Chapter 63: You Scoundrel

Although Madam Shen had witnessed Ye Yao’s formidable nature before, she was once again infuriated. Her hand trembled as she pointed in the direction Ye Yao had left. “How could she behave like that?”

Qin Miao gently patted her chest to calm her. “Grandma, don’t take it to heart. She’s always so rude and unreasonable.”

A wave of anxiety washed over Qin Miao. How did the old woman know Ye Yao was the owner of Triple-Y? Who told her? No wonder Madam Shen had recently treated Ye Yao with much more civility.

The next moment, Madam Shen brushed Qin Miao’s hand aside with disdain. She shot her a glare. “Be more careful in the future!”

Qin Miao clenched her hand and lowered her head. “Yes…”

Ye Yao strode toward Shen Yan’s hospital room but was stopped at the door by a bodyguard.

“The young master’s poisoning is severe. Without the matriarch’s permission, no one is allowed inside.”

“Severe? How severe?” Ye Yao frowned.

“Sorry, I can’t disclose that.”

Madam Shen kept the news tightly sealed. No matter how Ye Yao inquired, she learned nothing. Anxiety gnawed at her—was Shen Yan really in such grave danger?

During her recent efforts to nurse him, she’d added numerous medicinal herbs to his meals. If the poison reacted badly with those, the consequences could indeed be dire.

The matriarch’s strict lockdown might be intended to make Ye Yao worry, but perhaps Shen Yan’s condition truly was critical, and she didn’t want the other Shen shareholders to know, fearing panic.

Ye Yao instinctively leaned toward the latter explanation. She had to find a way to see Shen Yan.

Madam Shen ordered the entrance to Shen Yan’s room to be securely guarded. The main door was impossible. Ye Yao went to the first floor and observed the building from the back. Shen Yan occupied the top floor, but the building was only ten stories high.

Having gathered what she needed to know, Ye Yao left the hospital. Certain preparations were required.

Night fell. Ye Yao donned anti-slip gloves and shoes, then approached the rear of the building. Most people were inside. She loosened her neck, stretched her limbs, then leapt lightly and climbed upward—swift and steady.

Luckily, the window to the hospital room wasn’t closed, or she’d have faced much more trouble. She pushed it open and landed easily. A faint aroma of medicinal herbs lingered inside, but the bed was empty.

Her heart skipped a beat—where was Shen Yan?

She moved quietly to avoid alerting the bodyguards outside. Money could move mountains; even in a hospital, Shen Yan stayed in the presidential suite, with many rooms.

Ye Yao was about to check the bathroom when she was drawn by a sound from the study. She gently opened the door and saw Shen Yan seated at his computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard, his expression intense. Beside him was a platter of fruit.

Shen Yan looked vibrant and healthy—hardly the image of a man gravely poisoned and near death. Ye Yao’s anger flared, but her anxious heart finally settled.

Shen Yan finished his work and, just as he reached for a piece of fruit, was startled by her gaze at the door, causing the fruit to drop from his hand.

He walked over, eyeing her all-black attire with a frown. “How did you get in?”

There were bodyguards at the door.

“Was this deliberate?” Ye Yao forced the words out.

She’d been worried sick outside, only to find Shen Yan leisurely eating fruit and working inside. If this wasn’t intentional, what was?

Shen Yan feigned ignorance. “What did I do deliberately?”

He stepped out and noticed the shoe prints leading from the window and the wide-open glass. She’d entered through the window? The door was blocked, so she chose the window? Was this woman insane?

Ye Yao glared at him, deeply irritated. She was profoundly displeased.

Shen Yan felt guilty under her stare, but at the same time, somewhat elated. This woman cared about him, or else she wouldn’t risk her life to climb through a window upon hearing he was in trouble.

Everything that had happened made Ye Yao wish she could punch Shen Yan. But, unsure of his true condition, she was still uneasy.

She strode over and firmly seized his wrist to check his pulse.

Shen Yan’s tense body relaxed completely at her touch. He let her hold his wrist, and, realizing what she was doing, raised an eyebrow, now even more intrigued as he looked at her.

This woman could scale walls and practice medicine? How many secrets did she hold that he knew nothing about?

Fortunately, Shen Yan’s pulse was normal, his body much stronger than before. It seemed the poison had been partially neutralized by the herbs she’d given him. A good sign.

Having finished, Ye Yao looked up and found Shen Yan had been watching her for a long time. She immediately let go.

“You know medicine?”

“No.”

“Then what were you just doing?”

“Pretending.”

Had he not maintained his composure, Shen Yan might have burst out laughing. How could her anger be so adorably fierce?

Shen Yan pointed to the window. “And that?”

“Learned it on the spot.” Ye Yao replied stubbornly.

There was no need. Once Shen Yan’s gastritis was cured, she would leave. At this point, she truly had no reason to reveal too much.

Shen Yan lay down on the bed and, in an instant, feigned weakness. “I can’t seem to catch my breath. What’s happening?”

Ye Yao, almost instinctively, hurried over, anxious. “Can’t breathe? Tightness in your chest? Anywhere else uncomfortable?”

She seized his pulse again. “I don’t know the specifics of this poison. Let me check.”

She hadn’t dared to linger just now, for fear of revealing herself. Apparently, things weren’t as good as she’d hoped.

Shen Yan, with a quick move, grasped her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

Ye Yao was worried, but seeing Shen Yan’s calm face, she realized she’d been tricked. The same trick—twice!

“Care so much? Afraid I’ll die?”

Ye Yao was stunned for a moment, then quickly retorted, “Of course, I don’t want you dying—otherwise you’ll blame it on the plate of chili I made you eat.”

Though she knew it was a lie, Shen Yan’s expression fell.

“That’s it?”

“What else? Don’t tell me you thought I still loved you?” Ye Yao sneered.

Shen Yan wanted to push her away, but couldn’t bear to. How had he never noticed how sharp her tongue was before?

He stared at her lips, his head involuntarily lowering, pressing against hers.

Suddenly, Ye Yao’s mind went blank. He truly didn’t play by the rules.

Shen Yan’s quick hands slipped inside, and Ye Yao’s body instantly softened. She had no strength to resist.

“You’re always so obedient at times like this.” Shen Yan reluctantly released her.

“Shen Yan, you’re nothing but a scoundrel.”

“And isn’t that exactly what you like about me?”

Ye Yao collected herself, stood up, distancing herself from him. “Why didn’t the poison kill you?”

“Then pray I don’t survive next time,” Shen Yan replied coldly.