Zhao Jingshen's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. He squeezed Meilin's hand reassuringly before following the doctor into the hallway.
"Is something wrong?" Zhao Jingshen demanded as soon as the door closed behind them.
Dr. Zhang held up a placating hand. "Not at all, Mr. Zhao. As I said, Miss Jiang's physical recovery is progressing well. However, I'm concerned about her emotional state. She's been through a traumatic experience, and it's important that she feels safe and supported."
Jingshen's jaw clenched. "Are you implying that I'm not providing adequate support?"
"Not at all," Dr. Zhang quickly assured him. "Your presence has clearly been beneficial. However, I've noticed that Miss Jiang seems... anxious at times, particularly when you step out of the room. It might be helpful for her to speak with a trauma counselor."
Zhao Jingshen was silent for a long moment, his mind racing. He had noticed Meilin's attempts to get him to leave, but he had attributed it to her independent nature. Could there be more to it? Was she truly anxious, or was she trying to hide something from him?
"I'll consider it," he finally said, his tone making it clear that the conversation was over.
As Zhao Jingshen re-entered the room, Jiang Meilin looked up at him with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Is everything okay?" she asked.
Zhao Jingshen forced a smile, not wanting to worry her. "Everything's fine. The doctor just wanted to discuss your discharge plans."
Meilin studied his face, sensing there was more he wasn't saying. But before she could press further, Zhao Jingshen's phone buzzed insistently.
He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening. "Excuse me," he muttered, stepping out into the hallway once more.
Once alone, Jiang Meilin closed her eyes, letting out a deep breath. The constant dance of half-truths and hidden emotions was taking its toll. She longed to tell Zhao Jingshen everything – about her family, her life, the reasons she was living her best friend's life. But she knew that once those words were spoken, there would be no going back. She gripped her hair in frustration due to her predicament. When she decided to live Jiang Meilin's life and fulfil her best friend's dreams, she never counted on falling in love albeit with a powerful man.
Outside, Jingshen answered the call with barely contained irritation. "Chen Li, I told you to handle things."
"I apologize for the interruption, sir," Chen Li's voice came through, tense and urgent. "But Lian Guanghao is becoming increasingly... insistent. He's threatening to go to the media if you don't speak with him."
Jingshen's eyes flashed dangerously. "Let him," he growled. "By the time I'm done, the Lian family won't have a reputation left to protect."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Sir," Chen Li ventured cautiously, "about the other matter... the investigation into Miss Jiang's background..."
"I told you to drop it," Jingshen cut him off sharply.
"Yes, sir, but... there have been some unusual activities observed around the hospital. It's possible that Miss Jiang has her own security detail."
Jingshen closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. Part of him wanted to demand answers, to unravel the mystery that was Jiang Meilin. But a larger part, the part that ached every time he looked at her, didn't care about her secrets.
"It doesn't matter," he said finally. "Whatever it is, whoever she really is... she's mine now. And I'll protect her, no matter what."
"Understood, sir," Chen Li replied, his tone neutral. "What are your orders regarding the Lian family?"
Jingshen's expression hardened. "Continue as planned. Dismantle their empire piece by piece. But do it quietly. I don't want anything traced back to us."
As he ended the call, Zhao Jingshen leaned against the wall, suddenly feeling the weight of sleepless nights and emotional turmoil. He knew he was walking a dangerous line, letting his emotions guide his actions in a way he never had before. But every time he thought of Meilin lying pale and still in that hospital bed, every time he remembered the fear that had gripped him when he thought he might lose her, he knew there was no going back.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Jingshen schooled his features into a calm mask before re-entering Meilin's room. She looked up as he entered, and the soft smile she gave him made his heart race.
"Everything okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Jingshen nodded, moving to sit beside her bed. "Just some business matters. Nothing for you to worry about."
Meilin reached out, her hand hovering hesitantly before gently touching his arm. "Jingshen," she said softly, "I know you've put everything on hold to be here with me. I can't tell you how much that means to me, but... I don't want to be a burden. If you need to go take care of things..."
Jingshen caught her hand in his, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her skin. "You could never be a burden, Meilin," he said, his voice low and intense. "You're the most important thing in my life right now. Everything else can wait."
The raw emotion in his voice made Meilin's breath catch. She looked into his eyes, seeing a depth of feeling that both thrilled and terrified her. In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to throw caution to the wind, to tell him everything and damn the consequences.
But the rational part of her mind, the part honed by years of navigating the treacherous waters of her family's world, held her back. There was still so much unsaid between them, so many obstacles to overcome. Zhao Jingshen was still engaged to another woman, and she... she was still hiding behind a carefully constructed facade, an identity that wasn't hers.
So instead of the words that burned on the tip of her tongue, Meilin simply squeezed his hand, hoping he could feel everything she couldn't say.
As they sat there, hands intertwined and hearts full of unspoken truths, neither of them was aware of the forces converging around them.
In a luxurious office across the city, Lian Guanghao paced furiously, plotting his next move. In the shadows of the hospital, Jiang Meilin's guards watched and waited, ready to act at a moment's notice. And somewhere over the ocean, a private jet carried a young man whose arrival would change everything.