Chapter 54: She counted the affection she had simmered over you all night as belonging to your childhood sweetheart

Gu Yunci did not respond to Huo Yanchen, got up and left; as soon as he stepped out the door, he heard Bai Cixian's voice speaking not far away, and immediately walked toward this side.

The tea room.

Bai Cixian saw Meng Shutang drawing water, slowly approached, and said, "I heard your mother is in critical condition, she was sent to the ICU and resuscitated for five hours."

"Miss Meng, I really can't understand; it's been 14 years—if she could wake up, she would have woken up by now."

"Your life finally had a bit of improvement, yet you let this bottomless pit of a mother drag you back into the abyss again."

Meng Shutang's brows and eyes were calm: "I'm not like you, who would even kill your own child; I am determined to cure my mother."

Bai Cixian burst out laughing: "You're really humorous; that's the funniest joke I've heard today."

Meng Shutang coldly: "Then you're quite lacking in insight."

As she spoke, she covered the pot lid and prepared to leave; Bai Cixian saw the ancient pearl necklace on her slender neck and said, "After all these years, you still won't take it off!"

"To be honest, I'm moved by you."

Meng Shutang didn't want to deal with her.

"Aren't you curious how Gu Yunci treats you so well after marriage, like the moon in one's heart and a pearl in the palm?"

"Four years ago he suddenly turned cold toward you and even insisted on divorcing you?"

Meng Shutang's steps paused.

Past loving scenes surfaced in her mind; she stared ahead, silent.

"Also, aren't you curious how Madame Gu died, and afterwards, how you got engaged to Gu Jin Xing, why Gu Yunci appeared, he took you away without regard, and Gu Jin Xing didn't dare to pass gas?"

A cough.

As Meng Shutang's words left her mouth, a tall, slender figure approached; relying on the deep bone‑memory of his aura, she knew the man had arrived.

She said nothing more.

Bai Cixian glanced from afar, walked over, and greeted, "Brother Gu Yunci."

Gu Yunci's face was cold: "What are you doing here?"

Bai Cixian: "I came to check my health."

Gu Yunci glanced at Meng Shutang, then said, "Come with me; don't come here again."

Meng Shutang gave a detached smile, "You protect her so tightly, yet you let her run around wildly."

It seemed as if, had he arrived a little later, the water in her kettle would have splashed onto Bai Cixian.

After Meng Shutang finished drawing water, she returned to the ward.

She had gone several days without eating much or sleeping.

Upon hearing Huo Yanchen say Zhou Xingfan could wake up, her nerves, which had been taut all along, completely relaxed.

Sitting in the chair beside the hospital bed, she was so exhausted she slowly closed her eyes.

Her body lacked support; after a moment, she slumped softly sideways.

Having sent Bai Cixian out of the hospital and warned her never to come back, Gu Yunci turned back and almost instinctively reached out to catch her.

She did not wake.

Yet her body was so light it was unreal; she lay small in the crook of his arm, her breathing shallow and weak.

Her dark brows were slightly furrowed; even in sleep she worried about her mother's condition.

He carefully carried her to a nearby nursing bed, his movements so light they seemed soundless.

He placed her down.

His distinct‑knuckled hand gently brushed the hair covering her face behind her ear, then warmed her icy little hand in his palm before laying it under the blanket.

She slept deeply, an exhaustion‑induced stupor; despite all he'd done, she showed no reaction.

He slowly sat beside her, his gaze locking inch by inch onto her weary face, wishing to stay by her side without leaving.

When she was awake, he could not even approach her.

This was his only chance to guard her.

Suddenly a noise came from outside the door; he lifted his eyes and glanced, thinking Lu Shenyang had arrived.

No, it was the on‑call doctor and a little nurse talking.

He lowered his gaze again to look at Meng Shutang on the bed, took out his phone, and sent a WeChat message to Qin Zheng.

【Detain Minister Lu, don't let him come to the hospital tonight.】

He didn't want anyone to disturb Meng Shutang; she was exhausted, and he wanted her to get a good night's sleep.

He also had selfish motives.

He didn't want anyone to disturb this moment of tenderness, so he let himself sit beside the bed, motionless, guarding her through the night.

In fact, he would be willing to guard her like this for a lifetime.

The next day, at five o'clock, the alarm rang.

Gu Yunci immediately got up and left the ward.

In this hospital, at five in the morning the little nurse comes for the first rounds and will wake Meng Shutang to ask about her condition.

He didn't want her to know.

He had guarded her here all night.

After he left, the little nurse entered, and Meng Shutang woke up.

The little nurse was curious; when Gu Yunci was present she had entered twice, but Meng Shutang hadn't woken. As soon as he left, she woke.

The little nurse came to check on Zhou Xingfan, and Meng Shutang apologized, "Sorry, I fell asleep last night."

The little nurse said, "It's fine; there's always someone in the ward, I've come by twice."

Meng Shutang's brow twitched; could it be that Lu Shenyang came while she was asleep and then hurried away?

He's always running back and forth like this; his body can't take it.

While she was thinking, the young nurse added, "Your mother has already passed the critical period. Doctor Huo will come by today—you can ask him whether it's all right to have a nursing aide watch over her, so family members won't need to stay."

Meng Shutang nodded. "All right, thank you."

That morning, Meng Shutang saw Huo Yanchen.

"Doctor Huo, my mother's condition has improved, hasn't it?"

Huo Yanchen nodded. "Based on all the current data, that's the case."

Meng Shutang said, "In that case, I'll come see her once a day, and I won't let Brother Shenyang come anymore.

I was too tired last night and fell asleep—he stayed up all night watching over her."

Huo Yanchen's eyes darkened slightly, and a trace of hesitation flickered across his lips.

The man who had watched over her all night last night was his childhood friend, yet the patient's family had credited someone else entirely.

"Doctor Huo, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."

While he was still musing, Meng Shutang spoke up slowly.

Huo Yanchen didn't lift his eyes. "Miss Meng, please go ahead."

Meng Shutang said, "Before you returned to the country, I tried every way to contact you, but couldn't reach you at all.

President Zhang also reached out to you several times, and you turned him down every time. I'd like to ask—what made you suddenly agree to come back and treat my mother?"

Huo Yanchen looked up at her.

His expression was somewhat amused, as if he had something he couldn't say.

Meng Shutang said, "I'm being presumptuous. I don't mean anything by it—I'm simply curious."

Huo Yanchen closed the medical file. "It's not presumptuous. I was forced."

"Forced? Who forced you?"

Huo Yanchen covered his lips and coughed lightly. "Not… what I mean is… my conscience wouldn't let me."

That was understandable—after all, the ones who most wanted a patient to get well, aside from the patient and their family, were the doctors.

Meng Shutang didn't think too much of it.

After giving Meng Shutang a few more instructions, Huo Yanchen left.

The moment he reached his office, he saw Gu Yunci sitting there.

"President Gu leaves a vast family business unattended and comes running to my place every day.

Those who know would say your interest isn't in the wine; those who don't would think you've come to be a full-time caretaker, never leaving the patient's side day and night."

The man stood before the bookshelf, his white shirt accentuating his tall, upright frame. He wore no tie, the collar left casually open—a touch of languid ease amid his cold hauteur.

As if he hadn't heard, he pressed his lips together in a faint smile, clearly pleased.

Huo Yanchen walked over and gave his shoulder a light pat.

"It's just a pity that the favor of your staying up all night was entirely credited to that childhood sweetheart brother of hers. You ended up an unsung hero—do you feel wronged?"

The man's hand hanging at his side paused slightly. His head was lowered, and his eyes were dark and silent.