The afternoon sunlight streamed through the café’s glass windows, casting warm patches of light between Su Wanning and Gu Jingchen. They sat by the window, each with a cup of coffee in front of them. Gu Jingchen was talking about his recent startup plan, his voice gentle yet compelling.
“Wanning, if this project really takes off, the prospects will be excellent.” Gu Jingchen leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on her. “Once I succeed, the first thing I’ll do is take you to the Maldives. Haven’t you always wanted to go there and see the sea?”
A faint smile curved at Su Wanning’s lips. Being valued like this, being kept in someone’s thoughts… it was a feeling she hadn’t experienced from Fu Sinian in a long time. He was always busy, so busy that he didn’t even have time to share a meal with her, let alone remember the casual wishes she once mentioned.
At that moment, her phone rang. When she saw the name “Fu Sinian” on the screen, her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. After a brief hesitation, she answered the call.
“Wanning, Mom has acute cholecystitis and needs immediate surgery. A family member must sign the consent form. Get to City First Hospital right now!” Fu Sinian’s voice was tense and urgent, with the faint noise of a hospital in the background.
Su Wanning’s heart sank, and she instinctively straightened in her seat. “Now? I…”
Before she could finish, Gu Jingchen suddenly let out a suppressed groan. She turned to look at him and saw his face pale as paper, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. One hand clutched his abdomen tightly.
“Wanning, I… my stomach suddenly hurts so much…” His voice was so weak it was barely audible. His other hand trembled as it gripped her wrist. “Could it be acute appendicitis? You’re the only one I have in the Capital City. Can you take me to the hospital first? I’m scared…”
Pain and fear filled his eyes, his grip cold and trembling. Watching him like this, the balance in Su Wanning’s heart tilted instantly. Fu Sinian had doctors and nurses around him, but Gu Jingchen had only her.
“Sinian, I have something extremely urgent here and can’t leave!” she said quickly into the phone, her eyes never leaving Gu Jingchen. “It’s your mother’s surgery. Can’t you just sign it yourself? Why do you need me there?”
Fu Sinian seemed to say something on the other end, but she had no time to listen carefully. Gu Jingchen’s groans grew louder, his body almost slipping off the chair. Find the original chapter at g.com.
“I can’t talk now!” She hung up hastily, stuffing her phone into her bag as she hurried to support him. “Jingchen, hold on. I’ll take you to the hospital right away!”
Gu Jingchen leaned weakly against her. At an angle she couldn’t see, the corner of his lips curled faintly, yet his voice remained strained. “Wanning, thank you… without you, I don’t know what I’d do…”
Struggling to support him as they walked out, Su Wanning felt both anxious and guilty. She knew Fu Sinian must be furious right now, but Gu Jingchen’s condition looked truly serious. She kept comforting herself: Fu Sinian was capable enough to handle things at the hospital, while Jingchen only had her.
In the taxi to the hospital, Gu Jingchen leaned against her shoulder, eyes closed, brows tightly knit. Seeing his pained expression, Su Wanning gently touched his forehead, just as she used to do when Fu Sinian was sick.
“We’re almost there. Hold on a little longer,” she said softly.
Gu Jingchen opened his eyes slightly, his gaze fragile and dependent. “Wanning, you’re so kind… without you, I really wouldn’t know what to do…”
Those words stirred a strange sense of satisfaction within her. In front of Fu Sinian, she was always the one being cared for and protected. But here, with Gu Jingchen, she felt needed… important.
At the hospital, after examination, the doctor diagnosed Gu Jingchen with acute gastroenteritis and recommended IV treatment and observation. Su Wanning busied herself handling the procedures and stayed with him in the infusion room, completely forgetting that Fu Sinian was still waiting for her.
“Wanning, I really owe you today,” Gu Jingchen said, lying on the bed. Though his face was still pale, he looked much better. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know what to do alone.”
Su Wanning tucked the blanket around him and said gently, “Don’t say that. Friends should help each other.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand back, but his grip was firm.
“Jingchen, don’t…” she said softly, yet she didn’t struggle hard.
“I know I shouldn’t say this. You’re already Mrs. Fu.” Gu Jingchen gave a bitter smile and loosened his hold, his eyes dimming. “But I can’t control my feelings. Wanning, from the first time I saw you in high school, I’ve liked you. All these years, that hasn’t changed.”
Her thoughts fell into chaos. She knew his confession was inappropriate, yet deep down, she couldn’t stop her heart from responding. Her married life with Fu Sinian was comfortable, even enviable, but something always felt missing. With Gu Jingchen, she felt her heartbeat quicken again.
“Get some rest. Don’t think too much,” she finally said softly, pouring him a cup of warm water.
As he took the cup, his fingers brushed lightly against the back of her hand, sending a subtle sensation through her. She pulled her hand back as if burned, her cheeks warming slightly.
On the television in the infusion room, a romantic movie was playing, the male and female leads embracing in the rain. Watching the screen, Su Wanning suddenly recalled how, years ago, she had dreamed of such passionate love. Her marriage with Fu Sinian, however, had always been steady and natural from the very beginning, never filled with such intensity.
“Wanning,” Gu Jingchen spoke again, his voice soft, “if… if I had gathered the courage to confess to you earlier, would our ending have been different?”
She didn’t answer. She simply lowered her head in silence.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened. Only then did she remember that she had no idea what was happening on Fu Sinian’s side. Taking out her phone, she saw there were no missed calls. A strange feeling—somewhere between disappointment and relief—passed through her.
Maybe… Fu Sinian really didn’t need her.
With that thought, she put the phone back into her bag.