Chapter 55: Choosing to Keep a Distance

Hou Manling’s decision to try this was truly a desperate gamble. It was actually Yuan Tianqing who came up with the idea for her. Yesterday, when Hou Manling returned to her dormitory, she was already feeling dejected. She had never been particularly close to Song Tingshen, and now that he had lost his memory, she would surely become even more insignificant to him—a mere stranger.

But Yuan Tianqing didn’t see it that way.

Yuan Tianqing told her, “Now that Song Tingshen doesn’t remember anyone, it means you’re the only one who knows what your relationship was like before. He doesn’t know. Isn’t this the perfect chance to let him assume that you two had an unusual connection?”

“The Commander’s family places great importance on their reputation. If you can convince Song Tingshen that you two were once involved, and given your close relationship with Director Zuo, you could easily turn this pretense into reality.”

Hou Manling’s face flushed instantly.

Yuan Tianqing continued, “Song Tingshen’s so-called fiancée has already arrived on Taizhou Island, and right at this moment, Song Tingshen loses his memory. Isn’t this your golden opportunity? If you don’t use this time to build a relationship with him, once that Zhong Xiao gets closer to Song Tingshen, you’ll have no chance at all!”

Hou Manling understood this all too well.

Faced with Zhong Xiao’s absolute beauty, she didn’t believe she stood a chance.

That was why she chose to take the risk.

While Song Tingshen was still in the dark about the truth, she wanted to see if Yuan Tianqing’s plan might work.

For her, fortune favored the bold.

No one knew that, at that very moment, Zhong Xiao was coming down the stairs from the fourth floor, carrying medicines that needed to be delivered to the third floor.

Zuo Lan had been called away to a meeting at the last minute and had entrusted Zhong Xiao with delivering the medicines to the various department offices on the third floor and below.

As Zhong Xiao passed through the corridor, she happened to overhear Hou Manling’s words.

—“Song Tingshen, we’ve been in love for a long time. You promised that after your triumphant return, we would register our marriage.”

After a moment of surprise, Zhong Xiao suddenly understood.

No wonder.

No wonder Hou Manling harbored such strong opinions and prejudices against her.

It turned out the relationship between Hou Manling and Song Tingshen was not as simple as she had thought—not just Hou Manling’s one-sided affection.

The two of them had already confessed their feelings to each other.

Zhong Xiao pressed her lips together, glanced into the ward, then quickly turned and left.

It was best not to eavesdrop on other people’s private matters.

From now on, she ought to keep her distance from Song Tingshen.

After all, there had once been a marriage agreement between them. Not many people knew, but Song Tingshen was, in the end, a man who was “spoken for.”

She had to be mindful of appearances.

—

Inside the ward.

Hou Manling clenched her fingers, her chest pounding with nervous excitement.

She hardly dared to look at Song Tingshen, keeping her gaze fixed on his shoes.

The only sounds in the air were Song Tingshen's steady breaths and the frantic beating of her own anxious heart.

Song Tingshen remained silent for a long time. Hou Manling, feeling as though she was about to suffocate from nervousness, finally summoned the courage to speak.

“Tingshen, I—”

Song Tingshen’s cool voice interrupted her.

“Is that so?” he asked, his gaze as calm as before, not showing the slightest ripple of emotion. “You and I—mutual affection?”

Hou Manling’s heart raced wildly; she was nervous and afraid, but forced herself to nod.

“Yes.”

Song Tingshen withdrew his gaze, lowering his eyes as before, his tone indifferent.

“But I feel nothing for you.” He didn’t look at her as he stood up, turning to face the window. “Even if our relationship was as you say, I’m afraid that now, when I look at you, I feel absolutely nothing.”

Hou Manling’s face went rigid.

Guilt made her voice falter, but she forced herself to explain.

“Perhaps…it’s because…” Hou Manling clenched her fists, “because we didn’t fall in love at first sight, but grew closer over time, gradually developing feelings for each other. So, it’s normal you don’t feel anything for me now.”

She watched Song Tingshen’s reaction carefully.

He remained as indifferent as before, though he frowned slightly, as if growing impatient.

“If it’s normal,” he said, “then why did you feel the need to come and tell me?”

Hou Manling’s face instantly turned ashen, as if her lie had been laid bare.

Song Tingshen glanced at her, then turned and took two slow steps toward her, his tone growing colder.

“I’ve lost my memory, not my wits,” he said. “If you wish to lie next time, please practice first.”

Hou Manling bit her lip, on the verge of tears.

Song Tingshen didn’t look at her again. He walked around her, intending to leave, but Hou Manling grabbed his arm, desperate to say something.

She knew that if she didn’t explain herself now, there would be no possibility for her and Song Tingshen in the future.

In his eyes, she would always be a scheming liar.

“Tingshen, I—”

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded in the corridor outside.

Normally, no one would run in the corridors of the military hospital—order was paramount.

Unless something urgent had happened.

Song Tingshen frowned slightly.

He stepped out just in time to see a group of medical staff rushing past.

He stopped one of them. “What’s happened?”

Seeing it was Song Tingshen, the person hesitated, then answered:

“The Commander suddenly collapsed. His vital signs are fluctuating dramatically—he’s just been rushed to surgery!”