Jiang Li stared at the missed calls on her phone, all from the same person, and was stunned for a few seconds.
No wonder Xiao Yanzhi had told her earlier that she should always take her phone with her when going into the bathroom in the future.
So he had been looking for her.
Jiang Li couldn't help but find it rather absurd.
Whether he was affectionate or heartless, there was ultimately only one reason—
The unattainable always stirs restlessness.
As the heir to a wealthy family like the Xiao family, Xiao Yanzhi must be clearer than anyone else about what kind of woman he would need as his future wife.
But it didn't mean that he wouldn't have his eye on other types of women.
For men, if they had a bit of money or ability, they always wanted "this," "that," and "everything." They would never want to be faithful to just one person.
Having been in the world of fame and fortune for so many years, Jiang Li understood this only too well. However, she had once hoped that Xiao Yanzhi would be the exception.
It seemed that no one in this world was an exception.
The long hair that Jiang Li had just dried slid off her shoulders, covering her side face.
She held her phone and first sent a text message to Sister Chen.
[ Sister Chen, are you asleep? ]
Sister Chen replied quickly, saying that she wasn't asleep yet. Jiang Li immediately called her.
"Sister Chen, tomorrow is the last day of the court's public notice period. I should be able to go back tonight," Jiang Li said, holding her phone with a light tone.
Sister Chen said, "Don't rush back. Dr. Qiao, your friend, made an appointment for you for psychological treatment before. You should contact him in your spare time and ask about the consultation time."
Dr. Qiao?
Surprise flashed across Jiang Li's eyes. "How did Dr. Qiao know..."
"The night when Jiang Yi caused trouble, Dr. Qiao was very worried about you. He had saved Jingyi's number when he looked for you before and called to tell me the situation in advance," Sister Chen sighed. "You need to receive treatment for your illness as soon as possible. Put your work aside for now. You don't need to be so career - oriented. We'll take care of things here in Huacheng."
"Your health comes first. Do you understand?"
Jiang Li listened silently and finally said softly into the receiver, "I understand. Thank you, Sister Chen."
She couldn't quite describe how she felt.
Although she was being cared for, she felt a bit uncomfortable, always worrying that she was causing trouble for others.
She was used to putting herself last in everything. Now that she was the one being carefully taken care of by everyone, she really didn't know what to do.
Her heart was wrapped in a soft, warm feeling, but there was also a bit of extremely cautious panic.
Since she had never been truly loved, she always doubted the authenticity of being loved.
Before Xiao Yanzhi came out of the bathroom, Jiang Li returned to her own room and remembered to lock the door behind her.
She had been doing this during her stay at Ruiyuan these days.
She took every precaution just to guard against him.
When Xiao Yanzhi walked out of the bathroom, drying his dripping hair with a towel, he looked up and saw the woman's closed door.
He walked up to the door and was about to knock when his well - defined hand stopped in mid - air. After almost half a minute, he finally let it drop.
Recalling her calm and expressionless face just now, he was sure that she was fine. That was enough.
Thinking of this, he took a few steps back. A self - deprecating look gradually appeared in his deep eyes.
She was really terribly afraid of him. She had locked the door so tightly that there was not even a crack for him.
Xiao Yanzhi lingered in front of Jiang Li's door for a while before moving away.
...
The next day, before Jiang Li could contact Qiao Jinrun, he called her first. "Jiang Li, are you available today?"
"How did Dr. Qiao know that I'm back in Beicheng?" Jiang Li had just woken up, and her voice was still a bit muffled. She mumbled, "Is Dr. Qiao moonlighting as a paparazzi recently?"
Qiao Jinrun let out a low laugh. "Then I'm probably a sasaeng fan. I have an inside information channel."
This "inside information channel" obviously referred to Sister Chen.
After chatting with Qiao Jinrun for a few words, Jiang Li gradually woke up from her drowsiness and couldn't help laughing. "Dr. Qiao has really done his homework recently. He even uses the term 'sasaeng fan.' " Jiang Li couldn't help teasing him.
Qiao Jinrun heard her teasing and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Are you free today? I've made an appointment for you with a friend of mine. He specializes in psychology and may be able to help you."
He didn't choose to tell Jiang Li directly that he already knew about her illness. He also tried to make the topic as light - hearted as possible. "However, I've always been skeptical about his professional ability. You can help me confirm whether he's lying."
Qiao Jinrun's voice was hearty, and his smile was obvious.
Jiang Li let out a puff of laughter. "Okay, then when can I go?"
Qiao Jinrun said, "You can come anytime. I'm not on duty today."
Jiang Li looked at the time. She had woken up quite early today. It was not even eight o'clock yet. "Then I'll wash up now. See you in about an hour and a half."
After hanging up the phone with Qiao Jinrun, Jiang Li threw off the quilt and got out of bed. She walked out of the bedroom.
When passing by Xiao Yanzhi's bedroom, Jiang Li glanced casually.
His door was wide open, indicating that the room was empty.
Xiao Yanzhi was always busy. His daily schedule was tight, and his whereabouts were always uncertain. Jiang Li was already used to this.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Jiang Li slowly washed up and did some simple skin - care. Her makeup today was very light, just to enhance her complexion. Compared to her usual charming and gorgeous appearance, she now looked more like a girl next door.
Just like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally free from carving.
It was just like this.
...
There were people coming and going in the hospital. Jiang Li never expected there to be so many people today. She immediately pulled down the brim of her hat and put on her sunglasses, then called Qiao Jinrun for help.
"Dr. Qiao, there are so many people in the hospital."
Qiao Jinrun asked for her current location and led her through the doctors' special passage to his consulting room.
After making sure that there was no one else around, Jiang Li took off her mask and hat, tidied her hair, and let out a sigh of relief.
Seeing her like this, Qiao Jinrun couldn't help but sigh. "Being a celebrity is really hard. You don't even have a normal life."
Jiang Li shrugged. "As a celebrity, you have to pay attention to your words and deeds all the time. You never know which insignificant detail might be seized upon and blown out of proportion."
"Not even for normal medical treatment?" Qiao Jinrun asked.
Jiang Li pursed her lips and blinked at him. "How can you be sure that a female celebrity coming to the hospital is for normal medical treatment and not because she's accidentally pregnant with a rich man's child and coming for an abortion?"
Qiao Jinrun was rendered speechless.
Jiang Li responded to him lightly. "People always believe what they want to believe. As for the truth, it's never important, and they're not willing to listen."
"Some people like me and can't wait to praise me with all the beautiful words; some people hate me and can't wait to use the most sarcastic and mean words just to see me ruined. Only then will they feel comfortable."
"This industry is just like this, cold and heartless."