20 – No One Can Escape, Especially You
Tang Qianluo fell into Ning Dai’s gaze, their bodies pressed close together. She could even hear the frantic pounding of her own heartbeat.
She hastily took a step back, pulling a gift box from her backpack and saying,
“Are you crazy? Leaving this beside me first thing in the morning!”
Ning Dai glanced at the gift box in Tang Qianluo’s hand but didn’t take it, his voice low as he asked, “You don’t like it?”
Tang Qianluo stared at the box, inwardly grumbling: Guess whether I like it or not? These are diamonds! This is all money!
“This is too expensive. I don’t want it.”
“Not expensive,” Ning Dai replied as he walked over to his office chair and sat down.
“Not expensive?” Tang Qianluo questioned, her tone skeptical. It certainly didn’t look cheap.
“Hmm, just over seven million.”
Tang Qianluo, deceased again!
Is this how rich people are? Calling seven million “not expensive”?
“Anyway, I don’t want it. I have nowhere to wear it, and such a huge necklace would be way too heavy.” Tang Qianluo pouted, tossing the gift box onto the table.
With that, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and prepared to leave.
A coldness flickered in Ning Dai’s eyes as he asked quietly, “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah, I have Animal Aid later.”
Tang Qianluo had only come to return the item. She didn’t want to owe Ning Dai too much, so she could leave cleanly when the time came.
She didn’t notice Ning Dai’s increasingly icy expression, nor did she hear the sound of documents crashing to the floor in the CEO’s office after she left.
Rage simmered in Ning Dai’s eyes, then suddenly, the corners of his lips curled into a wicked smile.
No one could escape him, and Tang Qianluo would be no exception!
Tang Qianluo had been committed to Animal Aid for a long time. In her view, while she was saving the animals, they were also saving her.
“You’re here?” He Luo smiled, handing a pair of medical gloves to Tang Qianluo.
Tang Qianluo thanked him and immediately got to work.
She was efficient and unafraid of getting dirty or tired. He Luo stole a moment to observe her, his mind drifting to the negative rumors he’d heard about her. No matter how many times he saw her, it was hard to reconcile those stories with the person before him.
“It’s almost noon. I know a good Japanese restaurant nearby. My treat?” He Luo removed his mask and asked with a smile.
Tang Qianluo shook her head. Eating Japanese food would probably bankrupt He Luo!
He Luo paused, suddenly remembering that in Tang Qianluo’s mind, he was a poor guy surviving on instant noodles every day. He couldn’t help but chuckle and said, “I have two discount coupons—spend 199 and get 100 off. Want to go together?”
Tang Qianluo was instantly tempted. Japanese food, and at such a cheap price? Even splitting the bill would be a great deal!
She was about to agree when her vibrating phone interrupted her. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. After a moment’s hesitation, she answered the call.
“Little sister-in-law, where are you? Ning Dai was in a car accident! He’s in emergency surgery at Capital University Hospital right now!” Mo Qi’s frantic voice came through the phone.
Tang Qianluo’s heart plummeted, her grip on the phone nearly faltering.
Without even saying goodbye to He Luo, she hurriedly hailed a taxi and rushed to Capital University.
When Tang Qianluo arrived, Ning Dai was still in surgery. The glaring red letters on the sign stung her eyes, turning them red.
“Don’t panic. The situation might not be that bad. The best medical team at Capital University is here, and Zuo Ye is with them. He’ll be fine!” Mo Qi reassured her, though his own brow was furrowed with worry.
“How did the accident happen? Shouldn’t he have been working at the company?” Tang Qianluo’s voice trembled as she spoke.”It was indeed work, but he suddenly said he needed to go to the jewelry store to exchange the necklace. I’m not entirely clear on the specifics.”
Tang Qianluo tried to console herself while simultaneously blaming herself, unable to understand why she had chosen today to return the necklace to Ning Dai.
Wouldn’t it have been better to just accept it? What was she being so fussy about?
The light outside the operating room went out, and Zuo Ye emerged from the emergency room, saying,
“He hit his head and has a mild concussion that requires special attention. Additionally, his right arm has a bone fracture, and the rest are external injuries. He must be carefully looked after during this period to avoid any lasting effects.”
Tang Qianluo nodded, watching as the nurses wheeled Ning Dai out of the emergency room and transferred him to the ICU.
His face was pale and bloodless, and the sight of the cut on his lip and the bandage on his forehead made Tang Qianluo’s heart ache sharply.
It was too glaring, like cracks on a flawless piece of jade.
Ning Dai slept for a long time—so long that Tang Qianluo couldn’t resist reaching out to check his breathing. It felt foolish, but she was terrified.
She had once bid farewell to her beloved Grandpa here, and she couldn’t bear to see Ning Dai lying so vulnerable in this place.
After what felt like an eternity, Ning Dai finally woke up. Tang Qianluo hurried over and asked, “Are you okay? Does anything else hurt? I’ll call Zuo Ye to check on you.”
She turned to press the call button but was stopped as Ning Dai grabbed her arm. Confused, she looked at him and heard him say in a hoarse voice,
“It hurts.”
“Where does it hurt? Your forehead or your arm?” Tang Qianluo asked anxiously, on the verge of tears.
If Ning Dai said it hurt, it must be excruciating. Countless nights, he had endured splitting headaches without making a sound, but now he admitted it hurt.
Ning Dai shook his head and pulled Tang Qianluo toward him with some effort. Not daring to resist, she let herself be guided to sit on the edge of the bed and leaned into his embrace.
“What are you doing, Ning Dai? I need to call the doctor!”
“Pain relief.”
Bang—
Tang Qianluo felt as if she could hear fireworks exploding in her heart, lifting her emotions and spirit to their peak!
Zuo Ye stood at the doorway, baffled as to why he always seemed to stumble upon such affectionate displays.
Shouldn’t single people be protected?
He walked in slowly, interrupting their moment, and mechanically checked Ning Dai’s condition under his cold stare, not easing up on the pressure in the slightest.
He would never admit he was getting revenge! Absolutely not!
“Doctor Zuo, aren’t you being a bit rough? It looks really painful!” Tang Qianluo finally couldn’t hold back.
He was a person, not a lump of dough!
“Hmm, it hurts,” Ning Dai said softly, unable to suppress a light cough.
That cough felt like a critical hit to Tang Qianluo. She grabbed Zuo Ye’s arm and pleaded, “Be gentler!”
Zuo Ye gritted his teeth and glared at Ning Dai, who wore a smug look as he stared back.
Ning Dai raised his hand and gestured for Tang Qianluo, holding her warm hand as he said,
“I’ll probably need to stay in the hospital for a few days. Could you call the butler and ask him to bring my essentials?”
Tang Qianluo nodded, picked up her phone, and stepped out.
The moment the door closed, Zuo Ye turned to Ning Dai with a mocking smile and said, “Not bad, President Ning. Great acting.”
Ning Dai looked at him expressionlessly and asked, “How many days until I can be discharged?”
“Didn’t you calculate the timing when you orchestrated this whole show, President Ning?”Zuo Ye retorted, her smile unwavering. Though she didn’t understand why, Zuo Ye knew Ning Dai too well—he would never put himself in real danger. How could this seemingly serious car accident that hadn’t actually caused substantial injuries be an accident?
Author’s Note:
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