Chapter 100

Over the next few days, Nan Qi shuttled back and forth between the two hospital rooms, taking turns visiting Tang Lian and Bo Ranying.

Tang Lian had been lucky, suffering only some scrapes. After days of applying ointment, she had regained full mobility and could be discharged at any time.

Bo Ranying had also successfully transferred from the ICU to a regular ward. It takes a hundred days to recover from a serious injury like a broken bone, and ordinary fractures require three months of rest—Bo Ranying’s recovery would take even longer.

These days, Nan Qi visited Bo Ranying’s room as dutifully as clocking in for work, tending to her needs and keeping a close eye on her mood. She looked up medical terms on her own and checked Bo Ranying’s test reports every day, monitoring whether her vitals had returned to normal.

Her own mood rose and fell with those results.

Tang Lian watched all of Nan Qi’s actions with her own eyes.

She accompanied Nan Qi to Bo Ranying’s room and observed as the two grew closer day by day, rekindling the kind of unspoken rapport that she envied.

Quietly, she tallied the time Nan Qi spent with her each day against the time Nan Qi spent with Bo Ranying.

She had started counting from the very first day she woke up.

The time Nan Qi spent with Bo Ranying far exceeded the time she spent with Tang Lian.

After learning that Bo Ranying had lost a limb saving her, Nan Qi had solemnly told Tang Lian that Bo Ranying was emotionally unstable right now and needed a friend’s care. For the time being, she might not be able to give Tang Lian as much attention and hoped she could bear with it.

It was only natural, and Nan Qi’s reasoning was airtight. Tang Lian couldn’t stop her from visiting and looking after Bo Ranying.

But now, Bo Ranying was taking up too much of Nan Qi’s time.

And Nan Qi seemed to have forgotten the whole point of their trip abroad.

The excitement that had once bubbled in Tang Lian’s chest at the start of their journey had cooled bit by bit.

The future she had once feared now seemed to be unfolding before her eyes.

After coldly observing for a few days, she finally couldn’t hold back any longer. The moment Bo Ranying wheedled at Nan Qi once again—testing the waters by complaining that she felt grimy and wanted a bath, asking Nan Qi to wrap her wounds with waterproof film—Tang Lian intercepted Nan Qi just as she was about to refuse but still reached for the thermos to fetch hot water from the boiler room.

She apologized to Bo Ranying, then pulled Nan Qi into the hallway, saying she had something to discuss.

It happened so suddenly that Nan Qi forgot to set down the thermos. She looked at Tang Lian with puzzled eyes.

But she met a gaze that was utterly calm—chillingly so.

“Big Sister, why don’t we skip visiting Miss Bo today? She has family and friends to look after her. She’ll be fine.” Her voice sounded just as detached and unfeeling.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Nan Qi frowned in disagreement, ready to counter that she couldn’t put it that way—her company meant something different to Bo Ranying than family or friends did.

But in the next instant, the retort on the tip of her tongue was choked back by Tang Lian.

Tang Lian pulled up news articles about the Milan Fashion Show on her phone. Without another word, she asked flatly, “Do we still have a chance to go to Milan?” She was putting the choice in Nan Qi’s hands.

Nan Qi jolted at the question, suddenly remembering that Milan Fashion Week had already started. In her worry over Bo Ranying’s condition, she had completely forgotten. No wonder Tang Lian had stared at her hesitantly several times, clearly trying to remind her about the show.

“Of course we’re going!”

She snapped back to herself and gave Tang Lian an affirmative answer without a second thought.

Somehow, she felt this response mattered—a lot. Enough to affect… her relationship with Tang Lian.

Otherwise, Tang Lian wouldn’t have used the word “chance.”

They had come abroad for this show. How could they not have a chance to go to Milan?

“Then let’s go today. Go tell Miss Bo you won’t have time to visit anymore because you’re coming to Milan with me.” Tang Lian spoke quickly, leaving Nan Qi no room to dodge.

“Okay… I promise.”

Nan Qi only hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

In her view, Bo Ranying was out of danger now, safely in a regular room, and as Tang Lian said, surrounded by family, friends, and medical staff. It would be fine if she was absent for a bit.

The promise she had made to Tang Lian about Fashion Week had been set long ago. She had already neglected her passively for too long; she couldn’t break her word now.

Hearing Nan Qi’s firm reply, a heavy weight lifted from Tang Lian’s heart. Her calm expression visibly brightened. She placed her hands on Nan Qi’s shoulders, turned her around, and pushed her toward the room. This time, her voice carried warmth and sweetness. “Then hurry and explain to Miss Bo, Big Sister.”

She didn’t want to wait another second. From here on out, she wanted all of Nan Qi’s time to belong to her alone—no traces of Bo Ranying.

She only wanted this brief, selfish possession, propriety be damned.

Nan Qi was practically shoved back into the room by the firm pressure at her back. She stumbled before steadying herself in front of Bo Ranying, a faint look of distress on her face.

Seeing her like this, Bo Ranying’s heart surged with unease. Her knuckles tightened on the bedsheet as she pretended nothing was wrong. “Did Little Qi forget something?”

Her gaze fell on the thermos in Nan Qi’s hand, which clearly hadn’t been filled. Her heart sank further.

Soon, Nan Qi spoke again.

“I won’t have time to come keep you company anymore. I’m going to Milan with Lianlian to watch the shows. Even if I’m not here, you have to follow the doctor’s instructions and cooperate with treatment, okay?”

Bo Ranying latched onto only one part: Nan Qi was leaving.

In her mind, it meant Nan Qi was going off to be romantic with Tang Lian, leaving her behind for their lovers’ world.

It yanked her out of the dreamlike bliss of these past few days and back to harsh reality. Nan Qi had a lover she truly cared for; she had only visited so often out of guilt or pity. Now, Nan Qi was returning to the right path and notifying her it was time to wake up from the illusion.

Endless bitterness flooded her heart in an instant. The care and closeness she had earned with her injury were so fleeting. She hadn’t even had time to savor it before Nan Qi wanted to take it back.

She knew she had no right to demand more from Nan Qi, but she wanted to throw one last stubborn tantrum. “What if I don’t?”

Nan Qi looked up in astonishment. “?”

Bo Ranying’s bravado faltered. She mumbled, “I don’t want to cooperate with the doctor.”

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, right? She didn’t want to be the obedient child who got ignored as a matter of course.

Nan Qi couldn’t stand seeing Bo Ranying neglect her health. Even understanding the implication, she refused to indulge her. Her voice hardened with resolve, ringing out clearly. “If that’s what you want, then I’ll go find a car to crash into right now. I’ll give you a leg—or my life—to make up for it.”

Nan Qi’s eyes were slightly red, and she looked genuinely furious at Bo Ranying’s refusal to treat properly. Her expression matched her words in determination, leaving no room for doubt.

She really would do it.

Her sudden outburst startled Bo Ranying, who had thought she could wheedle her into staying.

Bo Ranying clutched the blanket tight and shrank into the corner of the bed, her body trembling like a small beast backed into a dead end. She didn’t dare test the edge of danger again.

“I’ll follow the doctor’s instructions. Just don’t say things like that anymore.”

“You’re… you’re so scary. I never wanted you to do something like that. Go to Milan with Tang Lian. I’ll be fine.”

Through the layer of blanket, she reached out to tug Nan Qi’s arm, softening her posture in a gesture of goodwill.

She had only wanted Nan Qi to stay longer, to keep her company. She had never meant for Nan Qi to harm herself.

Nan Qi pulled her arm away. Her gaze toward Bo Ranying still held suspicion. “You mean it?”

“Mm!” Bo Ranying nodded vigorously, her face full of sincerity. “I’ll report to you every day on what I’ve done.”

Hearing her earnest promise, Nan Qi’s expression softened a little. “I’ll hold you to it, then.”

After explaining things to Bo Ranying, Nan Qi and Tang Lian said hello to Father Bo and Mother Bo before heading to the Milan show venue as planned.

After ticket check, the two entered the exhibition area.

Tang Lian set aside all distractions and threw herself fully into this short trip. She pulled Nan Qi to a spot with a good view and admired the works of designers from around the world.

She remembered how, back home watching fashion show compilations, Nan Qi had taken note of certain brands. Spotting them live, she eagerly pointed them out to her girlfriend. “That’s the brand you liked. Now you can enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

Nan Qi was thrilled. The live visual impact was even more stunning; she could hardly tear her eyes away. She marveled at the designers’ ingenuity, her face lighting up with admiration, delight, and longing again and again.

“It’s so beautiful.” “The work of true genius.”

She sighed in wonder, turning to Tang Lian beside her in search of agreement.

Each time, Tang Lian caught her exclamation perfectly and responded in kind, exactly as Nan Qi hoped. Nan Qi’s spirits soared in no time.

More than once, when she turned back, she caught Tang Lian snapping photos of her with a camera.

For part of the time, Tang Lian was also sketching and jotting notes on her tablet.

She wasn’t just idly watching the show like Nan Qi, fully immersed.

A seed of doubt sprouted in Nan Qi’s heart. She had never seen Tang Lian so keen on photographing and documenting during their outings before.

“Lianlian, why have you been taking pictures of me all day?” In Tang Lian’s lens, Nan Qi curved her eyes into a smile—pure and beautiful. The joy at the corners of her eyes softened the sharpness between her brows, making it clear to anyone watching that she was basking in love.

The casual question made Tang Lian’s body stiffen for an instant. Her fingertip unconsciously pressed the shutter, capturing the image.

She hurriedly checked the shot. It was blurred, reduced to a hazy smear of light and shadow.

It was as if the heavens were foretelling their future—indistinct and unclear.

A sudden sense of weightlessness gripped Tang Lian’s chest, unsettling her thoughts.

A moment later, she collected herself and said nonchalantly, “Didn’t Big Sister say she wanted to make a photo album about Fashion Week? So I’m just collecting plenty of material.”

“Oh, like that.”

Nan Qi rubbed her palm lightly against her chin, suddenly understanding.

Though a faint unease lingered in her heart, she accepted Tang Lian’s explanation.

She responded naturally to Tang Lian’s nonstop photography from then on.

Nan Qi held back her curiosity and didn’t peek at the finished shots ahead of time. After all, she could see them all once Tang Lian put together the photo album.

And so, Nan Qi had no idea that while she assumed Tang Lian was focusing on the models and outfits on the runway, most of the photos Tang Lian took actually featured Nan Qi herself.

Pouting or smiling, calm and serene.

Every expression was captured in full, tucked away in each frame.

One glance fewer to savor.

These were their memories.