Chapter 83: I Suppose I Was the One Clinging to Her

The hospital room was enveloped in silence.

The girl on the bed had already fallen asleep. Beside her were Lu Jiachen and Xi Yu, seated at her side, while Lu Yi and Cheng Xingye stood at the foot of the bed. All four wore expressions of worry and unease, unmoving as they watched over her. Only the steady drip of fluid from the IV bottle marked the passage of time, a reminder that the world outside had not stopped.

Lu Jiachen gently guided Xi Yu to sit in the companion’s chair, then seemed to gather himself before addressing Cheng Xingye in a calm voice.

“Thank you for today. If you hadn’t acted so quickly with first aid, Dian Dian might not have escaped danger so soon.”

Cheng Xingye glanced at the small figure sleeping on the bed.

The little girl, perhaps uncomfortable beneath the oxygen mask, lay curled slightly on the narrow hospital bed, looking even smaller than usual.

A wave of heartache and suffocation swept through him, and he lowered his eyes, withdrawing his gaze as he quietly replied, “It was what I should do.”

The man stood tall and straight, his presence cool and reserved, yet his shoulders were faintly hunched, casting a shadow of dejection and detachment.

Lu Jiachen observed him without betraying his thoughts.

Since last summer, Lu Qingyue had often fallen into long silences at home, and as her father, Lu Jiachen had sensed that something was amiss.

He knew this man before him was likely the one who had hurt his daughter’s feelings, but he had also just saved her life. This was not the time to demand explanations.

Conflicting emotions warred within him. After a moment’s silence, he finally said, “You’ve been at the hospital all day. I’m truly sorry to have taken up so much of your time. Once Dian Dian is discharged, we’ll certainly come to thank you in person.”

It was a tactful dismissal, even if the man standing before him was the family’s benefactor. With the college entrance exams approaching, he did not wish for Lu Qingyue to have further entanglement with Cheng Xingye.

Cheng Xingye understood.

He had neither kin nor reason to remain in the ward through the night.

Suppressing the bitterness in his eyes, he nodded. “You’re too polite, Uncle. When Dian Dian is better, I’ll come to visit her.”

With that, he glanced unconsciously at the hospital bed.

Lu Qingyue was still sleeping, her expression docile and harmless, like a quiet and obedient doll.

The more he looked, the sadder he felt, the harder it was to leave. But there was nothing he could do for her now. At last, he tore his gaze away and left the ward.

...

Cheng Xingye did not rush to leave the hospital. After coming out of the ward, he sat alone in his car for a long time.

Though the doctor had said her life was not in danger, she still needed intravenous fluids and observation to prevent pulmonary edema.

Restless anxiety pressed down on his heart in waves. Unable to help himself, he opened the glove compartment, searching for any cigarettes left since he’d quit smoking.

Instead, a few lollipops and chocolates tumbled out.

Ever since he’d discovered Lu Qingyue’s fondness for sweets, he’d kept all kinds of snacks in the compartment. Each time she rode in his car, she would “help herself” to a handful.

He used to tease her that eating too many sweets would make her fat, and she would retort, indignant, “If a girl weighs less than a hundred pounds, she’s either flat-chested or short.”

At the time, he didn’t know what possessed him, but he’d glanced instinctively at her chest.

Immediately, that little rascal covered her chest, exclaiming dramatically, “How can you be so perverted?! You won’t even spare an A-cup!”

He had been rendered speechless and amused by her antics.

And so, he’d learned, quite by accident, that she was an A-cup.

Small, yes, but so very endearing. Besides, she was an A now—who was to say what she’d be in the future?

Back then, he’d laughed at the thought of their future together, never imagining there would be no future at all.

In the dimness of the car, scenes of their time together replayed in his mind—light-hearted, helpless moments. His eyes stung with unshed emotion.

He forced himself to swallow, pressing back the bitterness at his throat, then bent to pick up the fallen lollipops and chocolates.

The bag of chocolates had been opened by Lu Qingyue, who’d eaten just one before leaving the rest untouched. The production date printed on the package was over half a year old now.

As he stared at that distant date, he realized, dazedly, that it had been more than two hundred days since they’d lost touch.

He gazed at the chocolates for a long time, lost in thought, until someone tapped on the car window.

Looking up, he saw Lu Yi standing outside, hands in his pockets.

Knowing Lu Yi had something to say, Cheng Xingye put the chocolates away, opened the door, and got out.

The hospital was especially quiet in the early morning hours.

Two men of similar height stood outside the outpatient building, the tension between them palpable even in silence.

Lu Yi, tired from running around the hospital all day with admission procedures, leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, looking at Cheng Xingye with a lazy air.

“Still can’t bear to leave?”

Cheng Xingye made no attempt to hide it. He gave a quiet “mm,” then asked politely, “Could I borrow a cigarette?”

Lu Yi hesitated a moment, surprised by the request. Once, they’d been the kind of friends who’d light each other’s cigarettes, but that was long ago.

After a brief silence, Lu Yi took a pack and lighter from his pocket and tossed them over, not forgetting to mock him, “Didn’t you quit smoking ages ago?”

Cheng Xingye lowered his eyes, took a cigarette, and put it between his lips, though he didn’t light it.

He had indeed quit smoking for her.

But tonight, with all its suffocating heaviness, the memories of sweetness battered him like a relentless storm, nearly overwhelming him. He felt as if he couldn’t breathe without a cigarette.

The faint scent of tobacco soothed his agitation somewhat.

Only then did he raise his eyes to Lu Yi, asking calmly, “What did you want to talk about?”

Lu Yi regarded his weary, solitary figure, snorted coldly, and said, chin tilted, his voice low, “Don’t think that just because you saved her today, Dian Dian will forgive what you did before.”

Cheng Xingye had expected this.

His instinctive rush to the scene upon hearing the news had been just that—instinct. He’d never intended to make her feel indebted, never planned to use it as leverage to force her back to his side.

But since Lu Yi brought it up, he thought it best to clarify matters now. He met Lu Yi’s gaze, his voice steady and sure.

“I don’t need her to owe me anything. No matter what, I’ll always protect her.”

He had chosen her for life. Even if she was still angry with him, he was not about to let go.

Lu Yi seemed surprised by this answer. He was silent for a long moment before finally asking, “Then what about Ye Zixuan?”

Back when the Ye and Cheng families had announced the engagement so publicly, could it really be called off just like that?

Cheng Xingye had anticipated this question. He looked up, his tone calm.

“There’s nothing between Ye Zixuan and me anymore.”

After Ye Zixuan became pregnant, the Ye family, perhaps out of embarrassment, never showed up at his house again. As for Ye Zixuan herself, they had no private contact whatsoever.

He had been trying to investigate what had really happened—that day, he’d found the pendant himself, and seen Ye Zixuan’s name on the hospital bed, so why had he ended up mistaking the person?

But Lu Yi didn’t believe him. The story of his “first love” wasn’t baseless; Cheng Xingye had admitted that he’d once nearly drowned and been saved by a little girl and her family.

“You think your word is enough? Your family always believed she was your future wife.”

Cheng Xingye was unfazed by his disbelief and simply explained, “She’s pregnant with Zhou Yue’s child. They’re already married and planning to have the baby. I heard they’re leaving the country soon; we probably won’t see them again.”

At the mention of a child, Lu Yi was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t expected that outcome.

No wonder, after all these months, he’d never heard news of Cheng Xingye’s marriage, even when they occasionally crossed paths at the dormitory.

Lu Yi was quiet for a while, frowning, until he couldn’t help but ask, “So what’s your plan? Now that Ye Zixuan doesn’t want you, you’re just going to keep pestering Dian Dian?”

The question struck Cheng Xingye as both helpless and absurd. Because of one event in the past, everyone had insisted on pairing him with Ye Zixuan.

He answered, exasperated and resolute, “It has nothing to do with Ye Zixuan. As for Dian Dian…”

At the mention of Lu Qingyue, he seemed to recall something. He glanced up at the inpatient building, fell silent for a few seconds, then lowered his head with a soft, bitter laugh.

When he spoke, his voice was low and hoarse, as though for her sake he had laid down all his pride. Yet in his tone was a touch of helplessness and self-mockery.

“I suppose you could say I’m clinging to her. After all, there could never be anyone else.”