Her words shifted the entire conversation. Everyone quickly realized that Zhong Yu had unilaterally altered the construction plans for aesthetic reasons without the hotel’s consent. The discussion erupted into a flurry of accusations and defenses.
Still, the matter would need to wait for Ding Wei’s return. Shen Xi Fan called him, relieved to learn that he was already on his way to the hotel.
Finally, she hobbled to the back exit, intending to hail a cab home. Just as she reached the curb, Yan Heng caught up to her and called out, “Xiao Fan, your face looks so pale. Are you sick?”
The light rain continued to drizzle as Shen Xi Fan stood in the mist. Her green wool coat made her complexion appear even more ashen. She frowned and replied, “Mr. Yan, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern. Goodbye.”
Yan Heng wanted to stop her, feeling that something was off about her. He reached out his hand, but before he could act, she climbed into a cab and disappeared into the rain.
A few raindrops landed on his hand, icy to the touch. A faint sense of foreboding settled over him. Shen Xi Fan was no longer the naive girl she had once been. Three years had passed, and some things could never be reclaimed.
The depth of love and the bitterness of betrayal—both eventually fade into dust.
* * *
Shen Xi Fan stumbled out of the cab and walked a few steps before cold sweat began to pour down her face. She leaned against a tree along the path in her complex, panting for a moment. She thought of calling home for her mother to come and get her but remembered that her parents had gone to visit her grandmother and wouldn’t be back until the next day.
Forcing herself forward, she clutched her waist, pausing every few steps. Her legs felt as if they were made of lead.
Suddenly, a light tap on her back startled her, followed by a familiar voice: “Shen Xi Fan, what’s wrong?”
He Su Ye turned her around, seeing her pale face devoid of color, her lips bitten white, and her bangs damp with water dripping onto her forehead. Her eyes sparkled faintly with tears. Noticing how she was hunched over and clutching herself, he grew alarmed.
Shen Xi Fan grabbed onto his sleeve, her gaze silent yet pleading, brimming with helplessness. She leaned instinctively toward him and whispered in a trembling voice, “It hurts… It hurts so much I can’t take it anymore…”
He Su Ye had seen thousands of patients and instantly understood her condition. Taking her bag in one hand and supporting her with the other while holding an umbrella, he gently asked, “Can you stand? Are you okay to walk?”
Shen Xi Fan nodded, forcing a weak smile despite her faint voice. “He Su Ye, is there anything that can stop the pain? I feel like I’m dying!”
He supported her as they walked, his pace slow and careful. “Come to my place—it’s nearby. We’ll be there soon.”
* * *
At his apartment, He Su Ye helped her lie on the bed. He retrieved a box from his study, taking out several needles of varying lengths. Some had rounded tips, while others were sharp. He meticulously sterilized them with alcohol before turning to Shen Xi Fan.
The moment she saw the needles, her face fell. “He Su Ye, I don’t want needles…” she whimpered pitifully.
Ignoring her protest, he said, “Lie down on your stomach and lift your shirt.”
Hesitantly, she asked, “All of my shirt?”
He glared at her. “Of course. Otherwise, it won’t be effective.” As he spoke, a faint blush crept onto his face. He quickly added, “You’re the patient, and I’m the doctor…”
He began the acupuncture treatment, first targeting the Chengjiang point, then inserting needles gently into the Dazhui point. Gradually, he advanced to other areas, employing precise techniques with varying speeds. At the Seventeen Vertebrae point, the swift insertion caused Shen Xi Fan to wince and let out a soft cry.
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