Chapter 72: Chapter 72 - 72 072 Self-reliance

Chapter 72: 072 Self-reliance Chapter 72: 072 Self-reliance “You, young lady, are getting more and more cheeky,” Luo Qinghe chuckled after a sip of his hot latte, “I’ve just revealed my identity. If you and Su Cheng were willing to reveal your real names, they’d similarly arrange a deluxe ward for you.”

Nan Qing stuck out her tongue, “No way, I think it’s great to be self-reliant like now. If I always relied on my family’s protection, how boring would that be?”

“But how come I heard that the money to start your art studio was given to you by your parents?” Luo Qinghe’s smile carried a hint of mischief, his handsome face gaining a bit of roguishness.

Nan Qing’s face turned red and she puffed up her cheeks in a weak argument, “That’s really not my fault. I said I’d go paint in the streets and do street art. My parents nearly had a fit, saying that if city management comes along, you won’t even have a place to hide. They insisted on giving me an art studio. What was I supposed to do?”

“Right, right,” Luo Qinghe spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness, “Everyone knows that the Nangong family lineage has been single heir for several generations. When it comes to you, their precious daughter, they’d fear even to let you melt in their mouths.”

Nan Qing’s face burned. She always knew Luo Qinghe had a sharp tongue, but she hadn’t expected him to be this harsh, shaking with anger.

Seeking help, she looked towards Su Cheng, only to find him utterly oblivious to their conversation, his eyes fixated solely on Fu Han.

Nan Qing’s heart felt like it had been doused with cold water, painful. She slowly turned away, pretending everything was normal as she sipped her milk tea, but the sweet beverage tasted bitterly harsh.

You gaze at the scenery, doomed never to be someone else’s scenery.

Luo Qinghe’s gaze shifted among the three of them, his brown eyes gleaming with a murky light.

…

When He Xing received the message and rushed to the hospital, Fu Han had already been unconscious in the deluxe ward for two hours.

She had been running a high fever for nearly three hours, remained unconscious, and the doctor said that aggressive treatment might leave sequela, so they opted for conservative treatment for the time being.

He Xing requested to speak alone with Fu Han for a while. Su Cheng vehemently opposed, with Nan Qing chiming in agreement. Eventually, Luo Qinghe intervened, and they agreed to leave He Xing alone with her.

Originally, Luo Qinghe suggested that the three of them take this opportunity to go out for dinner, but Su Cheng now looked upon He Xing as if he were an enemy hellbent on vendetta. Su Cheng insisted on staying outside the ward and refused to leave, so, in the end, only Luo Qinghe and Nan Qing went out to eat.

In the all-white room, He Xing held Fu Han’s hand and gazed at her intently. Her palms were ice cold, yet her forehead burned. Her cheeks were flushed red as if papered, her lips cracked without a trace of color.

He sighed and shook Fu Han’s hand, “Xiaohan, wake up soon. Only if you wake up can I dash forward without worries.”

But these words seemed to disappear into the void, without any response.

The light in He Xing’s eyes dimmed as he dipped a cotton swab in water and dabbed it gently on Fu Han’s lips. As they moistened, her lips appeared more plump, as if covered in gloss.

Gazing at her, his Adam’s apple moved involuntarily. Suddenly, he leaned in and kissed those soft lips; her moist lips were sweet, just like candy.

The intensity of He Xing’s movements grew uncontrollable.

Suddenly, a soft moan sounded. It wasn’t loud, but it instantly extinguished the boiling blood in He Xing’s veins. His eyes sprung open excitedly, and indeed, he saw Fu Han’s eyes open, “Xiaohan, you’re finally awake.”

In his heart, he thought, if he had known a kiss would awaken her, he would have done it long ago.

Fu Han’s heartbeat accelerated at the sight of He Xing’s face looming over hers, but her mind was flooded with images from earlier that day.

She turned her head away from He Xing, “Mr. He, is this your style, taking advantage of people when they’re weak?”

The joy on He Xing’s face evaporated. He slowly stood up, striving to keep his tone steady, “Xiaohan, give me a few minutes, and I’ll explain everything to you.”

“Mr. He must be joking. We have nothing to do with each other. There’s absolutely no need for you to explain anything to me.” The unspoken hurt in Fu Han’s heart churned. He was cozy with Xia Ning on stage, wasn’t he? Why put on this regretful act now—who are you trying to impress?

He Xing panicked, grasping Fu Han’s hand, “Xiaohan, how can we not have anything to do with each other? You’re my fiancée, the person meant to be by my side for life. I must explain to you, there’s truly nothing between Xia Ning and me.”

Fu Han tried harder, but she couldn’t pull her hand free. Already feeling weak, she knew all too well she was no match for He Xing.

She stopped trying to pull her hand back and let He Xing hold it, her expression blank as she faced him, “Are you trying to say that having drinks with Xia Ning at the bar was an accident? You didn’t expect her to get drunk. You didn’t want to care for her, but her mother exchanged her life for yours, so you couldn’t ignore her?”

He Xing looked at Fu Han sorrowfully, “Xiaohan, do you have to speak so harshly?”

“Does it sound harsh to you?” Fu Han scoffed, “It must hit home, doesn’t it? Xia Ning’s mother saved you, and you need to repay the favor, so you can’t refuse any of her excessive demands. If that’s the case, why don’t you just marry her?”

“I won’t marry her,” He Xing’s face turned pale, his eyes revealing unspeakable pain.

Fu Han’s heart was tormented as if searing over a fire. She turned her head away, not wanting to see He Xing any longer. Using the last of her strength, she said, “I’m tired and don’t want to keep unraveling whether you like her or me. Let me go, and you let go too.”

The ward suddenly quieted down. Outside, the storm grew fiercer; thunder boomed and rain lashed against the windows, as if attempting to break the glass.

He Xing’s hands grabbed Fu Han’s shoulders, forcing her to look at him, “Fu Han, trust me again, please. Just give me a little more time, and I can give you a satisfactory outcome.”

Honestly, when Fu Han heard the first half of He Xing’s words, her heart softened. But the next second, the latter part shattered it.

She burst into laughter, “He Xing, are you joking with me? Since our engagement when I was eighteen, and now I’m almost twenty-five. Seven years haven’t been enough, and you’re still asking me to wait? Should I wait for you my whole life? Who do you think you are? Why should I wait just because you tell me to?”

“I…”

He Xing opened his mouth but found he had nothing to say.

He slowly released his hands and stepped back, as if he was seeing Fu Han for the first time again.