Chapter 25 If You Mind

Su Yang suddenly looked up. "I think it's Chen Haixia."

Only then did Lu Yan react, setting down his bowl and chopsticks. He heard murmurs from the crowd: "She fainted and has a nosebleed. Which comrade can take her to the infirmary?"

Su Yang nudged Lu Yan. "This is serious—go check on her."

Lu Yan rose and approached the crowd. Another male comrade was about to help Chen Haixia up, but when she saw Lu Yan, she summoned her last bit of strength to call out, "Lu Yan! I..."

The man who had intended to help stepped aside, letting Lu Yan come forward.

Lu Yan crouched before her. "What's wrong? Can you walk?"

Chen Haixia shook her head weakly. "I don't think so. I have no strength left."

Her nosebleed had reached her lips. Lu Yan handed her a handkerchief to wipe it, then lifted her in his arms. "Let's go to the infirmary."

As her body rose into the air and settled against his solid embrace, she found herself close to his slender neck, the sharp white curve of his Adam's apple, the clean lines of his jaw and his prominent nose, his brows refined and relaxed.

She couldn't quite see his expression, but she felt enveloped by his presence. This was her first time being so close to Lu Yan.

Her heart raced to its peak, her face flushed, and her mind grew dizzy.

Lu Yan walked quickly and steadily, with Su Yang hurrying behind. After about ten minutes, they reached the infirmary.

He set Chen Haixia down on a chair and turned to call for a nurse, only to see Shen Qingyi sitting with An An beside Cheng Youqing, whose foot was wrapped in white gauze.

Su Yang had met Shen Qingyi before. Though he thought it was merely a simple act of helping others, the atmosphere now felt strangely awkward.

After her initial surprise, Chen Haixia was actually pleased. She cast Shen Qingyi a furtive glance. Though the woman hid it well, the fleeting disappointment in her eyes did not escape Chen Haixia's notice.

Lu Yan called for a nurse, who appeared.

Now Lu Yan stepped away from Chen Haixia and moved before Shen Qingyi, explaining, "She fainted with a nosebleed. I happened to be eating in the cafeteria."

He felt this was the kind of explanation a husband owed to his wife.

Shen Qingyi was about to speak, but Cheng Youqing interrupted forcefully. "Was it just you at the spot where she fainted?"

She glared at Su Yang behind Lu Yan.

Su Yang hurried to clarify. "They're from the same hometown, so they're familiar. If you were in the cafeteria and saw this happen, I'm sure Lu Yan wouldn't stand by either, right?"

Cheng Youqing fell silent.

Shen Qingyi couldn't find fault with that; if it were any ordinary woman, she wouldn't have minded.

So she did have a bias against her childhood friend's identity.

When he had come in just now, his nerves were so taut he hadn't noticed himself and An An right away.

Lu Yan saw An An sitting quietly beside Shen Qingyi. He walked over, crouched, and stroked the boy's head. "Would you like to see Daddy's office?"

An An sensed that Aunt Cheng and his mother were angry, and he was angry too. That bad aunt had troubled his mother in the street along with the mean grandmother; he couldn't stand her.

He turned his head away. "No, I don't want to."

He squeezed Shen Qingyi's hand tighter.

Lu Yan asked Shen Qingyi, "Have you eaten?"

"I have," Shen Qingyi answered coolly.

At that moment, the nurse spoke from behind. "Engineer Lu, Comrade Chen Haixia is running a fever and feels dizzy. I can't diagnose her here—I think she needs to go to the People's Hospital."

Lu Yan replied without turning, "Understood."

Chen Haixia called out, "Lu Yan!"

Lu Yan stood before Shen Qingyi. "If you mind, I can ask Su Yang to take her."

"Lu Yan! My head is so dizzy," Chen Haixia called weakly.

The nurse urged, "Engineer Lu, Comrade Chen Haixia's illness can't wait. Don't delay."

Lu Yan understood, turned to Su Yang, and said, "Please take Comrade Chen Haixia to the People's Hospital. Report my name at the research institute to get a car."

Su Yang hesitated. "I... I can't drive."

Chen Haixia was deeply disappointed. Why did he care so much about this woman's opinion? The bond of their shared hometown and years as classmates and colleagues—was that really less than Shen Qingyi's feelings?

The thought brought tears streaming down Chen Haixia's face. "Forget it. Whatever happens to this broken body, let it be."

The nurse, catching on, realized that the beautiful woman named Shen Qingyi was Engineer Lu's wife. She shook her head in disappointment. "Lives are at stake, let's not be melodramatic."

Shen Qingyi finally spoke. "Don't try to guilt me. How Lu Yan handles it is his business; he doesn't need my opinion."

Lu Yan felt a sudden pang of disappointment at her words. He turned to Su Yang. "Carry her over, I'll drive."

He needed only one word from her—that she minded—and he would have taken her along and arranged for someone to watch over her at the hospital.

After fetching the car, Su Yang carried Chen Haixia to the back seat. Lu Yan started the engine and drove to the People's Hospital.

He registered her and settled her into a ward, then said to Su Yang, "Please help keep an eye on her."

Chen Haixia watched him bustling about and couldn't help but call out twice, "Lu Yan, Lu Yan!"

Lu Yan walked over. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere else?"

Chen Haixia turned her face aside and glanced at Su Yang. "Su Yang, I have a few things I want to say to Lu Yan—could you?"

Su Yang understood and left the ward, closing the door behind him.

"Lu Yan, do you... do you like Shen Qingyi?" Chen Haixia's heart was in her throat as she asked.

There was a long silence.

Lu Yan wasn't sure if that feeling was truly like. He wanted her approval, wanted desperately to make up for things, and her every glance or gesture could make him sad or happy.

Sitting beside her at dinner, he felt content.

Was this romantic affection between a man and woman? It didn't seem quite right, for he felt the same toward An An.

"She is my wife," Lu Yan finally replied.

When Chen Haixia looked up at him, her eyes were misted. "But she doesn't like you."

Lu Yan meant to say it didn't matter to him; he married her to fulfil the professor's request. But his heart sank uncontrollably, and he couldn't help but ask, "How do you know?"

"If she cared about you, she would have come to the hospital with you. Back in college, everyone knew you were my boyfriend—any woman would mind."

At these words, Lu Yan's gaze dimmed. So that's what she meant. No wonder Shen Qingyi's reply had stung and disappointed him.

So he cared that she didn't like him?

Lu Yan realized this and felt a sudden panic, but quickly composed himself and told Chen Haixia, "The experts from Shanghai will arrive soon, so I can't stay to look after you. I'll ask Lu Fan to come."

Chen Haixia couldn't find fault with that; everyone at the institute knew about it by now.

"No need, just help me hire a nurse."