Chapter 53: Simply Because I Am Lu Huaining

Silently guarding you—perhaps this is the best way I know to love you.

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As the wailing sirens faded into the distance, Xue Zuining realized she was already drenched in cold sweat.

When Lu Huaining arrived at the hospital, Dong Qian, who had just come out of surgery, had already been transferred to a regular ward. Chu Ci, standing in the corridor, immediately hurried over upon seeing his figure. "President Lu, everything has been arranged. The police will be here soon to follow procedure. Also, Miss Xue is currently on the second floor in the surgery department getting her wound dressed."

"Alright," Lu Huaining nodded, but he went straight to the ward and pushed the door open himself.

The woman lying on the bed, upon seeing Lu Huaining, had a sudden icy sharpness in her eyes. Her fingers gripped the bedside tightly, her chest heaving violently.

Lu Huaining walked unhurriedly to her bedside, looking down at her with a face void of expression, his voice gentle as ever. "Miss Dong, you're injured and really shouldn't let yourself get angry. If your wound tears open again, you'll only suffer more."

Dong Qian sneered coldly. "The state I'm in today is all thanks to you. Lu Huaining, spare me the crocodile tears." She broke into a fit of coughing.

Lu Huaining's lips curled into a faint smile as he replied calmly, "You tried to run someone over but failed and got yourself into trouble instead. How is this my fault? Besides, how you’re dealt with is up to the police. I'm just a businessman—I don’t have a taste for bloodshed."

"The police?" Dong Qian’s chest ached with every cough, but she rasped hoarsely, "It was just an accident. What evidence do you have to accuse me of attempted murder?"

"Simply because I am Lu Huaining." His indifferent tone was as tranquil as a breeze rippling the surface of a lake—calm, yet unsettling.

Dong Qian coughed violently, but then burst out in reckless laughter, shouting at his retreating back, "Lu Huaining, do you really think that as long as I don't lay a hand on Xue Zuining, she'll be safe? Don't you know how terrifying a woman can be?"

Lu Huaining smirked, his hand twisting the door handle. With a sharp "click" as the lock disengaged, he added icily, "You seem to know quite a bit, but you've forgotten the simple truth—the bird that stands out gets shot first."

His offhand remark left Dong Qian as if all her support had been stripped away, collapsing heavily back onto the bed. The bird that stands out gets shot... she had forgotten this basic rule of survival. Indeed, from start to finish, she'd merely been the weapon that woman used to deal with Xue Zuining. Even without Lu Huaining, that woman would never have let her go.

Should she laugh at someone else's delusions, or at her own jealousy that blinded her?

On the second floor, in the infusion area, Lu Huaining’s calm gaze lingered on a figure sleeping, nestled in a man's arms not far away. His deep eyes were as placid as a lake.

"President Lu, shall I wake Miss Xue?" Chu Ci was sweating inwardly for the two of them. He knew his boss wouldn't lay a hand on Xu Ze out of respect for the old master of the Xu family, but if things went on like this, it was clear someone else would be in trouble.

"President Lu?" As Chu Ci wondered if his boss had turned to stone, he finally heard the man's unhurried voice: "Back to the company."

Their tall silhouettes soon disappeared inside the hospital, while Xu Ze, playing the human pillow, felt his expression twist under his mask. Deep down he cried out in despair: I just want an empty hospital room, please, just one empty room...

"Sir, this young lady needs her temperature checked again. Please wake her up," the young nurse said, finding the man with the mask oddly familiar but unable to place him.

"Hey, wake up!" Xu Ze rubbed the woman in his arms, mussing her hair into a tangled mess. "Wake up for your temperature, Xue Zuining! You drooled on my shirt!"

It was his last comment that startled Xue Zuining awake. She looked up to see his face flushed red and quickly apologized, "Sorry, I didn't realize I fell asleep..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed the wet patch on his chest.

"It's my bladder you should apologize to," Xu Ze grumbled, finally managing to sit her up before making a dash for the restroom.

It was only when he called Xue Zuining’s name that the young nurse recognized them as the pair who had been all over entertainment news headlines lately. As she took Xue Zuining’s temperature, she chatted and then even “threatened” that she’d only keep quiet about their presence if they signed autographs.

Helpless, Xue Zuining scrawled with her IV-laden right hand: "Both Mr. Xu Ze and I owe you one autograph each."

The nurse, delighted with this unique “signature,” glanced at her IV bag and said, "You have two more bags of antibiotics to go, about two hours. Shall I find you an empty bed?"

"No need, this spot is fine." It was a bit cold and noisy, but at least spacious.

"Just don’t wander off, okay? I’m waiting for my autographs." The nurse repeated her warning before leaving.

At last, with all the checks and procedures done, Xue Zuining glanced at the time—it was nearly eight.

She took a cab to Sunshine Residence, and upon entering the neighborhood, she realized she was still being followed.

"Where are you off to in the middle of the night?" Xue Zuining stopped him as he swaggered along.

"Ever heard of seeing things through to the end?" Xu Ze quirked an eyebrow, brushing past her and striding into the complex.

"Hey—" Xue Zuining chased after him. "Stop right there!"

"Xue Zuining, why are you shrieking in the middle of the night?" Xu Ze said impatiently, digging at his ear. "It’s said women and villains are the hardest to please. I did save your life, you know—can’t you even offer me a cup of tea?"

In the darkness, Xue Zuining couldn’t help but laugh, pointing in the opposite direction. "You’re going the wrong way."

He followed her gesture, noticing a vague shadow on the second floor of a nearby villa. He walked toward her, but stopped abruptly about ten meters away.

Xue Zuining watched him in confusion as he suddenly opened his arms, smiling, "Xue Zuining, give me a goodbye hug."

She stood there stunned, but felt herself drawn into a brief, warm embrace.

"Xue Zuining..." he called her name softly, "Remember to watch for cars when you cross the street."

She was speechless, but just as he was about to let go, she reached out and hugged him back.

"Xu Ze, I’m truly glad to have a friend like you."

After a long silence, he smiled slowly. "Me too."

Xue Zuining stood still, watching the streetlamp stretch his shadow as he walked away. Gently, she whispered, "Goodbye."

When she returned to the villa, everything was silent and still. Just as she reached out to turn on the light, a sudden blaze scattered the darkness, and the brightness made her eyes squeeze shut.