Addicted after marriage - CHAPTER 12:
Luo Shu woke up to a sharp pain twisting through her stomach.
It was already dusk. She had been asleep the entire day.
When she reached out to turn on the light, her hands were trembling.
The pain made it hard to stand.
Since returning from abroad, she had lived quietly, with few friends.
The only people she still spoke to were Ye Li and Shen Yan.
She tried calling Ye Li first, but the line didn’t connect.
Then she dialed Shen Yan. Luckily, he picked up even though he was on vacation.
What now, Miss Ancestor? he asked playfully through the phone.
Shen Yan… Her voice was weak, drenched in sweat. She could barely form words.
He heard something off immediately. Are you sick? Where are you? Can you move?
Too many questions. She could only manage a few broken syllables. Come get me… please…
Her consciousness faded before she could finish.
Less than ten minutes later, loud pounding echoed through the apartment.
A crash. The sound of the door giving way.
Luo Shu.
A familiar voice cut through the haze.
You really know how to scare people.
His tone was equal parts anger and relief. Strong arms lifted her easily,
and that faint scent of sandalwood brushed against her again.
When she woke, she was lying in a single-bed hospital room.
Awake already.
The same deep voice.
She turned her head slowly and nearly stopped breathing.
Yu Zhan stood there, tall and immaculate in a black suit and tie,
the very image of control. The look in his eyes was exactly the same as that night cool,
assessing, unreadable.
Good grief, she thought bitterly. Why did her brain insist on replaying that night right now?
President Yu, what are you doing here? Her cheeks flushed pink.
Shen Yan’s on leave.
He slipped his hands into his pockets and watched her, saying little.
Thanks.
Of all people, it had to be him again.
Maybe the god of fate had tied an iron wire between them instead of a red string,
something impossible to break.
Still hurting? he asked.
Not anymore.
Was the instant noodle good?
She froze. So he’d seen the untouched bowl sitting on her counter.
And your boyfriend? His gaze was searching now,
as if he could read the truth in her expression.
He died yesterday.
Her tone was flat. She wasn’t about to let him scold her for being foolish. Not tonight.
Yu Zhan pressed his lips together, nodding once. That’s good news then.
Before she could reply, the door opened and a woman in a white coat walked in.
Yu Zhan, this is stomach medication. Have her take it on time. She’s fine otherwise
let her rest tonight, and she can go home tomorrow.
And you take better care of her.
The doctor was in her fifties, speaking to him with easy familiarity.
Got it, Auntie, Yu Zhan said, taking the medicine.
Auntie.
Luo Shu’s stomach dropped. Great. Another misunderstanding waiting to happen.
They chatted quietly near the door for several minutes before the woman left.
Can I leave tonight? she asked, desperate to escape.
No.
He placed the pills on the bedside table and sat down beside her.
She glanced at the faint red mark still visible on his cheek.
The memory of slapping him the other night made her fingers twitch in embarrassment.
He didn’t seem to care. His phone kept buzzing, but he ignored every call.
President Yu, your dinner’s here.
A young woman entered with a tray.
Finally, Yu Zhan moved away from the bed.
The woman unfolded a small hospital table and began laying out dishes.
Luo Shu blinked in surprise. Three dishes and a soup, all from
Shi Fu Restaurant. Extravagant, even for him.
Eat, he said casually, opening a pair of chopsticks and handing them to her.
Friendship discount, two hundred fifty yuan. Don’t forget to transfer it.
She stared at the chopsticks in his hand, at his long, elegant fingers,
and accepted them. Her stomach growled in betrayal.
So he was calling her an idiot for the price, huh? Fine. Maybe she deserved it.
After all, starving herself over a man who wasn’t worth it there was no excuse for that.
Do you have anyone who can stay with you tonight? he asked.
I’ll be fine. I’m not dying.
Good. I have things to do. My secretary’s outside if you need anything, call her. Or me.
He checked the time, ready to leave, then turned back.
Your boyfriend’s dead, right? Have you thought about the question I asked last time?
Luo Shu almost choked on her food.
Yu Zhan, she said, glaring at him, be human. I’m not interested in dating anyone.
Ever since he’d found out about Qin Heng, he had been circling her like a hawk calm,
patient, impossible to shake off.
Alright. I won’t ask again, he said simply, and walked out.
She watched his retreating figure and felt a flicker of guilt.
After all, he had been the one who carried her to the hospital.
Later that night, at T Bar, Yu Zhan swirled a glass of whiskey in one hand,
the amber light catching his profile.
His cousin Fan Sen lounged beside him, laughing.
First time I’ve seen a woman reject you. Even called you by your full name.
No wonder you’re hooked.
Hooked? Yu Zhan raised an eyebrow. Hardly.
Really? You bring her up every time we meet.
You sure you’re not smitten? Check your neck, man has that hickey faded yet?
Fan Sen laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink.
Yu Zhan rubbed his temples. Lately, he couldn’t get her out of his head.
Even when she didn’t speak, just seeing her made everything lighter.
His phone buzzed. A message from Luo Shu.
Sorry, President Yu.
It’s fine, he replied instantly.
Thank you for everything.
Mm.
A moment later, another notification. [250 transfer] Dinner payment.
He stared at it for a second, then took a sip of whiskey and refunded the money.
Next time, your treat.
She started typing but never sent a reply.
He leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded, a lazy smile ghosting his lips.
Fan Sen wasn’t done teasing. You really expect me to believe you don’t like her?
If you didn’t, why’d you rush to save her instead of calling an ambulance?
Across the table, Lu Min nudged Yu Zhan’s glass.
Yu Zhan stayed silent, the image of her eyes floating through his mind clear,
luminous, like a lake at sunrise.
The next morning, he handled her discharge himself and drove her home.
Moving out? he asked, stepping into the half-empty apartment.
Yeah.
Her gaze fell on the broken door leaning against the wall.
This place looks fine. Why move?
He glanced around and spotted his jacket still on her sofa.
Because my ex-boyfriend just died, and I’m afraid he’ll visit on the seventh day.
She wasn’t sure how to politely make him leave.
Instead, he sat down like he owned the place.
You took the door off yourself?
Mm.
She sighed. Replacing it costs three thousand, calling a locksmith costs thirty.
Did you hit your head on one of them?
Looking at the few boxes scattered around, she realized moving out wouldn’t be easy
and finding a new place even harder.
I only know you were close to dying, he said, crossing his legs. When’s the lease up?
His tone made her stomach turn. She was tired of men who thought they knew her.
By next Wednesday.
Qin Heng was persistent. Engagement or not, he would keep showing up unless she disappeared.
Since the door’s gone, might as well move tonight.
And move where?
She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and tossed it at him. He caught it effortlessly.
Move in with me.