The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Are you there? Did something happen?…

If it had been before, she definitely would have been unable to stop herself from wanting to go back and take a look.

But upon reflection, it was precisely her inability to be cruel that led to the lingering entanglement and the current situation. Broken off means truly broken off.

Those few harsh words…

It was a complete and utter breakup, drawing a truly incomplete end to this relationship.

Xu Zhiyan also sensed that something was off with Ming Jin.

Since returning from Clear Water Bay that day, Ming Jin seemed to have entered a state of complete indifference.

Her tone was calm, her expression placid. When it rained, her old injuries flared up, causing her to break out in a cold sweat, yet her face remained calm and detached.

Occasionally, the TV in the house would be on, playing a scene with Song Xiangwan.

Xu Zhiyan’s heart skipped a beat. She subtly glanced at Ming Jin’s expression.

Ming Jin’s expression was unchanged. Her gaze drifted past the TV screen without the slightest ripple of emotion, then quietly moved away.

Xu Zhiyan quickly changed the channel, walked closer, and started a conversation with Ming Jin: “Sister, I want to eat at that Cantonese restaurant in Xingyue City. Let’s go together.”

“Okay.” Ming Jin agreed immediately without any issue.

“We can also catch a movie. By the way, there are a few decent comedies out recently,” Xu Zhiyan continued with a smile.

“Good. You choose the film.” Ming Jin’s lips slightly curved, but the smile felt like it didn’t reach her eyes.

Xu Zhiyan’s eyes paused for a moment, but she hid her emotion, walking behind Ming Jin to push the wheelchair: “Then you rest for a bit and save your energy.”

After bringing Ming Jin back to her room and settling her in, Xu Zhiyan exited and closed the door. The smile on her face faded slightly, and she let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

Turning around again, she accidentally bumped her head into a warm embrace behind her.

The rich floral scent of perfume was like plunging into a flower bush, hitting something soft.

Xu Zhiyan looked up, her eyes meeting the refined curve of a jawline and contoured red lips. The silhouette was framed in light and shadow, hazy, as if covered in a golden veil.

The red lips curled up slightly, her voice rising: “Oh, what’s this? Throwing yourself into my arms?”

“I’ll give you a big-headed ghost!” Xu Zhiyan ground her teeth, lifting her foot and deliberately stepping on Lin Rong’s instep.

Lin Rong winced with a “hiss,” her tone helpless: “You weren’t watching where you were going, and now you’re blaming me, aren’t you?”

“No way, this should count as a work injury for me.”

“It’s not working hours right now. Besides, who stands right behind someone? Isn’t that just waiting for me to bump into you? You’re clearly trying to stage an accident!” Xu Zhiyan paused mid-sentence, realizing something. “Why are you here now?”

Beneath her lazy, smoky eyebrows, her thick eyelashes fluttered softly. Her red lips parted slightly, and her tone was drawn out: “I won’t tell you.”

“Did my sister call you?”

“Why did she call you?”

“Is she unwell?”

“Why didn’t she tell me?”

Xu Zhiyan was extremely anxious, her eyes wide as she glared at Lin Rong: “Hurry up and tell me.”

The flustered little girl. Lin Rong reached out to ruffle her fuzzy head, but Xu Zhiyan dodged her.

Lin Rong: “If you do that, I won’t tell you.”

Xu Zhiyan frowned. She always felt that Lin Rong treated her like a small animal, liking to mess with her hair and teasing her like a cat or dog.

However, her concern for Ming Jin took precedence. She endured it, allowing Lin Rong to ruffle her hair, and urged, “Tell me quickly, don’t keep me guessing.”

“To deliver documents,” Lin Rong said, lifting the folder in her hand.

“Documents?” Xu Zhiyan reached out to snatch it, flipping through the pages.

Xu Zhiyan, whose German was decent, couldn’t understand it, as there were too many specialized medical terms. She could only vaguely make out that it seemed to be surgical records.

Lin Rong lifted her hand, her slender fingers gripping the edge of the folder, snatching it back into her palm: “Internal documents. Top secret.”

“Dr. Moni’s surgical records?” Xu Zhiyan guessed.

“Quite smart,” Lin Rong complimented.

“She’s not asleep, is she? I’ll take this in now. I need to take it back after she finishes reading it.” As she spoke, her fingers were already tapping on the door, knocking a few times.

Xu Zhiyan tried to follow her in, but the door slammed shut right in front of her face, almost hitting her.

Wait a minute, this is her home. Was she just locked out?

Xu Zhiyan stood at the door, taking a couple of minutes to process, then reached out and pushed the door open. It was her house, of course she could walk right in.

Ming Jin was up, leaning against the headboard, talking to Lin Rong.

“You look quite well-rested these past few days,” Lin Rong nodded in satisfaction. “Much better than a while ago.”

She hadn’t gone out, handled official business, or traveled recently, nor did she need to force a certain appearance in front of people. Her body’s natural recovery was improving. She rarely suffered from low blood pressure these days.

“But, something still seems a little off…” Lin Rong mused, leaning in to look closer.

Her collar was suddenly grabbed from behind, and Xu Zhiyan’s voice said: “Why are you leaning so close? You’re almost kissing her.”

“A traditional medical examination, do you understand?” Lin Rong tutted, rescuing her collar and straightening it.

Raising an eyebrow, her smiling eyes looked towards Xu Zhiyan: “What’s wrong? Are you jealous that I’m getting close to someone else?”

Xu Zhiyan’s eyes darkened. If it weren’t in front of Ming Jin, she would have stomped on Lin Rong’s foot again, hard.

“Alright, I’m done teasing you. I have other things to do.” Lin Rong stood up, gesturing with the folder in her hand. “Seriously, aren’t you going to look?”

“No,” Ming Jin said plainly. “I trust the doctor.”

“Fine then.” Lin Rong patted the file in her palm, then, when Xu Zhiyan wasn’t paying attention, lightly tapped it on her head.

“You…” Xu Zhiyan was about to erupt.

But she was interrupted by a voice full of laughter: “I’m leaving. No need to see me out.”

She said “no need to see me out,” but when Xu Zhiyan settled Ming Jin and came out again, she saw Lin Rong casually sitting on the sofa, fiddling with the TV remote.

Her long legs were crossed, two pillows were placed on either side, and she leaned back lazily, completely at ease, as if she were in her own home.

“Didn’t you say you were leaving?” Xu Zhiyan snorted softly.

“I lied to her.” Lin Rong stopped the TV on a shopping channel, looked up, her face relaxed. “I have something to tell you.”

“More of your ridiculous nonsense?” Xu Zhiyan’s impatience was understandable, as this person really did talk a lot of nonsense.

“This is serious.” Lin Rong patted the spot next to her. “Come, sit down, and I’ll tell you slowly.”

Xu Zhiyan looked skeptical, so Lin Rong added: “It’s about CEO Ming’s surgery.”

Xu Zhiyan was half-convinced, but still sat down next to Lin Rong.

“She’s been resting quite well recently, which is a good thing. My senior sister will arrive in Haicheng tomorrow and can conduct a face-to-face consultation to understand the specific situation.”

It sounded smooth. Xu Zhiyan nodded: “Mm, good.”

“But haven’t you noticed anything?” Lin Rong looked up at her, frowning slightly, as if deep in thought.

“Is something wrong?” Xu Zhiyan asked.

“Last week, when she was still in Shancheng, she asked me repeatedly what the survival rate for this type of surgery was.”

“Every case is different, and the situation varies. As a doctor, I could only tell her that the probability is unclear, genuinely unclear.”

“Then, she asked me if I had any data on my senior sister’s surgeries.”

“This is internal information; it definitely can’t be shared externally. But she asked too many times, so I painstakingly tracked some down.”

“But…” Lin Rong paused, resting her hand on her chin. “She didn’t even glance at it just now and told me to take it back.”

“I mentioned the cardiac evaluation and gave her the business card of a senior domestic cardiology expert.”

“She accepted it, but just set it aside indifferently.”

Xu Zhiyan frowned. She didn’t quite understand the implication of Lin Rong’s words.

“Don’t get it?” Lin Rong’s gaze was slightly dim. “Well, you haven’t seen many terminal patients. It’s understandable that you don’t.”

“Quantum mechanics, micro-magnetic fields, blood circulation, strengthening the body.”

“Aches in the lower back and legs, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, rheumatism, heart disease—all cured!”

“You go to the hospital, spending tens of thousands, unable to cure the root cause, going back and forth many times.”

“Sleep on the magnetic therapy bed, no need for the doctor’s prescription. Sleep on the magnetic therapy bed, and enjoy a happy later life.”

“To all the uncles and aunties, today the manufacturer is having a promotion. Not ten thousand, not five thousand, not three thousand, but only 8,888!”

“We’ll even give you a free pair of magnetic therapy shoes and a foot bath tub…”

“…”

Lin Rong looked at Xu Zhiyan and asked: “How’s that bed?”

She didn’t know why, but the topic suddenly shifted here. Xu Zhiyan frowned: “Isn’t that just a scam?”

A layer of stones embedded in a mat, two pieces of stone in the soles of shoes, and suddenly it’s a cure-all.

“Exactly. It’s a very clumsy scam, but many people are willing to believe in such tricks,” Lin Rong said flatly.

“When people are at the end of their lives, they instinctively fear death. They pray to gods and Buddha, look for miracle cures, and believe anything.”

“No matter how calm a person’s nature is, they can’t face it with complete serenity, because everyone has the instinct to survive.”

“CEO Ming had that before. When she wanted to know her prognosis, she really wanted to know her chances of survival.”

“But recently, it seems like that’s gone. She won’t even look at the documents I went to the trouble of finding.”

“It’s strange…” Lin Rong murmured softly. “She wasn’t like this before.”

Xu Zhiyan’s expression darkened slightly. Under her eyelashes, her eyes were turbulent. She, too, had sensed something was wrong these past two days.

When combined with Lin Rong’s words, she understood the reason for this unease: Ming Jin’s attitude was too calm.

It was as if life and death were all the same to her.

Even if she were to die the next moment, she wouldn’t struggle; she would just accept it peacefully.

But Ming Jin wasn’t like this before.

Even abroad, when she was close to death, and one death notice after another was handed to Xu Zhiyan, the doctors all told her that the patient had a very strong will to live.

Survival is a human instinct.

Why?

“Why…” Xu Zhiyan’s voice was trembling as she whispered the question.

“I don’t know that,” Lin Rong spread her hands. “You’d have to ask her, but knowing her personality, she won’t say.”

“Surgery is a battle. The doctor and the patient are comrades standing in the same trench.”

“If a comrade runs away before the tough fight even begins, not even a great sage can help.”

Xu Zhiyan’s lips moved slightly, but no sound escaped. She felt like a drowning person suddenly pushed to the bottom of the pool.

“The little bird hasn’t come recently?” Lin Rong asked.

“What little bird?” Xu Zhiyan paused.

“The little gold canary. Wasn’t she following her like a lost puppy before?” Lin Rong said.

“No,” Xu Zhiyan shook her head.

“How could that be? Doesn’t she always cling to her?” Lin Rong didn’t believe it.

“I haven’t seen her…” Xu Zhiyan stopped mid-sentence, realizing something.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t come; it was that Ming Jin had blocked her.

This time, Ming Jin was truly cutting ties completely.

“Alright, case closed.” Lin Rong snapped her fingers. “I’m done talking to you. I have things to do, I’m leaving.”

Xu Zhiyan didn’t stand up to see her out. This was the first time. She was well-mannered, and even when she and Lin Rong would fight, she would still see her to the door.

Xu Zhiyan’s fingers clenched slightly, her nails digging into her palm, causing a slight stinging sensation. Her mind was in chaos.

She had initially thought Song Xiangwan not coming was a good thing. Ming Jin wouldn’t overwork herself anymore, could recuperate well, have the surgery, and slowly get better.

But…

Did she really lose the will to live?

Then, what about the surgery?

Such a major operation, with a precarious heart. If she didn’t want to live…

It wasn’t until warm tears fell onto the back of her hand that Xu Zhiyan snapped out of it. It felt like she had been wrong all along.

She took a few deep breaths, then took out her phone, found a number in her contacts, and dialed it.

Her tone was slightly elevated, a mix of politeness and enthusiasm: “Is that CEO Han?”

Song Xiangwan had been working almost non-stop these past few days. Any work sent her way, she didn’t even look at it, just said: “Accept.”

The next major project she signed was the movie about a dancing girl chasing her dream.

The interim work filled her schedule to the brim.

Today, she was shooting a magazine cover. She arrived at 8 a.m. and spent three hours sitting through hair and makeup.

She accepted the iced Americano handed to her by Cheng Cheng, took a sip, and was using her burner account on her phone to scroll through social media feeds.

The news of her resigning from Allure was still trending, but the negative comments had been suppressed by Song Xiangwan’s management team.

There must be an issue with that crew. First, the wires snapped, and then they made people stand in the rain until they got sick.

Director Wu is like that. He’s very strict with his subordinates.

With Song Xiangwan’s star power, why would she play a supporting role in a show like that? Believe she did it voluntarily? I’m more likely to believe I’m Qin Shi Huang.

I saw the candid photos of her collapsing in the rain. She has such a beautiful face. When she fell, the sense of fragility was so strong. My heart broke.

Her face holds up the world. Not joking.

“How’s the hair and makeup coming along?” A smiling voice came from the side.

A silver-haired woman casually leaned against the vanity mirror, looking about thirty, mature and intelligent.

The V-neck of her purple satin shirt outlined the elegant curve of her neck. Below her brown leather skirt, her legs were casually crossed. Gold earrings and a waist belt complemented each other. Her outfit was bright but not messy, exuding a sense of retro fashion.

“CEO Chen,” the makeup artist greeted her.

“CEO Chen,” Song Xiangwan also greeted her with a smile.

“Truly beautiful…” The woman placed one hand on Song Xiangwan’s shoulder, leaning in to look at the person in the mirror.

The foundation was porcelain-white and cool, matching her black velvet strapless dress for today’s look. The eye makeup used minimal color, with only subtle shading in the eye socket. A black eyeliner flicked upwards, creating a lazy, aloof charm.

“Sister Sisi’s makeup skills are excellent,” Song Xiangwan said.

“Xiangwan, don’t praise me too much. CEO Chen will think I’m hinting for a raise,” the makeup artist Sisi said with a laugh, while adjusting the curve of Song Xiangwan’s hairline.

“A little imp. Are you hinting at me?” Chen Shuang smiled, not minding the joke.

She scrutinized Song Xiangwan in the mirror, reaching out: “Hand me a sponge puff.”

A cool touch pressed against Song Xiangwan’s cheek. Chen Shuang leaned in very close, using the sponge puff to gently wipe away some of the blush, making the color more diffused.

She was so close that Song Xiangwan could feel her breath brushing past her cheek.

Song Xiangwan’s eyelashes fluttered unnaturally. Her gaze fixed on the jewelry around Chen Shuang’s neck, staring intently at the gems, not daring to move.

“Like this…” Chen Shuang pulled her hand back, examining her carefully. “This is good.”

Even after she was done wiping, she suddenly closed the distance between them, her breath rushing towards Song Xiangwan.

Song Xiangwan instinctively backed away slightly, frowning subtly.

Chen Shuang tossed the sponge puff back, retreated, and returned to her previous distance, looking her up and down: “Alright, let’s go with this.”

“Thank you, CEO Chen.” The breath she had been holding slowly released. Song Xiangwan couldn’t help but subtly tighten her fingers, forcing a faint, polite smile onto her lips.

“There’s an event tonight. Coming?” Chen Shuang stood with her arms crossed, her posture casual, her gaze scanning over Song Xiangwan with a hint of scrutiny.

“I’m sorry, I might not have time,” Song Xiangwan politely declined.

“Is it very important?” Chen Shuang’s eyes curved, sounding a little regretful. “My friends all want to meet you. It’s a great opportunity to step into the fashion world.”

“I really don’t have time,” Song Xiangwan refused again, her smile gracious. “Next time. We’ll talk next time.”

She decided to stall her for now.

“Okay then.” Chen Shuang gave Song Xiangwan a light smile: “I have something to attend to, so I’m leaving first. I’ll review the shooting negatives promptly.”

Chen Shuang was the boss, and this magazine was just one under her company. A small matter like a cover shoot shouldn’t require her presence.

But she showed up today.

And she was… so intimately close…

“I have something to do…”

Three years ago, Song Xiangwan loved noisy crowds because she was surrounded by good people, and everything was lively and fun.

But after the Liu Tianming incident, she realized that the people around her weren’t all good…

Song Xiangwan stood up, her voice flat: “Let’s go.”

The two new assistants quickly helped her with the train of her skirt. Cheng Cheng trotted along beside Song Xiangwan: “Sister Wan, just now…”

Chen Shuang’s intentions were practically written all over her face.

Cao Xin had warned her repeatedly to be careful of the people around Song Xiangwan and to sacrifice opportunities rather than let Song Xiangwan be wronged.

Of course, Cheng Cheng didn’t know that Cao Xin was just relaying someone else’s message.

“Just pretend you didn’t see anything,” Song Xiangwan said slowly, her eyelashes lowered. “Don’t tell Sister Cao.”

In the past, when Chen Shuang placed her hand on her shoulder, she would have blown up immediately.

What a rubbish magazine! I said I’m not shooting it, so I’m not shooting it.

I’d chop off her dirty claws.

Even if Song Xiangwan threw a tantrum outside, the other party would still meekly come to apologize to her afterward.

Thinking back, her life used to be like a concubine backed by a tyrant, flaunting her arrogance everywhere.

But now, Ming Jin said she was tired of the ‘canary’ game.

Song Xiangwan’s eyes moved slightly. She could be very obedient. She could swallow her pride, not cause trouble, make money for the company, and… not be a ‘canary’…

The first set was done, and it was time for a break.

Song Xiangwan took out her phone and opened her chat window with Ming Jin.

She spent a long time finding the most flattering angle in the phone camera for a selfie, then quickly edited the photo.

The weather is nice today. I fried eggs this morning.

I’m shooting a show today. I danced and taught the little girls how to dance.

I received a bouquet of flowers. They’re very pretty.

Can you reply to me?

I’m sorry I called you drunk last night. Next time, just hang up, don’t let me disturb your rest.

Did you go out today? The weather is great.

I signed a movie script. It’s just started the project phase, so filming will likely start in the second half of the year.

I can fit a TV drama in between. I’ve looked at several scripts, and they’re all quite suitable.

She wanted to tell Ming Jin that she wasn’t a ‘canary’ anymore. She didn’t need anyone to support her. She would be good, work hard, not throw tantrums…

But there was no reply from the other side. It was like a stone sinking into the sea, not giving her a single chance.

YUKI was a clothing brand, and she had just signed an endorsement deal.

Logically, posting ads should be done by the operations team, but Song Xiangwan was an ‘ancestor.’ She held tight control over her Weibo account and absolutely forbade anyone from logging in.

Song Xiangwan logged into her main account, found the relevant post, and reposted it.

The chat with the “rich patron sister” was stalled at her last attempt: she had said, “Mm, understood. I’ll keep your secret.”

Song Xiangwan tentatively sent a private message: Rich patron sister, are you there?

“Teacher Song, we can start shooting the second set now,” a staff member walked over and said.

“Okay.” Song Xiangwan stood up and handed her phone to Cheng Cheng.

The fill lights were painfully bright, and she was exposed under the strong light. She shot for three hours straight.

Finally, she rested for a moment and ate something. The photographer rushed over: “Teacher Song, we had a problem with the negatives. We need to re-shoot the next set.”

“Problem with the negatives?” Song Xiangwan couldn’t help but frown slightly.

“That’s how it is…” the photographer apologized softly. “I’m sorry, I’ve troubled you, Teacher Song.”

“How is that possible? Are you this unprofessional?” Cheng Cheng spoke first.

“Yes, we were unprofessional. We’ll be careful this time,” the photographer said.

“It’s fine. We’ll re-shoot. I’ll touch up my makeup and be right over,” Song Xiangwan nodded.

The photographer left. Cheng Cheng couldn’t help but mutter under her breath: “What is this…”

“The negatives aren’t lost. It’s the management’s intention. He’s also in a difficult position. There’s no need to make a fuss,” Song Xiangwan finished her food quickly. “Let’s hurry up. We might be working all night.”

Cheng Cheng watched Song Xiangwan obediently go to touch up her makeup and cooperate fully with the re-shoot. She couldn’t help but frown. The new assistant whispered: “Sister Cheng Cheng, what’s wrong?”

“She feels like a fake…” Cheng Cheng complained softly.

Since when was this diva so easy-going?

She accepted the re-shoot without a single complaint, without even a hint of temper.

It was obvious that Chen Shuang hadn’t gotten her way, so she was deliberately making things difficult.

Before, Song Xiangwan wouldn’t have cared about being called a diva for not cooperating.

Go ahead and insult me. Your insults won’t hurt me.

Song Xiangwan’s words are as powerful as a mighty army.

Her reaction today… Was this still the notorious Song Xiangwan?

Cheng Cheng quickly ran over, picked up the train of her skirt, and took her to the dressing room to change.

The zipper on the back of the dress was very tight. Cheng Cheng helped to unzip it, and then closed the dressing room door.

The door closed, and Song Xiangwan didn’t change immediately. Instead, she sat on the changing stool to rest for a while, reaching out to gently massage her sore shoulders.

Being a good-tempered person is exhausting.

Song Xiangwan came out of the dressing room, having removed her makeup and washed her face.

Song Xiangwan wiped the water off her hands and took her phone from Cheng Cheng.

She opened it, slid her finger down twice, and suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“Sister Wan, what’s wrong?” Cheng Cheng asked.