Chapter 7: The Lingering Aftermath and a Warning

After Su Yao left the ward, Lin Qing was like a fish out of water.

He gasped for air, his lungs aching with each breath, yet he couldn’t stop.

The after-effects of being calm amidst terror now surfaced, bringing with them a profoundly unsettling reaction.

Thankfully, it wasn’t overly severe, and there was no need to call for emergency medical attention.

He knew he could recover on his own.

“Kid, you’re quite something! Such a beautiful girlfriend. Back when I was in school, beauties like her only existed in legends… yet here you are, having snagged one directly.”

However, even as Lin Qing struggled to control his rapid breathing, Wu Gang from the adjacent ward couldn’t help but speak up.

Though the curtain between them remained open, preventing Lin Qing from seeing Wu Gang’s expression, the sheer envy in his voice suggested a face contorted as if he’d just eaten a truckload of lemons.

Yet, even with Wu Gang’s boisterous chatter, reminiscent of a market vendor haggling, it paradoxically quelled the fear in Lin Qing’s heart.

It reminded him that he wasn’t alone, that there was someone nearby.

As he considered this, Lin Qing gradually regained his composure, his frantic gasps finally subsiding.

“Ah, to be young again! If I were a decade or so younger, I’d definitely be the campus heartthrob, pursued by countless women~”

As Wu Gang spoke, he suddenly chuckled, sounding as if he genuinely believed he could revert to his youthful days.

Lin Qing couldn’t help but offer a helpless smile, thinking that if he had his way, anyone who wanted Su Yao could have her.

Just take her away.

He wished Su Yao would stop flitting about in front of him.

And stop scaring him.

“But what did your girlfriend mean by that last remark? Why be careful of Nurse Li?”

However, upon suddenly recalling Su Yao’s words, Wu Gang immediately raised a hand in confusion and pulled back the curtain, removing any barrier between them.

No more secrets.

“Eh, why are you drenched in sweat? Tsk, tsk, are young people’s kidneys not what they used to be these days!”

Upon suddenly seeing Lin Qing drenched in sweat, his hair plastered wetly to his forehead, Wu Gang was startled. As a certain possibility dawned on him, his gaze towards Lin Qing immediately softened with sympathy.

It seemed having too beautiful a girlfriend wasn’t always a blessing!

A man needed to practice self-control!

“Uncle, I’m fine.”

Hearing Lin Qing speak so suddenly, Wu Gang’s spirits immediately lifted.

He had thought the kid was mute!

Now, hearing him speak without a stutter and with such a sweet tone, it seemed he had simply been unwilling to talk before.

“It’s just the two of us in this ward; it’s good to chat. Don’t keep everything bottled up by yourself.”

Following this, Wu Gang immediately seized the opportunity, keen to prevent Lin Qing from lapsing back into silence and leaving him to idly watch television alone.

Besides, a young man shouldn’t be so reclusive at his age.

It was better to talk more with people; that way, he could emerge from the shadows sooner and resume a normal life.

“Mm.”

It was precisely Wu Gang’s displayed kindness that emboldened Lin Qing to finally speak.

However, after hearing Wu Gang’s words, Lin Qing glanced towards the bed by the window.

“That old man probably won’t make it. It’s been so many days, and he’s only conscious for brief moments. Where I’m from, we’d say he doesn’t have many days left to live… It’s a pity, his wife never leaves his side, coming to look after him every day. At her age, it’s truly not easy!”

Seeing Lin Qing’s gaze fall upon the window-side bed, Wu Gang couldn’t help but shake his head, contemplating the many partings and sorrows in the world. Just hearing about it was enough to evoke pity.

Yet, pity was useless; the final outcome remained cold and unforgiving.

As Lin Qing withdrew his gaze and looked at Wu Gang’s expression, he pondered for a moment before finally speaking.

“Uncle, you should also stay away from that nurse.”

Even though Lin Qing knew that for his own self-preservation, he shouldn’t be saying such things to others, and instead continue to feign ignorance as he had initially.

However, Wu Gang’s warmth had made Lin Qing feel a sense of comfort, preventing him from treating him as a stranger and leaving him to his fate.

He rarely felt cared for by others… and for those who were kind to him, he wanted to reciprocate that kindness.

“Huh?”

Upon suddenly hearing Lin Qing utter the same warning, Wu Gang’s expression first froze in surprise, then, as he processed it, he couldn’t help but burst into two hearty laughs.

“Haha, you kid, you’ve got sharp eyes! Don’t let my age fool you, Uncle here has a very clingy girlfriend~ She’s quite busy with work, but she’ll be coming to see me these next two days… And yes, Nurse Li is quite pretty. It wouldn’t be good if my girlfriend misunderstood.”

Wu Gang pretended to consider this seriously, his words laced with a hint of pride, conveying that he, too, had a girlfriend and was certainly no pathetic single dog!

His usual chats with Nurse Li were merely for amusement.

Even if it was just to avoid suspicion, it was better to maintain some distance!

“Ah… ah! Ah…”

Just as Wu Gang and Lin Qing were conversing, the old man in the window-side bed suddenly opened his eyes, letting out an inarticulate cry. His hoarse, faint voice carried the helplessness of approaching death.

Lin Qing’s hand trembled, while Wu Gang quickly pressed the call button, urging the doctors to come quickly.

“Quick, someone! The patient in bed number one is screaming!”

Doctors arrived swiftly thereafter, a group of them gathering around the patient to perform examinations.

Witnessing this, Lin Qing felt a pang of discomfort, his gaze unwilling to settle on the window-side bed.

The ward felt as if it had become a room devoid of oxygen; remaining there any longer would surely drive one mad…

Quickly getting out of bed and putting on his shoes, Lin Qing, still in his damp hospital gown, stumbled out of the ward.

Yet, the moment he stepped outside the ward, he finally escaped the oppressive atmosphere.

“Oh my god, that’s wonderful! Are you getting married?”

Lin Qing, slowly pacing the hospital corridor, aimlessly wandered as he had no desire to return to his ward, eventually finding himself near the nurses’ station.

Hearing the sudden voices, Lin Qing instinctively looked up.

“He only proposed; I haven’t said yes yet~”

“Oh, you! Stop stringing him along. You both like each other, just get married already!”

“Aiya, I have to play hard to get a little!”

“Go ahead and flirt, but what if you end up like Li Mei, with your boyfriend running off with another woman? You’ll have nowhere to cry!”

As the two nurses chirped softly, the familiar name he overheard made Lin Qing pause.

“Li Mei has terrible judgment in men. I told her ages ago that her boyfriend was a good-for-nothing… My boyfriend isn’t like that at all; he’s so good to me, and he’s never hit me!”

“Shhh, Li Mei should be back soon. Let’s not say any more.”

As soon as he heard the high probability of Li Mei appearing, Lin Qing didn’t linger. He quickly turned and left the nurses’ station, intending to stroll elsewhere.

“Patient Lin Qing, why are you out of your ward?”

However, the moment he turned, Li Mei suddenly appeared.

A gentle smile adorned her delicate face, and her white nurse’s uniform lent her an air of purity, making her appear utterly harmless.

Yet, Lin Qing glanced at the space above her head, where three black skulls hovered.