Chapter 52: Get ill

Gu Hansheng's countenance darkened, bearing the weight of years. Is he truly that aged?

Yu Shenzhi couldn't hold back a chuckle, turning to regard the woman with an expression of tension, "Madam, what is your profession to speak so boldly?"

The woman pursed her lips, embarrassedly replying, "I am a programmer."

"No wonder your thoughts are so straightforward, devoid of any twist or turn."

As the hour grew late, the woman could clearly discern the impatience and anxiety of the man beside her. His furrowed brow remained unfurled. Contemplating for a moment, she inquired, "Sir, does she cry out your name all night long?"

Gu Hansheng's fingers, resting on his knee, twitched slightly, a deep 'mm' escaping his lips, resonating low like the tone of a cello in D.

The woman nodded in understanding, suddenly recalling the discomfort on Liang Shu's face in the middle of the night, moaning incessantly as if deeply enamored with this man.

Yet, what kind of story lay between them?

Beside her, the man's icy voice pierced her ears, catching her off guard, "What?"

Squinting, Gu Hansheng patiently reiterated, "Are there others in your home? Like a boyfriend?"

The woman blushed, "No."

"Then who answered the phone last night?"

"What phone call? I didn't receive any calls. You are all alone here, your wife too, it seems she didn't bring a phone."

As she finished speaking, she sensed a significant change in the atmosphere around her. Unable to resist, she looked up, only to see the man's profile bathed in the dawn's glow, his eyes as dark as thick ink.

The old residential building had a total of seven floors, and she lived on the sixth.

The pitch-black staircase was incredibly narrow, and the lights were half-broken. With each step on the stairs, a cloud of dust would rise.

Yu Shenzhi followed at the rear, clicking his tongue, "Madam, considering the nature of your work, I suggest you move to a different place. This location has an abysmal security rating, perfect for criminals to strike."

The woman felt somewhat embarrassed, especially with the man leading at the front. Judging by his attire and demeanor, he probably had never seen such a place before.

She replied to Yu Shenzhi, "Officer, I've only just graduated, and my current financial situation doesn't allow me to rent a better place. This area is fine, I'm used to it."

As they conversed, the three of them had already arrived on the sixth floor. Gu Hansheng frowned at the rusted old door lock before him, his profound features outlining a hint of indifference. "How did she get up here last night?"

Behind him, the woman scratched her head. "I helped her up; she walked up by herself."

"Bang!"

Almost as soon as she finished her last syllable, the sound reverberated—a man forcefully kicking open the door.

Yu Shenzhi looked at the nearly defunct door, shaking his head.

After about half a minute, the door across also swung open with a bang. A middle-aged woman wrapped in a thick blanket stood at the doorway, her eyes weary from lack of sleep. She scolded, "Isn't it too early to disturb people's sleep? So early, are you in a rush to reincarnate?!"

Although the middle-aged woman passed by the two at the doorway, her gaze met with another pair of eyes inside the room. The deep and intense emotions in those slender, profound eyes were unbearable for her. The next moment, she slammed the door shut with a 'bang.'

The two at the doorway hadn't even reacted yet when Yu Shenzhi shrugged.

The sound of the door being kicked open startled Liang Shu. She lay pale-faced on the sofa, still clad in that conspicuous patient gown, not even covered with a blanket.

She huddled up, visibly cold.

Upon hearing the noise, her eyelashes fluttered but she didn't open her eyes.

At this moment, though the lighting was dim, it was sufficient for visibility.

Not a particularly large room, Gu Hansheng could take in all the furnishings at a glance, including the figure of the woman on the sofa.

A chilly draft swept in from somewhere unknown, causing Gu Hansheng's brow to furrow deeply. He turned to the woman standing behind him. "You let her sleep on the sofa? Without even providing a bed?!"

Behind him, the woman leaned out halfway. Catching sight of the person on the sofa, she gasped in surprise, "Ah, how did she end up on the sofa?"

Then, she lowered her head apologetically. "She was originally sleeping on the bed, at least when I left. I don't know how..." 

With no heating in the house, and coldness everywhere, Yu Shenzhi noticed the kitchen window was still open. He walked over to close it, then turned back to see Gu Hansheng's tall figure crouching in front of the low sofa.

Liang Shu didn't wake up despite their arrival; her brow furrowed tightly, her entire face flushed with heat.

Gu Hansheng took off his coat, about to cover Liang Shu, when a blanket was handed to him. "Use this; it's warmer."

The man draped the blanket over her and then gently squeezed her fingers, speaking softly, "Madam Gu, wake up."

Liang Shu didn't respond, but her expression indicated consciousness, and she tightly held onto Gu Hansheng's hand.

His slender fingers reached to her forehead, feeling the expected feverishness.

Without delay, Gu Hansheng lifted her and headed towards the door. Yu Shenzhi picked up his coat from the sofa and followed. At the doorway, seeing the homeowner still standing in the middle of the room, he waved the gentleman's coat in his hand, saying, "He'll compensate you for the door; this man isn't short of money."

The woman nodded, then as Yu Shenzhi turned away, she asked, "Madam, what's wrong with her?"

"You're asking me? Who else can I ask?"

It was November 16th, past the beginning of winter, and soon it would be light snow.

The weather was bitterly cold, yet the man in a thin shirt seemed impervious to the chill. He carried Liang Shu all the way to the ground floor. At this moment, Ji Chen also arrived. Seeing Gu Hansheng emerging from the dark hallway, holding someone wrapped in a blanket, Ji Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

He opened the car door, Gu Hansheng bowed to place Liang Shu on the seat securely, and said to Ji Chen, "To the hospital."

Both were sleepless, and even though tension still lingered within them, their bodies were undoubtedly exhausted.

Ji Chen was about to get into the driver's seat but was stopped by Gu Hansheng. He glanced at the inconspicuous officer standing by the side, pointing at him. "You drive."

Yu Shenzhi had just emerged from the hallway and witnessed Gu Hansheng's cold, expressionless commands. He stepped forward. "Do you think he's your subordinate? As a public servant, you can just order people around as you please. It's truly infuriating to witness."

Gu Hansheng skillfully caught the coat Yu Shenzhi threw at him, his face stern. Seeing the tension between the two, the officer who was supposed to drive took the initiative to mediate, "Lieutenant Yu, it's alright. I've heard that you've all been busy all night. Why don't you go back and rest first? I'll take Mr. Gu to the hospital and then return."

Yu Shenzhi glanced at the tightly closed car window, unable to see anything inside, and snorted coldly before leaving.

Gu Hansheng got into the car from the other side. As soon as he sat next to Liang Shu, he saw her slowly opening her eyes.

He remained silent, quietly lifting the blanket a bit higher.

As the car started, Liang Shu felt utterly drained, collapsing into Gu Hansheng's embrace.

She inhaled his familiar scent, her nose tingling. Hoarsely, she spoke, "I seem to have caused you trouble."

Even if she hadn't opened her eyes just now, she was awake, and she could roughly hear what was happening.

Gu Hansheng looked down at the flushed face in his arms, his lips so dry they were almost peeling. He temporarily restrained his emotions and pinched her fingers. "You have a high fever. Let's go to the hospital first. Don't speak; your brain might get damaged later."

"Wouldn't it be better if my brain got damaged? You've married a silly Madam Gu who you can mold and toss away whenever you want."

"Let's go to the hospital first. Don't speak and provoke me."

Liang Shu didn't have much strength to speak, so she closed her eyes again.

But her posture, being held by Gu Hansheng, felt twisted around her waist, very uncomfortable.

She moved slightly, and Gu Hansheng noticed, lowering his head to reassure her, "We'll be at the hospital soon."

Liang Shu endured, lips sealed.

After a while, she asked very softly, "Are we going to Yuda Hospital?"

"Yes."

...

Liang Shu had a fever of nearly forty degrees. Perhaps the wind blew on her a bit more when Gu Hansheng carried her downstairs, causing her fever to worsen during the half-hour drive.

After a lot of hassle, they finally made it to the ward and got her hooked up to an IV, with Gu Hansheng accompanying her the whole way.

By the time they neared the hospital, she was barely conscious, her breath unusually hot.

In the ward, Liang Shu fell asleep while still receiving the IV.

Gu Hansheng went outside to make a phone call.

After the call, Qu An brought some daily necessities for Madam Gu as Gu Hansheng had instructed. She approached him after seeing him hang up the phone. "Sir, as you requested, I've brought some things Madam might need. You haven't slept all night. While I'm here, you should hurry back and rest."

He glanced at the tightly closed ward door and nodded. "Be careful when you go in. Let her rest for a while. When the IV is finished, remember to remind the nurse to change the medication."

Qu An nodded. "Got it."

Then she saw Gu Hansheng walk towards the direction of the elevator.

Qu An didn't understand what he meant, but at least a huge weight was lifted from her heart.

If something really happened to Liang Shu, none of them could bear the responsibility.

On the way back to the company, it was Gu Hansheng who drove, and Ji Chen was sent away by him.

He still had things on his mind for the time being, and besides, there was no time to waste at the company.

On the way, he called Yu Shenzhi.

Yu Shenzhi had just dozed off when he was awakened by the call. "You've found everyone. What else do you want?"

Before Gu Hansheng could speak, Yu Shenzhi started to complain again. "You guys really like to waste social resources. So many of our brothers couldn't sleep last night, and what's the result? It's either trouble or kidnapping. The worst part is, we can't even hit or scold them. We can't even give them a proper lecture."

Gu Hansheng held the steering wheel with one hand, a faint shade of blue appearing on his jawline, giving him a somewhat disheveled look, but it didn't detract from his handsome appearance.

He spoke softly, "Are you done?"

Yu Shenzhi turned off the hands-free device, tossed his phone aside, and pulled the blanket over himself, covering his entire body. "What's up?"

"The list of cars you screened last night, the ones coming from the outskirts cemetery, that list, remember to send it to me after you're on duty."

"Why do you still need that? Your people weren't found there; you just made it up."

Gu Hansheng half-closed his eyes, his expression slightly displeased. He simply said, "Remember to send it to me, that's all."

Gu Hansheng had an important meeting this morning. Just as he entered his office, Shi Qing came in, handing him a cup of coffee before standing by the large desk. "Do we need to postpone this morning's meeting?"

Taking off his coat and casually tossing it aside, Gu Hansheng adjusted his shirt collar and nodded. "Postpone it by twenty minutes."

"Alright." Shi Qing nodded, catching a glimpse of the man's slightly tired face, as if he hadn't slept all night. And he was still wearing yesterday's clothes. There must be some story behind this.

Shi Qing left.

Ji Chen had already tidied up and was coming over with documents. Shi Qing met him halfway, raising an eyebrow. "Looking for Mr. Gu?"

"Mr. Gu hasn't arrived at the company yet?" Ji Chen asked.

"He's here." Shi Qing looked at him, puzzled. "Assistant Ji, why do you seem a bit off? Didn't sleep well last night?"

Ji Chen nodded, concealing all emotions on his face. "How does Mr. Gu seem?"

Shi Qing thought for a moment and replied, "Similar to you, he looks a bit weary."

"And his mood?"

"Hard to say."

Seeing Ji Chen's silence, Shi Qing asked softly, "Is it about the newlywed Madam Gu?"

Ji Chen glanced at her and changed the subject, "Are all the preparations for today's meeting ready?"

"Yes, we are just waiting for you. Mr. Gu said to delay it by twenty minutes."

...

In the office, Gu Hansheng's clothes were always kept for any unforeseen circumstances.

After taking a quick shower, changing clothes, and grabbing the documents, he headed to the conference room. As he passed by the secretary's office, he asked them to send another cup of coffee over. Then he sat in the main seat, perfectly timing his arrival for the delayed twenty minutes.

Today, Gu Hansheng was different from usual. In the past, if someone reported an error, he would spare no mercy, pinpointing the mistake precisely in every word. But today was different; it seemed like everyone was just going through the motions. Throughout the entire meeting, Gu Hansheng barely uttered a few words.

In the afternoon, Yu Shenzhi called him, "The document was shredded this morning, and we couldn't find those several checked license plate numbers." Sensing potential anger from Gu Hansheng's end, Yu Shenzhi added, "There were no backups, and it's impossible to retrieve them. Among those plates, one struck me, a Bentley Elegance, a luxury car, which is now discontinued."

Gu Hansheng wanted to hang up the phone immediately. The emotions he had been suppressing all night started to overflow gradually at this moment.

Yu Shenzhi continued, "I'm sure you haven't rested yet. I only noticed that car because of its value, no other implications."

Ending the call, Gu Hansheng summoned Ji Chen and said, "Find out the sales volume and buyers of the Bentley Elegance model in Yucheng."

After Ji Chen left, Gu Hansheng caught sight of a pair of scissors nearby. Suddenly, he recalled how Liang Shu, with an air of arrogance, had stood in this office before, cutting his shirt. It was truly irksome.

Ten seconds later, the scissors found a new home, destined for a garbage dump in Yucheng.

...

Around five o'clock in the afternoon, Liang Shu woke up.

Qu An promptly brought her a glass of water and placed it beside her. "Madam, you're awake."

Liang Shu felt weak all over. When she spoke, her voice was hoarse, as if it might fail her. She gestured toward the glass of water, and Qu An quickly helped her sit up.

Drinking some water relieved the dryness in her mouth. Liang Shu looked around the empty hospital room and asked, "Where is my husband?"

"Sir called just a while ago to inquire about your condition. He might come over after finishing his work."

"How did I get to the hospital?" She had almost completely forgotten what had happened in the morning. At this moment, she couldn't quite recall how she had ended up here.

Qu An looked puzzled for a moment before responding, "Sir must have brought you here. When I arrived this morning, he was still here at the hospital with you. He left only after I came."

Placing an extra pillow behind her, Qu An ensured Liang Shu's comfort before saying, "Madam, you don't know how worried we all were when you didn't return last night. We were afraid something had happened to you. But thankfully, everything turned out fine."

"I'm really sorry for yesterday..."

"Please don't apologize to us. Sir was the most worried. Once he's here, you can talk to him and apologize properly. He didn't sleep all night worrying about you," Qu An said, pulling the curtains open and then returning. "In the future, it's better to have the driver accompany you when you go out. It's more convenient for you to come and go."

"Okay." Liang Shu nodded, glancing sideways at the gloomy sky outside. "Is he very angry?"

Qu An smiled, "Perhaps. You two are newlyweds, after all. Last night should have been sweet, but..." She sighed, "Well, what I say doesn't matter. You can ask him yourself when he comes."

"Alright."

Liang Shu hadn't eaten anything all day, and her stomach was empty, suitable only for light food.

Qu An had instructed the mansion's chef earlier to prepare a pot of fragrant and sticky rice porridge. Now that Liang Shu had awakened, she promptly ordered it to be sent over. By the time it arrived, Liang Shu was feeling much better.

Approaching six o'clock, Liang Shu slowly ate half a bowl of porridge. Qu An urged her to eat more, but she shook her head, then looked at Qu An and asked, "Qu An, do you have your phone with you?"

"Yes, do you need it?"

"Yes, please call my husband for me."

"Please wait."

It took a long time for the call to be answered. Liang Shu thought Gu Hansheng might be deliberately ignoring her out of anger, but then she remembered it was Qu An's phone.

The call was barely answered before it was about to disconnect automatically.

In the phone, a man's deep and magnetic voice came through, calling Qu An's name.

Liang Shu gripped the phone with her fingers, exerting a little pressure, closed her eyes, then replied, "It's me."

Then there was silence on the other end.

"Gu Hansheng, are you finished with your work yet?"

"Not yet, what's the matter?"

That tone...

Liang Shu shook her head, "Yesterday, I... I didn't mean to not tell you. I just thought you must be too busy with that surgery matter. Even on our way to register, you were discussing work with Secretary Shi. I thought..."

An abrupt, disdainful sound cut off Liang Shu's words, "So, you just assumed that Mrs. Gu disappearing for a night wouldn't bother me at all, is that it?"

Liang Shu curled up under the covers, clutching them tightly, knowing she was in the wrong, she said, "I didn't mean it that way."

"Liang Shu, even if you say you didn't mean it, your actions speak otherwise."

"Mr. Gu, are you angry?"

There was no response from the other end. Liang Shu waited for a few seconds, then the call was disconnected.

She handed the phone back to Qu An and said, "Qu An, can you ask the doctor when I can be discharged?"

"You had a high fever and nearly damaged your brain. You should stay in the hospital for a few more days. If anything happens, the doctor can come and check immediately, which wouldn't be as convenient at home."

If she wanted to be discharged, Qu An had all the reasons to oppose it.

Liang Shu obediently stayed in the hospital for three days.

During these three days, Gu Hansheng didn't visit her once.

At first, Qu An tried to comfort her, but later on, she stopped saying anything.

At first, Liang Shu was anxious, but later, she accepted it. This was how things were supposed to be between them.

That night, she knew a woman had saved her, but her body and mind were too weak that day. She couldn't get the woman's phone number, and she didn't even see clearly what she looked like.

At first, she had forgotten how she ended up in the hospital, but over the past two days, her memory gradually returned.

Who else could it be besides Gu Hansheng?

...

The Lushi Xinyao Group.

Lu Jinsheng had just signed a document brought in by his secretary.

Three full days had passed.

He turned his head to gaze at the cityscape beyond the French windows, where dark clouds loomed over the city, foretelling an imminent downpour.

Three days ago, at the suburban cemetery.

He stood halfway up the hill, looking back. Liang Shu, resembling a penitent, knelt before the tombstone, his forehead against the cold stone, half of his face exposed to the air, pallid unlike that of a normal person.

Did he possess a sense of compassion?

The former Lu Jinsheng did, but since encountering Liang Shu, it had vanished.

He continued to descend the mountain, his shoes barely tainted by any soil, stepping on moist stone steps. With each stride, Liang Shu faded further from his sight.

Reaching the foot of the mountain took him less than ten minutes.

Upon turning back again.

The silhouette of the woman was on the verge of disappearing amidst the rows of tombstones, as the wind brushed through the low pine and cypress trees on the mountainside, its howling akin to a specter capable of haunting and slaying.

Subsequently, how long did Lu Jinsheng sit in the car?

A full hour and a half.

Today's weather was inclement, with scant visitors bustling to pay their respects.

Lu Jinsheng sat in his car, chain-smoking one cigarette after another.

Even with the ventilation open, the smoke lingered in the enclosed space. He rolled down the window, allowing the cold wind to rush in.

Later, the rain began to fall.

Some people, caught without umbrellas, hurriedly dashed down, griping to their companions, "Not only is it bitterly cold today, but now it's raining too? If only we had chosen a different time to come."

"Did you see that just now? There was a woman kneeling by a tombstone, looking absolutely ghastly from afar, clad in black with long hair cascading down, her face deathly pale. At first glance, I even thought she was..."

His companion shuddered, scanning the surroundings. "Don't scare me. I didn't see anything like that."

"It's true. Didn't you hear the person who walked ahead of us say? That woman has been there for quite some time, motionless as if she had fainted. But in such an atmosphere, who dares to approach? Everyone is apprehensive."

As they conversed, one of them happened to notice a parked car ahead and approached, perplexed. "How did we miss it earlier? In this desolate place, there's a luxury car parked here, a Bentley, a model that's been discontinued..."

Encountering a luxury car in such surroundings was indeed surprising, and they drew closer.

Suddenly, the car door swung open unexpectedly, and a slender figure emerged. The two seemed startled to find someone inside the car. Upon seeing Lu Jinsheng, their initial fear dissipated, leaving only embarrassment.

Lu Jinsheng flicked away his cigarette, stepping forward with an expressionless gaze fixed on the two. "What were you just saying?"

"Sir... We really didn't expect anyone inside the car..."

Taking a step closer, Lu Jinsheng's voice rang clear in the chilly wind. "The first two sentences."

The person replied, "Oh, it seems there's a woman fainting by a tombstone."

"Click—" the sound of a lighter, as Lu Jinsheng lit another cigarette, then he turned his head towards the hillside where the misty rain obscured everything from view.

"So, someone collapsed, and you saw it but didn't bother to offer assistance?"

The two felt a wave of embarrassment wash over them. In the blink of an eye, Lu Jinsheng strode off with his long, slender legs towards the stone steps. The faint sparks of his cigarette were particularly conspicuous amidst the dim gray surroundings.

Lu Jinsheng descended the mountain in less than ten minutes.

And ascending the mountain? It took him only five minutes.

Approaching the figure leaning against the tombstone, he didn't intentionally tread lightly, yet the person showed no reaction.

As he reached her, Lu Jinsheng squatted down, reaching out to push aside the hair obscuring Liang Shu's face. He found her pallid, with shallow breaths and an icy coldness enveloping her entire body.

But she hadn't fainted.

Once Lu Jinsheng moved her hair away, she opened her eyes.

Her beautiful gaze met Lu Jinsheng's, yet her pupils reflected something else, someone else.

She hadn't even looked at him.

Lu Jinsheng withdrew his hand, stepping back to stand upright, his voice saturated with the cold wind of this place, growing even more indifferent. "Does this suffice for redemption?"

Liang Shu shook her head, feeling deeply despondent.

She attempted to rise, leaning against the tombstone for support.

But she was too cold, her entire body stiff with coldness. Earlier at noon, she had bumped into the railing, and now it hurt terribly. She hadn't eaten anything all day, feeling dizzy, nauseous, various unpleasant sensations enveloping her.

She hadn't fainted before, but now she did.

A gust of wind came, making the sparks at Lu Jinsheng's fingertips shine brighter. Smoking in such a place was not respectful to the departed, but Lu Jinsheng feared nothing.

With Liang Shu lying before him, he tossed away his cigarette, turning his gaze to the youthful woman depicted with a blossoming smile on the tombstone. His eyes softened slightly.

Later, he carried Liang Shu away.

Despite the high temperature set in the car, Liang Shu's body temperature remained low.

Lu Jinsheng bent down to fasten her seatbelt, noticing she was speaking.

He asked, "What did you say?"

With her eyes closed, Liang Shu murmured, "Married."

"Who?"

He didn't catch the name she mentioned, so he reached out with his long arm, pinching her slender chin with his fingers, asking again, "...Who? Say it again."

Liang Shu shook off his hand, shifting towards the car door, and remained silent thereafter.

Halfway through the journey, she fainted.

Lu Jinsheng left her at the hospital. Liang Shu woke up briefly midway, awakened by Lu Jinsheng's disturbance.

She was receiving intravenous fluids at the time, and Lu Jinsheng, with his cold demeanor, entered like an otherworldly specter. The nurse quickly exited after he deftly administered the needle to Liang Shu.

He stood by the bedside, his towering figure blocking the light from above, leaning down to pat the woman's pale cheek.

The woman lying in bed showed no response, not even a flutter of her eyelashes.

A few seconds passed.

Lu Jinsheng stared at her hand exposed outside, receiving the intravenous drip. Her wrist was delicate, the veins on the back of her hand distinctly visible. He pursed his lips into a ruthless curve, then abruptly pulled out the needle from her hand.

The sudden pain caused Liang Shu's hand to jerk back under the covers, and it also brought her back to consciousness.

The moment she opened her eyes, all she saw was Lu Jinsheng's face, oppressively dominating her vision.

The ferocity in Lu Jinsheng's eyes made Liang Shu shrink back. She blinked, her voice hoarse, "Lu Jinsheng, what are you doing?"

"Are you selling blood?"

Liang Shu's eye twitched subtly, and she sneered, "What? Is my blood so precious that Mr. Lu is jealous of it?"

Lu Jinsheng, looking down on her with disdain, sometimes wished he could destroy her, much like now.

He said, "Hah, jealous of what?"

"Jealous of my precious blood. Mr. Lu, your own blood is lowly."

Lu Jinsheng reached out, pulling Liang Shu's wrist from the pristine white covers. The droplets of blood, gathered on the back of her hand where the needle had been, smeared across the bedsheet as he did so.

She frowned, glaring at him.

Lu Jinsheng fixed his gaze on her pallid face, and the slender wrist, even more delicate than a few months ago, and sneered, "Tell me, how much can you earn from selling blood? Is your blood so precious that it can clear those debts of yours?"

His eyes looked terrifying, and Liang Shu gritted her teeth, unable to wrench her hand free. "It doesn't concern you how much I can earn."

At his words, Lu Jinsheng suddenly laughed, drawing closer again. "Doesn't concern me? Liang Shu, your life belongs to me. You must keep that life of yours intact, do you understand?"

She blinked, lowering her gaze, "One moment you tell me to die, the next you tell me to keep my life," sensing his fingers tightening, Liang Shu quickly changed her tone, "Even if my blood is precious, it's not enough to repay my debts. I'm too afraid of death to sell my blood."

After speaking, Lu Jinsheng suddenly released her hand, casting her a cold glance, then turned his head slightly, calling out to someone standing outside the curtain, "Come in."

Then, Liang Shu saw a doctor in a white coat wearing glasses.

He seemed to fear Lu Jinsheng, even more than Liang Shu did.

As he entered, Liang Shu noticed his trembling hands hanging by his sides and his darting eyes, looking back and forth, clearly afraid.

Lu Jinsheng glanced at the doctor. "You speak."

Liang Shu stared at the doctor, then heard him say, "Miss, have you recently donated blood?"

She shook her head.

Then she added, "I value my life very much and don't donate blood. I'm afraid your hospital's needles are not clean and might infect me with some disease."

The doctor glanced at Lu Jinsheng, then looked back at Liang Shu. "Your body is obviously suffering from excessive blood loss."

Liang Shu felt the air grow cold, silently pulling her hand under the covers. It was much warmer inside the bedding than outside.

She asked, "What will happen?"

"It will cause anemia, symptoms of insufficient blood volume, and if it gets worse, it can lead to hypovolemic shock, resulting in..." The doctor glanced at Lu Jinsheng, "...death."

"And your current symptoms are paleness, dizziness, weakness, severe drop in blood pressure, sweating, and shortness of breath."

Under the covers, where no one could see, Liang Shu's fingers silently gripped the sheet beneath her, her long hair covering the thin layer of sweat on her forehead and roots.

She chuckled nonchalantly, "Doctor, you scared me. I'm naturally beautiful and fair-skinned. Do you even know how to diagnose?"

With a raised eyebrow and intentionally elevated voice, she continued, "Could it be that this man hates me, so you conspired together to tamper with me? Let's recheck everything."

Lu Jinsheng ordered everyone out.

He looked down at her. "Anything else you want to say?"

Liang Shu lifted her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Just wondering, Mr. Lu, when do you plan to finish me off?"

Lu Jinsheng didn't even blink, turning away, he uttered two words, "Soon."

As Lu Jinsheng was about to leave her line of sight, she called out, "Lu Jinsheng, my phone?"

He paused, turned back, and sneered, "Your phone was ringing incessantly, seems like you're doing quite well for yourself. I couldn't bear to see you thriving. I answered it for you and threw the phone away."

Liang Shu felt a pang of shock, now suddenly remembering she was already married.

Her husband was Gu Hansheng.

Those phone calls must have been from Gu Hansheng.

And now, Lu Jinsheng answered the phone?

From his reaction, they probably hadn't spoken.

Liang Shu's tense heart eased slightly. She glanced out the window, where the heavy curtains were drawn, unable to discern the time.

Seeing Lu Jinsheng about to leave, Liang Shu took a deep breath and said, "Every time I see you, you ruin one of my phones. I'm broke, I can't afford to buy a new one. Give me back my phone!"

Lu Jinsheng stood there, his demeanor oddly gentle in this room filled with medical equipment and the scent of disinfectant.

He said, "I don't remember which trash bin I threw it in. If you want it, go find it yourself."

With that, he opened the door and left.

After he left, Liang Shu relaxed, wiping her sweat and clutching her chest as she collapsed onto the bed.

She didn't expect Lu Jinsheng to come back with such determination, but he left with just one sentence, "Tomorrow morning, I'll take you back to the Lu family with me."

To Liang Shu, the Lu family was a living hell.

No one would willingly go to hell, so she fled.

She wanted to call Gu Hansheng, but in the chilling wind of the street, she couldn't find a public phone, and she had no money. Besides, today was Su Yan's surgery day, and Gu Hansheng had his hands full. Since she already had the status of Gu's wife, it was inappropriate to disturb him at such a critical time.

As for what happened afterwards, Liang Shu wasn't quite sure.

The next day, Lu Jinsheng didn't see Liang Shu in the hospital room. His mind was clear as a mirror; he didn't look for her, letting her go.

And three days later, now.

Lu Jinsheng stood frozen in his clean and bright office, Liang Shu's dead phone still in his drawer. He picked up the phone and made a call.

Upon hearing that he intended to track Liang Shu's whereabouts, the voice on the other end advised, "Why do you want to track her? Back then, she nearly left you with no chance of recovery. Now, just keep your distance."

Playing with the pen in his hand, Lu Jinsheng appeared indifferent. "I'm afraid she'll live too well. That's not something I want to see. Some things need to be destroyed at the right time."

"Are you really going to track her down then?"

It took almost half a minute before Lu Jinsheng finally replied, "Forget it."