The hospital.
The corridor door was pushed open by a slender hand! Perhaps rushing, Yin Xiaomo stumbled as the hem of her white evening gown caught her. Immediately, that long, distinctly boned hand reached out and gripped her arm again.
“Careful.”
Yin Xiaomo looked back at him blankly, seemingly unable to comprehend what he was saying, and merely pushed his hand away.
Before her stretched the long corridor, the lighting pale and glaring. The sound of the rain outside abruptly vanished, replaced by absolute silence.
The roaring in her ears, however, grew louder and louder, as if something was straining to burst forth from her chest cavity.
“Xiaomo—!” Hearing the footsteps echoing down the hall, Zhen En, who had been sitting on the bench outside the ICU, turned around. Traces of residual tears marked her face, her eyes still red.
Upon seeing the figure in the corridor was Yin Xiaomo, she bolted toward her without a second thought, grabbing Xiaomo. Panic caused fresh tears to well up in her eyes, and she cried out in a jumble— “Xiaomo! You finally made it—! Just now, Xiao Cheng…” Her slightly weeping voice cut off abruptly as she took in Xiaomo’s appearance. Zhen En’s eyes widened slightly in alarm; what was wrong with Xiaomo? Under the cold white lights of the hospital corridor, Yin Xiaomo’s gaze was unfocused, her face unnaturally pale, completely drained of color, like a paper doll one strong breath could topple.
She gripped Zhen En’s hand tightly, but her entire body was shaking uncontrollably.
Zhen En was suddenly terrified.
“Xiaomo, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me…” What happened to Xiaomo? She was never like this; she had always been so composed, as if nothing could break her, always strong like a great tree one could lean on with complete peace of mind.
If Xiaomo also collapsed, what would she do? What would she do? Zhen En was beside herself with fright.
“Don’t panic. How is Yin Cheng?” The sudden, deep, and powerful voice brought Zhen En back from her distress, reminding her someone else was present. That person carried a unique, faintly noble and distant aura… It was Ou Chen.
Why was he here? “…Xiao Cheng… Xiao Cheng is fine now…” Ou Chen’s calmness helped Zhen En tentatively regain control. She forced a smile. “Xiaomo… you don’t need to worry. The doctor said there’s nothing major… I must have overreacted and frightened you… I’m sorry, Xiaomo… Xiaomo…” Yin Xiaomo seemed not to hear, her hands remaining bone-chillingly cold.
Ou Chen anxiously turned her around, his voice sharp with both anger and pain, “Didn’t you hear? He’s fine, Yin Cheng is fine!” “Is he… fine now?” Yin Xiaomo’s eyes slowly focused, and she slowly repeated the words while looking at Ou Chen.
A pang struck Zhen En’s heart, and she could no longer maintain her strained smile, dissolving into sobs. “I’m sorry… You asked me to take good care of Xiao Cheng… but I just watched him collapse, completely helpless… And I scared you too… Xiaomo, I’m sorry… It’s all my fault for being useless…” Xiao Cheng is alright…
“Don’t cry…” Ou Chen’s voice seemed to slowly awaken Yin Xiaomo. The strong woman she was seemed to return, though a profound fragility now lay hidden deep within her eyes.
“Is Xiao Cheng awake?” Zhen En’s crying subsided slightly. She shook her head, saying dejectedly, “No… But the doctor said the danger has passed!” Only a single small lamp was lit in the ward. A nurse sat quietly in the corner. Yin Cheng lay in the hospital bed, so pale in the dim light that he seemed almost translucent, his lifeless appearance suggesting his breathing could cease at any moment.
Bubble Summer III