What?
Sheng Xiangsi was stunned. The Civil Affairs Bureau was closed?
She hadn't done it on purpose. She had walked a long way, unable to catch a taxi until she was almost downtown.
In the end, she was still late.
Suddenly, her vision went black.
Sheng Xiangsi swayed, unable to hold on any longer. Her eyes closed, and she fell straight towards Fu Hanjiang!
With a thud, she collapsed into his arms.
"Hey!"
Fu Hanjiang was caught off guard, instinctively raising his arms to catch her.
"Sheng. Xiang. Si!"
He spat out her name through gritted teeth.
Didn't she say she wouldn't cling to him? And the next second, she's throwing herself into his arms?! Clearly, she was still the same old Sheng Xiangsi, incorrigible!
She must have planned this!
"Sheng Xiangsi, I order you, get up right now!"
However, the person in his arms didn't respond.
Sensing something was wrong, Fu Hanjiang looked down. "Sheng Xiangsi? Hey! Wake up!"
Still, no response.
"If you don't get up, I'm going to move you myself!"
He lifted his hand to pull her away, only to realize she wasn't faking it. Her face was as white as a sheet; she had passed out!
"Sheng Xiangsi! What's wrong with you?"
Fu Hanjiang started to panic.
In a rush, he scooped her up in his arms and hurried to his car, driving straight to the nearest hospital.
In the emergency room.
"Doctor, what's wrong with her?"
"Menstrual pain. It's common in many women, but her case is quite severe."
The doctor examined Sheng Xiangsi and, while typing up the medical record, glanced at Fu Hanjiang. "She's young, why is her menstrual pain so severe?"
Well...
Fu Hanjiang couldn't answer. How would he know?
The doctor didn't press further, simply instructing, "Severe menstrual pain isn't a minor issue, especially for her. I recommend a detailed examination once she wakes up to find out the cause."
"Alright, got it."
Fu Hanjiang frowned and nodded.
"I've prescribed some medication. You can go get it."
"Okay."
Fu Hanjiang took the prescription and went to pay for the medicine.
As he recalled, did Sheng Xiangsi have this issue before? He realized he had no memory of it.
The most vivid memory he had of her was her incessantly clinging to him...
In the emergency room.
Sheng Xiangsi had woken up. She propped herself up on the bed, got dressed, and slung her bag over her shoulder before leaving the room.
"Hey."
A nurse stopped her, "Where are you going? Your boyfriend went to get your medication. Wait for him to come back and take you home."
Boyfriend?
Sheng Xiangsi was unsure. Was it Fu Hanjiang?
Before she lost consciousness, she was indeed with him. But would he be kind enough to take her to the hospital?
Whether it was or not, it didn't matter.
"Thanks, I know."
Sheng Xiangsi didn't want to trouble the nurse. "I'll wait for him outside."
"Alright." The nurse didn't ask further and walked away.
So, Sheng Xiangsi didn't stay either. She left the hospital with her bag, holding her stomach...
Fu Hanjiang got the medication and was walking back when his phone rang.
It was Fu Mingzhu.
"Hello, Grandma."
"Hanjiang." Fu Mingzhu had just woken up, her voice groggy.
"I remembered something. Today is Xiangsi's grandmother's death anniversary. We should have gone to pay our respects. Look at me, I completely forgot."
She urged her grandson, "Hanjiang, find some time to accompany Xiangsi. The poor child hasn't paid her respects in years."
"!!"
Fu Hanjiang was stunned.
Licking his dry lips, "Grandma, where is her grandmother buried?"
"You silly child, haven't you been there before? Don't you remember? Jiu Xian Bridge…"
Oh no!
Fu Hanjiang closed his eyes, a frown creasing his brow. Jiu Xian Bridge… Sheng Xiangsi hadn't lied! She really did go to Jiu Xian Bridge today! She went to pay her respects to her grandmother!
"Hanjiang, Hanjiang? Are you listening?"
"I'm listening, Grandma."
"Sigh…"
Fu Mingzhu sighed, "Xiangsi used to be a bit spoiled, but she was young and naive. I see she's grown up and become more sensible. Be nicer to her; she has no one else but us."
"Grandma, I have something to take care of. I'll talk to you later."
He reached the emergency room and hurriedly hung up, rushing inside to find Sheng Xiangsi.
He pulled back the curtain and was stunned.
The examination bed was empty; Sheng Xiangsi was nowhere to be seen.
...
"Where is she?"
Fu Hanjiang asked the nurse.
The nurse looked innocent, "Your girlfriend said she'd wait for you outside. Didn't you see her?"
Hmph.
Fu Hanjiang's smile was cold. If he had seen her, would he be asking them?
His lips thinned, his jaw tightened, "She's a patient, an unconscious patient! And you let her leave? If something happens to her, your hospital will be held accountable!"
"Sir…" The nurse was almost in tears.
Fu Hanjiang was walking out, dialing his phone.
Naturally, he was calling Sheng Xiangsi, but she didn't answer.
Was she angry and deliberately not answering?
Or had she fainted again and didn't hear it?
Fu Hanjiang was at a loss, with no choice but to go back to Yintan and see if she had returned.
On the way, he called Rong Zhen.
"It's me."
"Second Master, what can I do for you?"
"Find out if anything happened at Jiu Xian Bridge today."
"Oh, that. No need to investigate, I know about it—today, an overpass near Jiu Xian Bridge collapsed, and firefighters are still clearing the site."
So that's it!
Fu Hanjiang closed his eyes, unable to hide his remorse. Sheng Xiangsi hadn't lied. She really had been stuck at Jiu Xian Bridge!
So, how did she get to the Civil Affairs Bureau?
He remembered his words—crawl if you have to, but get here!
And her soaking wet, mud-covered appearance… Did she actually crawl here?
Suddenly, Fu Hanjiang gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenched.
He didn't like her, but he never intended to 'bully' a girl like this!
Pressing down on the gas pedal, he accelerated.
Back at Yintan.
The living room was dimly lit. Fu Hanjiang strode inside.
The sofa was empty. Sheng Xiangsi wasn't back? Where had she gone?
Footsteps approached. He looked up to see Sheng Xiangsi, in fresh clothes, coming from the bathroom. She had clearly just showered.
She was back, and that was a relief.
Fu Hanjiang breathed a sigh of relief, but his expression remained stern, and his tone was still harsh.
"Sheng Xiangsi, how old are you? You didn't think to let anyone know before leaving? Do you think it's fun making me look for you all over?"
Sheng Xiangsi ignored him.
She was exhausted and didn't want to say a single word to him.
Would he really look for her all over? Ridiculous! Even if she were right under his nose, he wouldn't give her a second glance.
Without looking at him, she walked to the sofa, spread out a blanket, lay down, and turned her back to him.
She had a performance at nine in the evening and needed to rest.