Chapter 49: Heart Aflutter

Chapter 49: Heartstrings

Fan Xiaoyao blushed as she glanced at Wang Guocheng. “You’d better save your strength and get some rest. If you keep fussing like this, it’ll be dawn soon.”

Seeing Fan Xiaoyao insist on dozing on the sofa, Wang Guocheng said nothing more. He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. Perhaps it was exhaustion, but Fan Xiaoyao, curled up on the sofa, quickly drifted off.

When the IV finished, a nurse came in to remove the needle. She saw Fan Xiaoyao, the overnight companion, sleeping soundly and couldn’t help but shake her head. “Your fiancée has quite the heart—while you’re here with an IV, she’s sleeping without a care in the world…”

Wang Guocheng made a shushing gesture. “We just got back from out of town today. The long journey wore my fiancée out—she’s fine!”

The nurse glanced at the sleeping Fan Xiaoyao and nodded knowingly. As she left, she reminded Wang Guocheng, “If you feel any discomfort, just press the call button.”

He nodded and nestled back under his blanket. After the nurse left, Wang Guocheng got out of bed and walked over to the sofa. He leaned in to watch Fan Xiaoyao as she slept, her eyes closed, long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. Her fair face was tinged pink from curling up on the sofa.

Wang Guocheng gently lifted her, placed her in his hospital bed, and took her spot on the sofa.

The next morning, when Fan Xiaoyao awoke, she found herself in the bed, while Wang Guocheng—over six feet tall—was curled awkwardly on the sofa, legs dangling over the armrest. Warmth bloomed in her heart. She hadn’t expected Wang Guocheng to be so thoughtful, so considerate.

Stretching, Fan Xiaoyao sat up, tied her hair into a ponytail, and walked to Wang Guocheng. She nudged his arm. “Hey, wake up. Go lie on the bed for a bit. Sleeping like this will make your back ache and your legs go numb…”

Half-awake, Wang Guocheng heard her voice, blinked open his eyes, and looked at her sleepily. “Good morning!” He stretched his sore arm and numb legs as he sat up from the sofa. “Did you sleep well?”

Fan Xiaoyao looked at him a little sheepishly. “Sorry about last night. I meant to keep you company, but I fell asleep first—and in your bed, leaving you on the sofa!”

Wang Guocheng tapped the tip of her nose. “Silly girl, what’s there to be sorry about? You were exhausted after traveling these past two days, so I put you in the bed at midnight. How could I let my little fiancée suffer?”

Fan Xiaoyao’s eyes reddened slightly as she looked at him. “Have you really decided that you want me as your fiancée, and then to marry me for real?”

Leaning close to her ear, Wang Guocheng spoke with quiet certainty. “Xiaoyao, as long as you’re willing, I can make you my wife in no time at all.”

Fan Xiaoyao hesitated, voicing her worry. “But people say marriage is the grave of love. I haven’t even had the chance to enjoy a real romance yet—I don’t want to step into married life so soon.”

Wang Guocheng took her hand, the one with the heart-shaped diamond ring, and held it in his palm. “For others, perhaps marriage is a grave. But for us, I believe our marriage will be happy and fulfilling. Even after we’re married, it’ll feel like we’re in love every day. If you’re willing, I’ll treat every day as our first day together.”

She couldn’t deny she was moved by his words. Compared to her past, vague affection with Tim, there was something more here with Wang Guocheng. Meeting his dark eyes, she asked, “Guocheng, why are you so sure that I’m the one you want to spend your life with?”

He smiled softly, murmuring, “Because love brings tenderness. I believe this is fate. There’s a closeness between us I can’t explain. We haven’t known each other long, but it feels as if I’ve met you before. Maybe… it’s karma from a previous life.”

Fan Xiaoyao was a little startled. “A previous life? You believe in reincarnation?”

Wang Guocheng looked at her seriously. “I believe in intuition. Someone once said that if you’re drawn to a stranger, it’s because you knew them in a past life. Xiaoyao, my feelings for you are more than mere fondness. I’m certain I must have loved you deeply before, and that’s why I’ve sought you so hard in this life.”

His passion moved her. “But how can you be sure that I’m the one you’re destined to find?”

Wang Guocheng lowered his head and kissed her lips. Only when they were both breathless did he release her and utter four words, “My heart leaps!”

Just then, the nurse entered for rounds and caught sight of their embrace and kiss. She cleared her throat. “Ahem, we’ll be making rounds soon. Please stay in the room. Since the patient needs allergy testing today, you’ll need to remain fasting this morning.”

Embarrassed, Fan Xiaoyao hid behind Wang Guocheng, silently grumbling to herself. How unlucky—she was sure the nurse now thought she was a loose woman.

After the nurse left, Wang Guocheng patted Fan Xiaoyao’s hand. “It’s nothing. Come on, I’ll take you downstairs to get some breakfast. I don’t want you going hungry.”

She saw the doctors approaching and quickly replied, “I’m not hungry right now. I’ll eat after the rounds.”

Soon, a group of doctors in white coats entered the ward. Leading them was the emergency doctor from the previous night—today, Fan Xiaoyao learned he was an internal medicine specialist.

“This patient was admitted last night with an allergic reaction after eating pork intestines,” the emergency doctor explained to his colleagues. “He was given anti-allergy treatment, but we’ll need to further test for allergens today.”

“An allergy to animal organs is a one-in-a-million chance, and this young man managed to hit it,” another female doctor remarked in amazement.

The emergency doctor turned to Wang Guocheng. “Did you feel any nausea or discomfort after receiving the anti-allergy infusion last night?”

Wang Guocheng shrugged. “Thank you, doctor. I felt fine. I was already checked for allergies back in the border town—it’s nothing serious. As long as I avoid animal organs, I’ll be alright.”

The emergency doctor addressed Fan Xiaoyao. “As the patient’s family, you’ll need to pay close attention to his diet in the future. Food allergies are no trivial matter.”