Song JinXing came very quickly, as expected.
As soon as he entered, he made a beeline for his younger sister, without even noticing her.
It was Bai Yinyue's first time seeing him look so anxious. The gentle way he crouched next to Song Shuling and cared for her was incredibly touching, making one's heart stir yet also feel moved.
She really wished she had such a gentle older brother too! Unfortunately she was born too early and only had a pesky younger brother who did nothing but bother her all day long!
...
As Zhong Ruanxing carried Song Shuling on her back and was about to leave the park, a thin young man still in his work uniform came chasing after them, panting as he called out, "Shuling! I just heard you were beaten up, are you okay?"
Zhong Ruanxing turned and glanced at him. The young man had run over sweating and out of breath. He was stunned for a moment when he saw her, then quickly reacted, "Hello brother! I'm Ji Xiao, Shuling's colleague. She talks about you all the time!" He gave a pretentious laugh.
Zhong Ruanxing nodded lightly.
Ji Xiao said, "Let me go to the hospital with you guys! I've already asked my supervisor for time off!"
Song Shuling felt a little embarrassed. She murmured while still on Zhong Ruanxing's back, "It's okay, I'll be fine with just my brother."
Ji Xiao said, "There's still registration and x-rays and whatnot at the hospital. Brother has to take care of you, so I can run errands for you guys!"
Song Shuling was about to decline, but Zhong Ruanxing spoke up, "Come along then."
Ji Xiao seemed to have received a pardon, overjoyed as he said, "Thank you, brother!"
The boy's intentions were obvious, but Zhong Ruanxing had no plans to interfere in Song Shuling's love life. She just wanted to observe the young man's character. If he was as unscrupulous as her ex-boyfriend, she wouldn't mind letting him get a taste of capitalism's iron fist.
After driving to the hospital, Zhong Ruanxing had Ji Xiao watch over Song Shuling while she took her ID card and got her registered at emergency. After hearing about the situation, the doctor ordered a skull x-ray and brain CT scan. After examination, she was diagnosed with a minor concussion. The doctor recommended staying for observation for two days, and she could go home to rest if there was no worsening.
It wasn't too serious, but she was definitely injured.
Zhong Ruanxing had the doctor issue a medical appraisal report. By the time Bai Yinyue arrived at the hospital with the police, Song Shuling had been diagnosed. Since they would not settle privately, the middle-aged man who had pushed her received an administrative penalty of 5 days in detention and compensation for medical expenses.
Although not criminally liable, and it wouldn't leave a criminal record affecting his political review, making a man who thought so highly of himself spend time in a detention center was punishment enough.
When the man's wife saw her husband taken away in front of everyone, she turned as pale as paper. Especially when people in the crowd called out her name in surprise, asking what had happened, the middle-aged woman didn't even have the courage to respond. She hurried home pulling her daughter along.
In the ward, Song Shuling had fallen asleep after taking her medication. Zhong Ruanxing closed the door and came out, thanking Bai Yinyue and Ji Xiao who had accompanied them the whole time, "There's nothing else to do here, thanks for all your help today, you can go back first."
But neither Bai Yinyue nor Ji Xiao were willing to leave.
Zhong Ruanxing understood Ji Xiao's intentions, but seeing innocent-looking Bai Yinyue, she was a little helpless. After Ji Xiao went in to accompany Song Shuling, she said to Bai Yinyue, "Miss Bai, thank you again for today, but I think I've made it quite clear about things between us."
"I know," Bai Yinyue responded generously, "I don't have any other ideas, I just want to spend a little more time with you. After all, apart from chance encounters like this, it's hard for me to see Mr. Song otherwise."
Zhong Ruanxing: "............"
Were all young ladies from elite families so bold these days?
She didn't have the heart to chase Bai Yinyue away after she had spoken up and helped provide witness testimony to the police today.
What wrong had this beautiful young lady committed? She just wanted to spend more time with someone she liked!
Oh how she hated not being a real man.
Zhong Ruanxing found some private time to call Song JinXing and tell him what happened today. Song JinXing was silent for a moment, then asked for the hospital's address.
She still didn't actually know how he viewed this younger sister in his heart. After all, the relationship between the siblings had been terrible before the body swap.
His illness was a chasm in front of all his emotions. Whether it was familial love, friendship, or romance, every emotion that wanted to reach his heart first had to cross that chasm. But how does one cross such a chasm?
Half an hour later, Song JinXing arrived at the hospital, carrying a fruit basket as if coming to visit the sick.
If they were normal siblings, he wouldn't have needed to bring a fruit basket.
He still didn't know how to interact with his own family.
Zhong Ruanxing had sent away Bai Yinyue and Ji Xiao earlier, telling Bai Yinyue to take Ji Xiao to get food. Song Shuling was still asleep from the medication and the ward was very quiet.
Song JinXing stood by the hospital bed looking at the girl laying there, his expression unreadable.
Zhong Ruanxing whispered, afraid he might worry, "The doctor said it's nothing serious, she'll be fine after resting in bed for a few days."
Song JinXing nodded lightly.
Since returning to the country, the times he had seen Song Shuling could be counted on one hand, only at the monthly family banquets. Song Shuling never greeted him at those banquets. The way she looked at him was about the same as how Song Jiavi and Song Lesheng looked at him.
Song JinXing no longer cared about that New Year's Eve thirteen years ago when she had hung up his call. He didn't even love himself, so how could he love this sister who was like a stranger?
He had never told Zhong Ruanxing that he was incredibly grateful for her arrival.
Finally there was someone who would love this younger sister in his place.
Zhong Ruanxing took her cup and went out to get hot water. Song JinXing sat in the chair by the hospital bed keeping watch over his sister. Whether it was the effects of the medication wearing off or noises outside, Song Shuling's brows twitched as she suddenly awoke.
When she opened her eyes, she was met with a pair of indifferent eyes.
It was an exceedingly beautiful face, the most gorgeous person Song Shuling had ever seen. But the coldness in those eyes made her feel strangely familiar. Song Shuling felt a peculiar sensation arise in her heart, like she had seen this woman somewhere before, yet she was also unfamiliar enough to make Song Shuling a little afraid.
She moved her lips, "Who are you? Where's my brother?"
Song JinXing was silent for a moment. "She went to get water," he said.
Song Shuling asked, "Are you my brother's friend?"
Song JinXing nodded lightly.
She gave a faint smile, "Thank you for coming to see me."
Song Shuling had never been this well-behaved in front of him before.
Song JinXing didn't know how to react, so he just stared at her wordlessly.
Song Shuling grew nervous under his gaze and unconsciously shrank further into her blanket. Fortunately Zhong Ruanxing soon came back with the water. Seeing Song Shuling's eyes wide open, she smiled, "Awake?"
As soon as she saw Zhong Ruanxing, Song Shuling immediately relaxed. Her tone was full of reliance, "Brother, I'm much better now."
Zhong Ruanxing raised the hospital bed and helped prop her up into a sitting position, handing her the hot water, "I'll discharge you tomorrow if there are no issues." She looked at Song JinXing, "This is brother's friend, she's...she's Zhong You's older sister."
Song Shuling suddenly understood, "Oh, YouYou's sister!" Her gaze toward Song JinXing was no longer as tense, "Hello YouYou's sister, I really like YouYou."
Song JinXing nodded lightly again, standing up, "That's good if there are no issues. I'll get going first."
Zhong Ruanxing also stood, "Let me walk you out."
Song JinXing gave a faint laugh, "No need, stay with Ah Ling. Call me if anything comes up."
Zhong Ruanxing could only nod.
After he left the ward, Song Shuling murmured, "Brother, YouYou's sister doesn't resemble YouYou at all. She's so cold."
Zhong Ruanxing just smiled without commenting, opening the fruit basket Song JinXing had brought, "This is the fruit YouYou's sister brought you. Let brother peel you an apple to eat."
