Chapter 19: Sudden Realization  

The hospital room was deathly silent, with neither of them speaking. Yan Qingye’s mind was too full of confusion to say anything, while Shen Zhansi watched her nervously, mixed with a sense of bewilderment.  

Why was Yan Qingye acting so strangely?  

Based on her previous behavior, shouldn’t she be furious, wishing she could kill her right now?  

Yet her reaction was completely unexpected.  

Shen Zhansi stole glances at her, unable to understand why Yan Qingye had treated her that way last night. But the sober Yan Qingye was nothing like the pliant, compliant version from before—she wasn’t someone who would just go along with anything.  

Yan Qingye herself couldn’t make sense of her own emotions. She should have been angry at the other woman, yet all she felt now was fear—fear over how she had allowed herself to indulge last night.  

Had she, in all those years of waiting, unknowingly started seeing that disgusting impostor as Shen Zhansi?  

No, that was impossible! It had to be impossible!  

Her face drained of color. Without bothering to gauge Shen Zhansi’s reaction, she pushed open the hospital room door and locked eyes with Aunt Zhang, who had been waiting outside.  

Her expression was so ghastly that Aunt Zhang froze for a second when their gazes met.  

Years of pretense had conditioned Yan Qingye to react instinctively. Her features softened slightly as she said, “I was too drunk last night and didn’t get a chance to wash up. I’m going home to freshen up. You can go in and take care of her.”  

“Alright, alright. Are you completely sober now? Do you need me to call a driver for you?” Aunt Zhang asked worriedly.  

“No need. I’m sober now.”  

If she hadn’t been before, the earlier situation would have sobered her up completely.  

Without another word to Aunt Zhang, her expression darkened the moment she turned away. By the time she reached the elevator, memories of last night flooded back.  

After dinner with the business partners, it had been the alcohol that drove her to the hospital.  

Alcohol truly dulled the senses, made people weak, amplified their deepest desires.  

Last night, she had wanted—no, needed—to see Shen Zhansi. Even if it was just Shen Zhansi’s shell, she had been desperate to lay eyes on her.  

Her assistant had dropped her off at the hospital, right at this elevator entrance. She had still been somewhat conscious then and told her assistant to take her car back. But as she walked toward the hospital room, the alcohol had taken over…  

But something wasn’t right.  

As the elevator doors closed, one thought echoed in her mind—none of last night should have happened.  

In the past, during her hardest years, she had been drunker than this before. That impostor had tried to take advantage of her vulnerability more than once. But even in her drunken state, she had always kept her guard up.  

That person wasn’t the real Shen Zhansi. If they ever tried to get close while she was drunk, they would pay a painful price—without exception.  

So why had she let herself sink into it last night?  

…  

Meanwhile, back in the hospital room, Aunt Zhang walked in with a beaming smile.  

“Xiao Shen,” she said cheerfully, “when I arrived this morning, I saw the two of you sleeping in each other’s arms. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I waited outside.”  

Aunt Zhang couldn’t have been happier. Seeing the two of them reconcile brought an unstoppable smile to her face.

Shen Zhansi gave an awkward smile, her mood not particularly good. Although Yan Qingye hadn’t lashed out at her earlier, she still felt uneasy—this behavior was so unlike Yan Qingye’s usual temperament.  

“Aunt Zhang made you some congee. Have some after you freshen up.” Aunt Zhang placed the things she was carrying on the nearby coffee table, then carefully studied Shen Zhansi’s complexion. “You look much better. Seems like you’re recovering well.”  

“Mmm, I won’t have any. I’ve scheduled a check-up, so I can’t eat breakfast for now.” Shen Zhansi pushed those thoughts aside for the moment. The most important thing right now was to get her body checked. Yan Qingye hadn’t confronted her—she’d already dodged a bullet. What was there to dwell on?  

While washing up, Shen Zhansi looked at herself in the mirror, hesitantly touching her jaw before letting out a soft, involuntary laugh.  

This was where Yan Qingye had kissed her last night.  

She then glanced down at her hands—the same hands that had held Yan Qingye all night.  

After laughing, her face flushed slightly.  

Had she adapted a little too quickly last night? She’d thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, yet she’d fallen asleep so fast—and so soundly that she’d woken up later than Yan Qingye.  

With a quiet sigh, she recalled everything from the night before, unable to suppress a flicker of joy.  

Judging by Yan Qingye’s demeanor last night… did she actually have a chance?  

But that thing about waiting…  

Shen Zhansi frowned slightly. She already had a guess—she just needed confirmation.  

After freshening up, Aunt Zhang accompanied her for the check-up—registering, blood tests, CT scans. Once all the fasting-required examinations were done, Aunt Zhang bought some breakfast for Shen Zhansi to fill her stomach. Her care for Shen Zhansi was nothing if not meticulous.  

By the time all the tests were completed, it was already around three in the afternoon. During this time, Yan Qingye never reappeared at the hospital. Shen’s parents had come by, but they didn’t stay long before work matters pulled them away.  

The test results wouldn’t be ready until tomorrow. After finishing the examinations, Shen Zhansi returned to her hospital room. Once the nurse came to change her dressings, she leaned back against the bed, lost in thought, replaying every little detail since she’d woken up.  

It was obvious—Yan Qingye despised her. Yet despite that hatred, she was still bound to her. Shen Zhansi no longer believed this was some kind of Substitute game.  

If she really were just a Substitute to Yan Qingye, why go through all this trouble? Why bring in a Substitute just to have her constantly in the way, provoking anger? That attitude wasn’t how one treated a Substitute—it was more like how one treated an enemy.  

And yet…  

Shen Zhansi’s heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.  

If she wasn’t a Substitute, then based on Yan Qingye’s behavior… she must be someone Yan Qingye liked. And that someone was very likely her!  

Her fingers tightened slowly against the bedsheet, her eyes brimming with contemplation.  

If Yan Qingye’s feelings were for her, then her attitude made no sense—unless, based on last night’s revelations…  

There was only one possibility left.  

Yan Qingye really was waiting for her. And the reason she treated her so harshly could only mean that her hostility wasn’t directed at the real her.  

Her pulse pounded heavier with each beat, her mind teetering on the edge of dizziness.

After careful consideration, the person who had been living in this body for the past decade was definitely not me!

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