When Charles Yin saw Sylvia Ran's call, he couldn't help but hesitate, torn between two hearts.
Cecilia Gu was still waiting for him... and her patience weighed heavily on his mind.
"Charles, am I troubling you? If so, just forget it. I'll bear it alone—it’s only a stomachache, nothing fatal..." Sylvia's voice trembled with pain, punctuated by the sound of her bumping weakly into the chair.
Sylvia Ran had suffered from a weak stomach since she was a child.
Charles always knew exactly which medicine she needed.
But Sylvia herself could never seem to remember the name of her prescription...
Just imagining Sylvia hurting herself, struggling to endure the pain, made Charles's heart soften and ache.
Forget it. He’d take Sylvia to buy her medicine first.
It shouldn’t take long. Cecilia could wait a little longer—just for now.
"Alright, I’ll be right there." Charles hung up, spun the car around, and sped toward her.
When he reached Sylvia’s room, Charles knocked, but the door wasn’t locked—he pushed it open without resistance.
As soon as he stepped inside, Charles saw Sylvia lying motionless on the floor, her long white dress fanned around her.
Startled, Charles rushed in, scooped Sylvia up in his arms, and gently laid her on the bed. "Sylvia, what happened? I’ll get your medicine right away!"
Just as Charles turned to leave, Sylvia grabbed his hand, her voice weak: "Don’t leave me, please? Charles, my stomach hurts so much. Don’t abandon me. You never used to leave me when I was hurting! You always held me before!"
"I’m going to get your medicine." Charles tried to pull away, but seeing Sylvia’s pale, pain-stricken face, he couldn’t harden his heart.
No matter what, Sylvia had once been the woman he’d poured the most feeling into.
"Charles... do you really despise me now?" Sylvia’s tears fell like rain, making her look even more fragile and pitiable. "You won’t even stay with me as a friend? I just want you to keep me company, that’s all. I don’t ask for anything else. Sorry, did I go too far again? I always do things that make people dislike me. Even you’re going to hate me, Charles. I’m such a failure..."
Seeing Sylvia cry so heartbreakingly, Charles was at a loss for words.
"Don’t say that. How could I ever hate you?" Charles could only try to comfort her.
But Cecilia was still waiting for him—he had to hurry to her, no matter what!
But Sylvia Ran...
Seeing Sylvia Ran in tears like this, Charles Yin really couldn't bring himself to just leave her behind and walk away...
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked such unreasonable things of you, knowing you're married to Cecilia Gu. But I just can't help it... Here, I have no one I can rely on. Dieyi is getting married, Shang Ke is drunk—I don't know who else I can turn to..." Sylvia Ran tried to sound strong. "I'm sorry for holding you back. Go ahead, just leave me here... Ah, it hurts..."
Charles Yin hesitated for a moment. Well, Cecilia Gu has Mu Ruona with her, so she should be fine for now.
He might as well take Sylvia Ran to the hospital first!
Sylvia was right—tomorrow is Qiao Qi and Dieyi's wedding day. A minor stomach issue isn't worth causing a scene. Better to just take her for a check-up quietly.
"Alright, enough nonsense. I'll take you to the hospital." Charles Yin softened his tone, picked Sylvia Ran up again, and walked out.
Sylvia Ran leaned against Charles Yin's chest, soaking in his warmth and the sense of security he gave.
Six years apart, Charles Yin was now steadier, warmer, stronger, and even more charming than before.
If only six years ago... she hadn't done what she did, he would have been hers completely.
Sylvia Ran silently compared herself to Cecilia Gu in her heart.
She felt she was better than Cecilia Gu in every way.
Judging by tonight, Charles Yin definitely still had feelings for her.
He still worried about her!
That meant she still had a chance...
Sylvia Ran quietly schemed in her heart...
Charles Yin didn't notice Sylvia Ran's expression at all. He was anxious to get her to the hospital, then hurry to pick up Cecilia Gu.
Cecilia Gu sat on a bench by the roadside, waiting for a long time.
Her phone, clutched in her hand, never lit up.
Even the calls she made to Charles Yin went unanswered.
Did he forget to bring his phone?
Didn't he say he'd be here soon?
Why hasn't he come after all this time?
Cecilia Gu's eyes dimmed as she sat alone under the streetlight.
The streetlight stretched her shadow long and hazy.
Her shadow and the light seemed to keep her company, but in the bustling city traffic, she looked even lonelier.
Mu Ruona couldn't stand it anymore—Cecilia Gu had been waiting there for over half an hour.
But Charles Yin still hadn't come.
Mu Ruona walked over slowly, sat down next to Cecilia Gu, and said softly, "Why don't we stop waiting? Let Mo Zixin drive us home."
Cecilia Gu's eyes grew even dimmer. She moved her lips and said, "No, I'll wait a bit longer. If he comes and can't find me, he'll be worried..."
Seeing Cecilia Gu like this, Mu Ruona felt both heartache and anger!
What on earth is Charles Yin doing?!
If he asked Cecilia Gu to wait here, why hasn't he come to pick her up?
Even if something came up, he could at least make a call, right?
"You go ahead, I'll wait a bit longer." Cecilia Gu smiled gently. "It's not cold at all tonight. I'll just sit here and enjoy the view."
"You're driving me crazy! If you don't leave, how could I leave?" Mu Ruona said, half annoyed, "I'll wait with you! Anyway, I'm not the only one waiting!"
Not far away, in a car, Mo Zixin sat in his seat, his blue eyes deeply fixed on Cecilia Gu, who waited on the bench.
Mo Zixin couldn't quite describe what he was feeling inside.
A sense of loss.
A sense of pain.
A faint ache in his heart.
Yet he couldn't do anything but silently watch her wait for another man.
"President Mo, should we keep waiting?" his assistant asked nervously.
President Mo had never been like this before—this situation had never happened.
"Wait," Mo Zixin answered coldly. "However long she waits, I'll wait too."
The assistant immediately fell silent.
President Mo must be possessed today, right?
Sylvia Ran apologized to Charles Yin, "Ah, I'm so sorry, I accidentally spilled water on your phone earlier. I've been wiping it for ages but it just won't turn on... I'm really sorry... I'll buy you a new one?"
Charles Yin looked at his completely dead phone, sighed helplessly, and said, "Forget it, we'll talk about it later. I've already bought your medicine, take it now."
After setting down the medicine, Charles Yin picked up the water-damaged phone and turned to leave.
Suddenly, Sylvia Ran called out, "Charles, are you really just going to leave me here? If you go, who cares if I live or die? If I fall asleep, who'll watch my IV drip?"
Charles Yin frowned slightly and said, "I'll go ask Xiao A to stay with you."
"Charles! I don't want anyone else! I just want you!" Sylvia Ran's tears fell in big drops. "Tonight is Qiao Qi's last night as a bachelor, and it's my last deadline for myself! After tonight, I'll stop loving you—I’ll only watch you find happiness from afar as a friend! Charles, just pity me and stay with me this one last night, okay?"
Charles Yin felt a wave of irritation inside.
He didn't mind staying with Sylvia Ran, but what about Cecilia Gu?
His phone was ruined, and if Cecilia Gu started to worry, what then?
Charles Yin checked the time on his wrist—oh no, Cecilia Gu had already been waiting for over an hour!
He had to hurry over!
He had just taken two steps when he heard Sylvia Ran fall from the bed to the floor behind him!
A muffled, painful groan sounded behind him, and Charles Yin froze in his tracks!
"Charles... I... I didn't mean to..." Sylvia Ran spoke haltingly, her voice mixed with pained moans.
Charles Yin sighed.
He could ignore other women, but not Sylvia Ran.
After all, he had loved her so deeply once.
She was the only girl he'd ever gone crazy for in his youth.
Charles Yin sighed again, slowly turned around, picked Sylvia Ran up from the floor and put her back on the bed. He sat beside her and said, "Alright, I'll stay with you until this IV is finished. Sylvia, starting tomorrow, we'll only be friends. Even though we loved each other once, I have a wife now. I don't want to do anything that would hurt Cecilia. Do you understand?"
Sylvia Ran nodded through her tears, "I know, I understand. I won't make things hard for you! Charles, just like I said—you're always the one I care about most! As long as you're happy, I'll do anything for you!"
Charles Yin sighed softly, saying nothing more.
When Sylvia Ran turned away, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift in a smile.
Since Charles Yin still cared about her, she wasn't afraid she couldn't win his heart back!
Sorry, Cecilia Gu.
Charles Yin is the man I love, and I won't give him up to you!
You've already given Charles a child; you should be content!
Charles's future life—I'll be the one to take over!
Cecilia Gu gently stroked her belly, the longer she waited, the dimmer her eyes became.
Two hours had passed, and Charles Yin still hadn't come.
It was already ten thirty. He... probably wasn't coming, was he?
Mu Ruona was starting to look sleepy, but forced herself to stay awake with Cecilia Gu. Cecilia felt a little guilty.
Charles Yin, where have you gone tonight?
You asked me to wait for you all this time, but haven't replied to a single message.
I'm sorry, I can't wait any longer.
Sorry, I can't have dinner with you tonight...