Volume 1 Chapter 23: Chu Yan Breaks Her Own Leg to Elicit Sympathy

Wei Zhenming rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things. But the truth was, a stunningly beautiful woman was indeed lying on Shang Linyuan’s large bed. And it was not his nominal girlfriend, Chu Yan.

"She fainted just now; take a look at her quickly," Shang Linyuan said, his tone filled with concern.

Not daring to gossip any further, Wei Zhenming dutifully began to examine Lu Xiaoman. He listened to her heartbeat, lifted her eyelids, and then turned to Shang Linyuan, asking, "Have you not been feeding her?"

Shang Linyuan: "?"

"The patient is suffering from a weak stomach, and combined with a chill, her stomach is empty, which has led to anemia and dizziness," Wei Zhenming explained.

Shang Linyuan frowned slightly. He remembered that at the western restaurant, the little woman hadn’t eaten much; she hadn’t even touched the steak he had cut for her.

"What should I do now?" he asked.

"Cook some millet porridge. The rice congee is gentle on the stomach. Let her eat something light for now; avoid anything too greasy or heating," Wei Zhenming said as he stood up after the examination.

Lu Mingxi leaned in, looking at Lu Xiaoman’s pale face with deep worry. "Uncle, Mommy often forgets to eat, which is why she fainted, right?"

Wei Zhenming looked at Lu Mingxi, then back at Lu Xiaoman on the bed. The mother and son were truly alike. Yet, the little guy didn't look like Shang Linyuan in the slightest. Whose son was he, anyway?

"That’s right. If you don't eat on time, your body won't get better. Over time, all sorts of health problems will arise. So, little guy, you must make sure to eat well."

"Is it still in time for Mommy to start eating well now?" Lu Mingxi asked anxiously.

Wei Zhenming patted the little boy’s round head and smiled, "Of course, it’s not too late."

While they discussed food, Shang Linyuan’s gaze remained fixed on Lu Xiaoman’s face. "Why does your mommy forget to eat?" he suddenly asked Lu Mingxi.

"Mommy is busy with work. She has to support me and Grandma Zhang, and she needs a lot, a lot of money. Mommy also said I need to go to school later, which costs a lot, so she has to save as much money as she can while she’s young..."

Lu Mingxi’s little mouth chattered away. Lu Xiaoman, still conscious on the bed, desperately wanted to cover her son’s mouth. She didn't want Shang Linyuan to know so much about her, especially these things that weren't worth mentioning.

"Your daddy..." Shang Linyuan started, but he found he didn't know how to ask.

"My daddy? He’s dead, so I don't have one." Lu Mingxi had never seen his biological father since birth, so he didn't feel sad. He had accepted the fact that his father was dead, but that didn't stop him from wanting to find a new, rich, and handsome father who would be good to him and his mommy.

Lu Xiaoman: Why didn't I just faint into oblivion?

Wei Zhenming gathered from their conversation what was going on. Just then, a maid arrived with dried clothes, and Shang Linyuan instructed her to go cook some millet porridge. "Add some lotus seeds and lily bulbs; it helps with calming the nerves," he added.

Wei Zhenming gave him a meaningful look. "Did you learn that, or is it just natural instinct?"

Shang Linyuan couldn't be bothered with him. "Anything else? If not, get lost."

"Tsk, tossing people aside once they've served their purpose—no conscience." Shang Linyuan found the remark familiar; hadn't he said that to someone not long ago?

After Wei Zhenming left, Shang Linyuan received a call. "Son, where are you?" Lin Qinghan’s voice sounded urgent on the other end.

"At home. What's wrong?"

"Xiao Yan fell down the stairs. You need to get to the hospital and check on her. She’s all alone; it’s so pitiful," Lin Qinghan said, growing more worried.

Shang Linyuan glanced at the bed, then stepped out onto the balcony of the master bedroom with his phone. "She has her parents looking after her. I wouldn't be of much help even if I went," he refused flatly.

"What kind of talk is that? She is your girlfriend! How can you not go when she’s injured?"

Shang Linyuan’s tone grew impatient. "I’m not a doctor."

"You child! If you don't go, do you expect me, an old woman, to travel thousands of miles back? Fine, you won't go, right? Then your father and I will book the tickets back immediately. We won't go to the Maldives, and we’ll forget about that sea your father was looking forward to. We’ll just pack up and come home..."

Lin Qinghan was impulsive; she immediately began demanding that Shang Linyuan book her the fastest flight back.

"Mom," Shang Linyuan rubbed his temples. "It’s one in the morning there. Chu Yan shouldn't have disturbed you two with such a small matter, not considering that you were trying to rest..."

"Xiao Yan is hurt! How could I possibly sleep? Are you booking the ticket or not? If you don't, I’ll have Su Cheng do it."

"You don't need to come back. I’ll go to the hospital to see her."

"That’s a good boy. Don't worry, Mom will bring gifts for you and Xiao Yan when I get back. Bye-bye."

Having achieved her goal, Lin Qinghan hung up the phone decisively. Shang Linyuan stood on the balcony for a moment before turning back into the bedroom.

Lu Mingxi was lying by the head of the bed, boredly counting his fingers. Seeing Shang Linyuan enter, he opened his eyes wide in curiosity. "Uncle, who is Chu Yan?"

Shang Linyuan had forgotten to close the balcony door, and some sound had inevitably carried into the room. *Did Lu Xiaoman hear it?*

Shang Linyuan instinctively looked at the figure on the bed. She was facing away from him, and her face was obscured. "Is Mommy asleep?" he asked in a low voice.

Lu Mingxi nodded, then shook his head. "Mommy isn't sleeping soundly. She just turned over a moment ago."

That last sentence stung Shang Linyuan like a thin needle. He pulled back a corner of the quilt and sat down, gently pressing the back of his hand against Lu Xiaoman’s forehead. Fortunately, she didn't have a fever. However, the hair at her temples was damp with cold sweat, and he gently wiped it dry.

"Uncle, are you leaving? Are you going to see Chu Yan?" Lu Mingxi asked suddenly.

Shang Linyuan hesitated. For reasons he couldn't quite name, he told a little lie. "I have something to attend to at the company. I’ll go and come right back. Xiao Xi, can you look after Mommy?" he asked the little boy earnestly.

"I can take care of Mommy. You go and come back quickly, Uncle!"

Shang Linyuan took one last look at Lu Xiaoman’s back before walking out of the bedroom.

At the City People’s Hospital, Chu Yan was sweating profusely from the pain. Her hem was stained with dark blotches of blood, and droplets of blood fell from the edge of the bed, spreading into tiny red marks on the floor.

The doctor examined her lower leg. The injury was severely swollen; her once shapely calf looked like an inflated leather bag, with purplish-blue bruises spreading from her ankle to her knee. The most severe part of the wound had raw flesh exposed.

As soon as the doctor’s finger touched her leg, she gasped in pain. Her bangs were plastered to her skin by cold sweat, and her face was as white as if she had just been pulled from icy water.

"The bone is fine, but the soft tissue contusion is too severe," the doctor said, pressing the edge of the swelling.

Chu Yan bit her lower lip, tears rolling down her cheeks, but she deliberately stifled her sobs, casting a glance toward the door. She knew Shang Linyuan would be arriving soon.

The wound on her calf continued to ooze blood, and every movement felt like a thousand needles pricking her. Yet, as Chu Yan looked at her distorted leg, a faint, weak curve appeared on the corner of her lips.

What was a little pain like this?

Lu Xiaoman had injured an arm, so she had broken her own leg. Let’s see who could hold onto Shang Linyuan in the end!