The words "Operating" on the emergency room door were still bright red. Even though she had seen Xu Xingbo's favorability rating, she was still staring blankly ahead. It wasn't until she saw Little Hamster 54088 squeeze out of the closed operating room door that a slight ripple flashed in her eyes.
"Tangbao, Tangbao, I have done everything you asked me to do."
Just as it floated to Tang Ning's ear, the little system's soft voice rang out beside her.
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning's gaze softened imperceptibly.
Although, thanks to her intervention, Xu Xingbai's right arm did not develop the chronic condition described in the storyline.
Yes, in the story, after Xu Xingbo was brutally beaten, the police arrived and rescued him. His arm had already been broken by those people with a stick. Even after he was sent to the hospital for surgery, his right hand was always not very dexterous because he had no money for treatment and needed to work to earn money for his tuition and living expenses.
Even though he later made a name for himself through his own abilities, the problem with his right hand remained with him forever.
This time, in order to save her, he was injured in such a critical place as the back of his head.
Tang Ning has never been one to owe anyone anything, so as soon as Xu Xingbo was wheeled into the operating room, she had 54088 go in and inject all the power that the system had originally used to shield her from the steel pipe into Xu Xingbo's body. How much he could be cured depended entirely on Xu Xingbo's own abilities.
After all, if he hadn't shielded her, the steel pipe would have only hit Tang Ning's back.
Helping someone block a steel pipe and still gaining goodwill...
Fool.
Tang Ning chuckled to herself as the bright red "Operating in Progress" sign above the operating room quickly went out.
Upon seeing this, Tang Ning immediately stood up, grabbed the doctor's arm, and began to inquire about Xu Xingbo's condition.
I learned from the calm-looking doctor that Xu Xingbo only had a cut on the back of his head and a mild concussion, and there was nothing seriously wrong with him. The wound has been stitched up. If it is a mild concussion, he will need to stay in the hospital for observation for two to three days. Once it is confirmed that he is alright, he can be discharged from the hospital.
The system was injected with energy, and the patient even suffered a mild concussion, which gives you an idea of how dangerous the situation must have been.
Tang Ning raised an eyebrow in her mind, but on her face she suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. After letting out a breath, she immediately staggered.
Seeing this, Mu Sheng quickly reached out to support her, but his eyes immediately caught sight of the wound on her hand.
Before she could say anything, Xu Xingbai, whose head was wrapped in a thick bandage, was wheeled out of the operating room. Tang Ning saw this and quickly helped Xu Xingbai onto the bed, following the nurse towards the ward.
On the other side, Mu Sheng didn't seem to intend to follow. After hesitating for a moment, he walked straight to the nurses' station on the side.
After Tang Ning moved Xu Xingbo to the bed in the ward with the help of the doctors and nurses, she breathed a huge sigh of relief. Only then did she realize that Mu Sheng hadn't come along.
Tang Ning looked anxious and was about to take out her phone to call Mu Sheng when the door to the ward was pushed open from the outside.
Mu Sheng walked in carrying a nurse's tray.
"School doctor, where did you go? I was just thinking... wait, what are these?"
Upon seeing what he was holding, Tang Ning asked this question with some confusion.
Upon hearing the question, Mu Sheng put down what he was holding and naturally took Tang Ning's right hand, saying with a hint of helplessness, "You care so much about Xu, but you don't even feel the pain of such a big cut on your hand? Don't move... let me help you treat and bandage it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Sheng lowered his head and began to carefully clean the cuts on Tang Ning's hands.
"hiss……"
Does it hurt?
Mu Sheng immediately stopped what he was doing and frowned slightly as he looked at Tang Ning in front of him.
The bright concern in the man's eyes immediately pleased Tang Ning. She pursed her lips and quickly shook her head gently, "It doesn't hurt..."
"Just bear with it a little, I'll be gentle."
Mu Sheng said this in a gentle voice.
"Um!"
Tang Ning nodded vigorously, then looked at Mu Sheng's overly exquisite profile, her lips involuntarily curving upwards and upwards.
After Mu Sheng finished treating her injuries, he looked up and saw Tang Ning's still-sweet smile and a smudge of dirt on her cheek from where she had gotten it from the previous running and fighting.
Seeing this, and noticing the dirt on her face, he couldn't help but reach out and touch Tang Ning's face.
Tang Ning's eyes widened slightly, and she was about to look away.
"It's a bit dirty, don't move..."
Mu Sheng said this softly.
He then reached out and vigorously rubbed Tang Ning's face, and the more he rubbed, the more uncontrollably the temperature of Tang Ning's face rose.
After wiping it clean, Mu Sheng felt the soft and tender touch under his fingertips, and looking at Tang Ning's flushed face and watery eyes, he slowly stopped moving.
The two stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, until Mu Sheng caught a glimpse of Xu Xingbai's trembling eyelashes on the hospital bed. He suddenly withdrew his hand. "Alright, all cleaned up... By the way, I haven't asked you yet. Didn't you go home after leaving my house this morning? How did you suddenly reappear in that urban village area? If it weren't for Old Chen, who was taking you home, seeing you hurriedly get into a taxi and notifying me, you probably would have tried to rescue Xu Xingbai from those thugs all by yourself? You didn't even care about your own safety for him. You... like him?"
Mu Sheng tentatively said this, and the next second he noticed that Xu Xingbo's eyelashes, which had been trembling, immediately stopped trembling, but his fingers moved reflexively.
Upon hearing Mu Sheng's question, Tang Ning, whose face was still slightly flushed, knew without turning around that Xu Xingbai had most likely woken up, otherwise the scoundrel wouldn't have suddenly asked her such a question.
Who does she like?
Others might not know, but how could Mu Sheng, who received her drunken confession, not know?
That idiot, with only a 55% favorability rating, is already proactively starting to eliminate all potential rivals.
Tsk.
"Wh...what?"
After hearing Mu Sheng's question, Tang Ning was stunned for a moment, then immediately switched to her "green tea" mode, "No, no. I've always considered Xu Xingbo as my friend... I don't have anything for him..."
"Just friends?"
Mu Sheng's eyes never left Xu Xingbai on the hospital bed, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.
"Of course, when I first came to Jinsheng, during my saddest time, Xu Xingbo was the first to come to my aid. Although he didn't say anything, I knew he wanted to comfort and care for me. Don't let his cold appearance fool you, my deskmate has the softest heart. Others may not know him, but I do. He's a really good person, exceptionally good. And his cooking is top-notch. If any girl becomes his girlfriend in the future..."
"Xu, you're awake?"
Originally intending to give him a blow, Mu Sheng interrupted Tang Ning when Tang Ning started praising Xu Xingbai as if she had endless things to say. Mu Sheng, who was clearly trying to strike at his love rival, ended up asking a series of compliments instead of directly pointing out Xu Xingbai's current state.
Upon hearing that Xu Xingbo had woken up, Tang Ning quickly turned around and happened to meet Xu Xingbo's gaze as he opened his eyes.
"Hey, you're finally awake! No, no, please don't move! The doctor said you have a mild concussion, and it's best to stay in bed. How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you? Are you dizzy, nauseous, or want to vomit? Okay, I'll call the doctor over first!"
As she spoke, Tang Ning hurriedly pressed the call button by the bedside.
Throughout the entire process, Xu Xingbo gazed tenderly and lovingly at Tang Ning's face.
"I'm fine now, I'm not dizzy anymore, and I don't feel nauseous... Are you injured anywhere?"
"Me? No, I just have a little scratch on the back of my hand... You scared me to death! You really can't do that again. If you really didn't wake up, I really would..."
A fleeting look of guilt and emotion flashed across Tang Ning's eyes.
Sitting to the side, Mu Sheng, who clearly saw the expression in Tang Ning's eyes, subconsciously recalled the drunken kiss he had caught in Galaxy 1898 last night, and the image of Xu Xingbo lying unconscious on Tang Ning when he arrived at the scene of the fight.
The man's lips were clearly upturned, but the smile never reached his eyes. After a strange ache and displeasure flashed through his mind, he couldn't help but interject, "I think Xu Xingbo should be fine. Didn't the doctor say that as long as he regains consciousness and stays in the hospital for observation for two more days, he won't even have any aftereffects?"
As he spoke, he glanced casually out the window and said again, "It's getting late, Tang Ning, aren't you going home? You already... If you don't go home soon today, won't your parents worry?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning, who was looking at Xu Xingbai, turned to look at the setting sun outside the window, a look of surprise flashing across her face. "Oh my god, it's so late. I should go home, but Xu Xingbai..."
"Xu, when I was getting the medicine for your wound outside, I already arranged for a male caregiver for you, considering his inconvenience. He'll be here in a bit..."
Before Mu Sheng could finish speaking, there was a sudden knock on the door from the outside.
After Tang Ning replied "Please come in," a man who looked particularly honest and simple pushed open the door and walked in.
"Hello, I am Huang Wei, the caregiver this gentleman just hired."
"Hello...you..."
Tang Ning quickly greeted the man.
"Actually, no..."
Upon seeing Huang Wei, Xu Xingbai was about to refuse when Tang Ning interrupted him, "Why not? You have a concussion, do you really think it's just a minor illness? What if something happens to you alone in the hospital room in the middle of the night without anyone watching you? Don't make me worry, okay?"
Hearing Tang Ning's seemingly reproachful but actually caring words, Xu Xingbai, who had been stunned for a moment, swallowed back all his words of refusal and looked at Tang Ning with eyes so tender that they seemed to drip water.
"good."
He replied in a low voice.
“That’s more like it. It’s really late. I promised my family I’d be back before dinner! Well… Xu Xingbo, you should rest well. I’ll come see you again tomorrow… I know you like sweet and sour pork ribs, but you’re sick right now and can’t eat them. You’ve lost so much blood, I can bring you some blood-nourishing pork liver soup. It tastes really good, what do you say?”
Tang Ning asked with a smile.
"good……"
Of course it's good. Looking at Tang Ning like this, Xu Xingbo really couldn't give her any other answer besides "good".
Tang Ning, finally satisfied, smiled slightly at Xu Xingbo, picked up her small handbag, and followed Mu Sheng out of the ward. Before leaving the ward, she waved goodbye to Xu Xingbo inside.
Xu Xingbo also waved his hand at her with a struggle, his face full of smiles.
At this moment, Mu Sheng, who had overheard the entire conversation between the two, narrowed his eyes. Although he was smiling, a hint of indifference crept into his lowered eyes.
He was there, but he wasn't happy.
Upon catching a glimpse of Mu Sheng's expression, Tang Ning immediately raised an eyebrow in her mind.
But there's nothing I can do. On one hand, there's the adorable Xu Xingbo, whose affection level I've already raised to 94, and on the other hand, there's the lousy school doctor whose affection level I still haven't reached.
Even with her eyes closed, Tang Ning knew which choice to make!
More importantly, her interactions with Mu Sheng had always seemed to be under his skillful control. Perhaps it was this skill that allowed him to keep his affection level under his control as well. From their first meeting to practicing dance together, his affection level had been rising at a snail's pace, which she found tiresome. Last night's beach kiss was a rare surprise for him, so his affection level immediately spiked.
He wanted Tang Ning to speak up against Xu Xingbai, but she refused.
She wanted to praise him and care for him with a pure and sincere expression in order to break Mu Sheng's so-called control.
See, he's already angry.
Change is the only way to break through.
Thinking of this, Tang Ning smiled inwardly and kept whispering her concerns for Xu Xingbai in Mu Sheng's ear.
The more she spoke, the bigger the man's strides became, and the coldness in his eyes and brows became more and more obvious.
Tang Ning's legs weren't as long as Mu Sheng's, who was nearly 1.9 meters tall. When he took a step, Tang Ning couldn't keep up.
A look of anxiety quickly crossed her face. "School doctor, you..."
Before he could finish speaking, Mu Sheng suddenly grabbed Tang Ning's arm and pulled her into his arms.
Almost simultaneously, a mischievous child who looked only six or seven years old zipped past the two of them from around the corner, stepping on a pedal.
"Hey, whose kid is this? Where are his parents? Skateboarding isn't allowed in the hospital corridor."
The nurse's warning rang out, but all she got in return was a strange, grimacing face from the child.
"careful……"
It was at this moment that Mu Sheng's words of reminder finally rang softly in Tang Ning's ears.
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning suddenly looked up, "Thank you..."
Before the smile could even bloom on his lips, Mu Sheng had already let go of her hand and walked forward, only this time, his pace slowed down considerably.
He was so slow that Tang Ning didn't need to chase him; she could easily keep up with him.
As the sun began to set, Mu Sheng's car was parked in a ground-level parking lot some distance from the inpatient department, requiring a walk to get there.
So the two walked one after the other in the hospital, and in the afterglow of the setting sun, everyone's shadows were stretched very long.
As she walked, Tang Ning noticed that her shadow and Mu Sheng's shadow would overlap from time to time. With a quick glance, she moved to the side and kept raising her hand to find the right angle while looking at her shadow. She finally stopped when her shadow and Mu Sheng's shadow were holding hands. She maintained this hand-in-hand gesture, walking faster when Mu Sheng walked faster and slower when Mu Sheng walked slower.
Before long, the man discovered the trickery of the shadow.
Looking at the two dark figures holding hands on the ground, he was stunned for a moment. Then, he couldn't help but smile. His eyes quickly warmed up from their previous coldness. The lingering unease in his heart seemed to shrink back as if touched by a soft, chubby little hand.
His pace slowed down, so slow that Tang Ning didn't need to find a specific angle; their shadows could still intertwine.
By the time the two got into the car, the coldness that had been lingering in Mu Sheng's eyes had completely disappeared.
Not only that—
As soon as Tang Ning got into the car, as if by magic, a jade Buddha appeared directly in front of the girl.
Upon seeing the jade Buddha, Tang Ning's eyes lit up instantly. She reached out and took the jade Buddha with a look of surprise and delight. "Where did you find this? I've been looking for it all day. How did it end up with you?"
"I found it under my pillow on my bed. It must have been something you accidentally left behind after you fell asleep last night..."
Upon hearing this, perhaps thinking of what happened last night, Tang Ning's face flushed uncontrollably. She gripped the jade Buddha in her hand tightly and whispered a thank you.
Upon hearing this, Mu Sheng smiled and started the car.
After safely dropping Tang Ning off at home, Tang Ning looked at the villa not far ahead and was about to get out of the car when, as if remembering something, she turned to look at Mu Sheng behind her. "School doctor, the 15th is my birthday. You...you will definitely come, right?"
Before Mu Sheng could answer, Tang Ning hurriedly spoke again, "You have to come, because... because I have something to tell you that day, something very, very important... really important..."
Hearing her say that, Mu Sheng turned to look at Tang Ning beside him and immediately saw the unease and expectation in her eyes. His eyes darkened slightly.
"Okay, I definitely will go."
Having received the other party's promise, Tang Ning got out of the car contentedly. Even though the car had driven quite a distance, Mu Sheng could still see the little girl waving at him from where she had just gotten out of the car through the rearview mirror.
In an instant, the curve of Mu Sheng's lips became even more pronounced.
Mu Sheng's current favorability rating: 58.
Well, it's better than nothing.
Anyway, it was just a casual swipe; the real money is yet to come.
Days passed quickly, and the 15th arrived soon. It was a Friday, and Tang Ning's birthday party would be held in the evening, so students still had to attend classes during the day.
The news of her birthday today had already spread on Jin Sheng's school forum several days in advance.
So, when Yin Yuqing arrived at class that morning, she noticed something unusual about the class.
First, she looked at the empty table beside her; Jiang Yao hadn't come.
Yes, the two of them are still sitting at the same desk. It's unclear whether he still has feelings for her or if it's for some other reason. Jiang Yao, who moved out of the dormitory, didn't decisively change his seat as well.
Even if they weren't switched, Yin Yuqing knew that the two of them definitely wouldn't sit together for long.
In Jinsheng's class, there's a monthly exam every month. After the exam, the homeroom teacher rearranges the seating. Before, it was because Ayao insisted on getting rid of her deskmate that they were able to sit together as deskmates for more than half a year, but now...
The next monthly exam is coming soon, and after the exam, she knows she will be completely excluded from Jiang Yao's life.
She didn't want to, not at all...
Therefore, she cherished every moment she spent sitting at the same table with Yao, but she didn't understand why Yao wasn't there today.
Not only was A-Yao absent, but the classmates also seemed unusually restless.
It was only after the morning exercises that she learned from a conversation between two classmates that she discovered it was Tang Ning's birthday.
So that's why the classmates were so excited today.
She hurriedly took out her phone and started refreshing the school forum. Sure enough, it was already flooded with news of Tang Ning's birthday. One classmate after another wished Tang Ning a happy birthday and then started discussing who had been invited to the birthday party tonight at the Ye family villa.
Birthday, banquet...
Almost instantly, Yin Yuqing understood why Jiang Yao hadn't come today.
He was most likely preparing a birthday gift for Tang Ning.
Thinking of this, Yin Yuqing bit her lower lip hard, the sorrow and bitterness in her heart almost overwhelming her.
Has she really been completely removed from Yao's life? They were so close not long ago, why...?
Tang Ning!
Everything was fine, so why did she show up? Even though A-Yao doesn't like her anymore, why is she still clinging to him? Even though she's already won A-Yao's heart, why is she still chasing after Jin Sheng?
Also, why hasn't Mu Sheng already taken Tang Ning away yet? If only he had her...
Wait...wait, the birthday party...
The resentment and unwillingness in Yin Yuqing's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a dazzling light.
Could it be... that Mu Sheng is planning to...
She had to attend Tang Ning's birthday party.
must.
Unfortunately, throughout the day, due to her inner embarrassment and the fact that her classmates kept wishing Tang Ning a happy birthday as soon as get out of class ended, Yin Yuqing didn't even have a chance to speak to Tang Ning.
until--
"Ningning!"
Tang Ning, who was packing her things after school in the afternoon, immediately heard a familiar voice call her name.
Tang Ning turned her head and saw Ye Jinyan, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, standing in the corridor outside the classroom, looking at her with a smile.
After a moment of stunned silence, Tang Ning couldn't help but scream, "Brother!"
Without even packing her things, she ran out without hesitation and threw herself into Ye Jinyan's arms.
"Why are you only getting back now? I messaged you before but you didn't reply. I thought you weren't coming back to celebrate my birthday..."
Tang Ning said this with a wronged expression.
"How could that be? No matter what happens, I'll definitely come back for your birthday." Ye Jinyan reached out and patted Tang Ning's head, then explained, "I didn't reply to your messages before because I was on a plane. As soon as I got off the plane, I came straight here without even going home..."
He pointed to his suitcase parked to the side.
Upon seeing the suitcase, Tang Ning's smile instantly brightened, and she quickly asked, "How is your grandfather's illness? Is it serious? Didn't they say he was in the intensive care unit?"
Hearing this, Ye Jinyan's smile faded slightly. "There's nothing seriously wrong. The surgery was a success. The doctor said that if he takes good care of himself, he could live for another seven or eight years..."
"That's wonderful!"
Tang Ning was also happy for the old man.
Even though Ye Jinyan didn't care much about it, he still smiled slightly when he saw Tang Ning's smile.
Just as the two were feeling happy and excited about their rare reunion, a hesitant voice suddenly rang out behind them.
"Tang... Tang Ning, may I attend your birthday party?"
Upon hearing Yin Yuqing's voice, Tang Ning immediately raised an eyebrow.
Turning around, she saw Yin Yuqing looking at her timidly, then giving her an embarrassed smile. "I... I've never been to a classmate's birthday party before. Can I go? I... I'll definitely bring you a gift. Please let me go, okay?"
Yin Yuqing's face showed a pleading expression.
Seeing this, Tang Ning smiled generously at her, "Of course you can! You're my classmate too, so it's fine if you want to come celebrate my birthday! But you probably don't know where I live, right? Let A Yao take you there... Ah, A Yao isn't here today, so..."
Upon hearing this, Yin Yuqing's gaze instinctively fell on Ye Jinyan beside her. Seeing that he didn't even bother to meet her eyes, Yin Yuqing lowered her head and forced a smile, saying, "It's okay, just send me your home location on my phone later, and I'll take a taxi there myself..."
"OK."
Tang Ning nodded, then turned to look at Ye Jinyan beside her, "Brother, let's go back first. By the way, where's your gift?"
"It's in the suitcase."
"What?! The suitcase is already so small. My gift is still inside, so it'll be even smaller. How come you only brought me this little gift after going abroad? It's my birthday!"
"hehe……"
"Laugh? You still have the nerve to laugh? I don't care, this doesn't count. You still owe me a gift, which you'll have to make up for later!"
"Okay, you decide."
"Then I want..."
...
The sound of Tang Ning and Ye Jinyan talking, along with the rolling of their suitcase wheels, gradually faded into the distance. Soon, even Yin Yuqing could no longer hear their voices.
She then looked up, staring blankly at the two figures that had already disappeared into the distance.
It's alright, it's alright. As long as Mu Sheng keeps his promise and takes her away tonight, A Yao and Brother Jin Yan will realize her fickle nature and stay away from her. As long as Mu Sheng takes her away, that's all that matters...
Yin Yuqing stubbornly thought this way, her eyes filled with dark clouds.
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