Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the dim light of the evening, Chi Mingâs gaze swept across the parking lot until he finally spotted Shen Qingyueâs car. A smile played at the corners of his eyes as he briskly walked over, rapping lightly on her window. The door clicked open at his touch, and he pulled it open, sliding into the seat without hesitation.
Shen Qingyue feigned disdain, her voice laced with sarcasm. âWhy arenât you driving your own car? Did your family go bankrupt, leaving you without one?â
Chi Ming fastened his seatbelt, grinning broadly. âArenât you waiting for me? Itâs been half a day. If you were planning to leave, you could have gone long ago. I know you were waiting for me.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Ignoring his comment, Shen Qingyue raised an eyebrow and stepped on the gas pedal. âNeed a ride home?â
Chi Ming nodded, still wearing his satisfied grin. âSure.â
Soon, silence settled inside the car. It was a familiar quietness, yet something felt different today. No words were exchanged, but in the air, there hung an inexplicable tension, unspoken words lingering.
âQingyue,â Chi Ming suddenly called out her name.
Shen Qingyue jumped, nearly swerving the steering wheel. Her face remained calm though. âIâm driving, can it wait?â
âCould you take me to the hospital first?â Chi Mingâs voice was calm but carried a hint of restrained pain. His face was slightly pale. âMaybe, letâs not go to my place immediately. The wound in my abdomen feels like itâs tearing apart; it hurts. â
At his words, Shen Qingyue grew frantic. âWhy didnât you say so earlier!â She hurriedly drove him to the nearest hospital.
Once at the hospital, Chi Ming stood before the doctor, removing his outer garment to prepare for treatment.
Naturally, Shen Qingyue stayed close, her brows furrowing at the sight of the bloody wound on his waist. âDidnât you say your injury was healing before you left the country? The doctors said you could be discharged. How did it become so severe?â
The doctor was disinfecting Chi Ming with alcohol, the white cotton swab moving over the gruesome wound. Just looking at it made oneâs scalp tingle, eliciting grimaces and shudders.
Chi Ming had a few beads of cold sweat on his forehead, but his tone remained calm. âIt really was fine at the time.â
âFine?â Shen Qingyue retorted. âIs this fine to you? Are you sure itâs not just scabbed over? Or did you get hurt again in the gambling city? This doesnât look fine at all!â
Shen Qingyue remembered that Chi Ming was able to move around shortly after being hospitalized for a few days. He looked just like any other normal person back then. She thought he was recovering quickly, but now it seemed he was just enduring the pain.
Chi Ming glanced at her carefully and chose to be honest. âI didnât get injured again. It was just that the wound had scabbed over. For me, that meant it was healed.â
Hearing this, Shen Qingyue couldnât help but scold him. âDo you know how dangerous this is? Chi Ming, youâre an adult. Do I really have to tell you this? How can you call it healed when itâs just scabbed over? What if the wound splits open during the flight? Youâ¦â She suddenly realized something. Chi Ming hadnât made any significant movements since he appeared earlier. So, the wound had already split open before he even arrived at the hotel? She asked,
âWhen did your wound split open?â
âThree hours ago.â He had encountered an accident when he got off the plane. If he hadnât been prepared, he probably wouldnât have made it to the hotel in time. He didnât want Shen Qingyue to worry, thatâs why he didnât tell her earlier. He was afraid he might collapse in her car, which would have made her even more anxious.
Shen Qingyue couldnât believe he had endured such pain for three hours. She was angry and worried. âWhy didnât you go to the hospital first? You didnât have to endure the pain for so longâ¦â
Chi Ming said lightly, âI just wanted to see you first.â
Shen Qingyueâs brows furrowed tighter. She was so frustrated that she wanted to hit him. âAre you trying to say that this is romantic? And you wanted me to feel sorry for you?â
âItâs not like that. I didnât want you to worry.â Chi Ming looked up at her. âI just wanted to see you as soon as possible.â
He realized at the moment he got off the plane that the punishment wasnât for Shen Qingyue; it was for himself. After all, he wasnât as important to Shen Qingyue as she was to him.
Shen Qingyue was stunned. Her tone softened, and she felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. âThen why didnât you call me? I could have come to you. You didnât have toâ¦â
âI did call, but no one answered,â Chi Ming said, looking helpless.
Shen Qingyue finally remembered the chaotic situation back then and how she had missed his call. Considering his serious injury, she didnât want to blame him anymore. She just said, âDonât do this in the future. I had anticipated and prepared for what happened today. Nothing will happen, I promise..â