Yan Yunning’s brow slowly creased. No wonder — that time in Shiyao’s hospital room, Ye’an had brought up the amusement park. So it had been about this.

He Qingxia pouted. “Ningning, what are you thinking? Even if Xuan Yanyu has clarified he has nothing to do with Shiyao, that still doesn’t change the fact that he has shielded her time and time again. Who knows what’s really between him and Shiyao.”

Yan Yunning sounded both resigned and amused. “There isn’t anything. They genuinely have absolutely no relationship — you can put your mind completely at ease. Xuan Yanyu is worth loving.”

He Qingxia stared at Yan Yunning with exasperation, her voice unavoidably rising. “Yan Yunning, how many days have you even known him? And he’s already worth loving? You… you… you hopeless romantic.”

Feeling a cold gaze sweeping toward her, He Qingxia gave a small shudder. Realizing she’d spoken too loudly, she hurriedly lowered her head.

Yan Yunning looked toward Xuan Yanyu. The coldness in his eyes immediately gave way to warmth.

She leaned close to his ear and said quietly, “Next time, watch yourself. Don’t give Xiaoxia that cold look.”

“Alright.” The man turned his face slightly, his lips grazing her nose inadvertently. He let out a low, quiet laugh. “As long as she doesn’t say things I don’t want to hear.”

Yan Yunning gave a soft cough, quietly drew back a little, and lowered her voice. “Even if Xiaoxia says something, you can’t—”

“Get out — everyone, can you just get out? You’re so annoying, you really are so annoying.” On the hospital bed, Wen Zhilu had seen it all clearly in that instant.

The young woman leaning toward the languidly seated man, saying something in a low voice. The man glanced at him, then deliberately turned and kissed the tip of her nose — and that young woman didn’t flinch away. She didn’t move away at all!!!

Wen Zhilu suppressed the dull ache pressing against his heart and couldn’t stop himself from growling, “Leave. Now.”

“Lulu, what’s wrong?” Yan Yunning was startled by him. In all the years she’d known him, no matter how angry he got, he had never been this out of control.

“I don’t want to see you anymore. Is that alright?” The young man’s eyes were rimmed with red, and his voice trembled despite himself.

Yan Yunning frowned. She wanted to leave in a huff, but seeing his pitiful, red-rimmed eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to leave him alone in a hospital.

She could only hold onto her patience and ask, “Why? Why don’t you want to see me?”

Wen Zhilu clenched his fist, then yanked the hospital blanket back over his head.

Yan Yunning closed her eyes. Last time she had failed to go eat with him, he’d sworn he wouldn’t speak to her. This time she’d left halfway through dinner again — so that was why he was this furious?

The ward fell into silence. Beneath the blanket, Wen Zhilu’s eyes glistened with the beginning of tears. He swallowed down every bit of grief and loss.

He didn’t understand. They had known each other for twenty years, and yet she could be with a man she’d known for four months.

No — not four months. More like half a month. He had seen the video online back when Xuan Yanyu woke up.

And on top of that, Xuan Yanyu had a complicated history with Shiyao. Why would she choose Xuan Yanyu?

Why?!

Noticing the IV drip had finished, Gu Jingye stepped forward and pressed the call button on the bed. The young nurse arrived quickly, pushing the door open. She took in the sight — the patient buried under a blanket, and everyone else in subdued spirits — and swallowed quietly before striding briskly to the bedside.

Checking the bedside card and confirming there were no remaining medications to be administered, she said, “Mr. Wen, I need to remove the needle now.”

Wen Zhilu didn’t move, still completely bundled beneath the blanket.

“Wen Zhilu, put your hand out.” Yan Yunning raised her voice.

The young man’s lips pressed tight. In the end, he obediently stretched his hand out from under the blanket.

The young nurse deftly removed the needle and pressed a sterile cotton swab over the puncture site to stop the bleeding. She looked up at the others in the room. “Could someone come hold this down for him?”

Gu Jingye raised his eyebrows slightly and quietly slipped out of the ward.

He Qingxia and Wen Zhilu had always rubbed each other the wrong way, so naturally she wasn’t going to step forward either. Yan Yunning, mindful of Xuan Yanyu the great vinegar jar, wore a look of conflicted hesitation for a moment.

“He’s probably fine by now — doesn’t really need holding.” He Qingxia blinked.

The nurse gave them a speechless look, packed up the used needle and supplies, and walked out of the ward.

Yan Yunning poured a cup of water, pulled back the hospital blanket, and looked at Wen Zhilu — whose eyes were lightly closed — with great gentleness. “Drink some water. Let’s go eat.”

“Not going.” The young man’s long lashes held the faint glimmer of tears. His eyes were rimmed with pale red, a picture of someone who had suffered a tremendous wrong.

Yan Yunning let out a sigh. “Is it because I left in the middle of dinner that you’re upset?”

Wen Zhilu looked at Yan Yunning with a mournful, aggrieved expression. “I want to go home. Give me back my suitcase. And if it’s not too much trouble, take me to the airport. If it is too much trouble, I’ll just take a taxi.”

Yan Yunning was so frustrated she could scream. “If you’re like this, how am I supposed to feel at ease letting you go home by yourself?”

Wen Zhilu’s lashes trembled, a flicker of hope crossing his eyes. “You could come home with me.”

“I’m not going back for now.” Yan Yunning softened her voice. “Can you wait until your fever’s gone before you leave?”

A bitter ache spread through Wen Zhilu’s chest. “Yan Yunning, don’t try to handle me like a child!”

He Qingxia clicked her tongue. He was telling Ningning not to treat him like a little kid — but honestly, he was being pretty childish right now.

Yan Yunning set down the water cup and looked at him helplessly. “Do you really want to leave tonight?”

Wen Zhilu ignored Yan Yunning, threw back the hospital blanket, climbed out of bed, put on his shoes, and headed straight for the ward door.

“Wen Zhilu.” Afraid he might come to harm, Yan Yunning turned to Xuan Yanyu and told him to go ahead to the restaurant without her. Without even waiting for Xuan Yanyu’s reply, she chased after him.

The two figures disappeared from the ward. He Qingxia glanced nervously at Xuan Yanyu’s extremely dark expression. She was a complete wreck inside — what was happening?!

Wen Zhilu was unhinged — what had suddenly gotten into him?!

He was this emotionally devastated and insisting on going home — how could Ningning possibly feel at ease? If it were her own next-door little brother behaving this way, she wouldn’t be able to rest easy either. What if something happened to him?

And on top of that, he still had a fever.

And he’d come to Chaxi City specifically to find Ningning.

If anything happened to him, how would Ningning face his parents?

“Yanyu-ge, would you like to go eat? I’ve made the reservation.” Gu Jingye stood at the doorway, meeting Xuan Yanyu’s frigid gaze, and said quietly.

The man let out a soft laugh, his back teeth nearly cracking. “No need. I wouldn’t want to intrude on your meal.”

“It’s not just me and Xiaoxia — you won’t be intruding. Ningning said she’d meet up with us at the restaurant in a bit, so she told us to head there first.”

Gu Jingye assumed Xuan Yanyu’s meaning was that dining together with him and He Qingxia would be an intrusion, and so he clarified that Yan Yunning would be joining them shortly.

Yan Yunning had told Gu Jingye to take Xuan Yanyu ahead to the restaurant while she caught up.

“Don’t bother. You all eat.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was as cold as ice. With nothing further to say, he stepped out of the ward.

Gu Jingye scratched his head and exchanged a glance with He Qingxia.

“What do we do now? Xuan Yanyu’s upset.”

Gu Jingye shrugged. “No idea.”

He Qingxia pursed her lips. “What’s there to be upset about? Was she supposed to just ignore Wen Zhilu and let him run out on his own?”

Gu Jingye furrowed his brow. “Look at it from a different angle. If it weren’t Zhilu, but Yanyu-ge’s childhood sweetheart, and Yanyu-ge had gone chasing after her, leaving Ningning behind — do you think Ningning would be upset?”