Chapter 27: Tidings of Disaster

On the road, Wen Jianan watched the scenery flashing past the car window, and her past with Liang Yuxiu flickered through her mind like a carousel, scene after scene.

She had already let go and thought she had moved on long ago. Yet, when Jiang Wenfei appeared, she realized that although she seemed calm, her subconscious had been dragged back into that nightmare-filled cage.

Wen Jianan felt her heart constricting, and she began to find it difficult to breathe.

When she arrived at the hospital, Cheng He came down to meet her and immediately noticed that something was wrong.

"Jianan, has something happened?"

Wen Jianan shook her head sluggishly.

"But you look terrible."

Cheng He clearly did not believe her, but as the matter involved private history, Wen Jianan did not want to elaborate. She made an excuse, asking him to go to the trunk to move some things, in order to change the subject.

Seeing what Tan Fang had prepared, Cheng He was equally stunned.

Wen Jianan smiled. "A little gesture from my mother—all specialties from Miancheng, plus some health supplements my father prepared. You should take some back for your parents, too."

"That is so thoughtful of you."

Cheng He accepted gladly, then asked Wen Jianan to wait a moment while he went to leave the items at the hospital security office before returning quickly.

Standing before Wen Jianan, he hesitated and faltered.

After a long while, he finally voiced his request.

He wanted Wen Jianan to go and see Cheng Zifeng.

He already knew that Wen Jianan had visited the hospital not long ago and had bumped into Cheng Zifeng; the nanny had told him everything.

He also knew that Cheng Zifeng had a very good impression of Wen Jianan and had been mentioning her from time to time these past few days.

This made Cheng He feel relieved; he believed he had found the person he was meant to be with for the rest of his life.

Wen Jianan did not refuse. Thinking of that sensible yet pitiful child, her heart softened.

The two went upstairs together to the ward.

Cheng Zifeng was watching an online educational video. When he looked up and saw Wen Jianan, he was so happy he almost jumped up.

"Auntie Jianan!"

"Little Feng, be good."

Wen Jianan sat on the edge of the bed with a smile, stroking his hair, and noticed he seemed even paler and more fragile than a few days ago.

Filled with confusion and worry, she chatted with Cheng Zifeng for a while, then called Cheng He outside to ask about it.

Cheng He was surprised by her attentiveness and sighed. "Yes, there are some complications."

Cheng Zifeng was born prematurely and had been physically weak since childhood; illness was a frequent occurrence. The recent shift from spring to summer was a peak period for children catching colds and fevers, and Cheng Zifeng had been affected as well.

Cheng He hadn't thought much of it initially, but after he was discharged and then readmitted, the doctors discovered some abnormalities through test results. They informed him that they could not rule out the possibility of leukemia, though further tests were needed to confirm.

A bone marrow aspiration had been performed yesterday, and they were currently waiting for the results.

Hearing such devastating news, Wen Jianan felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She couldn't believe that such an obedient and sensible child had to suffer like this.

She opened her mouth, but found her throat felt as if it were blocked by a sticky pastry; she couldn't say a word. In the end, she could only squeeze out a pale comfort.

"Try to stay positive."

Cheng He gave a bitter smile. "By the way, you mentioned earlier that you had something to tell me. What was it?"

At the mention of this, Wen Jianan remembered her own business.

She fell silent, contemplating how to begin. Her serious expression made Cheng He anxious.

This situation had lasted a long time—ever since Wen Jianan left the café that day.

In truth, Cheng He was quite grateful that Wen Jianan was a workaholic; it was only because of the project that she hadn't paid him much mind lately, otherwise, she would have already distanced herself from him.

Looking at her work, Wen Jianan was never hesitant or indecisive, and Cheng He guessed that she must be the same when it came to relationships.

At this moment, he couldn't help but overthink, assuming she was preparing to end things between them.

"Jianan, actually, there is something I would like to ask of you."

Cheng He preempted her.

Wen Jianan was forced to interrupt her train of thought. "Go ahead."

"I hope that you will enter into a relationship with me."

Wen Jianan was caught off guard and froze for a moment.

Cheng He immediately explained that he had noticed how much Cheng Zifeng liked her and hoped they could be together. He thought that if they were a couple, it might improve Cheng Zifeng's mood, which could, in turn, assist in his subsequent treatment should the diagnosis be confirmed.

Of course, he also had genuine feelings for Wen Jianan and hoped for a chance to date her.

"I know this isn't right, but I beg you, please help me." His expression was sincere as never before.

Wen Jianan stood at the doorway, where the angle allowed her to see into the ward.

She noticed that Cheng Zifeng was secretly watching her and Cheng He.

Cheng He followed her gaze.

"Little Feng's mother left him and went abroad less than three months after he was born. The family was worried he would affect my marriage prospects, so they never let him be brought back home. He has been cared for by nannies for all these years, which is why he has always been sensitive. I'm afraid that if we end things now, he will think it is because of him."

"Alright, I agree."

Wen Jianan wasn't doing this out of weakness. She was soft-hearted, but not to the extent of sacrificing her own emotions and marriage just to sympathize with a child.

It was simply because Cheng He's goal happened to coincide with the reason she had come this time.

Since they each had their own requirements, it could be considered a form of cooperation.

It was better that Cheng He had brought it up first rather than her having to do so.

Wen Jianan chose not to tell Cheng He her true motive; she did not want to be manipulated.

This was her own hidden agenda.

She knew Cheng He had his own, too.

But they tacitly agreed not to voice them aloud.

Before leaving the hospital, Wen Jianan spent a good while with Cheng Zifeng and promised to come see him again.

Then, Wen Jianan returned to her apartment to deal with the mountain of items sent by her mother, Tan Fang.

On Monday, work continued, and she was so busy she barely had time to eat.

In the afternoon, the group went to Quanteng to work, but did not encounter Liang Yuxiu or Jiang Wenfei.

Wen Jianan threw herself into work instantly. By the time she finished a phase of the project and looked up, she realized several hours had passed.

It was already dark.

Wen Jianan yawned, rolled her neck, and performed a few stretches to relieve her cervical spine.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught two figures walking side by side outside.

She paused, then acted as if she hadn't seen them and looked away.

Chen Ling noticed that everyone was exhausted and approached Wen Jianan to ask if they should take a break and get some dinner.

Wen Jianan thought for a moment. "Let's stop here for now. Pack up, grab something to eat, and then we'll return to the apartment to continue."

No one had any objections.

Half an hour later, as the group prepared to leave Quanteng, Wen Jianan received a message from Cheng He, asking if she was still at Quanteng and saying he wanted to pick her up for dinner.

Wen Jianan instinctively wanted to refuse, but then, remembering something, she agreed.

Cheng He replied quickly: I just finished up here, I'll be there soon.

Wen Jianan agreed to meet him downstairs and then went down with Chen Ling and the others.

"You guys head back first. I have something to take care of, I'll be back shortly," Wen Jianan told Chen Ling and the others.

"Alright."

Chen Ling and the others waved and got into a taxi.

Wen Jianan stood at the entrance for a while. Hearing the sound of an elevator opening nearby, she turned around.

Liang Yuxiu and Jiang Wenfei walked out of the elevator, side by side.

And Cheng He, as it happened, walked out of another elevator right beside them.