Beijing First Hospital.
In the ward, Xia Qiao and Jiang Zirui were playing cards, with lots of sticky notes on their faces.
"Four twos, I trump you! Admit defeat, stick the note."
Xia Qiao rubbed her palms, excitedly sticking another note on Jiang Zirui’s face.
Jiang Zirui stared at the cards in his hand, seemingly unable to believe he lost again.
In a single morning, they played twelve rounds, and he lost ten?
This was just too tragically unfair.
Could his gambling skills really be this poor?
"What? You can’t believe it? These things, you gotta chill out, after all, card games involve IQ," Xia Qiao teased him, raising her eyebrows unapologetically.
Jiang Zirui: "..."
He touched his face, suddenly feeling like crying.
Regarding the IQ topic, more than one person could mock him.
Whimper whimper.
These people didn’t know how much harm they’ve caused his young and fragile heart.
"Qiaoqiao, how could you say that about Little Rui? You’re obviously the one bullying him."
Mr. Xia from the hospital bed, wearing reading glasses, monitored them while watching TV.
Seeing Xia Qiao teasing Jiang Zirui, he was the first to disapprove.
Lately, the young man often brought him food, running around tirelessly.
Naturally, he had grown quite fond of Jiang Zirui.
Feeling defended, Jiang Zirui excitedly stood up, "Exactly, exactly, you’re clearly the one bullying!"
Hearing that, Xia Qiao glanced at her father helplessly, griped: "Dad, you spent just two days with him, and you don’t even recognize your own daughter?"
This was just way too absurd.
Mr. Xia snorted proudly, "Anyway, he’s better than you, my daughter, who stayed abroad for five years without visiting me..."
The talk of those five years caused a slight change in Xia Qiao’s eyes, and her head drooped unconsciously.
Having spent so much time with her lately, Jiang Zirui quickly noticed the shift in her mood.
"Oh dear, uncle, let’s talk about something else, okay..." he anxiously changed the subject, afraid of hurting Xia Qiao.
Mr. Xia’s lips moved, and he looked at Xia Qiao with a complex expression, remaining silent.
A while passed.
Feeling a heavy pressure in her chest, Xia Qiao found any excuse to step out for some air, "You two chat, I’m going to stand at the door for a bit."
As her words dropped, the two in the ward fell silent, dumbfounded by her departing figure.
"..."
In the corridor by the doorway, Xia Qiao finally breathed some fresh air and no longer felt so stifled.
Yet her eyes became red and moist.
In fact, over the past five years, she deeply regretted leaving Hua Country, and leaving her father.
But she had no choice, she couldn’t risk her father’s life, could she?
Things were quite nice now this way...
She took a deep breath, readjusting her emotions.
Feeling less oppressed, she prepared to turn back into the ward, but suddenly someone pulled her back.
"Xia Qiao, is it you..."
Lin Yangbo’s incredulous voice echoed, mixed with a hint of excitement.
Seeing him, Xia Qiao scrambled to cover her face, hurriedly denying, "You’ve got the wrong person, I’m not Xia Qiao."
"Xia Qiao!" Lin Yangbo’s eyes darkened, pulling her into his embrace.
"How long are you going to keep hiding from me?"