Chapter 48

Xiao Ning was just about to call two people upstairs to help. Whether it was carrying her down or lifting the entire wheelchair, they needed extra hands. To her surprise, Lin Feiruo suggested… going back to the room to rest?

Over the past few days, Xiao Ning had grown accustomed to following Lin Feiruo’s lead on tasks, but she still knew the difference between who to ask about big decisions versus small details.

So, she remained silent, waiting for Jian Xiyan to speak.

Going downstairs or going back to the room—these were ordinary choices, but at this moment, it became a matter of principle: who was really in charge? People with limited mobility often find their control gradually stripped away; this isn’t uncommon for patients, it’s just a matter of how long it takes.

Xiao Ning didn’t think that deeply; she just wanted to be sure who she should be listening to more from now on.

Lin Feiruo didn’t say another word. She just looked down at Jian Xiyan, as if waiting for her answer.

This standing posture could easily create pressure—looking from top to bottom. No matter how well the tone was controlled, it inevitably felt imposing to the person below. Moreover, the person below was currently unable to stand up and push back, making the disadvantage even more obvious.

Jian Xiyan’s fingertips remained interlaced, but they stopped twisting; she was more composed than before.

She had temporarily processed the nightmare from last night, but having Lin Feiruo witness her moment of panic was the real source of her unease. It felt like being seen through in an instant. And this person was someone who had to stay by her side for quite a while longer.

She had thought about asking Lin Feiruo to leave so the anxiety of being “exposed” would lessen. But who would replace her? A stranger read the original at bailiantales.com wouldn’t necessarily be better. Recalling their time together lately, she realized she had, unknowingly, grown a bit used to her.

Adapting to someone new would be exhausting for the current Jian Xiyan, and subconsciously, she didn’t want that extra strain.

When the elevator failed, Jian Xiyan’s “thorns” had immediately bristled. This was the moment that most starkly highlighted her difference from everyone else. With an elevator, she could claim to move freely; without it, she was utterly dependent on others to get downstairs.

Anyone present was more capable and free than she was. She didn’t want to make this choice; she didn’t even want to face the situation, yet everyone was waiting for her decision.

Lin Feiruo’s sudden suggestion to “rest” used the excuse of catching up on sleep rather than “waiting for the elevator to be fixed,” which allowed Jian Xiyan’s irritability to subside. She wanted to go back, but she didn’t want people to think she went back because she had no other choice.

Lin Feiruo suddenly yawned, interrupting Jian Xiyan’s deliberation. She looked up to see a certain someone covering her mouth and winking at her.

When she spoke, her tone turned pitiful, a mix of negotiation and light coaxing: “Let’s go back and sleep for a bit. It won’t delay much work, and I’m really so sleepy.”

Jian Xiyan blinked slowly, just looking at her. Lin Feiruo didn’t lean over; she just stood there, alternating between a smile and playing the victim. The atmosphere felt much more natural.

Jian Xiyan scanned her face briefly and said flatly, “You have dark circles; I don’t.”

Actually, neither of them did, but both clearly looked underslept.

Xiao Ning, recalling Lin Feiruo’s earlier explanation, caught a hint of “flirting” in the air and discreetly took two steps back. There was no rush ​bailiantales.com​to hear a decision now; it seemed it wouldn’t matter who said it.

Lin Feiruo continued to bargain: “You work so late every day. Treat a little relaxation as a reward for me, okay? I go to bed late every night too. I’m tired.”

The tone of voice was…

The two others who had come up to help also backed away a few paces. They tacitly agreed these conversations weren’t for eavesdropping, and that Jian Xiyan most likely wasn’t going downstairs.

Given the atmosphere, Jian Xiyan nodded naturally.

Going back to the room suddenly became the most logical thing to do for everyone present. Xiao Ning intended to follow them in, but Lin Feiruo took over the wheelchair first.

“I’ll take care of it. You go nudge Aunt Shu to get the fault fixed as soon as possible.”

Xiao Ning looked at Jian Xiyan dutifully. Though she had already started to move away, she only officially left after Jian Xiyan gave a nod.

Back in the bedroom, Lin Feiruo let go of the wheelchair. “Want some water?” “Whatever.”

Lin Feiruo handed her a glass and drank one herself. Her fatigue lessened slightly, but she indeed looked less energized than a few days ago. Jian Xiyan held the glass without drinking, lost in thought.

Once Lin Feiruo finished her water, Xiyan suddenly said, “You today…”

Lin Feiruo looked down at her. She saw those slender fingertips sliding gently over the glass, making no harsh or abrupt sounds. She couldn’t help but marvel: Jian Xiyan was so elegant that even her nervous habits looked better than most people’s.

After a pause, Jian Xiyan continued: “You don’t need to be particularly concerned about my emotions today.” She looked up at Lin Feiruo. “I’m fine.”

Lin Feiruo’s gaze fell on those beautiful fingertips before she quickly pulled it back. “I’m not being ‘particularly’ concerned.” “Then you…” Lin Feiruo smiled. “I’m always concerned.”

Jian Xiyan pursed her lips, wondering if she should be more explicit. “I overlooked it before. I always thought a patient’s physical trauma was more obvious, but actually you…” Jian Xiyan replied hurriedly, “I’m fine.”

“Your bravery already exceeds 99.9% of people. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.” Jian Xiyan frowned slightly. “Then who is the person I can’t exceed?” Lin Feiruo stated frankly, “The future you.”

Jian Xiyan looked at her in confusion. “If you are willing to release your suppressed negative emotions, you will be the bravest person of all.”

Jian Xiyan froze. The rebuttal already at her lips died down. Some things had happened; no matter how she hid them, it was futile—perhaps it would even become a joke. But she was unfamiliar with this version of herself.

It wasn’t that she had never felt fear, but she had been required to be perfect since childhood. She had to show responsibility, to make everyone trust her abilities—so she could never say she couldn’t do it. The accident hadn’t just broken her leg; it had shattered the fearlessness she had worked so hard to accumulate. Jian Xiyan had to face reality: she could be afraid too. Very afraid.

Lin Feiruo stepped closer. Jian Xiyan instinctively leaned back—still in a defensive mindset. But she was much better than last night; at least she didn’t make the other feel rejected.

Lin Feiruo asked with a smile, “Are you drinking the water? If not, I’ll ​Read on BaiLianTales​take it away. Wipe your hands and rest.” Jian Xiyan wasn’t thirsty. She returned the cup, took the towel, and wiped her hands mechanically.

Lin Feiruo picked her up, as steady as ever. But today, she turned her head to look at Jian Xiyan, which made the person being held a bit self-conscious. “I’ll try to relax a bit more too.”

She laughed first, and the usually tense lines of her profile softened instantly. Jian Xiyan’s breath hitched; she felt a bit dazed.

Once she placed Jian Xiyan steadily on the bed, Lin Feiruo actually did yawn. She didn’t hide it: “So sleepy. I really need to catch up on sleep.”

Perhaps she was so natural and casual that Jian Xiyan also became less guarded, saying offhandedly, “Watching you eat is more stress-relieving.” Lin Feiruo was stunned. “What?” Jian Xiyan pointed to her cheek. “You’re very focused when you eat.”

I want to poke them. It must be a great stress reliever. Jian Xiyan didn’t say that; it wouldn’t fit her elegant and mature image.

Lin Feiruo didn’t realize Jian Xiyan had been eyeing her cheeks for so long. She explained, “I learned that in school. If you’re late, you won’t get the good food. If you eat slowly, you won’t get a good seat in the classroom.”

They had rarely talked about their student days. Although the original owner married right after graduation, Jian Xiyan had never been interested in her campus life.

“At least it’s better than burgers,” Jian Xiyan recalled her own days of rushing through assignments. Lin Feiruo tucked in the end of the blanket. “Shouldn’t you have been eating steak or Michelin meals?” “That’s just people’s imagination. When I was studying, there was no time for that. I couldn’t even finish the reading list.” “I see Xiaomin enjoying herself though—eating and playing everywhere.” “She told you that?” “No, I saw it on her social media.”

Jian Xiyan hadn’t expected Lin Feiruo to have the leisure to scroll through social media. She thought of her own empty feed; the difference between her and Xiaomin’s colorful life was stark.

Jian Xiyan hadn’t felt very sleepy when she lay down, but [Read on BaiLianTales]after chatting with Lin Feiruo, she felt tired. She actually yawned twice in a row, her eyes feeling dry.

“Sleep for a bit. We’ll go eat together later.” Lin Feiruo even made a face as if she were eating; even without food, those cheeks looked very “pokeable.”

Jian Xiyan’s fingertips moved slightly under the covers.

Lin Feiruo returned to her single bed and casually checked her phone. Dr. Yu had replied to her post!

She was instantly wide awake. She started to sit up before remembering not to disturb Jian Xiyan. She turned over, facing the phone inward, so that if Xiyan looked over, she would think she was sleeping.

Dr. Yu had replied to several backlogged posts today, explaining that she had been busy and her online time was irregular. In her reply to Lin Feiruo, she offered several basic suggestions: relaxation before bed, light conversation, and “sleep-inducing” foods.

But she also asked further: How is the patient’s emotional state?

Beyond physical pain, psychological factors are vital for sleep quality, but since they are often invisible, many families overlook them.

Lin Feiruo sighed. If only the reply had come a day earlier. But she was always optimistic; she felt now was actually a good time to describe Jian Xiyan’s condition in detail. Before yesterday, she might not have thought about it from that angle.

After replying to the post, Lin Feiruo’s eyes were tired but her mind was racing. She couldn’t sleep. Remembering how nervous Jian Xiyan was about Xu Liqing last night, she curiously searched for news related to the Jian Group.

She found nothing substantial. Xu Liqing’s name mostly appeared in business news, and Jian Xiyan’s recent press coverage had clearly decreased. However, the Jian Group was about to launch a new product line, and rumor had it the spokesperson would be Jiang Wanru. [unauthorized copy]This topic was quite hot, floating at the top of the trending searches.

After reading about the spokesperson, the platform pushed several news items about Jiang Wanru. Lin Feiruo wasn’t going to look closely until she saw the name Yan Shan.

She went back to look. It turned out fans on set had seen Yan Shan being scolded by the director for failing to keep up in her scenes, which affected Jiang Wanru’s performance. This led to a discussion on how long “resource-pushed” actors would continue to plague the entertainment industry. The comments below were full of vitriol.

The target of the scolding was, of course, Yan Shan.

Mm, well said. Everyone is a spokesperson for my inner thoughts.

Lin Feiruo picked a few of the most satisfyingly harsh comments and gave them each a like. Content, she exited the app and prepared to nap, but then a stranger’s number sent a message.

It wasn’t text this time, but a photo.