Chapter 94

In the small hospital room, Chi Xuan sat on a stool, head bowed, so that Kong Xiyan could only see the top of her head. The two remained silent for a long time.

After what felt like an eternity, Kong Xiyan spoke: "Have you eaten?"

Chi Xuan started, then lifted her gaze: "I have."

Kong Xiyan: "You came to see me?"

Chi Xuan nodded: "Mm."

Kong Xiyan smiled faintly: "Did your second sister send you?"

Her eyes curved like crescent moons, her delicate brows relaxed, and the corners of her mouth turned up. Her refined features came alive with a gentle smile, and Chi Xuan cast a brief glance at her before lowering her head: "No. I came because I wanted to."

She paused, then added: "Yesterday... I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I'm sorry."

Kong Xiyan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression unchanged: "You already apologized yesterday."

"That was different."

Chi Xuan glanced at Kong Xiyan's face, her lips moving hesitantly: "Yesterday, I didn't know you were..."

Her voice was so low it was almost a whisper. Even straining her ears, Kong Xiyan could only catch fragments: yesterday, didn't know? Didn't know what?

Before she could ask, Chi Xuan lifted her eyes to meet hers: "Anyway, today I came to apologize sincerely."

Having said that, Chi Xuan stood and bowed deeply to Kong Xiyan, her expression devout, her clear eyes untainted by any other emotion. Even the indignation from yesterday seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Kong Xiyan said calmly: "No need to apologize. I understand."

Chi Xuan pursed her lips, struggling for a moment before blurting out: "Why don't you... hit me with a vase too, then?"

Kong Xiyan: ...

She suddenly remembered what Chi Wanzhao had said once, when she had accidentally flashed herself.

Then how about I flash you too?

Fine.

She admitted it now.

Chi Xuan and Chi Wanzhao were truly sisters!

The way they thought was exactly the same!

Kong Xiyan thought for a moment, then smiled: "Alright, then please pass me that vase on the coffee table."

She spoke with a smile but was utterly serious. Chi Xuan froze, quickly looked at her, and upon seeing the sincerity in her brow, was momentarily stunned and didn't move.

Kong Xiyan knitted her brows: "What's wrong? Regretting it?"

Chi Xuan hastily shook her head: "No."

With that, she trotted over to the coffee table. The vase there was smaller than the one in the apartment, holding a few yellow flowers whose names she couldn't place. Leaning in, she caught a faint fragrance. She picked up the vase, turned, walked back to the bed, and handed it to Kong Xiyan.

Kong Xiyan glanced at her from the corner of her eye, took the vase, and then poured the flowers and water into the trash can. She said to Chi Xuan: "Go stand by the sofa."

"Turn your back to me."

Chi Xuan bit her lip, walked to the sofa with her head down.

The room was so quiet that she could hear her own heart thumping. Her palms were sweaty, her fists clenched, her back straight, and her whole body tensed, as if ready for a martyr's sacrifice.

Chi Xuan closed her eyes.

Everything went black.

In the darkness, the room seemed all the more still, and even the faintest sound could be heard clearly.

The fear of the unknown was the most tormenting.

It was more terrifying than death itself.

An invisible hand of terror gripped her racing heart, and when she least expected it, it would clench suddenly, suffocating her with pain!

Chi Xuan was now under the grip of fear. She didn't know when Kong Xiyan would strike, with what force, or whether the vase would hit her head, perhaps more seriously, splitting it open.

Her eyes were shut, lashes trembling, her face pale, and her body trembling uncontrollably.

Kong Xiyan lowered her gaze to the vase in her hand, aimed in Chi Xuan's direction, and with a sudden burst of strength hurled it!

Chi Xuan heard only the sound of something flying toward her!

Then came a crash!

The vase seemed to hit something and shattered!

Chi Xuan's body slumped to the floor!

She gasped for breath. Turning her head, she saw the shards of the vase not far away, with remnants of water on the floor glistening in the cold light.

Kong Xiyan, sitting on the hospital bed, looked at Chi Xuan and said: "Sorry, my aim isn't so good. I missed."

Chi Xuan's wildly beating heart slowed, and she turned her head to look at Kong Xiyan.

Kong Xiyan smiled: "That was my mistake, though."

"Now we're even."

She sat on the edge of the bed, even in her hospital gown appearing dignified and composed, speaking unhurriedly, her voice soft but striking hard against Chi Xuan's heart.

Chi Xuan averted her gaze.

In truth, she knew that she was only a few meters away from Kong Xiyan, and no matter how poor her aim, she couldn't have failed to at least touch her sleeve. She had deliberately done it this way to teach her a lesson.

To show her what kind of mistake she had made.

In a low voice, Chi Xuan said: "I'm sorry, sister-in-law."

Kong Xiyan's lips curved: "I'm not the only one you owe an apology to."

"There's also Haining."

Chi Xuan remained on the ground. At the mention of Wang Haining's name, her expression shifted slightly before returning to normal, and she hung her head.

Kong Xiyan didn't plan to give a long lecture. She simply said to Chi Xuan: "Feels a bit stuffy in here. Why not take a walk with me?"

"The sky outside looks pretty good."

She tilted her head to look at Chi Xuan.

Chi Xuan looked back, opened her mouth, and said: "Alright."

When she stood, her legs were still trembling slightly. She patted her legs, face flushing under Kong Xiyan's gaze. Before long, the two were out of the room.

The weather, which had threatened rain at noon, had cleared up by now, and the sun shone warmly on the two walking side by side. Over her hospital gown, Kong Xiyan wore a cotton coat and a cotton hat that covered all her long hair. Her elegant face beneath the hat glowed even more brilliantly in the sun.

Chi Xuan supported Kong Xiyan as they walked slowly. She stole glances at her from time to time, as if beginning to understand why her second sister had taken a liking to her.

The two walked together through the small pavilion behind the ward area. Chi Xuan was quiet, only answering when spoken to, rarely speaking on her own. Kong Xiyan didn't ask about the Chi family or Wang Haining, but instead asked about her life and studies.

The atmosphere was pleasant enough.

At least the tension Chi Xuan had felt in the room gradually eased.

After a while, as they turned to head back, Chi Xuan looked at Kong Xiyan's profile and said: "Sister-in-law, about the matter of grandma last time—thank you."

Kong Xiyan, puzzled, said: "Hmm?" She turned to Chi Xuan: "Grandma?"

Chi Xuan: "Mm."

Kong Xiyan knit her brows, lost in thought as the cold wind blew mercilessly past them. A burst of music came from the pocket of Kong Xiyan's cotton coat, interrupting her thoughts.

Kong Xiyan pulled out her phone and looked at the screen.

Guan Xiaoying.

Frowning, she answered: "Hello."

Guan Xiaoying's voice came through, tinged with the wind: "Xiyan, you're not in your room? I couldn't find you just now."

Kong Xiyan: "Why are you at the hospital?"

Guan Xiaoying spoke calmly: "I saw the news on Weibo. I called Tong Yue to find out which hospital you were in, but you weren't here."

Kong Xiyan lowered her head: "I'm outside."

Guan Xiaoying: "Alright, I'll come out and find you."

Kong Xiyan quickly said: "No need—"

Guan Xiaoying let out a soft laugh: "It's fine. I can see you."

Kong Xiyan then looked up and scanned her surroundings. At the turn ahead, she spotted a familiar figure. Guan Xiaoying stood there in a camel-colored trench coat and high heels, phone pressed to her ear, and when their eyes met, she gave a faint smile.

Chi Xuan had obviously seen her too, and she asked with her head lowered: "Sister-in-law, is that a friend of yours?"

Kong Xiyan's expression was calm, her voice cool: "An old friend."

Chi Xuan caught the look on her face and said quietly: "I just remembered, I left something in the room. I'll go get it."

Kong Xiyan: "Mm."

Chi Xuan took large strides away, brushing past Guan Xiaoying, and couldn't help but frown.

Guan Xiaoying closed the distance and, fixing Kong Xiyan with a look, asked: "Injured your head?"

Kong Xiyan's head was covered by the hat, so it was hard to tell the extent of the injury.

She nodded: "Why did you come?"

Guan Xiaoying sighed: "What? If I hadn't come, you weren't planning to tell me?"

"Xiyan, why have you become so distant with me now?"

Kong Xiyan stepped up to her, lips curving slightly: "It's just a minor injury, didn't want to trouble anyone."

Guan Xiaoying seemed to understand: "Three years gone, and I'm also just 'anyone' now."

Kong Xiyan smiled but didn't reply.

Guan Xiaoying stared at her face, then suddenly asked: "Xiyan, do you not trust me?"

"Is that why you didn't come back to Xinhui?"

"Are you afraid I can't give you the best support?"

Kong Xiyan looked up at Guan Xiaoying.

Guan Xiaoying's expression showed hurt, her eyes tinged with pain, as if Kong Xiyan's lack of trust had dealt her a heavy blow.

There was no denying it.

After three years, Guan Xiaoying had honed her acting to a flawless level.

Her look of sadness was perfectly timed, stirring sympathy in anyone who watched.

Kong Xiyan averted her eyes in silence. "That's not it, Xiaoying."

Guan Xiaoying picked up the thread: "Then what is it? Xiyan, if you trust me, come with me to Xinhui. I have the ability now. I'll get you back onto the stage that's rightfully yours."

Kong Xiyan lowered her head, saying nothing.

The air around them seemed to still.

Then Guan Xiaoying, gazing at her with the hat covering her head, said softly: "Xiyan, do you know, I've actually been looking for you for three years."

Kong Xiyan quickly lifted her eyes to meet hers.

Even though the sun was shining on her, she felt a chill rising from the soles of her feet, cold enough to make her shiver.