Chapter 180: Ye Fuli, Go to Sleep
When one loses all hope for the future, they naturally become reckless.
Holding the panicked girl in her arms, Ye Fuli completed the kiss with force, then smiled contentedly.
When she released her grip, she braced herself for Ye Zhen's fury.
Not only did she lack the strength to fight back, but even if she had, resistance was impossible at that moment.
Yet Ye Zhen merely glared at her through gritted teeth, her hands hovering just above her face.
It wasn't that she couldn't bring herself to do it.
It was mainly that punching someone who was seriously ill made her conscience ache.
"Ye Fuli, you're seriously ill!"
"Thanks for the compliment."
"…I wasn't complimenting you!"
"Consider it a compliment then."
Ye Fuli sighed and touched her lip.
Pushing too hard was bound to cause injury—now her lip was split, seeping tiny drops of blood.
Seeing her pitiful state, Ye Zhen seethed with pent-up fury, unable to vent it. She could only silently add another entry to her little notebook.
Once she recovered, she'd settle the score with her!
"I'll go get a doctor for you."
…
The doctors and nurses, who had been busy all night, reluctantly set aside the freshly prepared noodles they were holding when faced with Ye Zhen's difficult request. They hurriedly got up to attend to the notoriously demanding Miss Ye Fuli.
Fortunately, the Ye family's generous compensation made the grumbling muted.
Money talks, after all.
It took another half hour to properly treat Ye Fuli's facial injuries.
Every time they saw Ye Fuli's face, the doctors and nurses grew deeply concerned.
They had seen her beauty before. Now that lovely face was gone, replaced by one pitted and scarred, prone to inflammation and suppuration…
Who could bear it?
Therefore, upon leaving the ward, the attending physician, considering his long-standing friendship with Ye's parents, once again gently reminded Ye Zhen to avoid upsetting the patient.
"For now, keep mirrors and such out of her sight," the doctor advised. "And try to avoid any topics related to appearance."
Ye Zhen nodded in agreement.
But the moment she turned and entered the room, she saw Ye Fuli holding a small makeup mirror, studying her own reflection.
Ye Zhen felt a chill run down her spine. "Go back to sleep right now!"
"I've slept enough today."
Ye Fuli set the mirror down and sighed softly.
Her bandaged hand traced the bandaged skin of her face. Her gaze was cold and distant, lost in thought.
Ye Zhen hurried forward, tentatively reaching out to take the mirror and tuck it into her coat pocket, zipping it up for good measure.
"You took the mirror, but I still have my phone."
Before she could finish, Ye Zhen snatched her phone too.
"You took my phone, but I still have my tablet."
Great, the tablet was gone too.
Ye Zhen glared at her angrily. "What else do you have?"
"I can see my reflection in your eyes."
Ye Zhen: "…"
Great. You fucking did this on purpose, betting I wouldn't gouge out my own eyes.
Fine, whatever!
Ye Fuli had her tactics, Ye Zhen had her countermeasures.
So Ye Zhen decisively took several steps back and closed her eyes: "You! What else do you want?!"
Her tone was tinged with arrogance.
Ye Fuli burst out laughing: "I already know what I look like. Nothing you do matters anymore."
As she laughed, a sigh escaped her lips.
In her mind's eye, Ye Zhen lay motionless on the hospital bed, her eyes vacant.
Back then, she knew Ye Zhen was suffering, but she hadn't grasped just how profoundly.
Now she finally understood: for someone trapped in such agony, what they craved wasn't mountains of gold or silver, nor even concern or pity—it was release.
"Ye Zhen, I finally understand how you felt back then."
"I understand your urge to run away."
"I understand your madness and despair too."
She lay back down, pulling the blanket over herself.
She didn't want Ye Zhen's pity, nor did she want Ye Zhen to return to her out of pity.
That kiss had been her greatest luxury.
Now, her heart was content. She would ask for nothing more.
"Go, Ye Zhen. Go."
The air in the hospital room was thick with the pungent smell of medicine. Each dressing change felt like salt being rubbed into her wounds, unbearably painful for Ye Fuli.
Fortunately, she possessed an extraordinary capacity for endurance.
Cold sweat poured down her face, her lips turned deathly pale, yet she never uttered a single cry.
Perhaps it was…
…because Ye Zhen was nearby, and she didn't want him to hear such wretched cries.
A long silence passed.
Ye Fuli felt the bed sink slightly beneath her.
She opened her eyes in utter shock, staring at Ye Zhen who had squeezed half her body onto the bed. "You…"
"What do you mean, 'you'? You call me here, I come; you tell me to leave, I leave? Am I your dog, Ye Fuli?!"
Ye Zhen glared at her with a fierce expression.
Thankfully the bed was big enough, and thankfully she was slim enough—she’d actually managed to squeeze onto it.
"Cut the crap and go to sleep."
Ye Fuli struggled to shift her body to the side, unwilling to let Ye Zhen touch her disgusting wound.
Under the covers.
Ye Zhen grabbed her wrist.
"Stop moving, Ye Fuli. Just lie still and sleep."
"You leave."
"I'm not fucking leaving."
"…"
Ye Fuli's expression remained blank as she raised her hand and pressed the bedside bell.
Doctors and nurses rushed in once more, only to be politely ushered out again by Ye Zhen.
"Go ahead and keep messing around, Ye Fuli."
Ye Zhen, her eyes ringed with dark circles, gave her a cold smile.
"Debts must be repaid—it's only fair. Until you settle what you owe me, I'll be watching you!"
This time, the two locked eyes for a long moment.
Ye Fuli, lying in the hospital bed, seemed to have finally given up her futile struggles—or perhaps she had simply exhausted all her strength.
Ye Zhen didn't lie down on her bed either, instead sitting on the accompanying bed beside it.
She quietly asked the system, when exactly could she use that face cream?
[At least after the scabs form! (*￣rǒ￣)]
"Ugh, damn it. This kid keeps messing around. The wound was almost scabbed over, but today it all broke open again."
Ye Zhen grew increasingly frustrated the more she thought about it.
Her face was right there as the best proof, so why wouldn't Ye Fuli believe her?
What exactly was Ye Fuli being so stubborn about now?
These questions swirled in Ye Zhen's mind, and she couldn't make sense of them.
Thus, she endured until dawn.
Deep in thought, Ye Zhen hadn't slept a wink.
Knock knock knock—
A soft knock sounded at the hospital room door.
Ye Zhen gathered her strength, hurried to the door, and opened it.
"Uncle Ye, you're here?"
Her father smiled and said, "I brought you some breakfast. I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I just grabbed a few things."
He handed over two large bags.
Inside were various精致的餐盒.
"How was my daughter last night?"
Mr. Ye remained standing at the doorway, hesitant to enter. In his view, this was his daughter's room, and as a father, it felt inappropriate to walk in casually.
Ye Zhen shifted aside to make room and invited him in.
By now, Ye Fuli had also woken up, sitting propped up against the pillow, lost in thought.
"She's doing quite well. She fell asleep and even mumbled a few things in her sleep," Ye Zhen deliberately said.
Upon hearing this, Ye Fuli's body visibly stiffened.
She shot Ye Zhen a look of disbelief and immediately began recalling what dreams she might have had last night, wondering if she had said anything.
Ye Dad breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's wonderful news—I'm so relieved! But honestly, you've been through so much, child."
He took out a card and handed it to Ye Zhen.
"There's a little money here—not much—but consider it a thank you from your father."
Ye Zhen wasn't short on cash at the moment. She quickly pushed the card back and confessed, "Just treat me to a meal. Why give me money? I didn't come here for the money…"
Not for the money?
Those words also landed smoothly in Ye Fuli's heart.
Ye Fuli pressed her lips together, then suddenly asked:
"Then why did you come?"