Outside the emergency room.
When Ruan Xingzhuo and You Huan saw the doctors and nurses coming out one after another, their expressions grew tenser by the second.
You Huan shook Ruan Xingzhuo’s arm nervously. “Zhuozhuo, what’s going on now? Xingxing—she won’t be in danger, will she?”
Ruan Xingzhuo wasn’t sure either, but the only thing he could do now was to believe.
Not far away, Chen Yu was on the phone with Jiang Zhen, reporting Ruan Xingyao’s condition.
As for that “senior brother” who had suddenly appeared, Chen Yu was still filled with doubt.
When he finished the call and came back, he immediately saw the tense scene before him and hurried over.
“What’s happening?” Chen Yu asked.
You Huan shook her head. “I don’t know. Chen Yu, is there any way we can go inside? I just want to see Xingxing.”
Chen Yu was helpless.
After all, this was the hospital’s emergency room—they couldn’t just go in without authorization.
You Huan didn’t press him further and instead pulled Ruan Xingzhuo down to sit with her, both of them staring unblinkingly at the emergency room doors.
Finally, after three long hours, the doors opened.
The man came out.
His complexion was even paler than before, his body unsteady—he even had to brace himself with a hand against the wall to keep from collapsing as he stepped out.
Chen Yu immediately went up to him.
Though he was far more concerned about Ruan Xingyao’s condition, he still first asked after the man.
“Sir, are you alright?” Chen Yu asked.
The man caught his breath and gave a faint nod. “I just need a bit of rest.”
Only then did Chen Yu ask, “And Xingxing—how is she?”
The man replied, “She’s fine now. She’ll wake up soon.”
Hearing that firm answer, Chen Yu finally felt his heart settle.
Ruan Xingzhuo and You Huan both let out a long sigh of relief.
Ruan Xingyao was safe.
That was all that mattered.
Another half hour later, the emergency room doors opened once more—this time, Ruan Xingyao walked out herself.
She looked refreshed, as if she’d just had a long, deep sleep.
Aside from some lingering weakness in her limbs, she felt perfectly fine.
Ruan Xingzhuo immediately rushed forward to support her arm, his voice trembling. “Sis.”
Seeing his red, swollen eyes, Ruan Xingyao reached out to ruffle his hair and said softly, “Alright, your sister’s fine now. Don’t worry.”
Ruan Xingzhuo’s throat tightened, his lips trembling before he suddenly threw his arms around her.
Only in that moment did everyone truly realize—Ruan Xingzhuo was still just a boy who hadn’t even graduated high school.
Ruan Xingyao raised her hand and patted his back gently.
“Alright, alright. It’s my fault for scaring you. It won’t happen again, okay?”
Ruan Xingzhuo held Ruan Xingyao and cried for a long while before finally letting her go.
You Huan sniffled and stretched out her arms toward Ruan Xingyao, her voice sticky and tearful. “Xingxing, I want a hug too.”
Ruan Xingyao smiled softly and opened her arms.
You Huan immediately threw herself into Ruan Xingyao’s embrace and began to sob uncontrollably.
After comforting Ruan Xingzhuo, Ruan Xingyao now had to soothe You Huan.
She raised a hand to gently pat You Huan’s fluffy hair and said, “Don’t worry, I’m really fine now.”
You Huan whimpered softly, refusing to leave Ruan Xingyao’s arms.
Before this, she had been forcing herself to stay strong—because Ruan Xingzhuo had been in so much pain, she had to hold herself together for his sake.
Now that the tension had finally eased, she couldn’t hold back any longer.
Ever since she returned to the country, apart from her single-minded desire to pursue Ruan Xingzhuo, the person she had spent the most time with was Ruan Xingyao.
Although she had first approached Ruan Xingyao with an ulterior motive, she had long since come to see her as one of the most important people in her life.
In fact, she thought to herself— even if she and Ruan Xingzhuo ever broke up in the future, she’d have to make sure Ruan Xingyao still wanted to be her friend first.
If not, she might even find a reason not to break up with Ruan Xingzhuo—just so she could keep sticking around Ruan Xingyao.
Ruan Xingyao comforted You Huan for quite a while before saying gently, “Be good, Huahuan. Let me go now.”
Only then did You Huan reluctantly loosen her grip, though her arms still clung to Ruan Xingyao’s, refusing to let go.
Ruan Xingyao didn’t mind and let her be.
She walked over to her senior brother, who was sitting on a bench resting.
As she passed by Chen Yu, she met his gaze and said helplessly, “Don’t tell me you want me to comfort you too?”
Chen Yu actually did want that— but he still said, “No need. As long as you’re okay.”
Ruan Xingyao grinned; even if he said yes, she wouldn’t have done it anyway.
Chen Yu could tell what she was thinking and sighed inwardly.
When would he ever be able to change the way Ruan Xingyao saw him?
Ruan Xingyao couldn’t be bothered to guess what was on Chen Yu’s mind.
She reached her senior brother, pulled her arm free from You Huan’s hold— and the next second, her lips turned down in a pout as she dropped to the floor, resting her hands and head on the man’s knees, looking up pitifully as she said, “Seventeenth Senior Brother, I missed you so much.”
The man’s eyes softened with affection.
He raised his hand and gently stroked the back of her head, his fingers running through her hair.
He said, “Have you been wronged? Seventeenth Senior Brother is here now—no one will ever make you suffer again.”
Ruan Xingyao sniffed, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye.
She rubbed her cheek against her hands, forcing back the rest of her tears, then lifted her head and looked at the man.
“Seventeenth Senior Brother,” she said softly, “I haven’t really been wronged. Things have been fine here. I just… miss all of you. I miss Master, I miss Martial Uncle, and all my senior brothers and sisters.”
And she thought of her little spirit beasts too—were they all doing okay?
Seventeenth Senior Brother patted her head again and said warmly, “We all miss you too. I believe it won’t be long before we’re all reunited.”
Ruan Xingyao’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Really?” she asked excitedly. “Master and the others are coming too?”
As soon as those words left her mouth, a shadow flickered across Seventeenth Senior Brother’s eyes.
He stared intently at Ruan Xingyao and asked, “So, Yaoyao… are you saying you don’t plan to go back?”
Ruan Xingyao didn’t think too much of it.
She only looked a little conflicted as she said, “But… isn’t this supposed to be my trial? If I haven’t completed it yet, can I even go back?”
Hearing that, Seventeenth Senior Brother’s expression softened slightly.
He asked gently, “Is that truly what Yaoyao thinks?”
That she wasn’t staying because she couldn’t bear to leave this world.
Ruan Xingyao looked a little puzzled and asked curiously, “If I don’t think that way, how else should I think? Seventeenth Senior Brother, you’re being weird.”
Seventeenth Senior Brother chuckled quietly and didn’t press the matter further.
Instead, he reached out and affectionately rubbed Ruan Xingyao’s head.
“Then Seventeenth Senior Brother will stay here and help Yaoyao, all right?”
— The end of the Chapter–
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