It was an acute asthma attack triggered by a cat hair allergy. Ruan Yu remembered that on her fifth birthday, her father had given her a cute kitten as a present—a gift that had nearly cost her life. It was only after that incident that she discovered her allergy to cat hair.
Over the years, she had carefully avoided direct contact with furry animals, and her asthma rarely flared up. Who would have thought she would unexpectedly encounter that Persian cat today?
After inhaling the medication, Ruan Yu’s symptoms gradually eased. She was then taken for an IV drip. Considering her celebrity status and wanting to avoid commotion in the infusion room, the doctor specifically arranged a private room for her.
Teng Yi had stayed by her side the entire time, but since she regained consciousness, he hadn’t held her hand again. The tenderness from the car ride had vanished like a fleeting bubble.
When the nurse came to insert the IV, Ruan Yu sat in the chair, enduring the sting in the back of her hand while secretly raising her eyes to observe Teng Yi’s expression. Ever since the doctor had said, “Acute asthma can be life-threatening if not treated promptly,” Teng Yi’s face had completely frozen over, and he hadn’t properly looked at her since.
As soon as the IV bottle was hung up, Teng Yi’s phone rang.
When he took out his phone, Ruan Yu caught a glimpse of the caller ID: Rui Shu.
Teng Yi answered the call. Rui Shu was probably inquiring about Ruan Yu’s condition, as Teng Yi finally decided to glance at Ruan Yu.
“She’s fine now,” he said.
Ruan Yu turned away, feeling guilty under his gaze, but then wondered why she felt guilty at all. It wasn’t her fault—the cat had approached her, hadn’t it?
“…Go ahead and eat, don’t wait… mm, I’ll be back later, let him sleep first, don’t wait up for me, bye.”
As Ruan Yu listened to Teng Yi talking with Rui Shu, the suffocating feeling that had just subsided surged up again. This time, however, it wasn’t the cat making it hard to breathe, but the cat’s owner.
Why was this Rui Shu so familiar with Teng Yi’s bar? Why could she freely come and go from the Teng household?
Could she be Teng Yi’s current girlfriend?
Teng Yi hung up the phone, pulled up a stool, and sat by Ruan Yu’s bed.
“I’m fine now, you should go back first, don’t keep people waiting,” Ruan Yu said.
“You can’t stay here alone.”
“I can call a friend to keep me company.”
“No need, I’ll stay here.”
“You’ve already been troubled enough, I don’t want to take up more of your time.”
“…”
Ruan Yu took out her phone and sent Chen Manbai a WeChat message.
After university graduation, Xia Qiaofeng returned to her hometown, Jian Xiangxiang had gone north, and only Ruan Yu and Chen Manbai remained in Liao City. The two had evolved from roommates to a family who relied on each other. Although they didn’t live together, they were always there for each other at crucial moments, just a phone call or message away.
As soon as the message was sent, Chen Manbai called back.
“What? You’re in the hospital? Which hospital?”
Ruan Yu told her the hospital’s name.
“I can’t hear clearly, where did you say?” Chen Manbai’s end was very noisy as if there were many people around.
Ruan Yu repeated it.
“Okay, okay, I got it. Wait for me!”
Chen Manbai hung up.
Ruan Yu put away her phone and looked at Teng Yi.
“Alright, you can go now.”
He didn’t move.
“My friend will be here soon to keep me company.”
“Then I’ll wait until they arrive.”
“I can manage these few minutes.”
“I can spare these few minutes too.”
Ruan Yu fell silent.
The hospital room was very quiet. Teng Yi’s icy presence beside her made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. She wanted to say something to him, but she was also annoyed with him, so she let the atmosphere remain tense.
About ten minutes later, a male voice came from the hallway.
“Excuse me, where’s the asthma patient who was just brought in?”
“You mean the TV host Ruan Yu?”
“Yes.”
“Right there.”
As the conversation ended, the partially closed door was pushed open.
A man wearing a black motorcycle jacket entered. He had a buzzcut and wore a dazzling earring in his left ear.
It was Luo Sheng.
“Great Host Ruan, can you stop making me worry…” Luo Sheng’s words cut off halfway when he saw Teng Yi, “Oh, who’s this? If it isn’t Teng Yi!”
Luo Sheng was surprised to encounter Teng Yi here, and Teng Yi was equally surprised to see Luo Sheng.
Six years ago, these two opponents who had missed the chance for a direct confrontation on the competition floor now met unexpectedly in this hospital room.
“Long time no see,” Teng Yi stood up, looking coolly at Luo Sheng.
“Indeed, six years. I thought you’d never come back.”
Teng Yi remained silent as if suddenly thrust back into those six long, dark years.
Ruan Yu glanced at the silent Teng Yi, her heart inexplicably tightening.
She felt that this unexpected reunion with Luo Sheng was a cruel thing for Teng Yi, surely making him recall the past, recall that day.
“Luo Sheng, why are you here?” Ruan Yu tried to change the subject.
“Why can’t I be here?” Luo Sheng looked at the IV bottle and smiled at Ruan Yu: “Is Young Master not qualified to keep the Great Host company while she gets an IV?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“Just… thank you.”
“Why so formal with me?” Luo Sheng counted on his fingers, “Should I count how many times I’ve kept you company during IVs?”
“Don’t exaggerate, it’s been three times at most.”
“Isn’t three times a lot? I haven’t had three IVs in my entire twenty-something years.”
“…”
Teng Yi stood to the side, listening to their conversation like an outsider. After a while, he looked at Ruan Yu.
“Since your friend is here, I’ll head back now.”
“Okay, take care.”
Teng Yi nodded to Luo Sheng as a goodbye.
“I’ll walk you out,” Luo Sheng said to Teng Yi.
“Walk him out where?” Ruan Yu instinctively grabbed Luo Sheng’s arm, glaring at him, “It’s just a short distance, why escort him? He won’t get lost.”
Teng Yi had already reached the door, but hearing their exchange, he turned back to look at them.
His gaze fell on Ruan Yu’s hand.
Ruan Yu quickly let go of Luo Sheng, but it was too late—he had already seen it.
“Sorry, brother,” Luo Sheng shrugged at Teng Yi with a smile, “Since she won’t let me walk you out, we’ll have to catch up next time we meet.”
Teng Yi silently turned away and left the room.
Ruan Yu watched his retreating figure and let out a long sigh, then collapsed onto her pillow like a deflated balloon. After nearly facing death, she finally felt the true extent of her exhaustion.
“Are you okay?”
Luo Sheng reached out to pat Ruan Yu’s head, but she swatted his hand away.
“I’m fine. Why did you come?”
“You already asked that, miss.”
“You didn’t answer earlier, did you?”
“Chen Manbai called me. She’s busy and couldn’t get away.”
“Aren’t you busy too?”
“No matter how busy I am, I’m always willing to serve you.” He stared directly at Ruan Yu, his gaze sincere.
Ruan Yu turned her face away: “Can you stop joking around?”
“Were you afraid I’d joke with Teng Yi too? Is that why you wouldn’t let me walk him out?”
“Who knows what you might have said to him.”
“What could I have said to him? At most, I’d have complained about how hard it is to pursue the Great Host Ruan.”