In the vast city of Jing Hai, hospitals were never short of people.
The scent of disinfectant and iodine mingled in the air, irritating An Ning’s senses.
She sat at the blood draw station, extending her pale, slender right arm.
The thin needle pierced the vein in her right hand, dark red blood flowing through the tube into the blood bag.
An Ning lowered her gaze, a white ribbon tied around her left wrist matching her white shirt of the day.
After one bag was filled, the nurse asked if she wanted to switch arms.
She shook her head gently, quietly watching the ribbon with its bow flutter slightly, indicating no need.
Two bags of blood were drawn quickly.
Fortunately, Cheng Wanwan didn’t need much.
She stood up, pressing the iodine-soaked cotton swab against her arm, and left the blood draw room.
A tall, slender figure stood at the entrance of the blood draw room, hands in pockets, his gaze distant and indifferent. His cold, refined features seemed coated with frost, emanating an intimidating chill.
An Ning stood sideways before him, not looking at him. “Two hundred thousand—surely Mr. Lu won’t go back on his word?”
“I wouldn’t stoop to being a cheat over such a small amount.” The man’s voice was deep as he glanced down at her, sliding a card from his wallet and holding it out.
Two pale, slender fingers with distinct, firm knuckles.
Nails neatly trimmed and polished smooth.
These jade-like fingers had once traced every inch of her skin.
Now they held a bank card, cold to the point of cruelty.
“Thanks.”
An Ning took the card without looking at him and walked away directly.
“An Ning.”
Lu Xiyan’s voice called from behind.
An Ning paused in her steps.
“Four years apart, and you’re still as money-hungry as ever.” Lu Xiyan stared at her retreating figure, her two slender pale arms, his deep eyes holding meaning. “What, have you already spent all that money?”
An Ning didn’t turn back, her eyes reddening.
“That’s none of your concern, Mr. Lu.”
She clutched the bank card tightly in her hand, its edges digging painfully into her palm.
The color gradually drained from her pale face.
Her steps grew unsteady as she made her way toward the hospital entrance.
Having rushed about all day without time to drink or eat, then donating two bags of blood.
It had triggered her hypoglycemia.
An Ning’s eyes grew moist, each breath a struggle.
As her consciousness blurred, she gave a bitter twist of her lips.
Lu Xiyan, if you knew how poorly I’ve been living all these years.
Would you regret treating me like this?
Suddenly, the world spun.
The cotton swab she’d been pressing fell from her limp hand.
An Ning’s vision went black as she collapsed into a cool embrace.
She caught the faint scent of sandalwood and cedar.
Clear, pleasant, making her want to sink into sleep…
The man had caught her falling body almost instinctively.
Light as a feather.
Holding her thin, bony shoulders, Lu Xiyan’s chest heaved violently, his breath scalding.
His deep phoenix eyes burned dark red as he stared intently at her paper-white face.
……
In the clean, bright VIP private suite, the air conditioning was set at a comfortable temperature.
The woman’s slender form sank into the white thin blanket, eyes lightly closed, breathing even, a faint flush restored to her delicate pale face.
An IV drip was connected to the back of her hand resting outside the covers.
The man sat upright on the sofa beside the hospital bed, his removed suit jacket draped to one side, the collar of his black shirt loosened by two buttons.
He sat quietly, his deep-set eyes fixed motionlessly on the woman in the hospital bed.
“It’s likely hypoglycemia caused by blood drawn on an empty stomach,” the nurse informed him politely after completing the examination. “Generally, we don’t recommend drawing blood while fasting, especially for individuals with weaker constitutions like this young lady. They really shouldn’t donate blood without eating.”
Lu Xiyan’s eyes darkened, his hands on his knees tightening slightly. “When will she wake up?”
“Probably after these two IV bags are finished,” the nurse said. “When she wakes up, it would be best for her to eat something. Should I have someone prepare something for her?”
“Shrimp and shredded chicken congee.”
The nurse paused for a moment upon hearing this, then realized after two seconds that he was naming a dish and quickly noted it down.
Just as she was about to leave, the man added, “Slow down the IV drip.”
The nurse promptly adjusted it before closing the door behind her.
In the hospital room, it was so quiet that only the rhythmic dripping of the liquid could be heard.
Like a heartbeat, one beat, then another…
Lu Xiyan’s calm gaze rested on the woman’s delicate features.
From her gentle eyebrows, across her straight and delicate nose, it finally settled on her pale pink lips.
A myriad of emotions rose in his cold, deep eyes, complex and inscrutable.
An Ning, do you know that disappearing without a trace is the cruelest form of leaving among all departures.
……
The person on the hospital bed was in a deep slumber, her breathing light and soft.
The hand resting outside the blanket felt as if it was enveloped by a large, warm hand. The back of her hand was gently yet firmly stroked by soft fingertips for a while before it was released.
An Ning felt as though she had a long and distant dream.
She dreamed of six years ago.
The day she first met Lu Xiyan.
It was also a summer day with brilliant sunshine.
……
“Hello, is this Miss An Ning, residing in Xiyuan Village, Linyang District, Jing Hai?”
When the call came, An Ning had just finished her overnight shift at the convenience store. Her mind was still somewhat hazy as she reached her rented apartment.
On the table sat a freshly made cup of instant noodles that she hadn’t had time to eat yet.
“This is…”
The person on the other end immediately responded, their tone urgent.
“Hello, I’m Director Wang from the city hospital. There’s an emergency patient who needs your blood source. Please come to the city hospital immediately!”
“My blood source?” An Ning was still somewhat dazed.
“Yes! The city hospital’s blood bank is currently short on RH-negative blood. There’s a patient in urgent need of a transfusion. Please come right away!”
After hanging up, An Ning’s groggy mind began to clear slightly.
Although she didn’t know how the hospital had gotten her number, saving a life was urgent, and there was no time to overthink it.
Just as she was about to step out, the phone rang again.
She glanced at the caller ID and hesitated for a few seconds before answering.
Li Chunfang’s voice sounded even more urgent than Director Wang’s. “An Ning, did you get the call from the hospital? Go to the hospital and sell some blood!”
Sell blood?
An Ning’s heart trembled, her brows furrowing slightly. “Mom, did you give my number to the hospital?”
“Don’t ask so many questions, just go and donate some blood!”
An Ning’s contact information had indeed been provided to the hospital by Li Chunfang.
While she was at the hospital picking up medicine for her son, she happened to encounter an emergency patient being brought in. She overheard that the patient was the daughter of some wealthy family and needed a blood transfusion. Coincidentally, she also heard others mention that the patient’s family was offering a substantial reward to anyone who donated blood for the young lady.
So she inquired and learned they needed the rare RH-negative blood.
Her eyes lit up—wasn’t her An Ning exactly that!
She handed over An Ning’s records to them, then couldn’t wait to make this call to her.
While urging her, she didn’t forget to remind, “An Ning, don’t forget to collect the money after donating blood. They agreed to pay 100,000 yuan—with that 100,000 in hand, we’re one step closer to your brother’s surgery fees!”