No wonder Chen Jingsheng was so confident when he returned the phone to him.
It simply didn't work.
Chen Yu'an wasn't sure if Chen Jingsheng did this to guard against him or didn't trust that he had been hypnotized. But just to be safe, he put the phone back in his pocket.
Now he could only wait for Chen Jingsheng to tell him to return to the imperial capital.
...
After hanging up the phone, Si Moshen walked to the door of Jiang Zhirou's bedroom and knocked gently.
There was no response from inside.
He paused for a moment and knocked again.
"Zhi Zhi, I have something to tell you."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the closed bedroom door in front of him was opened from the inside.
Jiang Zhirou's eyes were tinged with a faint pink. It was obvious at a glance that she had been crying.
Seeing her like this, Si Moshen felt a twinge of heartache. But thinking that this trip to the imperial capital might be an opportunity for her and Chi Yu, he softened.
With this in mind, Si Moshen said softly, "Mr. Chen said he wants to invite you to stay in the imperial capital for a few days. Do you want to go?"
Jiang Zhirou was caught off guard.
"Chi Qingmian's elder brother," Si Moshen explained.
Hearing this, Jiang Zhirou nodded without hesitation. "Okay."
Since Chi Yu was reluctant to come, this time she would take the initiative.
Seeing the eager look on Jiang Zhirou's face, Si Moshen pursed his lips and then said, "I'll ask Yu Cheng to go with you."
As soon as the words were out, Jiang Zhirou's expression froze. "Why?"
Si Moshen didn't explain much. He just looked at her intently.
"Zhi Zhi, just listen to me this once, okay?"
There was a hint of pleading in his voice that was barely noticeable. Maybe it was because she was sick, but this time Jiang Zhirou didn't resist like before. She nodded obediently.
"Zhi Zhi, there's something I want to tell you before you go to the imperial capital."
Jiang Zhirou looked at him seriously, indicating for him to continue.
"The person who donated blood to me in the hospital that day was Chi Yu."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jiang Zhirou's eyes widened in disbelief. Before she could say anything, the man's voice continued to ring in her ear.
"Because of excessive blood donation, he's still lying in a hospital in the imperial capital. He just got out of danger."
Hearing Si Moshen's words, Jiang Zhirou stood there stunned.
So his sudden departure that day wasn't really leaving, but rather donating blood to Si Moshen in the operating room.
The reason he hadn't returned to Yuelan for so long wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he couldn't. Now he was still lying in the hospital bed and couldn't come to her.
Realizing all this, Jiang Zhirou stared blankly at Si Moshen, her shoulders trembling slightly with excitement.
Remembering the previous phone call, Jiang Zhirou's eyes welled up with tears. She stared intently at Si Moshen. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Si Moshen lowered his head. "I'm sorry."
He had just found out about this. When he learned the truth, he had also wondered whether he should tell Jiang Zhirou. After all, Chi Yu had told him not to tell her, so even if he didn't say anything, there would be no problem.
But he couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart.
His life had been saved by Chi Yu. He couldn't face him as calmly as before.
Now he felt that he owed Chi Yu.
Since Jiang Zhirou had already remembered everything, there was no need for him to continue hiding it.
...
Jiang Zhirou took an early morning flight the next day.
As soon as the plane landed, she rushed straight to the hospital.
She was very familiar with the layout of Ruikang Hospital. When she was in the hospital after the car accident, she had been in the top - floor ward. If she guessed correctly, Chi Yu was also in that ward.
When they reached the lobby, Jiang Zhirou stopped and pointed to the waiting chairs beside them. She said to Yu Cheng,
"Brother Yu Cheng, you can wait for me in the lobby. I'll go up and come right back down."
She was holding a kraft paper bag as if it were a precious treasure.
Yu Cheng didn't know what was inside, but since Jiang Zhirou had left Yuelan, she had been holding it tightly, as if afraid someone would snatch it away. It must be something important.
Now that they were at the hospital and she still wouldn't let go of it, it was probably for someone.
He had also heard about what happened to Jiang Zhirou before she was found. She had lived in the imperial capital, so she probably had many friends. This thing was most likely for a friend.
Before they set off, Si Moshen had told him that if they went to Ruikang Hospital, he didn't need to follow Jiang Zhirou all the time.
Looking at the big characters "Ruikang" outside the door, Yu Cheng nodded at Jiang Zhirou and said in a strong voice, "Okay! I'll wait for you here."
After getting his response, Jiang Zhirou rushed to the elevator. Soon her figure disappeared inside.
The elevator quickly reached the designated floor.
Jiang Zhirou couldn't wait to get out of the elevator and walked quickly to the ward.
She saw Chi Yu in the ward through the glass on the door. Just as she was about to push the door open and go in, she suddenly heard Jiang Shu's voice.
"Xiao Yu, you're not young anymore. The daughter of your father's comrade - in - arms is a nice girl. She's a university teacher. Weren't you a university teacher too? You're about the same age. Your father and I think you should go and meet her."
Hearing this outside the door, Jiang Zhirou's heart skipped a beat. Her raised hand froze in mid - air.
Was Aunt Jiang... trying to set Chi Yu up on a blind date?
But Aunt Jiang had liked her before. Why did she suddenly want Chi Yu to go on a blind date?
She took a step forward and leaned closer, wanting to hear Chi Yu's answer.
If it had been before, she could be 100% sure that Chi Yu would refuse, but now... she wasn't sure.
"Let's talk about it later, Mom. I haven't even been discharged from the hospital yet. Isn't it a bit too soon to think about this?"
Chi Yu's voice came from inside the room.
Jiang Zhirou let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness Chi Yu hadn't agreed.
"It's just a meal to meet each other."
Jiang Shu was trying to persuade him.
Before Jiang Zhirou could be happy for two seconds, she heard Chi Yu's soft laughter.
"Okay, okay, okay. I'll do whatever you say. After I'm discharged from the hospital in a few days, I'll make an appointment with her for a meal."
Following that was Jiang Shu's laughter.
Jiang Zhirou couldn't listen anymore.
Chi Yu really didn't want her anymore.
She had prepared herself mentally before she set off, but at this moment, the words Chi Yu had said when he drove her away seemed to still be ringing in her ears. In an instant, she lost the courage to go in.
Jiang Zhirou gently placed the slightly wrinkled kraft paper bag she had been holding beside the door and turned to walk towards the elevator.
Quietly, except for the kraft paper bag she left behind, it was as if she had never been there.
"Ding—"
The mechanical sound of the elevator arriving on the first floor interrupted Jiang Zhirou's thoughts.
She walked out of the elevator in a daze and didn't notice the man in front of her. She suddenly bumped into him.
"Sorry, miss. Are you okay?"
A clear male voice came from above her. Jiang Zhirou lowered her head, rubbing it as she walked to the side.
"I'm okay."
The next second.
"Miss Jiang?"