Jiang Li's smile was full of warmth and vitality, making people instinctively want to get closer to her.
Sitting on the edge of the bed with his elbows propped on the armrests, Sheng Jingxi stared at her for a while before saying, "If my mother hadn't been in such poor health back then, I might have had a younger sister."
Jiang Li blinked, caught off - guard by this sudden sharing of his personal life.
Perhaps sensing a kindred spirit in Jiang Li, Sheng Jingxi began to share his childhood memories. "When I was five, my mother said she wanted to have a little girl for me."
"But my father refused," he said indifferently. "Considering my mother's health, he thought she was no longer fit to bear another child. Otherwise, it would have shortened her lifespan."
"Yet, he still couldn't keep her," he continued, his eyes darkening. "She left anyway. Not only did she abandon my father, but she also left me behind."
Jiang Li felt a pang of sadness wash over her.
Sheng Jingxi didn't seem like a delicate or sensitive person. He exuded a wildness from within and was often seen as immature and troublesome.
But at this moment, Jiang Li had a strange thought.
He wasn't a born playboy or trouble - maker. Maybe he deliberately acted out because he didn't want his mother to leave without worry.
If her husband was strong enough and her son was well - behaved, she would have no reason to stay.
So, he chose to be the one to hold her back.
"Now, let's talk about you," Sheng Jingxi shifted the topic to Jiang Li. "Where are your parents? They haven't come to visit you during your long stay in the hospital. Do you have any siblings? How many people are there in your family?"
Jiang Li was momentarily speechless.
The fleeting pity she had felt for him vanished in an instant. She suspected that Sheng Jingxi had deliberately played the victim to gain her sympathy and then exchange stories.
Jiang Li saw no reason to hide anything, so she briefly told him about her family background and the experiences of the past few years.
Strangely enough, although these experiences had once caused her great pain, she could now tell them as calmly as if they were someone else's story.
The human brain's self - protection mechanism helps us gradually forget the traumas of the past.
Over time, the pain fades into a faint scar, and we might even forget how it was formed.
When Jiang Li mentioned her bipolar disorder, Sheng Jingxi whispered, "Stop talking."
Jiang Li shook her head and smiled. "These things have already happened. There's no need to avoid them."
The room fell into a long silence.
After a while, Sheng Jingxi finally spoke. "I shouldn't have asked."
He felt deeply remorseful.
Hearing the guilt in his voice, Jiang Li smiled. "It's really okay. We're just chatting."
Sheng Jingxi lifted his eyes and stared at her with his almond - shaped eyes for a long time. Finally, he blurted out, "From now on, I'll protect you."
Jiang Li couldn't help but laugh. She pretended to be surprised and covered her mouth. "Really?"
"Of course it's true," Sheng Jingxi said seriously, putting aside his usual nonchalant attitude. "My father is always busy with work and can't take care of everything. If you have any problems in the future, just tell me. I'll solve them for you."
"Anything?" Jiang Li tilted her head.
"Anything," Sheng Jingxi replied generously.
Jiang Li glanced at him. After thinking seriously for a while, she slowly said, "I actually do have one thing for you to help me with."
"Be more careful when you race in the future. Don't end up in the hospital again."
Sheng Jingxi was slightly stunned.
He thought Jiang Li would ask him to beat up that scoundrel. He never expected this request.
Her sudden concern left him at a loss.
"Actually, my hobby isn't that dangerous. This was just an accident. Besides, I'm fine, aren't I?"
"You were lucky this time," Jiang Li looked up at him calmly. "But no one can predict how many accidents will happen in their lives, and no one can use up their luck in advance."
"To keep the people who love you from being sad, you must live well for them."
As soon as she said this, Jiang Li suddenly felt that the words were familiar.
It was what Qiao Jinrun had once said to her.
It turned out that one day, she would use these words to encourage others to live a good life.
...
When Jiang Li returned to her room, she remembered that Qiao Jinrun had also been in the hospital recently. So she asked Xiaoye to call him over.
A short while later, Qiao Jinrun walked into her ward in his white coat.
"You seem to have recovered a lot," Qiao Jinrun said with a smile. "Do you feel unwell anywhere? Do you need me to check you?"
"How is Xiao Yanzhi doing now?"
"... Well, do you want to hear the truth?" Qiao Jinrun knew that everyone was keeping the truth from her.
His eyes swept over her eager eyes. "So far, there's no good news."
The expression on Jiang Li's face froze instantly.
If Qiao Jinrun said there was no good news, it meant the situation was extremely critical.
It had reached a point where even he wasn't sure.
Jiang Li asked, "Can I go and see him?"
Qiao Jinrun replied, "I don't recommend it. His heart is severely damaged, and he may have a massive hemorrhage at any time, which would make the situation even more dangerous."
Jiang Li understood. Disappointment flashed in her eyes.
Qiao Jinrun gently comforted her, "The doctors in our department have had a meeting. We'll give him a thorough physical examination tomorrow to find out what the problem is."
"Don't worry. His will to survive is very strong. He will definitely wake up."
Jiang Li was in a low mood. She could only force a smile and say, "Thank you."
Qiao Jinrun couldn't help but laugh. "Why are you thanking me? He should really thank me for not killing him when he wakes up."
After all, they were rivals in love.
Jiang Li stared at him blankly. "Thank you for what?"
Qiao Jinrun replied, "It's nothing."
When he was performing surgery on Xiao Yanzhi, he had silently communicated with him:
I've done my best to save you. You'd better treat the girl I love twice as well in the future.
---
While Xiao Yanzhi was in a coma, he had many chaotic dreams.
In his dreams, he seemed to relive his entire life. From his school days to adulthood, the world was dark and gloomy.
It wasn't until that rainy night, when he met a woman who was soaked to the bone, looked extremely humble, but dared to bravely knock on his car window, that a glimmer of light finally shone into his world.
He had to admit that he had been a bit rebellious back then and made a rather absurd decision for the first time in his twenty - plus years of life.
It was a late - night at the bar, and there was a soaking - wet woman.
He still clearly remembered that at that time, Jiang Li was holding the business card he had casually given her in the club. Now the card was completely soaked by the rain. She calmly asked him, "Mr. Xiao, do you keep your word?"