Chapter 4

This time, before Mu Shengsheng could say anything, Xia Hanying immediately denied it. “I’m not.”

“Then what exactly is your relationship?” Doctor Zheng appeared quite interested in the subject and continued questioning them.

“Strangers,” Xia Hanying replied bluntly, making it abundantly clear that she wanted absolutely nothing to do with Mu Shengsheng.

The moment she heard that, Mu Shengsheng knew Xia Hanying had not forgotten a single thing the scumbag top had done yesterday. Three feet of ice did not form in a single day! “Doctor Zheng.” Mu Shengsheng signaled with her eyes. Why don’t we discuss this outside?

Fortunately, Doctor Zheng understood immediately and did not refuse. She even found a convenient excuse. “I still have a form in my office that I need to bring over. Would Miss Mu mind coming with me to get it?”

“All right.” Mu Shengsheng promptly agreed and followed Doctor Zheng out.

“Miss Xia.” Auntie Chen sighed. “Auntie knows you were wronged yesterday. What Miss Shengsheng did was indeed wrong—”

“Auntie.” Xia Hanying had unconsciously put some distance between them. “You don’t need to say anything more. I was the one who signed that agreement in the first place, so naturally, I must accept the consequences.”

“Miss Xia.” Having worked for the Mu family for so many years, Auntie Chen knew about the contract because Mu Shengsheng told her nearly everything. “Miss never meant it that way. Auntie also knows it isn’t appropriate to tell you this now. The most important thing at present is for you to recover your health.”

“Miss Mu, here.” When they reached Doctor Zheng’s office, Mu Shengsheng really was handed a form.

“A nutritionist friend of mine prepared this for me some time ago. Although I know Miss Mu probably has no shortage of nutritionists, this method of recuperation should be more suitable for Miss Xia,” Zheng Yiru explained. “Of course, this is merely a doctor’s recommendation.”

“Is Doctor Zheng trying to make me pay more medical expenses?” Mu Shengsheng asked with Read on BaiLianTalesa smile. She had just noticed that the neighboring offices were all empty. It was only six thirty, and Doctor Zheng did not work in the emergency department, so she had no reason to arrive this early—much less give Mu Shengsheng this for free.

“Perhaps fate brought us together,” Zheng Yiru replied with a smile of her own.

“Here’s my business card.” After exchanging a glance with her for a second, Mu Shengsheng decided to make a friend. “If Doctor Zheng ever needs anything, you can contact me.”

Zheng Yiru accepted the business card and glanced at it. “Miss Mu seems to underestimate how famous she is. However…” She removed her gloves, extended her hand, and smiled gently. “My name is Zheng Yiru. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Mu.”

Mu Shengsheng extended her hand in a friendly manner as well. However, she had not expected Zheng Yiru to recognize her. She herself truly had no recollection of the doctor whatsoever.

“I’ll see you next time, Doctor Zheng.” Mu Shengsheng did not dare linger any longer. An entire pile of matters awaited her back in the ward! Doctor Zheng seemed to understand, but before Mu Shengsheng left, she still asked, “Has Miss Mu truly gotten herself a girlfriend?”

Mu Shengsheng stopped in her tracks and immediately grew nervous. Could Doctor Zheng secretly be in love with the scumbag top? After all, although the scumbag top’s character was deeply questionable in the novel, there was nothing lacking in either her appearance or family background. Plenty of men and women liked her.

When something needed to be severed, it had to be severed decisively, or the hesitation would only invite further trouble! Regardless of whether that was the case, Mu Shengsheng felt that she had to make a clean break with every ambiguous relationship the former Mu Shengsheng had once had, might currently have, or could develop in the future!

More importantly, this was the perfect opportunity to legitimize Xia Hanying’s status. She could not possibly allow Xia Hanying to continue carrying the label of a kept woman, could she? Mu Shengsheng said with a cheerful smile, “Well, Doctor Zheng, you understand. My girlfriend is a little shy and too embarrassed to admit it, but the two of us are absolutely in a proper, legitimate relationship!”

“I understand.” Zheng Yiru nodded with a smile. “I haven’t congratulated Miss Mu on finding a girlfriend yet. However, once other people learn about it, I wonder how many hearts will be broken?”

“I think even more people will wail in despair once they learn that a beauty like my girlfriend is already taken,” Mu Shengsheng said with a smile. “So please keep this confidential, Doctor Zheng. I don’t want someone to hit me over the head with a brick while I’m walking down the street!”

“Miss Mu is truly humorous.” Zheng Yiru had not expected her to say that at all. She immediately mimed zipping her lips shut. “Rest assured, Miss Mu. I spend every day working at the hospital. I’m very busy!”

That was certainly true. Mu Shengsheng felt much more at ease. She turned around, closed the door behind her with a smile, and left. At present, very few people knew the true nature of her relationship with Xia Hanying. Once she had convinced everyone that she and Xia [read the original at bailiantales.com]Hanying were genuinely dating, they could break up afterward. Surely that would still be better than leaving Xia Hanying branded as a kept woman, right?

But the moment she returned to the ward, Mu Shengsheng learned what reality meant. If she told Xia Hanying what she had just been planning, she had no doubt the woman would become so angry that she coughed up blood. After all, Xia Hanying had not completely given up on the scumbag top yet. Otherwise, she would have ripped out the IV needle and fled the hospital by now.

“Miss, you’re back.” Auntie Chen’s face lit up when she saw her return. She lowered her voice and said, “Doctor Zheng already arranged for Miss Xia’s IV ahead of time. I’m going to the market now. Miss, you must take good care of Miss Xia.”

“Mm.” Mu Shengsheng nodded. Even without being told, she would take good care of her.

“Miss.” Auntie Chen lowered her voice even further. “You must persuade Miss Xia to return with you today. Otherwise, if some illness or misfortune were to befall her—”

She understood. She understood everything. Seeing Auntie Chen’s voice gradually growing louder, Mu Shengsheng knew Xia Hanying must have heard every word. She hurriedly pleaded for mercy. “Auntie, I’ll apologize properly to her later. Don’t worry.”

“Then Auntie will be going.” Still worried, Auntie Chen looked back at Mu Shengsheng every few steps as she walked out through the door.

Only Mu Shengsheng and Xia Hanying remained in the ward. Even the footsteps in the corridor could be heard with perfect clarity. If she did not speak, Mu Shengsheng suspected that neither of them would say a word until the IV was finished.

“About yesterday…” Mu Shengsheng had originally intended to apologize, but the moment she remembered that an apology did not fit the scumbag top’s character, she immediately closed her mouth. She should restrain herself for the time being. After all, she was far too different from the scumbag top. At the very least, she needed to give everyone time to adjust, or they might think she had been possessed by a ghost!

“What did you want to tell me yesterday?” Mu Shengsheng asked.

“Nothing,” Xia Hanying replied. “I was the one who failed to understand my place. President Mu can extend the contract for however long she wishes.”

At the mention of this, Mu Shengsheng remembered that Xia Hanying’s original contract with the scumbag top had only three months remaining before reaching its one-year term. Yet yesterday, the scumbag top had extended it by an entire six months. Wasn’t that simply bullying her?

“I’ve given it serious consideration.” Mu Shengsheng coughed to ease her own nervousness, then deliberately adopted a stern expression. “I think the current arrangement is fine. There’s no need to sign another contract.”

Was she planning to boil the frog slowly in warm water? Then she had better not regret it. She should be careful that instead of cooking the frog, the entire pot did not end up smashed. Xia Hanying smiled.

That smile left Mu Shengsheng momentarily dazed. Good heavens. As expected of the beautiful, powerful, and tragic bottom who was kind at heart. She was far too easy to satisfy! Merely saying that the additional six months did not need to be added was enough to earn such an innocent smile from her. Just how horribly had the original Mu Shengsheng treated her?!

“Then…” Since the atmosphere had already reached this point, it would not be too much to make a small suggestion, would it? “After you’re discharged, you should still come back to my place to recuperate. Don’t worry—”

Mu Shengsheng tried to make her tone sound unquestionable. “I haven’t sunk so low as to behave like a beast. I only want you to recover properly.”

She certainly changed quickly. Xia Hanying sneered inwardly. She had initially been tempted to agree, if only to see what new trick Mu Shengsheng was preparing to play. But now she had decided otherwise. “And what if I say no?”

So everything she had said earlier had been completely wasted. Mu Shengsheng felt as though her head were about to explode. With no other choice, she silently apologized to Xia Hanying in advance, then forced herself to say, “Then you should understand that I have plenty of ways to make you submit!”

Mu Shengsheng stared at Xia Hanying without moving. Just when she could barely maintain her composure any longer, Xia Hanying lay down again. Although her back was still turned, Mu Shengsheng knew she had compromised.

Mu Shengsheng breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that being forceful still made things easier for now. Yet although the outcome was clearly the most important thing, the sight of Xia Hanying’s frail back as she lay facing away made Mu Shengsheng’s heart ache again.

“Actually…” Mu Shengsheng said softly. She wanted to explain everything properly. Xia Hanying truly needed to recuperate, or she would only end up back in the hospital even if she returned to school. She opened her mouth but ultimately could not bring herself to say it.

Time passed minute by minute. Mu Shengsheng pressed the call button, and a nurse came to replace the IV bag. Zhao Minghui also stopped by during that time. Mu Shengsheng told him about the discharge, then left the payment and discharge procedures entirely to him.

When the latest IV bag was empty, the nurse came to remove the needle. Zhao Minghui happened to enter carrying a bouquet of flowers. Before Xia Hanying could react, the bouquet was thrust into her arms.

Xia Hanying gave Zhao Minghui a baffled look and was just about to release the flowers when she heard him say, [read the original at bailiantales.com]“Congratulations on being discharged, Miss Xia.”

“Thank you.” Xia Hanying accepted the bouquet, her voice filled with distance.

“You’re welcome. This—” Mu Shengsheng heard the beginning of his next sentence but could not stop him in time before Zhao Minghui blurted everything out. “President Mu asked me to buy it. She said it was to celebrate Miss Xia’s discharge.”

Yes, I asked you to buy it, but could you please not announce it? Mu Shengsheng wanted to roar. She simply had a compulsion to observe such rituals. Whenever one of her friends had been discharged from the hospital in her previous life, she had always given them a bouquet! Hadn’t they agreed on this just now? Mu Shengsheng signaled desperately with her eyes.

“President Mu.” Unfortunately, Zhao Minghui failed to understand her meaning. Worried that Xia Hanying might misunderstand, he explained with a solemn expression, “You really did ask me to buy it! When you sent me downstairs to settle the bill, you told me to see whether there were any flowers near the entrance and, while I was there—”

You aren’t a detective. There’s no need to explain every detail so clearly! She had endured enough and could endure no more. Mu Shengsheng interrupted, “Brother Minghui, have you arranged for the driver?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, President Mu. I had already arranged everything before I bought the flowers—”

He was beyond saving. Mu Shengsheng could only look toward Xia Hanying. After learning that the flowers were from her, Xia Hanying neither threw the bouquet away in front of her nor hugged it tightly to her chest.

Mu Shengsheng had feared the former because Xia Hanying might still be too angry to leave with her. She feared the latter because it would mean Xia Hanying’s feelings for the scumbag top ran too deep, and Mu Shengsheng might have unintentionally done yet another terrible thing. Fortunately, Xia Hanying merely looked at the bouquet without joy or sorrow, then set it aside.