Chapter 44
The hallway outside the emergency room at Jinzhou First Hospital was filled with the smell of disinfectant. Xia Wan sat on a cold plastic chair, her hands clasped tightly, her nails digging into her palms, yet she felt no pain. Her face was pale, her eyes vacant as she stared at the closed door of the emergency room, like a statue without a soul. Xiao Zhao stayed by her side, whispering solace, but Xia Wan seemed oblivious to a single word.
Time passed by minute by minute, and each second felt as long as a century. Xia Wan's mind kept flashing back to Jiang Yu's pale face, the blood oozing from his back, and the faint but clear words "Don't be afraid" he said before he fell into a coma.
Finally, the door to the emergency room opened and a middle-aged doctor came out.
Xia Wan stood up suddenly, and because she moved so quickly her vision went dark. She staggered and was supported by Xiao Zhao.
"Doctor! How is he?" Xia Wan's voice was hoarse and trembling.
The doctor took off his mask, his expression serious but his tone calm. "The patient's condition has stabilized. The shoulder and back wounds have been cleaned and sutured. Thankfully, no major blood vessels or nerves were damaged. However, the impact was significant, resulting in a linear fracture of the right scapula and two rib fractures, along with a moderate concussion. He will require hospitalization for observation and treatment."
Hearing the words "stabilized" and "no major blood vessels or nerves damaged", Xia Wan's tense heartstrings relaxed a little, but the words "fractured bone" and "concussion" made her heart tighten again.
"What about him...now?" Xia Wan asked anxiously.
"The anesthetic hasn't completely worn off yet. He's in the observation room and will be transferred to the orthopedic ward later. Family members can go and see him, but the patient needs to rest quietly," the doctor explained.
"Thank you, doctor! Thank you!" Xia Wan thanked him repeatedly, and her heart finally settled down, but what followed was deeper fatigue and heartache.
Following the nurse's guidance, Xia Wan and Xiao Zhao arrived at the observation room. Jiang Yu lay on the bed, his face still pale, his eyes closed, his breathing steady but slightly weak. His upper body was naked, wrapped in thick bandages, with braces around his right shoulder and chest, and an IV drip hooked to his left hand. The usually stern and powerful man now appeared so vulnerable.
Xia Wan's tears welled up again. She gently walked to the bedside and carefully held his right hand, which was not connected to the IV. His hand was cold, so she wrapped her own hands tightly around it, trying to convey a little warmth.
As if feeling her touch, Jiang Yu's eyelashes trembled a few times, and he slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were a little confused at first, and it took him a while to focus before he could see Xia Wan beside the bed.
"Xia... Wan..." His voice was dry and hoarse, almost inaudible.
"I'm here! Jiang Yu, I'm here!" Xia Wan quickly leaned closer, tears dripping onto the back of his hand. "How do you feel? Does it hurt?"
Jiang Yu looked at her red eyes and tear marks on her face, frowning slightly, as if he wanted to raise his hand to wipe her tears, but the movement affected the wound, and he groaned, cold sweat oozing from his forehead.
"Don't move! Don't move!" Xia Wan was so scared that she quickly held him down. "The doctor said you need absolute rest! Don't move!"
Jiang Yu took a few breaths to ease the severe pain, but his eyes never left Xia Wan's face. His eyes were full of heartache and apology: "I scared... you..."
"You scared me to death!" Xia Wan's tears fell again, with a feeling of grievance and fear after surviving a disaster, "Who told you to rush over so recklessly! If you... if you..." She couldn't go on, but just held his hand tightly, her body trembling slightly.
Jiang Yu looked at Xia Wan, his eyes focused and serious, with an unquestionable heaviness. "Protecting you... is instinct." He looked at her, speaking each word clearly and slowly, "Xia Wan, you are more important than my life... "
These words, like a heavy hammer, struck Xia Wan's heart hard! They shocked her more than the kiss in the night garden! They struck her soul more directly than any love words! These were not sweet words, but the truth he had proven to her with blood, pain, and even at the risk of his own life!
The huge emotional impact made Xia Wan burst into tears. She could only bury her face in his cold palms, her shoulders shaking violently.
Jiang Yu didn't say anything else. He just used all his strength to slightly move the fingers she was holding, and clumsily and gently stroked the back of her hand, silently comforting her.
Xiao Zhao watched from the side and couldn't help but have tears in his eyes. He quietly retreated and left the space for them.
The only sounds in the ward were the rhythmic ticking of the heart monitor and Xia Wan's suppressed sobs. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on the bed.
After a long time, Xia Wan's emotions slowly calmed down. She raised her head, wiped away her tears, and looked at Jiang Yu's still pale face with a determined look in her eyes.
"Jiang Yu," her voice was hoarse from crying, but remarkably clear. "From now on, you should take good care of your injuries and don't worry about anything else. Projects, work, the company... I'll take care of it."
Jiang Yu looked at the unquestionable sense of responsibility and heartache in her eyes, and a warm current surged in his heart, mixed with bitterness. He wanted to say something, but the residual effect of the anesthetic and the pain of the wound made him weak. He just nodded slightly, his eyes full of trust and dependence.
Xia Wan tucked in the quilt for him, dimmed the lights, and said softly but with strength: "Go to sleep, I'll be here with you. I won't go anywhere."
Jiang Yu looked at her deeply, as if he wanted to etch the image of her guarding him by his bed into his mind, and then he slowly closed his eyes. His tense nerves finally relaxed under the effects of the pain and the drugs, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Xia Wan sat on a chair beside the bed, holding his hand, staring at his sleeping face without blinking.
When Jiang Yu was accidentally injured, Xia Wan immediately contacted Jiang Yu's assistant, Li Mo. Li Mo was speechless upon receiving the call, but he quickly displayed his professionalism and coordinated everything: suppressing the news, arranging an intensive care unit, contacting leading orthopedic and neurosurgery experts for follow-up consultations, and simultaneously taking over Jiang Yu's urgent work matters.
Lin Wei rushed to the hospital almost as soon as the ambulance arrived. Seeing Jiang Yu, who was covered in bandages and looked pale, and Xia Wan, who was standing by the bed with red and swollen eyes but was remarkably calm, she was so frightened that her legs went weak and she hugged Xia Wan and burst into tears. After learning what had happened, she was shocked and grateful for Jiang Yu's selfless rescue. She patted her chest and assured him, "Wanwan, don't worry! I'm here for Mr. Jiang! I can't help much with work matters, but I'll take care of errands and make sure he eats and rests well! You can handle it with peace of mind!"
Xia Wan hugged Lin Wei gratefully. She knew she wasn't fighting this silent battle alone.
Xia Wan herself faced even greater challenges. A major safety incident had occurred at the project site in the old city, and she faced a daunting task: investigating, holding people accountable, reassuring residents, and ensuring project progress. As the project leader, she felt a deep sense of responsibility.
She forced herself to calm down quickly from the huge emotional shock. After Jiang Yu was transferred to the general ward and his condition stabilized, she immediately returned to work, shouldering two heavy responsibilities at the same time.
During the day, she is the calm and capable Xia Gong:
She personally led a thorough investigation of the accident, coordinating with the safety and regulatory authorities. They determined that the dangerous building's complex ownership structure, long-term lack of maintenance, and illegal construction had resulted in excessive structural loads. With a sincere attitude and unwavering commitment to shirking responsibility, she proactively proposed a thorough safety inspection of all areas awaiting renovation and pledged to cover all medical expenses and reasonable compensation for the injured. She withstood the pressure, comforted frightened residents and team members, and maintained stability for the project, ensuring that reconnaissance work in other areas continued smoothly.
She took the initiative to take on more work, dividing up tasks into smaller pieces, and ensuring the team continued to operate efficiently despite the loss of some of her energy. She demonstrated strong leadership and resilience under pressure, enabling the team to quickly recover from the panic.
She became Jiang Yu's bridge to the outside world. She spoke with Li Mo at a fixed time each day, keeping informed of key company matters. She conveyed important information to Jiang Yu, who lay in bed, concisely and clearly, and brought back his instructions. She struck a precise balance, ensuring that work didn't disrupt Jiang Yu's recovery while ensuring that important decisions weren't delayed.
At night, she is the most gentle guardian by the bedside:
She carefully learned the key points of care from the nurses, and gently wiped his face, fed him water, and adjusted his backrest. When he felt dizzy and nauseous due to pain or concussion, she patiently comforted him and wiped away his cold sweat with a warm towel.
She no longer cried. She always spoke to him softly with a gentle smile, reading him interesting articles from professional journals, or just quietly holding his hand and watching the night scene outside the window with him. Her presence itself was Jiang Yu's best painkiller and tranquilizer.
She skillfully blocked most visitors, creating an absolutely quiet environment for Jiang Yu to recuperate. When faced with business partners or "friends" who came after hearing the news and had different intentions, she politely but firmly declined, her aura fully on display, and she would not allow any doubt.
Jiang Yu lay in his hospital bed, his body tormented by pain and restraint, yet his mind was clearer and...softer than ever before. He watched Xia Wan, like a tireless spinning top, spinning at high speed between him and his work. He watched her calmly and clearly directing things over the phone during the day, and then, returning to the ward at night, her face etched with fatigue, she still smiled gently at him. He watched her handle those trivial yet intimate matters for him without a trace of disdain, only complete concentration and heartache.
He saw the resilience beneath her fragility, the strength beneath her gentleness. She was no longer the girl who needed him to stand behind her; she had grown into a tree that stood shoulder to shoulder with him, even sheltering him from the wind and rain if he fell. The shock and emotion brought by this realization far outweighed the physical pain.
He rarely spoke, the pain and medication making him easily tired. But he would follow her figure with his eyes, and when she approached, he would gently hold her fingers with his uninjured left hand, or use his eyes to express his dependence, approval and... his deep and inextricable love.
Once, Xia Wan had just finished a lengthy project coordination conference call and walked into the ward, rubbing her swollen temples. Jiang Yu was awake, and looking at her exhausted appearance, his brows furrowed.
Xia Wan walked to the bedside and habitually wanted to pour him some water.
"Xia Wan." Jiang Yu spoke hoarsely, his voice was soft but filled with unquestionable strength, "Come here."
Xia Wan moved closer as instructed.
Jiang Yu raised his left hand and touched her slightly cold cheek with some difficulty. His fingertips were covered with thin calluses and gently stroked the faint blue under her eyes. His eyes were full of heartache and self-blame: "Thank you for your hard work... You have lost weight..."
Xia Wan held his hand, pressing it against her face, feeling the warmth of his palm. She shook her head, smiling soothingly, "It's not hard. Seeing you get better is better than anything else." She paused, her eyes serious, "Jiang Yu, don't blame yourself. Protecting me is your instinct, so taking care of you, guarding you, and making you get better soon is what I want to do most right now. It's also my instinct."
Jiang Yu looked at her deeply, seeing the unpretentious determination and tenderness in her eyes. His Adam's apple rolled, and finally he just held her hand tighter. A thousand words to say were all left unsaid.
The lights in the ward were soft, and outside the window, the night in Jinzhou was deep.
Although Li Mo tried his best to block the news of Jiang Yu's injury and hospitalization, it inevitably spread in certain circles in Jinzhou.
Jiang Yu's parents were the first to react. Upon hearing over the phone that her son had been injured and hospitalized while trying to save his girlfriend, Jiang's mother was filled with anxiety and distress, and immediately booked a flight back home. Jiang Yu struggled to reassure his mother, emphasizing that his injuries were stable and that Xia Wan was taking excellent care of him, and that he didn't want them to have to travel. Jiang's father was relatively calm, but his tone was also tinged with worry. He inquired in detail about the injury and treatment plan, and finally urged Jiang Yu to take good care of himself and not to worry about the company's affairs for the time being. He then solemnly expressed his gratitude to Xia Wan.
Xia Wan listened to Jiang Yu's conversation with his parents, feeling a mix of emotions. She sensed their concern, but also a sense of pressure. She hadn't even formally met Jiang Yu's parents, yet she was thrust into their presence in this way.
"Uncle and aunt are very worried about you." Xia Wan said softly after hanging up the phone.
"Yeah." Jiang Yu leaned against the raised hospital bed, his face still pale, but he looked much better. "They... are very grateful to you." He looked at Xia Wan with gentle eyes, "Don't worry, they are very open-minded."
Xia Wan nodded, feeling a little relieved, but the subtle nervousness of "meeting the parents" for the first time had not completely dissipated.
Jiang Yu's recovery wasn't all smooth sailing. Fractures in his shoulder blade and ribs caused persistent pain, and the aftereffects of the concussion occasionally recurred, with dizziness and nausea coming unpredictably. But the most catastrophic event came a week into his hospitalization. Due to improper wound care and a weakened immune system, he developed a postoperative infection, resulting in a sudden high fever.
That evening, Xia Wan had just rushed back to the hospital from the project site. As soon as she opened the ward door, she felt an unusual heat. Jiang Yu lay in bed, his face flushed, his breathing rapid, his forehead burning. A nurse, nervously taking his temperature, looked grave.
"39.8 degrees! The infection index has also increased! Notify the doctor quickly!" the nurse said to Xia Wan anxiously.
Xia Wan's heart sank instantly, and a huge panic gripped her. She rushed to the bedside and held Jiang Yu's burning hand: "Jiang Yu! Jiang Yu, wake up! What's wrong with you?"
Jiang Yu seemed to be in a semi-comatose state, with a furrowed brow, cracked lips, and incoherent mumbling.
"...Cold...So cold..." He curled up unconsciously, as if he was in a world of ice and snow.
Xia Wan's heart ached, and he immediately asked the nurse to bring ice packs and cooling patches. He carefully applied them to his forehead and armpits, and wiped his burning palms and neck with a warm, wet towel, trying to cool him down physically.
The doctor arrived quickly and quickly determined that the high fever was caused by a postoperative infection. He immediately adjusted the antibiotics and increased fluid replacement and cooling measures. The atmosphere in the ward was tense, with medical staff coming in and out.
In this chaos, Jiang Yu's mumbling became clearer, but it was like an ice-hardened dagger that suddenly pierced Xia Wan's heart.
He closed his eyes, his brows knitted in pain, his dry lips moved, his voice weak but filled with a persistent plea that seemed to transcend time and space:
"...Zhiyao...Shen Zhiyao...don't be angry..."
"I took a picture of the aurora...it's really...beautiful..."
"Look... I've taken the photo... Just... smile..."
"It's so cold... Hotel... Why... I can't find the way..."
"Aurora... I've finished filming it... Please smile..."
Every word of these intermittent, incoherent mumblings was like an icicle, piercing Xia Wan's heart fiercely! She froze in the instant she was wiping his arm, her face pale, and her blood seemed to freeze at that moment.
"Shen Zhiyao".
This name, like a dusty scar with a bloody scab, was torn open by Jiang Yu's own hands unexpectedly at the most vulnerable and defenseless moment, and exposed to Xia Wan.
Could he be so reckless and unconditional in satisfying someone? Could he still... miss... her?
Xia Wan was instantly overwhelmed by a tremendous heartache and an indescribable bitterness. She looked at Jiang Yu, who lay on the hospital bed, grumbling in agony from a high fever, and saw how he, even in his dreams, was obsessed with making Shen Zhiyao smile. She felt a chill run from her feet to her head. She had witnessed their love in high school and knew that first love was always beautiful and unforgettable. She had always known that it was a thorn in Jiang Yu's heart, but she had never felt so clearly as she did now how deeply it had penetrated, so deeply that it had become part of his bones and blood, a part of his subconscious.
Her hand holding the towel trembled slightly, and her eyes instantly turned red. But she took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. Now is not the time to be sad! He is sick and has a fever and is confused. This is unconscious! She can't let her emotions knock her down at this time! Taking care of him and getting his fever down is the most important thing!
Xia Wan bit her lower lip, forcing back the moisture in her eyes. She continued to wipe his body to cool him down, more attentively, yet with the same gentle movements. However, her heart felt as if a piece had been hollowed out, and a cold wind was blowing in.
At this moment, the door of the ward was suddenly pushed open. Jiang Yu's parents finally rushed over after receiving Li Mo's emergency notice!
Jiang's mother immediately saw her son lying unconscious on the hospital bed with a high fever, and the young girl beside him, her face pale and her eyes red and swollen, who was taking good care of him. Jiang's mother burst into tears and rushed to the bedside: "Xiao Yu! My son! What happened to you? How could this happen?" She caressed Jiang Yu's burning cheek with heartache.
Although Jiang's father remained relatively calm, the furrowed brow and worry in his eyes were clearly visible. He first consulted the doctor and was relieved to learn that the high fever was caused by an infection and was being actively treated.
Jiang's mother's attention quickly shifted from her son to Xia Wan. She looked at Xia Wan with a complex expression, one that was both scrutinizing and filled with a subtle hint of rejection and worry.
"Are you Xia Wan?" Jiang's mother's voice carried the usual reserve and a hint of alienation of a superior.
"Hello, auntie. I'm Xia Wan." Xia Wan put down the towel, stood up, and responded politely but with fatigue.
"Thank you for taking care of Xiaoyu these days." Jiang's mother's tone lacked genuine gratitude, more like a polite opening remark. She looked at Xia Wan's slightly haggard face, her gaze sweeping over her simple clothing, and her brows furrowed slightly. "But, this time... I heard that Xiaoyu was seriously injured saving you, and almost..." She glanced at her son, who was still mumbling in the hospital bed. The rest of the words were unspoken, but the blame was obvious.
"Auntie, I'm sorry. It's all because of me..." Xia Wan lowered her head, her voice choking with sobs. The heavy blow Jiang Yu had blocked for her was the source of her deepest guilt and fear. Having Jiang Yu point it out so directly was almost too much for her to bear.
"Mom!" At this moment, Jiang Yu, lying on the hospital bed, seemed startled by the noise around him. Under the influence of the medication, he briefly regained a bit of clarity. He struggled to open his eyes, his gaze unfocused, but he still accurately caught his mother's accusations against Xia Wan. He struggled to raise his left hand, which was not connected to the IV, and eagerly, even a little clumsily, reached towards Xia Wan. His voice was hoarse but filled with unquestionable protection:
"It's not...Xia Wan's business...it's...myself..."
"Don't...talk about her..." He looked at his mother with pleading eyes, then turned to Xia Wan with eyes full of worry and comfort.
Xia Wan immediately held the hand he extended, and her cold fingers were wrapped in his hot palm.
Jiang's mother watched her son defend Xia Wan, then looked back at their clasped hands, her expression becoming even more complex. She recalled the "foolish things" Jiang Yu had done for Shen Zhiyao, the agony he'd endured while drowning in the pain of his own heartbreak. Could this girl, Xia Wan, be another "Shen Zhiyao"? Would her son once again be drawn into a desperate, self-destructive emotional spiral? As a mother, she instinctively felt fear and repulsion.
"Alright, Xiaoyu, stop talking and get some rest," Jiang's father spoke at the right moment, breaking the slightly tense atmosphere. He walked over to his wife, gently patted her shoulder, and gestured for her to calm down. "Miss Xia, you've worked hard, too. We'll be watching over you. Go get some rest." His tone was gentler than Jiang's mother's, but the same scrutiny and distance remained. They needed time to observe, to see what kind of person this girl was, who had once again driven their son to risk his life for her.
Xia Wan felt the scrutiny of Jiang Yu's father and mother, and understood that Jiang Yu needed quiet at the moment. She suppressed the grievance and pain in her heart, gently let go of Jiang Yu's hand, and tucked in the corner of the quilt for him.
"Uncle and aunt, then... I'll go out first. Jiang Yu needs to rest, the doctor is outside, call me if you have anything." She said in a low voice, and finally took a deep look at Jiang Yu, who fell into a coma again due to the effect of the medicine on the hospital bed with his brows still furrowed, then turned around and quickly left the ward.
The moment the door closed, Xia Wan leaned against the cold wall, finally allowing the suppressed tears to burst forth. She knew that between her and Jiang Yu, it wasn't just the scars of their past that stood between them, but also the immense resistance from his family. And the thorn in Jiang Yu's heart, named "Shen Zhiyao," had become even more distinct and acute, catalyzed by the high fever of the night.
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