“An Ning’s here?”
The head nurse smiled as soon as she saw An Ning. “Several patients’ families have been asking about you, saying they want to hire you as a full-time caregiver for their elderly relatives. It’s a shame you have other work and can’t provide round-the-clock care.”
With a smile, she flipped open the nursing records and lowered her voice. “There’s a room on the top floor offering a high rate, but the old lady there has a terrible temper. She’s already driven away several caregivers today. Do you want to switch?”
An Ning glanced at the number next to Special Care Room 1.
Special care rooms not only paid well, but spending the night there was much more comfortable than in a regular ward.
However, those rooms were for critically ill patients, and if you encountered someone with a difficult personality, it wasn’t uncommon to go a whole night without sleep.
But An Ning didn’t hesitate at all. She signed her name on the form. “I’ll go to the top floor.”
“Thank you, Sister Ling.”
After expressing her gratitude, An Ning went to change into her uniform.
As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she was stopped.
At the elevator entrance, two black-suited bodyguards stood with faces cold enough to freeze someone to death. “Special care ward, no entry without permission!”
“I… I’m the caregiver for Room 1.”
An Ning said softly, pointing to the name tag on her uniform.
Caregiver: An Ning
The two bodyguards exchanged a glance before letting her pass.
An Ning let out a sigh of relief and stepped into the room.
As soon as she entered, a cup came flying toward her head.
With a crash, it shattered at her feet.
If she hadn’t dodged quickly, An Ning suspected she would have been seriously injured or worse today.
Looking up, she saw that the spacious, bright room was now as messy as a warehouse, as if it had been ransacked.
…
“Don’t worry…”
The Phaeton sped toward the hospital. Ji Cheng glanced at the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but press the accelerator a little harder, making the car fly even faster.
“They say old age is like childhood—when people get old, their temper becomes like a child’s.”
Seeing that the boss’s face was as dark as the night outside the window, his brows furrowed tightly enough to crush a mosquito, Ji Cheng said softly, “Madam isn’t feeling well, so her temper naturally…” got a bit worse.
Before he could finish, he met Lu Qingze’s icy gaze sweeping over him.
Ji Cheng immediately fell silent.
Before Ji Cheng could even get out of the car, Lu Qingze had already strode ahead.
Ji Cheng jogged to catch up.
The elevator door chimed softly. Lu Qingze walked toward the room, his hurried steps gradually slowing from a near-run.
There was no sound of heavy objects crashing against the walls.
Nor was there the vigorous cursing of his grandmother.
Instead, melodious music drifted from the room.
“…
Like a gentle rain,
Falling into my heart,
The feeling is so mysterious.
…”
Cai Qin’s elegant and profound singing echoed in the hallway. Lu Qingze walked forward and froze in surprise.
The hospital bed was slightly elevated, and the elderly woman in blue-and-white patient clothes lay there with a relaxed expression.
The furrowed lines of irritation between her brows were gone, and even her complexion seemed much better than it had been at noon.
For a moment, she seemed to have transformed back into the elegant and kind-hearted Lu Madam of Didu’s high society.
Shifting his gaze, Lu Qingze narrowed his eyes slightly.
At the foot of the bed, An Ning, dressed in a light blue caregiver uniform, was gently massaging his grandmother’s legs.
A coincidence?
If it was a coincidence, it was too much of one.
But if it wasn’t, how could she appear before him again right after mentioning she was skilled at caring for the elderly?
Three chance encounters in one afternoon—could such a coincidence exist in this world?
“Ji Cheng?”
“Here.”
“Go, look into it…”
“Yes.”
Closing his half-open mouth, Ji Cheng glanced at An Ning and turned to leave.
He was called back again by Lu Qingze, “Wait.”
Ji Cheng turned around to see Lu Qingze looking at the glass window, taking off his suit jacket and tossing it into his arms, while glancing at the bodyguards in the distance. “Have them leave first.”
“Huh? Oh…”
Ji Cheng nodded.
Seeing that the Boss had no further instructions, he hurried away.
Just before entering the elevator, Ji Cheng peeked back and saw the usually image-conscious Boss rolling up his shirt sleeves and ruffling his hair.
In the blink of an eye, the aloof CEO had transformed.
He seemed less cold and distant, and… more down-to-earth.
Thinking of the pitiful, tearful young lady.
Recalling the serene and beautiful profile he had glimpsed moments ago.
In a flash of insight, Ji Cheng felt as though he had uncovered some incredible secret.
In the hospital room, An Ning finished massaging Lu Madam.
When she looked up, her eyes widened in surprise.
“You…” Why are you here?
The words on the tip of her tongue, An Ning quickly changed them, “Grandma, please rest for a while. I’ll go get something and be back in five minutes.”
“Alright.”
Lu Madam nodded comfortably.
An Ning left the room, closed the door, and pulled Lu Qingze by the arm to the window. “Why did you follow me here?”
“I’ve already explained my situation clearly to you. If you don’t believe me, you can call Aunt Fen and ask. How could you come to my workplace?”
An Ning glared at Lu Qingze angrily. “I didn’t lie to you. I do work at Yuan Cheng Group. But I also have a few part-time jobs, and since I didn’t think it was necessary, I didn’t mention them.”
A few.
Lu Qingze’s heart skipped a beat, and he looked at An Ning, whose face was flushed with urgency, with an amused expression. “I wasn’t following you, really.”
The girl looked unconvinced.
Lu Qingze pointed to the hospital room door behind her. “That’s my grandmother.”
???
Is… is it really such a coincidence?
“Um…”
An Ning scrutinized Lu Qingze. “When I first arrived, I saw bodyguards in black standing guard here.”
“Bodyguards?”
Lu Qingze raised an eyebrow and glanced in the direction An Ning pointed. “I didn’t see any when I came in.”
None?
Could they have been for another room?
Turning back, she saw him studying her, realizing he must have been standing outside the room for who knows how long.
Putting herself in his shoes and imagining his thought process, An Ning spoke quickly, “I… I didn’t know she was your grandmother. I’ve been working as a caregiver at this hospital for a while, and today…”
“I know.”
Seeing the girl’s anxious expression, as if afraid he might think she had done it on purpose, Lu Qingze smiled. “I didn’t overthink it.”
“That’s good.”
An Ning let out a sigh of relief and looked up at Lu Qingze. “I’m a caregiver, and taking care of patients is my responsibility. So don’t worry, I’ll take good care of your grandmother.”
“Thank you.”
Lu Qingze thanked her, and as the girl nodded and turned to leave, he called out to her, “An Ning?”
Meeting those wary eyes, Lu Qingze spoke up, “I’ve thought about it, and I think your proposal is excellent.”
He could see the girl’s eyes light up instantly.
Lu Qingze continued, “I agree to marry you, but…”
“No buts!”
As if suddenly seeing a tomorrow filled with hope and infinite possibilities, An Ning looked at Lu Qingze with sparkling eyes, “You can set the conditions, I’ll agree to them all.”
Whether he was cowardly or dull-witted.
For the sake of this face, she would endure it!