Upon arriving at the hospital room, Yang Shuo examined Ning Wei and, confirming she had only sustained minor abrasions, called for a nurse to tend to her.
Back in the room, Ning Wei encountered another familiar face, Qin Chang.
"Dr. Yang," Ning Wei called out to Yang Shuo, who was leaving, an idea sparking in her mind.
Yang Shuo turned back. "What is it?"
Ning Wei feigned shyness, her words a little hesitant as she said, "Thank you so much today. I must treat you to a meal sometime. I'll call you, and you absolutely mustn't refuse."
Yang Shuo smiled faintly. "Alright, I'll see you then."
Seeing Qin Chang's ashen face nearby, Ning Wei formed a guess.
After the nurse finished treating Ning Wei's abrasions, she asked tentatively, "Are you friends with Dr. Yang?"
Ning Wei glanced at her, puzzled, then vaguely replied, "You could say that, but our relationship might deepen further in the future."
Observing Ning Wei's seemingly infatuated expression, the nurse hesitated, wanting to say more.
Unfortunately, Ning Wei gave her no opportunity, pulling the covers up and settling in to sleep.
Before leaving, the nurse sighed and closed the ward door for Ning Wei.
Qin Chang drifted around the room, and Ning Wei pretended not to see her.
"Stay away from him!" Qin Chang's spectral form appeared directly above Ning Wei's face, her true appearance revealed.
Twisted limbs, a gruesome mess of red and white on her head, lips slightly parted with a sliver of tongue protruding, and blood continuously seeping from her abdomen.
Ning Wei looked at her provocatively. "I don't understand what you're saying."
Qin Chang’s pale hand reached out to strangle Ning Wei. Unfazed, Ning Wei used a nearby needle to prick her finger and pressed the droplet of blood onto Qin Chang's forehead.
The skin on Qin Chang's forehead seared. Ning Wei then extended a palm and sent her flying into the wall.
"If you want to threaten me, try beating me first!"
"You're asking for death!" Qin Chang lunged forward again.
Ning Wei stood on the bed, her hands forming a lotus mudra, and sealed Qin Chang against the wall.
Only then did Qin Chang realize Ning Wei's strength. She tried to leave but found herself unable to move.
"Ah!" Qin Chang's scream directly assaulted Ning Wei's eardrums, and a drop of blood fell from Ning Wei's ear.
Being economical, she caught the drop and flicked it onto Qin Chang's abdomen.
"If you scream again, I'll hit you with my blood, drop by drop. Let's see how much you can take."
Qin Chang struggled desperately. Realizing escape was impossible, she closed her eyes and pressed herself against the wall.
Her appearance shifted back to how Ning Wei had first seen her: a beautiful, vibrant young woman in her twenties, clad in a white dress that made her appear delicate and alluring.
Ning Wei could imagine that she must have been a beautiful and gentle woman in life.
"Why did you jump?" Ning Wei asked Qin Chang.
Qin Chang remained silent.
"What regrets do you have? What grievances?" Ning Wei continued.
Qin Chang still said nothing.
"The old man in the morgue is pitiable. You were the only one who showed him warmth. Then you died mysteriously, and he was the one who handled your funeral. He's old now, and his only wish is to see justice done for you."
"He said you were a good person and must have suffered immensely to take your own life."
Qin Chang opened her eyes and sneered at Ning Wei. "You're nothing but a plaything in his hands. You actually think you can help me? How ridiculous."
"The 'he' you're referring to, is it Yang Shuo?" Ning Wei voiced the name she had suspected.
Qin Chang and Yang Shuo had entered the hospital around the same time. Although they seemed unconnected, various details suggested a complex relationship between them.
Upon mentioning Yang Shuo, Qin Chang's expression changed noticeably.
It seemed Ning Wei's guess was correct.
"Were you and Yang Shuo having a secret affair, and he abandoned you? You couldn't bear it, so you jumped to your death, is that it?" Ning Wei continued her deductions.
Qin Chang became enraged, desperately trying to break free from her confinement.
Ning Wei smiled and moved closer to her, confirming her suspicions.
"Since Yang Shuo wronged you, why haven't you sought revenge?"
Qin Chang fell silent again.
"You know nothing! You're just a foolish woman!" Qin Chang cursed Ning Wei.
Ning Wei remained unperturbed, her guess about the situation largely confirmed.
But what was the house Qin Chang had mentioned at the beginning? Was it a property she and Yang Shuo had bought together?
As Ning Wei was about to ask further, the ward door was pushed open, revealing an unfamiliar woman.
Another new character had appeared, and Ning Wei felt a headache coming on.
Taking advantage of Ning Wei's momentary distraction, Qin Chang broke free from her restraints and fled.
"Who are you?" Ning Wei asked, frowning.
The woman looked Ning Wei up and down with an arrogant air, dismissively saying, "You're just so-so. It seems Yang Shuo's taste hasn't changed over the years; he still likes these young innocent types."
"Are you crazy?" Ning Wei retorted, displeased.
"I am Yang Shuo's wife. Please stay away from him!" With that, the woman quickly left the room.
Ning Wei followed her out and happened to see her pass by the nurses' station. She overheard a nurse addressing her as Dr. Zhao.
Dr. Zhao had arrived in a hurry and left just as swiftly. Consequently, her words to Ning Wei had gone unheard by anyone else.
Once the woman had departed, Ning Wei went to the nurses' station. "Who was that? She had no manners, just barged in looking for someone and left without saying anything."
The nurse did not withhold information. "She's Dr. Zhao. She was probably looking for Dr. Yang. I apologize for disturbing your rest; I'll remind Dr. Yang later."
"What's her relationship with Dr. Yang?" Ning Wei pressed, eager for gossip.
The nurse was not surprised by her reaction. Many patients here paid close attention to Dr. Yang's every move.
The sudden appearance of a beautiful woman like Dr. Zhao naturally caused some anxiety.
"Dr. Zhao and Dr. Yang Shuo are colleagues. However, because Dr. Zhao's father is a leader in the hospital, they sometimes appear to be close."
The nurse, a kind person, assumed Ning Wei also harbored feelings for Dr. Yang given her behavior.
New patients often found themselves drawn to Dr. Yang's handsome appearance and gentle demeanor.
However, as a long-time hospital employee, she knew Yang Shuo to be a notorious womanizer, involved with many women yet managing to remain detached.
Such a man was hardly worth the affections of a sweet and kind girl like Ning Wei.
Therefore, the nurse's words, both explicit and implicit, were meant as a warning to Ning Wei.
Having received the information she sought, Ning Wei did not react as the nurse anticipated and returned to her room.
This woman's appearance had disrupted the information Ning Wei had been gathering, and she needed time to process it all.