Xu Jing arrived at the hospital early in the morning, his arms full of bright flowers and fresh fruits, the smile on his face warm and hopeful. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about Ling Buyi since their encounter in the hospital room the day before. The thought of seeing her again, even for a brief moment, had brought a strange flutter to his heart.
But as he stepped into her room, the sight that greeted him was not what he had expected.
The room was empty. The bed was made, and there were no signs of Ling Buyi's presence anywhere. The curtains had been pulled back, letting in the pale morning light, but the room was devoid of the one person he had come to see.
Xu Jing's smile faltered, and the flowers slipped from his grasp, landing on the cold, sterile floor. His heart raced as a sinking feeling washed over him. The doctor had said Ling Buyi wouldn't be discharged until later in the week. There was no way she could have left on her own.
