Chapter 50: A Step Too Late
Xiang Yang waited anxiously in the emergency room. Fu Jinting's assistant spoke a few words to the head doctor in a low voice. When he looked up again, he saw Xiang Yang still in the same position, sitting silently on a chair in the corridor with her head lowered.
The assistant pondered for a moment. Finally, he gave the head doctor a few instructions before leaving.
The daughter of the Xiang family...
The assistant felt a little conflicted. Should he notify Mr. Xiang? Or should he tell Mr. Fu? But Mr. Fu and his wife are traveling abroad. They're probably still in the air right now. He can't reach them by phone.
The company had an incident. The executives did their best to soothe the employees and their families, but they were unsure how to handle the compensation for the two unfortunate employees who tragically passed away. So, the assistant called Fu Guanxian directly.
Fu Guanxian listens and calmly gives instructions for each situation. He also says that he's returning to China. He'll deal with everything in detail when he gets back. Don't bother his parents by asking them to fly back.
The assistant is well acquainted with Fu Guanxian's accomplishments overseas. There is no need to elaborate on his humble beginnings, the establishment of a thriving foreign enterprise, and its rapid ascent to prominence within a few short years. Judging solely from his outstanding performance at the overseas subsidiary during his college years, the assistant harbors unwavering confidence in his exceptional talents.
The assistant leaves the hospital. After weighing things back and forth, he still calls Fu Guanxian. After reporting the current situation, the assistant thinks for a moment and continues, “There was an intern named Xing Zhaoyan who was recruited a few years ago. He's been outstanding in the past few years, and his work performance has been excellent. He's currently the manager of the food department. He was also on the bus.”
“Xing Zhaoyan?”
“Yes, Young Master Fu. It seems like he's also quite close to Miss Xiang. Miss Xiang is currently in the hospital waiting for him to finish surgery.”
Fu Guanxian gives a barely audible hum and says, “I know. What's the situation of the injured employees? Let me know as soon as the surgery is over. Contact the families of the deceased employees and do your best to comfort them.”
“Yes.”
Xiang Yang nervously waits for half an hour. When the doctor comes out, she immediately gets up and asks, “Doctor, how is the patient doing?”
“He's out of danger for now. But because he was sitting by the window, his right hand is severely fractured. He needs to rest for a while.”
“That's good, that's good.” Xiang Yang almost bursts into tears of joy.
“Also, the patient has a slight concussion. Although it is not serious, he still needs to stay in the hospital for a few more days of observation.”
“Okay! Thank you!” Xiang Yang quickly says.
Fu's Group is responsible for all the procedures and expenses. When Xing Zhaoyan is moved from the operating room to the VIP ward, Xiang Yang follows in and discovers that his head is wrapped in bandages, and his right hand is in a thick cast. The nurse says he also has several wounds on his body.
In this accident, two people died on the spot, seven or eight people were seriously injured, and there were also over ten people with minor injuries.
Xiang Yang looks at Xing Zhaoyan, whose face is pale, in silence for a long time.
Xiao Ai follows behind her. Seeing her like this, she's a little scared. “Sister Xiang Yang, Brother Xing will definitely be fine. Don't worry too much.”
“I know.”
Xiao Ai orders takeout for her, but Xiang Yang only eats a few bites.
Night falls, Xiao Ai urges her to go back and rest. Xiang Yang insists on staying. “Let's talk about it later.”
Xiao Ai can't do anything about it, so she stays with her. Later, she can't hold on any longer. Xiang Yang asks her to go back to the hotel first.
“But Sister Xiang Yang, I promised Huihui Jie that I'd stay with you.”
“I'm okay. You can just come and pick me up early tomorrow morning.”
Xiao Ai is very hesitant.
“Go. This is a hospital under the Fu family. Paparazzi won't dare to easily enter. I'll be fine.”
“Then Sister Xiang Yang, be careful.” Xiao Ai can't argue with her, so she agrees.
“Okay, go.”
Xiang Yang stays by the bedside. She doesn't know how long it's been when a slight cough echoes in the quiet ward.
Xiang Yang, who's been lying on the edge of the bed, immediately raises her head. She's overjoyed. Sure enough, Xing Zhaoyan is awake.
“You're awake. How are you feeling?”
Xing Zhaoyan shakes his head slightly. His expression looks a little painful.
Xiang Yang quickly stops him. “Don't move. The doctor said you're injured quite badly. You need to rest well. I'll call the doctor.”
“Don't go.” Xing Zhaoyan grabs her hand.
Xiang Yang turns around, stops, and looks back at him. “What's wrong? Don't worry. I'll always be here. I'm just going to call the doctor.”
“No need.” Xing Zhaoyan says with difficulty.
Xiang Yang looks at him and sits down. She asks him softly, “What's wrong?”
“At that moment of the accident, my only regret was that I hadn't seen you in over three months. I was so scared, and I didn't have time to see you one last time.”
“Xing Zhaoyan…”
“Let me finish. Before I passed out, I deeply blamed myself. I didn't have the courage to ask you that question again. It's been so many years. Can you tell me your answer? Yangyang, I like you. What about you?”
Xiang Yang looks at him, her eyes flickering.
Xing Zhaoyan tightens his grip on her hand. He holds her hand tightly and says, “You're here. Does that mean you have me in your heart? You'll agree to be my girlfriend, right?”
Xiang Yang is silent.
Xing Zhaoyan frowns and asks again, "Yangyang…”
“Hmm.”
A very, very light sound.
In the huge ward, the sound is followed by a long silence. Until Xing Zhaoyan coughs slightly. He gasps for breath and asks, “Yangyang, did I hear wrong?”
“Really, don't get excited. Let me get you a glass of water.”
Xing Zhaoyan smiles, takes a few sips from the water glass in her hand, but his gaze remains fixed on Xiang Yang's face.
Xiang Yang feels uncomfortable being stared at by him. When he finishes drinking, she quickly asks, “Are you hungry? I'll find the doctor, then I'll go out and bring some food back. You rest for a while.”
“Will you come back?”
Xiang Yang can't help but laugh at his clinginess. “Where else could I go? Just lie down for a while. I'll be back later.”
“Okay, come back soon. Be careful when you go out. Otherwise, forget it. I'm not really that hungry.”
“No, I'll be careful. Don't worry.”
Only then does Xing Zhaoyan reluctantly let go of her hand. Xiang Yang feels that her fingertips, which he held, are burning.
After leaving the ward, Xiang Yang closes the door. She leans against the wall, and she can't say what she feels in her heart. He's awake. She's happy. She's relieved. But at the same time, she inexplicably feels an inexplicable pressure.
Agreeing to him seems impulsive, but it also seems logical.
Xiang Yang thinks about it randomly. Then she can't help but laugh at herself. It's been so many years. There's nothing wrong with agreeing to him, right?
Xiang Yang is lost in thought, unaware that the man in a suit standing against the wall opposite her has seen every frown and every smile.
He plays with the cigarette in his hand for a long time but doesn't light it.
His smile is faint. He finally couldn't help but say, “Miss Xiang, since you're going out to get food, why don't you bring me a portion?”
Xiang Yang almost raised her head in shock at the sound of his first word.
Under the bright light, by the white wall, Fu Guanxian lazily leans against the wall. The black suit makes him look even more noble and arrogant. He holds one hand in his pocket and the other idly plays with a cigarette that he hasn't lit.
Xiang Yang's gaze lingers on his thin face for a few seconds before she realizes that he is now more composed and cold than he was a few years ago.
They haven't seen each other in years. Xiang Yang can't describe how she feels. She just stares at him blankly, her mind full of questions as to why he's suddenly here!
Fu Guanxian doesn't move. He wants to see what she'll do. But, even after all these years, she's still the same adorable girl.
Her hair is longer now. She's even curled the ends. The strands of hair on the left side are tucked behind her ear, revealing a silver earring with a ring and long tassel.
She's grown taller, and her skin is still so white. But compared to the girl who used to go makeup-free, Xiang Yang now has light makeup. Her eyelashes are long and dark, and her lips are a delicate red. She is undeniably a charming woman.
He has come back.
But he is a step too late.
He stands at the door of the ward, listening to every word they say as they reconnect after facing life and death.
He knows that eavesdropping is wrong. But he can't help but care. After all these years, what does Xing Zhaoyan mean to her?
That light “Hmm.” But it's impossible for him to ignore it.
Fu Guanxian's deep eyes narrow slightly as he looks at her. Then he smiles.
He takes a step, one step at a time, silently walking towards her.
Xiang Yang unconsciously wants to take a step back, but there's no way to retreat. She leans against the wall, bites her lower lip, then releases it. A polite smile appears on her face. “Why did you suddenly come back?”
Fu Guanxian takes another step forward.
Xiang Yang lowers her head. She realizes that they're only half a step away from each other.
Fu Guanxian leans down, getting closer to her and asks, “Why do you think I came back suddenly?”
“To help Uncle Fu deal with this accident?”
“Hmm.” Fu Guanxian says, then moves closer to her by half a step.
Xiang Yang looks up at him in disbelief. "You…”
“There's another reason. Do you want to hear it?”
Xiang Yang bites her lips, feeling something is wrong. But Fu Guanxian props his left hand against the wall, his right hand lifts her chin. He looks at her fluttering eyelashes for a long time, then leans down, but stops halfway through the intimate action. He then stands up abruptly, moving back inconspicuously before he gives a meaningful, silent laugh. “But I don't think you're interested.”
His voice is very low and soft. Xiang Yang listens carefully and manages to make out what he's saying.
Perhaps because they haven't seen each other in a long time, or perhaps because this person no longer feels familiar to her, she feels a sense of strangeness and distance that she can't understand.
Xiang Yang stares at him blankly. After she understands, she follows and laughs lightly, casually replying, “That's true. I've never been interested in your affairs.” She might even say she avoids them like the plague.
Fu Guanxian gently places his hands in his pockets, gazes down at her with a hint of contemplation, and narrows his eyes upon hearing her casual and effortless words. A warm smile graces his features.
But Xiang Yang, who doesn't dare to look directly at him, doesn't notice that there is no smile in his deep eyes. Instead, there is a deep coldness. Although, that coldness flashes quickly.
Fu Guanxian glances to the side, suppressing the burning anger he wants to vent. He softens his voice and says with feigned weakness, “I haven't eaten all day. I'm a little hungry. Can you get me something to eat?”
Comments
Post a Comment