Chapter 15: A Blinding Crush part 5

Aunt Chen rushed to the bedside. “Oh no, she pooped.”

Lin Yuran gently pushed Chi Ye toward the door. “Wait outside for a bit.” Then she hurried over to help.

Chi Ye didn’t leave, but being a man, he couldn’t help much either. He stood quietly in the corner, watching Lin Yuran work.

Chi Ye had seen her mother once before. Back then, she wasn’t even forty, elegant and charming. But now, the gaunt figure in the hospital bed bore no trace of the woman she’d been.

What had these two women been through all these years?

Once they cleaned up Yao A-ping, Lin Yuran and Aunt Chen helped lift her into a wheelchair so they could change the soiled sheets.

Chi Ye stepped forward. “I’ll do it.”

Before Lin Yuran could say no, he’d already picked Yao A-ping up with practiced ease, gently placing her in the chair. Lin Yuran adjusted the angle for him. After the bed was made, he carried her back again.

By the time everything was done, Lin Yuran was sweating. She went to wash her hands, then came back out and said, “Chi Ye, let’s go.”

Lin Yuran felt embarrassed letting him see all that. He was so neat and clean; this kind of environment wasn’t for him.

“Aunt Chen, I’ll leave my mom to you. I’ve got something to do at home,” Lin Yuran said, then tugged Chi Ye out.

Chi Ye said a brief goodbye to Aunt Chen and followed.

In the elevator, he pulled a packet of tissues from his pocket and handed it to her. “Wipe off your sweat.”

Lin Yuran took one, folded it, and patted her forehead. The paper smelled lightly fragrant, masking the lingering odor of antiseptic and waste.

“I know someone who runs a high-end care facility,” Chi Ye said, watching her. “I can arrange for your mom to move in. They’ve got better resources there, and professional staff.”

Lin Yuran shook her head.

“No need. It’s fine here. Aunt Chen’s been taking care of her for six years. She’s experienced and really dedicated. She does a great job. Plus, Lin Yiqun’s nearby. If anything happens, he’ll get to her even faster than I can. Honestly, I feel more at ease with her staying here.”

Chi Ye pressed his lips together and said nothing more. When they reached the parking lot, just before getting into the car, Chi Ye suddenly called her name.

“Lin Yuran.”

Lin Yuran stopped and looked at him.

He gazed into her eyes for about ten seconds before speaking. “Did you give up on Qingmei because of your mom’s illness?”

A fragile place inside her heart felt like it’d been pricked. Her nose stung. Lin Yuran didn’t know why his question hit so hard. She thought she’d grown strong after everything over the years.

Lin Yuran took a moment to compose herself, then smiled. “Not entirely.”

Chi Ye stared at her for a few seconds, then opened the car door for her.

Friday.

Right before the end of the workday, Xu Jianwei did something totally out of character. She came to Burning Night to look for Lin Yuran. When she saw Lin Yuran, she gasped in disbelief.

“D**n, the food here must be amazing! You’ve only been here a few days, and I swear I see meat on you now!”

Xu Jianwei gave Lin Yuran’s arm a squeeze.
 

“Oh my god. You, putting on weight? That’s a freaking miracle!”

Just as she said that, Chi Ye and Qin Lang happened to come back in together. Qin Lang jumped into the conversation with a grin.
 

“Of course. You haven’t seen how many options we have in our cafeteria.”

Xu Jianwei paused and looked at him. For a moment, she was caught off guard, then her smile softened.
 

“Well then, I guess I’ll have to drop by during lunch sometime and see for myself.”

Qin Lang glanced at her, then turned to Lin Yuran.
 

“And this is…?”

Lin Yuran parted her lips, about to answer, but Xu Jianwei beat her to it.

“I’m Xu Jianwei,” she said, stepping forward with a bright smile. “Yuran’s best friend. We co-founded Beijian, and I actually went to high school with your President Chi.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” Qin Lang smiled. “No wonder. Yuran’s best friend is gorgeous too. Beautiful people really do stick together.”

Xu Jianwei smiled with her lips pressed together. Then, remembering what she came for, she turned to Chi Ye with a teasing smile.

“President Chi, I’m actually here to steal someone from your company today. What’s going on with your work hours here, huh? Even after coming in to work, she still has to work overtime? I won’t even complain about the weekdays, but it’s the weekend now, and we’re taking RanRan out with us. Our good friend came back from abroad and hasn’t even seen her yet. She’s worked hard all week. t’s time for a break.”

Before Chi Ye could even respond, Qin Lang jumped in.
 

“Where are you guys going?”

“Jiu Lounge,” Xu Jianwei answered.

Qin Lang, ever the social butterfly, grinned.
 

“What a coincidence. I’m headed there tonight too. Why don’t I bring you guys along? My friend owns the place. I’ll get you a solid discount.”

“That would be perfect!” Xu Jianwei beamed.

Worried Chi Ye might not let Yuran go, Xu Jianwei quickly turned to him.
 

“President Chi, why don’t you come too? It’s not just us tonight. Ye Hui, Gu Jiaze, and Dong Qian are all joining.”

Dong Qian had gone to high school with Lin Yuran as well. They were quite close, and by extension, she got along well with Xu Jianwei too.

Qin Lang interjected, “Chi Ye’s not going.”

Chi Ye drawled lazily, “I’m going.”

Qin Lang slapped his forehead.
 

“Seriously? I just asked you and you said no. She asks and suddenly you’re going? Bro, you’ve got no loyalty when there’s a pretty face involved!”

Chi Ye shot him a glance but said nothing.

Xu Jianwei laughed. “Then let’s head out now. Ye Hui’s been waiting downstairs forever.” She nudged Lin Yuran.
 

“RanRan, come on, pack your stuff. We’re going.”

“Okay,” Lin Yuran said, quickly gathering her things and heading downstairs with the others.

At the parking lot, they spotted Ye Hui from a distance, tall and broad-shouldered, standing casually as he waited. He was wearing a white casual button-up, the hem fluttering lightly in the breeze. Two buttons at the collar were undone, revealing a faint collarbone line. Gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and a relaxed smile touched his lips. His whole presence exuded a refined, artistic air.

When Ye Hui saw them approaching, he stepped forward and suddenly pulled Lin Yuran into a bear hug. Lin Yuran resisted instantly, squirming away and giving him a light punch in the chest.
 

“D**n it! Don’t bring those Western greetings you picked up abroad over here!”

Ye Hui scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.
 

“It’s just… I haven’t seen you in so long. Got carried away.”

Then his gaze swept toward the others. The only person he didn’t recognize was Qin Lang.

Xu Jianwei introduced them.
 

“This is Qin Lang, um…”

Lin Yuran finished for her.
 

“Chi Ye’s childhood friend.”

Qin Lang realized then that he hadn’t introduced himself to Xu Jianwei earlier. He turned to her with a surprised look.

“Wait, I never told you my name. How’d you know?”

Xu Jianwei gave him a sweet smile.
 

“I’m actually a fan.”

Lin Yuran rolled her eyes behind her back.

Ye Hui reached out to shake hands with Qin Lang, offering a polite introduction.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ye Hui. We went to high school with Yuran.”

Then he turned to Chi Ye, his smile fading slightly.
 

“Chi Ye, it’s been a while.”

Chi Ye looked at him coolly, completely deadpan.

“Yeah, long time. Want a hug?”

“…”