Upon entering the ward, I found no one else there, only a person lying quietly on the bed. She was clutching a pillow, and her face was flushed, perhaps due to a fever. Such fair and rosy skin is usually the best, but the thought of her suffering because of it made my heart clench.
Zhuang Yicheng leaned down slightly, silently watching her, then slowly reached out and touched her forehead. Then, gently, he moved his hand to her face. The skin beneath his palm was burning hot.
Perhaps she was a little delirious from the fever; disturbed, she mumbled something and grabbed his hand, rubbing it against his palm. Her words were indistinct, and it was unclear what she was saying.
Zhuang Yicheng sat down on the edge of the bed. A strange sensation traveled through his arm to his limbs and then to his heart as she held his hand. His gaze involuntarily moved slowly down from her forehead to her full, luscious lips. They were like ripe cherries, exuding a sweet fragrance that silently tempted him.
Zhuang Yicheng had always thought he had excellent self-control, but at this moment he suddenly doubted whether he was too confident. Because he couldn't control himself and slowly lowered his head to her lips.
Just as their lips were about to touch, she murmured a name. Although it was still somewhat indistinct, he heard it clearly—Qingfeng.
Zhuang Yicheng's lips froze at hers; if he moved just a little lower, their four lips would be pressed together. And he could finally have his wish fulfilled.
He held that position for a while, then slowly straightened up. He knew all too well that she was a fatal temptation to him. This temptation could be coveted, but not easily indulged in, or it would lead to utter ruin.
Zhuang Yicheng looked at her quietly, unsure whether to thank her for the shout or regret that he hadn't been able to taste her lips. He couldn't reach a conclusion, and he couldn't even figure out if he regretted it.
After a while, he finally managed to pull his hand out with a little force.
The person in bed jolted awake, as if they had lost something important, and suddenly opened their eyes. But it was clear that they were not fully conscious and were still somewhat groggy.
"How are you feeling?" Zhuang Yicheng asked gently, his voice low and hoarse, sounding very suppressed.
Ling Ruoke turned her gaze and stared at him blankly. After a while, she forced a smile and called out, "Mr. Zhuang, what brings you here?"
The call of "Mr. Zhuang" served as a stark reminder of the vast distance separating them. Zhuang Yicheng felt a sharp pain in his chest, a heavy weight that made it almost impossible to breathe. Yet, he still smiled gently. "I heard you were ill, so I came to see you."
"I'm sorry, I'm so useless. I never thought that turning on the air conditioner would make me like this." Ling Ruoke was in great pain, but she still tried to smile.
"You're feeling unwell because you're worried. Don't think too much about it, Huo Qingfeng will be fine. You should think about it, maybe he's planning a desperate move." After saying that, Zhuang Yicheng realized he had said too much and subconsciously glanced at the door.
Ling Ruoke's mind was still foggy, and she didn't quite understand his words, but she was clearly comforted. "Thank you." She was obviously very tired, and her eyelids were heavy.
Zhuang Yicheng poured her some hot water. "You're still sick, drink some hot water, then take a nap. You'll feel better when you wake up."
Ling Ruoke did not refuse, because her throat was burning and thirsty, and she really needed to drink water.
Zhuang Yicheng reached his arm around her from behind her shoulder, lifting her upper body slightly, and then fed her water. Seeing that she was really thirsty and her movements were a little impatient, he said, "Slow down, don't rush."
Ling Ruoke took several sips. Although her throat was still burning, she felt much better. "Thank you."
Zhuang Yicheng was almost reluctant to put her down, but he slowly lowered his arm and then pulled it out. "Go to sleep."
"Yes, I'm fine. You can go ahead and do what you need to do." Before she could finish speaking, she had already closed her eyes.
"I'll leave after you fall asleep." His words went unanswered. Just like his feelings, they were destined to remain unrequited from the very beginning.
After sitting silently by the window for a long time, Zhuang Yicheng finally stood up and left. Before leaving, he reached out and touched her forehead; perhaps it was just his imagination, but it didn't feel so hot anymore. Since I'm destined not to have you, your happiness is all I want.
I couldn't resist and gently kissed her forehead. May you be happy, if possible.
He stood up, turned to leave, but bumped into Yang Ziyun at the door. Zhuang Yicheng naturally knew Yang Ziyun; he remembered many people and had an exceptionally good memory.
He nodded to Yang Ziyun. "Hello, Auntie."
Yang Ziyun paused for a moment before nodding. "Hello. You must be Mr. Zhuang?" Unlike the official's wife, she didn't usually need to attend many banquets, so she couldn't recognize the person in front of her, but he looked very familiar.
"Yes. Auntie, I have to go now. I'll come see her again when I have time. Goodbye."
"I thank you on behalf of Ruoke. Goodbye."
Yang Ziyun watched his tall figure disappear into the distance, her brows furrowing slightly. This person seemed very familiar, as if she had indeed seen him before, but she couldn't quite place him. What bothered her more was that he seemed… to like Ruo Ke? Could it be that the person from last night was also him?
Yang Ziyun's alarm went off; she desperately wanted to call her son, but she couldn't reach him. This was also the first time Yang Ziyun realized that Ling Ruoke was a woman who could easily attract men. Although divorced, she possessed a beautiful appearance, a good temper, and a kind personality, especially her gentle side—all qualities that attracted men.
A sense of crisis! This was the first time Yang Ziyun had felt a sense of crisis regarding her son's relationship with Ling Ruoke. Ling Ruoke wasn't an unwanted woman, nor was she necessarily dependent on her son. However, her stubborn son seemed determined to marry no one but her!
Yang Ziyun's feelings suddenly became complicated, even chaotic. It was as if she had always thought of something worthless as scrap metal, only to discover one day that it was actually a treasure. She couldn't wait to call her husband and tell him about it.
Ling Ruo, in her dazed state, was unaware of all this. She only saw the man she longed for in her dream. She could see his gentle and doting smile, hear his deep and magnetic voice, and even his always playful tone was so clear.
"Qingfeng..." she called softly, shifting her body restlessly.
Yang Ziyun hung up the phone just in time to hear her shout. If she had previously accepted Ling Ruoke only for her son's sake, now Yang Ziyun was truly certain about the girl. She had to admit that in this materialistic and ruthless society, Ling Ruoke was a good wife candidate.
After standing quietly for a while, Yang Ziyun sat down on the stool by the bed. Looking at the person whose face was flushed red from the fever, she couldn't help but reach out and touch her forehead and face.
Soon, Ling Ruoke grasped her hand. Perhaps sensing that it was a woman's hand, she stopped calling Qingfeng's name and instead called out "Mom," each utterance filled with longing...
Yang Ziyun felt something changing in her heart, and something overflowing in her heart as if it were about to spill over.
...
Ling Ruoke slept fitfully until the afternoon before finally waking up. Her eyes were still blurry, and she was not yet fully conscious.
"Ruo Ke, you're awake? How are you feeling?" Yang Ziyun felt a little relieved when she saw that Ruo Ke was awake.
Ling Ruoke blinked, watching her gradually regain consciousness. "Auntie." She raised her hand and touched her forehead. "I feel much better, but I feel weak and have little strength."
"Hmm, it's normal to feel weak when you have such a high fever. Are you hungry? I've prepared some porridge, have some." Yang Ziyun helped her lean against the headboard.
"I want to drink water." Her throat was as parched as a desert that hadn't seen a drop of rain in ages.
Yang Ziyun poured her some water first, then took the thermos and fed her porridge. "Come on, eat something, or you'll starve."
"Auntie, I can do it myself." Ling Ruoke tried to smile. Although she was weak all over, she didn't dare to trouble Yang Ziyun to feed her herself.
Yang Ziyun smiled gently and put her hand back. "When you're sick, you're like a child. Now, just treat yourself like a child." As she spoke, she scooped up a spoonful of porridge and brought it to her lips.
Ling Ruoke stared at her blankly, somewhat incredulous.
Yang Ziyun smiled and moved her spoon again. "Eat quickly, or you'll get better slower. A wife is like a daughter, and I'm your mother. What's there to be shy about when your mother feeds you?"
Ling Ruoke vaguely thought that this wasn't shyness, but rather being flattered. However, she still opened her mouth and took the first mouthful of porridge. Because of her high fever, nothing tasted good, but Ling Ruoke felt this was the best porridge she had ever tasted.
As she drank, tears began to fall. Through her blurred vision, she truly felt as if she had seen her mother. Ever since leaving the base, she had been taught not to cry and to rely on herself. But at this moment, she felt like a child, crying uncontrollably.
Yang Ziyun pulled out a tissue to wipe her tears. "Why are you crying? Is the porridge too awful? We won't buy from this store next time." Her tone was just like comforting a child.
To be honest, Yang Ziyun had always wanted a daughter. Like other families, mother and daughter could walk hand in hand to shop and eat. A daughter would be like a warm, comforting little cotton-padded jacket; just thinking about it made her heart flutter. This was also why she initially liked the guzheng and later fell for Gu Zhenzhen. They were like daughters to her, making her happy and even acting coquettishly. But due to various reasons, she and Ling Ruoke couldn't achieve this; instead, they went in opposite directions.
"No, I... I just..." She just missed home, missed her parents. Everyone else has a family home where they can run back to their parents' house and cuddle in their parents' arms for the smallest things, but she didn't!
Thinking about it, Ling Ruoke couldn't stop her tears. She knew she shouldn't be so fragile, shouldn't cry, but the tears just wouldn't listen, like a naughty child defying her!
"You miss your mom and dad, don't you? You silly child, don't cry, please stop crying." Yang Ziyun put down the bowl and spoon in her hand, hugged her, and pressed her against her shoulder. Her heart softened as if it were cotton.
Ling Ruoke clutched her clothes and cried even harder on her shoulder. In the past, she loved to lean on her mother's or father's shoulder like this, making her parents smile and filling the room with laughter.
"Mom..." she cried out. The past was like a sharp knife to her, cutting into the most vulnerable part of her heart every time she recalled it.
Yang Ziyun hugged her tightly, sighed, and comforted her. "It's alright, Mom's here, Mom's here..." At this moment, she truly felt that this girl was her own daughter.
She's only 25, still a teenager, yet she's already faced so much hardship. It's truly pitiful!
Go back and talk to the old man, and tell him to treat her better in the future, as if he has a daughter of his own.
...
Yang Ziyun spied on Ling Ruoke's private parts for the second time because the phone on the bedside table kept beeping with text message notifications. Several messages had been sent, and even the drowsy Ling Ruoke noticed them.
She mumbled sleepily as she reached for her phone, her eyes still closed, fumbling for it and starting to press the buttons. Perhaps because she was too weak, she didn't even glance at the screen before falling back asleep. Her hand dangled off the edge of the bed, her grip on the phone loose, threatening to slip from her grasp.
Yang Ziyun hesitated for a moment, then stood up and took the phone from her hand. She couldn't help but glance down at the screen. She had assumed it was the man from that morning, but instead, the screen displayed a photo of Ruoke and that man. The number was a string of digits, without a contact name. She tapped a few times and discovered several MMS messages, all from that number.
It's quite obvious that this is likely a threat to Ruoke, otherwise they wouldn't have sent such a photo.
Actually, there's nothing wrong with the photo. It's just two people standing on the roadside talking, without any intimate physical contact. But it's not impossible for someone to deliberately make a big deal out of it.
Yang Ziyun didn't touch anything else and sat back down. She considered whether to tell Huo Zhixun and his father about it.
Just then, the phone rang again; it was that suspicious number calling.
Yang Ziyun stared at the string of numbers, glanced at the unconscious person on the bed, and finally couldn't resist answering the phone. She didn't want to pry into Ruoke's secrets, but rather worried that she might be threatened. She simply listened without saying a word.
The voice on the other end sounded smug, accompanied by a cold snort. "Ling Ruoke, did you receive what I sent? Do you think if I send these photos to the elders of the Huo family, they will still agree to let you be with Huo Qingfeng? If I give these photos to the media, what do you think will happen then?"
Yang Ziyun frowned slightly. She slowly realized that the person opposite her was playing the guzheng! She couldn't speak, so she just hummed to show that she was listening.
"You think I don't know you're scared just because you don't say anything? How ridiculous! Tonight at 7 PM, room 808 of the Emperor Hotel. You'd better be there on time, or I'll hand these photos over to the Huo family or the media. There might be a few really surprising ones among them."
After a few cold laughs, the other end of the phone hung up.
Yang Ziyun thought for a while and then dialed her husband's number.
At 6:50 p.m., outside the Emperor Hotel.
Accompanied by two bodyguards, Yang Ziyun entered the Emperor Hotel and took the elevator to room 808. She wore a baseball cap pulled low and kept her head down. Her figure was not much different from Ling Ruoke's, so it was not noticeable unless you looked closely.
Inside the room, Gu Zheng received a report from her subordinate that Ling Ruoke had brought two bodyguards and asked if they needed to be dealt with. Gu Zheng smiled and said, "If we need to take action, surely you can handle two bodyguards?"
"Understood, sir." The man dared not say more and stood beside her.
A moment later, the door opened.
Gu Zheng, smoking a cigarette, didn't even look at the doorway, and simply said, "Come in alone."
Yang Ziyun didn't say anything, but gestured to the two guards to wait outside. She then turned and walked in, closing the door immediately behind her.
"Since you're here, let's have a proper talk. I'm not that petty; I'm still willing to give people a chance, aren't I?" Gu Zheng exhaled a puff of smoke and smiled coldly.
Yang Ziyun raised her hand and took off her hat. Smiling, she looked at her and asked, "What does Xiaozheng want to talk to me about?"
Gu Zheng's expression changed drastically, and she stood up abruptly, but quickly regained her composure. "Aunt Huo, how could it be you?"
Yang Ziyun smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping over the woman from head to toe before finally meeting her eyes. "Our Huo family's daughter-in-law is ill and unable to attend, so I'm here in her place. What, is it that Xiaozheng isn't qualified because of me?"
"Of course not, I..." Gu Zheng understood Yang Ziyun better than Ling Ruoke. Often, Yang Ziyun seemed like a simple old lady, but having lived so many years, she hadn't lived in vain. Her cunning was simply untapped; her life was too simple for her to use. She preferred to use little tricks to add some fun to her life.
Yang Ziyun still smiled. "Since that's the case, let's have a proper talk. I've seen all the photos you posted. Didn't you say there were some really surprising ones? Why don't you show them to me now?"
"Aunt Huo, this is between Ling Ruoke and me, please don't interfere." Gu Zheng calmed down and met her gaze. She believed that Yang Ziyun liked her more than Ling Ruoke.
Yang Ziyun laughed out loud, as if Gu Zheng's little antics were nothing to her. "Little Zheng, didn't you hear what I just said? Ling Ruo is my daughter-in-law, and also like a daughter to me. Her affairs are my affairs, and also the affairs of the Huo family."
Gu Zheng understood that she was expressing an attitude: the entire Huo family acknowledged Ling Ruoke's identity and would protect her!
Yang Ziyun took a few steps forward and sat down in the spot where Guzheng had been sitting, looking quite relaxed. "Little Zheng, speaking of which, I've practically watched you grow up. If it weren't for my Qingfeng's disappointing behavior, we might already be a good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. But sometimes life is like that; once you miss something, it's gone, and it's hard to get back. When I saw Qingfeng so down, I also hoped you could come back to him, back to his side. But you didn't. You're living a wonderful life in a foreign land, completely oblivious to your homeland."
Even though she was sitting down and was quite tall, the guzheng player could still clearly feel the pressure. Despite her small stature, Yang Ziyun exuded an aura even with a faint smile. This was what time and experience had bestowed upon her.
She spoke with a smile and a gentle tone, yet Guzheng was completely at a loss for words. Her words, seemingly casual statements, were actually the sharpest accusations.
“At first, I didn’t like Ling Ruoke either. Think about it, you almost became my daughter-in-law. Who are you? You are the eldest daughter of the renowned Gu family, with both a prestigious family background and stunning looks. What is Ling Ruoke? Just an orphan, and a divorced one at that. I would never agree to someone like that marrying into my Huo family. Unfortunately, I never expected that I would have a son who is so infatuated with Ling Ruoke. He was completely blinded by her and didn’t want anyone else but her. Despite our repeated attempts to sabotage them, we still couldn’t separate them in the end.”
Gu Zheng didn't interrupt; she couldn't figure out what Yang Ziyun wanted to say, so she didn't dare to speak out of turn.
Yang Ziyun sighed and slowly stood up. "Later, I don't know how I came to understand. Love is like drinking water; only the person drinking knows whether it's hot or cold. Although I am Qingfeng's mother, I am not him, and I can't walk his path for him. He's been an independent child since he was little, and he knows exactly what he wants. Since you left, he's become colder and colder, like a stone. Even I, as his mother, have started to doubt whether he has any feelings. But Ling Ruoke changed him, made him more like a person, able to laugh and even cry. I, as his mother, can't make him laugh, but Ling Ruoke can. You think, as a mother, what I want to see is my son being happy, right?"
Yang Ziyun reached out and patted Gu Zheng's shoulder, smiling gently. "Gu Zheng, you're a very outstanding girl. Countless men must have liked you. Qingfeng definitely liked you too, but people change. Six years isn't six days. I believe you didn't spend those six years in Paris alone. As far as I know, more than one man has been interested in you. But our Qingfeng only has Ling Ruoke, and he won't marry anyone else. Looking at it this way, Gu Zheng is more charming and has more choices, right? So, Qingfeng's return isn't worth it at all. Don't waste your time on him, or I'll feel bad for you. He only deserves someone like Ling Ruoke. Just like his grandfather said, Ling Ruoke is destined to be the Huo family's daughter-in-law; there's nothing that can be done about it."
Yang Ziyun was silent for a moment, then slowly walked to the window and looked down. "You don't need to show us those photos, because we all know that Ruoke went out with her friends that day."
She leaned against the glass window again, turning back to look at the guzheng. "As for whether to hand it over to the media, that's your decision. But as an elder, I still want to give you some advice. Zhuang Yicheng became the provincial party secretary at the age of 36, which shows his ability. And the power of his family behind him, who could cultivate such a young provincial party secretary, is unimaginable. Is it worth offending such a person and such power for a moment of anger? Perhaps you should ask your father and brother. You've been abroad all these years and don't know much about what's happening in China, but your father and brother certainly do."
Gu Zheng remained silent, a chill creeping up her spine. She didn't know Zhuang Yicheng, but she was certainly familiar with the legendary Zhuang family in the military! She claimed that handing it over to the media was merely a ploy to exploit Ling Ruoke's potential distress; she had no real intention of actually handing it over.
Yang Ziyun walked back, stopped in front of her, and put her hand on her shoulder. "Xiao Zheng, being too obsessed is not a good thing."
After saying that, Yang Ziyun opened the door and left.
Those people tried to stop her, but Guzheng stopped them.
...
Ling Ruoke rested in bed for three days before she fully recovered.
During her hospital stay, Yang Ziyun treated her so well that she felt like she was dreaming. Even though she was fully conscious, she still felt like she was back in her mother's arms, a warmth that made her never want to leave.
Zhuang Yicheng only visited the hospital that one time; afterwards, he would only call to inquire about things.
Ling Ruoke could tell from his subtle questioning about Yang Ziyun's feelings for her that he was worried Yang Ziyun would misunderstand him if they met. This man always had many concerns, no wonder he looked so exhausted. However, those who navigate the officialdom are inherently adept at balancing the interests of all parties. She could tell that Zhuang Yicheng didn't seem to enjoy being an official, but he had no choice. That was the most tiring part.
When she received his call again, Ling Ruoke finally couldn't hold back and blurted out her thoughts before he hung up. "Mr. Zhuang!"
"Hmm?" He only replied with a single syllable, then waited quietly for her to speak.
Ling Ruoke took a deep breath. "Mr. Zhuang, if you're too tired, give up some things. It's hard to be perfect in life, so sometimes we need to give up some things to make our lives easier. I think the people who truly care about you don't care if you're omnipotent; they just want you to be happy."
She didn't say the last sentence: Me too.
This was too much of a misunderstanding, so she could only keep it to herself. She genuinely considered this person a friend. She knew that he also genuinely cared about her.
There was silence on the other end for a long time before a single word was replied: "Okay."
Then the call ended.
Unbeknownst to Ling Ruoke, Zhuang Yicheng on the other end of the line held his phone, his body trembling, almost in tears. Those words, "I think the people who truly care about you won't care if you're all-powerful; they just want you to be happy," were like heavenly music, soothing his weary heart.
If he had said these words to her face, Zhuang Yicheng was certain that he would have hugged her and even kissed her without hesitation, then let the demon in his heart break free of its cage and possess her at all costs.
He didn't know whether to feel sorry for himself or happy for her. He felt all his strength had been drained away by those words, leaving him completely drained. He slumped onto the sofa and remained in that position until dawn, as if petrified.
Everything that has happened from when I was old enough to understand until today plays before my eyes like a movie. Each event, each scene, is clear and heartbreaking.
Perhaps he was really tired.
...
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