Chapter 111: Clash of Two Men
Hua Lin felt anguish, bitterness, and jealousy flooding her heart.
Why had the place by Ye Tianlin's side been taken by Liang Xiaoluo, this unexpected interloper? Ye Tianlin was supposed to be hers. Now, she couldn't even get close to him. Her hatred for Liang Xiaoluo was insurmountable.
As she glanced at the man in the white coat before her, suspicion clouded her mind. Was he really a doctor? Her instincts screamed otherwise.
"The second-in-command of the Ye family, afraid of someone as insignificant as me?" The man in the white coat smirked, his voice laced with mockery. He was none other than Ye Yi.
Ye Yi's games were always strategic, and anyone near him inevitably became a piece on his board, including Hua Lin.
Her wariness deepened. Her instincts were right; he wasn't a doctor. "Who are you?" she demanded coldly, her voice sharp with authority.
"I'm just someone on the same boat as you," Ye Yi replied cryptically, his gaze steady.
"Same boat?" Hua Lin's brows furrowed in confusion. She couldn't recall any prior interaction with this man.
"You want something, and I can help you get it. Including Ye Tianlin," Ye Yi said, his tone dripping with certainty.
Hua Lin froze, her heart skipping a beat as her gaze shifted toward the door to Ye Tianlin's room. The thought of keeping Ye Tianlin by her side was the very thing she yearned for most.
She hesitated but eventually followed Ye Yi into a dimly lit corner of the hospital.
The air felt colder there, and Ye Yi's presence radiated an unsettling calm. He reached into his pocket and handed her a small bottle.
"What is this?" Hua Lin asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
"You want Ye Tianlin to stay by your side, don't you? This will help," Ye Yi said nonchalantly.
Hua Lin's eyes widened as she unscrewed the cap and sniffed its contents. A strange, acrid scent hit her nostrils. She instantly recognized it as a drug.
"You want to get him addicted?" she asked, her voice rising in outrage.
"Not exactly," Ye Yi said with a sly smile. "His body already recognizes this substance. It'll only take a nudge to ensure he stays."
Her heart sank as the pieces clicked into place. "You've already injected him with this?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Ye Yi didn't answer directly, but the flicker in his eyes was enough confirmation.
Rage overtook her. She lunged forward, grabbing Ye Yi by the collar. "Do you have any idea what you've done? This will ruin him!"
Ye Yi seemed unfazed, calmly brushing her off. "Relax, Miss Hua. I'm surprised by your passion. Didn't think you cared about your 'son' this much."
Hua Lin froze. The way he emphasized "son" was both mocking and pointed. He knew. Somehow, Ye Yi had uncovered the secret she had buried so deeply.
Her eyes darkened with intent. No one could know the truth—not even Ye Yi.
"Thinking of killing me?" Ye Yi asked, as though reading her mind. "Not so fast. We're not finished here."
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice barely masking her fury.
"This isn't just any drug. It's been… tailored. A little pill like this can bring him back to normal temporarily. Without it, he'll be left with… urges. But that's up to you to control," Ye Yi explained, his voice calm and calculated.
He handed her another small vial, the contents indistinguishable from any ordinary medication. "Use it however you see fit. Oh, and if you run out, call me." He rattled off a phone number and smirked. "Remember, we're on the same team."
With that, Ye Yi vanished into the shadows, leaving Hua Lin clutching the vial, her mind racing. The possibilities ran wild in her head. Could she really use this to keep Ye Tianlin by her side?
Her thoughts turned dark. This was a way to control him—a way to eliminate Liang Xiaoluo and reclaim what was hers.
She clenched the vial tightly, her resolve hardening. "Liang Xiaoluo, your luck won't last forever," she whispered to herself.
Meanwhile, inside the hospital room, Ye Tianlin and Liang Xiaoluo were still at odds.
A knock interrupted their standoff. Liang Xiaoluo opened the door to find Shiloh standing there.
"You're still here?" she asked, surprised.
"I came to see if he's still alive," Shiloh said with a smirk, loud enough for Ye Tianlin to hear.
"I'm not dead yet, but if you keep talking, I might consider it," Ye Tianlin shot back, glaring at him.
The tension between the two men was palpable, their mutual dislike rooted in their complicated history.
Shiloh's smirk widened as he turned to Liang Xiaoluo. "Looks like he's fine. You can relax now."
Liang Xiaoluo lowered her gaze, feeling a pang of guilt. Hadn't she sworn not to return to Ye Tianlin? Yet here she was, as inseparable from him as ever.
Shiloh leaned in close and whispered, "He loves you. You'll be happy together."
Before she could respond, Ye Tianlin's voice cut through the air. "Hey! Get your hands off my woman!"
Shiloh grinned mischievously and leaned closer to Liang Xiaoluo, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "If he ever hurts you, or if you change your mind, I'll always be here."
He winked at her and walked out, leaving Liang Xiaoluo blushing furiously.
Ye Tianlin fumed, his eyes blazing. "What did he say to you?" he demanded.
"Nothing important," she replied, avoiding his gaze.
But Ye Tianlin wasn't convinced. His jealousy burned, fueling his determination. Shiloh's presence was a reminder that he couldn't take Liang Xiaoluo for granted—not anymore.