Xie Jiangsheng listened with furrowed brows as Shen Yue’s attending physician spoke of the importance of recuperation. After a few moments, he impatiently interrupted, “Doctor, just tell me, is she…”
“Ah—”
A short gasp echoed from the hospital room. Xie Jiangsheng’s words were cut off. The male doctor was startled and rushed to push open the door to the room. Xie Jiangsheng, his brow furrowed, stepped inside. His gaze fell upon Shen Yue, who had stumbled and fallen to the floor.
The sliced apples on the plate scattered across the ground. Xie Jiangsheng didn’t notice at first and stepped on a piece of fruit. When he moved his foot, the fruit had already been mashed.
Shen Yue lowered her head slightly, her hands supporting her on the ground. Her body, clad in a loose hospital gown, trembled. Slowly, she lifted her head. When she did, Xie Jiangsheng saw that her eyes were red, though he couldn’t tell if it was from pain or shame. The male doctor, his heart full of concern, helped her up, carefully assisting her to her feet.
The doctor examined Shen Yue’s body for any injuries. Rolling up her sleeve, he revealed a bruise on her slender, fair arm. Her skin was a pale, cool white, and the wound stood out starkly against it.
“Oh, I really need to treat you like a queen. Just call out if you need anything. You just woke up, your body is weak, don’t neglect your health.”
The doctor muttered on, his hands never stopping, a hint of exasperation in his tone.
Shen Yue pursed her lips slightly, a shy smile gracing her face. She waited quietly as the doctor finished his examination. As a result of the earlier incident, the loose hospital gown had slipped down a bit, revealing her delicate collarbone.
She had been lying in bed for so many days that her body had become emaciated. However, her face had become even more beautiful. Her sharply pointed chin lent her a delicate aura of frailty, completely devoid of her former overbearing presence.
Shen Yue seemed to notice someone watching her and, with red-rimmed eyes, turned her head. Upon seeing Xie Jiangsheng, her face instantly lit up with a smile. She extended her hand and waved. “Mr. Xie, I heard from the doctor that you’ve been covering my medical expenses. Thank you very much, Mr. Xie.”
Her demeanor was so natural and detached. Xie Jiangsheng felt a moment of disorientation. In the past, whenever Shen Yue saw him, her eyes were filled with deep love and adoration. She would occasionally throw a small tantrum, but those were merely playful gestures. Yet, the current Shen Yue’s eyes held no affection, only distance and politeness.
Xie Jiangsheng had never seen her so docile. Could amnesia truly change a person so drastically?
Could it even alter their disposition?
The man’s gaze deepened, his expression unreadable. He strode towards the bedside with his long legs.
He didn’t care about the medical bills. Now that this trouble was out of his way, Xie Jiangsheng felt considerably lighter. Whether her amnesia was real or feigned, as long as this woman remained well-behaved and didn’t cross his path, he would be content.
Everything else was unimportant.
“I have company matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”
“Alright, you go ahead. You’ve been very helpful during this time, Mr. Xie.” Shen Yue said politely and gratefully. Seeing the tall man turn to leave, she suddenly called out to him, as if a thought had just occurred to her.
“Wait a moment!”
“Mr. Xie, could you perhaps leave me your phone number? That way, I can repay the money I owe you.”
She had learned from others that this gentleman had been paying her medical expenses.
Xie Jiangsheng stood still, his back to her, his voice cold, as if speaking to a stranger. “No need. Consider it a parting gesture of friendship.”
Xie Jiangsheng’s attitude was so indifferent it was hardly that of a friend. His evasive demeanor suggested he was afraid of being entangled with her.
“You should still give me your contact information. After all, this is not a small sum, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly otherwise. I am already very grateful that you are willing to pay for this.”
The man turned slightly, meeting the woman’s grateful smile.
He couldn’t quite explain the feeling. Xie Jiangsheng looked at her smile and, on impulse, left his contact information. By the time he realized it, his business card was already in Shen Yue’s hand. This made him somewhat angry, as he truly did not wish to be involved with this woman any further.
Shen Yue pretended not to notice the annoyance in the man’s eyes, her smile deepening. She was exceptionally beautiful when she smiled, with faint dimples, like a shyly blooming lily.
“Thank you, Mr. Xie.”
Because of this smile, his annoyance vanished. Xie Jiangsheng couldn’t help but wonder, could amnesia truly change a person’s fundamental nature?
Xie Jiangsheng didn’t stay much longer; he left soon after, as he had many things to do. Being able to visit Shen Yue was already quite a lot.
In the following month, he never came again, as if he had completely forgotten about Shen Yue’s existence in the hospital. It wasn’t just a pretense; he had likely forgotten entirely by now.
Shen Yue ate her apple while reading a book, utterly relaxed and at ease.
In the original storyline, the protagonist was a villainous supporting character, and Xie Jiangsheng was not a good person, cold-hearted and unfeeling.
The heroine was Xie Jiangsheng’s wife.
Their marriage was merely a business arrangement, with no emotional foundation. After getting married, they never communicated, each living their own lives, never interfering in each other’s affairs. They were merely a couple in name, with no marital intimacy.
Xie Jiangsheng was an extreme egoist; in his eyes, profit was paramount.
The original protagonist was incredibly lucky to have climbed into Xie Jiangsheng’s bed.
After all, the original protagonist was the first person to successfully get into Xie Jiangsheng’s bed.
Her ending was also extremely tragic.
Shen Yue took a bite of the apple. The sweet flesh made her eyes involuntarily narrow.
System: [Do you know how the original protagonist died?]
Shen Yue: [How did she die?]
System: [She played herself to death.]
“Cough cough!”
Patting her chest, Shen Yue nearly sputtered out the apple in her mouth.
That was too tragic!
She needed to eat an apple to calm her nerves.
After diligently finishing the entire apple, Shen Yue wiped her fingers. Indeed, she wasn’t in a hurry. Her body was still weak; she needed a few days to recover before she could find an excuse to “harass” Xie Jiangsheng.
Thus, for the next month, Shen Yue lay in bed, living a parasitic life, reading books, basking in the sun, and occasionally playing with the children in the hospital. Her days were quite pleasant.
Meanwhile, Xie Jiangsheng never came again, not even a call or a text. It was evident how cold and heartless this man was.
After all, Shen Yue had been by his side for quite some time and even had a child with him. Although she didn’t know whose child it was, surely he had some part in it.