“I’ll be going, then?”
“Go ahead, I won’t see you off.”
There wasn’t the slightest hint of reluctance—she couldn’t wait for Lu Yiming to disappear. Still, compared to earlier, her attitude wasn’t as hostile. For Lu Yiming, today could be considered quite a successful day. Unfortunately, his wish to stay and grab a late-night snack wasn’t going to happen.
Lu Yiming pouted. After all, he had kept her grandfather company for so long, and they couldn’t even offer him something to eat? Playing Go was time-consuming, and now his stomach was growling. He sighed helplessly.
“Why don’t you let Rongrong accompany you for a bite?” Even her grandfather couldn’t bear to watch. The kid looked pitiful.
Su Rongrong: (ˉ▽ˉ；)…
She couldn’t believe Lu Yiming had managed this—just in such a short time, he’d already won her grandfather over? This couldn’t continue!
“He’s not hungry.”
“I am.”
“You’re not!”
Su Rongrong’s eyes were full of warning.
“Actually, now that I think about it, I’m not hungry.”
Good choice—seeing her on the verge of an outburst, Lu Yiming decided it was wiser not to push his luck.
“Walk him out?” her grandfather asked.
“He’s got legs.”
Impatience written all over her face, Su Rongrong didn’t even make a move to see him off. With no choice, Lu Yiming left the ward alone.
“At least he’s your classmate. You should show some unity.”
“He’s thick-skinned.”
“Heh…”
Her grandfather couldn’t help but chuckle. As an experienced man, how could he not see what was going on in Lu Yiming’s mind? To be honest, the young man wasn’t bad—polite, well-spoken, and clearly not from an ordinary family.
“He’s a good kid. Tell him to come by more often. He can play Go with me.”
Su Rongrong: (ˉ▽ˉ；)…
More often? Please spare her. If her grandfather ever found out the indecent things Lu Yiming had done to her, he’d probably yank out his IV just to strangle him.
Still, she hadn’t expected that this so-called playboy could appear so… refined. No, impossible. It must be a trick he used to charm girls.
Su Rongrong shook her head, forcing all thoughts of Lu Yiming out of her mind. “Grandpa, you should rest. The doctor said proper balance between rest and activity is best for your heart’s recovery.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Old people tended to be stubborn, but when it came to Su Rongrong, he always listened.
“You’re still here?”
“I’ll stay with you a bit longer.”
If she left now and Lu Yiming happened to still be around, they might ‘accidentally’ bump into each other again. No way.
Meanwhile, Lu Yiming had already taken the elevator down to the first floor.
The VIP ward had its own exclusive elevator. Even in a busy Class-A hospital, that elevator was never occupied. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but think it was a waste of resources. But that was the reality—no matter where you went, class divisions still existed.
The slogan “Everyone is equal” had been shouted for years, but all it really did was move visible privilege into the shadows.
The other elevators were packed with patients and their families, but the VIP one carried only Lu Yiming.
There was so much unfairness in the world. Seeing through it was one thing, but pointing it out was another—doing so would only make you a target.
He had learned that lesson in his previous life.
“Sir, first floor,” the elevator attendant said.
“Thank you.”
Lu Yiming took a deep breath and stepped out.
Overall, today had gone well. Perhaps this was the start of something good. In his previous life, he hadn’t met Su Rongrong again until more than ten years later. Even after the Lu Family had received its punishment, her eyes were still filled with resentment when she looked at him.
And rightfully so—he had ruined her life.
He had taken her innocence, made her the subject of gossip, and destroyed the reputation of the Su Family’s proud princess.
That look of hatred in her eyes… it would never fade.
Compared to his last life, things were already much better this time.
“Doctor, please, I’m begging you. Don’t stop the treatment. I’ll find a way to pay. Please give me a little more time. I promise, I’ll get the money soon!”
As Lu Yiming passed through the hospital’s main lobby, he heard a voice that was all too familiar.
Her again? Cheng Xiao.
That voice was unmistakable.
In his previous life, around this time, he hadn’t known her yet. He only knew that Magic City University had a “civilian campus belle” who was just as famous as Su Rongrong.
But back then, Lu Yiming had no interest in Cheng Xiao. His heart was set entirely on Su Rongrong. No matter how beautiful Cheng Xiao was, there was never any possibility between them.
Even if the Lu Family had been mocked as “nouveau riche” by old aristocratic families, they were still rich. Everything in that circle was about social status. A girl like Cheng Xiao, ordinary and poor, could never enter the Lu Family’s door.
Sure, she might be someone to play around with, but falling in love with her? Impossible.
Even everything that happened later… for Lu Yiming, it had been a matter of guilt more than affection.
In this life, even if he ran into Cheng Xiao, he would avoid her. No point repeating past mistakes.
But fate loved playing cruel jokes.
The more he wanted to stay away, the more she appeared in his life.
Just like now—Cheng Xiao stood there, pleading desperately, clutching the sleeve of a doctor in a white coat. The doctor’s expression was filled with impatience. Clearly, this conversation had been going on for a while.
“Director Zhang, please give me a few more days. I’ll get my paycheck soon.”
Cheng Xiao had tried everything she could. The bar had already done more than enough for her—they’d trained her, given her a job. And after the trouble she’d caused with that drunk customer, she couldn’t bring herself to ask for another favor.
Her daytime part-time job was paid hourly, but that money was nowhere near enough to cover her mother’s expensive treatment. Even if she sold everything she owned, it wouldn’t be enough…
“You know the hospital has its rules,” Director Zhang said coldly. “We’ve already given you an extension for half a month. The higher-ups have made it clear—the fees must be paid. Please don’t make this harder for me.”
Her pleading didn’t move him at all. Doctors saw too many suffering patients every year. At first, they might feel compassion, but after a while, their hearts hardened. After seeing so much life and death, one eventually became numb.
“If you really can’t pay, go plead with the department head. You know where the office is.”
Director Zhang sighed, pried her fingers off his sleeve, and walked away without looking back.
Cheng Xiao stood frozen, eyes full of despair.
No. If her mother didn’t receive treatment soon, she might not last even a week.
All her years of struggle…
No, she wouldn’t allow this to happen.
Director Zhang mentioned the finance office. Right—maybe there was still hope.
But…
Her expression shifted repeatedly before she finally gathered her courage and turned toward the finance office.