Lin Wan walked quickly, still a little out of breath when she exited the elevator. She asked the nurse station which room Chen Jin was in, then hurriedly made her way to the room. About an hour ago, Chen Xi had called to say that Chen Jin had woken up and had been transferred from the ICU to a high-level VIP ward. She had been out for a walk when she heard the news, and her mood immediately lightened. She realized only then how tense her nerves had been for the past few days.
Without much thought, she called a cab and headed to the hospital. It wasn't until she was standing at the door of the ward that she hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate for her to rush over like this.
Just as she was about to turn around, the door opened from the inside, and out walked someone—none other than Fang Zheng. He looked surprised to see her. "Lin Wan?"
Lin Wan pulled her half-raised hand back and asked, "Is he awake?"
"Yes, he woke up this morning."
Noticing that Lin Wan's gaze lingered on the half-closed door behind him, Fang Zheng asked, "Do you want to go in? It's a bit crowded right now."
Lin Wan thought for a moment and said, "Never mind. I'm just relieved to know he's alright." Before turning to leave, she double-checked, "He's really okay, right?"
Fang Zheng didn't immediately respond. Instead, he furrowed his brow. Seeing his expression, Lin Wan's heart sank again, and she hesitantly asked, "What happened to him?"
Fang Zheng gestured toward the lounge area. "Let's go over there and talk."
This floor was a high-level ward, quiet with spacious areas. The wide lounge had excellent natural light, with plants and potted greenery surrounding it. Fang Zheng walked straight to the large windows and stood there for a moment, then turned to face Lin Wan. Seeing the nervous expression on her face, he hesitated and said, "He suffered significant damage to his cerebellum. His right side is paralyzed, and he's been unusually irritable…"
Lin Wan's eyes widened as she absorbed the news, and it took her a while to process. If he couldn't move one side of his body, didn't that mean he was partially paralyzed? A heavy feeling seemed to fill her throat, making it hard for her to speak.
Fang Zheng noticed her reaction and quickly reassured her. "Don't worry. The doctors are still discussing treatment options. It's just that he's been resistant since waking up. He refuses to see anyone and hasn't been cooperating..."
Lin Wan paused for a moment, then lifted her head with determination. "I want to see him."
"Now?"
"Is it possible?"
Fang Zheng was taken aback by her firmness, then nodded. "Alright. Come on, I'll take you."
Back at the ward, Fang Zheng opened the door, and they entered one after the other. Everyone inside had been speaking in low tones, but now they all looked up in surprise. Most of them were people she recognized—Xiang Yang and a few of Chen Jin's friends, as well as his cousin, whom she had met a few days ago. The only unfamiliar faces were a pair of elderly people in their sixties sitting on the sofa. Lin Wan guessed these must be Chen Jin's parents.
Fang Zheng introduced her to the couple. "Uncle, aunt, this is Lin Wan."
As soon as Lin Wan entered, the elderly couple seemed to recognize her. Chen Jin's father didn't show much expression, or perhaps he just didn't know how to react. However, his mother stood up excitedly, and before she could say anything, there was a loud crash from inside followed by a booming shout, "Get out."
When Lin Wan heard the familiar, forceful voice, she felt an unexpected sense of familiarity, followed by a twinge of sympathy. Chen Jin's mother began to wipe her tears, and Fang Zheng quickly said, "Aunt, maybe it's better if Lin Wan goes in to talk to him."
Xiang Yang added, "Yes, right now, he'll only listen to Lin Wan."
Chen Jin's mother walked over to Lin Wan and took her hand. "Xiao Lin, I'm counting on you. Please talk to A Jin. He won't take his injections or medicine. What are we going to do?"
Lin Wan nodded and gently squeezed her hand in reassurance.
The room was a suite. The outer part was a reception area, while the inner room was for the patient's use. When Lin Wan walked in, a nurse was just stepping out, holding a tray with small pieces of broken glass. Seeing Lin Wan, she kindly whispered, "The patient's emotions are unstable right now. Be careful."
Lin Wan thanked her and pushed the door open. The bed was positioned so that it faced the window. It had been raised slightly, and the person on the bed was turning his head toward the window with great difficulty. His side profile looked gaunt, like it had been chiseled from stone. Although she couldn't see his eyes, she could sense the loneliness radiating from him. Lin Wan's heart ached, but she heard him coldly utter two words without turning: "Leave."
The harshness of his words contrasted sharply with the earlier roar, making Lin Wan's heartache even more. Instead of leaving, she closed the door behind her. Chen Jin frowned, and as he turned to look at her, she saw the spark of recognition in his eyes. It was bright and fierce, a stark contrast to his current condition. The reprimand he seemed about to say transformed into a soft murmur: "Wanwan?"
Lin Wan gave a small hum in response. She had seen him in his weakened state before, but she had never seen him in a hospital gown. The pale clothes made his face look even more deathly white, his lips drained of color, and he looked nothing like the powerful man he used to be. The room felt vast, and as Lin Wan walked toward him, it was as though she was crossing miles of distance. His gaze never left her, calm and filled with longing.
As she reached the side of his bed, she noticed the cast on his left foot. She asked softly, "Does it still hurt?"
Chen Jin gave a faint smile and shook his head.
The familiar, slightly obedient expression on his face made Lin Wan's heart ease a little. As she sat down next to the bed, she heard him speak: "You've lost weight."
Lin Wan's nose immediately tingled, and her gaze fell on his right hand resting on the bed. His veins were prominent on the back of his hand, and there were several needle marks and remnants of adhesive tape. Was this the hand that couldn't move? Her heart tightened painfully, and she whispered, "You've lost weight too."
But in her heart, she thought, he hadn't just lost weight—he had wasted away. Seeing the small tray on the bedside table, with two pills on a piece of paper, and noticing a water stain on the floor, she asked, "Are these pills for you to take?"
Chen Jin remained silent. She pretended to stand up, saying, "I'll ask the nurse..."
He reluctantly hummed in response. With a small smile, she found another cup and filled it with warm water from the water dispenser. She returned to his side and handed it to him. "Take it. Listen to the doctor so you can recover sooner."
She heard him murmur in response as he reached out with his left hand to take the cup and drink a sip. Lin Wan, seeing his difficulty, gently placed the paper with the pills in front of his mouth. "Open your mouth."
Chen Jin looked at her in surprise, and she urged, "Hurry."