At this moment, seeing Hua Yan in such a state felt like a thousand ants gnawing at Hu Li's heart. The pain radiated from his heart to his limbs, so intense it bordered on numbness, making him almost forget that he was in pain.
Grasping Hua Yan's weightless hand, Hu Li spoke in a low, hoarse voice, softly calling out, "Xiao Yan..."
But Hua Yan neither looked at him nor responded. Hu Li became even more anxious and said urgently, "Xiao Yan, don't scare me. It's me, Hu Li. Please say something..."
Standing outside the door, Old Yang was moved to tears. Bearing such a heavy "debt of gratitude" at a young age would overwhelm anyone. If she couldn't find a way to resolve it herself, Cheng Xiang lying in that hospital bed would feel like a huge stone weighing on her heart.
Having also lost his abilities, Old Yang could fully understand the sense of loss Hua Yan felt, akin to losing a part of his own body, a deep and painful sorrow.
"Let's go, let Hu Li comfort her," said Old Qiao, who had quietly appeared behind Old Yang. He pulled on Old Yang's arm and whispered.
Hu Li, who had gone out to get hot water to help Hua Yan wash her face, returned to find her eyes swollen and red, with tear stains on her cheeks, and her clean pillow wet in a circle.
Hu Li pretended not to notice, dipping a long, slender finger into the hot water to wet the towel. After wringing it out, he gently wiped Hua Yan's face, erasing the traces of tears bit by bit, then wiped her hands and feet.
A nurse carried away the unused hot water and later told the other nurses, with admiration and envy, "When will I ever meet a man who will soil his hands with mundane chores for me like that?"
The middle-aged head nurse laughed and scolded, "You silly girl, what's gotten into you, talking nonsense."
"Dear head nurse, if you had seen what happened in room 1010, your heart would be moved too!"
"What exactly did you see?" the head nurse asked curiously, and the other nurses also looked at her, waiting to hear.
"At Miss Hua Yan's room, who is always on nutritional infusions, a cold and regal man came today. He had an extraordinary aura, definitely not an ordinary person. But as soon as he entered, he fetched hot water himself and personally helped Miss Hua Yan wash up. Despite Miss Hua Yan's indifference, he didn't get angry at all. Oh, I feel like I need to be reincarnated to find a man like that."
"Maybe this man did something to wrong the woman. Otherwise, where could you find such a good man nowadays?" one of the flirtatious nurses interjected.
The other nurses nodded in agreement, and the nurse who had spoken stomped her foot in frustration, saying, "I won't talk to you anymore."
Sitting in a chair beside the bed, Hu Li peeled an apple while speaking calmly to himself, "Xiao Yan, do you feel you owe Cheng Xiang too much and wish it was you lying in that critical care room? But have you ever thought about why Cheng Xiang saved you? Was it to see you torment yourself and feel uneasy?
The first time I saw you both coming out of the teahouse together, I knew he was a rival in love. But you treated him like a dear sister would, which left me speechless at your emotional bluntness...
Honestly, I was jealous of him. Jealous that he could stir your heart; jealous that he would always have a place in your memory; jealous that he could step up in your time of crisis. I wish it was me lying in that critical care room now."
During this time, tears welled up in Hua Yan's eyes again, and her gaze showed a flicker of life. When Cheng Qingqing was getting into the car, she was tearful, looking reluctantly at her second brother. Then she shouted at Hua Yan, "Sister Hua Yan, my second brother liked you from the moment he saw you. But he valued his work too much and missed his chance with you. However, Sister Hua Yan, I leave my brother in your care."
Hua Yan, sobbing, nodded heavily and waved as she watched her leave. She realized she had misunderstood Cheng Xiang all along. The joy in his eyes every time he saw her conveyed his feelings for her. Listening to Hu Li's heartfelt words, her emotions were a mixture of bitterness and sweetness.
She had noticed Hu Li as soon as he entered the room, observing all his actions. Watching him help her wash her face and so on made her feel a sense of sweetness. But then she felt her happiness was built on someone else's life and death, causing her mood to turn heavy again.
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Hearing Hu Li's heartfelt confession, Hua Yan's tears flowed uncontrollably once more. Hu Li silently wiped her tears away. One cried, and the other wiped tears, creating a poignant and touching scene that moved and envied the nurses.
"Hu Li..." Hua Yan's voice, hoarse from days of silence, broke the air.
"Drink some water first to soothe your throat before you speak," Hu Li said as he poured a cup of hot water, blew on it to cool it, and then helped Hua Yan drink.
Watching Hua Yan drink, Hu Li looked into her eyes, encouraging her, "What did you want to say just now?"
"Hu Li, you have to help me cure Cheng Xiang. I know you have the ability. Please, will you?" Hua Yan knew she was being unreasonable, but at this moment, she desperately hoped to see Hu Li nod. Unknowingly, Hu Li had become a part of her inner strength. Hua Yan was like a child trying to stand up, needing someone to reach out and help her up.
"Okay," Hu Li said firmly. His determined gaze brought a rare smile to Hua Yan's face. Hu Li felt relieved seeing it. Even if Hua Yan didn't ask, he would still do everything he could to cure Cheng Xiang. He didn't want Hua Yan to be burdened by this matter or this person.
"Whatever you say, it's fine. But if you can't cure Cheng Xiang, what will you do?" Hua Yan joked lightly. Glancing at her watch, she said to Hu Li, "Take me to see Cheng Xiang."
Hu Li nodded, helped her out of bed, put a coat on her, and took her to the critical care room just as the attending doctor finished checking on Cheng Xiang.
Seeing Hua Yan, the doctor smiled and said, "Miss Hua Yan, Cheng Xiang's condition is still the same today. We'll observe him until the afternoon. If there are no issues, he can be moved out of the critical care room. Just take good care of him."
Hua Yan thanked the doctor. When she was alone with Hu Li, she looked at the cold glass and said, "Hu Li, human life is really fragile!"
"Yes, but the human spirit is also very strong. If he truly wants to come back, he will wake up," Hu Li said, looking at Cheng Xiang inside and silently thanking him for protecting Xiao Yan.
"When Cheng Xiang is moved out of the critical care room, he will soon be taken to the capital. That's when I should leave too."
"Are they planning to have you take care of him?" Hu Li asked with a frown, clearly disapproving.
Hua Yan gave a weak smile and said, "No, but I will be able to see him." Hu Li was finally relieved. He had been worried that Hua Yan might insist on dedicating her life to Cheng Xiang, taking care of him forever.
Cheng Xiang's special status meant that his caretakers and residence would be very secure. Hua Yan had already confirmed that the person taking care of him would be Old Yang, and the place would be Hua Yan and Old Yang's home in the capital, in a family quarters area for officers of regimental level or higher in a certain military district. Old Yang had told her about the residence—a two-story building facing the sunrise, with a private yard, an environment very conducive to Cheng Xiang's health.
During this time, Hua Yan would also undergo treatment there, hoping to recover her abilities soon. Old Yang had said that if her abilities couldn't be restored, she would work behind the scenes like him.
"Can I visit you?" Hu Li asked.
"I should be able to. Besides, I can visit you too. I have a gift for you in Haibin City."
"Remember your words, and come back to Haibin City if you can."
"I will remember. I'm sleepy now." With Hu Li's comforting words, Hua Yan finally felt some peace in her heart, followed by a wave of drowsiness. She hadn't slept well in a long time.
"Let me help you back to sleep." After Hua Yan fell asleep, Hu Li went to find Old Yang and informed him that someone was watching Hua Yan.
"Thank you, we will handle this. We'll make sure that person finds only the false information we've planted."
"You know there's no need to thank me. One more thing, if I introduce a foreign doctor to treat Cheng Xiang, would that be convenient?" Reed's mentor was an expert in spinal injuries and post-operative recovery.
Although the old man was strict and didn't easily treat people he didn't know, if Reed could make the connection, things should go smoothly.
"If your person can really help Cheng Xiang recover, that would be great." Old Yang couldn't help but feel excited. The investigation into the Wei family had yielded no useful clues, leaving the pursuit of Cheng Wei at a dead end. If Cheng Xiang woke up, it might turn the situation around.
The investigation into Cheng Wei's case had revealed that he had obtained many top-secret state secrets, but for some reason, he hadn't taken them with him when he fled. They were still trying to understand why and were doing everything they could to retrieve those secrets.
In the afternoon, someone Hua Yan disliked came to check on Cheng Xiang's condition on behalf of the higher-ups. This person was Li Dong. Accompanied by three others and led by Old Yang, he arrived at Cheng Xiang's critical care room.
Hu Li, in suit pants and a dark blue shirt, was there too. He and Li Dong locked eyes. Seeing a stranger in the room, Li Dong and his men looked questioningly at Old Yang.
"Don't worry, he's fine. This is Mr. Hu, and this is Secretary Li."
"Secretary Li?"
Li Dong smiled and introduced himself, "My surname is Li, given name Dong. Nice to meet you."
"So you're Li Dong?" Hu Li suddenly recalled that the person who had caused trouble for Hua Yan in Haibin City not long ago was named Li Dong. He ignored Li Dong's outstretched hand.
"Yes, do you know me?" Li Dong asked, still smiling perfectly. He liked to present a flawless image in front of others.
"I've heard of you." After saying this, Hu Li turned and left.
Watching Hu Li, Li Dong asked Old Yang, "Who is this arrogant person?"
"He's a family member of that girl Hua Yan."
"Hua Yan? You mean that... oh, I see. Let's not talk about that. Can you brief us on Cheng Xiang's condition?" Li Dong finally looked intently in the direction Hu Li had left.
Old Yang showed no expression, believing that Hu Li could handle Li Dong.