The author has something to say: Chu Mu is a husband and a diplomat. Born into such a family, work and marriage were equally important. After something like this happened, anyone in that situation would probably be at the hospital by his side.
All accusations are somewhat irresponsible when no truth is known. Girls, you have your own moral compass when reading this, and I won't interfere with any of your opinions on the text; I accept them all gladly. This is the result of your respect for me and your willingness to treat the universe with care.
Secondly, you all keep clamoring about torturing the male lead, so let me just say this: my idea of "torture" is to teach Chu Mu how to love Miss Shu in a better way, and to make him appreciate things more after losing them. If you're looking for scenes where the male lead is missing limbs, suffers physical and emotional torment, regrets it, and dies—I could never write that!
My perspective on love might be different from yours? We're all women, so shouldn't we be the same...? How can there be such a huge difference...? It's really frustrating, but there's nothing I can do. The universe is just that stubborn of authors; once I've decided on a story's direction, I'll keep striving in that direction, even if you pour tea on my computer, I'll still write. I have my own ideas, and your persistence until now shows that you agree with my ideas, right? As for those readers who say they'll drop the story if the male lead isn't tortured, if you don't like it, I can't stop you, and I can't change it according to your wishes. After all, there are still people who like it.
To paraphrase a line from a movie, whether the connection is deep or shallow, the road is long or short, it's enough to see it.
Finally, Yi Hun will no longer apply for rankings, so the update speed will be slower, basically every other day, occasionally every two days, or... a sudden burst of three updates? Anyway, I will notify you on Weibo, hahaha.
Thank you to Rain After Sunshine and yymm for the generous votes! The author is stunned by the overwhelming support; you guys really went to great lengths.
Oh right, there's more! Who told you the child is gone?!
Chapter 49 The Dream is Too Painful
Shu Yi'an felt as if her consciousness had fallen into an abyss, and no matter how hard she tried to wake up, it was all in vain. She fluttered her eyelashes uneasyly, and this deep sleep began to pull her into the memory of that day that was both the most terrifying and the most fortunate.
Two years ago, in early autumn, on the day of Shu Yi'an's dissertation defense, due to an allergic reaction to cephalosporin antibiotics, Ms. Shu unfortunately and dramatically fainted on the defense stage. Why dramatically? Because her fainting even alarmed the diplomatic luminary, Chu Mu, who was a specially invited guest.
Rumors immediately spread throughout the school. Some said Chu Mu was pursuing Shu Yi'an, but without success. Others said Shu Yi'an had interfered in Chu Mu and Tao Yunjia's relationship, ultimately causing their breakup. Still others said that Shu Yi'an, a French major, had never had a boyfriend in her four years of university and always rejected boys who confessed to her because she had been Chu Mu's lover since freshman year. That day, the Foreign Affairs College was absolutely buzzing with excitement.
But in the hospital, far away from the school, it was unexpectedly quiet. After Chu Mu brought her to the hospital, he sat by the window in silence, waiting for her to wake up.
That noon, the sunlight was beautiful. A soft halo bathed Shu Yi'an's young face, making her look incredibly gentle and lovely. Chu Mu stared at her, slightly lost in thought. Especially when she looked up, her face full of earnest regret, and said to herself, "I haven't finished answering my question yet."
That was the instant she truly invaded Chu Mu's heart. He had seen countless women: a female colleague as wise and intelligent as a diplomat, a younger sister as pampered and adorable as Chu Weiyuan, a woman as proud and confident as Tao Yunjia. But none of those people could compare to that one second when Shu Yi'an looked up.
It was an acute allergic reaction, but the condition improved significantly after receiving intravenous fluids. When the nurse came to remove the needle, she saw that the situation had improved and the doctor had given her a clear assurance that as long as she took her medication on time and avoided that type of drug in the future, there would be no problem.
Chu Mu listened attentively to the doctor's instructions, then turned to ask Shu Yi'an for her opinion. "Are you feeling alright? Should we stay here for further observation?"
Knowing her own body best, Shu Yi'an quickly shook her head. "No need, I'm fine."
Chu Mu respected her opinion, nodded, and saw the doctor out. Since it was an emergency, normally Shu Yi'an shouldn't be in a ward; a regular emergency observation room would suffice. However, seeing her pale face and the alarming large patches of red rash on her wrist, Chu Mu immediately had her transferred to a VIP ward. Since it was a VIP ward, the medication and bed fees were naturally prohibitively expensive.
But Chu Mu remained unfazed by the string of numbers on the payment slip, casually taking out his wallet to swipe his card and sign. While the printer was printing the receipts, the young nurse secretly glanced at the man outside the glass window, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks. She secretly smiled at the nurse at the next table, secretly thinking how wonderful it would be to find such a considerate husband in the future…
Shu Yi'an returned from the payment counter just as she finished packing and came out of the ward. Seeing the receipts that Chu Mu hadn't yet put away, she paused when she saw Shu Yi'an and, afraid that she would overthink things, subconsciously put the things in her hand into her pocket.
"How could it be so fast?"
Shu Yi'an lowered her head awkwardly, her two index fingers nervously twisting together in circles. "I'm sorry... I didn't bring my wallet. Could I pay for the medical expenses when I get back to school?"
Chu Mu chuckled silently. "Why?"
Shu Yi'an thought he was asking why she hadn't brought her wallet, and for a moment she bit her lower lip, her face flushing slightly without her even realizing it. "I never expected something like this to happen during my defense... I left in such a hurry."
"What are you thinking?" Chu Mu stood tall and graceful in front of her, his expression playful. "I mean... have you always kept such a clear distinction between yourself and men?"
This time, it was Shu Yi'an's turn to be stunned, and countless questions immediately popped into her mind. She hurriedly explained, "No, I don't have a boyfriend yet... Anyway, I'm already very grateful that you helped me get to the hospital, I can't expect you to pay for it."
Shu Yi'an only reached slightly above his chest, so slender that he seemed he could easily wrap his arms around her. Because she was lying in the hospital bed, her hair was loose and soft, draped over her shoulders. Her anxious expression inexplicably brought a smile to Chu Mu's lips. Almost instinctively, he reached out and tucked her loose hair behind her ear.
Both of them were stunned by his action. Shu Yi'an was taken aback by his sudden behavior, while Chu Mu... had no idea what he was thinking.
To cover his embarrassment, Chu Muqing coughed and took the first step. "Let's go, I'll take you back to school."
Because it was noon, Chu Mu was worried that she might feel unwell after the injection, so he deliberately slowed down the car. Or perhaps... he didn't want to drive so fast. Shu Yi'an secretly glanced at her watch; it was 12:30, almost time for her afternoon interview.
"Um... just drop me off at the subway station at the intersection ahead."
Chu Mu stared intently at the road ahead, his brows furrowing slightly. The subway line led in the exact opposite direction from the school. "Aren't we going back to school?"
I have an interview scheduled with a company this afternoon.
"You've already started looking for a job so early?"
He vaguely remembered how many times Sui Qing had nagged Chu Weiyuan to find a job, but the old lady was still lazing around at home, planning her trip to France at the end of the month.
"Yes, everyone's looking, so let's try our luck... Just let me off at the front."
Chu Mu turned his head in the opposite direction. "Which company?"
"Anjali Group, a trading company that exports to France."
Chu Mu had also heard of this company; it was a large and influential foreign enterprise in China. "Why didn't you participate in this year's political examination? I remember... your grades were excellent." Before going on stage, she had reviewed Chu Mu's student file; she had graduated with excellent grades in every subject. Furthermore, her spoken English met the requirements of a standard translator.
Shu Yi'an blinked, clearly turning her head away to avoid his gaze. She nervously clenched her hands. "Because—I don't earn enough!"
Chu Mu was amused by her words and couldn't help but nod in agreement. "There's potential."
Finally, Chu Mu still drove her to the building downstairs at Anya'er Company, telling her to arrive five minutes before her interview. Shu Yi'an took off her seatbelt and thanked Chu Mu earnestly, "Could you leave me your number or bank card number? That way I can transfer the money to you when I get back to school."
Chu Mu had to admit that he didn't want to talk about this with her at all, so he simply changed the subject.
"Don't worry about the thesis, I'll talk to them. After all, it wasn't your fault." And… Chu Mu's expression darkened as he thought of her fainting. "Are you sure you don't want to pursue the matter of your sudden collapse?"
Having shared a dorm room for four years, how could a roommate not know about her drug allergies? They clearly wanted to use the most despicable methods to cause her problems, even risking their lives to prevent her from graduating. Shu Yi'an's eyes dimmed, and she shook her head dejectedly. "What's the point of pursuing this? Maybe she didn't do it on purpose. But... I really need to trouble you with the thesis."
"Chu Mu, thank you."
This was the first time she had called his name. Her clear, round eyes were filled with a hint of nervousness, yet her gentle, soft voice was captivating. Watching her get out of the car and walk into the building against the chilly autumn wind, Chu Mu suddenly felt that he had become... less... pessimistic.
On his way back at noon, Chu Mu called his professor to ask him for a favor regarding Shu Yi'an. The old man laughed heartily on the other end. Even a scholar with decades of academic experience couldn't resist gossiping. "What's going on between you and that girl? Why are you so open about asking me for a favor this time?"
Chu Mu held the phone and smiled slightly. "What do you mean, what happened? Nothing happened. It's just that I made them faint from all the questioning, so I got them a pass from you. After all, it's my responsibility."