Chapter Three: Let's Go Pick Out a Car First
Lin Ye knew that many private hospitals prohibited visitors, but holding onto a sliver of hope, he approached the reception desk.
“Hello! I’m a family member of the patient in Room 1. May I visit her?”
Seated behind the nurse’s station was a young, pretty nurse. She looked up, slightly puzzled at Lin Ye’s words. “Family member of Room 1? I don’t recall seeing you before.”
“What’s your relation to the patient?”
“Uh… husband,” Lin Ye answered awkwardly, scratching his head.
Upon hearing this, the nurse suddenly slapped her forehead, then looked at Lin Ye with a vague, ambiguous gaze. “Oh, right, right… You’re Lin Ye, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he replied.
To be honest, Lin Ye wished he could just disappear at that moment. The rare gossip about “bringing joy” must have spread like wildfire throughout the hospital.
“Okay! Follow me,” the nurse said.
Lin Ye’s guess was correct. The whole hospital had been buzzing with rumors about this matter in recent days. His name had been mentioned countless times in conversations.
At the door, the nurse helped Lin Ye put on a dustproof gown and reminded him gently, “The patient is currently unconscious, so as family, try to talk to her more… That might help her recover.”
“Really?”
Lin Ye’s eyes lit up at the nurse’s words, hopeful that Su Qing might improve.
The nurse chuckled at his reaction, covering her mouth. “Give it a try. Who knows? Besides, you newlyweds talking more is good for your relationship, right?”
“Oh, yes,” Lin Ye responded.
Inside the ward, everything was quiet. Only the faint hum of the ventilator and the ticking of medical instruments filled the air. Just as before, Su Qing lay on the bed like someone in a deep, long slumber.
All her vital signs displayed on various monitors showed no signs of life beyond the numbers and curves.
Lin Ye sighed, pulled up a chair, and sat down. An awkward silence fell; he didn’t know what to say.
“Su… Qing?”
“I’m talking to you. You should be able to hear me, right?”
“Hello, Su Qing. I’m Lin Ye, your husband…”
When he said the last two words, he felt an inexplicable flush creep onto his face.
After reminding himself no one could hear him, he brazenly continued, “I wish you could open your eyes and see, actually, your husband is pretty handsome. I have many good qualities, like I cook well, and I can…”
He babbled on for a long while.
Snapping back to reality, Lin Ye smiled sheepishly. “I got carried away talking about myself. I usually don’t talk like this with others, but since we’re husband and wife now…”
“Oh, right, since we’re married, should I start calling you my wife?”
Just as he finished speaking, Lin Ye suddenly noticed Su Qing’s once frail little hand seemed to twitch.
What was going on?
Was his vision playing tricks on him?
Lin Ye was stunned.
“Wife?”
He tried calling again tentatively.
There was no response, and Lin Ye shook his head disappointedly. Must have been his imagination.
“Wife, you’re really beautiful. I don’t know why, but to me… you just look a bit grayer in hair and thinner, not at all like someone in their sixties.”
“Really, I mean it… you’re so beautiful. Look, here’s our marriage certificate. I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman before. Haha… who would have thought such a stunning beauty would be my wife?”
“But this photo’s edited. Once you wake up, we’ll take a new one together. You can choose any style you want. I’m in good shape, got abs and everything.”
...
Lin Ye continued to chatter on for quite some time. The word “wife” came more naturally, and eventually, almost without thinking, he gently took her cold little hand.
It was ice-cold.
Hmm?
Lin Ye froze again. Su Qing’s small hand had indeed moved slightly.
“What’s going on, Lin Ye?”
“Is your wife showing signs of improvement?”
The nurse, summoned by the call, hurried over to ask.
Lin Ye pointed to the bed. “Nurse, I think my wife’s hand just moved.”
“Moved? Don’t joke around.”
The nurse seemed doubtful, but when her gaze landed on the monitors, her eyes widened instantly. She spun around sharply. “Wait here. I’m going to get the on-duty doctor.”
What?
Lin Ye was taken aback.
It was just a slight movement of the hand—was such a big reaction really necessary?
Soon, the ward door opened again. This time, five or six hospital staff entered. The lead doctor said simply, “Family members, please step outside for now. We’re going to perform an emergency resuscitation.”
After that, Lin Ye was bewildered as he was escorted out.
He waited in the corridor for a long time, watching staff come and go from the ward. Their faces were mostly anxious, some exhausted, but all held a trace of hope.
Lin Ye had no idea what was happening. It was getting late, and he had work the next day, so he reluctantly left.
On the way home, Lin Ye’s mind was filled with images of Su Qing.
Though she was supposedly in her sixties, lying there so peacefully like a sleeping beauty, Lin Ye couldn’t shake the feeling that she might not really be that old.
Who looks so beautiful at sixty-plus?
Perhaps…
Only fifty-five?
He shook his head and smiled at his own crazy thoughts.
Back at the rented apartment, Sun Hua looked at Lin Ye, who wore a silly smile, and asked suspiciously, “Where have you been these past couple of days? You’re coming home later and later! Be honest—are you secretly doing something you shouldn’t?”
“No, don’t say that!” Lin Ye awkwardly backed away a bit.
“Well, with your cowardly look and that scoundrel face, if I had your face, all the campus beauties from different departments would have fallen for me!”
Sun Hua grinned as if lamenting a wasted treasure.
Lin Ye rolled his eyes and went to wash up. Just as he lay down on the bed, his phone suddenly rang.
Caller ID: Uncle Li.
Knowing it was a paid call, Lin Ye answered immediately. “Uncle Li?”
On the other end, Li Dehua was very emotional. “Xiao Lin, did you go to the hospital today to see my eldest sister?”
“Uh, yes. The doctor told me to talk to her more. They said communication helps with recovery!”
Lin Ye nodded—after all, it wasn’t anything to be guilty about.
“That’s wonderful! Thank you so much, Xiao Lin. The hospital called today and said A Qing’s condition is improving. It’s all thanks to you!”
“Really?”
Lin Ye’s heart soared with genuine happiness.
“Yes. So, could I ask you to visit her often after work from now on?”
“I heard your company is quite far from the hospital, so to make it easier, I bought you a car. You can pick it up from the dealership tomorrow.”
Li Dehua sounded overjoyed, but Lin Ye was stunned.
What?
They were giving him a car?