"No, no, no, let me sit down for a while and catch my breath—" I waved my hands repeatedly, and sat down stiffly to the side, my kneecaps still throbbing with pain.
People followed behind and came to check on them.
I didn't want to spoil everyone's fun, so I forced myself to say I was fine and told everyone to keep climbing and not to stay with me.
After they all left, I grimaced and gasped, carefully pulling up my hiking pants—sure enough, I had injured my knee.
Even through the fabric, it was a bruise, with blood seeping from the skin right in the middle of the kneecap.
Seeing me in so much pain that tears streamed down my face, Xiao Yingtao felt guilty and remorseful. "Sister Wan, I'm sorry, it's all my fault that you've been dragged into this."
"It's okay, it was an accident, it's not your fault," I quickly reassured her.
I knew I couldn't climb the mountain anymore. I sat for a while until the pain subsided a little, then I stood up, leaning on my trekking poles. "Let's go down. Don't disturb the others."
Little Cherry nodded, helped me up, and we slowly made our way down the mountain.
But I ran into a colleague on the way, and the news of my fall and injury spread.
Yang Qianmu immediately called me, saying he wanted to come down the mountain to see me, but I firmly refused.
We struggled back to the camp, got a first-aid kit from the camp owner, and treated our wounds briefly.
Afternoon.
In the team-building group chat, the group successfully reached the summit, took out a banner, and took a group photo. Everyone was very happy.
As evening fell, bonfires were lit, neon lights flashed, and fireworks crackled and popped.
Colleagues started preparing a barbecue, and the atmosphere was lively with laughter and chatter.
I wanted to go out and join in the fun, but as soon as I stood up, my legs started to tremble with pain.
I was immediately alarmed, and had a bad feeling that my legs were more than just skin and flesh injuries.
I rolled up my trouser leg and looked at it again. My knee was getting more and more swollen, and I couldn't straighten my leg completely, let alone walk.
I called Cherry and asked her to come back.
"Um... I have to go back now. Don't tell everyone, so as not to spoil the mood. I won't take my luggage with me. When I go back tomorrow, please take it back to the company for me."
As I instructed my assistant, I grabbed my small handbag and phone.
Cherry looked miserable and felt extremely guilty: "Sister Wan, let me go back with you. You can't even walk properly like this, how can I feel at ease?"
"It's okay, I can walk slowly. It's a rare opportunity for everyone to get together and have fun, so relax and have a good time."
After comforting Cherry, I glanced at the app on my phone and was surprised to find that no one was accepting the order.
Is it too far or too late?
Just as I was frowning in worry, Yang Qianmu came in.
Upon learning that I was going back, Yang Qianmu immediately said, "How can you go on like this alone? It's not safe to take a taxi alone such a long distance. I'll borrow a car from the training camp owner and take you back to the city."
It takes a full hour to drive back to the city from here, even without traffic jams, so the round trip would take more than two hours.
"No, no, it's not necessary, I can do it myself—" I refused repeatedly, but he still turned and left.
But he quickly returned, holding the car keys.
"Cherry, come on, help President Jiang into the car." Yang Qianmu instructed, and the two of them helped me up, one on each side, and we moved out the door with difficulty.
When my colleagues saw what was wrong, they all came to check on me. I got into the car and, despite the excruciating pain, told them not to be affected and to continue having fun.
Cherry insisted on coming with me and climbed into the car too.
As dusk settled, the mountains, free from light pollution, were pitch black.
The car drove quietly along the mountain road at a slow speed.
Just as I came down the mountain, my phone rang. It was Chen Muxi calling.
My heart skipped a beat, and I hesitated for a moment before answering: "Hello, Xixi."
Chen Muxi's cheerful voice came through: "Jiang Wan, I'm going back to Jiangcheng tomorrow. When are you free? I'll bring my friends to visit you."
Thinking about my injured legs, and wondering how serious the injury was and whether it would interfere with my work, I hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is your friend in a hurry for that dress?"
"No, it's just that I like your design style—what's wrong? Haven't you been free lately?"
"Uh... I'm free, but I injured my leg and might not be able to move around easily for the next few days. I'm afraid I might delay your friend's plans."
Chen Muxi was taken aback: "You hurt your leg? Which leg? Is it serious?"
"Both of my knees are injured. I'm on my way back to the city right now. I'll have to go to the hospital to find out how serious it is."
Are you alone?
"I have a colleague with me."
Does my brother know?
Upon hearing this, I felt troubled.
Actually, when no ride-hailing service was accepting my order just now, a thought crossed my mind—I wanted to call Su Shenglin.
We haven't been in contact all day since he angrily hung up the phone in the morning.
I broke my leg and sat indoors for half the afternoon, too embarrassed to tell him about it.
But now Chen Muxi is asking...
“Your brother is very busy, you don’t need to bother him with this little thing, don’t—” I didn’t want to use this seemingly “bitter trick” to win Su Shenglin’s sympathy, so I glossed over it lightly.
But before I could finish speaking, Chen Muxi interrupted, "No matter how busy you are, you have to take care of your girlfriend. I'm telling him!"
"Hey Xixi! Don't—" I panicked and tried to stop her immediately, but it was too late.
Seeing the call had ended, I immediately dialed back, but all I heard was, "The user you dialed is currently on another call..."
Oh no, she really is decisive and efficient.
I gripped my phone, starting to feel nervous, and my feelings were a bit complicated.
To be honest, I don't want to trouble Su Shenglin.
My grandmother was hospitalized a while ago, and people helped me find help, but I couldn't repay them.
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