Chapter 4

Yun Yin froze, her mouth opening as if to speak, but a sharp pain suddenly gripped her chest.

With no other choice, she reached out and clutched Pei Yu’s sleeve under his terrifying gaze.

Afraid he would shake her off, Yun Yin held on tightly, her usual arrogance completely gone. Her eyes brimmed with tears, making her look like a pitiful, wronged kitten.

Pei Yu didn’t shake her off, but he made no further move either. He simply watched her with detached indifference, as if observing a play, his eyes devoid of any warmth.

The hand gripping his arm gradually lost its strength. Yun Yin’s legs buckled, and just as she thought she was about to collapse, she instinctively closed her eyes.

The expected pain never came. When she opened her eyes, she realized she was in Pei Yu’s arms, his large hand resting firmly on her waist.

Pei Yu was tall, nearly six feet three inches. Yun Yin wasn’t short herself, but she barely reached his shoulder.

The height difference was striking. Yun Yin’s slender frame was almost completely hidden against his broad chest.

Suddenly, Pei Yu raised his hand. Yun Yin, unsure of his intentions, instinctively closed her eyes and clutched at his chest like a startled cat.

Pei Yu’s hand paused mid-air before gently brushing the disheveled strands of hair from her forehead behind her ear. “So eager to throw yourself into my arms?” he murmured.

Yun Yin’s eyes snapped open at his words, her breath quickening. Her gaze, a mix of confusion and disbelief, met his, her pale, sickly face betraying her shock.

What did he mean by “throwing herself into his arms?!”

But she lacked the strength to argue. Clutching her chest, she whispered weakly, “I feel unwell.”

She truly did.

With that, she tilted her head and rested it against Pei Yu’s chest.

Pei Yu’s dark, fathomless eyes flickered with surprise. The arm around her waist stiffened momentarily before relaxing. “Where does it hurt?” he asked calmly.

Yun Yin lowered her gaze, her voice barely audible. “My heart feels strange.”

She unconsciously nuzzled against his chest. Before Pei Yu could react, she added, “I feel like I’m going to die.”

Even after transmigrating into the novel, Yun Yin still couldn’t attain a normal, healthy body.

This feeling was all too familiar.

Sometimes, when she closed her eyes, she feared she might never wake up again.

As the familiar pain surged through her, Yun Yin couldn’t help but think pessimistically: perhaps she wouldn’t even need to wait for the villain’s revenge; she might not survive on her own.

“You won’t die that easily,” Pei Yu’s voice was deep, his tone inscrutable.

Though meant as comfort, Yun Yin found it increasingly unsettling.

Without giving her time to dwell on it, Pei Yu pulled out his phone and called Lu Lin. Then, before Yun Yin could react, he swept her into his arms.

His sudden movement startled her. Yun Yin instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, her breathing quickening, her face growing even paler.

Pei Yu clearly sensed something was wrong with the woman in his arms. He strode out of the hotel, just as Lu Lin pulled up to the entrance.

Yun Yin lay limp, her eyes closed, her brow furrowed as if she had lost consciousness. Lu Lin immediately recognized her distress and hastily opened the car door.

As soon as they were in the car, Pei Yu spoke in a deep voice, “Take me to the hospital.”

Lu Lin didn’t dare delay, speeding to the nearest hospital.

Pei Yu stood tall before the emergency room doors, the bright fluorescent lights of the corridor casting his figure into sharp relief, obscuring the emotions hidden beneath his shadowed features.

Soon, the emergency room light above the door went out. The heavy doors swung open, and a doctor in a white coat emerged, removing his mask. “Who is the patient’s family?”

Pei Yu slowly raised his head, his voice devoid of urgency, his tone calm. “I am.”

The doctor frowned at the overly composed man before him. Before he could speak, Lu Lin interjected, “Doctor, how is the patient?”

The doctor glanced at Pei Yu’s impassive face before turning to Lu Lin, who clearly seemed more like family. “Preliminary diagnosis suggests weakened immunity due to insufficient blood supply to the heart. She has a heart condition. Her family must be aware of this, right?”

Lu Lin froze. A heart condition? How would he know?

Lost in thought, he turned to look at Pei Yu.

Seeing a woman suddenly appear by Pei Yu’s side was as shocking to Lu Lin as a bolt from the blue.

Yun Yin had already been moved to a hospital room, but the doctor remained, his expression grave.

“I strongly recommend heart bypass surgery as soon as possible,” the doctor said, his tone urgent. “Otherwise, she’ll continue to experience episodes like this. If we wait until her condition worsens, it may be too late. Your family needs to decide quickly.”

The doctor didn’t need to finish his sentence; both men understood his meaning.

Pei Yu nodded to the doctor, offering no further comment.

The doctor sighed, reluctant to press further. He shook his head and left, muttering to himself.

Entering the hospital room, they saw Yun Yin lying in bed.

Her face was pale, her lips devoid of color. Though her eyes were tightly closed, the delicate, lively features around them hinted at the beauty that would greet them when she opened them.

Yet even this sight stirred no visible emotion in Pei Yu.

Lu Lin stole a glance at the man beside him, inwardly marveling at his composure.

When Yun Yin woke up, the familiar surroundings made her momentarily believe she had traveled back in time.

Lu Lin had left to handle remaining matters after she woke up, leaving her alone in the hospital room with Pei Yu.

According to her previous plan, she should have seized this opportunity to ingratiate herself with the villain, pledge her loyalty, and avert her future doom. But…

A sudden palpitation seized her chest. Clutching it, she began to cough softly, as if trying to cough her heart out of her chest.

Perhaps she wouldn’t even need to wait for Pei Yu’s revenge; she might die first.

Forget about ingratiating myself or pledging loyalty for now, she thought wearily. I simply don’t have the energy. I’ll just take each day as it comes.

Yun Yin looked listless, her features pale with illness. Leaning against the hospital bed, she resembled a white camellia on a branch, ready to fall at any moment.

She showed none of her previous arrogance or willful abandon. It was as if she had become a completely different person.

Pei Yu seemed to realize something, his gaze darkening. His deep black eyes settled heavily on the still-coughing woman.

“Rest first,” Pei Yu said before turning and leaving the room without a backward glance.

Between coughs, Yun Yin couldn’t help but doubt once more:

Was the original owner truly the villain’s white moonlight?

But it was probably for the best. She wouldn’t have to rack her brains trying to explain what happened at the banquet.

Still, Pei Yu was deeply suspicious. Without a plausible explanation, he would undoubtedly continue to doubt her.

She could hide for now, but not forever.

How could she possibly explain this?

The thought gave Yun Yin a headache.

Meanwhile, after finishing his remaining tasks, Lu Lin was waiting in the corridor outside the hospital room.

“President Pei, I’ve completed Miss Yun’s admission procedures,” Lu Lin said, walking behind Pei Yu. He paused briefly before adding, “The doctor said Miss Yun’s condition isn’t good and recommended immediate surgery.”

Pei Yu stopped at the elevator, loosened his tie, and muttered, “Ignore it.”

Hearing his flat tone, Lu Lin instantly understood. He nodded slightly. “Understood.”

The idea of a thousand-year-old iron tree blooming was clearly just wishful thinking on his part.

“It’s been so many days, why hasn’t your boyfriend come to visit?” The young nurse, having changed Yun Yin’s medicine bottle, couldn’t help but ask, seeing her lying alone in the hospital bed.

“Boyfriend?” Yun Yin raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with genuine confusion.

When did I get a boyfriend?

“He’s tall, wears glasses, and was wearing a gray suit that day,” the nurse recalled, describing him.

Yun Yin thought for a moment and realized who she meant.

Pei Yu’s special assistant, Lu Lin.

She had been in the hospital for nearly a week. During that time, Pei Yu hadn’t visited, and Zhou Wenze was too busy with the bidding process to bother her.

Only Lu Lin had come by two days ago to handle the paperwork.

Yun Yin didn’t mind at all; in fact, she enjoyed the peace and quiet.

But seeing the nurse’s indignant expression, she couldn’t help but smile. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Oh,” the nurse said, suddenly embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I just saw him that day and assumed he was.”

“It’s alright,” Yun Yin waved dismissively, a faint smile on her face. “I’m used to it.”

As she spoke, her clear peach blossom eyes held no trace of gloom. Her brows and eyes curved slightly, as if a painted beauty had suddenly come to life, making the fresh flowers beside her pale in comparison.

“Used to it?” The young nurse stared at her, stunned, and dazedly repeated her words.

“Mhm.” Yun Yin smiled, but this time said nothing more.

It was indeed a habit.

From the moment she woke up in the antiseptic-scented hospital room, she felt no panic, only a sense of familiarity. After all, before transmigrating into the book, she had been a frequent visitor to hospitals.

She had thought transmigrating would free her from her frail body, but it turned out the original owner of this body also had a heart condition. At least the original owner’s condition seemed slightly better; she didn’t have to fear slipping into a nightmare from which she might never awaken.

No one noticed the figure at the doorway quietly slip away, as if they had never been there at all.

—

The next day, Yun Yin received notice of her discharge.

Lu Lin came to pick her up again.

She wasn’t surprised not to see Pei Yu. From their interactions over the past two days, it was clear his feelings for the original owner weren’t particularly deep—if they existed at all.

White moonlight? She couldn’t trust everything in the book’s plot.

Lu Lin took her straight back to Cloud Lake Manor without lingering.

Cloud Lake Manor was Yun Yin’s current residence.

After a week of rest and recuperation, Yun Yin’s mental state had improved significantly.

The weather today was perfect, with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze.

Having spent so many days in the hospital, Yun Yin basked in the garden sun like a boneless cat, lazily sprawled on a lounge chair, looking frail and delicate.

As the sun gradually began to set, Yun Yin showed no signs of moving, remaining curled up on the chair.

She tugged her small blanket closer, hearing footsteps approaching. Mistaking them for Aunt Lin, she kept her eyes closed and casually said, “I’m not hungry.”

The footsteps stopped beside her, but the person remained silent.

Puzzled, Yun Yin opened her eyes and saw a familiar figure.

Her gaze traveled upward until she met a pair of deep black eyes.

Seeing who it was, Yun Yin’s mind suddenly sharpened.

She sat up on the lounge chair, confusion in her eyes. “Why are you back?”

Pei Yu’s gaze darkened momentarily. He leaned down to meet her eyes, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Didn’t you say you missed me?”

Yun Yin’s pupils widened slightly. “……”

When had she ever said that?

Who was spreading these ridiculous rumors?