A silver-gray sedan sped towards the hospital, with Kang Chen's thin lips pressed tightly together, an unusual gravity etched upon his features.
Upon hearing Kang Chen utter the words "car accident," Xu Xing's mind went utterly blank—
her greatest fears had materialized.
Lu Xiaoke wore a tracking watch, and her shoes were equipped with tracking chips; the likelihood of her going missing was minimal. What she dreaded most was the possibility of slipping away and then encountering an unfortunate incident.
Upon arriving at the hospital parking lot, Kang Chen exited the car.
He lingered outside for a moment, and seeing no one emerge from the passenger seat, he walked around to the other side and opened the door.
Xu Xing unfastened her seatbelt, gripping the edge of the seat, her fingers taut and pale.
Unbeknownst to her, at some point, her eyes had reddened; she hadn't cried, but her gaze shimmered with anxiety and trepidation.
Noticing her distress, Kang Chen's expression softened significantly as he reached out to Xu Xing, saying, "Get down."
Xu Xing hesitated, her gaze momentarily lingering on his outstretched hand before she grasped it uncertainly.
Her hand was cold, and Kang Chen tightened his grip, gently pulling her outward.
Xu Xing used the support to rise, her legs feeling somewhat unsteady.
***
By the time they reached the CT room, several individuals had gathered outside.
Xu Xing immediately spotted a young woman standing in the center.
The woman exuded a captivating aura, dressed in a pearl-white A-line dress, her wrist adorned with an expensive diamond watch, although her meticulously styled chestnut waves had become somewhat disheveled.
She paced anxiously at the entrance, wringing her hands and occasionally covering her mouth with her palm.
Nearby, a middle-aged man in a suit spoke softly on the phone, while a young girl, who had also gone missing with Lu Xiaoke, stood helplessly by, her mother crouched beside her, seemingly offering comfort.
Upon seeing Kang Chen approach, the young woman's gaze sharpened suddenly.
She strode towards him, fury radiating from her as she pointed an accusing finger at Kang Chen. "Didn't Ziqian entrust Xiaoke to you? Is this how you take care of him? Kang Chen, he is your nephew, after all! If you didn't want to look after him, you could have just said so!"
Xu Xing immediately grasped the woman's identity; her contact information had appeared on Lu Xiaoke's enrollment form, and she was presumably Cen Zijing.
Witnessing Kang Chen being berated, Xu Xing instinctively stepped forward, shielding him. "Xiaoke's mother, I am Qi Zhen's training instructor. I apologize; it's all my fault. I—"
"You are Xiaoke's teacher?" Before Xu Xing could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Cen Zijing, whose eyes were red-rimmed as she scrutinized Xu Xing. Her voice suddenly escalated, sharp and piercing, "With your qualifications, you dare to be a teacher? Was the tuition fee of over ten thousand yuan wasted on you?!"
Xu Xing's complexion paled, rendered speechless.
Suddenly, as if recalling something, Cen Zijing let out a cold laugh, nodding mockingly. "Ah, I remember now. Lu Ziqian mentioned you are Xu Yue's cousin, right? You and your cousin are truly cut from the same cloth. Back in school, Xu Yue was nothing but a schemer, a sycophant who thrived on charm and liked to steal other people's partners! And you, as her cousin, seem to follow in her footsteps…"
As she spoke, she advanced, seemingly intending to grab Xu Xing by the collar.
However, Kang Chen reacted swiftly, seizing her wrist with a firm grip.
The two remained locked in a tense standoff for several seconds, until Kang Chen forcefully flung Cen Zijing's hand away, delivering a chilling warning, "Know your limits."
Cen Zijing stumbled sideways, her eyes blazing with indignation, but faced with Kang Chen, she hesitated, ultimately refraining from further outbursts.
Standing tall, she slowly nodded, gesturing towards Xu Xing and then towards the driver of the accident, who had just finished his call. "Let me make myself clear; if anything happens to my son, none of you will escape unscathed!"
After her threatening proclamation, she marched away, her stiletto heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor, echoing in Xu Xing's heart. With reddened eyes, Xu Xing slightly tilted her head, gazing at the illuminated "in progress" sign outside the CT room.
Kang Chen placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle pat, as if to offer solace.
***
Before Lu Xiaoke emerged from the CT room, Xu Xing received an inquiry call from the company.
Usually quick-witted and unyielding, she found herself unwilling to defend her actions now, continuously repeating her apologies, her spirits utterly crushed.
After enduring ten minutes of scolding behind the security door, Xu Xing returned to the CT room just in time to encounter Lu Xiaoke's exit.
A nurse pushed Lu Xiaoke down the corridor towards the ward, with others trailing closely behind, and Xu Xing hurried to catch up.
Breathing heavily, she tugged at Kang Chen's sleeve. "What did the doctor say?"
"The injuries are not severe, but there is a mild concussion. She needs to be hospitalized for 48 hours for observation. If there are no complications, she can rest at home for about two weeks," Kang Chen calmly relayed the doctor's words, adding, "You don't need to worry too much."
Xu Xing nodded vigorously, biting her lip, struggling to hold back tears that eventually streamed down her cheeks.
She followed the nurse pushing the gurney, using the back of her hand to wipe her tears away.
Upon reaching the ward, Cen Zijing coincidentally arrived, immediately cornering the doctor for another round of questions. After learning that the injuries were not serious, she finally appeared to relax.
As she entered the ward, she noticed others attempting to follow and swiftly blocked them, slamming the door shut behind her.
Left on the outside, Ruo Ruo's mother wore an unhappy expression, having remained silent until now, and could no longer restrain herself as she complained to Xu Xing, "Teacher Xu, what on earth were you doing? You know how children can be; couldn't you keep an eye on them during the last class?"
Just as she finished speaking, Ruo Ruo tugged at her dress, softly explaining, "Mom, it's not Teacher Xu's fault. We sneaked out ourselves; Lu Ke… Lu Ke said he wanted to give me an Ultraman…"
With every word, the little girl's voice grew softer, her head bowed low, overwhelmed with guilt.
Xu Xing's heart was heavy with remorse as she repeatedly apologized to Ruo Ruo's mother, bowing her head in contrition.
The incessant calls from the company were unrelenting, and remaining at the hospital seemed futile for now; Xu Xing decided to return to Qi Zhen first.
Upon hearing this, Kang Chen offered, "I will drive you."
"No, it's fine. I can go back by myself."
Kang Chen wanted to insist, but Xu Xing, with her eyes downcast, spoke first, cutting him off. "I truly… feel terrible right now. I need some time alone."
Kang Chen said nothing further, watching her leave with a heavy heart.
***
As the saying goes, opportunities are often bestowed upon the prepared, while misfortunes tend to befall the unready.
Xu Xing couldn't comprehend how such a drastic turn of events could occur in the mere span of a trip to the restroom, yet it had indeed happened.
She didn't wish to evade or shirk responsibility; one must learn to confront the truth and accept accountability.
By the time Xu Xing returned to the hospital in the evening, Kang Chen was speaking on the phone in the corridor.
Noticing her arrival, he exchanged a few words with the person on the other end before quickly concluding the call.
"How is Xiao Ke? Is he okay?" Xu Xing stood at the door, her voice soft, nervously shifting the insulated container in her hands.
"Why don't you go in and see for yourself?"
With that, Kang Chen opened the door.
Xu Xing was taken aback. "I… can I really go in?"
Kang Chen remained silent, his gaze fixed on the room beyond.
***
Following his line of sight, Xu Xing peered inside and noticed only the small figure lying on the bed. A slight breath of relief escaped her as she stepped in, her voice hushed as she inquired, "Where's his mother?"
"You needn't concern yourself with that woman's words; do you truly think she cares for her family?"
If she did, her son wouldn't have needed to be picked up by his uncle when she was right in Star City.
Xu Xing paused but refrained from asking further.
Xiao Ke lay in the single hospital room, already asleep, a bandage wrapped around his head and faint abrasions on his small face. Dressed in a striped hospital gown, he appeared pale.
Xu Xing longed to reach out and touch him but hesitated, her hand hovering in the air before withdrawing.
Seating herself on a nearby low stool, she quietly peeled an apple, softly apologizing to Kang Chen, "I'm truly sorry for today's events."
She had lost count of how many times she had apologized that day; she repeated it over and over, knowing full well how futile such words could be. Yet, apart from apologies, she could do little else.
Kang Chen stood opposite her, hands in his pockets. "You don't need to apologize anymore; this situation isn't entirely your fault."
After waking up, Xiao Ke had admitted his wrongdoing, revealing that he had intentionally taken the little girl to avoid adults while seeking out a toy store. Unfortunately, while crossing the road, he misjudged the direction of the traffic lights and dashed across, only to be struck by a car.
The driver had been responsible, ensuring the child was delivered to the hospital promptly.
After listening to Kang Chen, Xu Xing didn't respond, remaining silent for a long while before murmuring, "I've resigned."
Kang Chen's brow furrowed, and noticing that she was finishing up her apple, he stepped outside, calling softly, "Come out."
Xu Xing placed the peeled apple aside, rose quietly, and adjusted the blankets for Xiao Ke before reluctantly making her way out, looking back several times.
In the corridor outside the room, Kang Chen leaned against the wall and asked, "Why did you resign?"
"I need to take responsibility for today's incident. Besides, I suppose I'm not cut out to be a teacher."
"Did the company force you out?"
Xu Xing shook her head. "I was the one directly responsible; resigning was the right thing to do."
She tried to present her reasoning as self-evident, wishing to avoid further complications.
In truth, upon returning to the office today, her superiors had clearly stated that if she didn't resign, she would be terminated immediately. This was due to the pressure from Cen Zijing, who had swiftly contacted the company after the incident.
Cen Zijing, a beauty influencer with millions of followers, could easily incite a public uproar if she chose to twist the narrative and direct blame at Qi Zhen.
Given the sensitivity of the early childhood education sector, the potential fallout from public opinion was daunting, and the company wished to steer clear of any controversy.
Fortunately, Xiao Ke was largely unharmed, and Cen Zijing's demands weren't overly unreasonable—full tuition reimbursement and Xu Xing's dismissal. The higher-ups had almost immediately agreed.
Kang Chen didn't press her for more information; instead, he suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair gently. "Resigning might be for the best."
Xu Xing looked down, feeling a wave of sadness. "But without a job, I…"
Kang Chen paused, then said, "You could cook full-time at my place; I'd cover your food and lodging."
Xu Xing froze.
Kang Chen remained patient, not rushing her for an immediate response.
Under the bright corridor lights, Xu Xing stared at her toes for a long time before cautiously lifting her gaze.
"Really? If food and lodging are covered, I could… I could reduce my salary by… by five hundred?" She hesitated before amending, "Maybe a thousand?"