Chapter 18: A Troubled Encounter and a Sister’s Escape

As was his custom, Shen Yunfei dedicated his non-working hours to visiting his sister at the hospital.

Their parents had tragically perished in the Void Catastrophe thirteen years prior, leaving the siblings to rely solely on each other.

Given Shen Youchu’s delicate health and chronic illness since childhood, Shen Yunfei, as her elder brother, felt an even greater imperative to care for her.

He would unfailingly arrive at the hospital to keep her company whenever he wasn’t at work.

Consequently, Shen Yunfei had yet to even consider dating, let alone touch the hand of any woman other than his sister.

It wasn’t for lack of desire to find a suitable partner.

Rather, the demands of his job coupled with the constant vigil by his sister’s bedside consumed every waking moment.

Should he attempt to weave a romantic relationship into his already packed schedule, he gravely feared his time would prove utterly insufficient.

Thus, Shen Yunfei found himself perpetually deferring the pursuit of a girlfriend.

He reasoned that once Shen Youchu had fully recovered, there would still be ample time for him to seek out a companion.

Today, however, Shen Yunfei stumbled upon a rather vexing predicament.

A lone figure, clad in tattered garments, lay sprawled by the roadside, appearing utterly unconscious.

Had they fallen victim to some ruffians?

Otherwise, Shen Yunfei struggled to conceive of what calamity could have befallen this individual to leave them in such a state.

“Hey, wake up, wake up,”

Determined to ascertain the cause of their collapse, Shen Yunfei attempted to rouse the unconscious individual.

Yet, despite his persistent shaking and the volume of his calls, the person remained stubbornly unresponsive, exhibiting not the slightest flicker of consciousness.

[Could this person be dead? That seemed unlikely, given their body appeared perfectly intact, devoid of even a single wound.]

Indeed, every inch of exposed skin on the individual’s body was pristine, lacking not only wounds but even the faintest bruise that might suggest a blow.

Moreover, the gentle rise and fall of their abdomen with each breath offered irrefutable proof that life still coursed within them.

Why then, despite his fervent attempts, could he not stir them awake?

Could they be in a coma due to some unseen affliction, perhaps internal injuries imperceptible from the exterior?

Perhaps he should simply take them to the hospital, as it was conveniently on his way.

After all, he was already bound for the hospital to visit his sister.

‘Yes,’ he decided, ‘that’s precisely what I’ll do.’

Just as Shen Yunfei bent to hoist the unconscious figure onto his back for the journey to the hospital, a phone’s insistent ring pierced the quiet, drawing his attention.

It had to be the phone of the prone individual, and the caller ID prominently displayed [Sister].

Recognizing it as a family member, he decided to answer.

Shen Yunfei had already intended to contact the person’s relatives once they were safely at the hospital; this incoming call simply spared him the effort of making the initial outreach.

With that thought, he accepted the call.

The moment the call connected, he was met with an unexpected torrent of words, an immediate testament to the caller’s profound concern for the individual.

This realization filled Shen Yunfei with immense relief that he had chosen to intervene; without his timely assistance, the caller would undoubtedly remain tormented by the unknown whereabouts of the phone’s owner.

After a concise explanation of the current circumstances and the name of the hospital he was heading to, and having confirmed their meeting point there, Shen Yunfei gently hoisted the unconscious person onto his back.

He then set off toward the hospital.

Meanwhile, Liu Ruyan was already waiting anxiously at the hospital entrance.

Upon learning that her younger brother was currently unconscious, a wave of profound worry washed over her.

She swiftly gathered his clothes, mounted her motorcycle, and raced to the hospital, pushing the vehicle to its limits.

However, her haste proved somewhat counterproductive; by the time she arrived, Shen Yunfei and Liu Xingluo were still en route.

With no choice but to wait, she paced restlessly by the entrance, until at last, Shen Yunfei appeared, bearing Liu Xingluo on his back.

“Xiao Luo!” Liu Ruyan cried, her voice laced with panic. “What on earth happened to my brother? How did he end up in such a state?”

Witnessing the sight of the suit she had meticulously prepared for him just last night now ragged and ruined, and Liu Xingluo himself lying utterly unconscious, Liu Ruyan’s composure shattered.

Though she had been apprised of his condition during the phone call, seeing it firsthand ignited a fresh wave of alarm.

She rushed forward, unable to contain herself, gently but firmly lifting Liu Xingluo from Shen Yunfei’s back to assess his condition.

“I’m afraid I don’t know,” Shen Yunfei replied, his tone gentle.

“But we should get him inside the hospital for examination, shouldn’t we? The doctors will surely be able to ascertain the cause.”

Having already reached the hospital entrance, admitting him for immediate medical attention was undoubtedly the most optimal and convenient course of action to uncover the mystery of his unconsciousness.

Liu Ruyan, regaining her composure, nodded in agreement.

Together, they escorted Liu Xingluo into the hospital for a thorough examination.

“Thank you so much,” Liu Ruyan said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

“For going out of your way to bring my brother here to the hospital.”

Far from harming the unconscious Liu Xingluo found by the roadside, Shen Yunfei had, with remarkable kindness, brought him directly to the hospital.

For this selfless act, Liu Ruyan felt an undeniable obligation to express her profound gratitude.

Such genuinely warm-hearted individuals were a rarity in the modern world.

“It was nothing, truly,” Shen Yunfei humbly replied.

“My sister is also hospitalized at this facility, so it was simply a matter of convenience to bring him along.”

“Moreover, I believe any decent person would find it impossible to simply turn a blind eye to such a predicament.”

“I understand,” Liu Ruyan mused, a flicker of comprehension crossing her face.

“Your sister is indeed a patient here. Then you must have come specifically to visit her.”

“Please, go quickly; you mustn’t keep your sister waiting too long.”

“Oh, and if it’s not too much trouble, might I have your phone number?”

“You’ve extended such significant assistance, and I truly wish to express my gratitude properly.”

While Shen Yunfei personally felt such a formality was unnecessary, Liu Ruyan’s insistence was undeniable.

He sensed that she would not easily relent if he refused, and so, he ultimately divulged his phone number to her.

“Let’s defer discussions of gratitude for another time,” Shen Yunfei said, a hint of urgency in his voice.

“I must go to my sister’s ward now.”

“Oh, of course,” Liu Ruyan responded, understanding dawning.

“I’ll reach out when you have a moment.”

Perceiving his haste, Liu Ruyan, with commendable tact, did not press him further, allowing Shen Yunfei to depart.

She, too, had urgent matters demanding her attention.

She couldn’t fathom how Liu Xingluo had managed to get himself into such a disheveled and unconscious state this time.

Her only recourse was to await the hospital’s diagnostic results; should he be unharmed, she vowed to extract a full explanation from him once he regained consciousness.

****

Meanwhile, having taken his leave of Liu Ruyan, Shen Yunfei proceeded directly to Shen Youchu’s hospital room.

“Youchu, your big brother is here to visit you,” he announced as he pushed the door open.

“Hmm? Where are you? Have you run off somewhere again?”

Upon entering, Shen Yunfei found no trace of his sister.

This was not an isolated incident; on several previous occasions, after painstakingly carving out time to see her, he would discover she had abandoned her sickbed and wandered off to some unknown locale.

“Miss Shen Youchu?” a passing nurse inquired, noticing Shen Yunfei at the doorway.

“If you’re looking for her, she should be in the garden out back.”

“She mentioned the air in her room felt stifling and expressed a desire to breathe some fresh air downstairs.”

A nurse, happening to pass by, spotted Shen Yunfei at the ward’s threshold and kindly informed him of Shen Youchu’s current location.

The siblings were frequent visitors to the hospital, and over time, the nurse had grown accustomed to their presence, developing a friendly familiarity with them.

“In the garden downstairs, you say? Very well, thank you, Sister Guo,” he replied, a touch of relief in his voice.

Having thanked the nurse, Shen Yunfei wasted no time, dashing downstairs to the garden to ascertain if his sister was indeed there.

‘That girl, truly,’ he thought, a mix of exasperation and affection stirring within him.

‘Still ailing, yet she insists on wandering off on her own. At this rate, when will she ever be discharged from the hospital?’

‘She truly is a constant source of worry.’