The man carried Liu Yi’an into her hospital room and gently pushed the door open.
His movements were careful, as though he was afraid of hurting her.
He placed her on the bed, then pulled the blanket over her. “Your clothes are wet. I’ll have someone bring you a clean set.”
Only then did Liu Yi’an come back to her senses.
She looked at the man before her. His military uniform was immaculate, and the stars on his shoulder insignia gleamed coldly under the lights.
“It’s you.” Her voice was slightly hoarse. “The one who saved me from the fire that day.”
The man did not deny it. “Yes.”
“Thank you.” Liu Yi’an looked at him earnestly. “If it weren’t for you, I might have…”
“It was nothing.” He interrupted her in a calm voice.
His gaze swept around the hospital room, and his brows furrowed slightly.
The bedside table was completely empty. There wasn’t even a glass of water.
“You’re alone?”
Liu Yi’an nodded.
The man said nothing more and turned to leave the room.
Ten minutes later, he returned with two nurses carrying several large bags.
“Fruit, milk, and a change of clothes.” The nurses efficiently arranged everything. “Commander Zhou said you have injuries on your hands, so we’ve placed everything within your reach.”
Commander Zhou?
Liu Yi’an looked at the man.
He was already speaking to another nurse. “Have someone stay with her around the clock. Notify me immediately if anything happens.”
“Yes, sir.”
After the nurses left, only the two of them remained in the room.
Liu Yi’an looked at the now fully stocked bedside table, and an indescribable warmth spread through her heart.
“Are you a firefighter?” she asked.
The man paused. “Something like that.”
Liu Yi’an didn’t think much of it. “Thank you again for what you did that day.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” The man glanced at the time. “I have something to take care of. I’ll be going now.”
He turned to leave, but Liu Yi’an suddenly called out, “Wait.”
The man turned back.
“My name is Liu Yi’an.” She looked at him earnestly. “Can you tell me your name?”
The man was silent for several seconds.
“Zhou Yuping.”
With that, he strode out of the room.
Liu Yi’an stared at the closed door, the corners of her lips unconsciously curving upward.
Zhou Yuping.
She would remember that name.
At the end of the corridor, Wei Qing was leaning against the wall around the corner.
She had just witnessed the entire scene the man carrying Liu Yi’an into her room and personally making arrangements for her.
Who was that man?
Wei Qing bit her lip, jealousy flashing in her eyes.
Why did Liu Yi’an deserve this?
She turned around and hurried toward Fu Yanchen’s temporary office.
“Yanchen.” Wei Qing pushed open the door, her face showing just the right amount of hesitation.
Fu Yanchen looked up. “What’s wrong?”
“I just saw…” Wei Qing hesitated, then lowered her gaze. “Forget it. I probably shouldn’t say anything.”
Fu Yanchen frowned. “Saw what?”
“I saw An’an with a man…” Wei Qing bit her lip. “That man carried her into her room. They seemed very close.”
Fu Yanchen’s hand stopped mid-motion.
“Are you sure?”
“I saw it with my own eyes.” Wei Qing nodded. “That man even bought her a lot of things and arranged for someone to take care of her.”
Fu Yanchen’s expression immediately darkened.
He abruptly stood up and strode toward Liu Yi’an’s hospital room.
Bang!
The door was pushed open.
Liu Yi’an was eating an apple. When she saw Fu Yanchen, her movements paused.
“Who were you with?” Fu Yanchen demanded immediately.
Liu Yi’an calmly swallowed the piece of apple. “That’s none of your business.”
“None of my business?” Fu Yanchen sneered. “Liu Yi’an, are you still a member of the Fu family or not?”
“When did I ever become a member of the Fu family?” Liu Yi’an retorted. “You and I aren’t even married.”
Fu Yanchen was momentarily speechless.
He took a deep breath. “Who was that man?”
“My savior.” Liu Yi’an remained calm. “Why? Do you have a problem with that?”
“Your savior?” Fu Yanchen’s eyes filled with mockery. “Liu Yi’an, that little trick of trying to make me jealous won’t work on me.”
Liu Yi’an laughed.
“Fu Yanchen, do you have some misunderstanding about yourself?” She put down the apple. “I have absolutely no interest in you.”
“You think I’ll believe that?” Fu Yanchen stepped closer. “You’ve been chasing after me since you were eighteen, and now you suddenly say you’re not interested? Do you really think I’ll believe you?”
Liu Yi’an looked at him with eyes as cold as though he were a complete stranger.
“Believe it or not, that’s up to you.”
That look inexplicably irritated Fu Yanchen.
“You’d better not play any tricks,” he said coldly. “Otherwise…”
“Otherwise what?” Liu Yi’an cut him off. “Fu Yanchen, get one thing straight. I’m not yours. You have no right to control me.”
Fu Yanchen’s face turned livid.
He stared at Liu Yi’an for several seconds before snorting coldly and slamming the door behind him.
In the hallway, he leaned against the wall, his chest heaving violently.
Liu Yi’an’s words “I have absolutely no interest in you” felt like a thorn, stabbing deep into his heart.
She really doesn’t like me anymore?
Impossible.
She must be putting on an act.
Fu Yanchen tried to convince himself of that, but the inexplicable irritation in his chest refused to subside.
Inside the room, Liu Yi’an picked up her apple again.
She took another bite, a cold smile curling at the corners of her lips.
Fu Yanchen, this is only the beginning.
On the third day after being discharged from the hospital, Liu Yi’an moved back into her private dormitory at the research institute.
She shut and locked the doors and windows. Her desk was covered with draft papers and a calculator.
The injuries on her hands had not completely healed, and they still ached faintly whenever she held a pen, but she gritted her teeth and persevered.
The data that had been burned to ashes, she was going to reconstruct it, piece by piece.
Get it out.
In her previous life, it had taken her three months to complete the research. In this life, she was giving herself only two weeks.
The tip of her pen flew across the paper as formulas, data, and deduction processes gradually took shape.
The sky outside was growing dark, yet she had not even eaten.
“Knock, knock, knock ”
A sudden knock sounded at the door.
Without even looking up, Liu Yi’an said, “I’m not seeing anyone.”
“An’an, it’s me.” Fu Yanchen’s mother’s voice came from outside, carrying an unusual note of seriousness.
Liu Yi’an’s hand paused.
She put down her pen, got up, and opened the door.
Fu Yanchen’s mother stood outside, with Fu Yanchen behind her, his face grim.
“Auntie.” Liu Yi’an’s tone was calm.
Fu Yanchen’s mother glanced at the bandages on her hands. A trace of concern flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger.
“An’an, I came today to bring Yanchen here to apologize to you.”
Fu Yanchen’s expression darkened even further.
Liu Yi’an raised an eyebrow. “Apologize?”
“Yes.” Fu Yanchen’s mother took a deep breath. “I’ve looked into everything the fire that day, and the matter concerning the research materials…”
She paused, her voice filled with anger. “It was all done by Yanchen and Wei Qing.”
Fu Yanchen suddenly looked up. “Mom!”
“Shut up!” His mother cut him off sharply. “Do you still have the nerve to speak?”
She turned toward Liu Yi’an, her eyes slightly red. “An’an, Auntie is sorry. I failed to keep my own son in check.”
Liu Yi’an looked at her without saying a word.
In her previous life, Fu Yanchen’s mother had also felt guilty like this, but in the end, she had still chosen to stand on Fu Yanchen’s side.
In this life, Liu Yi’an would never believe her again.
“Yanchen, aren’t you going to apologize?” his mother said sternly.
Fu Yanchen stood where he was, his expression gloomy.
He stared at Liu Yi’an, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
After a long while, he finally forced out, “I’m sorry.”
Just three words, delivered with utter insincerity.