Chapter 10: Realizing Too Late Part 1

It was already late June, with the scorching sun blazing outside the window, but the temperature in the hospital room was comfortable. Miao Zhu held a porcelain spoon and sipped the porridge one mouthful at a time.

The atmosphere was serene as Mu Shanyi’s gaze followed the spoon’s rise and fall.

That year, seventeen-year-old Miao Zhu had accompanied the Sheng Family on vacation. She missed the first night’s dinner due to illness. Ravenous in the middle of the night, she quietly cooked sweet porridge in the kitchen, not even turning on the light to avoid disturbing anyone.

They talked under the dim moonlight, Miao Zhu’s voice laced with restraint. Mu Shanyi knew that no matter how approachable she was, Miao Zhu always kept her at a respectful distance.

There was a light knock at the door.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Li Baozhu pushed the door open. “I just spoke with your attending physician, Miss Miao. Remember to come back for your IV drip tomorrow.”

Miao Zhu set down the spoon. “Thank you for the trouble, Dean Li.”

“No trouble at all~ It’s what I should do.” Li Baozhu smiled broadly, slipping her hands into the pockets of her hospital uniform. “So, does President Mu have time to chat with me now?”

Her tone carried a teasing lilt, but Mu Shanyi remained composed. She gestured for Miao Zhu to eat slowly, then rose and walked toward Li Baozhu.

Li Baozhu smiled, stepping back two paces as Mu Shanyi smoothly closed the door behind her.

Separated by a single wall, Miao Zhu couldn’t hear their conversation. It lasted no more than five or six minutes before Mu Shanyi returned to the room.

Miao Zhu had finished eating and was packing the bowl and dishes into the meal box. The sound of the door opening drew her gaze.

Only then did she notice Mu Shanyi’s outfit: a tailored deep gray suit with long pants, a deep V vest that accentuated her refined waistline, and a white silk shirt underneath. The shirt cuffs were rolled up twice, revealing a slender metal watchband at her wrist.

The room wasn’t large, and in an instant, Mu Shanyi stood by the small dining table. She naturally took the meal box from Miao Zhu’s hands and closed the lid.

Sunlight filtered through the wooden blinds, casting alternating light and shadow across Mu Shanyi’s form.

At the tiny table, they were close. Miao Zhu clearly saw Mu Shanyi’s eyelashes illuminated by the light—delicate and dense under her pronounced brow bone, fluttering like butterfly wings.

“…Sister A-Heng, I want to go home early. My head hurts.” Miao Zhu looked away.

Mu Shanyi: “Alright, once the observation period ends. Does anyone at home take care of you?”

Miao Zhu’s gaze drifted inexplicably back.

They were truly captivating eyes, especially bathed in sunlight, with a subtle gray-green hue that was elegant and mysterious.

Staring into those eyes, Miao Zhu told a harmless little lie. “Yes.”

Weak from the high fever, Mu Shanyi matched Miao Zhu’s pace as they walked side by side out of the hospital building slowly.

Lu Zheng and Mu Shanyi’s assistant waited at the parking area. After Miao Zhu got into the car, the assistant handed Mu Shanyi a document.

Mu Shanyi glanced at it in the car and set it aside.

Pearl Hospital wasn’t far from Moon Reflection Villa—just a ten-minute drive. This time, Miao Zhu didn’t ask to be let off midway. Mu Shanyi confirmed the address and had her dropped off at the courtyard gate.

The assistant opened the car door for Miao Zhu. Mu Shanyi watched her alight, and Miao Zhu turned to thank her. “Sister A-Heng, thank you so much for today.”

Mu Shanyi nodded. “Get some rest. I’ll visit you at the hospital again tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? She would come again?

…Was Mu Shanyi this attentive to her lovers? Even though she wasn’t one yet?

The car wheels turned again, carrying Mu Shanyi away.

Miao Zhu turned and entered the house, pouring herself a glass of water. As she headed upstairs, her phone rang—Jiang Jingjing calling.

“Mia, I had such a crush on Xie Dasu today…” Jiang Jingjing’s voice was thick with congestion.

“Hm?” Miao Zhu didn’t quite follow the opener. As far as she knew, Jiang Jingjing had been smitten from the first moment she saw Xie Dasu.

“I’m running a fever. Xie Dasu brought me to the hospital. I’m lying here getting an IV now, and he went to buy lunch.” Jiang Jingjing took a deep breath to steady the intense fluttering in her chest. “Mia, I don’t know if you can understand, but when you’re sick and someone drops everything to run around taking care of you—thinking of every detail without a hint of impatience, every word full of concern—it gives you such a huge sense of security!”

Miao Zhu stood in the middle of the stairs, the silence around her broken only by Jiang Jingjing’s voice echoing in her ear.

Mu Shanyi’s driver and assistant had waited at the hospital. She had dressed for work, clearly busy, yet she never mentioned it, staying to accompany her instead.

Miao Zhu didn’t even know how long Mu Shanyi had sat on the sofa waiting while she slept.

The water’s warmth seeped through the glass into her palm. Her fever-dulled brain churned, and Miao Zhu realized too late—her heart nearly skipped a beat.

Li Baozhu was Mu Shanyi’s friend. How had Mu Shanyi described their relationship for Li Baozhu to inform her about seeing Miao Zhu at the hospital?

The Jade Peace Amulet that appeared after the car accident, the sweet porridge mentioned casually years ago, the private chef shared once on her Moments… All proofs of Mu Shanyi’s care.

…But how had any of this happened?

Clearly, she and Mu Shanyi had always maintained a normal, ordinary, distant relationship.

“Mia, I’m so grateful you introduced me to Xie Dasu—really!”

Jiang Jingjing continued pouring out her feelings on the other end. Miao Zhu took a sip of water to steady her erratic heartbeat. “No need to thank me. You and Xie Dasu are just meant to be.”