Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Wen Yinong and Pei Xizhou walked into Ward 12 of the Cardiovascular Department one after the other.

Pei Xizhou went straight to the hospital bed, bent slightly, and asked gently, "Grandpa, how are you feeling now? Is the dizziness any better? Any other discomfort?"

Grandpa was still a bit weak but mustered his spirits to smile at the young doctor. "Much better. I think I've got a few more years in me."

Pei Xizhou chuckled. "Don't worry, Grandpa. You're in great shape. If you ask me, you'll live for decades more. There are plenty of good days ahead."

The doctor's lighthearted words were a reassurance, settling firmly in Grandpa's heart. The old man immediately beamed. "Thank you for your concern."

After putting Grandpa at ease, Pei Xizhou turned to Shen Yulan and the others, instructing, "During the hospitalization, I'll prescribe some medication to relieve dizziness and improve circulation. The diet must be light, low in salt and fat. If he gets out of bed, a family member must stay by his side at all times to prevent another fainting episode."

Shen Yulan quickly nodded, committing the instructions to memory. "Yes, Dr. Pei, I'll remember. I won't leave his side."

Just then, the warm-hearted grandma took out two large, red apples from a bag and insisted on pressing them into Pei Xizhou's hands. "Here, Dr. Pei, you've been busy all evening. These will perk you up."

Pei Xizhou politely declined. "You're too kind. No, thanks. You keep them."

"I bought a whole bag," Grandma insisted, determined to stuff the apples into his pocket. "Doctors work the hardest, always working late, not even having time for a sip of water... Dr. Pei, if you don't take them, it's not because you think these apples are too humble, is it?"

The old lady used a bit of provocation.

Pei Xizhou smiled helplessly. "That's not what I meant at all, Grandma."

Seeing the standoff, Wen Yinong sighed softly and stepped forward. "Dr. Pei, just take the apples. My grandmother is really headstrong. If you don't accept, she'll feel bad and won't be able to sleep all night."

Given the situation, further refusal would seem unfeeling. Unable to do otherwise, Pei Xizhou accepted the apples. "Then thank you, Grandma."

Grandma looked at the handsome, modest young man, taking a liking to him. "You're welcome."

Pei Xizhou then turned to Grandpa. "Grandpa, please rest well. I'll check on other patients now, and I'll visit you again during the morning rounds tomorrow."

Grandpa smiled and nodded. "Alright, Dr. Pei. Goodbye."

Pei Xizhou gave a slight nod and turned to leave. Shen Yulan subtly signaled her daughter to see him off. Wen Yinong caught on and hurried after him, seeing him to the ward door.

Pei Xizhou paused at the doorway and turned back.

Under the bright hallway light, the young woman behind him had fair skin without a trace of makeup, yet her naturally exquisite and radiant features were undeniable. Her slightly wavy black hair fell loosely over her shoulders, thick as seaweed, highlighting her slender neck and gentle, clean temperament—like a naive, lively woodland sprite.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You can stop here. Go back and look after your grandpa."

Wen Yinong stopped as he said and offered him a grateful smile, waving goodbye. "Alright, Dr. Pei. Take care."

After seeing Pei Xizhou off, Wen Yinong returned to the ward.

Shen Yulan took out the newly bought toothbrush and towel from the plastic bag, poured warm water, and helped Grandpa brush his teeth and wash his face. Wen Yinong and Grandma passed him things and tidied the bed.

At that moment, recalling the young attending physician, Wen Yinong couldn't help but worry. "Grandpa's attending doctor looks so young, maybe just over thirty? Becoming an attending at that age—I wonder if he's really any good..."

"Oh, don't underestimate Dr. Pei," Grandma immediately leaned in, lowering her voice secretively. "When we first arrived at the hospital, I asked around at the nurses' station. Dr. Pei is a cardiovascular specialist the hospital specifically recruited from abroad. He's famous all over the world. He's amazing!"

Wen Yinong looked surprised. "A specialist? That young?"

Shen Yulan, who was wiping Grandpa's face, chuckled at her daughter's words. "You're one to talk. You look even younger, and aren't you a well-known therapist in your special ed field?"

Wen Yinong was taken aback by her mother's teasing and fell silent.

Indeed, she thought, appearances can be deceiving. It was shallow of her to question a cardiovascular specialist's expertise just because Dr. Pei was handsome and young.

Around ten in the evening, Grandpa finished washing up and went to sleep. The ward lights were turned off uniformly, leaving only a dim nightlight by the bed.

Wen Zhenhua set up a foldable cot, ready to stay overnight in the ward.

Grandma had wanted to stay and keep vigil, but Shen Yulan and Wen Yinong firmly refused. Unable to convince mother and daughter, Grandma left reluctantly.

As they waited for the elevator, Wen Yinong glanced at her phone. It was almost ten-thirty.

Remembering that Chen Jin was still waiting in the parking lot downstairs, she hesitated for a moment, opened her contacts, found the saved number, and dialed.

A few rings later, the call was answered.

"Hello, Teacher Wen." Chen Jin's voice came through, steady as always.

Wen Yinong cleared her throat apologetically. "Hi, Chen Jin. I'm just about done here. Since it's late, I'd like to take my mom and grandma home first... Oh, my grandma's place is close to the hospital, just a ten-minute drive. Can you wait a bit longer? Or, if it's inconvenient, you could go back first?"

"Please hold," Chen Jin said.

Then the line went quiet, as if Chen Jin was checking something.

After about ten seconds, Chen Jin's voice returned with a solution. "Teacher Wen, how about this: I'll take the two elders home first. You wait a moment at the hospital. I'll come back to get you right after dropping them off."

Hearing this arrangement, Wen Yinong was relieved. It would quickly get her mother and grandmother home to rest without making Chen Jin wait too long. But she also felt a bit embarrassed. "That sounds good, but wouldn't that be too much trouble? You going back and forth..."

Chen Jin's tone stayed businesslike. "It's no trouble, Teacher Wen. Don't worry about it."

Since he insisted, she didn't argue. They agreed and hung up.

As they walked from the elevator to the exit, Wen Yinong thought of something and gently reminded her mother and grandmother, "Grandma, Mom, a friend of mine will drive you home. He's doing us a favor, so please remember to thank him properly when you get out of the car."

Shen Yulan was amused and gave her daughter a playful look. "We know! You think your grandmother and I are three-year-olds? We know our manners. Don't worry."

Wen Yinong let out a dry laugh. "Just reminding you."

Chatting, the family walked out through the glass doors of the inpatient building. The cool night breeze hit them, carrying the hospital's distinct smell of disinfectant.

Wen Yinong looked up.

A black Rolls-Royce, spotless and dignified like a quiet gentleman, sat waiting under the streetlight by the road.

Beside the car stood a tall man in a suit—Chen Jin.

Wen Yinong quickly led her grandmother and mother over. She gave Chen Jin a warm smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Chen Jin. These are my mother and grandmother. Mom, Grandma, this is Mr. Chen Jin. He'll drive you both home."

Chen Jin looked at the two elders, lowered his eyes slightly, and gave a respectful greeting.

Grandma and Shen Yulan smiled warmly in return.

After the introductions, Wen Yinong reached for the rear door handle.

Just then, a voice came unexpectedly from behind her—cool and low, like a cello playing slowly in the night, unmistakable: "Hello, Grandma. Hello, Auntie."

Wen Yinong's eyes widened in surprise.

That voice...?

She turned around, stunned, her movements stiff and jerky as if she were a robot.

A tall figure in pure black appeared silently, standing in the deep night.

He stood tall and straight, dressed in simple black suit and trousers that accentuated his lean waist and long legs, with broad, straight shoulders. His presence was sharp and cold, like a dark tree growing in the night—calm, mysterious, and commanding respect.

Seeing this young man appear so suddenly, Grandma and Shen Yulan paused, clearly taken aback by his powerful presence. It took them a few seconds to recover. They exchanged glances, both surprised and puzzled.

Shen Yulan, due to her extensive life experience, quickly steadied herself. She studied his distinctive features, untypical of East Asian faces, and couldn't help asking warily, "May I ask who you are?"

Mo Shaoshang gave a slight smile, his manner gentle and polite, his tone courteous: "Hello, Auntie. I am Mo Shaoshang, a friend of Teacher Wen's." At this point, a hint of softness entered his gaze, and he continued, "I often hear Teacher Wen mention you and Grandma. It's a great honor to meet you today."

Hearing that he was also a friend of Wen Yinong's, Grandma and Shen Yulan immediately broke into warm smiles and said in unison, "Hello, hello."

Grandma seemed quite intrigued. She studied Mo Shaoshang's handsome mixed-race features, then his deep blue-black eyes. Smiling, she looked him up and down, muttering to herself, "Is this young man from abroad? He's so handsome, like a movie star..."

As she spoke, the old lady became more and more fascinated. She even reached out and patted Mo Shaoshang's arm twice, exclaiming, "Mm! Good build, too—tall and sturdy."

Wen Yinong watched this scene unfold, her face going pale with alarm. She quickly stepped forward to stop her overly enthusiastic grandmother, lowering her voice, "Grandma. If you want to talk, just talk. Why are you touching him? Don't be so touchy-feely, it's impolite..."

Grandma was completely unbothered. Instead, she glanced at her granddaughter and said matter-of-factly, "What's wrong with patting his shoulder? He's a boy, solidly built. Don't make such a fuss."

Wen Yinong had nothing to say.

A few minutes later, Mo Shaoshang personally opened the car door, inviting the two elders to get in. Shen Yulan and Grandma thanked him repeatedly and settled into the comfortable back seat of the Rolls-Royce.

Chen Jin returned to the driver's seat, started the engine, and the black sedan glided into the night, quickly disappearing around the corner of the hospital entrance.

Only after the taillights had completely disappeared did Wen Yinong slowly lower her waving arm. Then, she took a deep breath of the cool night air and spoke softly.

"My grandmother likes good-looking young people..." she murmured, her face slightly flushed. "Mr. Mo, please don't mind her."

Mo Shaoshang replied, "It's fine."

After a moment, Wen Yinong looked up again, her gaze a mix of confusion and curiosity, and couldn't help voicing the question on her mind: "Mr. Mo, when did you arrive at the hospital?"

Mo Shaoshang looked down at her, his tone calm and unruffled: "Around eight o'clock."

Eight o'clock? Wen Yinong quickly calculated in her mind. It was almost eleven now. That meant he had been waiting downstairs in the inpatient building for over two hours?

She struggled to process this, then, recalling the earlier phone call, grew even more puzzled: "So, when you called me earlier, you were already at the hospital?"

Mo Shaoshang gave a slight nod: "Mm."

Wen Yinong's confusion deepened. She pressed on, "Then why did you come here? Is something the matter?" She really couldn't think of any reason for him to come to the hospital and wait silently for so long.

Mo Shaoshang's blue-black eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the night. He looked at her steadily, and when he spoke again, his voice was still calm and cool: "Uncle Heng said you looked flustered when you left this afternoon. I was worried you might be dealing with something difficult, so I came to check."

Hearing this answer, Wen Yinong's heart fluttered uncontrollably, as if a stone had been dropped into a calm lake. She paused, her voice unconsciously softening, a hint of hesitation in her voice: "Since you were here so early, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Mo Shaoshang's gaze swept over her tired but still bright eyes, and he said simply, "If you knew I was waiting, you might feel pressured and get distracted."

Wen Yinong's fingers tightened slightly, and she unconsciously bit her lower lip. A complex emotion surged within her. This man's thoughtfulness could be incredibly meticulous, almost overwhelming. Just because he considered her feelings and feared she couldn't focus on taking care of her family, he chose to remain silent and wait alone in the car for over two hours?

A wave of emotion washed over her, mixing gratitude with a subtle flutter.

She looked at the man before her, meeting his eyes, almost drowning in that blue-black deep sea.

Just then, a cool night breeze rustled a fallen leaf on the ground.

Wen Yinong suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing it was inappropriate for them to stand there like that. The next second, she quickly averted her gaze, glanced at the empty road beside her, cleared her throat, and tried to break the awkward, almost romantic atmosphere: "Chen Jin is taking my mom and grandmother home; it should take a while. You've been waiting for so long. Are you thirsty? There's a vending machine over there. I, I'll buy you a drink, okay? Juice or something."

A faint smile flickered in Mo Shaoshang's eyes as he replied, "Alright."

*

It was late at night. The garden of the hospital building had lost its daytime bustle, now quiet and lonely. Streetlights cast dim, warm glows on the ground, outlining the blurred shapes of bushes and benches. The nameless flowers in the beds had closed their petals for the night, leaving only dark silhouettes.

In the distance, the scattered lights of the inpatient building resembled sparse stars in the night sky. Occasionally, a nurse on duty or a family member returning late would hurry by, their footsteps clearly echoing in the silence.

The two walked side by side to the vending machine beside the garden.

Wen Yinong pulled out her phone first, scanning the QR code as she said firmly, "Let me make it clear. I'm paying." She quickly completed the scan and then gestured to Mo Shaoshang, "Choose whatever you like."

Perhaps because she had left the Mo family estate, allowing her nerves to relax, or for some other reason, Mo Shaoshang now seemed less intimidating to Wen Yinong than usual.

Even her demeanor toward him became more natural.

Mo Shaoshang picked a bottle of grape juice. Wen Yinong chose mulberry juice for herself.

With two clunks, the drinks dropped out. She bent down, picked them up, handed the grape juice to Mo Shaoshang, and then the two walked to a nearby wooden bench and sat down.

The nighttime chill seeped into the air, and the silence made their breathing audible.

Before long, Mo Shaoshang spoke, breaking the silence. His tone was calm as usual: "You and your maternal grandfather seem very close."

Wen Yinong was momentarily taken aback, then a warm smile spread across her face. She nodded. "Mm, very close. When I was little, my parents were both busy with work and often worked late, so they couldn't take full care of me. From my birth until I started elementary school, the three of us (Mom, Dad, and me) lived with my maternal grandparents. They brought me up." She paused for a second, turned to look at Mo Shaoshang, her gaze soft. "My maternal grandparents dote on me."

The distant night sky was tinged reddish by the city lights. Mo Shaoshang gazed into the distance quietly, not uttering a word. The lines of his profile appeared somewhat cold and aloof in the interplay of light and shadow.

Sensing the awkwardness, Wen Yinong added casually to lighten the mood: "Grandparents often spoil their grandchildren. They love kids and want to give them the best. Your maternal grandfather must have doted on you too."

Mo Shaoshang was silent for a long time, so long that Wen Yinong thought he wouldn't respond to the topic. Then, he suddenly spoke, his voice low and emotionless: "My maternal grandfather died too early. I have no memory of him."

Wen Yinong's heart sank, and she felt apologetic. But since the words were out, she tried to smooth things over: "Then, you must be closer to your paternal grandparents?"

At this, Mo Shaoshang's gaze remained still, dark as ink, deep and unreadable. His thin lips pressed together, and he didn't answer.

Wen Yinong frowned, realizing she might have asked another inappropriate question.

Oh no.

The principal had repeatedly told her not to be curious about the Mo family's affairs. She had misspoken again.

Embarrassment and awkwardness hit her at once. Wen Yinong quickly lowered her head, picked up her mulberry juice, and tried to take a sip to cover the momentary awkwardness.

But the bottle cap was unusually tight. She exerted all her strength, her face flushed and fingers sore, but the cap remained unmoving.

Just as Wen Yinong was about to give up in despair, a large, well-defined hand reached over from beside her and took the stubborn bottle of mulberry juice.

Wen Yinong's gaze instinctively followed that hand.

She watched as Mo Shaoshang held the bottle firmly with one hand and casually twisted the cap with the other. With no visible effort, he gave a gentle flick of his wrist, and with a soft "click,"

the cap that had been "resisting" just seconds before was effortlessly opened.

He handed the opened bottle back.

"...Thank you," Wen Yinong whispered. Her cheeks felt hot as she took the bottle and took a small sip.

Unexpectedly, the mulberry juice tasted completely unexpected—slightly sweet but mostly sour, with an intense sourness that assaulted her taste buds. Caught off guard, her face instantly scrunched up like a little bun, her expression twisted.

Beside her, Mo Shaoshang watched her, a faint smile passing through his eyes, fleeting like a shooting star. He also picked up his juice, opened it, took a sip, elegant and poised.

The gentle evening breeze brushed through the treetops, carrying the faint chirping of insects from afar.

After a brief awkward moment, a subtle harmony seemed to settle into the atmosphere.

It took a while before Wen Yinong shook off that sour feeling. She re-screwed the bottle cap, deciding to shift the topic and talk about work stuff with her employer.

She said, "Oh, by the way. I left in a hurry this afternoon. After I was gone, how was Ari? Any mood swings?"

Mo Shaoshang shook his head. "Everything was fine."

Wen Yinong breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking of the adorable Little Ari, a smile unconsciously crept into her eyes. "Ari is super well-behaved, so easy to take care of."

She paused, her gaze drifting to the swaying tree shadows under the streetlights in the distance, her voice light and slow. "In my career, I've worked with many kids on the spectrum, like Ari. Beyond their main social challenges, they often have severe emotional problems, sleep disorders, and even self-harm or aggressive behaviors... Compared to them, Ari is truly a little angel."

Mo Shaoshang listened quietly, his gaze resting on her soft, illuminated profile, and said, "You've taught him well, Teacher Wen."

Wen Yinong chuckled and waved it off. "Not at all. He's just a good kid by nature."

The two sat on the bench, chatting idly about this and that, the atmosphere unusually relaxed and peaceful. Before long, a cell phone rang, breaking the silence.

It was Mo Shaoshang's call.

He answered.

"Sir," Chen Jin's voice came through the receiver, extremely respectful. "Teacher Wen's mother and grandmother got home safely. I watched until they went inside, then left."

Mo Shaoshang: "Mm."

*

A moment later, a black Rolls-Royce slowly approached and pulled into the clearing next to the garden.

Chen Jin opened the car door.

Wen Yinong and Mo Shaoshang got in one after the other.

The car heater was on, and the moment the door closed, the cold was completely shut out.

Earlier, Wen Yinong had been anxious about her grandfather's condition, her nerves on edge for several hours. Now that she had relaxed, fatigue washed over her like a wave.

Her eyelids drooped and her head started nodding off. Yet she forced herself not to embarrass herself in front of Mo Shaoshang. She lowered her head, covering her mouth with her hand, and quietly let out a small yawn.

"Tired?" A voice came from beside her.

She thought her yawn had gone unnoticed, but he'd caught her.

Wen Yinong was startled. She looked up to meet deep, dark eyes, and instantly her cheeks flushed crimson. Embarrassed, she answered softly, defensive, "Not really. I'm not that tired."

Mo Shaoshang said nothing, just stared straight at the small face that was clearly exhausted yet trying to stay alert.

Maybe it was the car's heater, but her fair face had turned rosy, her long lashes lowered, a few strands of hair sticking to her slightly reddened cheeks. Her red lips parted unconsciously, and in her fatigue, there was an unintentional charm.

It stirred something deep inside him.

A surge of heat spread through his limbs. Mo Shaoshang swallowed almost imperceptibly, his expression revealing nothing.

A moment later, as if sensing something, he shifted his gaze slightly.

A few meters away, under the shadow of the inpatient building, stood a tall figure.

Pei Xizhou's gaze was fixed on the direction of the Rolls-Royce. He leaned lazily against the wall, not knowing how long he had been standing there.

After watching the young girl's soft profile through the window for a while, he turned his gaze—whether intentionally or not—and met the owner's cold eyes.

The other's eyes were dark and calm, as if he were just an insignificant tree by the roadside, casting an indifferent glance before looking away.

The next moment, the Rolls-Royce started and sped off into the distance.

"..." Pei Xizhou raised an eyebrow meaningfully.