Chapter 4: Tonight, I Will See Her

Ye Hongxiao sat in the car, resting his forehead against his hand as he watched the anxious woman across the street. He made no move to get out.

It was not until he saw De Ling hurrying toward the subway entrance that he finally spoke, "Make a U-turn and pull up!"

Qi Zhiping, his assistant at the wheel, acknowledged the order and began to maneuver the car, only to be stopped by Ye Hongxiao a second later.

Confused, Qi Zhiping looked across the road and understood why. Another car had pulled up opposite them.

The driver stepped out, exchanged a few words with De Ling, and then opened the passenger door to let her in.

"Back to Lanting Pavilion."

Ye Hongxiao’s tone was impossible to read. Qi Zhiping responded and drove away.

The night deepened, shrouding the city in darkness. The black sedan glided smoothly through the night, yet the man inside seemed far from composed.

Upon arrival, Ye Hongxiao stepped out of the car, but after only two strides, he turned back.

"Tell her that if she wants to discuss the partnership, I expect to see her here by midnight at the latest. Otherwise, the deal is off."

With that, he walked up the steps and into the apartment complex.

Qi Zhiping swiped at his phone screen, pondering how to convey his boss’s absurd demand to De Ling. Finally, he let out a long sigh and dialed her number.

The call went unanswered, as expected. When he tried again, it went straight to voicemail.

After a moment’s thought, Qi Zhiping sent a text message to De Ling, then started the car and drove away from Lanting Pavilion.

In the other car, De Ling watched the streetscape through the window, her eyes stinging.

Ever since her mother fell ill, she had traveled this road countless times. Each trip was taken with a heavy heart, terrified that arriving a minute late might mean never seeing her mother again.

She felt a warmth on her lap and looked down to find a man’s jacket.

A sense of gratitude washed over her. She sniffled and turned to the driver with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Shen. I hate to trouble you so late at night."

The man driving was Shen Xiucheng, her neighbor from the same building.

"Emergencies take priority," he replied. He glanced at her pale face and used his free hand to adjust the air conditioning. "You don't look well. Why don't you close your eyes and rest for a while?"

"I’m fine," De Ling said with a faint smile, turning her gaze back to the window.

Haizhou was still vibrant at night, but the road to the suburban hospital felt exceptionally desolate and long.

Once the car came to a stop, De Ling thanked him and dashed toward the hospital entrance.

Shen Xiucheng noticed the handbag she had left on the seat. He parked the car and followed her into the hospital.

De Ling stood outside the glass of the emergency room, straining to see through the tightly shut security doors, but they revealed nothing.

She stood there, dazed, until she felt a layer of warmth draped over her shoulders, only then realizing she had been shivering.

"Mr. Shen?" she asked, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

Shen Xiucheng lifted the bag in his hand. "You were in such a rush, you left your bag in my car."

De Ling took the bag and thanked him, her gaze immediately returning to the emergency room doors.

Shen Xiucheng hesitated, but in the end, he said nothing and turned to leave.

De Ling leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the red light above the emergency room entrance. Tears she had held back for so long finally began to fall.

She was afraid.

She was terrified that the only person in this world who loved her unconditionally might leave her forever.

If that happened, she would truly be all alone.