027. The Flower Blooms as if It Has Fallen Without a Trace (1)

——The love spanning three lifetimes remains unfulfilled. How could I ever dare to wander alone? ——Will you vow me a lifetime of love?

Her fair and smooth visage looked pale yet serene. The loose cuffs of the hospital gown made her hands seem incredibly thin. A cold syringe still jutted out from the fair back of her hand. Strangely, there was no pungent smell of disinfectant in the hospital ward. Instead, the sunflowers on the bedside cabinet exuded a faint, soothing fragrance. She lay there quietly, fast asleep.

A Kang was slouching against the wall. Even his all - black ensemble couldn't hide his outstanding, heroic charm. He carried an innate air of a king who commanded the world. His extremely handsome features were like masterpieces carved out of marble, with sharply defined lines. His sharp, deep - set eyes unconsciously exuded an intimidating aura. His exquisite lips, pale as water, were tightly pursed.

He was infuriated that he could never seem to rein in his emotions. Every time Ming Xichen came into the picture, he'd lose his composure. He clenched his fists tightly, angry at his own recklessness and loathing Chu Rui for snatching away the woman he loved.

Thankfully, Chen Chen had just fainted from excessive anger, and there was no threat to her life. Otherwise, he would surely rip Chu Rui, that despicable scoundrel, to shreds.

She must despise him even more now. Would she never want to see him again when she woke up? Just the thought made A Kang's eyebrows furrow even deeper. Although he forced a calm expression on his face, in the sea breeze that felt like a knife's edge, his eye sockets gradually turned red, and a thin layer of tears welled up in his eyes. He swallowed hard, then lowered his head with a heavy sigh.

He was such an arrogant and strong - willed man, yet at this moment, his heart was densely overgrown with fragile vines, twining around his very veins.

Chu Rui, propped against the windowsill, was gazing out of the window, his mind in turmoil. Did she like him that much? Even though he hadn't come to find her in eight years and they'd just lost contact, didn't she think he'd given up? He came back eight years later, and she was shaken all over again.

When she was in his arms, his heart was full, and his life seemed complete. But she struggled to break free from his embrace, standing there, facing his fist. Did she care so much? She'd rather get hurt herself to calm his anger. Looking at her injured and swollen cheek, messy hair, and empty - eyed as she slumped down, his heart tightened, ached, and finally felt empty and adrift...

He rubbed his sore eyes, straightened up, paced around the hospital bed. He looked at Chen Chen with a pained and tender gaze, then walked over to Tian Yao, who was standing beside the bed, looking utterly exhausted. "I'll go buy breakfast. You must be worn out too."

Tian Yao just nodded faintly, her gaze fixed firmly on Chen Chen's face.

Chu Rui put on his coat. Just before going out, his eyes locked with A Kang's. There was coldness, hostility, and suspicion. In that single second, it seemed as if the two men wanted to tear each other apart with their eyes, exuding a dangerous aura of destruction.

Chu Rui opened the door and saw Leng Yan sitting on the bench by the door. There was no longer the killing intent in her eyes as before; only sadness and anxiety remained.

"Didn't sleep all night?"

"Yeah, couldn't fall asleep." Leng Yan stood up.

He gave Leng Yan a firm and confident look and said in a calm and gentle voice, "Don't worry. She'll be okay." Then his figure gradually vanished at the end of the corridor filled with the smell of disinfectant.

Tian Yao looked up at the medicine in the drip bottle and got up to head towards the door. Before going out, she wasn't sure if she should say something to A Kang. Finally, she hesitantly murmured, "I'm going out for a while."

A Kang didn't look up or utter a word. His eyes were still glued to Chen Chen's face.

Seeing that A Kang seemed not to have heard her, Tian Yao pushed the door open dejectedly and walked out.

No one noticed when Chen Chen opened her eyes.

She raised her head and watched the little remaining liquid medicine in the hanging drip bottle trickle down through the transparent plastic tube, pass through the needle, and dissolve into her blood. There was always a cold chill lingering on her wrist. She gritted her teeth, being careful of the hand with the needle, and slowly sat up on the couch.

The sunlight that filtered through the branches from the window had unconsciously shifted its direction and gently caressed the hand with the needle. The sunlight began to dance lightly on her slender fingers. The warmth gradually enveloped her hand and seeped into her heart. Thus, Chen Chen gradually drifted into thought.

A ringtone from a mobile phone yanked Chen Chen back from her daydream. She looked at the number and pressed the answer button. "Such a wonderful song is really never boring to listen to." Shen Yunyi's brisk voice came from the other end of the phone.

Chen Chen took a deep breath. She wasn't a sentimental soul, but the voice on the phone just made her want to burst into tears.

Not hearing the response he expected, Shen Yunyi's heart sank. "Are you listening?"

"Yes." There was a sob in Chen Chen's voice. She couldn't hold back her urge to cry.

"What's wrong?" Shen Yunyi detected the sobbing in Chen Chen's voice and asked anxiously.

"Nothing. I'm sick. I just don't feel well." For a moment, Chen Chen wished this man was right in front of her so that she could hug his waist and cry her heart out in his arms.

Shen Yunyi urgently asked for the name of the hospital on his end and then hung up in a hurry.

Chen Chen knew that he must be dashing over. She didn't have the energy to care about what would happen when he came. She was exhausted. She just wanted to lean on his shoulder and cry freely or fall asleep in his arms.

Chen Chen was such a person. Before others could do anything, she would protect herself first. Men who fell in love with her were doomed to get hurt.