Song Nuan glanced at Gu Qishen furtively, her voice choked with sobs as tears welled up.
"Ultimately, even if it was unintentional, it still had a negative impact, especially on you. I don't care what those people online say about me, even if they call me a mistress, but I don't want to drag you down—"
"When I was replaced, I was just angry. Saying things like asking you to withdraw your investment was just out of spite. You know I've never actually asked you to withdraw your investment."
Song Nuan's voice was soft and tearful. In the past, it would have only evoked pity.
But today, Gu Qishen felt inexplicably annoyed.
"The incident has already happened, and the trending search has been removed," he said, looking at Song Nuan. "You're right, whether you meant it or not, you ultimately caused this."
Song Nuan's heart jolted. "Qishen—"
"Therefore, I want you to issue an apology statement."
Song Nuan panicked. If she issued an apology statement, wouldn't that be admitting she had lied before?
And it was to Qin He!
"Qishen, you know how much my fans have defended me. Apologizing now would be betraying them. I—"
Song Nuan gritted her teeth, wanting to argue further. She looked up and met Gu Qishen's gaze.
Those indifferent, cold eyes seemed to see through everything, piercing directly into the depths of her heart.
Song Nuan's heart faltered, her voice becoming unsteady. "Qishen, why are you looking at me like that?"
Gu Qishen frowned, his expression stern. "You know I don't like people lying."
"I'm sorry, Qishen. I was just too flustered and scared at the time. I had an ostrich mentality and didn't expect things to escalate like this."
Song Nuan gritted her teeth, her heart bleeding with hatred.
"I'll post on Weibo later, explain the situation, and apologize to Qin He!"
Seeing Gu Qishen's expression soften slightly, Song Nuan cautiously probed, "Qishen, did Sister Qin look for you? Should I apologize to her in person?"
"Don't appear before her again."
With Qin He's current personality, Song Nuan showing up wouldn't end well for her.
Gu Qishen thought of Qin He today—bold and sharp-edged.
That coldness and aura were like ice blades, pressing in.
"Then, Qishen, are you going back today?" Song Nuan pulled Gu Qishen's arm, changing the subject.
A blush appeared on her previously pale face. "You haven't spent time with me in so long."
Gu Qishen glanced at his watch. "I have a department meeting this afternoon. You should rest well. I'll come see you tomorrow."
Song Nuan watched him get up and leave, unwillingly. The sense of crisis in her heart grew heavier.
He was becoming less and less patient with her!
After Gu Qishen left Song Nuan's ward, he encountered his assistant returning with tea.
"Mr. Gu, are you leaving now?"
"Yes. Take good care of her."
Gu Qishen paused as he passed the nurse's station in the center of the corridor. He turned his head, looking towards the doctor's office beyond the nurse's station.
He approached the front desk and asked, "Excuse me, who is Song Nuan's attending physician in Room 7?"
The young nurse, who had been secretly playing on her phone, looked up and met a face so handsome it seemed divine. Her face flushed, and she stood up stammering.
"It's Director Wang. He's in the innermost office. Would you like me to escort you?"
"No, thank you."
Gu Qishen proceeded to Director Wang's office alone.
He inquired about Song Nuan's condition. Director Wang explained with a wry smile, "The patient has significant psychological issues. She might be overly worried about her heart condition. I've told her her heart is very healthy, but she still believes she's ill."
"Many elderly patients experience similar issues. We can't refuse them if they insist on being hospitalized. Are you a family member? You should offer her more guidance."
Gu Qishen listened with a somber expression, then stood up. "Thank you, Doctor."
The hospital corridor was quiet.
As he silently prepared to leave, he passed Song Nuan's ward again and heard the sound of shattering glass from inside.
"That bitch Qin He, monopolizing Qishen for so many years, and now Qishen wants me to apologize to her! How dare she!"
"What's going on? Didn't we find out she was just an undertaker before? How did she become a miss of the Qin family now!"
The assistant's voice was timid. "Nuan Nuan, her family background was too difficult to investigate. And we didn't expect a young lady from a prominent family to do such an unlucky job!"
The commotion in the ward, though muffled by the door, sounded somewhat unreal.
Gu Qishen's gaze grew colder.
He turned and left the hospital.
...
In Qin Yun's ward, Qin He propped her chin on her hand, waiting for her brother to wake up.
Looking at his freshly sutured leg, Qin He felt immense heartache. Even if it wasn't life-threatening, it must have been painful!
Lu Mingxi sat on a chair opposite her. "Little Kitten, why don't you rest for a bit?"
"It's okay. I'll watch him."
Lu Mingxi sighed. "I wonder how the owner of the truck that hit your brother is doing."
Qin He looked up. "What kind of car was it?"
Qin Yun was conscious for a while after the accident. Fearing he would worry his mother and sister, he had called Lu Mingxi.
Lu Mingxi had arrived at the scene.
He recalled, "It was a large semi-trailer truck. I forgot the model and license plate number. I was only focused on your brother at the time."
A truck?
Qin He frowned. "Where did the accident happen?"
"On Huayin Avenue, where the Gu Corporation is located. There's a small street at the intersection, called Jiu'an Street."
Qin He didn't recognize Jiu'an Street, but semi-trailer trucks were not allowed on Huayin Avenue before 8 PM.
Her expression changed slightly.
Half an hour later, Qin Yun woke up.
Qin He hurried over. "Brother, how are you feeling?"
Still groggy from the anesthesia, Qin Yun slowly opened his eyes, his handsome face filled with concern.
"He'er."
"I'm here."
"He'er, don't be with Gu Qishen anymore."
Qin He was startled, her heart aching. Her brother was still subconsciously worried about her.
"I know. Don't worry, brother."
Lu Mingxi chuckled from the side. Now that Qin Yun was awake, he was relieved too. He sat on the other side, teasing Qin Yun in his delirious state.
"Qin Yun, we've been brothers for so many years, and I've never seen you like a woman. Are you gay? Are you secretly in love with me?"
Lu Mingxi had returned to his usual flippant demeanor.
Qin He frowned. "Don't bully my brother."
Qin Yun, still groggy on the bed, mumbled, "En, I always want to hug you."
Lu Mingxi and Qin He's eyes widened simultaneously!
Lu Mingxi panicked, almost jumping out of his chair like a startled cat. "What the heck! Speaking your true thoughts under anesthesia?! Qin Yun, I consider you a brother, you—!"
From the hospital bed, Qin Yun frowned again. "Wan Wan."
His voice was faint.
But at least it was clear.
Lu Mingxi clutched his chest, looking as if he had been greatly shocked. "You scared me to death!"
Qin He raised an eyebrow slightly.
Wan Wan?
Always want to hug you?
In his pain and exhaustion from waking up from anesthesia, Qin Yun mumbled a few more nonsensical words before closing his eyes.
This time, he fell asleep.
Qin He propped her chin on her hand and waved. "Lu Mingxi, you watch my brother for me. I'm going to call my mother and tell her."