Chapter 14 : A New Beginning

The soft glow of the hospital room's overhead lights illuminated Lin Feng's face as his eyes fluttered open, blinking slowly as the harsh light stung his vision. His body felt heavy, wrapped in layers of bandages, and every breath came with a dull ache in his abdomen. For a moment, the world was a haze of pain and confusion.

And then, he heard it—Liu Xinyue's voice, trembling with hope.

"Lin... Lin, can you hear me?"

Lin turned his head slightly, his mind still sluggish from the ordeal, but the sight that greeted him made his heart beat just a little faster. Liu Xinyue was sitting at his bedside, her hand tightly gripping his, her eyes wide with relief and tears brimming at the edges. Beside her was Zhao Yue, her usual composed demeanor shattered as she clutched his other hand, her face a mixture of worry and hope.

"Xinyue... Yue...," Lin rasped, his throat dry and voice barely a whisper.

The moment his voice broke the silence, Liu Xinyue's tears spilled over. She let out a soft, relieved sob, bringing his hand to her cheek as though she couldn't believe he was awake. "Oh, thank God..." she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You're alive... You're alive."

Zhao Yue, normally so composed and strategic, was no less shaken. Her fingers trembled as she squeezed Lin's hand, her usually sharp eyes filled with a tenderness that Lin had never seen before. "We thought we lost you," Zhao Yue said quietly, her voice cracking. "You were... you were bleeding so much..."

Lin tried to sit up, but the pain in his legs and abdomen was too much. A sharp hiss escaped his lips, and both women were immediately at his side, their hands pressing gently against his chest, urging him to stay down.

"Don't move," Xinyue said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "You're still healing. Please... just rest."

Lin forced a weak smile, though the pain was making it hard to focus. "I'm okay... I just need a moment."

Zhao Yue shook her head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips despite the tears still glistening in her eyes. "You always push yourself too hard. You sacrificed so much for us... and you still think you can just get up like nothing happened?"

Lin opened his mouth to respond, but the words died on his lips. He could see the weight of everything they had been through etched into their faces—the fear, the pain, the helplessness they must have felt while he was bleeding out on the floor, trying to save them. He didn't know what to say.

"I... I had to," Lin said softly, his voice barely audible. "I couldn't let anything happen to you."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words hanging between them. Lin's eyes drifted from Liu Xinyue to Zhao Yue, seeing the love and gratitude in their eyes, but also something deeper—something that made his heart skip a beat.

Xinyue brushed a strand of hair away from her face, her eyes never leaving his. She bit her lip, as though struggling with the words she wanted to say, and then, finally, she took a deep breath.

"Lin," she said softly, her voice trembling, "you didn't just save us... You've always been there for us. You've always protected us, no matter the cost." Her fingers tightened around his hand, and she looked into his eyes with a vulnerability that Lin had never seen from her before. "I can't... I can't pretend anymore. I love you, Lin."

The words hit him like a punch to the gut, not because he hadn't thought about it—he had—but because hearing it from Liu Xinyue, hearing her voice tremble as she spoke, made it real in a way he hadn't anticipated.

"I've loved you for so long," Xinyue continued, her eyes filling with fresh tears. "But I was always too afraid to say it. I thought... I thought I could lose you, and it made me realize... I can't keep hiding how I feel."

Lin stared at her, his mind reeling. He had fought for her, sacrificed himself for her, but hearing her confession left him speechless. He hadn't expected it—he hadn't realized how deeply she felt.

Before he could respond, Zhao Yue's soft voice cut through the silence.

"I love you too, Lin."

Lin's head snapped toward her, his eyes wide in disbelief. Zhao Yue's expression was softer than he had ever seen it, her sharp, calculating exterior giving way to a warmth that caught him completely off guard. She wiped away her own tears, a quiet smile on her lips as she met his gaze.

"I've always respected you, always admired your strength," Zhao Yue said, her voice gentle. "But somewhere along the way, it became more than that. I realized that it wasn't just admiration. It was love."

Lin's heart pounded in his chest, his pulse quickening as he tried to process what was happening. Both Liu Xinyue and Zhao Yue were looking at him with such raw emotion, such sincerity, that it made his head spin.

The women exchanged glances, each one seeming to find strength in the other's confession. Despite the fear and pain they had experienced, they were united in this moment, both of them laying their hearts bare before him.

"I know it's a lot to take in," Xinyue said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But... we needed you to know. We couldn't keep it a secret anymore."

Zhao Yue nodded in agreement, her fingers lightly brushing against Lin's hand. "You don't have to say anything right now. Just... know that we love you. We're not expecting anything in return."

Lin stared at them, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. He had never imagined this moment—never thought that both women he had fought so hard to protect would feel this way about him. The love, the vulnerability in their voices, left him speechless.

He opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. His throat tightened, his chest filled with an overwhelming mix of emotions—gratitude, shock, confusion. He cared about them both deeply, more than he could express, but hearing them confess their love for him left him paralyzed, unsure of what to say.

Xinyue and Zhao Yue watched him closely, their expressions softening as they realized he was struggling to find the words. They didn't push him—they didn't need him to say anything.

For now, just being with him was enough.

Lin's eyes flickered between the two women, and despite the pain still coursing through his body, he felt an odd sense of peace settle over him. It wasn't the time for answers, not yet, but the warmth of their confessions filled the room with a quiet, hopeful energy.

"I... I don't know what to say," Lin admitted finally, his voice hoarse.

Zhao Yue smiled, a gentle, reassuring smile. "You don't have to say anything, Lin. Just rest."

Xinyue nodded, her fingers brushing lightly against his cheek. "We'll be here, no matter what."

Lin's heart swelled, and for the first time since the nightmare with Li Wei had begun, he felt truly safe. He had nearly lost everything, nearly lost them, but now, in this quiet hospital room, with the two women he cared about more than anything in the world, he realized that he hadn't just survived.

He had been saved.

And though he couldn't find the words to say it, Lin knew that their love—this bond that had only grown stronger through pain and fear—was something that would carry them through anything.

As he lay back on the hospital bed, his eyes heavy with exhaustion but his heart light with newfound hope, Lin gave them both a weak, grateful smile.

And then, finally, he closed his eyes, letting sleep take him.

End of Chapter 14