The nightfall of midsummer descended slowly, shrouding the bustling city of Zhonghai in a seemingly peaceful darkness. Only the vibrant neon lights illuminated the faces of pedestrians on the streets.
Along the circular expressway, a well-connected eight-lane road, countless streams of cars flickered like shooting stars, either entering or exiting this somber concrete fortress.
In a greenbelt along the northern part of Zhonghai, next to the Yangtze River, sparse streetlights illuminated the path, accompanied by dancing fireflies. This was a rare moment of tranquility, although it still emanated the residual heat from the scorching day.
Not far away was the endless expanse of the river, resembling a jade ribbon under the sky, mirroring the long row of white buildings on the riverside, akin to the Milky Way in the sky.
This was the most expensive First Hospital in Zhonghai, with its serene environment providing patients with the best conditions for recovery. However, the cost of treatment here was exorbitant, enough to deter ordinary people.
In the hospital ward department, within a spacious and tranquil corridor, Yang Chen and Wang Ma sat on a bench specifically placed for waiting, quietly anticipating something outside the intensive care unit.
Yang Chen remained silent for a long time, growing somewhat impatient. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a cigarette but suddenly realized he was in a hospital. With a sigh, he reluctantly put it back and stood up to pace.
"Sir," Wang Ma, with red and teary eyes, had just finished crying not long ago. She worriedly spoke, "Sir, why haven't the doctors and nurses come out yet? Is Miss okay?"
"Don't worry. Although I'm not a doctor, I still know a bit about medical principles. Ruoxi will be fine," Yang Chen reassured her. Scenes of that evening when he sent Lin Ruoxi to the hospital kept replaying in his mind, making it difficult for him to calm down.
Just as Yang Chen threw Lin Kun into the trash can and turned around, he saw Lin Ruoxi, who was standing on the lawn, suddenly lose control of her legs and sway before collapsing onto the grass!
Like a swift arrow, Yang Chen darted towards Lin Ruoxi and helped her up. At that moment, he noticed that she had actually fainted!
Having gone through countless experiences, Yang Chen remained calm instead of panicking like Wang Ma. He calmly took out his phone, dialed the emergency number, and at the same time, carried Lin Ruoxi back into the house.
After a brief examination, he discovered that Lin Ruoxi had a high fever. He immediately asked Wang Ma to bring cold towels and other emergency supplies. He took care of her until the ambulance arrived to transport Lin Ruoxi to the hospital.
A series of unexpected events left Yang Chen feeling unsettled. Although this cold and unapproachable woman had never shown him any kindness, he found himself genuinely worried and afraid for her when she encountered this situation. Was it because she resembled the woman from his past? Or was it because she was his nominal wife? Or perhaps, it was simply because of her.
Lost in his chaotic thoughts, the door to the hospital room opened, and Wang Ma immediately approached, grabbing the doctor's arm and asking, "Doctor, how is my Miss?"
The doctor responded with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, she has passed the critical period. The high fever has subsided, but she will need proper care and recuperation from now on."
"That's good... That's good..." Wang Ma said joyfully, tears welling up again. "Thank you, doctor."
Glancing at the records in his hand, the doctor asked tactfully, "May I ask if Miss Lin has been under a lot of work pressure recently?"
Wang Ma paused for a moment and answered truthfully, "Yes, doctor. My Miss has always been dedicated to her work, but she has been staying up late frequently these days. Is there a problem?"
"Miss Lin's body is very weak. Based on our diagnosis, it appears to be a result of long-term excessive work pressure and excessive mental burden," the doctor said, furrowing his brow. "This fever is also due to her weakened state and exposure to the cold. If this continues, even if she recovers this time, it will happen again in the future. With repeated occurrences, it will leave a chronic illness, and her health will completely deteriorate."
Wang Ma's heart sank, and she said anxiously, "Doctor, what... what should we do? We must cure my Miss."
"Don't worry, it's not a serious condition. What the patient needs is a carefully planned recovery process," the doctor reassured with a smile. "If she can stay in the hospital for about half a month and undergo some traditional Chinese medicine treatments, she can regain her health."
Wang Ma looked worried and said, "Half a month... I'm afraid my Miss won't agree."
"She must agree," Yang Chen interjected calmly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. Then he turned to the doctor and asked, "Doctor, what else needs to be done?"
The doctor hesitated for a moment and then asked, "And who might you be?"
"I am Lin Ruoxi's husband. My name is Yang Chen."
Doctor appeared somewhat surprised but quickly smiled and said, "Oh, I apologize. I didn't know Miss Lin was married. Mr. Yang, if you have time, you can accompany your wife to the hospital garden during her leisure time to breathe fresh air. The patient's mental burden is heavy, and it requires some relief from worries, not just physical recuperation."
Yang Chen nodded in agreement. It was understandable.
To master a fashion industry giant like Jade Orchid International at such a young age, with no family by her side and a father who only caused trouble without making any contributions, dealing with so many cunning enemies in the business world, and feeling so lonely and helpless in her personal life, even occasionally being targeted by wealthy playboys like Xu Zhihong—this woman's ability to hold on until now was enough to inspire awe in people.
After seeing off several medical staff, Wang Ma sighed and said, "Young Master, since Miss must stay in the hospital, I'll go back and pack some necessary belongings. I can't wait for Miss to wake up; she might need something."
"You've worked hard, Wang Ma." Yang Chen sincerely smiled. In fact, Lin Ruoxi was not completely alone. At the very least, there was Wang Ma, who had watched her grow up, always by her side, never abandoning her.
Wang Ma shook her head, feeling somewhat sentimental. "I've only done trivial things. If it weren't for Young Master, Miss would probably have been driven to a dead end by Old Master. Young Master is the one who has truly done remarkable things. Miss's choice of Young Master is truly the best choice."
Yang Chen couldn't deny it and self-deprecatingly chuckled. If he didn't have some skills, Lin Ruoxi would probably have been forced into a hopeless situation by Lin Kun. But she inexplicably decided to fake marriage with him, and he ended up scratching the lottery ticket and winning the "jackpot."
After Wang Ma left, Yang Chen gently pushed open the wooden door of the hospital room and stepped softly inside.
The room was dimly lit, with only the bedside lamp casting a soft glow, enveloping the pristine hospital bed.
Lin Ruoxi's pitch-black hair was scattered, and her once cold and glamorous face now appeared fragile, like a delicate willow swaying in the wind. She lay there quietly with her eyes closed, breathing evenly. However, her arched eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if she was experiencing something unpleasant in her dreams.
"Are even her dreams filled with worries?"
Yang Chen sat down on a chair next to the bed, his gaze absent-mindedly fixed on the woman before him who was in a deep sleep. Her features, her facial contours, her temperament, all resembled that person from the past so much... Gradually, Yang Chen lost track of time...
"Knock, knock."
The door to the hospital room was suddenly knocked twice. Before Yang Chen could turn around, someone skillfully pushed open the door and walked in.