“Brother Lian Huai, I can’t trouble you anymore.” Song Yunyi’s voice was soft, carrying her unique determination. “I’ve already contacted an agent about the housing situation. No need to bother.”
Gu Lianhuai’s arrangement was, of course, to give her a house outright.
But between them, they couldn’t even be considered friends—just a contractual relationship of mutual convenience.
She couldn’t afford to repay such a debt of gratitude.
And she wouldn’t be able to rest easy living there either.
“Yunyi, this isn’t a bother. Be good and don’t be stubborn.”
Song Yunyi had never been the type to be stubborn.
Although they were in the same year, she was three years younger than him. She was a legend at Saint Lance Academy—she had skipped grades to reach her senior year in just one semester, with outstanding grades and a radiant presence.
Her whole life seemed to be a race against time.
Perhaps it was because she always appeared indomitable—no exam could stump her, and nothing could make her stop.
It made people think she was simply meant to be that way.
Song Yunyi still refused: “Brother Lian Huai, I’m not home right now. You should head back first. It’s late—get some rest.”
Gu Lianhuai: “Where are you?”
“I’m at the hospital now. The person who saved me was injured, and he has no family nearby, so I came to take care of him.”
“Send me the address. I’ll arrange a caregiver for you.” Before Song Yunyi could refuse, he added, “You still have work tomorrow. Let the professionals handle this kind of thing. Are you planning to reject me all night?”
Song Yunyi parted her lips, but in the end, she gave him the address: “Thank you, Brother Lian Huai.”
“It’s nothing.” He got into the car, sent the hospital address to his assistant, and had him arrange for several professional caregivers. Then he told the driver to head over.
“I know someone there. I’ll have her arrange a full physical exam for you. Getting drugged is no small matter. If you really feel uncomfortable about it, just transfer the exam fee to me.”
Song Yunyi indeed became less resistant to that and relented.
Back in the hospital room, Song Yunyi told Feng Qiyue about Gu Lianhuai arranging caregivers.
She felt a bit awkward about it, worried that Feng Qiyue might feel uncomfortable.
But to her surprise, Feng Qiyue nodded nonchalantly: “If someone can help you, I naturally have no objections.”
It also saved his mother the money she would have spent hiring a caregiver for him.
Song Yunyi nodded. “You slept quite a bit today. If you can’t fall asleep, I can go tell the nurse to give you a shot?”
“No need. I can sleep. You should head back and rest—I’m fine here.”
Song Yunyi gave a light cough. “Gu Lianhuai will be coming over in a bit.”
Feng Qiyue was silent for a moment before asking, “Mom, is he the one you’ve always liked?”
Song Yunyi didn’t deny it.
No matter what entanglement she might have with Feng Cheng in the future, right now, her heart truly belonged to Gu Lianhuai alone.
Feng Qiyue said nothing more.
Gu Lianhuai arrived at the hospital room not long after.
His originally calm expression shifted when he saw Feng Qiyue lying on the hospital bed with clearly severe injuries. He looked at Song Yunyi: “How did the person who saved you end up this badly injured? Did the one who drugged you have more than one accomplice?”
Song Yunyi knew he had misunderstood and quickly explained: “No, that’s not it. His injuries happened today—they have nothing to do with that driver.”
Only then did Gu Lianhuai’s heart settle. He greeted Feng Qiyue: “Hello, my surname is Gu. May I ask…?”
“Feng Qiyue.”
Gu Lianhuai frowned slightly. Surname Feng?
But he didn’t think too much about it. He pulled a bank card and a business card from his pocket and placed them on the cabinet beside the bed: “There’s a million in there. The password is today’s date. Consider it a thank-you for saving Yunyi. If you ever need anything, feel free to contact me.”
Song Yunyi immediately spoke up to stop him: “No, you can’t accept this money.”
Feng Qiyue was especially obedient to Song Yunyi, let alone the fact that he had no intention of taking Gu Lianhuai’s money anyway.
He believed that by tomorrow at the latest, the compensation his father had arranged for him would arrive.
So he curled his lips into a smile, showing a fairly friendly expression: “Mr. Gu, I saved Ms. Song entirely out of my own will. I seek no reward. If anyone should thank me, it should be Ms. Song herself. And if I may be so bold as to ask—if your position allows you to compensate me on her behalf, then where were you last night?”
His tone was gentle, his smile harmless, but his words were razor-sharp.
He was practically one step away from saying, “Quit the act.”
Song Yunyi couldn’t help but cover her face.
She shot him a subtle glare: “Say a little less. He at least arranged caregivers for you.”
Feng Qiyue’s smile deepened as he smoothly followed up: “But regardless, I do have to thank you for the caregivers.”
Gu Lianhuai observed the exchange of glances between the two, then suddenly spoke: “Yunyi, he really listens to you.”
Feng Qiyue nodded with great pride: “You’re right. I only listen to her.”
“Enough with the cheeky talk.” Song Yunyi said with exasperation.
Gu Lianhuai narrowed his eyes. He felt the atmosphere between the two was strange, yet he couldn’t detect any hint of romance, so his brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
He was silent for a moment, then took Song Yunyi’s hand. “Since he doesn’t want it, I won’t push it. It’s getting late—let me take you for your examination.”
Song Yunyi nodded and gave Feng Qiyue one last reminder: “Your hand is in a cast, so you absolutely cannot get it wet, and no showering! Be careful when you get up at night—don’t try to tough it out on your own just because you feel embarrassed. And in two hours, remember to have the nurse change your dressing. If anything feels off, press the call button or call me. Got it?”
The corners of Feng Qiyue’s mouth lifted uncontrollably. “Got it. Once your examination is done, head straight back.”
She gave the caregiver a few more instructions before leaving the ward, looking back every few steps.
On the way to the examination, Gu Lianhuai suddenly spoke. “You seem very concerned about that Feng Qiyue.”
She had a rather detached temperament, usually cold and aloof toward people she didn’t know well. In all these years, he had never seen her care this much about anyone other than him.
Only then did Song Yunyi realize how unusually attentive she had been toward Feng Qiyue.
She explained, “He did save me, after all, and we hit it off right away. He has no family here, and he’s taken me as his older sister. He’s basically family to me now.”
“Family?” Gu Lianhuai mulled it over, then gave a slow smile. “This is also the first time I’ve seen you open up to a stranger this quickly.”
All told, less than two days had passed.
Fast enough to be astonishing.
“Lian Huai, he’s just my younger brother. Nothing will ever happen between us.”
Gu Lianhuai smiled. “Why explain? I wouldn’t doubt you.”
Song Yunyi lowered her eyes, her fingers silently tightening.
He really had no reason to doubt her.
The examination was arranged with a female department head around forty years old. Gu Lianhuai exchanged a few pleasantries with her, and Song Yunyi was taken in for the tests.
The results came back quickly. After reviewing the report, the department head’s expression turned serious. “The sedative has been fully flushed out, but this type of sedative is usually a substandard product from the black market. It contains several chemical agents mixed in that are harmful to the body. Without proper care, it can easily lead to certain cancers.”
Song Yunyi’s expression shifted slightly.
So the mastermind behind this hadn’t just wanted to ruin her—they wanted her dead.
The doctor had put it mildly.
Cancer caused by substandard chemical agents like this could hardly be an ordinary, treatable illness.
Gu Lianhuai’s expression also darkened. “So how is her health right now?”
The department head said, “She received timely treatment, so there’s no major problem at the moment. I’ve already had someone prepare the medication. She should finish one course before coming back for a follow-up. She also needs to watch her diet—avoid heavy oil and spicy foods.”
Gu Lianhuai nodded. “Thank you for your trouble.”
The department head smiled. “You’re too kind, President Gu.”
After picking up the medication, Gu Lianhuai drove her back to the hotel. He glanced at the surroundings of the hotel and frowned. “You really won’t accept the accommodation I arranged for you?”
Song Yunyi held up three fingers. “My boss advanced me three months’ salary. I have my own money.”
Gu Lianhuai shook his head with a smile and said nothing more, only adding, “I’ll pick you up from work tomorrow.”
It wasn’t until she was in the elevator that the smile faded from her face. She took out her phone and transferred money to Gu Lianhuai.
She knew full well she could never repay him, yet she remained this stubborn.
As if, somehow, one day they might finally be equals.