Chapter 22

Should she call Yan Wenshu?

Zang Ling shook her head. He was probably still sleeping. She hadn’t been able to reach him with the few calls she made earlier. This was probably the reason.

She stared at the old, worn-out neighborhood in front of her, her thoughts stuck in a deadlock. But as thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, she suddenly remembered — Yan Wenshu’s address should be on his résumé!

The more anxious she got, the less clearly she could think.

Zang Ling hurriedly opened her private photo album. Fortunately, she had thought Yan Wenshu’s ID photo looked good at the time and had taken a picture of his résumé. Thank goodness!

She quickly found the information she needed: Building 2, Unit 612.

Feeling relieved, Zang Ling had just reached the entrance of the residential complex when she saw a middle-aged woman grabbing the manager’s arm, shouting loudly, “Do you know where he lives? Tell me! I’m a relative of his! He owes us money and hasn’t paid it back in ages. It took me forever to find this place. You have to tell me! If you don’t, I’m not leaving today!”

The manager replied helplessly, “I really can’t tell you. If anything happens, I’ll be held responsible.”

The woman’s eyebrows shot up. “What could possibly happen? I’m just here to get my money. It’s not illegal.”

But the manager still refused to budge.

As Zang Ling walked past the woman, she glanced at her indifferently. But just then, she suddenly heard the woman shout angrily, “What’s your relationship with Yan Wenshu? Why are you protecting him like this? I already told you I’m his relative! Why won’t you tell me? What could I, a woman, possibly do to him?!”

Zang Ling’s steps halted. Without hesitation, she turned back and asked, “Excuse me, did you just mention… Yan Wenshu?”

——

[Host, are you okay?]

The system looked worriedly at the man lying on the bed. His cheeks were flushed an unnatural red, his lips pale, and his wet hair clung to his forehead.

Even though he was sick, his good looks hadn’t diminished in the slightest. In fact, his weakened state added a softer, more delicate charm to his usual aura, giving him the appearance of a beautiful, sickly figure.

Yan Wenshu didn’t speak. His eyes remained closed. If not for the faint sound of his breathing, the system might have thought he was already dead.

[Your temperature is really high. Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?]

The system couldn’t understand why he refused. If his condition worsened, it could be life-threatening. If Yan Wenshu died, the system would be doomed too. It didn’t have the energy to find another host.

Yan Wenshu slowly opened his weary eyes, his voice hoarse. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine soon. I’ve been through this many times before.”

The system didn’t dare argue anymore, afraid that another sentence might be his last.

Its host was far too stubborn. All the system could do now was wait, and pray.

Just then, its mechanical ears twitched. It suddenly perked up, excitement sparking in its voice. [Host! Zang Ling is here!]

Yan Wenshu’s response was indifferent. “Why is she here?”

The system’s excitement faltered a little. Hesitating, it asked, [Aren’t you happy?]

[It’s Zang Ling — your girlfriend’s here.]

Yan Wenshu’s eyelids lifted slightly. [I don’t need anyone’s pity.]

[But—]

[Enough.] Yan Wenshu cut it off. [I know.]

You know but you’re still not happy she came? Under Yan Wenshu’s cold gaze, the system quietly swallowed its next words.

Forget it, at least his life wasn’t in danger anymore.

Two minutes later, there was a knock at the door.

“Yan Wenshu, are you sleeping?”

Zang Ling called out anxiously. After waiting for a while without a response, she assumed he was still resting and didn’t want to disturb him. She turned to leave but cast one last glance at the door, only to see it suddenly swing open.

“Yan Wenshu?”

No response.

Zang Ling knew it was impolite to enter someone’s home without permission. But worry got the better of her, and she cautiously slipped through the partially open door.

The room was pitch-black. The curtains were drawn, with only a sliver of light spilling in from the doorway.

“Yan Wenshu, are you there?”

Zang Ling had only taken a few steps when her foot suddenly bumped into something soft… 

something soft…

“Yan Wenshu?”

Her face paled. Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone and dialed 120.

When Yan Wenshu opened his eyes again, what greeted him was a deathly white ceiling, and the stinging pain on the back of his hand reminded him—

He was in the hospital.

[Host, you’re finally awake!]

The system wailed loudly, [You fainted when you went to open the door for Zang Ling! Luckily, she got you to the hospital in time!]

Yan Wenshu said gloomily, [Has she left?]

[No, she went to get you lunch.] The system immediately sensed his bad mood, especially after finding out it was Zang Ling who brought him to the hospital.

Yan Wenshu slowly opened his eyes. He’d been hospitalized once before. Back then, he looked like a walking corpse, terrifying anyone who saw him…

Click — the door opened. Yan Wenshu slowly looked up.

Zang Ling walked in carrying a plastic bag. Seeing that he was awake, she didn’t say a word, her face completely expressionless.

She placed the bag on the cabinet, checked the IV drip, then pressed the back of her hand against his forehead to feel his temperature, all with practiced ease. After that, she quietly sat down beside him and began peeling an apple.

The whole process took less than thirty seconds. Looking at her silent figure, Yan Wenshu asked, “Are you mad at me?”

His voice was hoarse, lacking its usual deep and pleasant tone.

Zang Ling originally planned to ignore him for a while longer, but hearing his voice made her soften a little.

He was still sick after all. Treating a patient like this didn’t feel quite right, but…

“Yes. Yan Wenshu, you really made me so angry this time.”

Expressionless, she handed him the peeled apple. “You knew you had a fever but didn’t go to the hospital right away. The doctor said if you’d come any later, your brain could’ve been damaged.”

“I almost lost you.”

“…I’m sorry.” Yan Wenshu lowered his gaze. “I bought medicine, and after taking it I felt much better. I thought I would slowly recover.”

Hearing that, it did sound somewhat reasonable.

“Then why didn’t you tell me you were sick?”

Yan Wenshu touched his face with the hand still attached to the IV, half-jokingly said, “I didn’t look good when I was sick. There were even marks on my face.”

Without hesitation, Zang Ling said, “You’re still good-looking.”

“Even if you turned into skin and bones, you’d still have the best-looking bones.”

“And… when it comes to your safety, none of that really matters.” She added guiltily, “I should be the one saying sorry. It was my attitude that influenced you. I need to reflect on that.”

That wasn’t it at all.

Yan Wenshu stared at her. The real reason he didn’t want to go to the hospital had nothing to do with her. He simply didn’t like showing his weakness in front of others, and the hospital brought back painful memories for him. He hated this place.

Zang Ling glanced at the time. “Alright, it’s time for lunch. You must be starving. You should eat something light for now. I bought you a bowl of pumpkin porridge.”

She scooped up a spoonful, gently blew on it, and brought it to his lips. “Here, try it.”

Yan Wenshu looked at her. She smiled sweetly, “Don’t want to eat? Should I coax you a little?”

“Be a good Shu Shu, have some porridge, it’s not bitter at all, it’s really sweet~”

Looking at her honeyed gaze, Yan Wenshu somehow opened his mouth and took a bite.

But before Zang Ling could praise him, the next second, he threw it up.

Startled, she quickly got up and patted his back, asking anxiously as she patted, “What’s wrong? Does the porridge not sit well with you?”

After the churning feeling in his stomach subsided, Yan Wenshu raised his head. Zang Ling noticed his tear-filled eyes and froze for a moment. Catching sight of the tissue box nearby, she quickly pulled out a few sheets and gently wiped his eyes and the corners of his mouth.

“I’m sorry… I think I messed up again…”

It’s my fault.

Yan Wenshu really wanted to say that, but the words wouldn’t come out.

“It’s okay.”

That was all he said. She didn’t know anything.

Zang Ling felt terribly regretful. She had thought that porridge was the safest option, but she didn’t expect that Yan Wenshu wouldn’t like it.

After cleaning up the mess, she hurried out to buy a bowl of plain noodle soup. Only when she saw him eat it without any reaction did she finally breathe a heavy sigh of relief.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Yan Wenshu asked.

“I can’t bear to.”

Zang Ling answered mysteriously, “I actually want claypot rice. But if I eat that in front of you, I’m afraid you won’t be able to resist.”

Yan Wenshu chuckled lightly. “It’s fine, go ahead and eat.”

“It was me who broke my promise today. I didn’t get to meet you.”

“Doesn’t count.” Zang Ling’s eyes curved into a smile. “If you don’t come see me, I can always come see you.”

“Wait a second, I’m going to grab my takeout.”

Yan Wenshu replied with a hum. As her figure disappeared from view, he withdrew his gaze and turned to look out the window. He stared at the trees bursting with spring for a while before suddenly asking the system, [How much freedom do I have now?]

[Forty-five percent.]

[If you and Zang Ling face the protagonist of the book together, your controllability can reach fifty percent.]

Yan Wenshu frowned. [Why is it still so little?]

System replied, [Maybe because Zang Ling’s favorability toward you isn’t high enough.]

[Do you want me to check it?]

Yan Wenshu rejected, [No need. Just tell me when I can completely break free from the plot’s control.]

[Okay…] The system responded weakly. [Host, what do you think about Zang Ling now?]

There was no reply.

Because just then, Zang Ling suddenly returned, holding a large bouquet of blue flowers in her arms.

She placed the flowers on the bedside table, her eyes curving into a smile as she looked at Yan Wenshu. “I saw these flowers on the way here. They looked so beautiful that they reminded me of you. And now that I see them here, they really do suit you.”

“…Thank you. What kind of flower is this?”

“Blue hyacinth. I didn’t know either at first — the lady at the shop told me.”

[The meaning of blue hyacinth is: I hope the one I love will be happy.]

Yan Wenshu’s eyes flickered slightly. It was a long time before he finally said, “I really like it.”

He thought, ‘she probably doesn’t know.’

Happiness… was something he had never even thought of.

Even these fleeting moments were stolen.

If Zang Ling knew he was a liar, she definitely wouldn’t smile at him like this.

She might even… look at him with disgust.

“Yan Wenshu.”

He looked up in a daze.

Zang Ling made a few funny faces at him, then suddenly burst out laughing in a strange way that filled the entire hospital room.

Yan Wenshu’s expression was indescribable. He didn’t know how to react.

Seeing his reaction, Zang Ling suddenly slumped. “Alright, I guess I’m really bad at this…”

“Do I look like a crazy person?”

Luckily it was a private room. At least she was only embarrassing herself in front of Yan Wenshu. She swore she had to check for cameras before being discharged. To destroy the evidence!

It took Yan Wenshu a long time to realize, so… everything she did was for me?

His heartstrings suddenly trembled.

Thinking about it now, it really seemed to be the case. Her face had been so red when she did all that. Her laughter had been forced, not from the heart…

Yan Wenshu stared blankly at Zang Ling, then heard her exclaim joyfully, “You finally smiled!”

By the time he realized it, the corners of his lips were already slightly raised.

“Why…?” Yan Wenshu’s gaze was complicated. What was the point of doing all this?

Zang Ling answered naturally, “You looked really down just now, so I wanted to cheer you up.”

“Yan Wenshu, I don’t know what happened to you in the past, but… do you feel a little better now?”

The concern on her face wasn’t fake, but Yan Wenshu couldn’t help but lower his head. His eyelashes hid the emotions in his eyes as he whispered, “Mm, much better…”

Zang Ling, when everything is over, I will atone for my sins to you.

No matter…

Whether or not…

You’ll forgive me.