Mo Qingyan gently cradled the girl’s delicate, slightly childish face with his slender, well-defined fingers, his deep magnetic voice resonating:
“Shall we go to the hospital first?”
“The hospital?” Zuo Yang immediately grew tense. “Are you feeling unwell somewhere!”
“Good girl, I’m fine.” Mo Qingyan softly stroked the small face in his palm, comforting her. “I want to take you for a health check-up.”
Heaven knew how panicked and pained his heart had been when he heard her say she’d died of late-stage cancer at eighteen in that other lifetime.
Zuo Yang was taken aback but quickly understood Mo Qingyan’s concern.
Right, even if she hadn’t been killed by a car, she would have eventually died from late-stage cancer.
Zuo Yang’s voice came out muffled: “What about you? Your health…”
Mo Qingyan: “Yes, everything you said came true. But I’m alright.”
Although his legs truly couldn’t move – he had already lost the ability to walk.
Although his sense of smell was indeed gradually fading.
But still…
“Little one, I can still smell your fragrance.”
That milky sweetness was a scent he could never forget, never quit, a scent that drove him mad with addiction.
As if embarrassed, Zuo Yang buried her small head in Mo Qingyan’s chest, nuzzling against him dependently.
“You’re still running a fever. Since we’re here, let’s get a full check-up, hmm?”
After getting drenched in that heavy rain last night and fainting in his arms…
Heaven knew last night had been complete chaos here.
Although the little one’s fever had subsided somewhat, he didn’t dare let his guard down for even a moment.
Then, the person in his arms lifted her small head, her pale delicate hands tightly clutching the clothes on his chest:
“Mo Qingyan, I’m fine, it doesn’t matter if we go to the hospital later. Nothing else is important right now – what matters most is you. Let’s go to the Slums first. There’s someone named Feng Lin there who can save you. Let’s go now! You’ll be alright, you’ll get better!”
Mo Qingyan enveloped those small hands within his palms.
To him, nothing and no one was more important than the person before him.
Including himself.
“About finding someone, I’ll have Yu Ning handle it. I’ll accompany you to the hospital.” The man’s voice was gentle, coaxing.
But Zuo Yang was extremely stubborn, knowing full well that even if she threw a tantrum, the man before her would only unconditionally indulge and accommodate her.
Even if everyone feared this powerful man, she had never been afraid of him.
“Yu Ning won’t be able to find him. Feng Lin has been hiding his identity in the Slums all along. Only I can find him – I dreamed about this!”
After saying this, the young girl proudly pursed her little lips and lifted her chin.
Mo Qingyan then smiled, like the first snow of winter melting, an incredibly beautiful smile: “My little one is truly remarkable.”
He seemed to genuinely consider it carefully before speaking slowly again:
“But these two things don’t conflict. The Slums are far from here and require some arrangements. During that time, we can go to the hospital for your check-up, hmm?”
When it came to coaxing her, he had endless patience.
Zuo Yang thought this made sense and immediately agreed with a smile: “Okay!”
Afterwards, Mo Qingyan called Yu Ning inside.
Zuo Yang looked at Yu Ning’s limping figure and made a surprised sound: “Why is Yu Ning limping?”
Then her gaze slowly drifted down to Yu Ning’s lower body.
Oh!
Could it be that her kick last night had been that powerful?
Mo Qingyan’s gaze rested on the girl’s slender neck.
Although the medicine had been applied, the child’s skin was simply too delicate—faint marks were still visible.
Yu Ning suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud.
Last night, he had gripped the girl’s neck too hard, leaving a distinct bluish bruise.
As punishment, the President had made him kneel in the rain for a long time.
His legs still felt numb from it.
As the rain washed over him, his mind seemed to clear a little.
Yes, this was a forbidden area—not even a mosquito could fly in, let alone a living person.
The more he thought about it, the more something felt off.
Even now, Yu Ning couldn’t believe that the person who had died five years ago had truly returned, whole and intact.
Though he was still full of questions, now was clearly not the time to ask them.
“I’m sorry, Miss. I was wrong last night,” Yu Ning said, filled with guilt, even stretching out his neck. “Go ahead, Miss—pinch me back hard. I wouldn’t mind if you pinched me to death!”
Zuo Yang caught on and chuckled. “So that’s why you’re suddenly limping—Mo Qingyan punished you, huh?”
Yu Ning hung his head, looking as pitiful as a big, sad dog.
But he didn’t dare look at the President—the President’s gaze could cut through him, and he hadn’t been forgiven yet.
Zuo Yang shook Mo Qingyan’s hand playfully. “Mo Qingyan, don’t be mad at Yu Ning anymore. He’s the best assistant in the whole world!”
She remembered from her dreams how Yu Ning had always been devoted and loyal, staying by Mo Qingyan’s side through everything.
“Besides, I kicked him once too—I didn’t come out at a loss. We’re even.”
Yu Ning’s eyebrow twitched: “…”
The painful memory came flooding back—the lower half where the girl had kicked him started aching again.
Mo Qingyan narrowed his eyes slightly, watching Yu Ning, who was trying to shrink into an ostrich, and calmly instructed:
“My child needs a full-body check-up. Make careful arrangements at the hospital. Also, prepare to go to the Slums.”
The Slums?
Yu Ning was taken aback.
That was no good place—it could hardly be described as anything less than a living hell.
Why would the President suddenly want to go there?
But as a qualified assistant, adhering to the principle that “the President’s word is unconditionally right,” Yu Ning replied without changing his expression, “Understood, President.”
After Yu Ning left, Mo Qingyan accompanied Zuo Yang as she washed up and changed.
When Zuo Yang saw the entire room filled with the latest seasonal outfits in various styles, she facepalmed.
Well, this was such a President move—she was familiar with it.
Before she died, this President had spoiled her to the extreme.
Whether it was food, clothing, or daily necessities, everything was absolutely top-notch.
Zuo Yang changed into a simple outfit—a white T-shirt and light blue overall shorts, with her long hair tied into a high ponytail.
When she appeared before Mo Qingyan, the man was momentarily dazed.
The young girl wore no makeup, yet her face was exquisitely cute.
Her skin was as fair and translucent as a baby’s, her cheeks still carrying a hint of youthful chubbiness.
Her smiling eyes were clear and pure.
When she blinked at you, it was unbearably adorable.
She was soft and delicate, like a sweet, fluffy little cake.
Her fresh, simple attire felt like a cool breeze from a mountain stream on this sweltering summer day.
This was the 18-year-old Zuo Yang—vibrant, full of life and energy.
Not the Zuo Yang who lay dying on a hospital bed, devoid of vitality, and ultimately died in his arms.
The thought made Mo Qingyan’s heart ache as if pierced by a knife, and his eyes reddened.
“Mo Qingyan, since when did you become such a crybaby?”
Zuo Yang leaned down, pressing her forehead against the man’s and nuzzling gently.
“Are you thinking about how I died again? Though I can’t stop you from grieving, I’ve returned—I’m back by your side. So, won’t you hold me?”
As soon as she finished speaking, she was enveloped in a tight embrace by a pair of trembling hands.
Icy tears seeped into her neck, yet they left searing marks upon her skin.