Yu Linwan was currently in the inpatient department.
Originally, she didn't need to be hospitalized. The doctor thought that such a minor burn could be treated with some medicine and healed slowly, without even needing to go to the emergency room.
However, Yu Linwan saw this as a good opportunity to salvage her image in the hearts of Yu Changhong and his wife. Thus, she insisted on feeling dizzy and nauseous, claiming to have a medical history, and under the doctor's bewildered and exasperated expression, she checked herself into the hospital.
Lying on the hospital bed in a coarse patient gown, Yu Linwan gazed at the night sky outside the window, her heart restless.
After the wedding, she had returned to the Yu family.
She had meticulously researched Yu Changhong's past, learning just how extraordinary her biological father truly was.
No wonder, no wonder she always felt she shouldn't have been living the life she had.
She had always thought it was her bad luck that held back her potential.
It turned out that fate had played a cruel trick; her life had been stolen by Yu Zixuan.
If she had grown up with her biological parents, everything would have been different. She would have become an internationally renowned economist, a true phoenix among men.
A man's face flashed in her mind, and Yu Linwan clenched her fist by her side.
If that were the case, would Gu Yaoyang… cherish her as he did Xia Qingtian?
However, it wasn't too late.
She would set things right. Gu Yaoqing was no longer worthy of her, and she found him dirty and disgusting.
Divorce was inevitable. Then, she would reunite with her biological parents, who would provide her with sufficient seed capital to support her career.
Millions? Tens of millions? Billions?
Yu Changhong's network of connections was even more invaluable than mere numbers could describe.
Yu Linwan clasped her hands over her chest, her heart brimming with excitement.
The Yu family's reaction today was even more enthusiastic than hers.
Upon learning that her biological parents were world-renowned billionaires, the Yu family's demeanor towards her seemed to revert to how it was before Yu Zixuan's return, when she was still the rightful heiress of the Yu family.
No, it was even better than that. Even the head of the Yu family was personally showing her solicitous concern.
Yu Linwan finally felt a sense of finally seeing the light after the clouds.
She truly wished she could achieve her goals soon and flaunt her newfound status in front of Gu Yaoyang and Xia Qingtian, letting them know just who they had offended.
If she could, Yu Linwan would have gone to show off right then.
But it wasn't possible yet. She couldn't leave the hospital, at least not until her biological parents visited her, felt genuine pity for her, and truly forgave and accepted her.
She couldn't leave this place.
Looking at the bandaged area on her arm, a smile spread across Yu Linwan's lips, her eyes filled with an insatiable and wild craving for power.
Just then, Xia Qingtian and her group also arrived at the hospital.
"Uncle Yu, I think it's best if you don't rush over right now," Xia Qingtian said, stopping Yu Changhong and his wife who were about to charge towards the inpatient building. "Why don't you go ask the doctor about the specific situation first? Yin Yin and I will go ahead."
"This..." Mrs. Yu was anxious. She didn't want to hear what the doctor had to say; she just wanted to see Yu Linwan safe and sound.
"Regardless of what happened, Yu Linwan still owes Yu Yin Yin an apology," Xia Qingtian said calmly. "Even if you were saved by her and feel a deep familial connection, you should still consider Yin Yin's feelings."
Hearing Xia Qingtian's words, Yu Changhong and his wife looked at Yu Yin Yin before nodding and saying, "Then you two go ahead."
"Yin Yin, don't feel any pressure. It's okay if you don't want to forgive her," Yu Changhong said to Yu Yin Yin. "As long as you don't want to see her, I can ensure you never meet again in this lifetime."
"Yes, Yin Yin," Mrs. Yu said, holding Yu Yin Yin's hand. "Remember, you will always be our precious daughter."
"Mm," Yu Yin Yin nodded, a faint smile appearing on her face. "As long as she is willing to sincerely apologize to me, I am willing to forgive her for your sake."
"Good child," Mrs. Yu hugged Yu Yin Yin, feeling a pang of guilt.
But what could she do? Being a parent was truly difficult.
While Yu Changhong and his wife went to find a doctor, Xia Qingtian led Yu Yin Yin to Yu Linwan's ward.
Pushing open the door, Xia Qingtian saw Yu Linwan and chuckled, "It's not as serious as the Yu family made it out to be, is it? You're still alive."
"Xia Qingtian!" Yu Linwan's eyes widened in disbelief upon seeing Xia Qingtian, her molars grinding together with a clack. "You still dare to show your face here!"
She hadn't gone to settle accounts with Xia Qingtian, and Xia Qingtian dared to come here to court death!
"Why wouldn't I dare to come?" Xia Qingtian smiled, pulling Yu Yin Yin into the ward.
"Yu Yin Yin," Yu Linwan narrowed her eyes dangerously. "You've really climbed a high branch, haven't you? Even your clothes are custom designer wear?"
Yu Yin Yin felt uncomfortable hearing Yu Linwan's words. How could someone like this be her parents' biological daughter?
Although her father was strict, he was always upright and beloved by his students.
Her mother was a gentle, radiant, and sensible woman.
How could Yu Linwan have inherited none of their virtues, instead being insidious, cunning, ruthless, and vengeful?
"Now that you know my true identity, you've come to curry favor with me?" Yu Linwan sneered. "Too bad, it's too late!"
After mocking Yu Yin Yin, Yu Linwan turned her attention to Xia Qingtian, taunting her. "Xia Qingtian, you came to apologize but didn't even bring a gift. You truly embody a lack of upbringing to the extreme."
"Who told you I came to apologize?" Xia Qingtian dragged over two chairs and pulled Yu Yin Yin to sit at a spot neither too far nor too close to the hospital bed.
"Then what are you here for?" Yu Linwan was somewhat surprised by Xia Qingtian's words.
If they didn't come to fawn over her after knowing her true identity, could they perhaps be here to threaten, intimidate, and cause trouble?
"We're here to hear your apology," Xia Qingtian provided an answer that Yu Linwan could never have guessed.
"What?" Yu Linwan froze, then burst into laughter. "Did I hear that right? You want me to apologize, based on who you are?"
"Since I debuted, you, Ms. Yu, have caused me no end of trouble. Although the outcome was always you publicly apologizing, that was solely due to my composure and sharp wit," Xia Qingtian bragged about herself without reservation. "But my astuteness and intelligence were not meant to be wasted on you. I have no obligation to pay for your shamelessness, your cunning, and your perfidy.
So, apologize to me now! Apologize to me for all the dirty deeds you've done before!"
Yu Linwan's face darkened with anger at Xia Qingtian's words. "You want me to apologize? Does your Xia family dare to accept my apology?"
Is this Xia Qingtian truly unafraid of death?
Her father was Yu Changhong. Could the Xia family afford the consequences of offending her Yu family?
"That depends on how you apologize," Xia Qingtian replied.
"Tch," Yu Linwan assumed Xia Qingtian had chickened out and let out a cold sneer.
"If you're offering to atone with your life, that's not necessary. I would dare to accept three kowtows," Xia Qingtian chuckled at Yu Linwan, exuding an air of provocative confidence that could infuriate anyone.
"You!" Yu Linwan choked, her eyes wide. "Xia Qingtian! You!"
"Oh, right," Xia Qingtian said, resting her chin on her hand. "I remember Yaoyang mentioning a fire he experienced many years ago. That blaze… it burned as mysteriously as tonight's fire did~"