mock me even more. Since we’ve long broken up, I don’t want her disturbing me anymore.”

Lin Feifei nodded. “But, speaking of which, you’re a grown man—not afraid she’ll call you petty? After all, she came with a mission. I guess after you rejected her yesterday, things at Chen Zheng’s place probably aren’t so smooth for her.”

“Is that being petty? How could I be petty? I’m just meticulous about details.”

“You’re such a goofball!”

Lin Feifei laughed uproariously, her whole frame shaking delightfully—a spectacle to behold.

When she finally calmed down, her eyes mischievous, she said, “So, you lost this round, right? What do you think my demand should be? A fancy dinner on you, or...”

Before she finished, I interrupted urgently, “You can take my life, but don’t touch my money. To be honest, since she’s been with me, there hasn’t been much money around.”

Lin Feifei chuckled, “Then I must empty it out even more.”

I stretched out flat on my back, “Then you might as well go after me instead!”

“Get lost!”

I sprang up like a carp flipping out of water, grinning cheekily at her. “So, tell me! What do you want me to agree to?”

Lin Feifei smiled slyly. “I haven’t thought of it yet! I’ll tell you once I do.”

“Alright, but I have a condition.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ll agree to this only if it’s done before I get married.”

Lin Feifei looked puzzled, suspiciously asking, “Why?”

I smiled, “Because I don’t want to cheat after I’m married.”

“Get out of here!!!”

She grabbed a pillow and hurled it at me with mock ferocity...

After our playful scuffle, we both freshened up in turns and agreed to have breakfast downstairs with Mei Xueyan.

---

I told Mei Xueyan about Kuang Li’s call, and she encouraged me to go.

“If she wants to thank you in person, you should go! Bring some fruit or flowers, and she might reimburse you later. Maybe we’ll have some cooperation in the future!”

I nodded. The thought of meeting Kuang Li at the hospital made me hesitant to go alone, so I tentatively asked, “How about you come with me?”

Mei Xueyan leisurely set down her coffee cup and smiled gently. “I have to visit the warehouse today and coordinate shipments with Chen Zheng. You didn’t know, right? Since Chen Zheng started relying on you, their cooperation has improved a lot. Even with the warehouse burning down, they’re prioritizing our matters.”

I glanced at Lin Feifei, who noticed my look and firmly refused, “Don’t count on me. I’ll just pack up and head back.”

I was taken aback; hearing she was leaving so soon left a hollow feeling inside, a bit bittersweet.

“Going back so soon? Won’t you stay a couple more days?”

Lin Feifei’s eyes flickered. “I have a red-eye flight tonight. I’ve rested for two days; now I have to make money.”

My concern flared again. “Why don’t you take the high-speed train back? Leave the car here; I’ll drive it back later. It’s too dangerous for a girl to drive several hours on the highway.”

Lin Feifei scoffed, “I made it here in the middle of the night; why be afraid of daytime?”

Despite her words, I remained uneasy and insisted, “Listen to me. I’ll buy your train ticket and drive you to the station. That’s settled, right?”

Mei Xueyan glanced at me and smiled at Lin Feifei, “You should do as he says. Otherwise, he’ll be worried sick if you drive on the highway for hours.”

My face flushed a bit as I forced a smile. “I’m not as worried as you think.”

Lin Feifei gave a knowing “oh.” “By saying that, you’re just admitting you do worry about me!”

“...”

I was at a loss for words. Though I did worry, I couldn’t bring myself to say it aloud. Despite my usual slick tongue, when it comes to crucial moments, I go silent.

I paused, my ears burning slightly, unsure what to say, when Lin Feifei shot me a look and said with mock annoyance, “Enough already. Go do your thing. I’ll just take a taxi to the station myself.”

“No, I’ll drive you. I can go to the hospital this afternoon.”

Lin Feifei waved me off, insisting I not worry. Seeing her determined to take a taxi, I said nothing further. After breakfast, she went back to her room to pack and prepare for the train. Before we parted, she handed me the car keys.

“You drive my car for now. When I return, remember to pick me up at the airport.”

I took the keys, helped load her luggage into the taxi trunk, then asked the driver to assist unloading it at the train station.

Lin Feifei teased me for being overly cautious. Though I knew it was unnecessary, I couldn’t help but remind the driver.

---

After sending Lin Feifei into the taxi, just as she was about to close the door, she suddenly remembered something and leaned out, asking, “Hey, hey, is there anything else you want to say?”

Her random question caught me off guard. After a moment’s hesitation, I said shyly, “Actually, sometimes not admitting something doesn’t mean I don’t care. You know...”

Lin Feifei raised an eyebrow. “I really don’t know.”

“...”

Damn it!

This girl just had to force me to say it.

Since Mei Xueyan wasn’t around, I had no reason to be embarrassed. Just as I was about to speak, she closed the door.

“Leaving already!”

Hey! Playing hard to get!

But I liked it...

After seeing Lin Feifei off, I drove her car straight to the hospital.

The hospital was downtown. Upon arrival, I first bought a bag of fruit at the supermarket. The hospital’s own fruit baskets were outrageously expensive. I didn’t mind spending, but I wasn’t going to be a sucker.

Following Kuang Li’s address, I quickly found the ward. She was in a private room. Just as I was about to open the door, it swung open from inside, revealing a weary face.

I hadn’t expected to meet Kuang Li at the hospital. She looked haggard, her lips pale and bloodless, and her once lively eyes had lost their sparkle.

She was momentarily stunned, then a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes. “Yu Bin, you’re here! Come in quickly. General Manager Zhang has been asking about you for days.”

I nodded expressionlessly and stepped inside. Amid the sterile scent of disinfectant, there was a faint, subtle fragrance.

A tall, slender figure sat quietly on the hospital bed. The white-and-blue patient gown could not conceal her aura.

She took good care of herself and looked a little over forty, though the fine lines around her eyes betrayed her age.