9. Snow in a silver bowl
I'm waiting for him to give me a positive explanation.
When Shang Xinuan woke up again, she saw a dim, noisy ceiling.
Apart from the beeping of the machine monitoring vital signs, there was no other sound in my ears.
The pain was tearing my whole body apart, like being gnawed by millions of ants.
She could only observe her surroundings by moving her eyes.
The scene was set in a hospital ward. Qiao Xi and Yu Jiayue were on either side of her bed, while Ruan Songyi and Jiang Xiangzhuo were snuggled on the sofa. All four of them were asleep.
Looking out the window again, the sky was pitch black.
She blinked hard, trying to suppress the stinging sensation and moisten her eyes.
Only then did I notice the digital clock hanging on the wall in front of the bed, which showed three in the morning.
What happened before he fell into a coma?
Oh, right!
It's a rumor about Li Xiran's engagement.
Accompanied by a piercing pain, she could only whimper from deep in her throat.
Yu Jiayue was the first to wake up gently, calling her name, "Nuan Nuan, Nuan Nuan?"
The other three also woke up instantly and gathered around her window.
"Nuan Nuan." Qiao Xi's eyes were swollen like walnuts. Seeing her like this, tears finally streamed down her face. "Don't scare me!"
Her voice was hoarse, and she couldn't even utter a complete sentence; she could only tremble and use mouth shapes and breathy sounds to say, "Uncle... Uncle..."
She wanted to know if the nightmares she had before falling into a coma were real or not, and whether the person she had been eagerly waiting for was about to become someone else's husband.
But when she met her gaze, Qiao Xi guiltily looked away.
She sensed the guilt in his voice, as if giving a silent answer.
At that moment, Shang Xinuan seemed to smell a bloody liquid spreading from her throat to her entire chest cavity.
My eyes, red and sore, could no longer hold back my tears.
Large tears slid down her cheeks, burning like lava, or like a million invisible ants, seeping into her skin, following her veins, and gnawing at her bones and muscles.
That kind of pain.
It is a spasm that is linked to the heart and cerebral cortex.
She even wanted to burst into tears.
But all that could come out of his throat was a painful, hoarse gasp.
A large number of medical staff arrived at this time, presumably to administer diazepam to her.
Her consciousness began to fade again, and in the very end, a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye and landed on her earlobe.
It turns out that you can laugh even when you're in extreme pain.
As if mocking herself, she fell into a deep sleep.
-
When did she start following Li Xiran around?
It was probably the first time I saw him at the Shang family home.
A study published in the journal Sexual Medicine has shown that when one develops special feelings for someone, the brain immediately releases a pleasurable chemical, a process that takes only 1/5 of a second.
So, before a single petal could fall into the lake, her heart was already rippled.
When did Li Xiran begin to tacitly approve of her existence?
She searched through her memory archives but found that this memory was not there.
The seemingly unbreakable bond between them is all thanks to the forced imagination fueled by a girlish filter.
Despite four years of pursuing her, he never truly reciprocated her deep affection.
She turned 20 in her sophomore year of college.
This was the first time Li Xiran had gotten drunk in front of her.
The little girl, dressed in a white wedding gown, knelt in front of him, her hands cupping her pretty, delicate face.
He casually stroked the diamond crown on her head, exuding an air of refined elegance.
He has high brow bones and deep-set eyes.
He possesses a strong sense of British mixed-race elegance, yet because he looks more like a Chinese person, his handsomeness is tempered with a touch of restraint.
That was the first time in her memory that Li Xiran wore a white shirt.
He unbuttoned his tie and the top two buttons of his shirt, leaving the collar slightly open.
It was as if he had shed all his rigid defenses and was openly and honestly revealing himself completely to her.
The noisy private room was filled with clinking glasses and dim lighting.
Only between them, it was as if a secluded world had been created.
She looked directly into his eyes and placed her hand on his knee.
Those amber-like eyes were just inches away from him.
In the flow of time, like stars and the moon.
The girl's voice was even sweet and charming, taking advantage of the man's drunkenness.
Seemingly unintentionally, yet jokingly, he tentatively asked, "Uncle, you're already thirty years old, why haven't you found a girlfriend yet?"
He stared at her red lips, his eyes filled with indescribable emotions. After his Adam's apple bobbed a few times, he still didn't answer the question.
But she didn't want to hold back and continued to ask, "You're not, you're waiting for me to grow up, are you?"
Li Xiran suddenly chuckled and tapped her nose with the hand that had just been stroking the crown.
But the answer remained ambiguous: "You can think of it that way too."
At that time, she thought that as long as she grew up, she would be able to say "okay".
But how do we determine the threshold for "growing up"?
Much later, she found the answer.
"Graduation" is that threshold.
So, as soon as her defense was over, she couldn't wait to go find him.
That sentence, "Li Xiran, I've graduated."
The meaning is clearly, "Li Xiran, I've grown up. I can be your girlfriend now."
She also remembered that night after she saw Li Xiran off in the car.
Before leaving, he rolled down the car window and solemnly said to her, "Happy graduation."
She thought it was saying, "Little girl, you've finally grown up. The future belongs to us."
Only now do I truly understand its meaning: You've finally grown up, and I can now confidently find a girlfriend and start a family.
As for Miss Bai Quesi, Shang Xinuan had also given it serious thought in secret.
Bai Quesi was so intellectual, elegant, gentle, and poised.
Even she herself felt that such a woman was suitable to be married as a wife.
A subtle, persistent pain surged back into her mind along with the memories, and her tear-blurred eyes stung with a stinging ache.
Shang Xinuan opened her eyes, and the white walls of the room were full of noise in her eyes.
Then I thought, how could this heart be so fragile, causing me so much pain whether I'm asleep or awake?
The pain was so intense that she wanted to use a knife to cut out the thorns inside.
But if you really give her a knife, you'd be reluctant to give up that desperate gamble.
I don't know if it's true, but when you realize that someone is really leaving you, you can search through your memories and find not a single bad thing about them.
-
"Nuan Nuan?" Qiao Xi called her name softly and cautiously.
"Don't worry. The doctor said you didn't break any bones. You instinctively dodged when Ruby stepped on your leg." Shang Xinuan had received professional equestrian training, so she had basic safety skills. "But since you fell from a horse, you'll need to rest and be observed in Yijing for a while to prevent internal organ damage."
Shang Xin's lips trembled, and tears still glistened in her eyes, "Li..."
Perhaps the effects of the medication hadn't worn off yet, because her speech was somewhat slurred.
But even a single word was enough for Qiao Xi to understand what she meant.
"I won't lie to you. I called my parents first thing this morning to ask what happened, but they wouldn't let me care and wouldn't tell me anything." Qiao Xi grabbed her hand, as if trying to pull her out of her pain. "I couldn't get through to my uncle either."
“I originally wanted to ask my uncle, but you know, I’m really afraid of him.” Li Yuzhan works at the court, and Qiao Xi has secretly called him the cold-faced judge since they were little.
Shang Xinu lay on her back, her brow trembling. "Bai, engagement, really?"
Qiao Xi said in a hoarse voice, "It's all over Shanghai."
Shang Xinuan: "I want to hear it."
So Qiao Xi told Shang Xinuan the whole story, including the 520 dinner, the 520 yuan red diamond ring at the auction, and Chen Shaoyi personally referring to Bai Quesi as the daughter-in-law of the Li family in front of the media.
“But when I asked the people at the Li family, they said that the company had no idea about it. The public relations department has not received any instructions from above, and my uncle and Chen Ti are not in the country.”
"Maybe, maybe it was Shaoyi's grandmother who made this decision on her own..."
In the end, even Qiao Xi herself felt it was outrageous, and her voice gradually faded away.
Although Li Xiran is known for his gentle temperament, he is still a shrewd businessman at heart.
From the moment he entered the Li family to the point where he is now, it is all thanks to the solid foundation he laid.
The rumors about him and Shang Xinuan, though they had circulated for a long time and had many versions, were ultimately nothing more than gossip.
However, Bai Quesi was personally brought in front of the camera by Chen Shaoyi, who personally acknowledged her as the daughter-in-law of the Li family with 520 million yuan in real money.
The moment she made it public, the commercial and social impact became extraordinary.
This concerns the Li family's stock, the various projects currently underway, and the projects planned for the future.
Given Li Xiran's personality, he would never joke about the Li family.
"Xi Xi." Tears welled up in Shang Xin's eyes and slid down her cheeks. "I'm waiting for him to give me a positive explanation."
Over the years, Li Xiran has certainly had his share of scandals.
His status in Shanghai is undeniable; at a business banquet, countless women would flock to him.
Previously, a female celebrity deliberately twisted her ankle and fell into his arms, which was then photographed and written about by entertainment reporters, and became a hot topic.
At 3 a.m., the public relations department of the Li family issued a statement to clarify.
The Department of Justice even filed a lawsuit against the rumor-mongers.
As for that female celebrity, she disappeared without a trace.
She believed that Li Xiran had already received various messages at this moment.
It could be a congratulatory message or a request for confirmation.
Most importantly, Li Xiran will give her an explanation.
He understands her.
The young lady never believed those media outlets that exaggerated the truth; she only believed him.
-
Shang Xinuan waited all day, but neither Li Xiran nor the Li Group issued a clarification announcement.
The news of her falling from her horse in Yijing somehow reached Shanghai, and the whole city knew that Miss Shang was heartbroken and almost lost her life under the hooves of a horse.
In the afternoon, the hospital where Shang Xinuan was staying was filled with all kinds of luxury cars with license plates starting with "沪A".
The wealthy second-generation heirs of Shanghai almost filled the young lady's hospital room with flowers and fruit baskets.
Everyone advised her to think more positively, after all, she was Miss Shang.
Looking across the entire city of Shanghai, no one has a more prestigious status than her.
In terms of both appearance and talent, she was outstanding among the daughters of prominent families.
If you randomly picked any of those rich young men, none of them wouldn't want to be with her.
The mayor's son waited silently for many years, just for her to say "I do".
But in the past, her eyes and heart were always on Li Xiran, and she never looked away.
Looking at the young men and women in front of her, some sitting and some standing, vying to chat with her and keep her company, Shang Xinuan felt even more desolate.
"Everyone, go home. I'll rest for a while and then I'll be discharged." After the effects of the medication wore off in the afternoon, she finally recovered somewhat and was able to communicate normally with people.
"We don't have anything to do, so we're just keeping you company to distract you. If you're bored lying here, I'll find some minor celebrities to sing and cheer you up."
"I'm just tired and want to sleep for a while." Shang Xinuan knew their good intentions and smiled, saying, "I'll book a villa club for everyone, you can go and have fun."
"Let's get together again once I've fully recovered."
She calmly saw off those rich kids.
The desolation after the excitement left my heart feeling as if it were being pierced by countless arrows, leaving numerous empty holes.
She thought, everyone has come, except for that one person.
There wasn't even a phone call or a text message.
When Yu Jiayue came in from outside, he saw her staring blankly out the window, her face ashen.
Lacking emotional focus, her pupils were unfocused, like a delicate yet fragile glass doll.
"Nuan Nuan, are you sleepy?" he asked. "Let me lower the bed."
Shang Xinuan, weak and powerless, asked, "Has my grandfather arrived?"
“Grandpa and your uncle and aunt are already on the plane.” Yu Jiayue tucked her in. “You should get some sleep, and we’ll probably arrive soon.”
"Yu Jiayue, does the whole world know about this?"
"Huh?" Yu Jiayue took a second to understand what she meant. "Don't rush, wait a little longer."
Shang Xinuan nodded.
I thought to myself, it's only the first day.
Perhaps because Li Xiran is in Zurich, he has a time difference in accessing information from China.
She still only believed in him.
-
Feng Ruochu arrived at the hospital before Shang Zun's family.
Shang Xinu couldn't help but sigh, she really went to great lengths to make a fool of herself.
Because of her weakness, Feng Ruochu had a rare advantage, becoming arrogant and witty.
"Shang Xinuan, you're really something, getting hurt like this for a man. No wonder you're your mother's biological daughter, you're even willing to give yourself away for a man."
She didn't actually care that Feng Ruochu was making fun of her; she had read all the trending posts online. The things Feng Ruochu said were even harsher than what Feng Ruochu said, but Feng Ruochu insisted on mentioning Shang Chenshu.
"You truly are your mother's biological daughter. You both love to kick someone when they're down." Shang Xinuan's face was pale, and although she was weak, her words were still incredibly hurtful. "Is she still suffering from insomnia and frequently dreaming about my mother?"
"You!" Feng Ruochu rushed to her bedside, so much so that she thought Feng Ruochu wanted to fight her. "At least my mother is alive and well, and she didn't try to kill herself because of my father."
"A pure and innocent woman paired with a scumbag is a win-win situation. Why would anyone want to die?"
Feng Ruochu, who had originally come to mock her, turned red with anger.
"Feng Ruochu, if you wanted to see me make a fool of myself, now that you've seen how miserable I am, just leave. Take advantage of my inability to argue with you." Her emotions were completely consumed by Li Xiran, and she didn't even have the energy to banter with Feng Ruochu to relieve her boredom.
"Of course I'm here to see you make a fool of yourself." Feng Ruochu said, hands on her hips. "The first time I saw you, you were lying sickly in a hospital bed."
Shangxi is warm and meets Ruochu, who is the same age.
The former was born on December 1st, and the latter on April 1st.
The two first met in Paris, France.
The backstory is that Shang Chenshu and Feng Jiting had a passionate romance. The spoiled princess and the playboy were destined to quarrel endlessly and love-hate each other.
They were all born into prestigious families, and from birth, the world's balance seemed to revolve solely around them.
Shang Chenshu hopes her lover will be devoted and unwavering, while Feng Jiting hopes her lover will be gentle and generous.
It seems that God, while writing the opening of a fairy tale, also foreshadowed the tragic ending.
Feng Jiting ultimately could not tolerate Shang Chenshu's arrogant and spoiled nature, and cruelly broke up with him.
After the breakup, Shang Chenshu lived a muddled life until she discovered she was pregnant in the fourth month.
At that time, Feng Jiting had already married the gentle-natured Lin Fanglian, who was also pregnant.
Shang Chenshu was afraid of her father and brother. After they found out, they forbade her to keep the child.
So she went to Paris alone and secretly gave birth to Shang Xinuan.
Shang Xinuan lived with her mother in Paris until she was five years old.
However, Shang Chenshu had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, and had become unruly.
She has no idea how to take care of herself, let alone how to take care of a child.
For those five years, day and night were reversed.
Shang Chenshu also suffers from severe depression and spends all her time in tears.
Shang Xinuan often went hungry, becoming thin and frail at a young age.
When Shang Xinuan was five years old, Shang Chenshu could no longer bear the mental pressure and chose to commit suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills.
Upon hearing the news, Shang Zun was devastated.
They rushed to Paris that same day to retrieve their daughter's body and their granddaughter who had lost her mother.
Feng Jiting also learned the news, but he stubbornly believed that his own flesh and blood should not be raised by others.
He then took his wife and daughter, intending to bring Shang Xinuan to the Feng family.
Shang Xinuan was traumatized by her mother's death and had been lying in the hospital with a low-grade fever for a week.
The first person she saw when she opened her eyes was Feng Ruochu.
Two little girls had their first fight when none of the adults were paying attention.
"Feng Ruochu, I really don't have the energy to argue with you right now. If you want to see me make a fool of myself and laugh at me, go ahead." She closed her eyes, choosing to ignore Feng Ruochu.
“I just think you’re a disgrace.” Feng Ruochu pulled her and forced her to open her eyes. “I would rather you were that aloof Shang Xinuan who looked down on me and disdained me.”
"I really hate the way you all act like you're going to die for a man."
"Do you still remember that you were Shang Xinuan? The rich young lady who could easily get whatever she wanted just by opening her mouth?"
“From childhood to adulthood, you’ve always been one step ahead of me. From looks to height. Even in terms of knowledge and intelligence, I’m not as good as you. Dad says you’re the older sister, so it’s normal for you to be better than me.”
"I admit it!"
“But now you’re getting hurt because of Li Xiran, I really think you’re incredibly foolish.”
Are you also planning to commit suicide for him?
Shang Xinuan opened her eyes in surprise and saw Feng Ruochu's red eyes.
"So..." she asked tentatively, "Do you want me to commit suicide, or are you afraid I'll commit suicide?"
"Are you stupid?" Feng Ruochu yelled, "If you dare to commit suicide for a man, I will disown you as my sister."
Only now did Shang Xinuan understand why Feng Ruochu had traveled all the way to Yijing. "You've never called me 'sister,' have you?"
"If I called you 'sister,' would you still commit suicide?"
I don't know if it was because it was the first time I'd seen Feng Ruochu with red eyes, but I found her crying and sobbing amusing.
At this moment, she was in a vulnerable emotional state, and everyone came to coax and comfort her, except for Feng Ruochu who scolded her for not loving herself enough.
A strange rebellious feeling arose in her heart, and she suddenly wanted to tease her.
"You call out first."
"Sister." Feng Ruochu's face remained expressionless, but the words "sister" seemed to be burning her tongue as she blurted them out.
"Um."
"So, are you still going to commit suicide now?"
"I never said I was going to commit suicide. Falling off the horse was an accident. What exactly are people in Shanghai spreading rumors about me?"
Feng Ruochu was stunned for a moment, then grabbed the LV bucket bag in her hand and smashed it against the edge of the sofa next to her. "Liars, they're all liars."
After saying that, she turned to leave.
Shang Xinuan quickly called out to her, "Hey!"
"Don't call me, I'm angry!" Feng Ruochu didn't stop and rushed out of the ward.
They almost bumped into Shang Zun and his group who were coming from the opposite direction.
Shang Dan rushed into the ward first, asking anxiously, "Did Feng Ruochu bully you?"
Seeing her maternal grandfather, uncle, aunt, and cousin arrive, she suddenly felt like a child who had gained confidence.
The moment her lips trembled, her nose stung and felt dry, and tears streamed down her face.
A note from the author:
Peach knows nothing, and Peach can't say anything.
Taozi only knew that soon, Li Xiran would be pursuing his wife.
Finally, Peach wants to say: Love is precious, but not losing yourself is also precious!!!
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