14 – The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character of the Aristocratic Family Fourteen
A nurse passing by looked at Liang Yingyue and said sternly, “What’s going on here? It’s already nighttime—if you want to argue, take it outside!”
Jiang Huai straightened up without even glancing at Liang Yingyue, leaving her kneeling there alone.
The nurse gave Liang Yingyue a disgusted look. Indeed, she was the same nurse who had helped bandage Jiang Huai earlier.
Jiang Huai nodded lightly in greeting to the nurse and pulled Gu Yunze away.
From the moment she took his hand, Gu Yunze’s heart had been pounding wildly. Watching her graceful figure walk ahead of him, he wished this moment could last forever.
When they reached the elevator, Jiang Huai suddenly remembered she was still holding Gu Yunze’s hand and immediately let go.
Tilting her head slightly to look at him, her cool eyes held a complex glint. “Thank you for standing up for me earlier. Next time, let me handle it myself.”
The way he had helped her confront the enemy without hesitation or question stirred an inexplicable emotion in her heart.
Gu Yunze rubbed his hand, savoring the lingering warmth. Standing tall and straight, he nodded gently. “Mm-hmm.”
Huai Huai’s hand is so soft… Would it smell sweet if I kissed it?
…
Liang Yingyue, her face distraught, quickly stood up from the floor and hurried back to her room. She took out her phone and called the man she had never wanted—nor dared—to contact.
She wondered if he had changed his number.
On the other end, it seemed as though he had been waiting by his phone. It rang only once before he eagerly answered. “Well, well, my Mrs. Lin, what brings you here today? What wind blew you my way? It’s been twenty years since you last called me!”
Hearing that long-unheard voice, Liang Yingyue felt tears welling up. Memories from years ago flooded her mind.
Lin Shangyu was becoming unreliable. She had heard he was doing quite well now…
Her voice trembled slightly. “Xiaochen, it’s me. I’m sorry for what happened back then… I… I just wanted to hear your voice. I’m sorry…”
Wang Xiaochen, hearing her tearful tone, grew anxious. Perhaps because they had been each other’s first love and parted ways at their most beautiful age, even after she married someone else, he still held onto fantasies about her.
Wang Xiaochen sometimes hated himself for being so weak. Nineteen years had passed—was she still as pure and lovely as before?
Considering the overwhelming scandals surrounding Lin’s Pharmaceuticals these past two days, he could guess why she was reaching out to him now.
He feigned a cold, stern tone. “What’s done is done. Why cry? Where are you?”
Liang Yingyue’s voice sounded choked, as if she had been crying. “I… I’m at the hospital.”
Wang Xiaochen immediately grew restless. “What? What happened? Which hospital? I’ll come right away!”
Liang Yingyue felt a wave of relief. At least he didn’t blame her. “Are… are you free? It’s City First Hospital…”
“Alright, I’ll be there in half an hour!”
Half an hour later, Wang Xiaochen arrived at City First Hospital in a black Audi, followed by two identical cars.
In the hospital room.
Wang Xiaochen looked at Liang Yingyue—once vibrant, lively, and impeccably maintained in his memory—now pale, with a bandage wrapped around her forehead, sitting on the bed. Her moist, tear-filled eyes gazed at him, looking utterly pitiful and innocent.
Liang Yingyue observed Wang Xiaochen. He looked much the same as he had in the past, except for a few more crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes and a darker complexion, which only made him appear more charismatic.The black suit made him appear mature and steady, no longer the naive, rough boy from back then.
Liang Yingyue sat on the bed, while Wang Xiaochen stood beside it.
He frowned slightly as he looked at her injuries. “Yue’er, how did you get hurt?”
Liang Yingyue lifted her face, her eyes glistening with tears, her voice choked with emotion. “My husband… his company is in trouble now, and… it’s like he’s changed completely towards me. I… I was beaten by my stepdaughter. Whenever she’s in a bad mood, she takes it out on me. She won’t listen no matter what I say. I’ve really had enough, Xiaochen. Xiao Xiao is being bullied too.”
Her tone sounded as if she had suffered a great injustice, on the verge of breaking down, making Wang Xiaochen’s heart tighten and ache with a sharp pang.
He couldn’t help but step forward and embrace the woman who had once accompanied him through difficult times.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you go back then. Isn’t Lin Shangyu supposed to be a gentle man? How could he ignore you like this?”
In his arms, Liang Yingyue revealed a triumphant smile and continued to speak ill of Lin Shangyu. Just as she had managed to be with Wang Xiaochen while also coaxing Lin Shangyu back then, she could do the same now.
“No, he may seem gentle on the surface, but deep down… I really have no choice. You know I’m an orphan, with no one to rely on.”
“Besides… besides, his company is about to collapse. Xiao Xiao and I don’t know where to go. I’m afraid… sob, I’m afraid Xiao Xiao won’t be able to accept the truth when the time comes. She’s been pampered all her life—how could she endure hardship?”
By the end, Liang Yingyue’s voice was tinged with a nasal tone, as if she were on the verge of tears.
Wang Xiaochen felt terrible. Did Yue’er name her daughter Xiao Xiao because of him? He couldn’t help but feel it was that very character, his tone arrogant and proud.
“Don’t worry, I’m here! I won’t let you end up on the streets. How dare your stepdaughter bully you all the time? What’s her name? I won’t let her off!”
A flicker of ferocity flashed in Wang Xiaochen’s eyes. Now that he held a high status and had found a good master, he could finally protect the woman he loved.
“Her name is Jiang Huai. Just teach her a light lesson… she’s just young and doesn’t know any better…”
“My Yue’er is still so kind!”
…
After paying the medical fees, Jiang Huai rode in Gu Yunze’s car to a five-star hotel near the campus.
They got out of the car.
Gu Yunze turned his head and asked her curiously, “Why stay at a hotel instead of going back to the dorm?”
Jiang Huai picked up her luggage and replied softly, “I prefer to live alone! You can go back now.”
Her lazy yet elegant figure carried the suitcase as she walked toward the hotel.
Gu Yunze took her suitcase from her. “Let me take you up.”
Jiang Huai tried to take it back. “No need, I can manage on my own. Thank you for today!”
As if he hadn’t heard her, Gu Yunze continued walking forward.
Jiang Huai had no choice but to follow him inside.
At the front desk.
The neatly dressed receptionist was dazzled by the two’s striking appearances and politely said, “Hello, sir and miss. The standard suite is 1,999 yuan per day. How many days would you like to book?”
Jiang Huai took out the original owner’s bank card. “Five days, please.”
Earlier, when she decided to stay outside, she had taken on a small task online. Now, she only had fifteen thousand yuan in her card—she would make do with that for now.
After swiping the card, Jiang Huai took the room key, and Gu Yunze carried the suitcase as they went up to the fourth floor together.Jiang Huai looked at him helplessly, taking the suitcase. “Alright, can we go now?”