Zhong Ruanxing held back for a long time before squeezing out, "Don't smile at me like that."
Song JinXing tilted his head slightly, his gaze puzzled. "Why not?"
What do you mean why?! That's cheating, don't you know?!
Zhong Ruanxing swiftly closed her eyes. "Ah, my head hurts!"
Song JinXing immediately tensed up from his previous relaxed state, his sharp brows knitting together. "I'll go get the doctor."
Zhong Ruanxing quickly grabbed his wrist. "No need, no need. I'll be fine after a short rest."
He studied her for a while, eventually compromising under her utterly sincere gaze. He pulled over a chair and sat down beside the bed. "Then go ahead and rest."
Zhong Ruanxing vaguely murmured in agreement, pulling the blanket up a bit to cover her involuntarily upturned lips. Although her eyes were closed, her thick lashes couldn't stop fluttering like the wings of a butterfly.
Song JinXing just slightly propped up his head, watching her pretend to sleep. A faint smile lingered at the corners of his lips.
After about half an hour, she really did fall asleep. Her long lashes softly drooped, casting a shallow shadow on her eyelids. Song JinXing leaned in closer and reached out to gently brush aside a stray wisp of hair by her eye.
She didn't sleep for long before the crew got word that she was awake. They came to visit her in the hospital bearing flowers and fruit, relieved that she had regained consciousness. The studio also announced the news of her awakening online, allowing her fans to finally relax.
As the director, He Jing solemnly apologized to Zhong Ruanxing at her bedside. He admitted it was the crew's negligence that led to her accident this time, and promised to take full responsibility.
Zhong Ruanxing had already heard from Song JinXing about the real mastermind behind the man who attacked Wei Ya. What he said about finding her unbearable was just an excuse. Someone wanted to harm her, and had just taken advantage of this opportunity. Speaking of which, the accident was also an undeserved calamity for the crew.
After all, a murder case would have an extremely severe impact on them.
Zhong Ruanxing accepted He Jing's apology, and even comforted him not to take it to heart. She and the crew were united as one, and sincerely hoped that "The Sound of Floating Lives" would get better and better.
Seeing her frank gaze, it was clear she didn't intend to hold the crew accountable. He Jing was finally able to let go of his worries. He told her to focus on recovering without rushing, and that no matter how long it took, the crew would wait for her.
As they left the hospital, the assistant director muttered, "Her fall seems to have knocked her personality into being much more affable."
Unlike her previous unapproachable icy demeanor.
He Jing didn't find this odd, however. "After all, she went through a life-and-death situation. Some changes are only natural. Right, we need to fully cooperate with the police investigation. This time, we owe it to Zhong Ruanxing as a crew to find the real mastermind behind this."
The assistant director repeatedly nodded in agreement.
Inside the hospital room, Zhong You was sitting on the edge of the bed, her short little legs dangling in the air. She fed Zhong Ruanxing peeled orange slices. "Sis, is it sweet?"
Zhong Ruanxing nodded serenely. "It's sweet."
Delighted, Zhong You fed herself a slice as well. After one bite, her chubby little face scrunched up in pain. "Sis lied to me! It's so sour I could die!"
Zhong Ruanxing burst into laughter, finally spitting out the orange she hadn't dared chew.
Zhong You raged, "You always trick me like this!"
Zhong Ruanxing lifted her brows, nonchalant with her head bandaged. "But you always fall for it."
Zhong You pouted. "That's because I believed you, that's why I always get tricked!"
Little Zhong You knew just what to say to make her sister feel guilty.
Sure enough, Zhong Ruanxing immediately hugged her and kissed her chubby cheeks twice. "Sis was wrong. Sis will never trick Youyou again."
Zhong You: "You said that last time too!"
Zhong Ruanxing just laughed and laughed.
After laughing for a while, Zhong You hugged her neck and nuzzled her cheek, softly saying, "Sis, I'm so glad you're back."
Zhong Ruanxing felt a warmth spreading through her heart. She pinched her little cheek. "I thought you liked the other sis more."
Zhong You immediately declared her loyalty. "Of course I like you more!"
A low voice suddenly spoke up from behind. "Oh, is that so?"
Zhong You jerked in fright and quickly looked back to see Song JinXing standing there, holding her favorite ice cream cone.
Zhong You's face instantly filled with the shame of someone caught badmouthing others. She held up two small fingers. "J-just a little bit more."
She stared longingly at the ice cream in his hand, and finally tried pleading her case pitifully. "You can't bully a preschooler like this. My teacher said it's wrong to ask a child who she likes more, daddy or mommy. Questions like that are bad."
Zhong Ruanxing laughed until her stomach hurt.
Song JinXing also couldn't hold back his chuckles. He handed over the ice cream and ruffled Zhong You's hair. "It's right to like your sister more, because she loves you most in this world too."
Zhong You nodded vigorously as she ate her ice cream.
When Zhong Dad came in, this was the harmonious family scene he saw.
With his daughter awake, he was able to escape from the grip of anxiety and revert to his socially awkward true nature. Silently, he brought in a pot of hot water, wanting to leave after setting it down.
Zhong Ruanxing called out to him, "Dad."
Zhong Dad turned back, strangely feeling somewhat misty-eyed at hearing his daughter call him "Dad." It seemed like it had been a long time since he last heard her call him that, when she had clearly done so just a few days ago over the phone.
Zhong Ruanxing said, "You've been here for days already, and kept taking time off. I'm fine now, so please take Youyou back."
Zhong Dad mumbled at the floor, "I'll leave when you're discharged."
Zhong Ruanxing coaxed, "Oh come on, no need. You can see I'm perfectly fine now. And even though Dai Yi is there, Mom will still get frightened home alone without seeing you two for so many days."
Zhong's mother would sometimes have moments of clarity, and would indeed be scared home alone with just the housekeeper, when the family was away.
Song JinXing spoke up at the right moment. "Uncle Zhong, I'll stay here with her, don't you worry."
Zhong Dad didn't insist on staying after that. "Alright."
Zhong Ruanxing said, "I'll book you two tickets for a flight at 7 or 8pm. You can eat dinner first before leaving."
Zhong Dad nodded. Zhong You clutched Zhong Ruanxing tightly. "Sis, I don't want to leave! I want to stay with you!"
Zhong Ruanxing disgustedly pushed her away. "I know you just don't want to go back to school."
Zhong You was shocked. "Sis, how can you think so badly of me!"
After joking around for a while, Zhong Dad took Zhong You back to the hotel to pack up. Song JinXing arranged for Fu Ling to prepare a car, and told Zhong Ruanxing, "I'll take them to the airport, then come back to take you downstairs for a walk."
Zhong Ruanxing smiled and blinked. "You should go back too."
Song JinXing was taken aback.
She looked serious. "You've been here for days too. The company must have piled up a lot of matters for you. Now that we've switched back, life can return to normal tracks. You have your own things to handle too. I'll be fine, and Ran Ting's here too. You should go back as well."
They had finally switched back, like two misaligned lifelines regaining their linear trajectories, never needing to intersect again.
Song JinXing's lips moved slightly. Seeing her clear eyes, he ultimately didn't say anything.
