Spoiled Sparrow

The incandescent lights in the hospital corridor were cold and glaring. Dong Chenye, wearing a white coat, pushed open the door to the VIP ward.

He walked to Fu Chen's side, glanced at the pale-faced girl on the hospital bed beside him, and said to Fu Chen, "I rushed over as soon as I heard the news. I heard you fainted?"

Fu Chen felt a tightness in his throat. "It's nothing."

Dong Chenye put down what he was holding, looked at his distraught appearance, and lowered his voice: "Had it relapsed again?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Fu Chen felt a chill run down his spine. The pain he had forcibly suppressed invaded his heart and lungs, and he was drenched in cold sweat.

He lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Seeing him tormenting himself like this, Dong Chenye advised, "What happened to Aunt Lan Yin back then had nothing to do with you. After all these years, it's time to let go of the past."

He could never forget his mother's experience; the mother he tried his best to save attempted suicide in front of him.

After countless breakdowns, Lan Yin developed a mental illness, and all her past memories were erased. She no longer recognized her husband or son, and only knew that she was the third young lady of the Lan family. From then on, she lived in a mental hospital.

Fu Chen closed his eyes, his brows furrowed slightly, and a dense, stabbing pain shot through his chest.

Dong Chenye softly revealed the secret he had kept hidden for twenty years: "You've been abstaining from women for so many years, afraid to give your heart or promise marriage, because you're afraid your wife will suffer the same fate, aren't you?"

His fear had never disappeared since he was ten years old, taking root in a corner of his heart that no one knew about, gradually leading him to become suspicious and paranoid.

"Chen Ye, I dare not gamble."

After a long silence, Fu Chen uttered a few words, his voice so soft it was almost broken, a side of him he had never shown to anyone before.

"I can control the company, win or lose, but I can't control life and death. My grandmother's death and the murderer who kidnapped my mother are still at large. How can I dare to gamble?"

Therefore, he could only selfishly keep her within his control, refusing to give an inch.

He would rather be misunderstood than not keep her by his side; he would rather be hated for a lifetime than lose her.

Dong Chenye remained silent for a long time, then patted his shoulder, his tone full of helplessness: "But you restricted her freedom, and this is the result."

Fu Chen looked up, his gaze fixed on Ruan Qing, whose anesthesia had not yet worn off, his eyes surging with guilt and anger.

How could she take sleeping pills and harm herself?

Dong Chenye said all he wanted to say, but before leaving, he added, "It's really puzzling. Every time I try to go on a date, something happens. It's so strange. I'm leaving now. Think about it carefully."

The door was gently closed, and Fu Chen looked at the person on the hospital bed, but in the end, his heart softened.

He dialed Lin Yun'en's number, and a helpless voice came from the other end: "I really don't know where she is."

"At the hospital."

"What?!"

Lin Yun'en thought her best friend had already escaped, so she quietly stayed at home waiting for the phone, but unexpectedly received a message from Fu Chen.

After hearing Fu Chen's description, she hurriedly sent a message to her blind date: Dr. Dong, I'm sorry, let's reschedule for another time.

She didn't even have time to change out of her date clothes and high heels before rushing to the hospital lobby.

She waited for the elevator on the first floor, her phone ringing incessantly: "Has Ruan Qing woken up yet? What floor and room number is she in?"

"5301, right? OK, it's up."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of the people in the elevator.

He Xunnan, who was originally helping Youyou with the discharge procedures, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Stopped in the elevator, it went up.

Yu-Yu clung to him, asking in her childish voice, "Daddy~ Is Yu-Yu ready yet?"

He Xun Nan patted her round little head: "The doctor said Youyou needs to play in the hospital for two more days before she can leave."

"Great! I can play with my older brother and sister again!" Youyou buried her head in He Xunnan's neck, quickly accepting the good news. She looked incredibly cute.

Lin Yun'en's heart and eyes were only on Ruan Qing, and she quickly ran to the ward.

When Fu Chen saw her arrive, he put his hands in his pockets and stood up: "The company has an important project that I need to review. I'd appreciate it if you could take care of her. Secretary Chen will be waiting in the lobby; feel free to contact him if needed."

"Um."

Lin Yun'en gave the man a cold look and gave him a curt reply.

She put down the fresh flowers she had just bought, sat by the hospital bed, and looked at Ruan Qing's weak appearance. Her heart ached so much that tears streamed down her face and soaked the sheets.

Lin Yun'en had witnessed her relationship with Fu Chen from beginning to end, and understood why she hesitated for two years before finally deciding to leave.

I can't understand why she's so upset.

Lin Yun'en's sobs grew louder and louder, and Ruan Qing's eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked weakly.

Seeing that she was awake, Lin Yun'en burst into tears, grabbing her hand and sobbing, "Baby~ it's not worth it for a man!"

"Huh?" Ruan Qing looked confused.

Lin Yun'en was disappointed in Ruan Qing, but looking at the weak Ruan Qing on the hospital bed, she couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh.

"I heard everything from Fu Chen. You used sleeping pills to hurt yourself because of him."

Ruan Qing's pupils contracted, and she leaned on the handrail to sit up, her tone full of disbelief: "Am I crazy? I'd use sleeping pills to hurt myself? I haven't even spent all my money yet, why would I be in such a hurry to reincarnate?"

Lin Yun'en froze, her sobbing abruptly stopping.

"What happened to the sleeping pills? How did they end up in the hospital?"

"I just couldn't sleep and was really upset, so I took three sleeping pills. Plus, I had a headache, and somehow I also took two packets of cold medicine. How could I possibly die for him..."

I do love you, but not to this extent.

Life is your own; feelings are just an add-on. To give up your life for a man is utterly foolish.

Lin Yun'en rolled her eyes at her: "You scared me to death! I really thought you were thinking of doing something drastic."

"But you've actually 'benefited from misfortune,' otherwise why would Fu Chen have called me over to keep you company?"

Ruan Qing looked around and asked softly, "He's gone?"

As she spoke, she tried to pull out the needle and get up.

Lin Yun'en grabbed her and said, "Don't even think about it. Secretary Chen is guarding outside. You can't escape."

She pointed to the surveillance camera above her head: "Look, 360 degrees without blind spots."

Sure enough, how could Fu Chen possibly have a change of heart?

"Then can I go out for a walk?" Ruan Qing mimicked the empress in a Qing Dynasty drama, extending her hand. "Xiao Yunzi, help me to the outside to use the restroom."

"Okay."

Yun En played along with Ruan Qing's joke, holding her arm with one hand and holding the IV drip with the other.

Before she had taken two steps after pushing open the door, Chen Yan jogged up to her: "Miss Ruan, what's this?"

"Going to the restroom." Ruan Qing gave him a meaningful smile. "What, are you coming with me?"

Before he could even utter the words "there is a private toilet in the ward," Ruan Qing choked him back down.

He had informed President Fu that his sister-in-law had run away, and Chen Yan felt guilty and dared not look her in the eye.

He cleared his throat, turned to Lin Yun'en and said, "Ahem, be careful."

The two slowly walked into the hall. Ruan Qing stopped by the window, looking at the thick snow outside, and a mischievous thought popped into her head.

"It's been so long since we built a snowman, how about we go down and play?"

Lin Yun'en shook her head: "No, you're too weak right now, you can't be exposed to the wind."

Ruan Qing lowered her head in disappointment when a baby's voice pierced the corridor: "Mama~ play, play with snowballs~"

The little dumpling bounced towards the two of them and stopped in front of Ruan Qing: "Mommy~ Ball~".

Lin Yun'en stared in astonishment at the scene, her lips slightly parted, stammering out, "What...what did she call you?!"