Chapter Seventy-Six: Cheng Jiu

Tanya Zhu did not press further and simply said, “Tidy yourself up. You’ll need to go on stage for photographs soon—don’t be disrespectful.”

“I know,” came the reply.

...

The next day, He Cheng made a phone call to inquire about Cheng Jiu from Mrs. He.

Mrs. He knew a bit about the situation. She was well-connected among the wealthy women and always had her ear to the ground. Besides, with such a major incident in the Cheng family, it was impossible to keep it a secret. She told He Cheng everything she knew, then asked, “Why are you asking about the Chengs?”

“Just curious,” He Cheng replied offhandedly.

Mrs. He didn’t dare question him further, worried she might say something to displease him, so she quickly changed the topic and asked how he was doing lately, whether he needed any money. He Cheng brushed her off with a few perfunctory words before hanging up.

He took half a day off from Tanya Zhu, explaining that he had to attend a meeting. Tanya reminded him to come back for his posture class that evening and let him go.

He Cheng went to the hospital, having found out from Mrs. He which one Cheng Jiu was staying at.

However, Mrs. He didn’t know which ward Cheng Jiu was in. He Cheng had to ask around at the hospital before finally learning the room number.

Xin Gan was also there, keeping Cheng Jiu company.

He Cheng stood outside the ward, saw her silhouette, and walked in with a blank expression.

Hearing the door, Xin Gan turned and, upon seeing He Cheng, her face immediately darkened.

He Cheng, unfazed, greeted her naturally, smiled, and looked Cheng Jiu up and down—he lay motionless on the bed. “He really has become a vegetable, hasn’t he? So, he’s in this state and you’re still here with him?”

“You shouldn’t be here,” Xin Gan replied.

“You’re here, so I should be too,” He Cheng countered.

Not wanting to engage, Xin Gan scowled and tried to drive him away. “Leave.”

“I have no other motives, just came to take a look. Xin Gan, if he really is a vegetable, why not come back to me? I’d treat you well. I’m healthy and can satisfy you.”

Xin Gan, holding back her anger, lowered her voice in warning. “Don’t start any trouble.”

“Xin Gan, whenever you’re angry, you’re like a kitten—trying to be fierce but never quite managing. Seeing you like this, my heart aches. I didn’t come to argue. I just wanted to tell you, I was wrong before. Give me another chance. Cheng Jiu’s half-dead—he’ll only drag you down. If you’re with me, I’m the man who suits you best.”

Xin Gan sneered coldly. “Stop pretending, He Cheng. Whoever I’m with is none of your business. Don’t bother me again. If you do, I’ll expose what you did before.”

“Will you?” He Cheng narrowed his eyes dangerously. “No, you won’t. If you want your parents to live the rest of their lives in guilt, go ahead. I won’t lose much, but you—if your photos get out, that won’t be my fault.”

He spoke the truth.

Back then, he had taken secret photos of her—not explicit, but still far too private for anyone else to see. If they were made public, it wouldn’t just ruin her reputation but also disgrace her family.

Xin Gan wasn’t sure if he still had those photos. He’d promised to delete them and showed her his emptied phone, but she couldn’t be sure he didn’t keep backups.

At the time, she was young and naive, just wanting the matter resolved. She hadn’t thought about backups or what he might do.

She confronted him, “Didn’t you delete them all? You still have backups?”

He Cheng laughed. “You’re only realizing that now?”

“He Cheng, you’re shameless.”

“If you hadn’t tried to leave me, I wouldn’t have made backups.”

“Get out,” she demanded, pointing at the door. “I don’t want to see you.”

He Cheng said nothing more, cast a meaningful glance at the unconscious Cheng Jiu, and left.

The truth about Cheng Jiu’s condition was unclear to Mrs. He. He Cheng went to ask the nurses, pretending to be a friend of the patient. After hearing their report, he laughed arrogantly. So that’s how it was.

After He Cheng left, Xin Gan was so angry her hands trembled. Judging by his words, he really did have backups. What to do? Knowing He Cheng’s character, he wouldn’t give them up easily, and she had no idea how many copies he kept.

Most importantly, she didn’t want her family to find out. She especially couldn’t let her grandfather know—he was old and couldn’t take the shock.

Xin Gan felt uneasy, glancing anxiously at Cheng Jiu. If he knew, what would he think of her?

...

But right now, that wasn’t the most important thing. What mattered most was when Cheng Jiu would wake up.

Mrs. Cheng often came to the hospital. Each time, she’d tell Xin Gan to go home and rest, assuring her that the caregivers would look after Cheng Jiu.

But Xin Gan was stubborn. No matter what anyone said, she insisted on staying by his side.

Mrs. Cheng felt guilty. “If Cheng Jiu never wakes up, Xin Gan, we can call off the engagement. We can’t let you be tied down.”

“I can wait for him,” Xin Gan replied, shaking her head.

“You’re still young, Xin Gan.” The implication was clear—don’t waste your youth on someone who might never wake up.

Mrs. Cheng’s tone was stiff, but she was helpless. Her son lay unconscious, and she couldn’t ask a good girl to wait endlessly. If fate wouldn’t let them marry, there was nothing to be done.

Xin Gan pressed her lips together and said nothing.

She couldn’t think about anything else now—all she could do was hope, again and again, that Cheng Jiu would wake up the next moment. Every hope ended in disappointment.

Her birthday arrived before she realized it. If her mother hadn’t called to ask her home for a celebration, she wouldn’t have remembered at all.

She made time to go home, celebrated with her family, blew out the candles. Her father was there too, with a gift. “I just hope you’re happy every day. That’s my only wish,” he said.

Her mother stroked her hair.

Xin Gan couldn’t say a word. The complex feelings of this year’s birthday caught in her throat.

Her grandfather came too, unaware of Cheng Jiu’s accident—the family had hidden it from him, afraid the shock would harm his health.

He’d brought a gift as well: a pair of old-fashioned silver bracelets that had belonged to her grandmother. “I’ve been saving these for you, as a wedding gift. You’re getting married soon—they’ll be your dowry.”

Xin Gan forced herself to appear calm, as if nothing had happened, and accepted the gift.

...

That night, she stayed home instead of going to the hospital. She wept for a long, long time in her room, her spirits sinking.

She never expected that when she went to the hospital the next day, the doctor would tell her Cheng Jiu had woken up. A crowd of doctors and nurses in white coats surrounded his bed, asking about his condition.

Standing at the door, Xin Gan thought she must be dreaming. Maybe she’d cried so hard her eyes were swollen and her vision blurred.

A doctor asked, “Are you feeling any discomfort? Any headache? Do you remember who you are?”

Cheng Jiu was still injured, but no longer needed a respirator. He couldn’t sit up, so they raised the bed slightly so he could see the doctors and nurses clustered around him.

He had just awakened; his face was pale, a nutrient drip in his hand, unable to move. His mind was muddled. It took a long time for him to recall what had happened before the coma.

His voice was hoarse, but he answered the doctor's questions.

He did not notice Xin Gan standing in the doorway.

She didn’t dare go in, afraid to disturb them.

For the first time, she felt utterly useless.

He was awake. She was overjoyed, a huge weight lifted from her heart.

...

Inside, the doctor said, “You’ve just woken up. Your mind may be foggy and you might forget things for a while, but you’ll remember as you recover. Don’t worry.”

“How long have I been asleep?”

“You’ve been in our hospital for over a month.”

So long?

Cheng Jiu fell silent for a moment, then asked, “Has anyone visited me while I was unconscious?”

“Of course—your girlfriend. She’s been caring for you constantly. Odd that she’s not here now—she usually is at this hour.”

The doctor scratched his head, puzzled. “Maybe she had something to do. I’ll notify your family; you should rest.”

The hospital called the Cheng family. Mrs. Cheng was so happy she cried on the spot, quickly turning away to hide her tears.

After half a day awake, Cheng Jiu’s mind finally cleared. He asked, “Where’s Xin Gan?”

He’d already asked the doctor how long he’d been unconscious, so he didn’t repeat the question to Mrs. Cheng.

But he still asked about Xin Gan.

He’d been unconscious for so long, and the doctor said his girlfriend had stayed by his side. He was curious if that girlfriend was Xin Gan.

Mrs. Cheng said, “Right, where is Xin Gan? She’s usually here at this time. Why isn’t she?”

“Maybe she doesn’t know I’m awake yet?”

“Probably not. I’ll call her.”

Cheng Jiu, tired, lay on his back staring at the white ceiling, slowly closing his eyes.

A month before his coma, he’d received a tip about Ji Bai’s whereabouts. The informant said Ji Bai was making a deal with foreign buyers within the country—an opportunity of a lifetime. Cheng Jiu hadn’t hesitated, rushing out overnight with several men. But things went wrong halfway—the mountain collapsed; there was an accident.

He didn’t catch Ji Bai, the informant had issues too, and Cheng Jiu himself was injured and comatose—a heavy loss.

He’d nearly lost his life.

He’d been too impatient, too eager to catch Ji Bai.

How close he’d come to never seeing Xin Gan again.

Thinking of her, his expression grew somber.

...

Xin Gan was still in the hospital when Mrs. Cheng’s call came, but not in the wards—she was in the emergency room. Her period had come unexpectedly, and the pain was so severe she fainted in the elevator. Someone found her and brought her to the ER.

She’d just come to. A nurse cared for her, asking gently, “Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“You need to rest more and not overexert yourself.”

Xin Gan nodded, embarrassed by her soiled skirt. The nurse handed her a jacket. “Tie this around your waist for now. And here’s something to change into in the restroom.”

Xin Gan thanked her repeatedly.

“You’re welcome—it’s our job,” the nurse said.

After changing, the nurse gave her some medicine. “Take this for now.”

“Can I have your number? I’ll wash the jacket and return it.”

“Just bring it to the nurse’s station. I’ll be around.”

“All right.”

Mrs. Cheng called, asking where she was, since she wasn’t in the ward.

Xin Gan hesitated, “I’m not in the ward. Why?”

“Come to the ward, now!” Mr. Cheng’s voice barely concealed his joy. “Come right away.”

She had no choice but to go.

The jacket tied around her waist matched her jeans well enough not to look odd.

At the ward door, she took a deep breath, gathered her emotions, and went in.

What must be faced, must be faced.

Mrs. Cheng took her hand. “Xin Xin, where were you? Did you know Cheng Jiu is awake?”

The ward was full—Mrs. Cheng, Mr. Cheng, even Cheng Hui, all lively and bustling.

...

Especially Cheng Hui, who was chattering endlessly. Her voice had recovered a bit; she was as talkative as ever.

Cheng Jiu found it irritating, his face turning sour. He told Cheng Hui to quiet down, then turned his gaze to Xin Gan, who had arrived late. He glanced at her, then looked away without a word.

Mrs. Cheng said, “Hui, don’t make noise. Your brother just woke up and needs rest. No more fussing.”

Cheng Hui grinned mischievously. “Looks to me like my brother doesn’t want us around. Mom, let’s give them some space.”

Mrs. Cheng caught on, smiling as she teased, in high spirits.

“Yes, I was being thoughtless. Cheng Jiu’s waking is a joy not just for us, but for Xin Xin, too. She’s been so worried—she’s spent all this time in the hospital looking after you.”

Xin Gan felt awkward, embarrassed by Mrs. Cheng’s teasing.

Once they’d all left, the room was finally quiet. Xin Gan stood at a respectful distance, unsure what to say. She forced a topic. “Are you feeling any discomfort?”

Cheng Jiu studied her for a while, as if waiting for something more. After a long silence, she only asked if he was uncomfortable. He laughed. “Do I look uncomfortable?”

Xin Gan: ...

He lifted his hand, with some difficulty, beckoning her over. “Come here.”

She hesitated, then stepped forward.

“What are you hiding behind your back? What are you carrying?”

“Nothing.”

He didn’t believe her, a wry smile on his lips. “Come closer, I want to tell you something.”

“Say it—I’m listening.”

He pretended to cough. She immediately asked, “Is your throat uncomfortable?”

“A little dizzy. Can you help me sit up? I’ve been lying down too long.”

Seeing his pallor, she didn’t hesitate and moved to help him.

Before she could reach his arm, he caught her wrist. She didn’t dare struggle, afraid to hurt him, so she let him hold her.

He asked quietly, “Are you not feeling well?”

In her other hand was a bag of medication—painkillers for menstrual cramps. She was indeed uncomfortable.

She lowered her head. “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

“Xin Gan, the doctor said you’ve been looking after me the whole time I was unconscious, hmm?”

She blurted out, “You didn’t wake up just to settle scores with me, did you?”

He laughed, his chest heaving slightly, and coughed a bit—still not fully recovered.

She fell silent.

After a pause, he looked at her. “Settle what scores? Do you think I’m such a villain?”

“No.” She looked at him steadily, her eyes bright and clear. She bit her lip and said softly, “You’re not bad. You’re really good.”

He didn’t let go, but brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers and the back of her hand. She didn’t resist, stunned, watching him.

He said, “Did I scare you?”

She denied it at once. “No, I’m not so easily frightened.”

She didn’t want to show weakness in front of him. Even if she had a fragile side, she wouldn’t reveal it easily—she was used to being strong.

Their eyes met; he gazed at her. “Then why did you cry? Don’t tell me you got dust in your eyes.”

She could pretend no longer, bowing her head even lower. “You’ve just woken up. You should rest. I won’t disturb you.”

He ignored her, took the medicine from her hand, and saw it was for cramps. His expression softened. “Does your stomach hurt?”

She blushed, nodding. “I lost track of the days. Didn’t expect it today.”

“Sit down. I’ll call Cheng Hui in.”

“No need, I’m fine now.”

She’d grown noticeably thinner over the past days. Cheng Jiu noticed and felt a pang of distress, unsure if she’d worried herself sick when she learned of his accident.

Soon, the doctor came to check on Cheng Jiu again. Xin Gan started to leave, but he called her back, wanting her to stay in the room.

Feeling she’d only be in the way, she waited outside.

He wanted to reach for her, but couldn’t—he had to submit to the doctor’s examination.

Xin Gan called home to tell her parents the news. Her mother wanted to come immediately, but Xin Gan stopped her—it was late, and there was time enough tomorrow. Her father agreed.

Standing outside the ward, Xin Gan finally smiled, grateful—so, so grateful.

After the checkup, Cheng Jiu asked the nurse to call Xin Gan in.

The nurse winked at her. “Your boyfriend’s asking for you. I’m so envious—your relationship is so sweet. Just so you know, he refused to cooperate with the exam earlier. The doctor had to threaten not to let you see him before he agreed.”

Cheng Jiu’s temper hadn’t changed—he was anxious she would leave again, so he rushed through the checkup to have her stay.

Xin Gan entered. “Why didn’t you cooperate for the exam?”

He answered seriously, “I already had all the necessary tests this morning.” He sounded righteously indignant. “They treat me like a specimen.”

Xin Gan: ... Wasn’t that just like cursing after putting down the bowl?