Volume One, Chapter 44: Accompanying You

"I'm not hungry, you go ahead and eat." Jiang Wan said, then lay back on the hospital bed.

She refused to play by the rules, giving Lu Wenzhou no face at all.

Ji Jiali immediately grew anxious.

"How can you not be hungry? You barely ate anything all day!" she exclaimed, making a move to forcibly pull her over.

You can offend anyone—except Lu Wenzhou.

Before Ji Jiali could act, voices from the corridor drifted in through the open door.

"Did you hear? That renovation worker who came in for emergency treatment yesterday just fell down the stairwell somehow. His ribs are broken, and they're scheduling another surgery."

"Serves him right. He doesn't deserve any sympathy."

"Shh! Don't let anyone hear you say that. It wouldn't look good for us if word got out..."

Their voices faded.

Ji Jiali's gossip radar seemed to switch on. "I'll go find out what's going on, make sure it's that scumbag!" She hurried out, disappearing in a flash.

For a moment, only Lu Wenzhou stood beside the sofa, and Jiang Wan lay on the bed.

She kept her back to him. Her long, wavy hair spread out behind her like seaweed, her profile sharply defined, the hollows of her eyes deep, lashes thick and long, her pupils shimmering under the light like pearls lost in the ocean.

Her complexion was pale, but it didn't make her look haggard—instead, it lent her a fragile beauty that tugged at the heart.

Lu Wenzhou drew closer.

His gaze swept over Jiang Wan. Seeing the red marks on her neck again, a ruthless fury flashed deep in his dark eyes.

After a moment of silence, his voice came out cold as ice, squeezed through his teeth.

"This kind of accident will keep happening for the next three years."

He told Jiang Wan, "He will wish he were dead."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan's gaze, which had been fixed ahead in indifference, shifted slightly. Her lips curled faintly.

"Is that so?" Her tone was cool, unimpressed. "He deserves it, but that's not all I want."

Her lack of gratitude made the room's temperature drop.

Lu Wenzhou lowered his eyes.

Standing tall, he looked down at Jiang Wan on the bed.

"Don't be unreasonable," he said, his voice icy, warning her to let things be.

His attitude was clear—he did not believe her suspicions, choosing instead to trust Lin Zhi.

Jiang Wan gave a self-mocking smile, then closed her eyes, shutting him out—even her peripheral vision refused to acknowledge him.

Darkness filled her sight; the atmosphere grew colder.

After the man's heavy breathing, his hard voice softened slightly.

"Stop acting up. Go eat."

Jiang Wan pretended to sleep, ignoring him.

The air chilled further in the silence.

"Jiang Wan," Lu Wenzhou called her, his voice so low it sent shivers down the spine. "I told you to eat."

Judging by his tone, Jiang Wan knew he was nearing the limits of his patience.

But she didn't care.

Did she have to do whatever he wanted?

She remained deaf to him.

Until—

The blanket covering her was suddenly pulled back.

On the already narrow single bed, one side dipped under the weight as the tall man lay down beside her, utterly unabashed.

Jiang Wan's eyes flew open.

She sat up in disbelief, turning to look.

Lu Wenzhou lay beside her, one hand supporting his head, brazenly taking up half the bed.

"What are you doing?" she glared at him angrily.

Lu Wenzhou didn't bat an eye. "You love sleeping so much—I'll sleep with you."

"Crazy," Jiang Wan blurted out. "Haven't you caused me enough trouble? Afraid my mom won't find out, is that it?"

A complicated light flashed in Lu Wenzhou's eyes.

But in an instant, he returned to normal, staring at her. "As long as you know."

The implication was obvious.

If she wouldn't eat, he would stay here with her.

When Ji Jiali returned, she'd have to explain herself.

It didn't matter to him.

The only one at a disadvantage was her.

"Fine."

Jiang Wan climbed out of bed.

Lu Wenzhou's gaze followed her, his brow lifting in satisfaction.

But she didn't move toward the coffee table. Instead, she turned sharply and headed for the door.

If she couldn't confront him, she could at least avoid him.

Jiang Wan tried to leave the room.

But before the man on the bed could rise, another tall figure blocked her path.

Qimo, broad-shouldered and strong, stood squarely in the doorway.

He was carrying a takeout bag from another restaurant.

"Sir, the porridge you asked for."

Qimo lifted it, his rough, powerful hand showing bruised knuckles.

The sight stung Jiang Wan's eyes.

She looked away, and the idea of leaving the room vanished with his arrival.

"Let's eat together, Qimo."

Jiang Wan turned and walked toward the sofa.

"..." Qimo stood frozen, bewildered, glancing at Lu Wenzhou.

The man on the bed said nothing, simply gave him an approving look.

When Ji Jiali returned after gathering information, she entered to see—

Three people seated around the coffee table, eating together in apparent harmony, yet the atmosphere was strangely tense.

"This must be Qimo!" Ji Jiali recognized him, thanked him, and shared the news she'd heard.

"See, the wicked get what's coming to them. I hope he dies a miserable death!" she spat, casting a glance at Jiang Wan.

Jiang Wan was calmly sipping porridge, spooning it into her mouth.

"Hey, isn't that the fresh beef porridge from 'Xian Delai'? Limited to five hundred bowls a day, right?"

Ji Jiali wondered aloud, "Your dad used to have to get up early to buy it—and now you have it at this hour?"

At her words, Qimo put down his bowl and chopsticks, about to say something, but Lu Wenzhou silenced him with a glance.

No one answered.

Lu Wenzhou's gaze withdrew.

But when he looked at Jiang Wan—

She stopped eating, the porridge in her mouth suddenly hard to swallow.

Her usually indifferent eyes turned red, steam gathering to blur her vision.

Jiang Wan's heart ached at Ji Jiali's mention.

It felt like a lump in her throat.

The sting in her nose made her eyes swell.

If her father were still alive—

He would surely stand by her, believe her, never let her suffer, and argue for her against everyone.

He would never be like them.

Jiang Wan lowered her head, biting her lip to hold back tears.

At last, she put down her bowl and stood up to leave.

"Hey..." Ji Jiali started to sit, her tone annoyed, "Where are you going now?"

"Bathroom," Jiang Wan replied, holding back her emotions.

Ji Jiali breathed a sigh of relief.

She settled onto the sofa, smiling obsequiously at Lu Wenzhou. "Wenzhou, don't take offense. This child has been spoiled by us since she was little. Then she started dating Huaixu and was even more pampered—her temper's gotten worse and worse..."

Ji Jiali tried to smooth things over for Jiang Wan.

But unexpectedly, the room's temperature kept dropping, so cold that Ji Jiali shivered.