Zhou Moyan knelt on one leg, instinctively catching Tian Youyou as she nearly fell, his arms pulling her close in a protective embrace. They locked eyes, each searching the other's gaze in a moment laden with unspoken words. In that fleeting second, Tian Youyou felt a surreal sense of déjà vu, as if they were back in the days when his embrace was a refuge, now seemingly more solid and reassuring than ever. Zhou Moyan's heartbeat skipped as he held the woman who haunted his every thought, her familiar fragrance threatening to pull him under. "Ah Yan..." Tian Youyou's whisper, dreamlike and soft, snapped him back to reality. Did she look this vulnerable in someone else's arms too? The image of her entwined naked with Zhou Haoyan from three years ago flashed before his eyes.
Abruptly, Zhou Moyan released her. She fell unexpectedly, her body hitting the cold floor, tears welling up and spilling over as he coldly tossed over his shoulder, "Don't play the victim in front of me; you're not worthy of my sympathy," before walking away without looking back.
Left alone, Tian Youyou wept herself into a dazed sleep on the floor, the misunderstanding from three years ago sealing their fate, ensuring that things between them could never return to how they once were. That night, the surveillance footage she hoped would clear her name had been mysteriously corrupted, and neither she nor Zhou Haoyan could trace how she ended up at the hotel. The mystery deepened three months ago when Zhou Haoyan had seemingly uncovered the truth and invited her to meet, only to be involved in a severe car accident that left him in a deep coma.
As she drifted into a restless sleep, Tian Youyou felt as though she had plunged into an icy pit, her body curling up from the cold. She dreamed she was floating, wrapped tightly by something soft yet suffocating, her hands desperately clutching at it, pulling it tighter around her, nearly unable to breathe...
Zhou Moyan had only been gone two hours before his concern drew him back. The image of her miserable form haunted him, and the thought of something happening to her was unbearable. Upon his return, he found her curled up on the floor, shivering uncontrollably. Her face was alarmingly hot to the touch, her body trembling non-stop. His actions, though harsh as he stripped off her wet clothes and tossed her into the bed, were driven by urgency rather than tenderness. Wrapped tightly in blankets and held in his arms, she clung to his shirt like a lifeline, her teeth chattering from the fever.
Mumbling deliriously, she was barely coherent, but he was thankful he had returned; otherwise, she might have died there unnoticed.
Zhou Moyan called his secretary, instructing him to bring fever reducers, cold medicine, and ointments for bruises, and to buy some personal and outer garments for her. Holding her jaw, he forced the fever medicine down her throat until her temperature began to drop as dawn approached. She no longer convulsed but shifted to wrap her arms around his neck, murmuring "Ah Yan" repeatedly, tugging at his heart once more.
If they were both fully conscious, would they embrace like this? Impossible. No man could endure such betrayal, especially not from a woman involved with his own brother. The unresolved issues from three years ago, where neither Tian Youyou nor his brother had provided any clear evidence of innocence, were a significant thorn in his side.
Three months ago, his brother had called him home for an explanation, but on the same day, he received a call from his mother about his brother's tragic accident, leaving the truth forever shrouded in mystery.
As he contemplated these thoughts, his initially softening heart hardened again. He yanked her arms away, and as her sleeve rode up, a scarlet scar was exposed on her wrist—ugly, jagged, clearly a knife wound, the mark of a desperate act. His heart ached sharply—what had she endured all these years, and for whom, that she would so recklessly risk her own life?
Just as he had begun to question his feelings, recalling that he had initially thought she was just another employee with the same name until he saw her resume, realizing she had probably tracked him down. Annoyed by her cunning, he resolved to keep her close, to engage in a slow, mutual torment—the pain he felt would be shared.
At their reunion, her appearance was far from the prosperity of her past—neither Zhou Haoyan nor the Tian family would let her fall into such disrepair if she were still favored. Blinded by resentment, he had not seen the true extent of Tian Youyou's plight.
Unable to let go yet unable to fully grasp, Zhou Moyan knew the depth of his longing to hold her close once more. Deciding he needed a few days away to clear his head—or perhaps to flee—he confirmed she was stable and instructed his secretary to care for her before leaving.
When Tian Youyou awoke, she found herself in bed with Linda, Zhou Moyan's secretary, beside her, offering her water and a warm greeting, "Miss Tian, you're awake, and your fever has broken, thank goodness. I'm Linda, Mr. Zhou's secretary. We'll be working closely together, so please, feel at ease."
"Did you take care of me last night? Thank you so much!" Tian Youyou was moved, not knowing how to fully express her gratitude.
Linda merely smiled, informing her that Zhou Moyan had gone on a business trip and wouldn't return for at least a week, reassuring her that she could rest comfortably for a few days.
Tian Youyou was numb, overwhelmed by the repeated demands for money. Now, she faced the immediate problem of raising funds to appease Hou Xiaomei, determined not to let her cause trouble at her new workplace. Just then, a call came through on the landline, which she hastily answered.
"Hello, is this Tian Youyou? This is the Chunshu Police Station. Your brother Han Chong has been detained following a fight. Could you come and process his release?" The news hit Tian Youyou like a thunderclap.
First, it was Hou Xiaomei demanding money, and now Han Chong was in trouble—it seemed life was intent on breaking her. Yet she couldn't ignore the police summons and, despite her swollen foot, took a taxi to the station.
"Big sis, you came! Please find a way to get me out!" Han Chong, seeing her enter, jumped up excitedly from his holding cell.
Dressed in flip-flops, baggy shorts, and a tank top, Han Chong had always been a bit of a rogue but never disrespectful to Tian Youyou, always warmly calling her "sister."
Under Linda's meticulous care, Tian Youyou felt a rare sense of being looked after, a stark contrast to the demands and chaos of her family life.