Xue Yanxin walked into the ward carrying breakfast. She had overheard most of the conversation while standing outside the door.
The more she thought about what had happened yesterday, the angrier she became.
When Huo Zhiyuan had collapsed, the restaurant owner had immediately claimed it was the recurrence of an old illness. He had called an ambulance, but never bothered to follow them to the hospital. While he stayed behind protecting his business, she had been the one running around alone, completing admission paperwork and taking care of Huo Zhiyuan.
Needless to say, she had no intention of being polite.
“We’re reasonable people. We won’t make a scene at your restaurant or ruin your business by spreading this everywhere. But the responsibility that’s yours is still yours. If you’re supposed to compensate us, then you should.”
Since they had started living together, this was the first time Huo Zhiyuan had ever seen Xue Yanxin so angry and serious.
She was usually gentle, optimistic, and incredibly easygoing. He had even wondered before whether she would simply smile and let it go if someone bullied her.
Yet now, she was standing up to someone so firmly.
And she was doing it for him.
It felt as though fireworks had exploded inside his chest.
His mood burst into brilliant colors, warm, dazzling, and impossible to describe.
But when he caught sight of the restaurant owner’s conflicted expression, guilt crept back into his heart.
Feeling awkward, he opened his mouth, intending to say something in the owner’s defense.
Before he could speak, Xue Yanxin cut him off.
“You can’t always be so kind and so soft-hearted. Excessive tolerance isn’t kindness, it’s helping people get away with doing wrong.”
Huo Zhiyuan froze.
Too kind?
Too soft-hearted?
Was she… talking about him?
For a moment, even he questioned whether she’d mistaken him for someone else.
He had grown up by his grandfather’s side, witnessing every kind of negotiation and power struggle imaginable. While other people were still learning how society worked in their twenties, he had already become a seasoned businessman.
Back when his classmates felt guilty over charging five yuan more than someone else at a campus flea market, he had already learned that business was about profit, not sentiment.
He calculated every cent.
He was ruthless when necessary.
If someone crossed him, he never forgot.
Outwardly, he wore a humble smile.
Deep inside, however, he carried an unshakable pride that naturally overwhelmed others.
As for his employees, he cared only about results.
The process didn’t matter.
Anyone who failed to meet his standards rarely received a second chance.
High salaries came with equally high pressure.
He knew perfectly well that behind his back, employees called him the Jade-Faced Rakshasa and King Yama Huo.
“Actually…”
He paused.
Forget it.
So this was how she saw him.
Kind.
Good-tempered.
Somehow… that image wasn’t bad at all.
The words he had been about to say disappeared down his throat.
Instead, he silently decided that once he returned to work, he would have Qi Junlin arrange for half of the company’s employee meal orders to go to this restaurant as compensation.
Hundreds of boxed lunches every day would be worth far more than the owner’s previous business.
Standing nearby, the restaurant owner nodded repeatedly.
“You’re absolutely right, miss. I’ll pay whatever compensation is necessary. I’m really sorry. I only said your… your husband had suffered a relapse because I was afraid my little restaurant’s reputation would be ruined. I have elderly parents and children depending on me. I truly had no choice. Please forgive me.”
He rubbed his hands nervously.
“Let’s exchange contact information. Tell me how much you’ve spent, and I’ll transfer the money immediately.”
The moment he mentioned exchanging contact information, Huo Zhiyuan swiftly pulled out his phone.
“Add mine.”
After the restaurant owner left, Xue Yanxin suddenly remembered that she still had boxed lunches to sell.
Technically, she didn’t have to go.
Most customers would understand.
But the regular workers at the construction site were probably still waiting for her lunches.
After thinking it over, she slipped into the restroom and called Qi Junlin.
“Hello? Sis, you finally remembered you have a younger brother? You actually decided to call me?”
Qi Junlin sounded slightly aggrieved, with an unmistakable hint of jealousy.
“What do you mean finally? I thought of you first.”
“Yeah, right. So, what do you need?”
“Could you arrange for someone to deliver about a hundred boxed lunches to the construction site? Give them to the foreman and let everyone know I can’t make it today. I’ll collect the money another day. Can you do that?”
Silence.
The other end of the line remained completely quiet.
So quiet that Xue Yanxin began losing patience.
“What, you can’t? Seriously? It’s such a tiny favor. Qi Junlin, are you a CEO for nothing?”
“No, Sis. You called me just for that?” Qi Junlin laughed helplessly. “This early in the morning, I thought something huge had happened. Don’t worry, leave it to your reliable little brother. That fake husband of yours is useless. In the end, I’m still the dependable one.”
There was obvious smugness in his voice.
Xue Yanxin could practically picture the self-satisfied grin on his face.
“If you’re helping, then just help. Why do you have to put someone else down? He’s lying in the hospital because he’s sick. I’m here taking care of him. Otherwise, why wouldn’t I be selling the lunches myself?”
“What?” Qi Junlin blurted out. “My brother is sick? Is it serious? I… I…”
His voice immediately became anxious.
Then he abruptly realized his reaction was a little too obvious and hurriedly tried to cover it up.
“I mean… is he terminally ill or anything? Is this finally my chance to eliminate future trouble?”
The moment Xue Yanxin heard that, her temper flared.
She completely overlooked the unusual concern he’d shown just seconds earlier.
“Qi Junlin! He’s still your brother! How can you curse him like that? Can’t you hope for something good for once? Now stop talking nonsense and go handle what I asked.”
Without waiting for another word, she hung up.
After learning that Huo Zhiyuan was ill, Qi Junlin became genuinely worried.
In his eyes, his older brother had always been as strong as an ox.
He had never once seen Huo Zhiyuan fall sick.
If he was suddenly hospitalized now…
Could it be something serious?
Was the local hospital even capable of treating him properly?
Unable to sit still, he immediately abandoned his work and rushed toward the hospital.
Only after getting into his car did he realize…
He had forgotten to ask which hospital.
Sitting behind the wheel, he bombarded Huo Zhiyuan with messages.
After waiting only a few seconds without receiving a reply, he switched to relentless phone calls instead.
Inside the hospital room, Huo Zhiyuan glanced toward the restroom. Seeing that Xue Yanxin still hadn’t come out, he finally answered.
The moment the call connected, Qi Junlin’s rapid-fire questions came pouring out.
“Bro! I heard you’re sick! Is it serious? What happened? Which hospital are you at? Is the medical care there any good? Send me the address. I’m coming over right now.”
“Don’t come. She’s still here. I’m fine. I just ate something bad. Once these two IV bags are finished, I’ll be discharged this afternoon.”
“She?”
Qi Junlin immediately remembered.
Right.
His sister…
No.
His sister-in-law was there.
His panicked mind finally cleared.
He had almost forgotten that Xue Yanxin still didn’t know he and Huo Zhiyuan were only pretending to be on bad terms.
“Sister-in-law?”
Huo Zhiyuan sounded puzzled.
Since when had his younger brother accepted Xue Yanxin?
He was even calling her sister-in-law.
Hadn’t he always disliked her the most?
Oh no.
Cold sweat instantly broke out across Qi Junlin’s forehead.
“I… I was just worried about you, so I said it without thinking. It doesn’t mean we’re close or anything. By the way, you still haven’t told me which hospital you’re in.”
“Xinya First Hospital. You don’t need to come. I’ll be discharged this afternoon.”
“Got it.”
He quickly ended the call.
Leaning back in the driver’s seat, Qi Junlin let out a long sigh of relief.
He had been so worried that he’d nearly exposed himself.
Thankfully, he hadn’t slipped in front of his sister.
Instead, he had almost blown his cover in front of his brother.
“Calm down… calm down…”
He patted his cheeks a few times.
He still needed to visit the hospital to make sure his brother was really alright.
But first…
He had to think of a way to distract his sister.
Only then could he go without revealing anything.
Rather than heading straight to the hospital, Qi Junlin turned around and went back upstairs to continue working at the company for the time being.