Lin Mo rushed frantically into Xie Guanyan's room.
Though their rooms were right next to each other, she had never been inside his before.
She pushed the door open.
A tall, long-legged man lay flat on the bed, covered by white sheets, one slender hand hooked to an IV drip.
The blue veins on his pale hand were starkly visible.
Lin Mo's heart felt as though it had been submerged in water—swollen and aching.
She hurried to the bedside, where his strikingly handsome yet pallid face came into view.
His eyes were shut, long lashes casting shadows beneath them.
There was no sign of life, no movement—just an unsettling stillness.
Even the faint tea-colored mole on the tip of his nose seemed to have lost its luster.
A wave of overwhelming sorrow crashed over Lin Mo. "Wake up!" she pleaded.
Don’t be like this. She was terrified.
She had already lost her parents—she couldn’t bear to lose him too, her dearest friend.
Kneeling beside the bed, she instinctively grabbed his hand. It was ice-cold.
Shen Ji'an burst into the room, his voice breaking the moment he saw the figure on the bed. "Mr. Xie! This is all my fault!"
Shen Yihan followed, his heart sinking as he stepped inside. His left hand twisted the Buddhist beads around his right wrist.
His gaze landed on his sister’s face.
For the first time, he saw genuine sorrow etched into her expression.
Did his sister have feelings for Mr. Xie...?
Lin Mo stared unblinkingly at the man in bed, clutching his hand with both of hers, trying to warm it.
Suddenly, she noticed his brows furrowing, sweat beading on his forehead—as if he were in pain.
Slap!
A sharp sting bloomed across her cheek.
Xie Guanyan’s eyes flew open.
The first thing he saw was a delicate, radiant face hovering above him.
For a moment, he couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality.
Yet, instinctively, a smile tugged at his lips. "Little princess."
The words came out as a rasp, his throat raw as though scorched by fire.
No sound escaped.
Lin Mo’s eyes lit up with relief. "You looked like you were having a nightmare, so I slapped you."
Xie Guanyan: "..."
Her methods of waking him never changed.
But that hadn’t been a nightmare.
Any dream with her in it could never be a nightmare.
It had been years since he’d dreamed of the past.
Yet tonight, he’d relived their second meeting.
After the orphanage, they’d never crossed paths face-to-face again.
That night on the beach had been so dark he could barely see.
But the moment he heard her voice, he’d known it was her.
Running into her there had felt like winning the lottery.
She’d slapped him awake, asking if he needed a hospital—his clothes reeked of blood.
Maybe, deep down, there’d been something twisted in his decision to take that knife.
He’d wanted her to remember him. Forever.
People only remember what leaves a mark.
Years from now, even if she married, had children, built a life...
Time might erase memories of their high school rivalry, or their days under the same roof.
But she’d never forget that someone had taken a blade for her.
In that moment, he could’ve kicked the attacker away.
He hadn’t.
That was the truth of him—selfish and rotten to the core.
"Ah! Thank goodness! Mr. Xie, you’re not dead!"
A shaggy-haired head popped into view, nearly pressing against his face.
Now Xie Guanyan was certain this was reality. He turned away, clearing his throat with difficulty. "Who said I was dying?"
Lin Mo piped up from behind Shen Ji'an, "The butler did."
Footsteps sounded at the door.
All four pairs of eyes in the room snapped toward the entrance.
The butler, caught mid-step, froze.
A chill ran down his spine. He spun on his heel. "I—uh—my backside’s about to give birth." And fled.
Shen Ji'an exhaled in relief. "Thank heavens you’re alright!"
Then he noticed Xie Guanyan’s pained expression.
His heart leapt back into his throat.
"Mr. Xie, what’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?"
Xie Guanyan shut his eyes. "You’re lying on my IV tube."
Shen Ji'an: "..."
Realizing how disheveled he must look, Xie Guanyan panicked.
Would she still find him attractive like this?
"Could you all step out?" he murmured. "I need to rest."
Downstairs, the butler was nowhere to be seen—presumably still "giving birth" in the restroom.
Shen Yihan’s voice was icy. "A fever won’t kill anyone. Why would the butler exaggerate like that?"
Shen Ji'an nodded. "Exactly. If it were life-threatening, he’d be in a hospital."
Lin Mo scratched her head, recalling how close she’d been to tears. "Which one of us got hit with the stupid stick back there?"
The car still needed unloading. Shen Yihan and Shen Ji'an headed outside.
This was only Shen Yihan’s second time in this villa.
Under the dim porch light, the garden looked as pristine as ever.
A few newly planted trees stood bare—would they even survive?
His sister’s question lingered. Maybe he had an answer.
They’d all acted irrationally because they cared.
He admired Xie Guanyan—as both an idol and an investor.
Shen Ji'an saw him as a benefactor.
Earlier in the car, their youngest brother had chattered nonstop, like the talkative little boy he’d once been.
But why did Lin Mo care so much?
Did she have feelings for Xie Guanyan?
The thought made Shen Yihan’s brows knit tighter.
Once, he’d hoped she’d fall for Xie Guanyan—anything to distract her from Gu Jingchuan.
Now that it might be happening, though, he wasn’t happy at all.
When she’d dated Gu Jingchuan, their third brother had thrown a fit, sobbing and demanding they break up.
If she started dating again before he returned, that same brother might cry himself into the ER.
"Second Brother, I’ve got the kitchen. You can go rest!" Shen Ji'an called from the stove.
Shen Yihan shook his head. Maybe he was overthinking it. Concern didn’t always mean romance.
"You handle the fish soup. I’ll make the rest."
He wasn’t about to let their youngest monopolize all the caretaking.
Dinner came together quickly.
Once ready, Shen Ji'an went upstairs to fetch Xie Guanyan.
When Xie Guanyan descended, all three noticed he’d changed clothes and tidied his hair.
Though still pale, he looked every bit his usual elegant self.
Lin Mo stifled a laugh. Even sick, he’s vain.
At the table, Shen Yihan spoke politely. "Mr. Xie, apologies for intruding unannounced."
Xie Guanyan surveyed the spread—and the three faces that had hovered worriedly over his bed.
An unfamiliar warmth bloomed in his chest. "Not at all. Thank you for coming."
Shen Ji'an ladled fish soup for Lin Mo, then Xie Guanyan.
"Good?" he asked eagerly, watching Lin Mo.
She took a sip, eyes sparkling. "Delicious! So rich it could knock my eyebrows off!"
Shen Yihan’s mouth twitched. His beaded wrist gestured toward another dish. "I made the Kung Pao chicken. Try it, Sis."
Lin Mo scooped a spoonful directly into her mouth and nodded, "Hmm, it's edible."
Shen Yihan: "..."
After finishing the meal, the two of them left.
Soon after, the private doctor arrived.
He took Xie Guanyan's temperature—the fever had mostly subsided.
Lin Mo came downstairs after showering, planning to read a book on the sofa.
Hearing footsteps, the private doctor glanced up and saw a strikingly beautiful girl wearing cartoon pajamas.
"Who are—?" he instinctively asked before catching himself.
A woman in pajamas here in the middle of the night? She must be Mr. Xie's girlfriend!
Before Lin Mo could respond, the doctor said, "Keep a close eye on him while he sleeps tonight. He’s stable for now, but if the fever spikes again, it could get serious. Call me immediately if it returns."
