When Luo Li's grandmother heard about the car accident, she fainted on the spot. Although her condition stabilized, her grandfather, who took her to the hospital, was thoroughly exhausted and needed someone to take care of him. Both of Luo Li's grandparents were in poor health, living in a quiet, remote area surrounded by mountains and rivers. Their mobility was limited, and they didn't move around much. Now, Luo Shuhe and Luo Zhining had to rush over to help.
Though they had maids and caregivers, they weren't entirely comfortable leaving without a family member to watch over things.
"I'll stay with Ranran to take care of Luo Luo; Uncle, Aunt, you should go quickly," Tao Jinxi said, cutting off Luo Ran before she could speak.
Luo Ran shivered at the sound of her name in Tao Jinxi's mouth.
"You've been here long enough. There's no need to trouble you any further. I've already called my mom, Aunt. You two can go with peace of mind; I've got this covered," Luo Ran said confidently, patting her chest.
Despite everything, Tao Jinxi was still an outsider, and Luo Zhining and Luo Shuhe naturally wouldn't ask her to stay. They thanked her and suggested she go home to rest so as not to worry her family.
As they reached the parking lot, a familiar, cold figure hurried past their black car, not even noticing them.
"Isn't that..." Luo Shuhe's eyes widened in surprise.
Luo Zhining glanced at the figure, then calmly got into the car. "Let's go."
——Given the timing of Lu Cixue's arrival at the hospital, she likely didn't know they were leaving.
Finally, the furrow between Luo Zhining's brows began to relax.
In the quiet hospital room, Luo Li slowly became aware of her surroundings, but it felt as though her eyelids weighed a thousand pounds, making it impossible to open them. The room was silent.
Her body felt heavy, completely immobile. Was she dead?
The high-end room's soundproofing was excellent, and Luo Li could hear nothing of the conflict outside.
"Miss Lu, repeatedly showing up isn't called devotion; it's called being a pest," Tao Jinxi said, clearly trying to pick a fight.
"Hey, hey, hey, how can you talk like that? Who are you to call someone devoted? Did you think about my sister's feelings when you played her for a fool?" Luo Ran shot back. "Honestly, you've been here all day, but have you really done anything for my sister? Aside from showing off your presence, what else have you accomplished?"
"Stop arguing." Lu Cixue's voice was soft and weak, but it carried a cold edge.
The authority in her tone startled Tao Jinxi into silence.
Alright, perhaps a hospital wasn't the place for such a loud argument.
Lu Cixue ignored the bickering, her trembling fingers gripping the door handle as she slowly turned it.
Inside, Luo Li could feel a familiar, comforting presence. She was confused, thinking that Lu Cixue's scent seemed to carry her own as well.
Was it just her imagination?
She tried to open her eyes to see but found it impossible.
A warm hand gently clasped hers, and a single tear fell onto her hand before being quickly wiped away.
——She's crying again.
Luo Li knew it. In the last moment before she lost consciousness, she saw the face of the person in the car.
She had a sharp memory for faces and recognized who it was almost instantly.
She wanted to open her eyes and tell Lu Cixue not to cry, but after several attempts, she still couldn't manage it.
All she could do was try to squeeze that hand, putting in what felt like a great deal of effort, though her fingers only moved slightly.
She was so tired she was about to fall back asleep.
But the faint movement was noticed by the one holding her hand, who immediately called for the doctor.
The doctor smiled, saying that Luo Li's consciousness was gradually returning and that she should be fully awake soon.
Luo Ran quickly relayed the news to Luo Zhining, emphasizing that Luo Li only regained consciousness because Lu Cixue was there.
Luo Zhining was well aware of this. The family's maid had been keeping her updated on the situation, detailing how Lu Cixue had meticulously cared for Luo Li, wiping her down, giving her water, and learning how to change her bandages.
The maid said that Miss Lu had done everything by herself.
When Luo Li's grandmother found out she had regained consciousness, she was finally able to relax a little.
"Is someone with her? You two should go back now. We're fine here," she said, urging them to leave as soon as they stepped into her room.
For the first time, a smile appeared on Luo Zhining's tired face. "Don't worry, Mom. Someone's taking good care of her."
——
For several days, Luo Li was in and out of consciousness, with her periods of wakefulness gradually increasing. Each time she tried to open her eyes but couldn't, she grew more anxious.
She could tell that Lu Cixue was the one spending most of the time by her side.
It seemed like she hadn't rested at all.
More importantly, last night Luo Li had been awake, though Lu Cixue didn't know it. She sat beside her, saying many things.
So many apologies, asking Luo Li to wake up soon.
She also mentioned how she didn't know what to do anymore, agreeing with Luo Zhining that she didn't deserve her.
Luo Li was frustrated enough to jump out of bed.
Was this really her mother? Seeing Lu Cixue so upset, instead of comforting her, she had only made things worse.
Luo Li heard a soft whisper, "But I still like you so much."
From the first glance, she had liked her, from the fear of confessing to falling head over heels, to now trying to restrain her feelings.
Luo Li's lips were gently kissed.
Luo Li was surprised. She rarely heard Lu Cixue openly express her feelings.
She was usually so reserved, just initiating a kiss would make her blush.
"But I can't do this anymore." It sounded like she was talking to herself.
That "can't do this" was the last straw, prompting Luo Li to finally open her eyes that afternoon.
But surprisingly, she was greeted by her parents and two friends.
No Lu Cixue.
She felt a pang of disappointment.
"Luo Luo, you're awake! Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Luo Zhining, nearly losing her composure for the first time, called the doctor to check on Luo Li, who was found to be fine.
Luo Li shook her head, scanning the room but not seeing who she was looking for.
"Where's Lu Cixue? Did you make her leave?" Luo Li asked, a little flustered, casting a slight look of blame at her mother.
"Is that any way to speak to your mother?" Luo Shuhe's face turned stern immediately.
Though they usually doted on Luo Li, they had always been strict with her.
"I'm sorry." Realizing her rudeness, Luo Li quickly apologized.
"If I had really chased her away, she wouldn't have been able to stay here with you for even a minute," Luo Zhining said, reflecting that there was some truth to the saying about how people forget their parents when they find a partner.
"I was wrong, Mom. Please don't be mad." Luo Li quickly put on a sweet smile, trying to appease her.
Jing Yao chimed in, "Aunt only sent her home to rest because she saw how exhausted she was." Though the original words weren't as gentle.
Luo Zhining recounted her conversation with Lu Cixue, "Yes, I told her that I absolutely wouldn't take back what I said, and I never asked her to stay up all night to care for you. So now she can leave."
"Why did you..." Luo Li frowned, but she knew her mother wasn't being unreasonable.
Seeing how her daughter seemed eager to run off and find Lu Cixue, Luo Zhining didn't know what to say.
——Another fool, she thought. Might as well let her figure it out on her own.
"Anyway, focus on recovering. Your father will handle your resignation papers in a few days, and we'll sell your apartment. The weather in Jianghuai isn't suitable for you, so once the doctor says you can be discharged, you'll go stay with your grandparents. They ended up in the hospital because of your accident, so make sure you spend more time with them."
"What?" Luo Li's eyes widened, wondering if she was still dreaming.
"What do you mean, 'what'? No objections allowed."
With that, Luo Zhining and Luo Shuhe left the room.
Luo Li pouted, reaching for the phone on the side table.
"That's a new one. Your old one was completely destroyed in the accident," Jing Yao reminded her, picking up the phone but not handing it over.
"What are you doing?"
"The doctor said you shouldn't be using your phone right now. Besides, Aunt isn't trying to stop you two from being together, so why are you in such a hurry?" Jing Yao rubbed her temples, thinking that while Luo Li was a great partner, she could be a bit dense. Fortunately, she hadn't ended up with that Tao family heiress, or she would have driven herself crazy.
"After everything that happened, Aunt just wants to see Lu Cixue's true intentions."
Jing Yao speculated, "Though I don't know her well, I have a feeling that even if you go to her now, she'd be full of guilt, convinced she can't protect you and that you should break up."
Seeing the shock on Luo Li's face, Jing Yao felt she had probably hit the nail on the head.
People like her, who live cautiously, are much more sensitive when it comes to love.
"So..."
Jing Yao's tone suddenly turned mysterious.
Luo Ran stood there, feeling lost, not quite grasping the conversation.
Ugh, she thought, relationships are such a hassle.
——
A shocking rumor was making the rounds at Fengyu.
That intern who had just become a full-time employee turned out to be the daughter of two senior executives, and now it seemed she was quitting just as suddenly as she started.
Ji Qiubai watched the person sitting in her office, hardly daring to breathe.
Lu Cixue had been rushing to the hospital every day, piling up work that now needed to be dealt with. As she sat there reading documents, it was clear she was struggling to keep her emotions in check.
Ji Qiubai figured it had something to do with the phone call from the day before.
"Lu Cixue, are you not going to come see me, even now that I'm like this?" The voice on the other end was low and full of disappointment.
"I..."
She had been standing next to her boss at the time and had seen the moment Lu Cixue's eyes welled up with tears.
Lu Cixue didn't explain that Luo Zhining had forbidden her from visiting, or that she had been caring for her for days, only that she was sorry.
There was a pause on the other end. "My mom said we shouldn't see each other anymore. Did you agree?"
——Was that how Manager Luo had phrased it to Luo Li?
"So you're the one who pushed me away first, right?"
Lu Cixue remembered Luo Li saying before that as long as she wasn't pushed away, she would never leave.
A wave of panic washed over Lu Cixue. She wanted to explain, but the words caught in her throat, and all she could do was feel her eyes sting even more.
The person on the other end seemed to hear her sharp intake of breath and hastily said, "Okay, I understand. Then this is it."
Lu Cixue frantically tried to call back but hesitated, her finger hovering over the screen, unable to press down.
When the doctor said she could be discharged, Luo Li's family quickly arranged for her to leave Jianghuai City the next day.
Ji Qiubai had been curious, but Jing Yao just laughed and kissed her on the cheek, saying, "You don't get it. Your boss needs a bit of tough love. Otherwise, she'll just keep taking everything on herself, feeling guilty and thinking about breaking up. That's no good."
So they were going to test her, to see if Miss Lu was still that scared little snail who would retreat at the first sign of trouble, to see if her love had given her any courage.
Luo Li, on the other hand, wasn't on board with Jing Yao's heartless plan.
"No way. She's already so upset. How can I deceive her and make her feel worse?"
Jing Yao thought that while Luo Li was undoubtedly a great partner, these two were a match made in heaven—both foolish and stubborn.
"If she can't break out of that cycle on her own, no amount of effort on your part will make a difference. It will only make her feel more guilty and overthink everything."
"Don't you want to see..."
"How much she loves you?"