C7 I Miss You so Much

The cold wind whistled as the night was illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. People bustled in and out of the hospital entrance. Pei Chenglin stood with a stern demeanor, while Nian Wanwan leaned against the wall, her face a mask of mockery.

"Nian Wanwan, do you really think this will make me angry?" Pei Chenglin's voice was soft, his thin lips curling into a chilling smile.

He moved closer, his presence both confining and dangerous. "Are you afraid of me being near you? Don't think it'll be that easy; I won't let you go."

Every word from Pei Chenglin was like a sharp blade, and Nian Wanwan felt a chill run through her. Her lips were nearly bitten through, but with a cold snort, he suddenly scooped her up.

"What are you doing?!" Nian Wanwan panicked, weakly pushing against his strong arms, unable to break free.

"Aren't you afraid of others finding out?" Pei Chenglin's jaw was tight as he looked down at her. "Go ahead, try moving again."

His words were an undeniable threat, enough to freeze Nian Wanwan in place. She knew Pei Chenglin's ruthlessness; he always meant what he said.

Resigned, Nian Wanwan let her hands fall and turned her head away, trying to hide her face. Pei Chenglin scoffed, carrying her with an air of indifference past the crowd. He ignored the tension in her body as he entered the hospital room, went through the check-up, and even when changing clothes, he merely turned slightly to the side.

Nian Wanwan gritted her teeth, using the blanket for cover as she changed into the hospital gown. Only then did Pei Chenglin call the nurse in to start the IV.

After a long, exhausting night, she was utterly spent, and her phone was dead. She had no idea how to reach Qin Yanting, and for all she knew, the Qin family was already in chaos.

Wanwan stared at the IV bag above her, her eyes growing distant. Not far away, a man sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, seemingly engrossed in paperwork. His posture was as upright and still as a statue.

"He's such a madman," she murmured weakly, her consciousness gradually fading.

In her hazy dreams, it felt like someone was gently stroking her hair, softly checking her forehead for a fever. Instinctively, Wanwan grasped the familiar warmth, pressing her cheek against it.

"...I miss you so much..." I'm sorry...

She whispered in her sleep, and the owner of the large hand froze, remaining silent. Pei Chenglin's dark, narrow eyes swirled with unreadable emotions. He had intended to leave, but she clung to his sleeve, refusing to let go. Almost against his will, he reached out, and for a fleeting moment, as he gazed at her sleeping face, he felt as if he were in a dream.

"You're crazy."

Pei Chenglin recalled what Wanwan had said before she fell asleep. He couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh, lowering his gaze. As soon as his eyes landed on her hand, his expression turned cold.

On her slender ring finger was a faint mark where a ring used to be.

Pei Chenglin gave a silent, bitter laugh, mocking himself for his inexplicable moment of softness. Without hesitation, he pulled his hand away.

Turning around, the room fell silent once more.

Wanwan wasn't sure when she woke up, only that an inexplicable sadness lingered, and her pillow felt slightly damp.

"You're awake?" The familiar, clear voice belonged to Qin Yanting.

Wanwan blinked, and his handsome face appeared before her, wearing a somewhat tired smile. "Do you want some water?"

She nodded, letting Qin Yanting adjust the bed, and took a sip of the warm water he offered. Her voice was still a bit hoarse when she spoke, "How did you get here? Who told you?"

For a moment, Wanwan hesitated, almost saying Pei Chenglin's name, but she wasn't sure and didn't know how to explain.

Fortunately, Qin Yanting didn't seem to mind. He simply responded with a "Hmm?" and explained, "The nurse called me. You had left my number with them earlier."

"Oh..." Wanwan felt a wave of relief wash over her. She lowered her head and continued drinking the water, her hand still aching a bit. Looking up, she noticed the IV drip was gone.

"How long has she been getting the shots?"

Nian Wanwan gave a self-deprecating smile, knowing she was in the dark. "It's really lucky..."

"Lucky about what?" Qin Yanting didn't catch on, his eyes seemingly glued to his phone.

"Nothing," Wanwan mumbled, noticing that Qin Yanting wasn't paying attention, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Is something wrong at work?"

"Nothing," Qin Yanting replied absentmindedly, his gaze never leaving the screen.

Wanwan paused, guessing that Qin Yanting's "nothing" was as vague as her own.

"I think I need some rest. If there's nothing urgent, you can get back to work," Wanwan said lightly, flashing a sly grin. "Boss, can I take three days off without a pay cut?"

Qin Yanting finally looked up, smiling as he reached out to ruffle her hair. "Since you've been so good, I'll grant you three days of paid leave."

Wanwan playfully huffed, waving him off with mock impatience. "Go on, go on, your majesty permits it."

Qin Yanting's expression relaxed as he stood up, straightening his clothes. After a brief pause, he said, "Thank you, Wanwan."

Wanwan smiled, pretending to doze off. Qin Yanting lingered for a moment before leaving. Once he was gone, she slowly opened her eyes and dialed her phone. "Sheng Yuan, did anything happen at the office today?"