On the other end of the phone, Qingmian's nose tingled as she looked at the words on the screen.
She tilted her head back and blinked her eyes forcefully and rapidly. It took quite a while for her to hold back her tears.
Qingmian's gaze returned to the phone screen. Her slender and fair fingers tapped slowly on the screen.
[Professor Chi's words are still as heart - warming as ever.]
Right below the text was a cute cat dancing happily emoji.
Then,
[I'll be really busy with rehearsals recently. If you can't find me, don't worry. I'm most likely rehearsing.]
This was followed by a crying and coquettish cat emoji.
[It should still be daytime where you are. It's really late here. I'm going to sleep. Good night, my dear Professor Chi.]
[Your Mianmianbao who loves you forever~]
After sending the messages, Qingmian quickly exited the chat box. She long - pressed the power button and stuffed the phone under her pillow.
It was as if she was avoiding something.
...
As Qingmian sent several messages in a row, Chi Yu's phone on the other end kept vibrating.
Just as Chi Yu was about to tap on the screen to reply, the office door was pushed open from the outside and Ji Bai walked in.
"How's A Yu?"
Seeing Ji Bai, Lu Wenxuan immediately stepped forward nervously and grabbed him.
When Chi Yu saw Ji Bai coming in, he didn't have time to reply. He put the phone back into his pocket and focused his attention on Ji Bai.
"He's okay. We had his stomach pumped, and now he's been sent to the ward."
Ji Bai sighed.
"I don't know how long he hasn't slept. I just asked the nurse to give him some sleeping pills so that he can have a good rest."
Only then did Lu Wenxuan heave a heavy sigh of relief.
"It's good that he's okay."
"I wonder when this guy started smoking. He never even touched that stuff before. Sister hates the smell of cigarettes the most. He'll regret it when he comes back."
Lu Wenxuan was rather simple - minded and always thought one - dimensionally. He never even considered that the reason Chen Yu'an started smoking might very well be because of Qingmian.
The people in the office looked at each other. Everyone tacitly kept silent.
Only Lu Wenxuan kept muttering on and on.
"Now he's into both cigarettes and alcohol. I'll teach him a good lesson when he wakes up..."
"Come on, bro. Stop nagging. It's giving me a headache."
Lu Wenxi rubbed her throbbing temples and snapped at Lu Wenxuan impatiently.
Only then did Lu Wenxuan shut up.
"Let's go to the ward to see him."
Chi Yu's voice interrupted their train of thought.
"Wenxi, you and... big bro go first. I need to talk to Chi Yu for a bit."
Ji Bai's gaze shifted between Lu Wenxi and Lu Wenxuan. Just as he was about to say "Wenxuan", he met Lu Wenxuan's warning look, and the words "Wenxuan" on the tip of his tongue became "big bro" instead.
Lu Wenxuan nodded in satisfaction.
Hearing Ji Bai's words, Lu Wenxi glanced at Chi Yu beside her. She knew it was probably about Chen Yu'an and Qingmian. She nodded in understanding and dragged Lu Wenxuan out of the office.
After the two left, Ji Bai finally spoke to Chi Yu.
"A Yu's state is not right. He hasn't met us since you brought Xiang Yun and An Ya back last time. Why did you show up at his apartment today?"
Ji Bai's face looked grim, and his tone was rather tough.
Chi Yu was also a bit annoyed by his attitude.
He had been in a coma in the hospital bed for more than half a month. When he woke up, he was covered in injuries. He had no idea what Chen Yu'an had been up to during those half - a - month in his coma. Now Ji Bai's attitude was undoubtedly a veiled blame.
But thinking of Chen Yu'an's half - dead state today, Chi Yu suppressed his annoyance.
He told Ji Bai about the call from Tan Si.
"He hasn't been to the company for half a month?!"
Ji Bai stared at Chi Yu in shock.
Chi Yu nodded. "To be exact, it's been a month."
"Tan Si said he took a half - month leave."
"But even after the leave was over, he still didn't go to the company."
Ji Bai's expression grew uglier. He asked tentatively, "Could it be that An Ya did something again?"
Chi Yu shook his head. "I'm not sure. I checked the An family. An Ya didn't go back to the An family after she returned to the imperial capital. It seems that An Shengwang is still looking for her."
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?!"
Hearing Chi Yu's words, Ji Bai's voice rose several decibels.
If that was the case, after An Ya returned to the imperial capital, she only met Chen Yu'an. But now she was missing. To be exact, she was hidden by Chen Yu'an.
Wasn't this just like imprisonment?!
Chi Yu rolled his eyes at Ji Bai speechlessly and said in a sarcastic tone, "I'm really sorry. I had a car accident and was in a coma for half a month. I should have sent you a dream to tell you during my coma."
Ji Bai was taken aback and was rendered speechless by Chi Yu's words. His face twitched, looking a bit embarrassed. "I didn't mean to blame you. I'm just too worried. After all, it's the first time he's behaved like this."
"He locked An Ya in the basement for a while last time. I'm just afraid he'll do it again."
Ji Bai's tone softened.
Chi Yu didn't argue with him too much. He rolled his eyes and asked, "Is there any new progress in Qingmian's treatment plan?"
Ji Bai must have left him behind privately not just because of Chen Yu'an's matter.
"Yes." Ji Bai nodded.
"I received news some time ago that there's a new type of hypnotherapy for Qingmian's current condition abroad."
"Hypnotherapy?" Chi Yu frowned.
He was instinctively a bit resistant to these two words. He was once hypnotized abroad and almost forgot about Qingmian. Now just hearing the word "hypnosis", he instinctively refused.
"I don't agree."
Chi Yu's tone was very firm.
Ji Bai had already guessed his reaction. He patiently explained to him.
"Qingmian's condition can't be delayed any longer. We're not sure if the other personality in her body will suddenly wake up one day and completely take over this body.
"If that day comes, it'll be too late if you try to find other solutions. Even if Hua Tuo were alive, he couldn't bring Qingmian back."
Chi Yu's face looked extremely grim.
But who could guarantee that hypnotherapy would be 100% successful?
What if it failed after the hypnotherapy? What if Qingmian completely forgot about him?
"I don't agree."
After thinking for a while, Chi Yu still refused Ji Bai's suggestion.
Ji Bai got a bit anxious.
"Chi Yu, this isn't a matter of whether you agree or not. You should ask Qingmian herself. If she accepts, I'll immediately contact the foreign medical team."
Chi Yu pursed his lips and said nothing.
"I'm just telling you in advance so that you can be mentally prepared. Qingmian is the master of her own body. The right to decide whether to do it or not is in her own hands."