Chapter 208 Let them wait

Ji Wanqing lowered her eyelashes, and although she couldn't see them, she could feel those burning gazes.

She sighed softly, "I'm fine, you all go back and rest, I can manage on my own."

She looked up and saw the hesitant expressions on several people's faces. She rubbed her brows helplessly, her voice filled with exhaustion.

"Please give me some time, you all go back first, I'm begging you."

The way Ji Wanqing said those words in that tone made their hearts clench.

Xie Chi glanced at her and finally gave in, "Okay, I'll go back first."

After saying that, he stopped looking at Pei Yu and Meng Chao, turned around, strode out of the ward, and gently closed the door behind him.

Meng Chao looked at her and said, "It's not that I want to put pressure on you, but it might be difficult for you to be hospitalized without someone to take care of you, right? Why don't you call a friend?"

"Okay, I'll leave when your friend arrives, is that alright?" Pei Yu's temperament was much gentler, and he readily agreed with Meng Chao's suggestion.

Ji Wanqing felt somewhat powerless. All her former fake friends had long since lost contact, so she had no friends left.

However, a name suddenly popped into her mind, and when she reached for her phone, she realized it was nowhere to be found.

She looked at them somewhat embarrassedly, "Um... I lost my phone, does anyone have the rich lady's WeChat? I'm afraid she won't see the message for a while..."

Pei Yu was taken aback, but Meng Chao readily handed over his phone.

"I just happened to add it yesterday, you can use it."

Ji Wanqing found the profile picture of the rich woman and made a voice call, briefly explaining the current situation.

Just as she was wondering how to bring it up, the other party offered to come over.

Ji Wanqing returned the phone to Meng Chao, and Pei Yu stood up and said, "I'll go buy you a new phone so you won't be bored."

After saying that, he left before Ji Wanqing could answer.

For a moment, only she and Meng Chao remained in the room. Ji Wanqing finally felt the atmosphere ease somewhat, and she forced a smile at Meng Chao.

Meng Chao helped her lie down and carefully tucked the blanket around her. "Sleep for a while. I'll leave as soon as the rich woman arrives."

"Thank you so much." Ji Wanqing was deeply moved.

Meng Chao smiled and said, "Sleep, don't think about anything."

Pei Yu returned with the phone in less than half an hour. Seeing Ji Wanqing resting with her eyes closed, he didn't say anything, put down the phone, and left quietly.

Meng Chao opened his phone and looked around aimlessly, not daring to turn the sound on, glancing at Ji Wanqing every now and then.

After some time, there was a knock on the door.

Meng Chao turned his head and saw the person at the door, and he was completely stunned.

The person at the door frowned instantly, "Young Master Meng? You..."

"Are you a rich woman?" Meng Chao forgot to control his volume and asked back.

Ji Wanqing also woke up and silently opened her eyes to look at the two of them.

"I'm speechless. How could you be 'Don't Bark'?" Ye Ling stepped in, then belatedly covered her mouth, only to find that Ji Wanqing was already awake.

She quickly went to greet him, "Did I wake you? I'm so sorry, is there anything else that's bothering you?"

She fired off a barrage of questions, her voice filled with genuine anxiety and heartache, her gaze carefully sweeping over Ji Wanqing's pale face and bandaged wrist.

"I'm fine, Sister Ling, really, I'm just a little weak right now," Ji Wanqing replied softly. Seeing Ye Ling made her feel much more at ease.

Meng Chao touched his nose and stood up somewhat awkwardly.

"Um... since Ye Ling is here, then I... shall I take my leave?"

He said this to Ji Wanqing, his eyes still showing a hint of unease.

Ye Ling waved her hand at him, "Alright, stop barking, oh no, Meng Chao, right? Leave this to me, you can get lost without worry."

Although her words were blunt, there was no real malice in her eyes; it was more like a friendly banter between acquaintances.

Meng Chao nodded and pointed to the box on the bedside table, "The phone that Gudao bought for you."

"Okay." Ji Wanqing's lips curved into a very shallow smile.

"Contact me anytime if you need anything." With that, he left the ward.

The door closed gently, and finally only Ji Wanqing and Ye Ling remained in the ward.

The air instantly became relaxed and quiet, and the oppressive feeling of being watched by multiple eyes completely disappeared.

Ye Ling let out a long sigh of relief, pulled up a chair and sat on the edge of the bed. She naturally reached out and gently tidied the stray hairs on Ji Wanqing's forehead.

"You scared me to death! What happened? How did it get like this?"

Her questions came out in rapid succession, but her eyes were full of worry.

Faced with her best friend who had been by her side since the show started, Ji Wanqing's strong exterior finally cracked.

Her nose tingled and her eyes reddened slightly as she recounted her kidnapping to Ye Ling in fits and starts.

Although she was out of danger, her body still trembled slightly when she recalled those details.

Ye Ling's face turned pale upon hearing this. She gripped Ji Wanqing's uninjured hand tightly, her voice trembling with anger.

"Those damned bastards! They're utterly lawless! Thank goodness... thank goodness the Lonely Island team found you in time!"

She patted her chest in lingering fear, then seemed to remember something, her eyes becoming somewhat complicated, and she asked in a low voice.

"However... that scene just now, the isolated island, the finish line, and Meng Chao... those three..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was already quite clear.

Ji Wanqing closed her eyes, sighed wearily, and gently shook her head.

She didn't know how to describe the feeling. The gratitude was real, and the warmth of being cared for was real, but the constant competition and pressure also left her physically and mentally exhausted.

“Sister Ling, I know they all care about me and saved me from danger, and I am really grateful... But, I…” She opened her eyes, her gaze filled with confusion and a hint of helplessness, “I think I’ve messed things up. I don’t know how to face them, or how to handle this… this situation. I feel so tired.”

Ye Ling felt extremely distressed seeing her like this.

She squeezed Ji Wanqing's hand firmly, her tone both resolute and gentle.

“Fool, how can you blame yourself? You are the victim! They all came to you on their own, not you. Be grateful, but there’s no need to feel guilty. When it comes to relationships, the worst thing you can do is be ambiguous or force yourself.”

She paused, looked into Ji Wanqing's eyes, and said earnestly.

"Your most important thing right now is to recover your health and calm down. As for them... leave them alone! Who says that being rescued means you have to repay them with your body or give them an immediate response? Let them wait! You have to be yourself first before you can consider other people's feelings, understand?"

Ye Ling's words were like a refreshing breeze, dispelling the confusion and heaviness in Ji Wanqing's heart.

Yes, she has just gone through a life-or-death ordeal, and what she needs most right now is peaceful healing, not being forced into a complicated emotional vortex.

She gently grasped Ye Ling's hand in return, feeling the support and strength from her friend, which made her feel much more at ease.

She nodded, her voice still weak but with a hint of determination, "Yes, I understand, Sister Ling. Thank you."

"Don't thank me, don't be so polite." Ye Ling gave her a reproachful look, stood up, "Alright, let's not think about those stinky men anymore! Are you hungry? Let me see what fruit Meng Chao bought, and I'll peel an apple for you. Or do you want to sleep a little longer? I'll stay here with you, I won't go anywhere."

Outside the window, night had fallen and the city lights were just coming on.

Inside the ward, under the warm light, the two girls whispered intimate words, temporarily shutting out the disturbances of the outside world.

It wasn't until late at night that Ji Wanqing urged her to go back and rest. Ye Ling refused, and Ji Wanqing pretended to be angry before Ye Ling left reluctantly.

Just then, the ward door was gently pushed open, and Duan Ye stood in the doorway, a backpack slung over his left shoulder, looking travel-worn.