"Fine, I won’t speculate," Youxue sneered, "Then you tell me, what exactly did you and Shiheng discuss today!"
Bian Yue’s expression gradually became colder as she walked up to Shen Jinci, her gaze icy as she stared at Youxue, "I know Li Sihe’s life and death are uncertain, and that you are distressed, but you have no right to question Shen Jinci here."
Shen Jinci didn’t take Youxue’s accusations to heart at all. To him, her presence was insignificant.
But Bian Yue’s protective stance was too moving.
Shen Jinci looked at her slender and delicate silhouette, his heart tugged in a complex, indescribable way.
Youxue was first slightly indignant, but then, seeing Bian Yue’s firm stance, she bit her lip and said no more.
Inside the hospital room, the atmosphere fell silent once again.
Until Li Sihe on the hospital bed slowly opened his eyes, finally breaking the stalemate.
"Shiheng, you’re awake!" Youxue was the first to notice; she looked at Li Sihe with both surprise and anxiety, bending down to ask, "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? I’ll go call the doctor for you now!"
Li Sihe didn’t stop her, and only after Youxue left did he slightly turn his head to look at Bian Yue beside him.
Bian Yue stood next to Shen Jinci, their hands tightly intertwined, their posture intimately striking.
Li Sihe detested how clearly he could see, enough to discern even the ring on Bian Yue’s ring finger.
His face paled for a moment, then he forced a smile, "Yueyue, why are you here?"
"I heard you had a health scare and came to see you specially. Li Sihe, you should stop now, leave Feng Cheng’s matters to someone else," Bian Yue said softly, "The doctor told me about your condition, you really shouldn’t keep overworking yourself."
Li Sihe thought, if it weren’t for his body that was hanging by a thread, Bian Yue probably wouldn’t be willing to empathize with him again.
His eyes softened and his expression grew complex; after a long while, he smiled and said, "Yueyue, but people need to find something of value in life, whether I’m resting or exhausting every effort, it won’t change the fact that my body is at its limits, so..."
Li Sihe’s breathing became heavier, he found it hard to speak, the sluggishness and pain in his organs made it laborious, he paused to catch his breath, then continued, "So, I still want to manage Feng Cheng well in my final moments, you know, I care about profits, what matters most to me are the powers I can hold in my hand."
Bian Yue didn’t respond; she just silently watched Li Sihe until he softly coughed, with traces of blood on his lips.
"Stop talking!" Bian Yue hurriedly moved forward, taking a handkerchief from the side to wipe the blood off Li Sihe’s mouth.
Shen Jinci stood still, watching as his hand was abruptly released, his expression briefly vacant.
"Yueyue..." Li Sihe’s voice was hoarse; he closed his eyes, soothing the surge of pain in his body, and he hoarsely said, "If... if one day I’m truly no longer in this world, can you forget all the resentment between us... can you forgive me?"
These words, like a last will, cooled the warmth in Bian Yue’s hand easily as Li Sihe spoke.
She clenched the handkerchief, her eyes reddening, and hoarsely said, "Isn’t it too early to talk about this now? Li Sihe! Shen Jinci, Li Family, and I have been trying to find you a doctor. Just give us some time, we will find one eventually."
"You clearly know that it’s an incurable, hereditary disease. There’s no chance for a cure." Li Sihe smiled calmly; he seemed to have accepted this outcome long ago, so today, he was particularly serene. "My death is inevitable, maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after..."
Shen Jinci saw Bian Yue’s fingertips trembling. She was turned away from him, but her entire being radiated sorrow.
It was so intense, clearly visible.
Bian Yue did not hate Li Sihe; she just didn’t love him anymore, but she still cared about him.
Flesh and blood form the heart, destined to be entwined with pain, unable to be tough without desire.
Li Sihe continued, "Back then... when you first came to the Li Family, you were so young. I didn’t know how to interact with you. Actually... at first, I didn’t even want to get too close to you, Bian Yue. I knew our doomed fate early on. It may have seemed like we walked the same path, but in reality, we never truly walked in the same direction. We were just... keeping each other warm."
He paused, raised his hand, and touched the tips of Bian Yue’s hair, then his hand slowly lowered, a very subtle motion that Bian Yue didn’t notice.
"I have always felt guilty. The more I love you, the more guilty I feel. I know loving someone shouldn’t be . Between us, it’s all calculations, all using each other. Yueyue, I really don’t want to use you, I have no choice... I’m the only son of the Li Family. I can’t help it."
"Enough!" Bian Yue interrupted Li Sihe softly but harshly, lifting her eyes to his, tears welling up, "Li Sihe, I promise you, I forgive you. No matter what Li Tingmo did to my parents, I won’t take it out on you. I won’t blame you."
Li Sihe gazed at Bian Yue; she seemed close to tears, even her voice choked.
Throughout this journey, Li Sihe had never taken a wrong step, nor allowed himself to make mistakes.
The deviation in the chess game with Bian Yue didn’t matter anymore. Now, she had chosen to forgive him.
Even though Li Sihe knew that this was a kind of moral binding, he still needed Bian Yue to tell him in person that she no longer hated him.
Now, his purpose had been achieved.
Li Sihe smiled, watching the complex expression on Bian Yue’s face, softly said, "Yueyue, I’m feeling a bit unwell. Could you check how far the doctor is?"
Bian Yue agreed and before leaving, she clasped Shen Jinci’s hand, feeling uneasy, "Jinci, I will check on the doctor."
Shen Jinci remained emotionally neutral, a trace of warmth in his eyes. His long fingers brushed the tips of Bian Yue’s hair, whispering softly, "No rush, I will contact you if there’s anything."
Not until Bian Yue had left did Shen Jinci look expressionlessly at Li Sihe.
Li Sihe smirked, a gentleman of fair weather truly a wolf in disguise, softly said, "Mr. Shen, I’m nearly dead, Bian Yue forgave me, you don’t mind, do you?"
Shen Jinci didn’t immediately reply; he brewed a cup of tea for Li Sihe, placing it by his pillow, and finally spoke, perfectly calm, "You know very well, Bian Yue’s willingness to come with Su Youxue proves she can’t hate you. So there’s no question of minding, I’ve known this all along."
Li Sihe’s smile faded a bit as he gazed at the tea cup at his bedside, scoffed: "You must be very pleased now. When I’m dead, no one will continue to investigate who you really are. Shen Jinci, aren’t you curious how I found out?"