"He Xing, aren't you afraid that I might die?"
Within the private ward of He Family Hospital, Fu Han removed her engagement ring and held it in her palm as she watched the man before her.
The twilight was heavy, and the dim yellow light within the room cast a slanted shadow across the man's face, highlighting his sharp and exquisitely handsome features.
He Xing stood silently before Fu Han, his handsome brows and cold, thin lips making him appear even more indifferent.
He watched Fu Han without a word, finally speaking in a deep voice after a long while, "The doctor has already completed the examination. You can be discharged tomorrow, and I'll come to pick you up in the morning."
Fu Han immediately let out a cold laugh, "Save your solicitude for your childhood sweetheart."
She clenched her fingers tightly around the engagement ring, the sharp edges instantly cutting into her palm.
"After all, she is the one who almost played with her own life."
"Fu Han," He Xing's face darkened a few shades, "It was just an accident."
"An accident?" A layer of foreboding shadowed Fu Han's eyes, "You call this an 'accident'?!"
Fu Han slowly straightened her body, staring into He Xing's eyes as she said word by word, "Do I need to remind you of what happened?"
A few hours earlier, she had attended a banquet at the Xia Family with He Xing.
The Xia Family's Lady, Xia Ning, and He Xing had grown up together. As the two families were old friends and Xia Ning had returned from studying abroad, she personally invited He Xing, who of course would not refuse.
What no one expected was that, after the banquet, as a few of A City's finest gathered alone, Xia Ning would stand by the poolside with a radiant smile and ask, "He Xing, if Fu Han and I both fell into the water, who would you save?"
What happened next was absurdly tragic.
Right after Xia Ning uttered those words, she and Fu Han indeed both fell into the pool.
Then, as Fu Han, who couldn't swim, watched, He Xing did not hesitate to dive into the pool towards Xia Ning, allowing his fiancée to sink to the bottom.
"He Xing." Fu Han smiled again, but the smile did not reach the bottom of her eyes, "Get out of here."
He Xing looked at Fu Han emotionlessly, and after a long while, he left a cold remark, "Rest well."
He then turned and left the ward.
Fu Han felt as if all her strength had been sapped in an instant, and her throat so dry she closed her eyes.
The ring in her palm had pierced through the flesh, the pain causing her to break out in cold sweat and her wrist to twitch, but Fu Han found it strangely satisfying.
The pain made her clear-headed, also allowing her to face the truth she was unwilling to confront.
Not long after, the sound of the door opening was heard again.
Fu Han raised her head and saw a slender shadow slowly walking in, quietly standing beside her bed.
It was Xia Ning.
"Fu Han, I'm sorry."
Xia Ning said casually, "He Xing asked me to apologize to you. I didn't expect such an accident to happen."
Xia Ning's face was full of perfunctory expressions, her eyes revealing the usual arrogance and impatience, it seemed like she regarded Fu Han as something filthy, as if even looking at her was a desecration.
Fu Han curved the corner of her mouth and tossed a simple word at her, "Scram."
Xia Ning's eyebrows arched, her voice mocking and sharp, "Fu Han, can't you take a joke?"
Fu Han's expression turned icy as she listened to Xia Ning's laughter, "It was just a joke, who knew you would slip and fall into the pool too?"
"A joke?" Fu Han repeated the words slowly.
"Otherwise, what? Do you think someone is deliberately trying to harm you?"
Xia Ning laughed sharply, "No wonder they say you country girls are dull. You act like you have a persecution complex. If it weren't for your parents saving Mr. He's life with their own, do you think He Xing would be engaged to you?"
Fu Han's eyes twitched, she turned to get out of bed but suddenly felt a dizzy spell.
"Xia Ning, it was your brother who pushed me into the pool," Fu Han steadied herself on the bed, hatred flashing in her eyes.
"Then why don't you tell He Xing," Xia Ning sneered, "Did anyone see my brother lay a hand on you? Do you think He Xing would believe your words?"
Fu Han glared coldly at Xia Ning, who took two steps back and said, "What, you want to hit me? He Xing is just outside; if he saw you acting like this, he would dislike you even more."
She played with the hair on her shoulder, tilting her head coquettishly, "Go ahead and hit me. If it can make He Xing see your true colors and completely distance himself from you, this idiot, I'd have accumulated merit for the He Family."
Fu Han watched Xia Ning expressionlessly, Xia Ning's smile also faded, "Fu Han, one should know their own worth."
Her expression turned into one of resentment, and in a lowered voice she said bitterly, "It is me he truly likes; we are the match made in heaven. Even if you died in front of him, all he would see is me. Threatening Mr. He with your parents' lives to bind He Xing to you for five years, you're really shameless. If only you could have really drowned tonight."
After saying this, she snorted haughtily and elegantly turned to leave the ward.
Watching Xia Ning's retreating figure, Fu Han suddenly laughed.
He Xing had Xia Ning come to apologize to her?
She took a deep breath, disgust flashing through her eyes.
It had been five years, and indeed, there were some things... it was time for her to wake up.
Fu Han threw back the covers and got out of bed; a chill immediately swept through her body, and fear from sinking to the bottom of the pool still lingered in her heart.
At that moment—
At the brink of death, she had actually assumed that He Xing would save her...
Fu Han shook her head, tossed the engagement ring onto the table, and resolutely walked towards the door of the ward.