In the hospital room, Liu Sisi lay on the bed.
Her face was pale, her eyes sunken, and she possessed a kind of sickly beauty, a stark contrast to the vibrant woman from the hotel that day.
Song Xi didn't know what to say and felt a little awkward.
Liu Sisi paid her no mind, as if she hadn't noticed someone had entered the room. Her pupils were unfocused, staring ahead, her expression vacant, like an empty shell devoid of a soul.
Minutes ticked by in silence.
Song Xi, tiring of standing, sat down on a chair.
She moved cautiously, trying not to disturb Liu Sisi.
Five minutes later, Song Xi became restless. She worried about Yangyang, but then she thought that if anything happened, Sister Wang would surely call her. So, she forced herself to be patient.
The silence was finally broken by a cough.
Song Xi seized the opportunity, stood up, poured a cup of hot water, and handed it over.
Liu Sisi mechanically turned her head.
She stared at Song Xi for a few seconds, as if trying to recall if she had seen that face somewhere before. After a moment, she seemed to remember, and then took the cup of water.
She took a sip, her dry lips becoming moist.
Song Xi seized the moment and spoke, observing Liu Sisi’s expression, "That cat... is quite cute."
Liu Sisi reacted. Her voice was hoarse as she asked, "Where is Xiao Ju?"
Song Xi replied, "At home."
"Home?"
She suddenly let out a cold sneer, her tightly pursed lips curving upwards in a tragic and sorrowful arc.
"Always working, barely seeing each other a few times a year, celebrating birthdays alone. Can such a place be called home?"
Unknowingly, she clutched the water cup tighter, her voice uncontrollably rising, "Finally, I grew up, had my own life, met a boyfriend I liked, and they interfered again. How dare they!"
*Bang!*
She threw the cup violently onto the floor, shattering it instantly.
Outside the door, Lou Yuming heard the commotion, his brows furrowed.
Shao Cheng asked, "Is something wrong? Should we go in?"
Lou Yuming's expression was tense, but he said, "Let's wait a bit longer."
On the surface, he appeared calm, but his hand rested on the railing, his fingertips tapping rhythmically.
It was a gesture he only made when he was nervous.
Shao Cheng, seeing through it but choosing not to expose it, scoffed inwardly.
He never imagined he'd see Lou Yuming anxious over a woman again. Besides that one person, Song Xi was the first.
After venting her emotions, Liu Sisi fell into a long period of silence.
Finally, she said, crying, "I want to see him..."
Him?
Who was "him"?
Liu Sisi continued, "I know he did it on purpose, he must have... been threatened by my father, that's why he broke up with me! He wasn't like this before! We loved each other so much... Can you help me? I want to see him!"
She looked at Song Xi for help.
Song Xi understood. She wanted to see her boyfriend.
"What's your... boyfriend's name?"
"Zhou Qiao!"
Song Xi quietly took note. "I can help find your boyfriend, but you have to cooperate with treatment and be obedient."
Liu Sisi readily agreed, "Okay!"
"By the way, what's your name?" Liu Sisi asked from behind as Song Xi was about to leave the room.
"Song Xi."
Upon exiting, Song Xi relayed Liu Sisi's request to Lou Yuming.
Shao Cheng was slightly shocked after hearing it.
Liu Sisi hadn't spoken to anyone since being hospitalized, and he never expected Song Xi to get so much information out of her in just a few minutes.
She truly had some skill.
Shao Cheng said, "I'll go tell Mr. Liu."
Song Xi stopped him. "It's best not to. Liu Sisi said Zhou Qiao argued with her because he was threatened by Mr. Liu. If you tell Mr. Liu, it will cause unnecessary trouble."
Shao Cheng looked at Lou Yuming. "Then what should we do?"
If they didn't inform Mr. Liu and brought the person over without authorization, any further incidents would be difficult to handle.
Lou Yuming's gaze fell on Song Xi. Seeing she was unharmed, his tightly furrowed brow relaxed, and he then replied to Shao Cheng, "Go investigate Zhou Qiao."
"Alright."
After Shao Cheng left, Lou Yuming asked Song Xi, "How did you talk to her?"
"The cat," Song Xi said. "That orange cat has special significance for Liu Sisi."
Lou Yuming narrowed his eyes, his dark gaze becoming unfathomable.
Song Xi said, "Can I leave now?"
"I'll take you back."