The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: What Kind of Patient Is So Disobedient…

This dance was performed facing the camera. The people in the studio couldn’t make much of it, but the cameraman, watching the person in the lens, blushed slightly.

After the solo performances, the four captains played a game, evaluated by scoring on a dance machine. They would then select team members in order of their scores.

The top four captains all had some dance foundation, achieving high scores one after another, drawing exclamations from the audience.

The host, Lu Lu, rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue: “Did you secretly adjust the parameters for yourselves? How are the scores so high?”

Lu Peiling had just finished dancing, with a light layer of sweat on her forehead. She replied into the microphone: “Why don’t you give it a try?”

“Oh…” Lu Lu waved her hands repeatedly, “No, no, no, no, no. I know my limits.”

“Go for it!” Zhou Xintong, the young girl, was the first to shout and clap.

“Go for it!”

“Go for it!”

The venue became lively. Variety shows are like this—they can’t all be serious; they need some boisterous moments.

“Alright, then you come with me,” Lu Lu stepped forward and pulled Zhou Xintong. “Let’s go, open the double mode.”

“Sister Lu Lu, I was wrong…” Zhou Xintong slipped and knelt (a common expression for surrendering).

“No way, we have to go together,” Lu Lu smiled cunningly. “If the score is high, it proves I’m naturally gifted.”

“If the score is low…hehe…” Her tone shifted, “It proves your skill is lacking, that you can’t even carry me.”

“I really can’t carry you alone,” Zhou Xintong muttered.

Lu Lu turned her head, squinting at her: “What did you say?”

Lu Lu was a veteran host, and everyone could see she was just joking, helping the young girl who had scored second-to-last to get more screen time.

Zhou Xintong clicked her tongue: “How about this? We’ll open the triple mode. Sister Lu Lu, I really can’t carry you alone.”

She scampered over to Song Xiangwan, put her hands together in a prayer gesture, looking pitiful: “Sister, please save me. It’s an emergency.”

Song Xiangwan didn’t know why the spotlight suddenly fell on her.

It was clearly a great opportunity to be on camera. The pain in her stomach had subsided and wasn’t very noticeable, so she stood up.

Since the dance mat was single-piece, the triple mode was three segments with brief pauses in between. Zhou Xintong went up for the first segment.

Coming from a girl group, although her fame wasn’t great, her dance foundation and sense of rhythm were strong. The rhythm blocks fell one by one, and she stepped precisely on every beat.

The fast-paced music, accompanied by her bobbing pigtails, created an immediate sense of vibrant energy. She twisted her short skirt, which flared out in an arc, then stopped.

Finally, she didn’t forget to flash a brilliant wink at the camera. Her eyelashes curled, and her smile was radiant.

She immediately jumped down and pushed the host, Lu Lu, onto the stage: “Sister Lu Lu, it’s your turn, your turn.”

“Aahhh…” Lu Lu’s reaction was somewhat exaggerated. Watching the rhythm blocks fall, she seemed flustered.

“Left, right, right, jump…” Zhou Xintong laughed, directing from the side. She laughed so hard she clutched her stomach and had to lean on Song Xiangwan’s arm to steady herself.

After a segment of dancing that looked like calisthenics, Lu Lu came down, also laughing uncontrollably: “Well, you put me in the middle just to laugh at me.”

“Sister, good sister, I was wrong,” Zhou Xintong suppressed her laughter, grabbing Lu Lu’s arm and speaking softly in a coaxing tone.

Her voice was very soft, but not off-putting. It had a clingy, little-girl-coaxing feel: “Good sister, please don’t hold it against me.”

“Ugh,” Lu Lu pretended to rub the goosebumps on her arms.

Song Xiangwan quickly stepped up. The rhythmic sound began in her ears, and the rhythm blocks lit up on the screen in front of her.

It wasn’t a very difficult dance. She added hand movements, stretching and spinning, lightly tapping and turning back. When she looked back, her eyelashes flickered, and her captivating phoenix eyes drew the viewer in.

The fast-paced dance was forcefully interpreted by her with the texture of a traditional Chinese dance—elegant and composed, like a red rose unfurling in a patch of flowers.

However, as she was stepping off the stage, her foot unexpectedly slipped.

Zhou Xintong rushed up to support her and laughed: “It’s one thing to charm me into fainting, but you even charmed yourself into fainting!”

“Oh, that mouth! It wasn’t like that when you were dealing with me just now,” Lu Lu commented sourly from the side.

“I can’t help you with that,” Song Xiangwan raised her hand, looking helplessly at Zhou Xintong, “You handle the anger yourself. I choose to escape.”

“Sister, you can’t do this,” Zhou Xintong looked wronged. “You have to be on my side.”

“I’m timid. I can’t do it,” Song Xiangwan said with a smile.

Song Xiangwan, timid as a mouse.

Passerby, what’s the ‘timid as a mouse’ joke?

No joke, it’s just that Sister Wan is a timid person (bursting into laughter)…

The small interlude allowed Song Xiangwan to instantly integrate into the group, feeling like she had made a couple of good friends.

Zhou Xintong was a very outgoing person, a lively little girl who was good at coaxing people, leaving a strong impression on the audience outside the camera’s view.

After getting off the stage, she followed Song Xiangwan and squeezed in, sitting next to her.

On the main stage, the captains had begun selecting their team members.

Zhou Xintong whispered: “Sister Wan, will Teacher Lu choose you?”

“How would I know that?” Song Xiangwan shook her head. Although she had brought funding into the show, there really wasn’t much of a script.

Being promoted was one thing, but whether she had the capability to seize the opportunity and become popular was another.

Zhou Xintong whispered: “If she chooses you, can you say a good word to Teacher Lu and get her to choose me too?”

She spoke so softly that only Song Xiangwan could hear her.

Ah, so that’s why she made such a fuss.

Being in Lu Peiling’s group was like having a good teacher. Furthermore, the Central Dance Academy teacher’s group wouldn’t be ranked last in the first round and wouldn’t face elimination. This young girl wanted to cling to a powerful connection.

Song Xiangwan glanced over. The sequins of Zhou Xintong’s performance outfit were sticking to her legs and arms. Although it looked shiny and beautiful, it also suggested cheapness. Before the show, Cao Xin had given her the guest profiles.

This young girl, to be frank, was quite unfortunate.

She debuted in an island nation years ago. On the day of their debut, the team leader was exposed for dating, and the entire group was implicated, immediately entering a state of semi-blacklisting.

Last year, she returned to the country to participate in a domestic talent show. Just a month after their debut, someone in the group was exposed for engaging in a mass orgy and was directly arrested.

The entire group almost halted production again.

She then tried her luck in the film and television industry, filming several dramas, mostly small roles that died twenty minutes into the show.

She had played the ugly character, played a corpse, and even played the female supporting role in suggestive films… but none of them made any waves.

Zhou Xintong, five years after her debut, was still an ordinary person.

“Okay, but I can only suggest it. Whether Teacher Lu chooses you or not is her decision,” Song Xiangwan couldn’t help but feel a little soft-hearted.

The entertainment industry was a place where skill and fate mattered. Whether one became popular was truly up to chance.

If it weren’t for Ming Jin, she would very likely be just like Zhou Xintong.

Struggling, desperately trying, trying to please, wanting to grasp every opportunity, but unable to catch any, struggling to death, only to be laughed at by others.

This circle was always like this.

Song Xiangwan was truly lucky to have met Ming Jin.

In a spot not visible to the camera, Cheng Cheng handed Song Xiangwan a thermos, whispering: “CEO Ming is here…”

Ming Jin was here. Song Xiangwan looked in the direction Cheng Cheng had walked from, scanning around, but found nothing.

It made sense. Even if Ming Jin came, she wouldn’t squeeze into the crowd.

The thermos contained warm honey water. Drinking it, Song Xiangwan felt her agitated stomach being soothed.

On the stage, Lu Peiling announced her selection: “My choice is Song Xiangwan.”

Song Xiangwan smiled, stood up, and walked over. Lu Peiling raised her hand, intending to give her a hug.

It was a normal segment—walk over and hug the captain.

But Song Xiangwan paused, only raising her hand to touch Lu Peiling’s hand, and smiled: “Thank you, Teacher Lu, for choosing me.”

The camera quickly cut away. Lu Lu continued hosting the segment: “Alright, next up is Captain Fan Ru selecting her members…”

Song Xiangwan scanned the crowd, trying to find Ming Jin. She wasn’t on the first floor, so she looked at the second floor, the viewing platform…

Their eyes met across the distance. Her lips curled into a radiant smile.

This person said she wouldn’t watch the show. Why did she come all the way to the live broadcast?

This cat is not normally this alert.

Ming Jin’s eyes were calm, but the fingers pressed on her knees couldn’t help but clench slightly.

The red dress, the smile as bright as a star, was as if that waltz was spinning in her heart again.

It was like the very first time she met Song Xiangwan, a girl as radiant as the summer sun, leaving an eternal impression on her heart.

There were few shots of Song Xiangwan for the remainder of the segment. In total, she was on screen for less than eight minutes in the first episode, which was relatively little screen time.

However, every shot was stunning, not aggressively promoted, but coordinated with off-show marketing.

Song Xiangwan’s short video of the waltz and the meme I’m timid quickly went viral on short video platforms.

The hashtag #Red Dress Waltz# had already started to feature multiple videos of popular online content creators doing covers, indicating secondary dissemination and momentum.

As the live broadcast ended, Song Xiangwan didn’t have time to change clothes. She quickly ran up the stairs of the channel, seeing Ming Jin in the distance.

Xu Zhiyan wasn’t there. Ming Jin was accompanied by an assistant who, seeing Song Xiangwan, wisely retreated.

Song Xiangwan ran over, still slightly out of breath. The shimmer on the rouge-red mole at the corner of her eye was sparkling, and her entire expression was bright.

She crouched beside Ming Jin and gently grasped her hand: “Why did you come?”

The cool temperature of Ming Jin’s hand was held in her palm, warming up little by little.

“Is there a celebration banquet later?” Ming Jin asked.

“I’m not going,” Song Xiangwan immediately stated her stance. “It’s noisy, mostly people I don’t know. It’s not fun. I’m going back with you.”

“Go ahead. I’ll wait for you,” Ming Jin felt the warmth on the back of her hand. She was reluctant, but gently struggled to pull away. “Go make friends. I won’t stop you.”

In the past, she forbade it, thinking those friends were unnecessary.

But now she realized that for Song Xiangwan, a kept mistress couldn’t integrate into her sugar daddy’s circle, so she longed for her own circle.

“Go,” Ming Jin urged.

“I won’t go,” Song Xiangwan pursed her lips. “I don’t like it…”

“You liked it before,” Ming Jin sighed softly. “Don’t let me feel like I’m holding you back.”

“Go,” Ming Jin repeated. “I’ll wait for you.”

She had arrived earlier than Song Xiangwan thought. From the second-floor viewing platform, she had clearly seen the triple mode dance machine, the whispered conversation between her and Zhou Xintong, and the scene of her laughing and joking in the crowd.

In the lively environment, Song Xiangwan also smiled brilliantly.

Like the most dazzling red rose in the crowd, bright in the sun, with a rich, floral scent.

That kind of liveliness formed a stark contrast to the silence surrounding Ming Jin.

Song Xiangwan was only in her twenties, with a vibrant youth. Who doesn’t love excitement? Besides, she used to like it.

Song Xiangwan was hesitant to speak. She understood that Ming Jin’s lack of trust in her was her fault. She had said and done too many absurd things before.

Song Xiangwan was distracted at the dinner. She was anxious for it to end.

The all-female production team had no vulgar jokes, and there wasn’t much alcohol on the table.

Fan Ru and a few others were happy and drank a few cups while playing games. No one was pressuring Song Xiangwan to drink.

Zhou Xintong stayed by Song Xiangwan’s side, pouring her a cup of hot water: “Sister, do you have an urgent matter? I’ve seen you check the time several times.”

“Mmm…” Song Xiangwan replied vaguely.

She really didn’t like these gatherings anymore. They were superficial drinking friends, and nothing interesting.

Especially since Ming Jin was waiting for her in the car outside. That person’s body, waiting like that, every extra second was torment.

Her eyes moved slightly. She moved closer to Fan Ru, picked up a wine glass, and poured herself a drink: “Teacher Fan, I’ll play with you.”

Fan Ru was a veteran drinker. After a few games, Song Xiangwan lost more than she won, but she didn’t refuse, quickly downing a few cups of wine.

Feeling slightly tipsy, she stood up, said a few words to the director, and hurried out.

The Rolls-Royce was parked in a spot outside the restaurant. Song Xiangwan walked over and tapped on the car window, and the back door opened.

Ming Jin seemed to be looking at documents on a laptop screen. Hearing the door, she closed the laptop. Turning her head, she met a pair of slightly drunken, hazy eyes.

“Finished? That fast?” Ming Jin was somewhat surprised, checking her watch.

She hoped Song Xiangwan would have fun, that she would live according to her own preferences and not compromise for anyone.

“I got drunk, so I came out,” Song Xiangwan got into the car, then immediately nestled into Ming Jin’s embrace.

She didn’t put her full weight on Ming Jin, just lightly rubbed against her. Sure enough, the faint scent of spices on Ming Jin was comforting.

“Ah-Jin, let’s go home,” she said softly.

Ming Jin gently rubbed her head with her thumb, smelling the alcohol on her, and couldn’t help but frown slightly.

She had told the production team not to force drinking at the celebration banquet. How did this still happen? This circle was too messy…

But if Song Xiangwan likes it…

Just as she thought this, she heard Song Xiangwan continue: “Ah-Jin, I don’t like drinking parties, and I don’t like drinking. I won’t go next time, okay?”

“It’s inevitable to drink a few cups. It’s bad for your health, and I don’t like it either.”

“I used to think it was fun, but I don’t anymore. Drinking also hurts my stomach.”

“I won’t go next time, okay?”

She drank those few cups not just to leave early, but also to clearly tell Ming Jin that she didn’t like it.

Ming Jin’s expression fluctuated, and finally, she only said softly: “Sit back and fasten your seatbelt.”

Song Xiangwan knew Ming Jin had an unexplainable obsession with the seatbelt, so she didn’t argue and sat back properly.

Then she heard Ming Jin say: “To Haicheng Hospital.”

“Why go to the hospital?” Song Xiangwan was startled, quickly turning back to examine Ming Jin’s face. “Are you feeling unwell? Where does it hurt?”

Her urgency did warm Ming Jin’s heart slightly. She said slowly: “No, it’s for you to have a check-up.”

“I…” Song Xiangwan muttered softly, “I don’t have any problems.”

“Doesn’t your stomach hurt?” Ming Jin said. “It’s been hurting for a few days. Don’t you realize how serious that is?”

“Cheng Cheng sold me out again…” Song Xiangwan was somewhat displeased, looking at Ming Jin. “I’m not going to the hospital.”

She could have quality time alone with Ming Jin at home. Going to the hospital meant a noisy crowd, and she didn’t want that.

“It has nothing to do with her. You must go,” Ming Jin didn’t give her room for negotiation.

The driver, clearly listening to Ming Jin, was already heading in the direction of Haicheng Hospital.

It was indeed not Cheng Cheng who told her. Ming Jin had seen it during the live broadcast. The cat’s complexion was too poor, and combined with her constant complaints about stomach pain the past two days, she had to worry.

Knowing that others couldn’t get the cat to go, she personally came to grab her and take her to the hospital.

“Ah-Jin…” Her voice rose slightly, with an indescribable softness.

“You must go,” Ming Jin interrupted her.

CEO Ming was as decisive as ever. She insisted on her going to the celebration banquet, and then insisted on taking her to the hospital. There was no room for doubt—she was authoritarian.

A few years ago, Song Xiangwan would have definitely started arguing, feeling that Ming Jin was restricting her freedom.

But now, Song Xiangwan understood the underlying care and worry in an instant.

She only felt a pang of heartache. This person was running around for her sake late at night, disregarding her own health. Her eyes couldn’t help but sting.

So, she quieted down. There was no argument, no conflict.

Ming Jin’s heart sank, however. The quietness made her uneasy.

She turned to see the person leaning listlessly against the car window, and couldn’t help but worry: “Wanwan…”

“Mmm…” She hummed softly, like a kitten’s meow landing on one’s heart. Her moist phoenix eyes looked over: “I’ll be obedient. Will you stay with me, please?”

“Don’t leave me alone in the hospital. I’ll have nightmares. I’ll feel like you don’t want me anymore.” Her voice was very soft.

Perhaps due to the alcohol, it was a gentle, anxious mumble.

Ming Jin frowned slightly. She truly didn’t know what to do with Song Xiangwan. Time and again she tried to leave, but hearing her soft words, she couldn’t help but soften.

Not getting a reply from Ming Jin, she seemed to fret, her head leaning against the car window shifted slightly, then drooped.

A surging sensation rose from the pit of her stomach. Song Xiangwan tried to press it down with her knuckles, but she completely lost control.

In the sound of her muffled coughing, a warm liquid seemed to surge up her throat.

The pain that had lingered for two or three days suddenly exploded in her stomach, twisting intensely, leaving her speechless for a moment.

“Wanwan, Wanwan…” Ming Jin was anxious. She seemed to unbuckle her seatbelt without hesitation, then leaned over, reaching out to hug Song Xiangwan’s shoulder.

Blood… The dark red she saw instantly startled Ming Jin: “Uncle Tai, drive faster, to the hospital.”

Song Xiangwan was hazy. She wanted to say, sit back, this will hurt your back, but she couldn’t utter a single word.

She was too careless about those few cups of wine tonight.

She thought it would be fine. She didn’t want Ming Jin to worry so much because of her.

But before she could speak, her consciousness plunged into darkness.

When she woke up again, she could only hear the beeping of the monitoring equipment. She seemed to be in the hospital. The stark white ceiling hurt her eyes.

She frowned slightly, then felt a cool touch covering her eyes.

Ming Jin’s voice: “Don’t rush. Slowly adjust to the light.”

Her hands, her fingers were cold. Song Xiangwan reached out and pulled her hand down.

Outside, the sky was already bright. Ming Jin was guarding the bedside. Looking down, Song Xiangwan saw specks of bloodstain on her light-colored shirt.

Ming Jin was usually meticulous about cleanliness, but at this moment, she hadn’t even found time to change her clothes.

Perhaps she had been awake for too long. Her face was slightly pale, but her lips had a subtle bean paste red—not her natural lip color. It seemed like she had used lipstick… to cover up…

“I’m sorry,” Ming Jin’s eyes showed deep fatigue, but her words were apologetic. “I shouldn’t have let you go to the celebration banquet. I should have brought you to the hospital sooner.”

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have escalated to such severe gastric bleeding. The doctor said if it had been delayed any longer, until gastric perforation, surgery would have been necessary.

Since she saw her discomfort during the live broadcast, why did she still force her to go to the celebration banquet?

Ming Jin was currently filled with regret.

Only for her own stubbornness?

“I don’t like it. I won’t go next time…” Song Xiangwan held her hand, rubbing it against her cheek. “Ah-Jin, please believe me.”

“I love you. The thing I want to do most is to be with you.”

“You…” Ming Jin started to speak, but her voice turned into a muffled cough. She turned away, pulling her hand out.

The coughing fit wouldn’t stop. Her shoulders trembled slightly, pulling on her lower back, which hadn’t rested all night. All the color drained from her face at once.

Her heart and lungs were already weak. Such exhaustion was harmful, but how could she rest peacefully watching those patches of vomited blood?

Song Xiangwan shot up into a sitting position, only to hear a cold voice mixed with the coughing: “Don’t get down. You still have the IV needle in your hand.”

But Song Xiangwan was not one to listen. She found an angle that wouldn’t pull the IV needle, and swiftly landed on her feet. She lightly patted Ming Jin’s back with her palm.

“Don’t rush to talk. Take it slow.” Her eyes were slightly red. Feeling the bone-on-bone sensation beneath her palm, she desperately wanted to lift Ming Jin up.

“Go back and lie down,” Ming Jin’s tone was slightly displeased.

What kind of patient is so disobedient?