A Time-Limited Romance with Movie Queen Ex - Chapter 32.1

Luo Mijin once again felt at a loss. Her exhausted body could barely sustain her mind, and her delicate features were filled with the weariness and pallor of illness.

Last night, she had been severely ill. In the feverish haze of her dreams, she found herself back in that tiny, shabby rented room, sitting across from Rong Qingyao at a small table, sharing a bowl of chilled tofu pudding topped with watermelon.

In the kitchen just a meter away, steam rose from the pot of boiling dumplings. The summer drizzle tapped against the cracked glass window, while the sounds of bustling life drifted up from downstairs.

In those moments between sleep and wakefulness, she often thought she was still curled up with Rong Qingyao on the narrow 1.2-meter-wide bed, their skin pressed close, inseparable. The drawer of the small cabinet lay open, revealing their monthly income and expenses.

It had been a difficult, frugal time yet those days became the flickering fireflies in the darkness of her life, the only fleeting sparks of happiness.

Even after waking, she could still feel the lingering warmth on her fingertips.

A dream. Just a dream. A beautiful dream granted to her fever-riddled body at the cost of its own fragility.

The arrival of the doctor and nurse for their rounds interrupted the tense standoff between Luo Mijin and the other two.

Several people approached, and the cold hum of medical equipment filled the room.

Luo Mijin remained silent, compliant as a puppet, allowing the doctors to examine and diagnose her.

“You only took one bite of that nut cookie, right?” the attending physician asked cautiously.

“Mm. I realized something was wrong after one bite, but I didn’t have the strength to call for an ambulance by then,” Luo Mijin answered obediently.

“Your high fever is due to a weakened immune system and recurring inflammation in the finger wound. The allergic reaction has improved significantly, but you must be careful in the future. Even though your symptoms were mild, delayed treatment could still be life-threatening.”

“Additionally, you’re not eating enough, your rest is insufficient, and your physical exertion is excessive. The blood tests show low blood sugar and a deficiency in B vitamins.”

The doctor instructed the nurse to administer another IV of nutrients and reminded Luo Mijin again to eat regularly and supplement her diet accordingly.

After taking her temperature, the nurse removed the IV from her hand. “37.8°C, still a slight fever. You need proper rest and to avoid exhausting yourself with unnecessary thoughts.”

Once the doctor left, the nurse confirmed the afternoon IV schedule with Luo Mijin and turned to remind the caretakers of a few precautions before preparing to leave.

Unfazed by the tension between the three, the nurse thoughtfully unfolded the medical tray and arranged the thermal containers on the table. When the lids were lifted, the light, savory aroma of the food wafted through the air.

“Eat first. You’ll need your strength,” she said, placing chopsticks in Luo Mijin’s hand. “I checked, it’s all mild, easy-to-digest food. The congee is soft and well-cooked.”

Her sense of smell, usually dulled by illness, now sharpened to its keenest state.

The gentle, soothing fragrance filled her nostrils, and for some reason, Luo Mijin’s thoughts were completely overtaken by the one person she shouldn’t be missing.

This was the congee Rong Qingyao had made for her. Though it had been mixed with the food Lan Mingyu brought, she didn’t need to taste it to know.

The porridge smelled wonderful, but she couldn’t bring herself to take a single bite, opting instead for the shredded pork noodle soup Lan Mingyu had brought.

Seeing Luo Mijin eat the food she’d prepared, Lan Mingyu’s smile widened. “Miss Rong, may I ask what reason you have for wanting Luo Luo to be admitted to a private hospital? Is it her own wish, or simply… your wishful thinking?”

Rong Qingyao’s gaze swept over Luo Mijin, her eyes dark and unreadable, yet she still maintained a faint smile as she replied,

“The doctor just said that if another allergic reaction isn’t treated promptly, it could be life-threatening. Coincidentally, I have the time, the assistants, and a private hospital under my control to provide full care for the patient. Miss Lan, it seems you don’t have that luxury.”

“Luo Luo could always move back in with me. We could eat, live, and work together, how could I not have time?” Lan Mingyu’s smile didn’t waver; if anything, it grew even more pronounced.

A nurse who had been quietly observing the drama timidly interjected, “Your arguing is really disturbing the patient’s rest. Maybe we should ask the patient what she wants?”

“Exactly. Luo Luo, do you really want to go to some private hospital with your completely irrelevant ex?” Lan Mingyu deliberately emphasized the word “ex,” staring provocatively at Rong Qingyao.

The nurse, who had been enjoying the spectacle, suddenly stiffened. What had she just heard?

Rong Qingyao and the girl in the hospital bed were… exes?

This was explosive news, a top-tier actress chasing after an ordinary person, clashing with a third party, and all of them women…

Would she be silenced for knowing too much? The nurse glanced around excitedly.

Luo Mijin lowered her eyes, weighed down by exhaustion, barely able to muster a coherent response.

“I’m fine staying here. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself, Miss Rong,” she said, lifting her gaze to meet Rong Qingyao’s with detached indifference. “A private hospital isn’t necessary.”

“Scott’s cookies caused your allergic reaction and fever. Of course, it’s my responsibility to ensure you receive the best medical care,” Rong Qingyao enunciated each word sharply, her black attire exuding elite professionalismcool, intelligent, like a lawyer persuading a jury.

Was this… her way of fulfilling an obligation to her fiancé?

Luo Mijin wondered was this what mutual support in marriage looked like?

Leaning against the pillow, she pushed away the half-eaten noodles. “It was my own carelessness. I ate the cookies by mistake. Mr. Scott isn’t to blame, and I won’t hold him responsible. He meant well.”

Lan Mingyu chimed in,

“Miss Rong, even though Mr. Scott, your fiancé hasn’t come to visit Luo Luo, she already understands your goodwill. Why don’t we just drop this? Everyone could use some peace and quiet. Don’t you think you’re already causing Luo Luo distress?”

Rong Qingyao’s expression darkened, her half-lowered lashes failing to conceal the storm in her eyes.

Amid the three-way exchange, only the nurse remained focused on the patient, opening a jar of steamed snow pear with white fungus and handing it to Luo Mijin.

“Your throat is inflamed. This will help soothe it.”

Luo Mijin pushed the dessert away.

Over the years, she had wrapped herself up like a snail, never opening her heart to anyone.

No one had ever steamed warm fruit for her. They all assumed dessert meant tiramisu, cheese bread, or chocolate mousse.

Apart from Rong Qingyao, who would understand and tolerate her picky eating habits, there wasn’t a second person under heaven who would.

The steamed snow pear with white fungus was fragrant and delicious, a flavor she hadn’t smelled in seven years. She had thought she would never have the chance to taste it again in this lifetime.

But this wasn’t a reward; it felt more like punishment. Each bite she took would only deepen the bitterness of unwillingness in the days to come.

Nothing is more painful than beautiful memories.

“All of you, leave. I’m tired,” Luo Mijin coldly issued the dismissal. “Miss Rong, don’t push me, alright?”

Rong Qingyao was stung by the weariness in Luo Mijin’s gaze, her breath hitching slightly. Suppressing the ache in her chest, she replied calmly,

“Mm, I’m sorry. I wasn’t considerate enough.”

Lan Mingyu smiled and said goodbye to Rong Qingyao, watching the woman’s tall, slender figure retreat dejectedly from the hospital room.

“Mingyu, last night…” Luo Mijin stopped herself. It was obvious, the one who had brought her to the hospital yesterday was Rong Qingyao.

Those dreams she had thought were half-real, half-illusory they were all true.

She remembered Rong Qingyao repeating last night, “We don’t have to save money anymore.”

Yes, they no longer had to scrimp and save, but they had also parted ways.

“I’m sleepy. You should go back and rest too,” she said, burying herself under the covers.

Lan Mingyu hesitated, wanting to say more, but in the end, she complied and let Luo Mijin rest alone.

**

“I never expected Rong Qingyao to be so stunning in person so poised, so beautiful, with such a commanding presence. No wonder she’s never had any scandals all these years in the industry. Ordinary people wouldn’t dare meet her eyes.”

“Will she come back to the hospital? I wasn’t here this morning and missed her. What a shame.”

“She probably will, right? That’s her friend after all…”

Just waking from her nap, Luo Mijin overheard the nurses outside her door chattering excitedly about Rong Qingyao.

Almost unconsciously, she picked up her phone from beside her pillow.

To her surprise, when she typed “Rong Qingyao” into the search bar, the first thing that popped up was the latest news of the woman’s engagement.

The video was beautifully color-graded, a meticulously maintained green lawn, ornate fountains of varying shapes, colorful ribbons and balloons floating in the air, blue hydrangeas arranged on pristine round tables.

Without a doubt, this was an exquisitely lavish engagement venue.

Midway through the video, Luo Mijin saw the main subjects: Rong Qingyao and Scott. It seemed they were inspecting the venue when they were caught on camera by the media, creating this dreamlike scene.

In the video, the woman wore a black evening gown, its luxurious hem billowing in the sweeping wind.

In the distance lay a tranquil, crystalline lake, the dusky silhouette of distant mountains under twilight, flickering lights along the corridor, sparrows chattering in the treetops, rose petals scattered across the red carpet.

The aloof woman in the frame wandered listlessly, stopping and starting as if indifferent to everything around her.

Setting aside the burning ambition hidden in Rong Qingyao’s eyes, she was the kind of woman who could captivate the world.

Watching the video, Luo Mijin could only think how romantic it all was this must be what happiness looked like.

The happiness she couldn’t give her, someone else could now. So why did it feel so unbearable? Why this suffocating jealousy, this unbearable ache?

After all these years, Luo Mijin realized she hadn’t grown at all. She had merely gone from being a child burdened with heavy thoughts to an adult weighed down by them.

Her heart ached terribly, yet she had no right to break down and sob.

She didn’t even have a reason to crash the wedding. No, Luo Mijin knew deep down that wasn’t true. She could think of a thousand reasons to take Rong Qingyao away.

But she didn’t know if Rong Qingyao would go with her.

She tried to will away the unbearable turmoil in her eyes until the hospital room door was pushed open her attending physician walked in.

“What a perfect match,” the older doctor remarked sincerely after seeing the video. “When I saw Miss Rong last night, I thought she was barely in her twenties, still a student. I never imagined she was already getting engaged and a big celebrity at that.”

Luo Mijin said nothing.

“If you’re friends, you’ll be attending her engagement party, right?” The doctor chuckled as he finished watching the video, chatting idly while checking on Luo Mijin.

Too weak to muster any strength, Luo Mijin sank into the white hospital sheets, the sharp scent of disinfectant burning her nose and churning her stomach.

“I’ll go. I’ll be there,” she murmured, as if forcing herself to commit to it.

After all, she wanted Rong Qingyao to be happy. Witnessing her perfect engagement was the only way she could share in that happiness.

“Your wound needs to be reopened for disinfection, then stitched up again. It’ll hurt, so I’ll give you anesthesia.”

“Alright, thank you,” Luo Mijin replied, her gaze hollow as she watched the doctor work.

“They really do look like a perfect pair,” the doctor sighed again after finishing the stitches, noticing Luo Mijin still watching the engagement video. He grinned from ear to ear. “If only my daughter could find such a wonderful match.”

“Yeah,” Luo Mijin echoed with a strained smile, as if blessing the golden couple on screen.

But her eyes were dark, devoid of any joy. Her pale irises were like stagnant water, where drowned souls sank silently, never to see the light again.

“Miss Luo, could you get me an autograph from Miss Rong?” The doctor smiled sheepishly. “I just remembered my daughter is a huge fan of hers.”

The request wasn’t unreasonable, especially since he assumed she and Rong Qingyao were just friends.

“Sure, I’ll ask her for you.”

“Thank you, thank you. Get some rest now.”

After the doctor left, silence reclaimed the room. Sunlight filtered through the ivory curtains.

Before leaving, Rong Qingyao had replaced the flowers, fresh green roses, their dewy petals delicate and fragrant with the scent of rain-soaked leaves.

Luo Mijin clutched her phone, her gaze fixed on the shifting light patterns on the ceiling, until the ringtone broke the stillness.

It was Lan Mingyu calling.

“Still running a fever?” Lan Mingyu’s voice carried concern, slightly raised over the noise of what sounded like a café kitchen.

“I’m at the hospital. Got another IV. I’m fine, don’t worry about me, just focus on the café.”

“No way. You’re still at the same hospital, right? I’ll drive over as soon as I finish this pot of coffee. Have you eaten? I’ll bring you some dessert.”

“Don’t bother. I’ve already eaten. Stay there, I’m doing fine.” Luo Mijin’s mood plummeted further at the thought of Rong Qingyao wanting to transfer her to better care for her fiancé’s sake. “I’m still at the original hospital. Don’t worry.”

“No, I’ll come over after I close the shop. What if Rong Qingyao shows up…” Lan Mingyu didn’t finish her sentence. Based on her intuition, she felt Rong Qingyao’s feelings for Luo Mijin were far more complicated than just “an ex-girlfriend.”

Moreover, a woman with a fiancé still bothering her ex, isn’t that the definition of a heartbreaker?

If a woman like Rong Qingyao wanted to play both sides, it would be all too easy. No one could resist the fatal charm of such a beauty.

Innocent yet aloof, intellectual yet gentle, with an inexplicable aura of danger.

“Really, it’s unnecessary. I don’t want to go, and she won’t… force me.” Luo Mijin thought Lan Mingyu was overreacting. Although Rong Qingyao had that dictatorial, overbearing demeanor, she was still reasonable.

Once she achieved her own goals, she wouldn’t push further.

Luo Mijin didn’t know what Rong Qingyao’s intentions were, but she doubted they had much to do with her.

Support