The accident happened on an ordinary night.
That was the worst part.
Kai Ying left the office later than usual, rain still lingering from the afternoon. Xiao Lan had already gone home—Kai Ying had insisted. For once, she didn't want anyone hovering.
She was tired.
Not the kind that sleep fixed, but the kind that sat behind her eyes and slowed her reactions by a second.
Just one second.
The traffic light turned yellow.
Kai Ying pressed the brake.
Too late.
The impact was loud, violent, metal screaming against metal as her car was shoved sideways. The world tilted. Glass shattered. Pain bloomed sharp and disorienting along her left side.
Then—darkness.
Le Xin was in the middle of answering Tian Rong's question when her phone rang.
Unknown number.
Her chest tightened before she even picked up.
"This is City General Hospital," a calm voice said. "Are you a family member of Liu Kai Ying?"
Le Xin stood so abruptly her chair scraped loudly across the floor.
"What happened?" she asked.
"There's been an accident."
Le Xin didn't remember grabbing her coat.
Didn't remember the drive.
Only the pounding of her heart and one thought repeating relentlessly:
Not like this. Not when we just came back.
Xiao Lan arrived at the hospital ten minutes after Le Xin.
Her face was pale, expression tightly controlled, but her hands shook when she spoke to the nurse.
"She's my superior," Xiao Lan said. "And—"
"Her emergency contact," Le Xin finished quietly.
Xiao Lan looked at her.
Then nodded once.
They waited.
Every second stretched.
When the doctor finally came out, Le Xin was on her feet instantly.
"She has a concussion," the doctor said. "Two cracked ribs. No internal bleeding. She's lucky."
Lucky.
The word felt wrong.
"When can we see her?" Le Xin asked.
"She's awake," the doctor replied. "But she'll need rest."
Kai Ying opened her eyes to white ceilings and the dull ache of pain.
Her glasses were gone.
Her head throbbed.
"Don't move," a voice said immediately.
Le Xin.
Kai Ying turned her head slightly—and regretted it.
"You're in the hospital," Le Xin said, closer now. "You scared me half to death."
Kai Ying tried to speak, but her throat was dry.
Le Xin handed her water carefully, helping her drink.
"You didn't answer your phone," Le Xin continued, voice trembling despite her attempt at calm. "I thought—"
She stopped herself.
Kai Ying reached out weakly, fingers brushing Le Xin's sleeve.
"I'm here," Kai Ying murmured.
Le Xin's eyes stung. "You're terrible at staying."
Xiao Lan stood at the foot of the bed, posture straight, eyes lowered.
"I'm sorry," Kai Ying said, looking at her. "I should have waited."
Xiao Lan shook her head. "You don't apologize for accidents."
But her voice was tight.
Silence settled.
Heavy. Unavoidable.
Le Xin exhaled shakily. "You don't get to scare me like that."
Kai Ying looked at her. Really looked.
"I wasn't careful," Kai Ying admitted. "I thought I could handle everything alone."
Le Xin laughed weakly. "You always do."
Kai Ying swallowed. "I don't want to anymore."
That was new.
That was terrifying.
Le Xin leaned closer, forehead nearly touching Kai Ying's. "Then stop acting like you're untouchable."
Kai Ying closed her eyes briefly. "I will."
No promises.
Just intention.
Outside the room, Tian Rong arrived quietly, holding Le Xin's coat.
"She's stable?" Tian Rong whispered.
Xiao Lan nodded. "Yes."
Tian Rong squeezed her hand—once, grounding.
Xiao Lan didn't pull away.
Back inside, Kai Ying drifted in and out of sleep, Le Xin never leaving her side.
Fate had pushed again.
Harder this time.
And for the first time, Kai Ying couldn't stand alone against it.
Thank you for reading my novel