Guo Min's fingers tightened slowly around the edge of the dining table.
For a brief second, it felt like the ground beneath her had shifted again, just when she had barely managed to steady herself.
Then she released her grip. Her palm flattened against the table, anchoring herself.
Ruoxi was the first to break the silence. "What kind of accident?"
"A car crash," Secretary Lin answered quickly, his voice still slightly unsteady. "Early this morning. On his way to the office."
Guo Min's lashes lowered, hiding the flicker in her eyes. "…Is he alive?" she asked.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
But her chair scraped softly against the floor as she stood up, already reaching for her bag.
"Yes, ma'am," Lin replied immediately. "He's conscious. The injuries aren't life-threatening, but the doctors insisted on observation."
Silence fell again.
It lingered heavier this time.
Ruoxi turned toward her. "Min…"
But Guo Min had already slung her bag over her shoulder, picking up her phone and lunch without hesitation.
"Which hospital?" she asked.
"The same one as young madam Yang," Lin answered.
Guo Min nodded once, then she turned and walked out.
Ruoxi blinked, startled for only a second before grabbing her own things and hurrying after her. "Wait, are you seriously going?"
Guo Min didn't slow down. "I'm just going to confirm he's not dead," she said flatly.
But her hands showed otherwise as they were trembling.
Hospital.
The hospital greeted her the same way it had the day before.
The scent of antiseptic clung to the air, sharp and suffocating, dragging back memories she hadn't even processed yet.
Footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor as they made their way up to the private ward.
Secretary Lin led the way, stopping in front of a door. "This is the room, ma'am."
Guo Min didn't respond but simply pushed the door open.
Hospital.
Zihan sat on the hospital bed. His arm was wrapped in clean white bandages. A faint bruise darkened his temple, another along his jawline. His hair was slightly disheveled, his usually immaculate presence dulled just enough to make him look… human.
Not untouchable, not invincible, just a man who could bleed.
His gaze lifted at the sound of the door.
And then, ...It stilled.
"…Guo Min." Her name came out quietly.
Almost like he wasn't sure she was real.
She stepped inside slowly, her eyes sweeping over him once. "It's good that you're not dead yet," she said.
Her voice came out flat and cold, she was still angry at him.
Zihan let out a breath that almost sounded like a soft laugh.
Relief flickered through it.
"…You came."
"Don't misunderstand," she replied immediately.
But her gaze lingered on the bandages.
And Zihan noticed that, of course he did.
"You were worried," he said softly.
"I wasn't."
The denial came instantly.
But this time, he didn't argue.
He just looked at her.
"…I'm sorry," he said again, quietly.
"For everything."
The room fell into silence.
The kind that pressed down on both of them.
Zihan's fingers shifted slightly against the bedsheet, like he was holding himself back from reaching out.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," he continued, voice low. "I thought I could handle everything… keep it away from you."
A bitter pause followed.
"…But I was wrong."
Guo Min's jaw tightened.
Her composure cracked.
"You think this is about handling things?" she asked, her voice sharp, trembling at the edges. "People almost died, Zihan."
"I know."
"My friend is lying in a coma," she continued, her eyes glistening. "She lost her child." Her voice broke slightly on the last word. "Do you understand what that means?"
"I do."
"Do you?" she snapped, stepping closer now. "Because if you did, you wouldn't be standing here talking like this is just some failed business deal!"
Zihan's gaze dropped briefly. "…You're right," he said quietly. "I don't deserve to ask you to come back."
That alone made her chest tighten.
"But I..." he paused, exhaling slowly, like the words themselves were unfamiliar territory. "Guo Min… I can't go back to the life I lived before you."
His eyes lifted to hers again. "…Don't leave me."
Silence came yet something twisted painfully in her chest. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, betraying her.
Zihan saw it, he paused then continued. "…You once asked me why I don't say it," he continued, voice quieter now, rougher. "Why I don't tell you I love you."
A faint, almost self-mocking breath escaped him.
"I do, Guo Min. I really do." He swallowed. "I'm just… not used to saying it." He paused again as if not knowing what to say next, uncertainty crawled in but he continued. "I don't know how to say things like that properly. I don't know how to… show it the way you deserve."
His voice dropped further.
"...But I ... I". His words were cut short.
"MinMin, Lixi is up". Ruoxi's voice rang out and Guo Min's feet sprang to action.
Guo Min's head snapped toward the door.
Her body reacted before her mind could.
She turned instantly, but then...
Zihan's last words caught up to her. "I love you… so much that it hurts."
Her steps slowed, just for a moment. Then she stopped, her back still facing him, when she spoke, her voice was softer, yet still guarded. "…Get better first."
Zihan stilled completely.
"That's the only thing you should focus on right now," she added quickly, as if afraid she might say something else if she lingered. Her hand tightened around the door handle. "We'll talk about the rest later."
And then she walked out, without looking back.
...
On getting to the ward, the atmosphere had already changed. Doctors stood around the bed, checking monitors, adjusting drips, murmuring to one another in low, controlled voices.
Ruoxi stood off to the side, one hand pressed against her chest as she steadied her breath.
The moment Lixi saw Guo Min, she nodded quickly, her eyes looked swollen.
"She woke up… just a few minutes ago." A doctor spoke.
Guo Min didn't respond, she just moved forward slowly this time, carefully. As if afraid that any sudden movement might shatter the moment.
Lixi lay in the same position, still looking very weak and pale, but her eyes were finally opened, though it was half lidded and barely struggling to keep awake.
"…Lixi?" Guo Min's voice came out, a little soft.
Taking visible efforts, Lixi's lashes fluttered weakly before landing on Guo Min... for a second, confusion flickered, then recognition, her lips parted slightly beneath the oxygen mask.
When she spoke, her voice came out loud and hoarse, it almost sounded inaudible .
Guo Min noticed, she stepped closer immediately, reaching for her hand again, holding it carefully, "I'm here," she whispered. "I'm right here."
Guo Min's vision blurred instantly. "You took your time," she said, her voice breaking despite her attempt to keep it steady. "Do you know how annoying you are?".
Lixi's lips curled, smiling faintly, she tried to sit up.
A doctor stepped closer, speaking gently. "young Mrs Yang, try not to strain yourself. You've just come out of a very critical state."
But Lixi wasn't listening. "...Min... I'm sorry". Her voice came out hoarsely.
"Keep quiet, get better first, so that you can get a better scolding". Guo Min gently yet forcefully loads her back down.
A faint, almost invisible smile touched Lixi's lips and It disappeared quickly, after a few minutes as her eyes began to close again, exhaustion pulling her under.
"Let her rest," the doctor said quietly. "She's stable, but very weak. This is a good sign."
A good sign. Guo Min nodded slowly. But she didn't let go of Lixi's hand immediately. Not until she felt the slight, steady warmth of it again.
She moved to the sofa by the window and sat down, her body finally registering exhaustion. For a moment, she just stared at nothing, her mind still catching up to everything that had happened.
Then she reached for her phone.
"Xiao Mei," she said once the call connected, her tone calm and composed again, slipping back into that familiar authority. "Bring the pending files to the hospital. Everything that needs my signature or urgent review."
A pause. "Yes. I'll be here." She ended the call.
Across the room, Ruoxi picked up her bag, watching her with a knowing look. "You're not going to the office again?"
"Hm." Guo Min leaned back slightly, her gaze drifting toward Lixi on the bed. "I'll stay and look after her."
Ruoxi's lips curved into a slow smile. "Lixi… really?" she echoed, amusement laced in her tone.
Guo Min didn't respond.
That only made Ruoxi's smile deepen into a smirk. "So you've suddenly forgotten that Brother Zihan is also in this hospital?" she continued casually. "Injured. Weak. Probably miserable."
Guo Min's head snapped toward her. "…What Zihan? Who's talking about him?" she said quickly. "You're the one who brought him up."
Ruoxi raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. "Mm-hmm. Of course," she said lightly, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "Then do your best to take care of Lixi."
She turned and walked toward the door.
"And my dear brother-in-law too." Her voice came out teasing, deliberately provocative.
"Ruoxi," Guo Min warned, glaring.
But Ruoxi only laughed softly as she stepped out.
The door clicked shut behind her and silence returned to the room.
Guo Min exhaled slowly, leaning back into the sofa.
Her eyes drifted toward the door, almost subconsciously.
Then, after a moment… toward the direction of another ward down the hall. She frowned slightly.
"…Humph ridiculous," she muttered under her breath.