Married in a Daze - Chapter 111

Chapter 111

The car was driven by Lu Ruyun. Qin Zhenzhen sat in the passenger seat looking out the window. Many young men and women were walking hand-in-hand or holding each other close, carrying roses and little gifts, their postures intimate.

Qin Zhenzhen watched for a long while before asking Lu Ruyun, "Is today some special occasion?"

Lu Ruyun glanced at her, puzzled. "What?"

Qin Zhenzhen pointed out the window. "There are so many people."

Lu Ruyun smiled carelessly. It wasn't until they reached the hospital entrance that they learned today was actually Valentine's Day. Someone was proposing at the hospital entrance, and people nearby were commenting on how romantic it was to propose on Valentine's Day. Qin Zhenzhen, fully disguised, stood there watching. The girl kneeling on the ground looked up, smiling, "Will you marry me?"

"I'm not afraid of your illness. I'm willing to take care of you for a lifetime. Will you marry me?"

The girl standing was a young woman in a hospital gown. It was clear she had just come down from the hospital, still wearing her slippers. Her pretty face flushed crimson as she tugged at the kneeling girl's arm. "Get up first!"

A sizable crowd had already gathered, including several people also in hospital gowns. The Lunar New Year had been late this year. It was mid-February, but the weather wasn't cold. Sunlight bathed everyone in warmth.

Qin Zhenzhen was captivated by the scene, her eyes fixed on the two girls in front. The kneeling girl held flowers and a ring. People around them began to cheer, "Marry her! Marry her! Marry her!"

The girl in the hospital gown bit her lip, a look of hesitation on her face. "But I'm sick..."

"I'm not afraid."

The kneeling girl smiled radiantly. "Even if it's only for a single day, I'm willing to spend it with you."

Watching this, Qin Zhenzhen's eyes inexplicably reddened. Many onlookers had already taken out their phones to record the scene. The cheering continued. Finally, the standing girl nodded, her voice soft. "Okay. I agree."

When Lu Ruyun found Qin Zhenzhen, she saw her staring fixedly ahead, her bright eyes glistening, the rims slightly red. She walked over and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Qin Zhenzhen turned, saw Lu Ruyun, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and smiled. "It's nothing. Watching someone propose."

Lu Ruyun followed her gaze. The kneeling girl had already stood up, the ring was on, and the two embraced and kissed without inhibition. The onlookers tactfully dispersed. Qin Zhenzhen also pulled Lu Ruyun away.

The hospital room was the same as before. The private ward area placed the utmost importance on privacy, so this area was rarely frequented. As they arrived, Qin Zhenzhen deliberately hung back a little. She was just about to tell Lu Ruyun she wouldn't go in when Lu Ruyun took her hand and said, "Let's go."

Qin Zhenzhen looked at their joined hands and nodded. "Okay."

The two entered the room together.

Inside the room, He Shuangshuang was dozing on the sofa. Zhang Yiyao sat by the head of the bed, propped up against pillows. Her complexion was still pale, a stark contrast to her dark hair. Her lips were also dry. Seeing someone enter, she raised a smile.

"Ruyun." Her gaze landed on Qin Zhenzhen behind Lu Ruyun, and her smile deepened. "Zhenzhen."

"How do you have time to come?"

Qin Zhenzhen glanced at Lu Ruyun, pursed her lips into a smile. "Haven't started work yet. Ruyun told me what happened, so I came."

Lu Ruyun stood by the bed. "Feeling any better?"

Zhang Yiyao chuckled softly. "I'm fine."

Lu Ruyun's brow furrowed slightly. She fell silent. He Shuangshuang, hearing the commotion, sat up from the sofa, rubbing her eyes. "Huh? You're here."

She clearly hadn't slept well; her eyes were puffy. He Shuangshuang yawned. "Sit for a bit. I'll go freshen up in the bathroom first."

Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun nodded at her, watching as she walked into the bathroom.

The door closed. Zhang Yiyao's gaze returned, settling on Lu Ruyun.

Someone had once said something like this.

When you see someone closest to you wearing an outfit you've never seen before, they have already changed.

Looking at the Lu Ruyun before her, a wave of panic surged in Zhang Yiyao's heart. Afraid of revealing anything unusual, she lowered her head. "Sit. There's some fruit Shuangshuang bought over there. Ruyun, get some for Zhenzhen."

Lu Ruyun shook her head. "No need. Zhenzhen is sensitive to the cold; she doesn't like eating chilled things in winter."

Zhang Yiyao clenched her fists, her voice dropping slightly. "Oh, okay."

The room was somewhat quiet. When He Shuangshuang emerged from the bathroom, she had changed clothes and applied light makeup. Lu Ruyun said to her, "Shuangshuang, have you had breakfast?"

He Shuangshuang shook her head. "Not yet."

Before Lu Ruyun could speak, Qin Zhenzhen said, "We haven't either. Come on, let's go down together and buy something."

As she spoke, she released Lu Ruyun's hand, patted her on the back, and winked with a smile. Lu Ruyun nodded. "Alright. You go buy some things with Shuangshuang first."

"I'll wait for you to come back."

He Shuangshuang rubbed her arms. "You two are so sickeningly sweet. Let's go, let's go."

Qin Zhenzhen laughed and poked her back. "Shuangshuang, are you jealous?"

He Shuangshuang jumped as if stung. "Ridiculous!"

"Me? Jealous of you two?"

"Let me tell you, I..."

The intermittent chatter faded into the distance. Lu Ruyun closed the hospital room door, walked to the bedside, and sat down. Zhang Yiyao's face was pale, her expression sorrowful. She wanted to reach out and grab Lu Ruyun's hand, but Lu Ruyun subconsciously avoided it.

Zhang Yiyao called out softly, "Ruyun."

Lu Ruyun lowered her gaze, her expression normal, her voice calm and light. "Yaoyao, I'm going to Country J with Zhenzhen tomorrow."

Zhang Yiyao frowned. "You're going back?"

Lu Ruyun was silent for a few seconds before nodding. "Going back for a visit."

"I want to go see our old school. Do you think if I ran into classmates on the street, I'd still recognize them?"

Zhang Yiyao's face grew even paler. Her body swayed slightly, and obvious panic flashed in her bright eyes. She quickly suppressed her loss of composure, speaking as if everything were normal. "Probably not. It's been so many years."

Lu Ruyun lowered her eyelids. "Right. So many years. Yet you can still get in touch with old classmates from back then."

"Yaoyao, your memory is really good."

Sweat beaded on Zhang Yiyao's palms. "I don't understand what you're saying."

Lu Ruyun took a photo from her bag—a group photo of students. They were in the prime of their youth then, their smiling faces looking innocent and simple.

When He Shuangshuang had sent her all the information on the whistleblower, she had found it strangely familiar but couldn't recall where she'd seen it before. She had even thought she was mistaken. But when Zhenzhen mentioned going to Country J, all the memories from that time, clear and unclear, came flooding back.

She remembered where she had seen it.

So she had specifically asked her aunt to find photos from their student days. And sure enough, she saw that person.

Lu Ruyun's voice was low, her pretty face stern. "Why did you do this?"

After seeing the photo, Zhang Yiyao became less tense instead. Her expression gradually calmed, her voice even softening. "Why?"

"Ruyun, you and Zhenzhen had such a conflict back then. Why do you think I did this?"

"If it weren't because I didn't want you to be wronged, why would I go to such lengths?"

Lu Ruyun closed her eyes. "Then why, later, when we all misunderstood Shuangshuang, didn't you admit it?"

Zhang Yiyao clutched the photo. "Admit it? How could I admit it?"

"You were so angry at the time. I was afraid we wouldn't even be able to remain friends. How dare I admit it?"

"Ruyun, you were my only friend. How could I dare to admit it?"

Lu Ruyun stood up, her voice still low. "What about Shuangshuang then?"

"Wasn't she your friend?"

"What about Qiuhan?"

"Where did you place him?"

Zhang Yiyao's voice turned sharp. "They were different!"

"They were different from you."

Lu Ruyun stared at her. "Yaoyao, 'different' is not an excuse to hurt others."

Zhang Yiyao shook her head desperately. "I didn't know. I didn't know it would turn out like that. I just didn't want you to get hurt, Ruyun. I just wanted to be good to you."

Lu Ruyun let out a light, humorless laugh, her voice gradually cooling. "And what about Zhu Yao."

Zhang Yiyao's voice instantly caught in her throat, cutting off abruptly. Her lips moved, wanting to say she didn't know, but meeting Lu Ruyun's clear eyes that seemed to see right through her, the words stuck. Her voice dropped to a near-whisper. "Ruyun..."

Lu Ruyun clenched her hands at her sides, her gaze towards Zhang Yiyao mixed with countless emotions. This person she had once laughed with had long since become unrecognizable.

Perhaps it wasn't a change.

Perhaps she had just been too foolish to notice.

The room was deathly quiet. Zhang Yiyao's eyes felt swollen and painful. Panicked, she asked, "What did Zhu Yao say?"

Lu Ruyun turned her back to her. "She said nothing."

Zhang Yiyao looked at Lu Ruyun in disbelief. Her voice was no longer gentle, bordering on a roar. "You were just bluffing me earlier?"

Hearing her angry outburst, Lu Ruyun lowered her eyelids.

Zhu Yao had indeed said nothing.

But Yaoyao's reaction just now had already told her, loud and clear.

The person who told Zhu Yao back then that her marriage with Zhenzhen was a marriage of convenience was her.

The last sliver of hope hidden in Lu Ruyun's heart shattered completely. Facing Zhang Yiyao, she gritted her teeth, wanting to ask one final question. "Yaoyao, you, to me..."

---

The door clicked open. Duan Qiuhan appeared in the doorway, sweat on his brow. Seeing both Zhang Yiyao and Lu Ruyun in the room, an expression of relief washed over him.

"I just got a call from a friend saying someone at the hospital was threatening suicide..."

He had thought it was Zhang Yiyao. To make matters worse, Zhang Yiyao wasn't answering her phone, and He Shuangshuang wasn't answering hers either, frightening him into rushing over. After confirming Zhang Yiyao was safe and sound, he panted, taking several deep breaths.

Seeing his arrival, Lu Ruyun turned to glance at Zhang Yiyao, pressed her lips together, and said, "I'll go first."

"Ruyun!"

Zhang Yiyao's voice was sharp, a kind of fear swirling in her chest. She trembled as she asked, "Are we still friends?"

Lu Ruyun, with her back to her, thought for a moment before saying, "Yaoyao, all banquets must come to an end. Without me and Shuangshuang, perhaps you can make some new friends."

Zhang Yiyao's body trembled. Her nails dug deeply into her palms. Her already dry lips were bitten until they were bright red. She stubbornly stared at Lu Ruyun's retreating back until the door closed. Only then did she slump, her body collapsing in defeat. Duan Qiuhan, not understanding what had transpired between them, also turned and left the room.

"What did you talk to Yaoyao about?"

On the bench outside the hospital room door, the two sat side by side. Duan Qiuhan lowered his head and asked. Lu Ruyun thought for a moment before replying, "Asked about some old matters from the past."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the sound of high heels clicking on the floor echoed from the end of the corridor, accompanied by cheerful conversation.

"I told you not to buy it earlier, but you wouldn't listen. Serves you right!"

"You're so heartless. I don't know what Ruyun sees in you!"

"She likes that I'm good-looking. Do you have that?"

"Shallow!"

The noisy, bickering voices gradually approached. When Qin Zhenzhen and He Shuangshuang reached the doorway, they saw Lu Ruyun and Duan Qiuhan sitting on the bench. He Shuangshuang frowned in confusion. "What are you two sitting out here for?"

Lu Ruyun stood up. Seeing the several bags they were carrying, she shook her head. "It's nothing. Put the things inside first. I have something to tell you."

Seeing her serious expression, He Shuangshuang turned to look at Qin Zhenzhen, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Did you secretly tattle to Ruyun when I scolded you just now?"

Qin Zhenzhen twitched the corner of her mouth, her face clearly saying, Are you out of your mind?

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