The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Ming Jin Has Been to Her Home

Ming Jin had woken up and was back in a regular ward. Most of the tubes on her body had been removed, leaving only the heart monitor, whose beeping sound filled the room.

The hospital bed was raised, and she was sitting up, her face so pale it almost blended with the white sheets.

On the small bedside table, her phone displayed the call interface; Song Xiangwan was on the other end.

Though her voice was weak, she emphasized several times: “Slow down, no need to rush. The road is dangerous. Be careful.”

She felt a slight disappointment upon waking up and not seeing Song Xiangwan, but when she looked up, she saw the peace charm hanging beside the bed.

The nurse said Ms. Song had asked to hang it there. Ming Jin’s heart instantly softened. Wanwan is always by her side.

Song Xiangwan virtually ran all the way, slight beads of sweat on the tip of her nose. The moment she entered, she took off her mask, looked at Ming Jin, and her eyes immediately welled up.

She lunged forward, wanting to hug her, but dared not, fearing that any force would shatter this person.

She only knelt down, supporting Ming Jin’s arm, and gently rubbed her cheek against it, her voice tender and affectionate: “Ah Jin…”

Ming Jin’s palm had no warmth and felt distinctly bony. It seemed she had lost a lot of weight just from the surgery of the past few days.

Her heart ached, yet she felt grateful—grateful that Heaven hadn’t been cruel to her after all, sending this person back to her side.

Ming Jin’s pale, delicate fingers lifted. Such a slight movement caused her to gasp, but she didn’t show it, placing her fingers on the corner of Song Xiangwan’s eye.

“Be good, don’t cry,” her voice was slightly airy, yet filled with deep indulgence.

“Sit down…” She forced out these two more words, looking at Song Xiangwan’s eyes with worry.

She couldn’t bear for her to kneel like this. Xu Zhiyan knew, and quickly moved a chair over, then tugged at Lin Rong’s sleeve, signaling them to leave.

Lin Rong didn’t resist. She reached out and grasped Xu Zhiyan’s hand, lacing their fingers together.

Before Xu Zhiyan could react, she said loudly: “Since she’s awake, she can eat something to let her digestive system adapt. There’s vegetable juice in the thermos by the bed. We’ll be leaving now.”

With that, she pulled Xu Zhiyan’s hand and walked out.

Xu Zhiyan struggled twice but couldn’t break free. She followed Lin Rong, disgruntled, and as soon as they were out the door, she yanked her hand away.

“Don’t pull me around in public,” Xu Zhiyan scoffed, striding past Lin Rong and sitting on a chair in the hallway.

Lin Rong chuckled softly. Meeting Xu Zhiyan’s gaze, she raised the hand that had just held Xu Zhiyan’s, brought her fingers to her nose, and took a gentle sniff.

Flirtatious. Lunatic. Xu Zhiyan was so angry she wanted to carve two holes into Lin Rong with her eyes.

Lin Rong’s phone rang in her pocket. She picked it up, saw the caller ID, pushed open the door to the fire escape, and answered the call.

It was Wu Qingyi’s voice: “My patient, didn’t you make an appointment to see me today?”

“The payment is the same. Cut the nonsense,” Lin Rong’s tone was slightly hostile.

“You seem to have a deep hostility towards me. As a patient, you shouldn’t feel such animosity towards your psychiatrist,” Wu Qingyi’s tone remained composed.

“When did you meet Xu Zhiyan?” Lin Rong’s voice was tight, like deeply suppressed emotion suddenly bursting forth.

“I told you, we really didn’t talk about much last time,” Wu Qingyi laughed softly. “If you don’t believe me, what can I do?”

“Really?” Lin Rong was suspicious. Last time, at the Ming family’s entrance, the two of them were talking and laughing freely, almost leaning into each other…

“Yes,” Wu Qingyi said faintly. “Are you insecure? Do you think I’ll steal your little girl?”

“You know all our stories…” Lin Rong said in a low voice.

Her psychiatrist knew all her stories with the little girl, and yet was getting so close to the little girl… she felt a sense of crisis.

“I know. So what? You’re still insecure,” Wu Qingyi said slowly. “Lin Rong, Lin Rong, you’re self-important. Don’t you even have confidence in this?”

“No,” Lin Rong flatly denied, then seemed to realize something. “Dr. Wu, you’re intentionally trying to anger me.”

“Suit yourself,” Wu Qingyi changed the subject. “Have you been taking your medication properly these past two days? It sounds like you haven’t.”

Her tone was too high-pitched, sounding like a manic episode—rising body temperature, increased heart rate, heightened emotions, and uncontrolled instability without medication.

“No, I don’t need it,” Lin Rong tightened her grip on the phone and said coldly, “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up. Someone will transfer the consultation fee to you.”

Without waiting for the person on the other end to speak, Lin Rong hung up the phone. She leaned on the stair railing to calm her wildly fluctuating emotions.

Her chest was heaving, and she was panting heavily, still unable to suppress her agitated state. Annoyed, she tore at the button on her shirt collar. Unable to unbutton it, she ripped the button off and threw it on the floor.

She hadn’t taken her medicine because it made her drowsy. She had to stay awake to monitor Ming Jin’s surgery these past two days.

She sensed she was losing control, especially when facing Xu Zhiyan recently. Her hidden emotions were slowly emerging like a huge iceberg.

…

Inside the ward, Song Xiangwan held Ming Jin’s hand, pressed it against her cheek, staring at Ming Jin without blinking, looking pitiful.

The sweat from her running hadn’t dried, her hair was slightly disheveled and stuck to her cheek, and her eyes were red. She looked like a pathetic, unwanted stray cat.

Ming Jin’s fingers moved slightly, gently stroking Song Xiangwan’s face, softly rubbing it.

“Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?” Song Xiangwan said, gently and steadily setting Ming Jin’s hand down. She opened the thermos by the bed and poured a bowl of vegetable juice—a clear, light juice, oil-free, meant to slowly restore gut function.

“Not hungry,” Ming Jin shook her head. She didn’t feel hungry, just tired, completely sapped of energy, and wanting to fall asleep.

But she couldn’t bear to close her eyes.

“You have to eat even if you’re not hungry.” The spoon was already at her lips, and the cat was staring at her pleadingly: “Don’t forget, I’m still angry.”

She bared her claws with a soft hiss, but it wasn’t intimidating, only pathetic.

She was referring to Ming Jin hiding the surgery time from her.

Ming Jin opened her mouth and swallowed the juice from the spoon. As she leaned in, she couldn’t help but slightly frown, causing Song Xiangwan’s heart to clench: “Don’t move. I’ll feed you.”

“Well, how can I coax you back?” Ming Jin said softly, her eyes filled with layers of amusement as she looked at Song Xiangwan.

“You can’t…” Song Xiangwan murmured softly, lowering her head to scoop up another spoonful of vegetable juice.

This time, she made sure Ming Jin didn’t move, delivering the spoon completely to her mouth.

But Ming Jin still frowned slightly, and Song Xiangwan was full of worry: “What’s wrong? Does it hurt a lot?”

“No,” Ming Jin shook her head and said softly, “It’s bitter.”

“Bitter?” Song Xiangwan looked at the vegetable juice in her hand. “Did Dr. Lin put bitter melon in it?”

She scooped a spoonful to her own lips and tasted it. It was neither sweet nor bitter, just a fresh vegetable juice flavor, with a strong hint of carrot.

“It’s not bitter…” Song Xiangwan murmured to herself. “Is it because you haven’t eaten for so long, so your mouth tastes bitter?”

“Maybe,” Ming Jin’s tone was faint. She looked at Song Xiangwan and said softly, “Come here.”

Song Xiangwan blinked slightly. Before she could understand what Ming Jin meant, Ming Jin continued: “You come and taste it, then you’ll know.”

“Fine…” Song Xiangwan hummed softly. Bitter, my foot. She’s just teasing me.

“Be good…” A faint voice, weak with insufficient energy: “I really have no strength.”

She longed to kiss her cat, longed to hold her and comfort her, but her limbs were weak, and even speaking felt strenuous. Ming Jin was frustrated by her own helplessness.

Song Xiangwan’s heart had melted into pieces. She leaned in and gently kissed her lips: “I’ll initiate. Don’t rush. Recover slowly.”

The feather-light kiss was like immense solace, instantly smoothing over the panic she had felt these past days.

Song Xiangwan couldn’t resist. She leaned in and gently kissed her twice more. Ming Jin’s lips were dry. She couldn’t help but probe with her tongue, lightly licking them.

Like sweet rain after a long drought, Ming Jin couldn’t help but part her lips and teeth, trapping the slightly restless tip of Song Xiangwan’s tongue. The kiss deepened instantly.

Song Xiangwan quickly stopped her action, sat up straight, watched Ming Jin steady her breathing, and said softly: “Don’t rush. I won’t go too far.”

The heart failure during surgery had caused damage to the myocardial cells. This damage required a long, slow recovery, and she couldn’t exert herself now.

Ming Jin also felt it; her heart seemed more precarious than before the surgery. She dared not ask for anything more. She closed her eyes, suppressing her heartbeat.

Without further action, Song Xiangwan fed her some food, then flattened the bed and stayed by the bedside, holding Ming Jin’s hand: “Sleep now. I’m here.”

“Not sleepy.” Ming Jin turned her head, staring intently at Song Xiangwan, as if trying to etch her appearance into her bones and blood.

But suddenly, a warm pressure covered her eyes. Someone had covered her eyes.

Song Xiangwan said: “Patients should be obedient and rest more.”

“If I’m bothering you here, I’ll leave,” Song Xiangwan said softly.

“Don’t… don’t go…” Ming Jin’s tone was surprisingly panicked. She raised her hand and grabbed Song Xiangwan’s wrist.

The strength of a person who is ill wasn’t great, but she was holding on tightly, as if using all her strength, afraid that if she let go, the person would vanish.

“Okay, okay, I won’t go…” Song Xiangwan quickly comforted her in a low voice. For some reason, she felt that the current Ming Jin was somewhat fragile.

She couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness in her eyes. This illness was too grueling. Even the influential CEO Ming had become this vulnerable.

“Come up,” Ming Jin didn’t let go, only said softly. “Sleep with me.”

“The bed is very narrow…” Song Xiangwan couldn’t help but say softly. “And I have rehearsal later.”

“Don’t go.” Ming Jin pulled her hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed it gently. The movement made her momentarily dizzy with pain, but her voice remained steady. “Missing one session is fine. Stay here. Accompany me.”

Song Xiangwan had intended to do this all along but was afraid of upsetting her by suggesting it.

Ming Jin didn’t like her abandoning her career.

With Ming Jin saying this now, she naturally nodded immediately: “Okay, okay. I won’t go.”

“Come up,” Ming Jin imperceptibly moved her body backward. The sudden, tearing pain of the wound instantly caused a sound to escape her lips. She froze for a moment, daring not to move again.

“Does it hurt?” Song Xiangwan was startled and quickly wrapped her arms around Ming Jin’s body.

She leaned in closer, gently kissing Ming Jin’s earlobe, speaking in a soothing, almost childlike tone: “Don’t move. Be good. Don’t move anymore…”

“I want… I want to hug you,” a suppressed, slightly broken whisper traveled to her ear.

“Wanwan, I miss you so much,” she said softly. “Can I just hug you?”

Every word she spoke made Song Xiangwan’s heart ache slightly. She couldn’t bear to refuse: “Okay, okay. Slowly, I’ll help you. Don’t rush.”

After a sweaty effort, they finally made a small space. Song Xiangwan got onto the bed, her back pressed against the bed rail, gently embracing Ming Jin, cuddling close.

A gentle pressure wrapped around her waist. Even in her illness, Ming Jin still held her protectively in her arms.

“Sleep,” Ming Jin’s voice was faint and gentle. “Sleep for a bit. Don’t think about anything.”

“Haven’t you been resting well these past few days? You’ve gotten thinner,” Ming Jin was also heartbroken.

She didn’t keep Song Xiangwan here today because she was fragile and needed company, but because she couldn’t bear it. Seeing the dark shadows under Song Xiangwan’s eyes broke her heart.

After waking up, she had already learned from Xu Zhiyan.

Song Xiangwan spent half her time guarding the hospital and the other half filming the show, not neglecting anything, running back and forth.

Just how exhausting must that be…

Song Xiangwan pulled her phone from her pocket, set it to airplane mode, tossed it on the bedside table, and nodded: “Mhm.”

The person who usually had restless sleeping habits slept exceptionally soundly today, curled up in the tiny corner of the hospital bed, completely avoiding putting any pressure on Ming Jin.

She was truly exhausted, and she truly felt secure in this person’s arms. Song Xiangwan thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but when she woke up, the sky was full of stars.

Her curled limbs were somewhat numb, but she didn’t dare move. She just looked up gently, meeting those light brown eyes.

“You didn’t sleep?” Song Xiangwan gently rubbed against her arm.

“I slept, just woke up,” Ming Jin said slowly. “Did you sleep well?”

“Very well,” Song Xiangwan gave Ming Jin a gentle hug, her tone intimate and dependent. “With you by my side, everything is fine. No nightmares.”

“Cao Xin is looking for you. She called Ayan,” Ming Jin patted her hand and said. “Call her back. She seems a bit anxious.”

“Mhm.” Song Xiangwan got up, stretched her limbs, picked up her phone, and exited airplane mode.

She saw numerous notifications for missed calls—from Cao Xin, her mother, and Teacher Zhou, who had called many times all afternoon.

Before she could dial a number, Cao Xin’s call came in.

She answered, but the voice on the other end wasn’t Cao Xin’s: “Wanwan, it’s Mom. Are you sick? Why couldn’t we reach you?”

“Mom, why are you…” Song Xiangwan’s mind was fuzzy from sleeping for so long. “With Sister Cao?”

Cao Xin took the phone and briefly explained. Song Xiangwan understood the whole story.

Song’s mother and Teacher Zhou had come to Haicheng today. To avoid disturbing Song Xiangwan’s work, they hadn’t informed her in advance, thinking they could manage the travel themselves.

However, after getting off the train and taking a bus, they reached Clearwater Bay but couldn’t enter the residential complex gate.

They couldn’t reach Song Xiangwan, so they finally remembered the contact information Song Xiangwan had given them for Cao Xin and contacted her.

Cao Xin couldn’t find Song Xiangwan either. She finally remembered the business card Xu Zhiyan had given her and contacted Xu Zhiyan.

Upon hearing that Song Xiangwan was at Haicheng Hospital, the two elders panicked.

They were now rushing to the hospital.

“My mom is here. I’ll go meet them,” Song Xiangwan kissed Ming Jin on the lips and then walked out.

It was late, and the flow of people in the hospital had decreased slightly, but there were still many people moving quickly. In a place like this, everyone was anxious and paid no mind to those around them.

Song Xiangwan didn’t go all the way to the main entrance. She waited on the first floor of the inpatient department for the two hurried elders.

Song Xiuyun saw Song Xiangwan from afar and quickly went to meet her, grasping Song Xiangwan’s hands and examining her from head to toe.

“You’re thinner.”

“My Wanwan, you’ve suffered being away alone.”

“Mom…” Song Xiangwan’s voice also softened. She embraced Song Xiuyun, gently closing her eyes in her arms, feeling the coolness of the travel-worn clothes and the warm touch of kinship.

In the half-year they hadn’t seen each other, Song Xiuyun seemed to have lost some weight, and there were more gray hairs at her temples.

But her loving gaze was the same as always.

Song Xiangwan didn’t hold many people dear, but her mother and Teacher Zhou were very important people she considered family.

“Why are you at the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?” Teacher Zhou focused on the main issue.

They had asked Cao Xin, but Cao Xin couldn’t explain clearly. Cao Xin truly couldn’t explain. Xu Zhiyan had only said she was at Haicheng Hospital, and Cao Xin didn’t dare to ask for details.

Facing the concerned eyes of the two elders, Song Xiangwan quickly explained: “No, no. I’m fine. I’m just here to stay with a patient.”

“Actually… you know the patient too…” Song Xiangwan’s tone was hesitant. “Do you want to go up and see her?”

“We know her?” Song Xiuyun was stunned. She didn’t know anyone in Haicheng besides Song Xiangwan.

“It’s Ming Jin. I’ve mentioned her to you,” Song Xiangwan said.

“Oh, your boss,” Song Xiuyun realized. Song Xiangwan had mentioned before that she had a boss named Ming Jin who supported her very much.

“We… came empty-handed. Is that appropriate?” Teacher Zhou hesitated.

“It’s fine. She doesn’t care about things like that,” Song Xiangwan glanced at Cao Xin.

Cao Xin seemed to understand her meaning and quickly assisted: “Exactly, exactly. CEO Ming never cares about that. She’ll definitely be happy for you to visit her.”

“She’s been so supportive of Xiangwan. It would be good for you as elders to thank her in person.”

“No, we still have to buy something.” The two elders insisted.

Finally, Cao Xin accompanied them to a nearby fruit store to buy two fruit baskets. They then tidied their clothes in front of the hospital lobby mirror before following Song Xiangwan upstairs.

Song Xiangwan was nervous. Her fingers were twisting her skirt hem. Her teeth lightly pressed against her lower lip, and her mind was frantically scrambling for the right words to say later.

The two elders knew about Ming Jin’s existence, but only as Song Xiangwan’s boss.

In previous years, Song Xiangwan considered the relationship her biggest stain and would never mention it.

But today, she suddenly found the courage. She really wanted to tell her family that she wasn’t just her boss; she was the person she deeply loved.

Song Xiangwan walked ahead and pushed open the ward door. On the bed, Ming Jin was semi-reclined, looking up with a gentle smile.

But the smile froze for a moment when she saw the people behind Song Xiangwan.

“CEO Ming,” Song Xiuyun was a little nervous, not knowing where to put her hands and feet. She carefully placed the fruit basket on the table: “Long time no see. You are as graceful as ever.”

“Auntie, please don’t be so formal. Why did you bring things?” Ming Jin’s tone was gentle.

“We came in a rush. We should have brought them. Thank you for taking care of Wanwan all these years. We’ve truly troubled you.”

“Our Wanwan is so lucky to have met such a good boss.”

“We should have returned the courtesy the last time you came to our home.”

“But we thought that coming to visit might trouble you, fearing you’d have to receive us.”

Song Xiuyun spoke cautiously and politely, afraid that one wrong word might anger the boss and negatively affect Song Xiangwan.

Song Xiangwan pursed her lips. Hearing their small talk, she gathered some courage, cleared her throat, and began: “Mom, actually…”

“Actually, Ah Jin is not just my boss, she is also…”

“We are good friends,” Ming Jin interjected, overriding Song Xiangwan’s words.

Song Xiangwan froze, only to hear Ming Jin continue: “So Auntie, there’s no need to be so polite. We have a very good relationship. Just treat me like a junior.”

Ming Jin… stopped her?

Song Xiangwan looked at Ming Jin. She didn’t believe Ming Jin didn’t understand her intent; she was clearly about to confess.

Why did she deny it? Song Xiangwan’s gaze fixed on Ming Jin, but Ming Jin didn’t look back at her, only exchanging polite conversation with the two elders.

Until she saw the two elders off, Song Xiangwan’s mind was still jumbled. Before, she was the one who refused to admit it. Now, why was Ming Jin…

Song Xiangwan escorted the two elders out of the hospital, tentatively asking: “Mom, you said you’ve met CEO Ming?”

“Yes,” Song Xiuyun thought for a moment. “Was it four or five years ago? I remember clearly, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival. She brought so many gifts.”

“She arrived in such an imposing car. All the neighbors came out to watch.”

“I could tell at a glance that she had an extraordinary presence, not an ordinary person. When she said her name was Ming Jin, I remembered.”

“She said it was nothing, just happened to be passing by on a business trip and came to visit, and she specifically told me not to tell you.”

“Wanwan, CEO Ming is truly a good boss. Who else has such good luck? She’s sick now, so you must pay close attention and visit her more often at the hospital.”

“I… I know,” Song Xiangwan mumbled in response, her mind confused.

Ming Jin had been to her home. How did she not know?