Chapter 9 The Game Begins

Longing for even a sliver of release always demands a greater price in pain...

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In the hospital ward, Zhong Yilan watched her daughter, who seemed lost and absent-minded on the rest chair. This state had lingered ever since that day, and whenever she brought up the matter of discharge, her daughter would always dodge the question, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not.

“Ningning.” Zhong Yilan walked over and gently patted her daughter’s shoulder. “What have you been thinking about these past few days? Is something troubling you at work?”

“Huh?” Xue Zuining looked up, startled to see her mother beside her, and hurriedly shifted to make room. “Mom, the doctor said you shouldn’t stand for long. Please, have a seat.”

But her mother gently pressed down the hand that tried to assist her, offering a soft smile. “The weather is quite pleasant today. Come, walk with me for a bit.”

In the hospital’s small garden, dusk was approaching and the heat of the day was subsiding. Every so often, patients in hospital gowns wandered by. Supporting her mother’s arm, Xue Zuining strolled slowly along the pebble path, bathed in gentle light. Her summer shoes had thin soles, and the round, smooth pebbles stung lightly underfoot.

Her mother glanced sideways at her daughter, who was wincing ever so slightly, and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Are your feet hurting?”

Xue Zuining forced a smile and shook her head. “Not at all. If you like, Mom, we can walk back and forth until we’ve worn these pebbles smooth.”

“You cheeky girl!” Her mother laughed, playfully scolding her daughter’s stubbornness, and led her to a nearby bench. Noticing the fine sheen of sweat on her daughter’s forehead, she took out a handkerchief and dabbed it away. “You—afraid of pain, afraid of heights, yet always putting on a brave face!”

“Mom, you’re the best!” Despite her mother’s mild chiding, Xue Zuining hugged her close with affection. She took the handkerchief to wipe away a speck of dirt from her mother’s palm, but suddenly noticed the blue butterfly embroidery. It struck her as oddly familiar.

“So these handkerchiefs are mass-produced after all,” Xue Zuining remarked, turning it over and over in her hands, a sardonic smile curling her lips. Even the wealthy enjoy a touch of common taste, it seems!

“You’ve seen others like it?” her mother asked, a hint of surprise in her tone.

“Yes, but the one I saw had a blue background and white embroidery. Yours is the reverse—white with blue.”

Her mother watched as she folded the handkerchief neatly and placed it back in her palm. The cool silk brushed against her skin, stirring a strange flutter in her heart.

The two of them sat quietly in the gentle glow of evening, watching the sun sink behind the western hills. Only when a nurse came to remind her mother it was time to return for an IV did they get up and walk back together.

In the ward, Dr. Li completed his routine check-up and had barely stepped outside when he heard someone call his name. Turning, he saw it was her, and smiled slightly. “Miss Xue, is there something the matter with your mother?”

Xue Zuining hurried to stop him from returning, and led him to the family lounge. After making sure her mother couldn’t overhear, she asked, “Dr. Li, I wanted to know if there’s been any response about contacting Xi Shan Sanatorium like you mentioned before?” Her mother was growing suspicious of her repeated evasions, and she was anxious, especially as days passed with no word from the hospital.

“Miss Xue, as a doctor, I understand how you feel right now. But for an inter-hospital transfer like this, it’s not easy to arrange right away.” Dr. Li spoke in earnest, understanding her predicament, and sighed. “Last week, our hospital reached out to the director at Xi Shan Sanatorium. In theory, there should have been a definite reply by now. But since Xi Shan is a private institution, their procedures are more complicated. Don’t worry, just wait a little longer. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”

Always waiting! Xue Zuining felt her spirits sink; this endless deferral seemed to have no end.

Dr. Li noticed the sudden dimness in her eyes and patted her shoulder encouragingly. “Don’t give up. We may not have powerful connections or ties to the Lu family, but when it comes to businessmen, as long as there’s profit, there’s always a chance.”

But his offhand remark had Xue Zuining looking up sharply, uncertainty in her voice. “The Lu family?”

“Yes, the Lu family—the major stakeholders of Sheng Tian International.” Dr. Li was puzzled by her surprise.

That business card!

Xue Zuining hastily thanked him and turned, hurrying toward the stairs.

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Sixty-eight stories above the city, the massive LED screens of the skyscraper flashed with the latest news from Sheng Tian International—finance, entertainment, cutting-edge technology...

Lu Huaining’s lips pressed into a faint line as his long fingers swirled the crystal glass of mellow red wine. His hawk-like eyes, thoughtful and intense, gazed out over the city’s myriad lights.

I came. I saw. I conquered.

At this moment, that was the look in Lu Huaining’s eyes: absolute pride, absolute control. He surveyed the city from on high, as if all of its splendor lay in the palm of his hand.

When his phone rang again, he glanced at the string of digits and a mocking smile touched his lips. Now, it was time to bring this game of cat and mouse to a temporary close.

He slid his finger across the screen to answer. After three seconds, he heard an uncertain voice on the other end. “Hello, is this Mr. Lu?”

Lu Huaining’s brows lifted with faint amusement. His reply was cool and measured. “Miss Xue, if you’ve dialed my number and I’m not Mr. Lu, who do you suppose I am?”

Judging by his voice, it had to be that peculiar man. Xue Zuining was relieved he had finally picked up—and surprised he could address her so precisely.

“You remember me?”

“Of course,” Lu Huaining replied, his gaze darkening with a mysterious glint. “I believe you also remember what I said to you that day.”

“Mr. Lu, I’m sorry to bother you. I didn’t mean to intrude, I just wanted to ask for your help.” Hearing his tone, Xue Zuining feared he had misunderstood her and hurried to explain, but was cut off.

“Miss Xue, I’m not in the habit of offering help over the phone.”

She paused, momentarily taken aback, but three seconds later his confident voice sounded clearly from the other end. “If you can reach Sunshine Residence before I do, perhaps I’ll be interested in hearing you out.”