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It had been two long days.
Two days of silence.
Two days of watching Lin Yue sleep without stirring.
And for Ah Yan, those were the hardest hours of his life.
Or maybe since he woke up in her small house.
He'd taken a leave from work the moment he brought her to the hospital.
There was no way he could concentrate while she lay unconscious.
He wanted to take care of her too.
He even contacted her workplace himself, asking for a medical leave on her behalf.
He'd tried to sound professional, but the anxiety in his voice was probably obvious.
Her notorious leader surprisingly agreed.
The doctors had assured him repeatedly that Lin Yue was fine.
Just exhausted. Her body had gone through intense physical and emotional stress — a breakdown, they called it. Her vitals were stable, no internal injuries. But her brain, her heart, her mind... they were tired. Overworked. And she had simply shut down.
He didn't leave her side.
Not once.
He watched her face every second, brushing her hair gently with his fingers.
He remembered the panic in her eyes in that warehouse.
The fear in her voice.
And the cold hatred in her father's.
Ah Yan's heart ached.
He had never hated someone as much as he hated Lin Chengbi.
Who would do that to his own daughter?
Even if she was not his daughter biologically, the twenty years of living together and her calling him dad should have bore something.
On the third morning, just as he was refilling the glass of warm water on her bedside, he heard her stir.
The faintest movement.
Then her eyelashes fluttered.
"Yueyue?" he whispered, rushing to her side, holding her hand gently. "Yueyue, can you hear me?"
Her eyes slowly opened.
They were hazy, unfocused.
Confused.
But she blinked several times and finally locked eyes with him.
"Ah... Yan..."
His heart almost burst.
He leaned closer, smiling wide. "You're awake. You're finally awake! How do you feel? Are you okay?"
She blinked again, her throat dry. "Water..."
He immediately helped her sip from the straw before ringing the nurse's bell.
Within moments, a nurse arrived followed by the doctor.
After a quick check-up, the doctor smiled.
"She's fine. Just fatigued. She'll need plenty of rest and proper food. Her body is responding well."
Ah Yan exhaled deeply. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath.
That afternoon, they were discharged. They took a taxi home.
As they got home, he helped her straight to bed, fluffing her pillows and covering her with a blanket.
"Rest. I'll make something to eat. What would you like?"
"Anything is fine," she murmured softly.
He smiled. "Okay. Just close your eyes for a bit. I'll be back."
He headed to the kitchen and quickly got to work.
After staying with Lin Yue, he'd learned to cook simple dishes.
He made soft porridge with some steamed vegetables and warm soup.
In just under half an hour, he brought the tray to her room.
She was awake now, sitting up slightly.
"Smells nice," she said with a faint smile.
"Of course. Chef Ah Yan at your service," he joked, setting the tray down making her smile.
She took a bite, then another. As she ate, she paused.
"Ah Yan... how long was I asleep?"
"Two days," he replied, gently.
She choked on her spoonful. "Two days?! My job—!"
"I called them," he said calmly, cutting off her panic as he rubs her back. "Told them you were sick. Got you a leave."
She lowered her spoon. "But my supervisor... she's so unreasonable."
"Doesn't matter. Your health comes first. If he can't understand that, he's not worth worrying about."
She was quiet, staring down at her food.
But her heart was loud, and heavy.
He noticed. "Yueyue... the doctor said your brain was exhausted. Is something bothering you?"
She hesitated.
She wanted to say yes.
Of course, yes.
Wanted to tell him about her worries — her future, her education, her fears.
She'd not gone to college because her parents had convinced her that they should first let her sister go before she went.
However, her sister had now graduated and was an actress while she was struggling earning pennies and cents.
But she couldn't.
Not when he was still recovering himself.
She shook her head. "I'm okay. Really."
He didn't press. "If ever you want to talk, I'm here. Always."
"I know," she whispered.
He let her rest again, quietly clearing the dishes and heading to the sink.
He washed them slowly, his thoughts heavy.
He wanted to do more.
He wanted to help her dream again.
Not just survive.
But what could he do when he didn't even know himself?
In the living room, he sat and turned on the TV.
Deep in thoughts.
An hour later, she walked out, barefoot and quiet.
"You're awake?" he asked, sitting up.
She nodded. "I feel better."
"You should be lying down."
She shook her head and sat beside him. "I've worried you, haven't I?"
He looked at her. "Yes. But I'm just glad you're okay now."
There was a pause.
He said gently, "Yueyue... please take care of yourself. You're not alone anymore. Don't carry everything by yourself."
Her lips trembled, but she smiled. "Thank you, Ah Yan."
---
Meanwhile, across the city, in a rundown apartment...
Lin Chengbi stumbled into the house, his shirt soaked in blood, limping, and stinking of alcohol.
His wife looked up in alarm. "What happened?! Didn't you go to get money from the little b—"
SLAP!
Her head snapped to the side.
"That little bitch!" he shouted, eyes bloodshot. "She had someone! He knocked all my boys out before I could even blink!"
He threw the broken bottle he'd been holding at the wall, shattering it.
His wife held her cheek, stunned. "What? Then... what about the money?"
"Money? She told me if I ever showed up again, she'd call the police! That ungrateful brat! After everything I did for her!"
"You mean the years you spent gambling and beating her?" his wife spat.
He turned on her with rage. "You think I won't beat you too?!"
"Try it!" she screamed, throwing a chair at him.
"You useless drunkard!"
And then it began.
Chaos.
Curses.
Screams.
Slaps and punches.
The miserable couple clawed at each other, trapped in their own hatred, resentment, and filth.
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