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墨書 Inktalez
At six in the morning, the hospital ward was still shrouded in dim light. Lin Yue woke up early. The moment she opened her eyes, her phone beside her stirred slightly with a vibration; it was a voice message from Su Yao. Beside her, Jiang Rou was still fast asleep.
At that moment, Jiang Rou's head rested on Lin Yue's arm, her complexion pale and breathing shallow, curled up like a fragile ball. Lin Yue quietly watched her for a few seconds before gently extracting her arm, moving so slowly that there was almost no sound. She picked up her phone, slipped out of bed barefoot, and walked into the bathroom on the inner side of the ward, softly locking the door behind her.
The sound of running water filled the space, breaking the silence of the ward. Lin Yue stood in front of the mirror and opened the voice message. Su Yao's voice came through softly, yet each word struck deep within her heart—"Lin Yue, I miss you so much."
She closed her eyes for a moment, then lowered her head and pressed down to reply with a voice that was low and restrained: "…I miss you too."
At that instant she hit send, she pressed her lips together as if exerting great effort to keep her emotions in check. Then she replayed the voice message. Once. Twice. Three times. With each listen, the emotions in her eyes deepened.
Standing in the steamy bathroom against the cold tiles, Lin Yue remained motionless. It felt as if she could see Su Yao tossing and turning in bed late at night through that voice message. She knew she could not delay any longer. Prolonging this was unfair to Su Yao.
The entire morning passed with Lin Yue sitting in the ward, searching for an opportunity to talk to Jiang Rou. "Xiao Rou, I want to tell you something."
"I have a headache," Jiang Rou replied without even opening her eyes.
"It's about Su Yao—"
"I want to rest," Jiang Rou said as she turned over, facing away from her.
Lin Yue looked at Jiang Rou's back, a wave of helplessness washing over her. After being brushed off for the third time with "I don't feel well," Lin Yue finally understood. Jiang Rou did not want to confront this topic at all. She did not want to hear anything about Su Yao.
She once thought she could communicate with them, but now they wouldn't even give her a chance to talk.
In the afternoon, her parents came to the hospital room to see her.
“Dad, Mom, I want to talk to you,” Lin Yue said seriously.
Shangguan Yun was organizing the nutritional supplements she had brought. “What is it?”
“It’s about me and Su Yao.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room froze.
Lin Zhihong put down the newspaper he was holding and frowned. “Lin Yue, there’s nothing to discuss about this matter.”
“Why is there nothing to discuss?” Lin Yue looked at them. “I want you to understand my thoughts.”
Shangguan Yun paused her movements. “We already know your thoughts, but—”
“What do you know?” Lin Yue's voice grew urgent. “You won’t even listen; how can you know what I’m thinking?”
“Lin Yue, stop making a fuss,” Lin Zhihong said impatiently. “You’ll forget about this in a few days.”
“Forget in a few days?” Lin Yue laughed in anger at his words. “Dad, do you even know what you’re saying?”
“I know what I’m saying,” Lin Zhihong stood up. “And I also know what’s best for you.”
“What about me?” Lin Yue stood up as well. “Do my feelings matter?”
Shangguan Yun hurried over to mediate. “Lin Yue, your father means—”
“Mom, you don’t want to hear what I have to say either, right?” Lin Yue interrupted her, disappointment evident in her eyes.
Shangguan Yun opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.
The air was terrifyingly quiet.
Lin Yue looked at her parents and suddenly felt like they were strangers.
“Fine, I understand.”
After saying that, she turned and walked out.
“Lin Yue!” Shangguan Yun tried to call her back.
“I’m going out for some fresh air,” Lin Yue didn’t look back. “You two can talk slowly.”
The door slammed shut with a bang.
In the hallway, Lin Yue leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.
Not even her parents were willing to listen to her.
She took out her phone and sent a message to Lu Chen: “Brother Chen, do you have time now? I want to talk.”
Soon, Lu Chen replied: “In a meeting, I’ll come by tonight.”
At eight o'clock in the evening, Lu Chen arrived at the hospital room.
Jiang Rou was already asleep, leaving Lin Yue alone in the room.
“What’s wrong?” Lu Chen sat down beside her. “You don’t look too happy.”
Lin Yue turned her head to look at him. “Brother Chen, I want to tell you about a decision I’ve made.”
"What decision?"
"I want to be with Su Yao." Lin Yue's voice was soft but firm. "To officially be together."
Lu Chen's body stiffened for a moment.
The air suddenly fell silent.
"Brother Chen? Don't you have anything to say?" Lin Yue looked at him.
At that moment, Lu Chen still seemed a bit dazed.
He remained silent for a long time before finally whispering, "Have you thought it through?"
"I have."
"What about the others? Your family, and Xiao Rou..."
"That's why I wanted to talk to you all." Lin Yue's tone carried a hint of helplessness. "But it seems like no one wants to listen to me."
Lu Chen gazed at her, his expression complicated.
"Brother Chen, don't you want to discuss this matter either?" Lin Yue met his gaze directly.
Lu Chen opened his mouth but ultimately looked away.
"Lin Yue, some things... might need time."
Lin Yue stared at his profile, and the last flicker of hope within her extinguished.
"I understand."
She smiled, a smile tinged with a sense of relief.
"Brother Chen, thank you for coming to see me. It's getting late; you should go back and rest."
Lu Chen wanted to say something but seeing her expression, he ultimately said nothing.
"Then I'll take my leave."
"Okay."
After Lu Chen left, Lin Yue sat alone in the hospital room.
She finally understood: they would rather keep her trapped here than acknowledge that she was no longer the Lin Yue she used to be.
She could wait no longer.
And she could not delay any further.
That night, she booked the earliest flight back home on her phone.
She had no intention of using her family's private jet or informing her family.
She quietly packed her bags, zipped them up, and stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought for a while.
The next morning, dragging her suitcase, just before stepping out the door, she sent Lu Chen a brief message:
"Brother Chen, I'm going back home. I've already bought the ticket for the earliest flight."
Los Angeles Airport's departure hall, 7:45 AM.
Lin Yue wore a gray-blue trench coat, sunglasses obscuring her eyes.
She held her boarding pass in her hand, and familiar footsteps approached from behind.
"Lin Yue."
She turned around and softly replied, "Brother Chen."
Lu Chen was out of breath, clearly having rushed over. "You're just leaving like this?"
"What else should I do?" Lin Yue looked at the boarding pass in her hand. "Stay here and continue to be ignored by you all?"
"You could have told me in advance; I could have arranged my family's private jet," Lu Chen said, his tone tinged with helplessness.
"Aside from you, I don't want anyone else to know."
Lin Yue lifted her gaze to meet his. "Otherwise, they will find all sorts of ways to stop me."
"Are you really not going to tell your parents?"
"They said I should consider my future. I have considered it," Lin Yue replied calmly. "But no one is willing to talk to me, so I'm leaving first. We can talk when you're ready."
"I need to go back home now."
Lu Chen hesitated for a moment. "What about Xiao Rou?"
"Brother Chen, you know my answer."
She paused, her expression hardening. "I won't give up on Su Yao. It doesn't matter who opposes me."
Lu Chen opened his mouth but found himself momentarily speechless.
"Brother Chen, I'm not my dad," Lin Yue said softly, but each word was clear. "I can give up everything for Su Yao."
"Lin Yue..." Lu Chen was shocked. "Don't act impulsively!"
"I'm not being impulsive."
She smiled lightly, her voice as soft as a feather. "On the contrary, I've never been so clear-headed."
Lin Yue glanced at her watch and took a deep breath.
"Brother Chen, it's getting late; I need to go."
In the end, Lu Chen didn't stop her and simply nodded. "Safe travels. If you need anything, feel free to contact me."
Lin Yue didn't look back but quickened her pace.
The only name left in her heart was Su Yao.
After watching Lin Yue leave, Lu Chen worried that Jiang Rou would wake up and find Lin Yue missing and get into trouble, so he hurried back to the hospital.
In the hospital room, Jiang Rou had just woken up and was looking for water to drink.
Seeing Lu Chen walk in, she asked, "Brother Chen, where's Lin Yue? Where did she go?"
Lu Chen approached the bedside, looking somewhat troubled.
"Xiao Rou, I have something to tell you."
Jiang Rou's heart sank at his expression.
"What is it?"
"Lin Yue... she went back home this morning."
Bang!
The cup in her hand crashed heavily to the floor, shards scattering everywhere.
"What did you say?"
Jiang Rou's voice trembled violently.
"Lin Yue... she returned to the country this morning," Lu Chen said, looking at the mess on the floor, helplessly repeating himself.
"Impossible!"
Jiang Rou's face instantly turned pale, and she swayed unsteadily.
"How could she leave me at a time like this..."
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched Lu Chen's arm tightly. "Brother Chen, she really doesn't want me anymore... She really chose that woman over me..."
"Xiao Rou, calm down."
Lu Chen gently stroked her head, feeling a pang of sorrow in his heart.
Jiang Rou cried heartbreakingly, like an abandoned child.
After sobbing for a full half hour, she gradually began to quiet down.
She wiped her tears, and the sadness in her eyes slowly gave way to another emotion.
She spoke softly, "Brother Chen, you should go back now."
"I can stay with you a bit longer," Lu Chen said with concern.
"No need, I want to be alone for a while."
Hearing the coldness in her tone, Lu Chen didn't insist further.
After he left, Jiang Rou struggled to sit up from the hospital bed, her face pale.
The head nurse knocked and entered, seeing Jiang Rou trying to get out of bed and quickly rushed over to stop her. "Miss Jiang, your body hasn't fully recovered; you can't get out of bed."
"I need to go out for a bit; I have something to take care of," Jiang Rou said softly but firmly.
"But the doctor said you need to rest..." the head nurse said hesitantly.
Jiang Rou shot her a glance.
"I... I can accompany you if you need help."
"No need; I'll be fine."
The head nurse dared not say more.
With the nurse's support, Jiang Rou walked into the bathroom.
After sending the nurse away, she faced the mirror to tidy up her appearance.
Her eyes were still red, which was just right.
Her face was as pale as paper, which only made her look more pitiful.
Jiang Rou didn't call home; she didn't want her parents to worry about her distress over Lin Yue again.
She called a car with her phone and headed to the Lin family home.
In the living room, Shangguan Yun was savoring her tea. When she saw Jiang Rou enter, she set down her cup. "Rou Rou? What brings you here?"
"Aunt..." Jiang Rou's voice trembled, "Lin Yue has returned to the country."
"I know; Lu Chen just called me," Shangguan Yun replied calmly, as if she had anticipated this.
Jiang Rou walked up to her, tears welling in her eyes. "Aunt, am I a failure?"
"How could you be?" Shangguan Yun stood up and gently caressed Jiang Rou's face. "My precious daughter could never fail."
The term "precious daughter" struck a chord deep within Jiang Rou, and she collapsed into Shangguan Yun's embrace, crying like a rain-soaked pear blossom. "Aunt, Lin Yue really doesn't want me anymore..."
"Don't say such things." Shangguan Yun gently stroked her hair, her tone turning stern. "You are the recognized daughter-in-law of the Lin family; who would dare to reject you?"
"But Lin Yue only has Su Yao in her heart..." Jiang Rou's sobs grew louder.
"That vixen!" Shangguan Yun's voice turned icy in an instant. "Rou Rou, rest assured, she will never step foot into our Lin family."
"Aunt..."
"Lin Yue is merely infatuated with that woman. Once I help her see clearly, she will naturally return to your side." Shangguan Yun spoke with unwavering confidence.
In her embrace, Jiang Rou felt a surge of joy inside, though she maintained an outward appearance of worry.
"Aunt, I'm afraid Lin Yue will blame me..."
"She dares!" Shangguan Yun tightened her hold on Jiang Rou. "You are my goddaughter and the future matriarch of the Lin family."
Leaning against Shangguan Yun, Jiang Rou began to plot her next move in her mind. Relying solely on Shangguan Yun wouldn't be enough; she needed to take multiple approaches.
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