Chapter 95: Yes, I’m Chasing Her

Half an hour later, Chu Nian arrived at the hospital bed Shen Jia Yan had directed her to, carrying a bag of breakfast.

She said softly, “Jia Yan-jie, Lawyer Wen, breakfast is here.”

Wen Wan Ning smiled and nodded. “Thanks for the trouble.”

Chu Nian waved her hands hurriedly. “No trouble at all, no trouble.”

Shen Jia Yan set out the breakfast, then turned back to her. “Have you eaten?”

“I’ve already eaten, Jia Yan-jie.” With that, she picked up the thermos she had just bought. “You two eat first. I’ll go get some hot water.”

“Mm.”

Shen Jia Yan opened the lid of the plain congee and held it in her hands as she looked at Wen Wan Ning. “Can you manage on your own?”

Wen Wan Ning straightened up a bit. “I should be able to.”

Shen Jia Yan placed the spoon in the congee and handed it to her.

She took the bowl, but her wrist trembled slightly. She hadn’t eaten much since noon the day before. After getting soaked in the rain that evening, she hadn’t felt well and hadn’t eaten anything substantial until now.

“Let me.” Shen Jia Yan noticed immediately and reached out, but instead of taking the bowl directly, she gently supported the back of Wen Wan Ning’s hand to steady her shaking grip. “Don’t rush. I’ll help you.”

Wen Wan Ning wanted to shake her head. “I can—”

“Mm.” Shen Jia Yan cut her off, her tone gentle but firm. “Open your mouth.”

She scooped up a spoonful of warm plain congee, blew on it lightly, and brought it to her lips. The motion was as natural as if she had done it a thousand times.

Wen Wan Ning froze for a moment but ultimately didn’t refuse. She obediently opened her mouth. The congee was mild, the rice grains soft and glutinous, sliding down her throat and spreading warmth all the way to her stomach.

“Too hot?” Shen Jia Yan asked.

“Not hot.” She answered softly, her voice still hoarse.

Shen Jia Yan watched her swallow before scooping up a second spoonful and blowing on it. “Eat slowly. No rush.”

“Mm.” Wen Wan Ning gazed at her lowered brows and eyes, watched her carefully blow on the spoon to cool it, watched how, despite her obvious exhaustion, she focused entirely on feeding her one bite at a time.

Suddenly, she felt her throat burn hotter than the congee.

“Jia Yan.” Her voice was very soft, almost drowned out by her breathing.

“Mm?” Shen Jia Yan scooped up the third spoonful, still focused.

“I’m sorry.” She looked at her, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m always making you take care of me.”

Shen Jia Yan paused, lifted her gaze to meet hers, something churning in her eyes. But she only said, “Eat first.”

Chu Nian returned with the thermos and halted abruptly at the door before retreating to the side.

She saw Shen Jia Yan with her head lowered, feeding Wen Wan Ning spoonful by spoonful. Her movements were so gentle, as if handling a fragile treasure. Morning light slanted in, falling between them and outlining an almost intimate tranquility.

What a beautiful scene! Feeding her! Blowing on the congee! Eye contact! Tenderness off the charts!

She could even imagine the background music.

“Heaven-sent reinforcements, the light of logistics!” She gave herself a title in her mind. “I, Chu Nian, hereby officially become the number one guardian of the Jianing CP!”

When the time was right, she walked in with the thermos. “Jia Yan-jie, you should eat something too. I’ll help Lawyer Wen tidy up.”

“Yeah, Jia Yan, you haven’t eaten either. Take a break and have something,” Wen Wan Ning chimed in.

Shen Jia Yan nodded. “Nian Nian, boil the water and pour it into the cup. Let it cool for a bit.”

“Okay.”

It really was the rarely seen gentle and attentive Jia Yan-jie.

Chu Nian fought to keep her lips from curving upward uncontrollably as she moved briskly to boil the water.

While boiling it, she sneaked glances at the two by the bed. Shen Jia Yan was gently wiping Wen Wan Ning’s hands with a damp towel, and Wen Wan Ning had her head slightly lowered, the tips of her ears faintly red.

“Aaah!” Chu Nian screamed internally. “This isn’t just sickbed care—this is a live idol drama shoot!”

The water boiled with a beep. She hurriedly poured it, then carried the cup over and set it on the cabinet by the bed. “Jia Yan-jie, the water’s ready.”

“Good, let it cool there for a bit first.”

Just then, Han Yuchu and Su Fang Yu rushed in.

Han Yuchu frowned as soon as he entered, scanning the room before his gaze landed on Wen Wan Ning’s pale face. His tone carried reproach. “How did you let yourself burn up like this? Do you think you’re made of iron?” Then his eyes shifted to Shen Jia Yan—dark circles under her eyes, hair disheveled, yet still glued to the bedside without leaving.

Su Fang Yu stood silently by the bed, his gaze slowly sweeping the room.

He saw the IV bag, the medicine box, the half-eaten bowl of congee, and finally settled on Shen Jia Yan. He sighed softly, stepped forward, and placed the thermos bucket he carried on the cabinet. “We just bought some pear water. Good for reducing fever and moistening the lungs.” His voice was low as he looked at his sister. “Don’t do this again, got it?”

Wen Wan Ning gave a weak smile. “I’m fine now. The fever’s gone.” But her gaze couldn’t help drifting toward Shen Jia Yan.

Su Fang Yu looked at Shen Jia Yan and said softly, “Thank you, Jia Yan.”

Shen Jia Yan looked up, her expression calm. “No need. When you’re out and about, friends… ” She paused, then continued, “or work partners should look out for each other. Besides, Lawyer Wen was sick and needed someone by her side.”

Her tone was restrained, her words chosen carefully, as if deliberately drawing a line.

Han Yuchu listened, his brows twitching almost imperceptibly. He knew what she was avoiding, knew that the exhaustion and bloodshot eyes weren’t something two simple words like “look out” could brush off.

But he didn’t call her out, just nodded. “Mm, we owe you big time this round.”

Su Fang Yu stood to the side, his gaze heavy on Shen Jia Yan. He said nothing, but his eyes held scrutiny and probing.

He remembered that night five years ago, when college-student Wen Wan Ning had thrown herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. The name she repeated most was Shen Jia Yan.

His sister had always been calm and composed, never showing emotion—even in the fiercest debates, her brows never furrowed.

But that stormy night, she had burst into his home trembling all over, hair soaked and plastered to her face, like she’d crawled out of an abyss. Her nails dug deep into his arm, her voice broken. “Bro… she’s gone. I pushed her away myself. I might never see her again…”

She repeated that name over and over, like calling to a light that had vanished.

In that moment, Su Fang Yu truly understood: there was one person who could turn an iceberg into an ocean, who could make her shed all her armor and bare her deepest pain and regret.

And now, five years later, the girl she’d thought lost forever sat by her bedside—dark circles, disheveled hair—guarding her without moving an inch.

He watched Shen Jia Yan lean down to tuck in Wen Wan Ning’s blanket corner, her movements so gentle as if afraid to wake a dream. Suddenly, he felt that fate’s twists and turns never truly let anyone go.

“Jia Yan.” He finally spoke, voice low. “Go back and rest. We’re here now.”

Shen Jia Yan stood. “Alright, since you’re all here, I’ll head out first.”

She glanced at Chu Nian, signaling her to leave with her.

In the instant she turned, Wen Wan Ning stirred on the bed. Her fingers unconsciously clutched at the hem of Shen Jia Yan’s clothes, her voice faint but clear. “Jia Yan…”

Shen Jia Yan turned back and gently patted her hand. “Rest well. Drink the cooled water later. I’m heading out.”

Before Wen Wan Ning could say more, she turned and walked toward the door.

Chu Nian quickly said to Wen Wan Ning, “Wan Ning-jie, we’re heading out first. If anything comes up and you can’t reach Jia Yan-jie, you can contact me too.”

Then she hurried after Shen Jia Yan.

After walking some distance away,

Shen Jia Yan spoke. “What did you say to Lawyer Wen?”

“Uh…” Chu Nian hemmed and hawed. “Nothing much, just a goodbye before leaving.”

Shen Jia Yan stopped, frowning at her. “Chu Nian.”

“Ah?” Chu Nian’s heart tightened, and she instinctively straightened up.

“You blush at the ears when you lie.” Shen Jia Yan’s tone was calm, but her gaze pierced like it could see through people. “Tell me, what exactly did you say to Lawyer Wen?”

Chu Nian caved immediately. “Nothing much, I just told Lawyer Wen that if anything came up and she couldn’t reach you, she could contact me.”

Shen Jia Yan crossed her arms, brows furrowed. “Chu Nian, whose assistant are you?”

Chu Nian hurried to appease her, half-whining. “Yours, of course, Jia Yan-jie.”

“Then what did those words to Lawyer Wen mean? What are you trying to do for her?” Then, as if realizing something, she pressed, “You’re not shipping a ‘CP,’ are you?”

The air froze for a moment.

Chu Nian’s face flushed to her ears. She waved her hands frantically. “N-no! Jia Yan-jie, you’re overthinking it. I just thought, what if Lawyer Wen has some urgent work thing and can’t reach you? She could contact me—I’m your assistant, after all.”

Shen Jia Yan gave her a meaningful look. “You’d better be.” With that, she turned and walked ahead.

Chu Nian let out a long breath behind her.

Shipping this CP was nerve-wracking. As the head shipper, she had to create more opportunities for them and strive to ship it openly one day.

Back in Room 306, Han Yuchu was still nagging Wen Wan Ning. “You pushed back several cases just to watch a show, and you end up sick in the hospital.”

“Enough.” Wen Wan Ning leaned against the headboard. Her face was still pale, but a faint smile played on her lips. “I’m almost fully recovered. It was just a fever.”

“Just a fever,” Han Yuchu glared at her, his tone anxious and pained. “Jia Yan said you hit 38.9 degrees, and your mind was getting fuzzy.”

Wen Wan Ning didn’t argue, just lowered her eyes. Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the cuff of the jacket Shen Jia Yan had left behind. The fabric still carried her scent—faint citrus and warm perfume notes.

Su Fang Yu watched her softened expression and asked quietly, “Chasing her?”

Wen Wan Ning didn’t look up or deny it.

Morning light streamed perfectly through the window, casting fine shadows on her lashes.

After a long moment, she said softly, “Yes, I’m chasing her.”

Han Yuchu perked up, eyes lighting up. “Really? You’ve finally made up your mind?”

When they’d reunited, he’d urged Wen Wan Ning to take a step forward, to fight for herself. But back then, she’d always feared Shen Jia Yan no longer liked her, that she might have someone else, or even not want any more contact.

She’d thought that staying by her side as a work partner, watching her shine, shielding her from needless hassle—that was enough.

But now, she didn’t want to back down anymore.

“Yes, I’ve decided. I’m going to win her back.”