Chapter Title: The Return to the Past
"Miss, how are you feeling now?"
In the VIP hospital room, the bright lights above her caused her to furrow her brows in discomfort.
She raised a hand to shield her eyes from the blinding light, but as soon as she did, a sharp tug of pain shot through her hand.
A wrinkled hand pressed gently on the back of her pale hand, accompanied by a concerned voice: "Miss, you're on an IV drip. Please stay still."
Nan Wan groggily opened her eyes, the overwhelming white light making her dizzy. As her consciousness slowly returned, her breathing became quick and shallow.
She reached out with her other hand, feeling her leg—perfectly intact, no excruciating pain.
She ran her fingers over her head, finding no bandages, no traces of blood.
Staring in disbelief, Nan Wan's eyes widened. A woman's anxious voice reached her ear: "Miss, what's wrong? Are you still dizzy?"
Turning her head, she asked, "Song Ma, how are you here?"
Her voice trembled, torn between confusion and disbelief—was this reality or just a dream?
She could feel Song Ma's hand pressing firmly on hers, rough to the touch, but warm with life.
This was real.
But wasn't Song Ma dismissed by Huo Xunzhou? After her escape, Huo Xunzhou had fired her, threatening all the household agencies to never hire Song Ma again. No matter how much she cried and pleaded, it was to no avail.
Nan Wan hadn't seen Song Ma since that day, and her guilt had only deepened with each passing day.
So why was Song Ma here?
Song Ma placed a hand gently on her forehead and muttered, "The doctor said it wasn't anything serious... Why is your condition worsening?" Nan Wan glanced out the window—grass was growing, birds were chirping, and the sunlight was gentle, a perfect spring day.
She froze.
A bizarre thought crossed her mind, one that seemed too outlandish to believe.
What if she could return to the past? What if everything could start over?
Reaching for her phone on the nightstand, Nan Wan tapped the screen lightly. The light illuminated her pale face, her eyes wide with fear.
She was trembling, her eyes red, her throat tight with emotion, and her voice barely above a whisper, "Song Ma, is today April 23, 20XX?"
Song Ma stared at her in confusion, then, under her expectant gaze, slowly nodded.
Tears welled up in Nan Wan's eyes, and she couldn't stop herself from crying. She shakily pinched her arm, and the pain confirmed it—it wasn't a dream.
She had truly gone back five years.
This was the year she was eighteen, still a first-year university student, a whole year away from meeting Huo Xunzhou.
Nan Wan cried uncontrollably. She was a girl who rarely cried, but after meeting Huo Xunzhou, it felt as if she had to make up for all the tears she had never shed before.
She had really gone back five years, back to after the car crash that had nearly taken her life. Her consciousness had faded as the black car ran over her body.
She could feel the pain in her legs, her head throbbed, and blood covered the ground.
It had been a premeditated accident—she was walking by the side of the road when the car came barreling toward her, and there was no way to dodge it.
In that split second, she saw the driver's grotesque grin through the transparent glass.
Song Ma froze for a moment, then hurriedly wiped Nan Wan's tears, "Why are you crying? Is the fever too much for you?"
"Miss, you can't be willful like this. I'll call Sir, he'll be worried."
The "Sir" she referred to could only be one person—Huo Xunzhou.
But five years ago, she hadn't even met Huo Xunzhou yet. How could Song Ma be calling him now?
"Huo Sir, Miss is ill and in the hospital. Should you come and see her?" Song Ma said, smiling broadly after hearing something on the other end of the line. "Alright, I'll take good care of her."
After hanging up, she cheerfully added, "Miss, Sir will be here soon."
The name, Huo Xunzhou, had always been a nightmare for Nan Wan. At this moment, she clenched her fists and asked slowly, "Song Ma, the 'Sir' you're talking about—is it Huo Xunzhou?"
She looked intently at Song Ma, who seemed a bit uneasy, but nodded in response.
"Miss, why are you acting so strangely today?"
Nan Wan's heart sank as she realized the truth. Her happiness about being reborn was quickly overshadowed by this eerie revelation.
Five years ago, she hadn't met Huo Xunzhou.
Five years ago, her father had still been healthy, not in need of a kidney transplant.
But now, back in this altered version of five years ago, things were not the way she remembered.
Nan Wan's mind was a whirlwind of confusion.
Song Ma went to fetch water, leaving the VIP room in eerie silence.
Nan Wan breathed shallowly, trying to make sense of everything.
Outside, footsteps gradually grew louder.
Thud, thud, thud...
Each step echoed like a death knell, reverberating in her chest.
Nan Wan shuddered, instinctively recognizing the sound. It was Huo Xunzhou's footsteps.
The man outside adjusted his tie, and as he entered, his cold expression softened into a subtle smile, warm and affectionate.
Huo Xunzhou opened the door and found her lying on the bed, her body fully covered by the blanket, only a black head visible.
She had buried herself under the covers, facing away from him.
His smile didn't waver as he walked over, leaned down, and gently touched her hair. His voice was as soft as an April breeze.
"How did you get sick?"
Though the early spring weather was warm, his fingertips were still cool as they brushed against her forehead, sending a chill through her like a cold-blooded snake creeping across her skin.
Nan Wan shuddered and shrank deeper into the blanket, not uttering a word.
"Are you upset that I'm so late to visit?" He ignored her trembling, his long, pale hand softly caressing her hair.
His touch was gentle, like that of the perfect lover.
Nan Wan flinched even more, too afraid to move or look at him.
The fear she felt for Huo Xunzhou ran deep into her bones.
When she didn't respond, he didn't get angry. He simply sat beside her bed, playing with her hair.
In his black suit, he appeared taller, his features sharp, his skin pale, and though his face was handsome, there was a subtle fierceness to his brows, making him an imposing figure.
Nan Wan gritted her teeth, almost able to hear the clatter of her teeth as she trembled.
The atmosphere remained heavy, but Huo Xunzhou's smile lingered, as if unaware of the silence between them.
Just then, Song Ma returned with a water jug. She saw Huo Xunzhou and beamed, "Sir, you've arrived so quickly."
Huo Xunzhou didn't change his position. With a sigh, he said, "Wan Wan is sick. I was worried."
Song Ma's smile grew even wider. "Miss has been thinking about you, too."
His smile deepened slightly as he reached out to ruffle her hair, "Really?"
"Miss, haven't you woken up? You should drink some water."
Nan Wan pretended to be asleep, her voice muffled, "Song Ma, I'm not thirsty."
"You need to drink more water when you have a fever. Sir, please convince Miss."