The sky was gradually darkening. Tong Airui rested on the bed for a while before getting up again. For some inexplicable reason, his mind seemed restless, like an overgrown field of weeds. He kept thinking about the little girl next door—especially after realizing she was the same little sister with the bear-shaped hair clip. His thoughts became even harder to control.
Yuan Hang saw him get out of bed and quickly pushed the door open to come in. "Are you going out?"
Tong Airui nodded.
Yuan Hang hurriedly picked up a white coat for him to wear and helped him put on a mask.
Tong Airui glanced at him with a hint of guilt. "About how I treated you earlier…"
"I've been with you since you were a kid; don't I know your temperament by now?" Yuan Hang interrupted him with a laugh. "By the way, did you call Auntie?"
"I did." Tong Airui said as he stepped slowly out of the room.
The hallway was eerily quiet, almost unsettling. Tong Airui walked to the ward next door and glanced inside. Empty!
"The little girl is in the intensive care unit," Yuan Hang gestured with his mouth. Tong Airui turned his head in the direction Yuan Hang pointed. Not far away, Yi Luowa was standing on one leg outside the ICU window, staring blankly inside.
Tong Airui strode over, only then noticing the glimmering teardrop hanging on her eyelashes.
"How long have you been standing here? Shouldn't you go back and rest?" Tong Airui asked sternly.
Yi Luowa didn't react at all. The teardrop hanging on her lashes fell silently, and that single drop of tears pierced Tong Airui's heart.
Tong Airui thought back to the car accident seventeen years ago, squinting slightly. The memory felt as vivid as yesterday—him wrapping her tightly in his coat. They had both been so young, equally helpless and terrified. He remembered that day too, her lashes had also been hung with tears.
"Go back. Your second uncle will be fine."
Yi Luowa didn't move or respond; she had already arranged for the best doctor from France, and she firmly believed her second uncle would be okay!
"Yi Luowa, do you want to faint again?" Tong Airui muttered as if performing a one-man show.
Yi Luowa finally gave him a glance, "Doctor Mai, are you a rubber band?"
"Hmm?" Tong Airui was caught off guard by the question.
"Rubber bands stretch and shrink—your height is just like one, fluctuating all the time," Yi Luowa said, looking at him with visible annoyance.
"Really?" He and Lao Qi were only one centimeter apart in height—how could she observe such minute details!
Yi Luowa's lips curled slightly. "Doctor Mai, may I ask what foods are unsuitable for stroke patients?"
"…" How should he know?!
"Are you here to watch my drama? After several scenes already, aren't you tired?" Yi Luowa scoffed at him, then turned her gaze back to her second uncle inside the ICU.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Being called out, Tong Airui grew somewhat irritated.
"Hey, big guy, why are you wearing such dark sunglasses at night? Trying to act cool?" Yi Luowa snorted at Yuan Hang behind him.
Yuan Hang's lips twitched slightly—he'd worn the glasses to avoid being recognized, and yet she still spotted him.
"Cartoon Underwear Gentleman, I have a favor to ask," Yi Luowa said, instinctively lifting her hand to wipe it against her oversized hospital gown.
"Can you not bring that up again!" Tong Airui couldn't hold back anymore, roaring in frustration.
A few men in black suits standing in the corridor started walking briskly toward them upon hearing the commotion.
Yi Luowa raised her hand slightly. "It's fine; step back."
After everyone retreated, Yi Luowa hopped forward on one foot, stopping right in front of Tong Airui. Tilting her head to look up at him, she asked, "If you're planning to settle accounts with me, can you wait until after my second uncle recovers?"
"Did I say I wanted to settle accounts with you?" Tong Airui looked down at her from above. "I'm here to recuperate."
Yi Luowa pretended to be astonished. "You're injured?"
"What do you think?"
Yi Luowa smirked, pulling over a wheelchair and sitting down. "I'll handle your medical bills. You focus on recovering, and please stop acting mysterious. Also, I've been meaning to tell you—your cartoon underwear is actually pretty cute!"
"Yi Luowa, stop bringing that up!"
Yi Luowa maneuvered the wheelchair, heading back toward her ward.
"How did she recognize me?" Tong Airui asked Yuan Hang with a profoundly upset expression.
"No matter how tightly you disguise yourself, there's still a difference between you and Seventh Master," Yuan Hang said, taking off his glasses. "Perhaps she saw me without my glasses on once?"
Tong Airui shot him a glance, removed his mask, and followed behind Yi Luowa.
"You'd better not follow me. Your people clearly don't outnumber mine, and if a fight breaks out, you'll definitely be at a disadvantage."
"I'm just returning to my own ward. Don't tell me you're so domineering that you won't even let me go back to my room?"
Yi Luowa stopped and gestured cordially. "Well then, you first."
Tong Airui gave her a long, meaningful look before walking around her wheelchair and heading back.
Once she'd driven him away, Yi Luowa took her time returning to her room. Before she could get back into bed, Li Hua came back.
"Luowa, they've transported the Grand Master's body to the funeral home. Yi Lingfei has already declared that you're not allowed to enter the memorial hall. The inside and outside of the venue are guarded by their people—it won't be easy for you to get in."
Yi Luowa froze for a moment, then nodded silently. "Thank you, Uncle Li. I understand. How's Uncle Huang's side coming along?"
"Your Uncle Huang will bring the specialists over tomorrow morning."
"Hopefully, once they're here, my second uncle will wake up." Yi Luowa lowered her head and asked after a long while, "How's the investigation into the car accident going?"
"The driver has been cleared of alcohol and drug use. Based on analysis of surveillance footage from the scene, he suddenly sped through the red light because he was momentarily distracted and didn't notice it. Realizing he'd run a red light, he mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake."
"Oh." Yi Luowa slowly raised her head. "Uncle Li, I want to go see Ao Xiang. Ao Lie has been stopping me from visiting—does it mean his injuries are severe?"
"Ao Xiang's injuries are in his leg. While they're relatively serious, the doctors say he won't be left with any permanent disability. However, his emotions have been highly unstable. Ao Lie probably doesn't want his mood swings to affect you." Uncle Li gently patted Yi Luowa's shoulder. "Luowa, you're a cheerful and lively child. I hope you'll muster up the strength to move forward—whether your second uncle wakes up or not, you must persevere because he needs you, and PCW needs you too."
Yi Luowa pressed her dry, cracked lips together. "PCW has you and Uncle Huang. I'm not going to get involved in company matters—it'll just give people more reason to accuse me of scheming for financial gain while taking lives."
Li Hua angrily replied, "I've already ordered them not to let Yi Lingfei into your ward again, so she won't come in here to sow rumors."
"Even Uncle Li has learned to bury his head in the sand." Yi Luowa let out a bitter laugh, and instantly, her dry lips began to bleed.
Li Hua looked at her, his heart aching. He picked up a cotton swab, dipped it in water, and gently moistened her lips. "Is your wound still hurting?"
Yi Luowa lightly touched the bandage on her head, mechanically shaking her head. The pain on her body, no matter how intense, couldn't surpass the pain in her heart.