"Understood." Xiang Yi didn't even glance at that nurse, muttering under his breath.

  The young nurse was still young. At this moment, she couldn't help but imagine a few rounds in her mind when she heard Shang Yiqi's tone. "I know. Are you fond of the woman inside or do you like that man?"

  "I like it. I don't know." Business starts in a daze.

  "Hey, don't be discouraged. You're so cool and handsome. Are you worried that you can't find a good woman or man? Look at the young couple, their relationship seems so great. Don't go meddling in other people's relationships, or I'll despise you." The little nurse spoke with conviction.

  "You say they are a young couple." Chang Qi suddenly stood up, his tone abruptly cold.

  The nurse didn't seem to notice anything and continued, "Of course, can't you see? When that woman was sent in, her entire back was covered in blood. She kept holding onto the man's hand and wouldn't let him leave. A woman will naturally cling to someone she thinks she can rely on when she's at her weakest. That man is the one she relies on. Besides, he looks so devoted. That woman must be very happy."

  The little nurse's explanation made Shang Qi's anger rise. "Aren't you a nurse? What are you doing here?"

  "Oh right, almost forgot. I need to go remove the needle from that woman." Patted her own head. The little nurse waved her hand and let Shang Xi stand aside for a moment.

  Shang Yi heard her say that she was going to remove the IV bottle for Gu Xiyan. He didn't move away, opened the door and walked in first. The little nurse couldn't understand how this man could enter the ward so openly. It shouldn't be... What did he want to do under the cover of night?

  Wei Zhe raised his eyes to see Shang Yi Qi entering the door, and his emotions didn't fluctuate in the slightest. After nodding at Shang Yi Qi, he looked at the little nurse. "Nurse, the liquid in the infusion bottle is almost finished."

  The little nurse is a bit silly, but when it comes to professional standards, she's not bad at all. Otherwise, how could she work in such a big hospital? After removing the needle from Gu Xiyan's hand, she took her temperature and recorded the data.

  "Mr., the patient's fever has subsided, but we can't rule out the possibility of a relapse. It's almost 1 am now. According to hospital regulations, family members are not allowed to stay in the hospital at this time. Please leave quickly." The little nurse politely spoke to Wei Zhe.

  Wei Zhe furrowed his brow, about to refuse. But Shang Rui suddenly spoke up in a cold tone: "Mr. Wei, I'll take care of my wife myself, no need for you to trouble yourself. Thank you for sending my wife to the hospital."

  Shang Yi emphasized the two words "wife" particularly. Wei Zhe couldn't help but see his hostility. However, he didn't want to leave. He had to stay here and watch over Yan Yan until she woke up and told him, "I'm fine." Only then could he slightly relax.

  "Eh? What did you say?" The little nurse exclaimed in surprise. This man beside her had just said something. He was the husband of the woman on the bed. Then hadn't she... swapped husbands with someone else?

  Shang Yi Qi and Wei Zhe obviously had no intention of heeding the soft-spoken nurse inside. The two locked eyes, each a picture of unyielding stubbornness.

  "Hey, you two stop staring at each other and leave quickly. If the head nurse sees you both during her rounds, she'll think I'm not doing my job." The little nurse walked to the door and turned back to see Wei Zhe and the others still looking at each other, so she couldn't help but speak up anxiously.

  "Business lawyer. I didn't mean anything else. Hope you can understand my feelings." After a few rounds of staring at each other, Wei Zhe spoke up before Shang Xi.

  Two men, equally proud, neither willing to compromise. Wei Qi's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice flat and cold. "Director Wei, same words, please don't make me say it again."

  As soon as he finished speaking, he walked to Wei Zhe's side and gently pried open the entwined hands of Gu Xiyan and Wei Zhe. It was strange that just now Gu Xiyan refused to let go of Wei Zhe's hand no matter what. This time, Shang Yi only placed his large palm over Gu Xiyan's hand, and she unconsciously loosened her grip on Wei Zhe.

  Wei Zhe is not someone who doesn't know what's good for him. However, Gu Xiyan's sudden letting go still left a bad taste in his heart. He thought she relied on him, but unexpectedly, that man just made a slight movement and she obediently surrendered.

  Perhaps she was just acting unconsciously. After all, she's still in a daze. But often, unconscious actions hurt more than conscious ones. Yanyan, you've done it again... and hurt me once more.

  Compared to Wei Zhe's melancholy, Shang Yi Qi finally softened his expression, which was a rare and precious sight.

  The nurse soon found the ward where the head nurse was. Now, Wei Zhe had no reason to stay any longer. The hospital's rules were clear, and he couldn't just ignore them. Moreover, that man had made it obvious that he wasn't welcome there. This gave him a bad premonition. As a man himself, he could confidently say that this man was getting more and more interested in Yan Yan.

  He irritably shook his head, then slowly walked out of the ward after instructing the nurse to take good care of Gu Xiyuan. Since he couldn't stay by her side, he should go deal with the person who had harmed her. Whoever dared to harm her would not be spared.

  Shang Yi walked up to the head nurse and said something, after which the head nurse surprisingly agreed to let him stay with a wave of her hand. The young nurse was quite surprised by this.

  Following behind the head nurse, they left. The young nurse thought for a moment and couldn't hold back her doubts, asking: "Head Nurse, why was that man allowed to stay?"

  "You ask too many questions." The head nurse tapped the young nurse's head and continued with a sigh, "If you spent as much time studying as you do thinking about these trivial matters, would you still be just a small on-duty nurse?"

  "Oh dear, Head Nurse. Just tell me, I promise. From now on, I'll study hard every day and strive to improve. I definitely won't disappoint your expectations." The little nurse raised her hand in oath.

  "Alright, alright. Who would believe you? That man is a soldier. Our hospital has an unwritten rule to relax the visiting restrictions for soldiers and their families. Don't ask again, okay? There's still work to be done." The head nurse said as she walked into an office. The little nurse puffed out her cheeks, made a zipping motion across her mouth, and followed her in.

  The VIP ward where Gu Xiyan was located was equipped with high-end facilities, but unfortunately, there was only one bed. After the lights were turned off, Shang Tuyi sat on the chair beside the hospital bed, not feeling sleepy at all. His gaze was fixed on the woman lying on the bed.

  In the darkness, I couldn't feel the passage of time. Suddenly, there was a sense of great change that turned everything upside down. The person on the bed had been playing and laughing with little girl just before going out. It's only been a few hours. Yet everything has changed.

  In an instant, I thought of the cry for help that I heard in my room at that time. Shang Qi's heart was as if it had been cut into pieces, one knife after another, with blood gushing down.

  "Alas... at that time... was it you? You were seeking help from me, weren't you?" Shang Xi didn't make a sound, but his lips had already conveyed this information.

  Unfortunately, I let you down. That's why you grasped Wei Zhe's hand at that time and refused to let go, right?

  Gu Xiyan couldn't hear Shang Yi's thoughts in his mind. She was still immersed in her sleep.

  The phone suddenly vibrated in his hand. Shang Zuo pulled out the phone and glanced at the number displayed on the screen. Keeping a distance from Gu Xiyan, he answered the call.

  "Dad, why haven't you and Mom come back yet? Yan'er is so sleepy. Dad, when are you coming back?" A big yawn came from the little girl on the other end of the phone.

  "Yan'er, be good, go to sleep first. Don't worry about turning off the lights downstairs. Dad and Mom have something important to attend to and can't come back yet. Make sure to cover yourself with a blanket when you sleep, don't let Dad and Mom worry. Got it? Dad promises that he will definitely be home by the time Yan'er wakes up tomorrow. Okay?" Shang Yi tried his best to suppress his voice as he instructed the little one.

  "Good, then Daddy and Mommy give Yan'er a kiss. Yan'er goes to sleep." The little girl is very understanding. When Dad says he's busy, she doesn't let Daddy and Mommy worry too much.

  "Yan'er, your mom is busy right now. Let's have her make it up to you another day, okay? Daddy will give you a kiss first, and then you can go to sleep." Shang Qi made a kissing sound towards the phone.

  "Okay, Daddy. You and Mommy go to sleep early, okay? Yan'er will lock the door. Yan'er has to wake up early tomorrow so she can see you guys." The little girl's words were full of childish innocence.

  "Yan'er is so well-behaved. Goodnight."

  After hanging up the phone, Shanggui returned to Gu Xiyan's bedside once again.

  "Thirsty..." Gu Xiyan seemed to have muttered something.

  Shang Yi thought she was going to wake up and hastily turned on the lights in the room.

  "Thirsty... water..." This time, Xiǎo Yàn's words were clearer. Her two long and slender eyelashes trembled a few times before her beautiful eyes opened.

  Shang Yi quickly went to the water dispenser and poured some water. After helping her sit up straight, he handed her a disposable cup with warm water. "Drink slowly."

  Gu Xiyan's little head was nestled in Shang Yi's arms, silent and still. She sipped water quietly, her small mouth making tiny sounds as she also licked her dry lips.

  Gu Xiyan didn't sleep again after waking up. Shang Ke held her in his arms, avoiding the wound on her back. His iron-like arms were both strong and gentle at the same time.

  "Zhe..." Gu Xiyan's slender hands grasped the clothes on Shang Yi's chest, and a faint cry escaped her pale lips.

  "This gentle call was like a branding iron that heavily smashed onto Shang Xi Qi's already bleeding heart."

  For a moment, he wanted to ruthlessly and decisively push away Gu Xiyan in his arms. But he... couldn't do it.

  "Hey, do you know? Gu Xiyan tried her best to remain calm and emotionless. But the slight tremble in her voice betrayed her. 'When that Luo Zong stared at me, I was so scared, my legs cramped up. Otherwise, I would have definitely escaped. I didn't expect him to let me go, but I just hoped someone could come and save me. That person is a lunatic, he whipped me with his belt. It hurt so much. But fortunately, after a while, the pain wasn't that unbearable anymore. Tell me, how can a person be so evil?"

  Gu Xiyan slightly raised her head. The light in the room made it hard for her to open her eyes. Shang Yi Qi hugged her and shifted his body, letting the light shine from behind him.

  She consoled herself, telling herself that all of that was in the past. Gu Xiyan looked at Shang Yue's jawline and smiled wryly. "I told myself, if someone came to save me, then I would be willing to try and love him. Am I being very selfish and foolish? Using this kind of method to pray for a thread of hope."

  They have nothing to say to each other.

  Just as Shang Qi thought Gu Xiyan wouldn't speak again, Gu Xiyan murmured lightly: "It was Wei Zhe who saved me, right?"

  Author's words