The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Pleading Piteously Through the Door

The psychologist’s evaluation report was placed before Ming Jin, and she read through it seriously, sentence by sentence.

The psychologist stood nearby and said in a gentle tone: “Based on Miss Song’s behavior, the incident does not appear to have left a trauma in her mind.”

“During our conversation, I tried to guide her to recall that memory, and she showed no resistance or avoidance.”

“Furthermore, when I talked about topics of sexual assault and coercion, she didn’t show any abnormal reactions.”

“Then why…” Ming Jin closed the document in her hand and asked flatly, “Did she have nightmares?”

“That…” The psychologist shook her head. “It should be unrelated to this incident.”

This psychologist was specially invited by Ming Jin from far away, and Ming Jin did not doubt her diagnosis.

Moreover, she understood Song Xiangwan’s personality. She was not fragile and would not be defeated by a single attempted coercion.

“Thank you for your time,” Ming Jin looked at Xu Zhiyan. “A-Yan, please see the guest out.”

Xu Zhiyan and the doctor left. The room was quiet. Ming Jin picked up the evaluation report on the table and read it again.

She almost forgot that Song Xiangwan was a good actress. Was this show of weakness also a tactic to win her back?

The evaluation report on the table had already been put away by Ming Jin. Song Xiangwan leaned closer to Ming Jin’s side: “Did you rest well?”

“Fine.” Ming Jin looked up, her tone flat and somewhat distant. “You cannot read scripts here today.”

“Did… I bother you?” Song Xiangwan didn’t know why. Ever since they returned from their walk that day, Ming Jin’s attitude toward her had instantly become cold and distant.

Why?

Was it because they got too close?

Was Xu Zhiyan angry?

Was Ming Jin considering her current partner’s feelings?

It wasn’t that she was being paranoid. Ming Jin was inherently a person of integrity. She was like this even when they were together.

She vaguely remembered that year, a new girl joined the President’s Office at Ming Corporation—a fresh-faced, pretty young woman with a delicate and lovely appearance.

Song Xiangwan often went to Ming Corporation to find Ming Jin, and the people around Ming Jin probably knew Song Xiangwan’s identity and that Ming Jin liked women.

The newcomer developed some improper intentions. While handing water to Ming Jin, her fingers lightly brushed the back of Ming Jin’s hand.

It was a small matter, but it provoked Ming Jin’s fury. Not only did she fire the person immediately, but the entire secretarial office was cleared out.

Song Xiangwan had been secretly pleased when she heard this news.

Ming Jin’s integrity was due to being committed to someone—it was because Ming Jin loved her.

But now, she had become the unwelcome secretary…

It turned out that Ming Jin’s integrity wasn’t just for her. Song Xiangwan felt a hint of bitterness.

This meal was also rather dull. She didn’t eat much. She said she was full, and Ming Jin didn’t try to persuade her further, just letting her leave.

Song Xiangwan looked at the script in front of her, her mind elsewhere. Unable to focus, she simply turned on the TV to watch a drama.

She watched three episodes in a row, but her mind remained empty. She didn’t remember any of the plot.

She finally waited until dinner time. Dinner was usually at 6 p.m. She started checking the clock from 5:30 p.m., checking it more than ten times.

At 5:50 p.m., she quickly turned off the TV, got up, tidied her hair in front of the mirror, and then headed out to find Ming Jin for dinner.

No matter what, she was going to seek out Ming Jin’s presence now; she was going to fight for her.

However, when she reached the door, Song Xiangwan realized something was wrong: the bodyguards standing at the door were gone.

She didn’t have time to knock. She pushed the door open and found herself face-to-face with the nurse who was tidying up inside.

“Can I help you?” the nurse asked.

“Where is the patient in this room?” Song Xiangwan asked. A sudden ominous feeling rose in her heart.

“The patient has been discharged and has already left,” the nurse said, then turned back to tidy the room.

She had left without a single word.

A thick chill arose in Song Xiangwan’s heart. She felt her entire heart turn cold.

What to do? What to do?

Song Xiangwan took two deep breaths, pulled her phone out of her pocket, and instinctively dialed Ming Jin’s number.

The phone rang for a long time. Just as Song Xiangwan doubted she would answer, the call was picked up. A faint voice said, “Hello.”

“Where are you?” Song Xiangwan’s voice carried a hint of grievance. “You left without even telling me?”

“There was no need,” she maintained her distant and cold attitude.

The sound of an ambulance was transmitted through the phone. Song Xiangwan’s heart tightened, like a drowning person grabbing a piece of straw.

She turned around and ran out. Her voice, however, remained steady: “Are you going back to Haicheng?”

“Yes,” Ming Jin said slowly. “Some matters require me to return and handle them.”

“Then can I still contact you in the future?” Song Xiangwan asked while pressing the elevator button.

But the hospital elevator was too slow. Several elevators were on the high floors, slowly descending. The internal elevator was not available.

She bit her tongue, pushed open the fire escape door, and her feet thumped down the stairs, quickly and urgently.

“You can, but I may not reply. I am very busy.” Ming Jin seemed to be psychologically preparing Song Xiangwan in advance.

This departure was a real departure. She would push her away. She would reply less and disappear from each other’s lives.

“Will you still manage Rongxing in the future?” Song Xiangwan was already on the first floor. She pushed the door open and looked around.

“I may not have the energy, but don’t worry. I’ve given instructions that your treatment and resources will remain the same as before,” Ming Jin said.

During dinner time, there were still many people coming and going in the hospital.

Song Xiangwan, wearing slippers, rushed quickly through the crowd. The wind from her running swept her hair back.

Her phoenix eyes scanned everywhere, filled with a certain tension and panic. She was very afraid that if they missed each other this time, she would truly never find Ming Jin again.

Once she returned to Haicheng, there would be no more close distance like upstairs and downstairs.

The Ming family had so many properties. She didn’t even know where Ming Jin lived. If she didn’t see her this time, the next time…

And her surgery, would there be a next time?

Song Xiangwan felt her breathing becoming rapid, she didn’t know if it was due to the strenuous exercise or the anxiety in her heart.

Ambulance, ambulance… The Emergency Room area… where ambulances would pass…

Her slipper caught on the ground. Song Xiangwan stumbled, nearly falling headfirst.

At this moment, she couldn’t care about anything and ran directly toward the Emergency Room side.

There were many cars. Song Xiangwan quickly scanned and immediately locked onto the black Rolls-Royce sedan.

The trunk was open, and the person folding and putting away the wheelchair was a familiar face. Song Xiangwan had seen him—Ming Jin’s assistant.

The heart suspended in her throat suddenly dropped. She didn’t hang up the phone and walked over quickly, seeing Ming Jin in the car right away.

She was sitting in the seat, holding her phone with one hand, her expression calm. The electric door was slowly closing.

Song Xiangwan rushed forward quickly, stretching out her hand to block the gap where the car door was closing.

Having run all the way, fine beads of sweat dotted her nose, her face was slightly flushed, and the hair on her temples was damp with sweat and stuck to her face. She looked quite disheveled.

I caught up. This was the only thought in her mind right now. I almost didn’t get to see Ming Jin.

“You…” Ming Jin’s eyes widened. Her gaze quickly fell onto Song Xiangwan’s hand, and her tone was anxious, “Did you get your hand caught?”

She was truly crazy, just rushing forward and sticking her hand in without a care. If the car’s sensor was slightly less responsive, her hand would have been crushed. Did she not need her hand?

Song Xiangwan lifted her hand and held it out to Ming Jin, her eyes red: “It wasn’t caught, but I knocked it.”

The back of her hand was bumped, and the fair skin was red, glaringly obvious.

Ming Jin exhaled deeply, her words laced with anger: “Who told you to rush over without thinking?”

“Are you still a child?”

“Don’t you know this is very dangerous?”

“Running so recklessly, do you have no sense of safety?”

“A-Jin…” Song Xiangwan didn’t dare to refute. She only called out softly, looking at her with a wronged expression.

“Does it hurt?” The obstruction in Ming Jin’s chest immediately subsided. She really couldn’t help but repeatedly soften for Song Xiangwan.

“No, it doesn’t hurt.” Song Xiangwan shook her head.

But she knew in her heart that her tactic had worked.

Just like the nightmares a few days ago, Ming Jin would still be soft on her.

Song Xiangwan just looked at Ming Jin and carefully asked: “Are you leaving now?”

“Mhm.” Ming Jin nodded. “A-Yan, call Cao Xin and have her come pick her up.”

“No, I’m not going back to the hospital.” Song Xiangwan frowned, her bright phoenix eyes full of stubborn reluctance. “I’m not going back with her.”

There was nothing she could do. Ming Jin sighed, “Then what do you want…”

“I want to go back to Haicheng with you,” Song Xiangwan immediately said.

She stared at Ming Jin unblinking, her eyes shining brightly, showing an unyielding stubbornness.

Ming Jin said, “You haven’t been discharged yet.”

“I’m fine now. My pneumonia is long gone, and the sprain is irrelevant. I don’t need to be hospitalized anymore.”

“I don’t like the food here. I want to go back.”

Ming Jin was somewhat helpless: “Even if I leave, the food that should be delivered won’t stop.”

“I’m in a strange place here. I don’t even have anyone to talk to. I want to go back.”

Ming Jin: “…” This cat was very good at making excuses, and she was stubborn.

“Tell Cao Xin to arrange her discharge tomorrow and book their tickets back to Haicheng for tomorrow,” Ming Jin said to Xu Zhiyan.

Song Xiangwan was genuinely anxious. She reached out, pulled open the front passenger door, and quickly got into the car, deftly fastening her seatbelt: “I want to leave today.”

Tie myself to this car so I can’t get out. This was the solution Song Xiangwan came up with.

Xu Zhiyan was stunned. She had never seen anyone dare to be so arrogant and act like a spoiled brat in front of her.

In the company, just one look from Ming Jin was enough to make everyone tremble in fear.

Yet there was someone who dared to contradict her repeatedly, completely unafraid of Ming Jin.

In the previous years, while she was studying abroad, she had heard that Ming Jin had a “canary,” but she hadn’t known their relationship was like this.

“President Ming, it’s getting late.” Seeing the deadlock, Xu Zhiyan gently reminded her.

Although a private jet had been arranged, the approved flight path had a strict takeoff time. If they delayed any further, they couldn’t take off.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Song Xiangwan urged. “Driver, please hurry up and let’s go.”

The driver: “…” He didn’t dare to speak. He hadn’t seen this kind of situation before. He carefully glanced at Ming Jin’s expression in the rearview mirror.

Ming Jin sighed helplessly: “Let’s go.”

She didn’t want to lose her composure in front of Song Xiangwan. Estimating the journey, she figured she could hold up and not let Song Xiangwan notice anything.

Ming Jin’s eyes silently looked out the window.

As the car started, the anxiety in Song Xiangwan’s heart finally subsided. Does this count as a success?

The flight time from Shancheng to Haicheng was about three and a half hours. The private jet was already waiting at the airport.

Having run out only in a hospital gown, Ming Jin had Xu Zhiyan find a jacket for her to wear and a pair of socks, making sure she put them on.

With a few minutes until takeoff, Ming Jin remembered Song Xiangwan hadn’t eaten. She took her into the business lounge and arranged dinner for Song Xiangwan.

Fortunately, the cat wasn’t picky and ate some of the food.

Song Xiangwan looked up at Ming Jin: “Aren’t you going to eat something?”

“No need.” Her instinctive response of I’m not hungry was replaced with, “I ate before we left.”

Song Xiangwan’s chewing slowed slightly, and she frowned gently: “Are you sure you can take a flight? Shouldn’t you rest for two more days?”

In the short time from the hospital to the airport, she had noticed that Ming Jin’s complexion was already poor, with deep fatigue she couldn’t hide in her eyes.

“If there’s anything else you want to eat or need, you can tell A-Yan.” Ming Jin did not answer her question.

Seeing her push the wheelchair back slightly, Song Xiangwan swallowed the food in her mouth and stood up: “Where are you going?”

She was so anxious, as if she was afraid Ming Jin would run away.

She was indeed worried. If she couldn’t see her for a moment, she might disappear.

“To the restroom. I promised you I wouldn’t run.” Ming Jin knew exactly what she was thinking and said faintly, “Eat properly.”

Although she got Ming Jin’s promise, Song Xiangwan was still worried she would run off. Her restless heart didn’t settle until Ming Jin returned.

It was time to board. Song Xiangwan followed behind the wheelchair, her eyes fixed on Ming Jin without blinking.

She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt that something about Ming Jin was different after going to the restroom.

The wheelchair stopped next to the aisle seat. Ming Jin took the thin blanket from her lap and handed it to Xu Zhiyan, then supported herself with her arm on the armrest and moved onto the seat.

While Xu Zhiyan was covering Ming Jin with the blanket, Song Xiangwan stepped into the window seat, sat down with a thud, and claimed the inner seat by the window.

Xu Zhiyan was stunned. She pointed to the seat on the other side: “You, sit there.”

“I’ll sit here.” Song Xiangwan was not one to be obedient.

That seat was too far from Ming Jin. This one was right next to Ming Jin. She wouldn’t give this seat to Xu Zhiyan.

Xu Zhiyan felt a throbbing pain in the veins at her temple. Her Jie (Older Sister, referring to Ming Jin) really had a good temper. How had she tolerated this arrogant person for so many years?

“This seat is comfortable. I like it here.” Song Xiangwan looked eagerly at Ming Jin.

The seat assignment wasn’t up to Xu Zhiyan; Ming Jin had to speak.

“Let her be,” Ming Jin knew that if they argued, this cat would come up with a thousand excuses.

Anyway, it was only three and a half hours.

The plane taxied and took off. The sky outside was already a deep, dark color. A flight attendant brought Song Xiangwan a glass of milk.

She took a couple of small sips, holding the glass and staring at Ming Jin.

Since sitting down, Ming Jin’s posture hadn’t changed. Her expression was calm. She held a book and turned the pages one by one, acting as if Song Xiangwan didn’t exist.

As if sensing Song Xiangwan’s gaze, she said faintly, “If you’re sleepy, take a nap.”

“I’m not sleepy,” Song Xiangwan muttered, reaching out to feel behind Ming Jin’s waist: “Are you uncomfortable sitting like that? Do you want to lie down for a bit?”

Before her hand reached its destination, it was caught by Ming Jin.

The cool touch made Song Xiangwan gently frown: “Your hand is so cold.”

“Sit properly, or I’ll give this seat to A-Yan,” Ming Jin’s tone was serious, coldly shutting down Song Xiangwan’s topic.

Her gaze was very earnest. Song Xiangwan didn’t doubt that if she made any further moves, she would genuinely be kicked out.

Ming Jin really did not like any physical contact with her right now.

Song Xiangwan pursed her lips, retracted her hand, and turned her head to look out at the darkness outside the window.

In reality, she was staring at Ming Jin’s face in the reflection of the darkness.

She hoped to catch Ming Jin stealing a glance at her, but there was none. President Ming’s eyes were solely on the book in her hand, never moving away.

Her phone was disconnected from the network and was no fun. She had nothing to entertain herself with. It was night, and before long, Song Xiangwan’s eyelids started drooping.

She didn’t hold up for long and soon fell into a deep sleep, leaning against the seat.

A steady breathing had been coming from beside her for a while. Ming Jin’s fingers on the book pages were still for a long time. She slowly turned her head to look over.

She hadn’t lowered the seat back, but was sleeping while leaning back, her head tilted to one side, resting against the cabin window.

Her hair was slightly messy, falling down. Through the gaps in the shadow-draped hair, her face was visible.

In her sleep, her chest gently rose and fell. Her face was flushed with color, and her lips were moist. She was less flamboyant and spoiled than when she was awake, and more docile.

Ming Jin placed the book in her hand onto her lap. She reached out and gently pulled the blanket over her.

She leaned back slightly. Her hand instinctively pressed backward, wanting to press her waist, but only felt a piece of cold, hard material.

Realizing her slightly uncomfortable movement, Xu Zhiyan quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, walked over, crouched down, and whispered, “Jie…”

“Have you been sitting for too long?” Xu Zhiyan asked in a low voice. “Why don’t you lie down for a bit?”

“I’m fine,” Ming Jin’s voice was light.

“She insisted on following…” Xu Zhiyan couldn’t help but complain quietly. She reached behind Ming Jin’s waist, wanting to help massage it, but her eyes froze: “A lumbar support brace?”

No wonder she had sat so upright the whole way, not showing any signs of tiredness.

When did she put on a rigid lumbar support brace…

This kind of thing, while maintaining her outward appearance, was not good for Ming Jin’s old injury due to the tightness.

Xu Zhiyan whispered, “I’ll help you undo it. Can you lie down for a while?”

“No.” Ming Jin shook her head, pulling Xu Zhiyan’s hand away. “Go back to your seat. I’m fine.”

The rigid brace supported her entire lower back. The tight restraint prevented any relaxation. Even breathing felt painful to the bone.

The book in her hand was only to divert attention, but its effect was limited. Yet she didn’t dare to let go of it now.

If she let go, what would happen when they had to disembark?

She didn’t want to show any weakness in front of Song Xiangwan.

“Go back to your seat,” Ming Jin urged twice. Xu Zhiyan, after all, was not Song Xiangwan. She didn’t have the courage to talk back. Full of worry, she still returned to her seat.

The book could no longer distract her. Three and a half hours. Only half had passed. Every remaining minute and second was agonizing.

Fortunately, Song Xiangwan was asleep. She could gently furrow her brow, slowly sigh, and alleviate her discomfort.

“No… no…” The sleeping person seemed to shrink uneasily.

She seemed to be caught in a nightmare. Her whole body tensed up instantly, her breathing rapid and disordered.

Ming Jin’s gaze immediately fell on her, and she saw Song Xiangwan’s excessively pale face.

She seemed to want to wake up, but couldn’t, her whole body tense, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Didn’t they say there was no psychological trauma?

Was the nightmare not an excuse?

Ming Jin’s heart tightened. She leaned over and whispered, “It’s alright, it’s alright. Don’t be afraid…”

“A-Jin… A-Jin…” The person in her sleep called out her name in distress.

Ming Jin’s heart was instantly squeezed tight. She whispered, “I’m here. I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

She reached out and gently patted Song Xiangwan’s shoulder, trying to wake her up. The awkward posture strained her entire spine, but she couldn’t care less.

Song Xiangwan was startled awake. She instinctively reached out and tightly grasped Ming Jin’s hand, panting slightly in panic.

It was still that dream.

The scene before her was the airplane. They were… going back to Haicheng together. Ming Jin was by her side… Sanity returned little by little.

She turned her head and saw Ming Jin’s face, instantly frightened out of her wits.

Ming Jin’s complexion was truly terrible, utterly pale. A thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead, and even her lips were drained of color.

The hand she clutched in her palm was like a slippery piece of ice, cold, and clammy with cold sweat.

“A-Jin…” She was shocked. She quickly let go of her hand, turned around, and tried to help her lie down, but she was stopped by a slight resistance.

Ming Jin held her breath, trying to keep her tone normal: “Did you have another nightmare?”

“It was just a dream. It’s fine. You lie down first…” Song Xiangwan’s voice was filled with unspeakable anxiety.

She reached out and unbuckled her seatbelt. When she put her hands on Ming Jin’s body to help her lie down, she naturally felt a different sensation on her palm.

Having apprenticed under the rehabilitation doctor at the hospital, she immediately understood what it was.

The expression on her face instantly froze slightly.

No wonder she felt something was off. Ming Jin was sitting too upright today.

This kind of thing, prolonged wear and compression, was not good for the injury at all. How could this person not care for herself at all?