Ling Nuan stared at the photos and indeed fell silent for a moment.
She never expected that the urgent matter Huo Linsheng had to attend to tonight was related to Meng Shuluo.
Seeing that Ling Nuan didn't reply, Huo Xiao kept bombarding her with messages.
"Uncle Huo likes Meng Shuluo. If Meng Shuluo hadn't been reluctant to marry into the capital, where would you have gotten the chance?"
"Now that Meng Shuluo is in the capital, Uncle Huo only has eyes for her. He won't care about you at all!"
"Uncle Huo was accompanying Meng Shuluo today. That's why he didn't go to the Wen family's banquet. Between you and Meng Shuluo, Uncle Huo chose Meng Shuluo!"
Huo Xiao probably thought this kind of attack wasn't enough, so she dug out some old photos.
These were taken before Ling Nuan met Huo Linsheng.
Most of the photos were of Huo Linsheng and Meng Shuluo together. There were also pictures of them walking and chatting on campus. In the photos, Huo Linsheng looked gentle, as if he had endless patience for Meng Shuluo.
Ling Nuan couldn't help but recall the greeting card Huo Linsheng had written for Meng Shuluo on her birthday.
Huo Xiao kept sending messages.
After sending for a long time, she didn't see any response from Ling Nuan.
Huo Xiao was puzzled. "No way? Haven't you gotten your phone yet?"
Shortly after sending this message, Huo Xiao quickly retracted it.
Ling Nuan saw it clearly.
Fu Qili came back with the medicine. Seeing Ling Nuan sitting on the chair, staring blankly at her phone, he called out, "Ling Nuan, let's go."
Ling Nuan snapped out of her daze, turned off her phone, got up with a smile, and walked towards Fu Qili.
The photos were real, but so what? Meng Shuluo had an accident, and Huo Linsheng carried her to the hospital. It was indeed an urgent matter. She could understand. Although she was a bit uncomfortable, she wasn't going to be driven apart by Huo Xiao so easily.
"The wound on your face is a bit deep. Remember to apply the ointment on time. I've asked someone to prepare an ointment that won't leave scars. Apply it for a few days and it'll be fine. Don't worry," Fu Qili comforted Ling Nuan.
Ling Nuan smiled upon hearing this. "Okay, thank you, Mr. Fu."
"Why are you being so polite? Given my relationship with Linsheng, there's no need for such formalities," Fu Qili replied.
After that, neither of them said much.
When the elevator reached the first floor and the doors opened, Ling Nuan subconsciously looked up. At this sight, she was stunned.
Fu Qili was also taken aback for a moment, then turned to look at Ling Nuan's expression.
Outside the elevator, Huo Linsheng was supporting Meng Shuluo. His tone was gentle, and his gaze was always on her. He asked with concern, "How are you? Can you still bear it?"
Meng Shuluo seemed very tired. She shook her head helplessly, then naturally leaned towards Huo Linsheng, as if she was about to nestle into his arms.
The action was so intimate that anyone who saw it would think they were a young couple.
Huo Linsheng said helplessly, "If it's too much, we'd better inform the doctors from Shanghai to come over. They're the ones who often take care of you, so they won't be in a mess."
Meng Shuluo laughed. "It's not that exaggerated. I just fainted for a moment. It's not the first time. I'll be fine after I catch my breath. Why are you worrying for nothing?"
"You should always be more careful," Huo Linsheng replied.
After saying that, Huo Linsheng looked up. He was about to help Meng Shuluo into the elevator. As he looked up, he naturally saw Fu Qili and Ling Nuan in the elevator.
This was the hospital where Fu Qili worked.
It was close to the Huo Group and was a hospital that Huo Linsheng often visited. So as soon as Meng Shuluo had an accident, he brought her here. And of course, Fu Qili and Ling Nuan wouldn't choose another hospital.
Who would have thought that in such a big hospital, they would run into each other here.
When Huo Linsheng saw Ling Nuan, he was stunned for a moment. Then his gaze fell on Ling Nuan's face, and his expression darkened. "What happened to your face? Did something happen at the banquet?"
As he said this, Huo Linsheng was about to let go of Meng Shuluo to check on Ling Nuan.
But as soon as he let go, Meng Shuluo seemed to lose her support and fell towards Huo Linsheng.
Huo Linsheng had no choice but to support Meng Shuluo. His gaze remained on Ling Nuan as he asked with concern, "Have you seen the doctor? What did the doctor say?"
Ling Nuan watched the interaction between Huo Linsheng and Meng Shuluo.
The photos and words that Huo Xiao had sent her popped into Ling Nuan's mind again.
Reason told Ling Nuan not to believe it. This was just Huo Xiao trying to drive a wedge between her and Huo Linsheng. But Ling Nuan just couldn't accept it.
It was okay for Huo Linsheng to support Meng Shuluo when she was unwell. But why were they so intimate? Moreover, although they claimed to have nothing to do with each other, Huo Qishu always thought they were a couple. On Meng Shuluo's birthday, Huo Linsheng would send gifts every year and even write greeting cards by hand.
And in those old photos sent by Huo Xiao.
Huo Linsheng was always gentler towards Meng Shuluo than towards others.
All these little special things added up, and Ling Nuan couldn't help but let her mind wander.
Huo Linsheng was concerned about her, but it was while holding another woman in his arms. Ling Nuan felt it was ironic and ridiculous.
Especially when she thought about the bullying she had suffered at the Wen family, which was ultimately because of the Huo family. The bullying and为难 from Mrs. Huo and the grievances she had suffered at the banquet today all welled up in Ling Nuan's heart.
The more uncomfortable she felt, the calmer she became.
She smiled at Huo Linsheng as if nothing had happened. "I've seen the doctor. It's just a small wound. It'll be fine after applying the ointment for a few days."
Meng Shuluo seemed to just realize something at this moment. She looked up.
When she saw Ling Nuan, she was stunned for a moment. She quickly stood up straight and got out of Huo Linsheng's arms. She explained anxiously, "Ling Nuan, don't misunderstand. I'm not feeling well, and Huo Linsheng was just supporting me. Please don't misunderstand."
Ling Nuan smiled faintly. "I don't misunderstand. Miss Meng, you don't need to worry."
She seemed calm, but in fact, her heart was far from calm. Otherwise, why would she just stand in the elevator and talk like this?
It wasn't until the elevator was about to close automatically because no one was getting on or off that Ling Nuan woke up as if from a dream. She smiled and walked out of the elevator. Looking at Huo Linsheng, she said, "You should take care of Miss Meng first. I'm fine. I'll go home first."
After saying that, Ling Nuan didn't stay any longer. She turned around and left directly.
She controlled her steps not to walk too fast, lest her emotions be revealed.
Huo Linsheng's eyebrows were knitted so tightly that they could almost crush a fly.
He glanced at the slow-moving Fu Qili and urged, "Hurry up."
Fu Qili clicked his tongue. "I just helped you take care of your wife, and now I have to help you take care of your confidante?"
"Shut up!" Huo Linsheng thought Fu Qili was unreliable at this moment.
Fortunately, although he was joking with his words, his actions were still quite loyal.
Huo Linsheng couldn't wait for Fu Qili to come closer. He directly pushed Meng Shuluo in Fu Qili's direction, then quickly chased after the direction Ling Nuan had left.
Meng Shuluo stumbled. Fortunately, Fu Qili wasn't too far away and managed to support her in time.
"Are you okay?" Fu Qili asked with a smile on his face. There was a bit of perfunctory in his words.
Meng Shuluo bit her lips and looked worriedly in the direction where Ling Nuan and Huo Linsheng had left. "Did I cause them trouble?"
Fu Qili replied, "Didn't you think it would cause trouble when you asked a married man for help?"
Meng Shuluo: "..."
"Meng Shuluo, you seem to be afraid that the trouble isn't big enough," Fu Qili said.