But a few seconds later, Wen Zhili looked again, and the man’s eyes were still the familiar gentleness she knew.
Had she seen wrong just now?
“Brother Shengbai, why are you here?” Wen Zhili asked in confusion.
She hadn’t told anyone else about her hospitalization.
The moment Wen Zhili woke up, Huo Shengbai immediately concealed the madness and possessiveness in his eyes, leaving only tenderness.
“Your attending physician happens to be a friend of mine, and she recognized you…”
In reality, the truth was that her information had long been linked to the hospital’s network. As soon as she fell ill and registered, the news would be relayed to him.
Huo Shengbai added with concern, “Does it hurt a lot?”
Wen Zhili had intended to politely shake her head, but when she met Huo Shengbai’s gentle gaze, for some reason, her heart ached, and she nodded.
Her voice was soft and sweet, as if she were acting coquettishly: “It hurts.”
Huo Shengbai’s heart ached terribly, and he immediately panicked, “Should I call the doctor to prescribe some painkillers?”
Wen Zhili shook her head, “I’ve already taken medicine, and the effects will last a while longer.”
For the first time, Huo Shengbai was at a loss, “Then do you need some water?”
“Mm, a little.”
Huo Shengbai immediately went to pour water, but the hot water in the thermos was too scalding, steam rising from the cup into the air.
He took a spoon and stirred it, occasionally blowing on the steam to cool the water faster.
Wen Zhili’s eyes rippled with emotion.
For the first ten-plus years of her life, she had lived in an orphanage.
The headmistress was very kind to all of them, but there were too many children, and it was impossible to give each one meticulous care and attention.
She had always envied children who had parents to love and cherish them.
So, after returning to the Wen family, starved of affection since childhood, she was like a wolf that had been hungry for too long, desperately wagging her tail, trying to please her parents, hoping they would spare a little love for her.
Although her grandmother loved her, she was often unable to do as much as she wished.
…
She never expected that now, someone unrelated to her by blood would care for her so deeply.
A feeling of gratitude spread through Wen Zhili’s heart.
However, upon second thought, was Huo Shengbai being too good to her?
Could it be that he…
To inherit the Huo family, he was trying so hard to please her, wanting to marry her? Afraid she might break the contract?
Or perhaps, he liked her?
The latter thought had just surfaced in her mind when she startled herself and quickly shook her head.
How could that be!
She shouldn’t get ahead of herself.
For one thing, how could Huo Shengbai possibly be interested in a “young girl” like her!
For another, she and Huo Shengbai had only met a few times and weren’t very “familiar.” It wasn’t until the night she was reborn that she actively sought him out…
In such a short time, how could he possibly like her?
Then he must just be trying to behave well, so that she would marry him a year later, allowing him to inherit the family business.
Or perhaps, he saw her as a junior to care for…
Wen Zhili also remembered something very important.
Huo Shengbai’s fatal car accident would happen exactly one year later, the day before her 20th birthday.
She had long since decided that she must help Huo Shengbai change the course of his fate and absolutely not let him die.
Huo Shengbai had no idea what Wen Zhili was thinking. After blowing on the hot water to cool it, he carefully brought a straw to her lips.
Wen Zhili said softly, “Thank you.”
After Wen Zhili finished drinking the water, Huo Shengbai asked as if casually, “Lili, who hurt you?”Wen Zhili’s hand holding the cup paused for a moment, and she replied naturally, “I accidentally fell.”
She didn’t want to air her family’s dirty laundry to others.
Besides, even if Huo Shengbai knew, what could he do?
Huo Shengbai seemed to believe her and didn’t ask further.
He only left the hospital room temporarily after Wen Zhili fell asleep.
What Wen Zhili didn’t know was that the previously gentle Huo Shengbai instantly turned terrifying and icy cold.
Huo Shengbai looked up at his assistant Lu Ting and said coldly, “Go find out exactly who hurt her!”
“Yes, Mr. Huo.”
Wen Zhili stayed in the hospital for two days, with Huo Shengbai taking care of her the entire time until she was discharged.
In the hospital room, Huo Shengbai was peeling a pear, cutting it into small pieces, placing them on a plate, and handing them to Wen Zhili to eat with a fork.
Huo Shengbai asked, “Lili, are you short on money lately?”
Wen Zhili froze, feeling guilty as she replied, “Why do you ask?”
Huo Shengbai said with concern, “I heard you’re looking for tutoring work.”
Wen Zhili thought to herself that she had only mentioned this to Lu Jia’er.
Lu Jia’er’s brother, Lu Tanchuan, was Huo Shengbai’s good friend. Most likely, Huo Shengbai had heard about it from Lu Tanchuan.
Wen Zhili admitted honestly, “Yes, I do need some money urgently.”
Huo Shengbai took out a black card and handed it to Wen Zhili.
Wen Zhili was stunned, looking at Huo Shengbai in disbelief.
“You’re lending it to me?”
A slight curve appeared at the corner of Huo Shengbai’s mouth. “Not lending, it’s for you to use. This card has no limit—you can spend as much as you want.”
A surge of excitement and joy rushed through Wen Zhili’s heart.
This was like handing her a treasure trove.
But she still asked cautiously, “Why are you giving me this card?”
Huo Shengbai looked at Wen Zhili, who was watching him warily like a little lamb, and felt his heart melt.
She was just too adorable!
“Now you’re my fiancée. What’s wrong with me spending money on my fiancée?”
Wen Zhili thought to herself that she had truly found a “big shot” to rely on.
But after hesitating for a moment, she shook her head.
“Why don’t you want to use my card?”
Huo Shengbai’s mood darkened.
Could it be that she wanted to use Huo Cheng’s money?
Jealousy began to grow wildly within him.
Wen Zhili said, “No, it’s not that. I don’t want the black card—I want cash. Could you lend me one million? I promise I’ll pay you back.”
Huo Shengbai’s lips curved upward. Without asking what Wen Zhili needed the money for, he said softly, “How about this? I’ll give you one million as tuition. In return, could you be my teacher?”
Wen Zhili widened her eyes. “Tea-teacher? What kind of teacher would I be?”
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Huo Shengbai’s eyes. “I heard you play the pipa quite well. I want to learn the pipa—could you teach me?”
Wen Zhili stared in shock at the mature, steady, and noble Huo Shengbai standing before her.
He wanted to learn the pipa?
Wen Zhili couldn’t imagine what a man like him would look like playing the pipa.
But at this point, to raise funds for her business venture, she had no choice but to agree.
“Alright, I can teach you.”
Huo Shengbai grinned like a cunning old fox eyeing a naive little rabbit, smiling innocently as he said, “Then it’s settled. How about you come to my house every weekend to teach me the pipa?”Wen Zhili said, “Alright, but if I have something to do…”
Huo Shengbai immediately caught on and said, “You can call me in advance, and we can skip the lesson.”
Wen Zhili nodded, “Mm-hmm.”
Huo Shengbai was so overjoyed that his delight was evident in his expression.
Just then, assistant Lu Ting hurriedly entered the hospital room.
He looked flustered and signaled Huo Shengbai with his eyes.
Huo Shengbai said to Wen Zhili, “I need to step out for a moment.”
Wen Zhili replied, “Alright, go ahead if you have things to attend to. I’m about to be discharged soon, really, I’m fine.”
“Mm.”
After Huo Shengbai and Lu Ting left the room, Lu Ting urgently reported an unexpected situation at the company to Huo Shengbai.
About ten minutes later, Huo Shengbai finished making calls to the relevant executives.
They needed to go to the company for a meeting to discuss solutions.
Huo Shengbai instructed, “You stay here and take her home.”
Lu Ting replied respectfully, “Yes, President.”
Huo Shengbai walked back into the hospital room, intending to bid farewell to Wen Zhili before heading to the company.
Wen Zhili was so engrossed in the business magazine in her hands that she didn’t even glance at the pear fruit plate beside her.
She held a fork, spearing pieces of pear into her mouth while reading the magazine.
Huo Shengbai noticed that the pear flesh on the fork had turned reddish-brown, already oxidized.
His brow furrowed, and a look of panic crossed his face as he quickly walked over to Wen Zhili and took the fork from her hand.
“Lili, don’t eat that, it’s oxidized. Spit out what’s in your mouth too, don’t swallow it.”
Wen Zhili blinked, looking at him in confusion.
Huh?
Spit it out?
Why can’t you eat oxidized pear flesh?
Seeing her staring blankly at him, Huo Shengbai thought she was unwilling.
So, he extended his palm and placed it near her mouth, coaxing her gently, “Lili, be good, spit it into my hand.”