Han Wenxue was filled with both joy and nervousness upon seeing Chen Yi awake.
For the past two days, she had stayed by his side, longing for the moment he would open his eyes, yet dreading it at the same time.
What would she do now that he was awake?
If he still harbored resentment toward her, how should she face it?
Luo Yan had allowed her to stay by his side, but would she change her mind now that Chen Yi was awake? Even if she didn't, could she continue lingering here, caught awkwardly between the two of them?
Chen Yi had saved her, and for that, she was deeply grateful. Luo Yan, with her generosity, had let her come and go from the ward freely, and for that, Han Wenxue was equally thankful.
She felt that once Chen Yi woke up, she should leave—fulfilling her wish to see him safe while sparing everyone further discomfort.
For two days, she had scarcely taken her eyes off him, yet she couldn't find peace. She had never seen Chen Yi so quiet, not even during the ten-plus days they had once spent under the same roof.
At this moment, he looked like a young man who had just shed the last traces of boyishness—handsome, refined, and brimming with an air of confidence. If she hadn't witnessed it herself, she would never have associated this serene figure with the ruthless warrior she had seen before.
His peers were likely still in college, skipping classes, chasing girls, gaming, and living carefree lives. When she was his age, she had spent her days buried in the library, her greatest achievement being a design project that earned her a handsome prize and the envy of her classmates. Though she had feigned modesty, she couldn't help but feel a touch of pride.
But now, after spending time with Chen Yi, she realized that everything she had done paled in comparison to what he had achieved.
What hardships must he have endured to become the man he was today?
Han Wenxue couldn't imagine it—and didn't dare to.
In this moment, she felt inexplicably content, like a young wife waiting for her husband to wake up. While he slept, she could admire him freely without fear of embarrassment. She could softly hum songs to him, whether or not he could hear. She could even steal kisses on his forehead, his cheeks, his lips...
But once Chen Yi woke up, all of this would change. Everything would slip away from her—or perhaps, she would have to walk away from it all herself.
She regretted it so much. She wished she could return to those days of "cohabitation," even if only for a single day.
Hearing the familiar voice, Chen Yi said nothing but furrowed his brows tightly.
Han Wenxue's heart turned cold. She realized it was time for her to leave—he still despised her.
He had saved her, but not for her sake.
How ironic, how cruel.
"Pain!"
After a long silence, Chen Yi finally spoke, though it was just one word. Yet that single word reignited the warmth in Han Wenxue's heart, which had felt as if it had been plunged into an icy abyss.
His furrowed brows weren't because he was unhappy to see her. He didn't hate her. He wasn't displeased...
"Call the doctor!"
"Ah, call the doctor? Wait here, I'll go get one right away!"
Han Wenxue, like a lively little bird, darted out of the ward with joy. "Doctor! Doctor! The patient is awake!"
Chen Yi was exasperated. If he weren't immobilized, he would have pried open her head to see how it worked.
He was in excruciating pain, and she still had the time to daydream!
And why was she so cheerful about fetching a doctor?
Soon, Han Wenxue returned with seven or eight doctors and nurses in tow, led by an elderly physician with snow-white hair.
"How are you feeling, young man?" the old doctor asked.
"Pain!"
The agony in Chen Yi's voice was enough to make his condition clear.
"Where does it hurt?"
The old doctor remained calm, his demeanor unhurried. From his composure, it was evident that he was no stranger to such situations.
Chen Yi, sensing the doctor's steadiness, felt somewhat reassured. "Everywhere. It hurts so much I feel like I'm dying."
"Excellent. The more it hurts, the better!"
The doctor's words nearly made Chen Yi roll his eyes and faint again.
What kind of doctor says such things? How could pain ever be a good sign?
Chen Yi began to suspect he was in a psychiatric hospital, and that this old man might be a lunatic in disguise.
"If you can feel pain, it means your body is doing well. If you couldn't feel anything, that would be the real problem—you might end up bedridden for the rest of your life," the doctor explained.
Chen Yi wanted to spit in his face. Was this supposed to be comforting? His words were more likely to scare someone to death than any illness could.
"Heh, you're a tough one, young man. Most people wouldn't have survived injuries like yours. And you've got a wonderful wife—she's been exhausted these past three days, waiting on you tirelessly. At first, they wouldn't let her in, so she sat outside the door the whole time..."
The old doctor rambled on, recounting everything he had observed over the past few days.
For a moment, Chen Yi forgot about his pain. He looked at Han Wenxue, feeling a sense of disbelief. Before her accident, the two of them had been like fire and water. The sudden change in their relationship was happening so fast, he could hardly process it.
Han Wenxue, meeting his gaze, blushed deeply. Lowering her head, she fiddled nervously with the hem of her clothes, her shyness making her all the more endearing.
"Ahem! Young man, you'd better treat your wife well. A good woman like her doesn't come around often. Miss this chance, and you'll regret it."
After performing some basic checks—tapping here, pressing there, leaving Chen Yi grimacing in pain—the old doctor finally left with his team.
Once again, the ward was quiet, leaving just the two of them.
They stared at each other in silence, the atmosphere growing increasingly delicate.
After a long pause, Han Wenxue suddenly exclaimed, "You must be hungry! I've prepared some food for you."
She quickly retrieved a thermos from the cabinet. As she opened it, a delicious aroma filled the room.
"The doctor said you should start with something light after waking up. Post-surgery, heavy or greasy foods aren't good for your stomach. I heard from my grandfather that you like carrots, so I made some carrot porridge for you. Try it."
With Chen Yi unable to move or use his hands, Han Wenxue carefully fed him spoonfuls of the warm porridge.
The porridge was just the right temperature and tasted surprisingly good.
Waking up to a hot meal?
Chen Yi found it hard to believe she could have known exactly when he'd wake up. It couldn't be a coincidence. "Did you just make this?" he asked.
"Mm-hmm."
Han Wenxue avoided his gaze as she fed him, her replies short and reserved.
"You've reheated it several times, haven't you?"
"Not that many. The thermos keeps it warm for about two hours. But at night, it's harder. The cafeteria closes, and the hospital doesn't allow appliances. I was worried you'd wake up hungry, so I had my grandfather rent a nearby apartment. When it cooled, I'd go back to reheat it..."
She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Chen Yi was deeply moved but didn't know how to respond. In the end, all he could say was, "Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me. I should be thanking you. Compared to what you've done, this is nothing," Han Wenxue said softly, though her trembling hands betrayed her emotions.
For three days, she had worried endlessly about this moment.
She had heard the words "thank you" countless times in her life, but never had they sounded so sweet.
"Chen Yi..."
Han Wenxue paused, took a deep breath, and finally gathered the courage to meet his eyes. "Please don't blame me. I was wrong before—I misunderstood you, even tried to harm you. These past few days, I've been full of regret and fear. Regret for how I treated you, and fear that you wouldn't forgive me."
"I don't blame you. It wasn't your fault. It was fate."
Chen Yi didn't elaborate on what he meant by "fate," and Han Wenxue didn't press him. All that mattered was that he didn't blame her.
That was enough.
"By the way, where's Luo Yan? Isn't she here?"
Chen Yi couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment at not seeing Luo Yan by his side.
Han Wenxue's expression dimmed slightly. "Sister Yan has work at the police station. She couldn't come."
So, it was Luo Yan he cared about most after all.
Han Wenxue had stayed by his side day and night, preparing warm meals, cleaning his body... yet his thoughts were elsewhere.
She knew Luo Yan had met Chen Yi before her, knew their bond was strong, and knew how well-matched they were. But she couldn't stop the ache in her heart.
Thinking of Luo Yan's excellence and recalling the tender looks the two had exchanged when Chen Yi was gravely injured, Han Wenxue felt an overwhelming sense of inadequacy.
How could she ever compete with someone like Luo Yan?
In her moment of self-doubt, she suddenly realized how petty she was being. Why was she even competing with Luo Yan?
If it weren't for Luo Yan, she wouldn't have been able to see Chen Yi, let alone gain his forgiveness or experience the joy of caring for him these past few days.
She should be grateful to her, not exploit her kindness to vie for Chen Yi's affection.
"Sister Yan has been visiting frequently these past few days. You were just unconscious, so you didn't know. She was here this morning for a long time but had to leave because the police station is so busy," Han Wenxue explained.
Hearing this, Chen Yi felt a little better.
But he still couldn't help but feel a twinge of dissatisfaction—was work really more important than him?
Little did he know that the police station was in an uproar, and the center of the chaos was none other than him.
Leaders from the police, prosecution, and courts were all gathered, with Luo Yan present as the case's primary officer. Some argued that Chen Yi was a hero deserving of commendation, while others insisted he was a murderer who needed to be punished.
Fourteen lives had been taken—such a grave matter couldn't be ignored. If everyone acted like Chen Yi, taking justice into their own hands, what role would the police have?
But how should he be punished? Opinions clashed, and the debate raged on.
Due to her personal connection to Chen Yi, Luo Yan's opinions were largely dismissed. All she could do was wait for the final decision.