Translated by newbienoona

Edited by anks

“No need,” he refuses without hesitation. “It will be quite chaotic. I don't want you to add to it.”

Although the media has been suppressed, they can't be too careful with people taking candid photos. If she shows up, she would cause havoc.

Mankuai's face turns dark. Does this mean she's seen the light? She tries to win him by taking his hand.

“Then we need to set a date after you are released from the hospital,” Mankuai says pitifully. “You don't know how worried I was on the day of the accident. Don't take such a big risk for An Chuxia again.”

Han Qilu stares at her openly. He slowly says, “If there's a next time, I'll choose to save her again.”

Her eyes move, and her brow wrinkles. “Qilu, you risked your life for her. What if your accident was worse? And she's only your meimei!”

Meimei… 

He shoots her a frosty gaze for using An Chuxia against him by calling her meimei. At that time, he wasn't aware how sad An Chuxia was for him. At that time, he didn't think of her at all. G.o.dd.a.m.n!

“Yes, she is my meimei,” he says, a curve of a smile forms on his face. “As a brother, I should be willing to save her.”

Upon hearing him say that, Mankuai's heart stills. He was able to find her despite not having that kind of affection for An Chuxia. But if she isn't careful, she might cause her trouble again!

“It's not the same… .”

Xiang Mankuai was about to say something when Han Qilu interruptes her. “You went back to your grandmother's. How is she?”

A few years ago, when she and Qilu were dating, the Han family was going through a crisis, and their relations.h.i.+p was strongly objected by her grandmother.

“She's well,” she says. Her eyes move, as an idea gets into her head. “She's old now, and all I want for her is to be comfortable. Since you're being discharged tomorrow, you should come over for a visit. She's not in a good mood recently but she'd be happy to see you.”

He pretends and asks, “What do you mean that she's not in a good mood?”

An actor quickly sets the scene in a play, and thusly, pours in emotion. Her lower lip drops, and her eyes become watery. The look should make him coax her into his arms.

“I didn't want to tell you since I was trying to come up with a solution… .” She suddenly breaks into tears.

“What happened?” Han Qilu asks.

“Your dad… he is forcing me to leave you by buying grandma's home. You know what that house means to my family.”

Han Qilu hands a tissue to her. “Don't cry. I'll help you with this problem. Once I'm discharged, I'll go home with you.”

“You will?” Her lashes glisten from her tears.

There's a knock on the door before it opens. Steward Han comes in the ward saying, “Master, it's time for lunch.”

Xiang Mankuai dabs her tears away. Steward Han sees this as he hands over Qilu's lunch. “My apologies, Miss Xiang. I didn't prepare any lunch for you.”

Xiang Mankuai laughs and says, “I have another appointment, and will be having lunch with them. I'll see myself out. I'll see you later!”

Han Qilu nods without expression.

“Master, xiaonainai might be a bit lonely eating lunch by herself. How about not eating in bed? Go wash your hands before eating.” Steward Han starts preparing the side table for the meal.

“Why didn't you tell me earlier?!” Han Qilu says in surprise.

Steward Han shoots Qilu a confused look. “What is wrong with you?” The steward knows nothing's wrong with his master, but he's quite aware his master is not prepared (to see Chuxia)!

Qilu has recovered most of his memories, and while he's trying to expose Mankuai for who she is, he hasn't figured how to face Chuxia.

Should he pretend to treat her like his meimei or like the warm, gentle voice she's been for him?

With no time to think, the door opens, and An Chuxia walks in.

Still unable to reconcile the two ident.i.ties in his head, Qilu looks away and heads to the bathroom.

Can't he even greet her with a h.e.l.lo? An Chuxia's eyes flash loneliness. However, she quickly recovers before walking toward steward Han. “I don't think he wants me here. I'll go back to my room for lunch.”

“What are you talking about?” steward Han asks as he pulls out the chair. “Xiaonainai, sit here.”

She helplessly follows the butler's orders.

In a moment, Han Qilu emerges and sits across from An Chuxia. Lunch is quite simple- four dishes and soup. Steward Han busies himself outside of the ward, leaving the couple alone.

Embarra.s.sed, Han Qilu looks down and asks, “Are you still feeling any pain?”

“I am fine,” she mumbles as she stares at a point before picking up her rice bowl. Neither speak while they eat their meal.

“I'm heading back to my room to take a nap. The tutor will be here soon enough.” She stands up and proceeds to leave.

He reaches out, short of stroking her head. “Rest well. Don't tire yourself out.”

“I know.” She walks out of the room.

As soon as the door closes behind her, Qilu punches the table. “d.a.m.n!”

This stupid mouth can't even say a word!

At that moment, the door opens again. He looks back, thinking it's An Chuxia. Instead, it's Xiao Mingluo and Ling Hanyu.

“Why are you here?” he asks, hiding his punching hand behind his back.

“It seems like we're lost. Would you mind us coming in?” Xiao Mingluo asks, smiling.

As they enter, Qilu can smell a strong smoke scent. He frowns subconsciously, then looks at Mingluo. “You've been smoking a lot of cigarettes lately, haven't you?”

Xiao Mingluo freezes. Then, he relaxes his shoulders. “There's too much going on and I need to deal with a bunch of things.”

“But you need to pay attention to your body.” Qilu rarely says anything warm, which forces Mingluo to pivot his head.

“I know.”

Ling Hanyu immediately prompts, “Mingluo, weren't you going to talk to Chuxia? Go deal with your mess and then come back.”

Puzzled, Han Qilu looks at Mingluo. “What do you need to ask her?”

Ling Hanyu shrugs. “He's having woman problems, and he needs to talk to An Chuxia to sort his way out of it. Also, he wants to check up on her.”

“If there aren't any further complications, we should be discharged tomorrow.” He touches his bandage unconsciously. “If I was able to recover my memories and injuries quickly, she could, too.”

Ling Hanyu lightly punches Qilu on his chest. “You think that girl won't notice the change in you? Do you need me to tell Uncle Han or Auntie to tell her (you remember)?”

Han Qilu clutches his chest and says, “Fine, fine. This is the first time I ask you to cover things up. Shouldn't you treat me like a patient?”

Outside of wearing a hospital gown, his healthy cheeks hardly show he's a patient.

Ling Hanyu snorts. Then, he quickly remembers something and turns his head. “I want to ask you something.”

“Something? Do you want me to play with you?” He shoots him a look of disdain.

“Why are you still with Mankuai?” Ling Hanyu says, trying to calm himself. “I mean, you've identified her as your special person.”

No, she's not! Han Qilu shouts in his heart. But what can he do? Should he tell Ling Hanyu about fully remembering An Chuxia? Should he tell him that he's stringing Mankuai along to show her true self?

If he wants to succeed, he needs his friends' help to hide the truth from Chuxia. He knows he has to suffer, but he knows she'll have to suffer a little bit more with him too.

“So?” Han Qilu asks, looking at Hanyu sternly.

“… But you've woken up!” Ling Hanyu states angrily.

Han Qilu wonders what kind of nonsense Hanyu is talking about! Where did he find the courage to make him say those words!

Suddenly, Ling Hanyu feels rejuvenated. Regardless of the outcome, he isn't going to back down cowardly at this point! “I want to ask you, is Mankuai the person you'd want to spend your efforts on?”