Chapter 23: Playing Hard to Get Is Useless

Wen Ling opened her eyes slightly, met with a sea of white.

Turning her head, she saw Aunt Zhou sitting on the sofa beside the hospital bed, looking at her with a pained expression.

"Aunt Zhou," she murmured, her voice raspy.

Aunt Zhou responded, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind Wen Ling’s ear. "If you keep mistreating yourself like this, Old Master Wen will be heartbroken and furious when he finds out."

Wen Ling pursed her lips, and just as she moved to reach out, Aunt Zhou pressed her hand down. "Don't move, you're still on an IV."

Wen Ling obediently stayed still and said softly, "I want to go back to Country M."

"We will, as soon as you're better," Aunt Zhou said, gently stroking Wen Ling’s forehead.

Wen Ling nodded and closed her eyes. She didn't know what had come over her; she had been so fragile, retreating at the slightest provocation.

When she woke, it was just dawn. Wen Ling slowly got out of bed and went to the window to pull back the curtains, squinting at the rising sun. After a night's sleep, her mood had improved; she no longer felt sad, just calm.

Aunt Zhou insisted she wasn't ready for discharge, so Wen Ling stayed in the hospital, playing games or sleeping when she was bored. Sometimes she would head to the nurses' station to listen to their gossip. Now, her mind was filled with the scandals of the man in the terminal ward and the domestic drama of the wealthy old lady in the room down the hall. Aunt Zhou, who had been worried, felt relieved seeing her in better spirits.

Ever since that day, Zhou Yinhe had not seen Wen Ling. He was filled with regret and subconsciously kept his tongue in check, refraining from snapping at his friends. Jiang Jibai and the others were so surprised they felt uneasy.

"Little Five, have you turned over a new leaf?"

Zhou Yinhe glanced at him coldly, his eyes as calm as a still lake. He looked away and continued eating, his fingers gripping the silverware. Ke Chengyu, knowing the truth, hid a smile behind his hand.

Qi Zhan walked in, glanced at Zhou Yinhe, and said to the others, "Guess who I just saw at the hospital?"

Qi Zhan’s mother had undergone a minor surgery a few days ago and was currently hospitalized at the most prestigious private hospital in Sijiu City, so running into an acquaintance wasn't strange.

"Who?" Ke Chengyu asked.

Qi Zhan sat opposite Zhou Yinhe, took a sip of juice, and said, "Wen Ling."

Zhou Yinhe looked up abruptly, his eyes swirling with turmoil. He stared intensely at Qi Zhan, who ignored him and continued, "She was chatting with the nurses at the VIP station. I saw her as I walked by; she was still wearing a hospital gown."

A roar filled Zhou Yinhe’s head. By the time he regained his senses, he was already standing, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. He bit his lip, sat back down, and asked Qi Zhan, "When are you going to visit your mother? I'll go with you."

Qi Zhan smirked. "Sure, let's go after we eat."

Jiang Jibai and Ke Chengyu exchanged meaningful glances.

After lunch, Wen Ling took the fruit Aunt Zhou had prepared to the nurses' station to share. Outside, she encountered an elegant woman in a hospital gown whose noble air could not be hidden. Sensing Wen Ling’s curious gaze, the woman nodded at her kindly.

Wen Ling smiled and held out the fruit. "Ma'am, would you like some?"

The woman was taken aback. Seeing such a pretty girl, she felt her heart soften and reached out to take a green grape. "Thank you, dear."

Wen Ling shook her head, sat on a small stool the nurses had provided, and waited quietly as the woman chatted with the staff.

Before Qi Zhan had finished his meal, Zhou Yinhe dragged him up. He had Cheng Yu prepare gifts and wait at the restaurant entrance. Once in the car, the driver stepped on the gas, heading straight for the hospital.

Qi Zhan complained the whole way. "Are you here to see my mother or Wen Ling? Regardless, couldn't you have waited for me to finish my meal? Are you mute?"

Zhou Yinhe ignored him, striding toward the elevator. Cheng Yu looked at Qi Zhan helplessly, clutching the gifts as he jogged to keep up.

On the VIP floor, they stepped out of the elevator to find Mrs. Qi talking to the nurses. Zhou Yinhe stepped forward quickly. "Auntie."

Mrs. Qi turned and beamed. "Oh, Little Five, what are you doing here?"

Wen Ling was hidden behind the station counter, engrossed in a drama on her phone, and hadn't noticed the woman. It wasn't until Zhou Yinhe stood at the counter that she looked up, grape in mouth, freezing in surprise.

Zhou Yinhe continued speaking to Mrs. Qi. "I heard you had surgery, so I came to visit."

Mrs. Qi laughed kindly. "Didn't Qi Zhan tell you I’m being discharged tomorrow? It was just a minor procedure; I just need to rest at home. You didn't need to make the trip."

Qi Zhan rolled his eyes nearby, but Zhou Yinhe replied, "It's only right."

He subconsciously searched for Wen Ling, and when he saw her sitting on the small stool, looking dazed, his brow furrowed. Seeing the hospital gown and the IV tape on her hand made his heart ache.

Wen Ling caught his gaze and quickly turned away, biting her lip. She felt a dull ache in her chest, which she tried to deliberately ignore. Zhou Yinhe felt the same pain, but with Mrs. Qi present, he had to look away.

After escorting Mrs. Qi back to her room, he made an excuse to leave and walked to the nurses' station. The nurse asked, "Is there something you need, sir?"

Zhou Yinhe stared at Wen Ling, then shook his head.

Wen Ling knew he was watching. She didn't want to see him, so she kept staring at the drama on her phone. Ignoring her resistance, Zhou Yinhe walked over, crouched down, and said in a low voice, "Are you sick?"

Wen Ling didn't answer or look at him.

Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips together. "When did this happen?"

She continued to ignore him.

"I know what I said that day was harsh, but Wen Ling, you were playing with me, and that’s why I was so angry." He was subconsciously making excuses.

Wen Ling finally looked at him. "Zhou Yinhe, I’m going back once I’m better. I do miss you, but I won't bother you anymore. You won't have to be annoyed or angry because of me again."

A lump formed in Zhou Yinhe’s throat, and his fingertips trembled. After a long silence, he said, "Fine. Take care of yourself."

He stood up and left. A long while later, Wen Ling gritted her teeth. "Jerk. He’s completely unmoved."

She had watched several romance dramas and read many novels over the past few days, learning from them, but she hadn't expected her first attempt to fail.

She drew an 'X' next to the first item on her mental checklist.

*Playing hard to get—useless.*