Behind her, Yan Sui felt a faint physiological tremor of excitement rise through her body.
There it was again.
What exactly was the pattern?
She urgently wanted to trace the source of that gaze.
But Lin Qi had already flushed red, opened his mouth, and eaten the strawberry, scratching his head.
“It’s fine, I’ll eat it myself.”
Yan Sui looked straight into his eyes, smiling gently without looking away.
Their eyes met, and Lin Qi was the first to look away, coughing twice.
The girl picked up another piece of fruit.
“Does your hand still hurt?”
Lin Qi felt a strange numbness from her voice, his head slightly dizzy.
“It doesn’t hurt. It stopped hurting a long time ago.
“It’s just that the person who hit me still hasn’t been found.”
Yan Sui looked surprised.
“Still hasn’t been found?”
Lin Qi nodded.
“Muse’s side is covering it up tightly. In the end, it just got dropped.”
Yan Sui recalled that black figure.
At the time, the ends of his hair at the back of his head were soaked with sweat, making it look even darker.
It highlighted the only exposed skin on his neck, pale as if almost transparent.
“It’s really strange,” Lin Qi suddenly lowered his voice.
“You remember Chen Xuan, right? He was the most seriously injured—still bedridden now. His parents are furious and using every connection to find the person.
“But then their family business suddenly ran into serious problems. It even looks like they were being threatened.”
As he spoke, he noticed Yan Sui’s expression—her surprised, attentive look filled him with a strange sense of satisfaction.
“We think they probably offended someone they shouldn’t have. Who knows. I’m just unlucky.”
Yan Sui nodded earnestly.
“Yes, it’s really scary. I’m glad you’re okay. Thank you…”
She lowered her gaze, looking wronged.
“Because of this, Auntie now misunderstands me even more. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Lin Qi immediately said, “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to my mom.”
Yan Sui smiled gratefully, her face pure and soft.
“You’re so nice. Wait a moment, I need to go out for a bit.”
She hadn’t actually wanted to interrupt this bonding time with her “younger brother.”
But that feeling of being watched was too strong.
The gaze came from outside the room. She suddenly stood up and ran out.
Following instinct, she looked in a direction.
People moved hurriedly through the corridor.
A black figure disappeared instantly at the end of the hallway.
Yan Sui narrowed her eyes slightly, the corners of her lips curling.
Fast at hiding, huh.
But this time… it was a little closer.
Next time, maybe you’ll really get caught.
After returning to the ward, she sprinkled some water near the doorway.
Lin Jian and the others were coming soon.
Right now, He Wan hated seeing her the most—so she definitely couldn’t be absent.
She smiled sweetly and leaned in again.
“Still eating?”
The car was filled with laughter and chatter.
Lin Ran tucked her chestnut curls behind her ear. Her sapphire earrings gave her an elegant and noble air.
She inherited the best features of her parents, excelled in academics, and had high emotional intelligence.
At school she was the student council president, and at home she was her parents’ pride.
With just a few sentences, she made He Wan laugh nonstop, washing away all recent gloom.
As they talked, the topic naturally turned to the new member of the family—Yan Sui.
“Mom, you mean Lin Qi actually scolded you because of her?”
“Yes,” He Wan’s face darkened again at the mention.
“You don’t know how good she is at acting. She plays innocent in front of people and schemes behind their backs, fooling that idiot boy completely.”
Lin Jian glanced at the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but speak.
“He Wan, I’ve said it many times—don’t talk about this in front of Ranran. I think you’re biased against her.”
That sentence acted like a trigger, immediately making He Wan agitated.
“So it’s my problem?! You didn’t hear how that little bitch insulted me!”
“Okay, Mom~” Lin Ran gently pressed her mother’s shoulder.
“I believe you. But don’t worry, when I get back I’ll teach her how to respect her elders.”
She quickly soothed He Wan’s emotions.
She also turned to Lin Jian.
“Dad, you might not notice details as much as Mom. After all, you’re more of a big-picture person.”
Lin Jian laughed.
The family was harmonious and cheerful.
When they arrived at the hospital, the driver suddenly slammed the brakes.
Lin Jian was about to complain when he saw a black Rolls-Royce speed past in front.
It was Mr. Jiang’s car.
They naturally yielded.
They went upstairs to the ward together. He Wan and Lin Ran entered holding hands, smiling as they pushed open the door.
But the smile froze on He Wan’s face.
On the hospital bed sat not only her son—but also Yan Sui.
The girl tilted her head, sitting beside Lin Qi, watching videos together.
At the moment the door opened, she had just fed the last piece of fruit into his mouth.
“What are you doing here?! Get out!” He Wan screamed as if she had seen something filthy.
The tone shocked even Lin Ran, who glanced back at her mother.
Then she looked at the unfamiliar girl in the room.
Yan Sui flinched in fear and stood up hurriedly, nervously gripping her clothes.
Her damp eyes looked around as she softly greeted them.
“Dad… Auntie, hello. And…”
Lin Ran smiled and stepped forward, extending her hand.
“Hello, Yan Sui. I’m Lin Ran. I should be a little older than you, so you can call me sister.”
“Big sister.”
Yan Sui smiled too, curious and slightly flattering, and shook her hand.
Her palm was soft and warm, and the handshake ended quickly.
Lin Ran studied her face.
She had seen plenty of pretentious white lotuses and scheming girls before.
But this one…
She couldn’t yet come to a conclusion.
Lin Qi jumped off the bed.
“Mom, why are you yelling at Yan Sui again? She just came to see me!”
For some reason, the scene she saw when she entered earlier kept irritating He Wan.
And now even her son was criticizing her, pushing her into fury.
“She came to see you? You think she’s kind? I think she’s just here to provoke me!”
Yan Sui looked wronged.
“I didn’t…”
Lin Qi snapped, “Mom, look at yourself. You’re seriously going through menopause paranoia.”
Lin Ran quickly stepped in and tapped his head.
“Stop it.”
She then held He Wan’s hand.
“Mom, don’t mind him. His brain isn’t right.
“The driver should already have handled the discharge paperwork.
“Didn’t you say you were happy I came back? The private room at Yanyu Pavilion is ready. Let’s go.”
He Wan suppressed her anger and allowed herself to be guided out.
As they left, Lin Ran glanced back.
She saw Yan Sui tugging at Lin Qi’s sleeve, seemingly telling him not to argue anymore.
Then the girl thoughtfully handed over disinfectant wipes—one to Lin Qi, and one to Lin Ran.
“Big sister, would you like to wipe your hands? And Auntie too.”
She bit her lip softly.
“Please give it to Auntie.”
Lin Ran paused.
“Thank you.”
At that moment, as He Wan stepped forward, she suddenly slipped and screamed, falling toward the ground.
Yan Sui reacted instantly, rushing forward to catch her.
Her own forearm slammed hard into the wall.
The sound was heavy and painful.
Her face immediately scrunched up in pain, but she still held onto He Wan and asked loudly,
“Auntie, are you okay?”
He Wan instinctively tried to push her away.
But something was wrong—
Yan Sui’s hand felt like a tightly coiled snake, impossible to shake off.
Instead, it pulled them closer.
Yan Sui leaned in, her lips brushing near He Wan’s ear, whispering softly:
“You, He Wan… are nothing but a filthy useless worm, fit only to rot with the filth, not to bark in front of me.”