Chapter 175: Time to Give Her Some Sugar
Lying in the hospital bed, Ye Fuli remained in a state of half-sleep, half-wakefulness.
The pain in her body wasn't too noticeable under the influence of medication, but she could clearly feel her body slowly deteriorating.
"Am I… going to die?"
Ye Fuli forced her eyes open, but they soon closed again, weary and heavy.
In the darkness, she seemed to see her entire life flash before her eyes.
Emerging from the mud, briefly embracing light and warmth, only to plummet back into the mire.
Ye Fuli laughed bitterly to herself.
"I still can't quite accept it. I had already secured the job. I could have used it as a legitimate reason to be with Ye Zhen day and night, to help her with things…"
Her heart was filled with regret.
"I'm such a failure."
"I sensed the danger, yet failed to avoid it completely."
"I couldn't even handle something so simple, and now look at me."
"Ye Fuli, Ye Fuli, what exactly are you gloating about?"
……
One week later.
Ye Fuli was transferred out of the intensive care unit.
She remained unconscious, her body covered in numerous red rashes, some already festering and looking painful.
Fortunately, as the Chosen One, her life remained unthreatened.
By this time, news of her condition had spread throughout Ye Group, causing turmoil within the organization.
"Ye Fuli might not make it!"
"If she dies, can Old Ye shoulder such a heavy burden alone?"
"Hmph. The Old Ye of today isn't the Old Ye of yesterday. Back then, he never shouldered the burden alone. And now… Do you really think everyone is Ye Fuli?"
"In my opinion, we'd better start looking for our own paths out of here sooner rather than later!"
The turmoil among the group's top brass naturally sent shockwaves through the mid-level and lower-level employees.
Within just a few days, many had resigned, and entire teams were even poached by competitors with lucrative offers.
Faced with this dire situation, Ye's father felt powerless.
He attempted to regain control of the board, but after being sidelined for so long, he had lost the authority to command respect.
Outwardly, everyone remained polite and compliant, seemingly willing to follow his lead. Yet behind the scenes, they were all seeking alternative paths—some even dumping their shares at discounted prices.
It was at this critical moment.
Ye Zhen seized a night watch opportunity to bundle the S-herb and the F-herb together, boil them, and feed the mixture to Ye Fuli.
Ah, what an expensive herb.
But giving them to Ye Fuli wasn't exactly a bargain.
Ye Zhen had already decided that once she recovered, he would ruthlessly exploit her labor, making her work for him for fifty years without paying her a single penny.
"Alright, I've done what I needed to do. I should be going now."
Seeing Ye Fuli finish the medicine without any adverse reactions, Ye Zhen felt relieved.
She yawned, stood up, and prepared to leave.
But just then, she heard Ye Fuli, still groggy on the hospital bed, call out faintly, "Ye Zhen."
That single call sent a chill down Ye Zhen's spine.
While these two herbs were indeed miraculous, the system had also stated that recovery would take time—it wouldn't happen instantly.
Could it be that Ye Fuli had a unique constitution, allowing her to recover faster…?
Ye Zhen turned back, trembling slightly, and glanced over.
On the hospital bed, Ye Fuli remained in a deep, drowsy sleep.
Her face and arms were wrapped in bandages. Ye Zhen couldn't see the condition beneath the gauze, but she thought that with the effects of these two herbs, she should recover soon.
Sigh. This whole situation was absurd.
Ye Zhen suddenly recalled how she had disguised herself as a severely burned patient—probably looking much like Ye Fuli did now.
Except she hadn't actually felt any pain—she'd just looked miserable.
Ye Fuli, on the other hand, looked miserable and actually was miserable.
"Huh? Ye Fuli, you… woke up?"
Ye Zhen still wanted to slip away, but this time Ye Fuli was genuinely more alert. She strained to reach out, trying to grab Ye Zhen's arm.
Seeing her sickly appearance, Ye Zhen sighed and stopped once more.
"Young Miss, what are you up to now?"
Ye Fuli struggled to open her mouth, but not a single word came out.
Her eyes were bloodshot, tears slowly trickling down and soaking the pillow.
The monitor by the bed began beeping urgently.
Patient's emotional state too agitated. Dangerous. Very dangerous…
"Fine, fine, fine. I won't leave tonight." Ye Zhen dared not make another rash move. She could only inch her way back, sitting down beside the bed once more. "Consider me unlucky. I must have owed you from a past life. Is that good enough?"
Ye Zhen's words were unforgiving.
She had put on too many masks for too long in front of Ye Fuli. Now, taking advantage of her illness-induced confusion, she shed all pretense, speaking her mind freely.
"Seriously, aren't you supposed to be a martial arts prodigy who can take on seven opponents? You couldn't even subdue a junkie? How pathetic."
"Still angry?"
"Not so fierce now, huh?"
Ye Zhen had always avoided the lucid Ye Fuli, but now, facing this half-dead version, she gloated triumphantly.
Ah, what a rush!
If Ye Fuli had been sober, Ye Zhen wouldn't have dared utter these words even if she had a hundred times the courage of a tiger.
But now? Say it all she wanted!
Ye Fuli’s eyes remained closed as her breathing gradually steadied.
No matter how harsh Ye Zhen's words were, she could bear them. Her only fear was that Ye Zhen would stop talking to her and walk away.
That night, Ye Zhen stayed by her side until dawn.
As she left the hospital room, Ye Zhen couldn't help but think she was getting the raw deal… Even if Ye Fuli worked for her fifty years, it wouldn't be enough to repay this debt!
No, she needed to add more tasks for Ye Fuli—like running errands, buying bubble tea, picking up snacks, and getting lunch boxes!
The idea was lovely, but whether reality could be so kind, Ye Zhen dared not guarantee.
Putting Ye Fuli to work?
What nerve! How dare she even think it.
…
In the hospital lobby on the first floor.
Ye Dad, who had sat here through another night, lifted his head at the sound of the elevator.
Seeing Ye Zhen emerge, yawning, he sprang to his feet and asked, "How is she? My daughter… Has her condition improved?"
"Hmm, she should be much better."
Facing her father, Ye Zhen couldn't help but feel nervous, her yawn vanishing completely.
"Thank you for your hard work," Ye Dad said, his face full of guilt. "Staying with the patient should have been my job as her father, but…"
Ye Zhen shook her head. "Don't say that."
When others stayed with Ye Fuli, her monitors would often emit a "beep-beep-beep" alarm.
But when Ye Zhen was with her, she was much calmer.
"What do you need? Ask for anything our Ye family can provide."
"I don't need anything," Ye Zhen blurted out instinctively. But then, unable to meet her father's guilt-ridden gaze, she added, "Well… could you at least treat me to a meal?"
"Alright! Let's go, this way…"
The long nights of worry had left Ye Dad dizzy, and he nearly stumbled.
Ye Zhen quickly caught his arm, the word "Dad" nearly slipping out.
"You really need to take better care of yourself—if only for your daughter."
Ye Dad nodded. "Alright."
Whether it was for Ye Zhen or for Ye Fuli.
He had to live as many years as possible.
As a father, there were still so many things he hadn't done…
This time, if Ye Fuli could overcome this crisis, then no matter whom she chose to be with, he would support her and offer his blessings.
She'd endured too much hardship in her first half-life. It was time for her to taste some sweetness.