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Even though he didn't say "goodbye" on that phone call, Han Haoxuan would still call Ruolin. However, the calls were always very brief because every time he was about to get to the point, Ruolin would always manage to stop him from saying the next thing, which always disappointed him.
That day, Ruolin finished her work at the restaurant and returned home. She had just turned on her computer to look up information about the cover star of the next magazine issue when Han Haoxuan called.
No way? What time is it? Why are you calling? Aren't you afraid I'll tell Xinyu if you call me so often? After hesitating for a moment, Ruolin answered the phone.
“Let’s meet, Ruolin,” Han Haoxuan said, getting straight to the point.
"I've already said, I don't want to see you." Ruolin had her own principles regarding Han Haoxuan. She didn't want to cause conflict between him and Xinyu, and she disliked Han Haoxuan's indecisive personality even more. If he truly liked her, why was he still entangled with Xinyu?
"Can't you come up with a different reason?"
"I've been very busy lately, I don't have time." Ruolin simply agreed to his request.
"What are you doing so late?" Han Haoxuan asked, his tone as gentle as ever.
"Read a book," Ruolin replied irritably.
"You're quite eager to learn," Han Haoxuan said with a smile. He paused, then asked, "Do you have some lofty ambition that makes you so studious?"
"Ambition?" Ruolin couldn't help but smile and said, "I don't have much ambition. I'm content as long as I have enough to eat and wear."
"Do you think it's still the 70s or 80s?"
"No matter what era it is, my ambition will never change. I just want to live an ordinary life undisturbed by others," Ruolin said meaningfully.
"What do you mean? Are you saying I bothered you?" Han Haoxuan sensitively caught Ruolin's unspoken meaning.
"You said it yourself, so you do have some self-awareness."
Han Haoxuan smiled helplessly.
Every time I call her, it's the same; we always end up talking about things that have nothing to do with our relationship.
However, this didn't diminish his concern for her. He knew most of her current situation and understood she was going through a tough time. But if he offered to lend her money, she definitely wouldn't appreciate it. So, he could only ask Fang Qiang to help Ruolin get a raise. Fang Qiang explained that raises were usually given at the end of the year, and suddenly giving Ruolin a raise would cause dissatisfaction among other employees. He could only try to get her more in bonuses. Han Haoxuan generously offered to pay for any extra bonuses himself and asked Fang Qiang to keep it a secret. This way, Ruolin could accept the bonuses without feeling guilty.
"Brother Haoxuan, why are you doing this? If you want to help her, why don't you just tell her directly?" Fang Qiang was puzzled by Han Haoxuan's good intentions.
"She won't accept that. This employee of yours is quite difficult to manage." Han Haoxuan could only manage a wry smile.
"Hey, Haoxuan, that's not right of you. I heard from Tianyi that you have a girlfriend named Xinyu, right? How can you be having your cake and eating it too?"
"It's a long story about Xinyu. I've been trying to accept her, but I still can't forget Ruolin..." Han Haoxuan felt that he always seemed so powerless when talking about Ruolin.
"Don't blame me for scolding you, but you're not allowed to bully Shen Ruolin. She's a girl who's had a tough life."
“I never bullied her; she was the one who bullied me. When I call her, she often doesn’t answer,” Han Haoxuan sighed.
"You have a girlfriend, of course she doesn't want to be a third party. Also, since you don't like Xinyu, don't drag her along, you need to make things clear with her."
“I will find an opportunity to talk to her clearly. The main problem is that my parents now know about Xinyu and are very satisfied with her, so it's a bit tricky to resolve, and I also have to consider my parents' feelings. You know, my father is not in good health, and I'm a little afraid that he won't be able to accept the truth right away. In any case, I will try my best to persuade my parents and will also come clean with Xinyu as soon as possible.”
"You've really done something terrible, Brother Haoxuan! Now you know how hard it is to deal with romantic entanglements, right? Your situation is really complicated. The revolution is not yet successful, and comrades still need to work hard!" After all, it was Han Haoxuan's own business, and Fang Qiang felt that there was no point in saying more. He just wanted to encourage him.
Emotional matters are inherently complicated and tangled, and they are not subject to the opinions of onlookers. The key is for the person involved to handle them themselves.
These days, perhaps due to overwork, Ruolin has been feeling slightly unwell. She usually doesn't pay much attention to minor illnesses and aches, so this time she didn't take it to heart either, and continued to work at the restaurant after get off work, doing her best.
When serving dishes to guests, she felt as if her hands, which were holding the plates, were not obeying her commands and could not bear the weight of the plates, making her feel weak all over.
After serving all the dishes to the guests, Ruolin stole a little free time and leaned against the wall, closing her eyes slightly. She looked tired, and her complexion was not as rosy as before, but rather pale.
Xiaoru, a colleague who also worked at the restaurant, saw her like this and asked if she wasn't feeling well. She forced a smile and said, "It's okay." In fact, her back was covered in a thin layer of cold sweat, and she felt a little dizzy, but she was still forcing herself to stay awake.
Finally, it was time to leave work. Feeling somewhat exhausted, she picked up her handbag and walked out of the restaurant with Xiaoru. As she opened the door, her hands, damp with cold sweat, gripped the handle tightly, causing her to slip and stumble backward. Xiaoru quickly steadied her, asking if she was alright. She remained nonchalant, saying she was fine, but Xiaoru still advised her to see a doctor. She simply nodded.
The neon lights outside were flashing, making Ruolin's vision a little blurry. She rubbed her eyes, but it didn't help.
"Ruolin." A voice rang out, still clearly audible amidst the noise, a deep and familiar voice.
Ruolin paused, a strange emotion washing over her. After a few seconds, she continued walking. Xiaoru, who was beside her, reminded her that someone was calling her. Ruolin turned around and saw him leaning casually against the car. The flashing neon lights made him look exceptionally handsome and charming, with a tall and straight figure.
Ruolin found it strange. How did Han Haoxuan know where she worked? Could it be that he found out from Xinyu? And why was he looking for her so late?
Xiaoru followed Ruolin's gaze and instinctively covered her mouth, which was about to burst out a sound. She said to Ruolin, "Is he your boyfriend? He's so handsome!" After praising him, she nudged Ruolin and continued, "I've known you for a while now. You're really good at keeping secrets."
"No, don't misunderstand," Ruolin quickly denied.
"Still not admitting it? Look at the look in his eyes," Xiaoru said, leaning closer to Ruolin. She was indeed sharp-eyed; she had secretly observed the way Han Haoxuan looked at Ruolin, his eyes filled with deep affection.
"Don't talk nonsense, you should go back first." Ruolin glanced at Xiaoru.
"A beautiful woman is on a date, and a handsome man is accompanying you. Look..." Xiaoru pointed to the night sky and said, "Besides, the weather is perfect. Go have fun! Have a good time." After saying that, Xiaoru waved to Ruolin and turned to leave.
Ruolin was about to say something more, but looking at Xiaoru's back, the words stuck in her throat and she couldn't say them.
Chapter Forty-Three
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Han Haoxuan leaned lazily against the car, looking completely relaxed.
Ruolin stepped forward and stopped two steps away from Han Haoxuan, politely asking, "Is there something you need from me?"
"Nothing much, I just wanted to see you." Han Haoxuan withdrew his affectionate gaze, put on an indifferent expression, and spoke in a slightly irreverent tone.
Ruolin had heard him say similar things more than once or twice, and his expression was always like that, so she was too lazy to argue with him and just let him say what he wanted, taking it as a joke.
"Now that you've seen the person, it's time to go," Ruolin said after a while.
After Ruolin finished speaking, her heart tightened inexplicably and twitched slightly. She was afraid that the breathtakingly handsome face would suddenly disappear in the next second, she was afraid that the secret joy that had just crossed her heart would turn to ashes, she was afraid that they would be swallowed up by the darkness of night together...
Han Haoxuan seemed unconcerned by her words, still standing in front of Ruolin with a hazy sadness on his face, which he concealed after a few seconds. Then, his usual gentle smile reappeared on his face, warm and comforting like a late spring breeze.
Ruolin lowered her eyes and watched him quietly. Fortunately, he remained in her sight.
The two remained silent, oblivious to the people passing by, as if they were the only two people left in the world, and all the noise of cars and people had nothing to do with them.
After a long while, Ruolin looked up at Han Haoxuan, but she couldn't see him very clearly. He seemed like a phantom image, blurry and indistinct.
"..." Han Haoxuan opened the car door like a gentleman and invited Ruolin to get in.
"No, thank you, I'll take the bus." Ruolin managed a weak smile, her face pale and her expression frail.
Seeing Ruolin like this, Han Haoxuan felt a pang of anxiety and asked with concern in his eyes, "What's wrong?"
Ruolin felt a wave of dizziness, even worse than when she was in the hotel. She touched her forehead, which was covered in cold sweat. She quietly wiped it away, trying to calm herself down, but her face grew even paler and bloodless. She glanced at Han Haoxuan, grinned, and said nonchalantly, "It's nothing."
"Are you sick?" Han Haoxuan's heart clenched. The more he saw her trying to be strong, the more his heart ached for her. Seeing that Ruolin remained silent, he continued, "I'll take you to the hospital."
"No need, thank you for your kindness." Ruolin steadied herself against the car beside her and struggled to walk forward, her head growing heavier and heavier.
"..." Han Haoxuan looked at Ruolin's unsteady steps, reached out to help her, but after a long time, he put his hand down.
Ruolin ignored Han Haoxuan and walked straight to the bus stop. Her body seemed to be out of her control, light and airy, and she walked with difficulty, trembling slightly, but her back remained straight.
After finally reaching the platform, Ruolin leaned wearily against the billboard.
Now, as long as there is a place where she can lean on, she feels very secure and her body doesn't feel so tired.
Watching bus after bus pass by, but none of them being the one she was waiting for, Ruolin felt a little anxious. At that moment, she longed to go home and get a good night's sleep, to let her exhausted self rest.
After a while, Ruolin felt a familiar presence beside her. She was startled for a moment, then turned her head slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across her face before disappearing again. After looking at it, she gently turned her face away.
Seeing Ruolin's expression towards him, Han Haoxuan was slightly hurt, but he didn't hold it against her. Besides, she looked sick, listless, like a wilted ball. He said gently, "I'll take you to the hospital."
Ruolin didn't turn to look at him. A slight, strained smile appeared on her lips, a smile that tugged at the heartstrings. After a long pause, she chuckled and said, "Aren't you afraid of getting a ticket if you park the car there?"
"This woman is really strange," Han Haoxuan thought to himself. She's so sick, yet she acts like she doesn't care, as if the illness doesn't affect her at all. Putting that aside, she's still thinking about his car during this critical time. Han Haoxuan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Then let it be punished. But..." He paused slightly, leaned down, looked up at Ruolin, and said, "You need to go to the hospital."
"Go back now, thank you for your concern," Ruolin said softly, her voice weak and powerless. Her palms were covered in sweat, as was her forehead. Despite this, she only felt a little cold and weak, and that some medicine would help when she got back.
"You must go." Han Haoxuan's tone left no room for doubt, and contained a hint of command.
Seeing Ruolin struggling to hold on, Han Haoxuan felt extremely worried. He wanted to wipe the sweat from her forehead, he wanted to lend her a warm shoulder, and he wanted to take her physical pain for her...
All he did was not want to see her suffer. But she was still putting on a brave face.
Ruolin's shoulders suddenly trembled. Looking at Han Haoxuan, whose eyes were deep, a weak smile appeared on her lips as she said, "Thank you, but no need."
His answer was concise and to the point, which slightly annoyed Han Haoxuan. He grabbed Ruolin's hand and walked straight ahead. He took large strides, and Ruolin couldn't keep up. She stumbled and tried to pull her hand away, but he held her cold hand tightly in his palm. A thin layer of sweat clung to Han Haoxuan's hand, and the temperature of their palms mingled, a mixture of hot and cold.
"Let go," Ruolin said softly, as if it weighed nothing at all.
Ignoring Ruolin's protests, Han Haoxuan turned to look at her pale face and felt extremely sorry for her. He simply picked her up and carried her in his arms.
Ruolin, who was suddenly picked up by Han Haoxuan, opened her eyes wide and seemed to regain some of her energy. She said in a stronger tone, "Put me down."
Ruolin never expected that the usually gentle Han Haoxuan would openly hug her in the street. What kind of behavior was this? Even if he cared, there was no need to care like this. It caught Ruolin completely off guard.
Her struggles were futile, so she quieted down and obediently lay in Han Haoxuan's arms. His chest was broad and warm, like a resting place, making her feel at ease. The scent emanating from him was very pleasant, subtly entering her nostrils, making her feel intoxicated. His warm hands held her slender waist firmly, and a warmth began to spread around her waist, gradually burning her heart.
At this moment, she seemed to forget the torment of her illness and the pain her body had suffered. She was simply immersed in this warmth. She was somewhat dazed, feeling that all of this must be a hallucination after her dazed state, something that happened suddenly and was not real.
When Han Haoxuan gently placed Ruolin in the car, she finally realized that it was all real. Only today did she discover that Han Haoxuan also had a stubborn side.
Neither of them spoke in the car. Ruolin quietly leaned her head against the window, her eyes closed, her long eyelashes covering her cheeks, looking as if she were asleep. However, her head was throbbing and her body was weak and powerless, making it impossible for her to fall asleep.
Ruolin felt that her body was like an old clock, ticking away, until one day it would suddenly stop with a "click," beyond repair. Then she thought again that she was still so young, she shouldn't be at that point yet, her body was still strong. She was always so careless about her health.
Han Haoxuan glanced at Ruolin occasionally, not wanting to disturb her. In the night, streaks of light shone on her face, and he could vaguely see her eyelashes trembling slightly, like the wings of a butterfly, thin and fragile. Her face remained pale, like a sheet of paper, appearing stark and somewhat frightening. Han Haoxuan saw this and his heart ached. Ruolin was so stubborn; his actions today had indeed been somewhat rude, but he was worried about her, his heart filled with anxiety. How could he bear to let her go home alone?
When they arrived at the hospital, Han Haoxuan woke Ruolin up, opened the car door for her, and reached out to help her out, but she refused, saying, "I can walk by myself."
Ruolin was not fully conscious, her eyes were a little blurry. She held onto the car door and got out of the car, her steps a little unsteady.
As soon as they got out of the car, Han Haoxuan grabbed Ruolin's hand. Ruolin's heart skipped a beat, and she stared blankly at Han Haoxuan. Han Haoxuan only cared about taking her into the hospital, saying nothing. Ruolin stopped struggling. She knew she had no strength left to argue with him. Besides, her head was still throbbing with pain, and she was dizzy. She didn't know how many steps she would take before she lost her balance and collapsed. She dared not think about it anymore.
Ruolin's hand was firmly held by Han Haoxuan. She could feel the clear lines on his hand gradually embedding themselves into her palm, a gentle warmth seeping in and spreading throughout her body. She didn't know what their current situation meant, and she didn't want to think about it. She only felt a wave of exhaustion, both physically and mentally.
Chapter Forty-Four
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After examination, the doctor said that Ruolin's condition was caused by overwork. She was not only very weak but also had a fever and needed an IV drip. The doctor also prescribed some medicine for her.
Ruolin then admitted that she was indeed ill. She felt that misfortunes never come singly; her mother had just undergone surgery, and she was working desperately to pay off their debts as soon as possible. But now, she had collapsed. Fortunately, the doctor said that as long as she rested more, she would be fine.
The private hospital room was extremely quiet, and the air conditioning was set to the perfect temperature.
Ruolin had originally planned to receive her IV drip in a mixed ward, but Han Haoxuan chose a private room for her. Ruolin thought to herself, "We don't have much money to begin with, and you're staying in such a nice room." However, she was too embarrassed to tell him directly, so she simply went along with his wishes.