Chapter 63: Chance Encounter at the Hospital

Xiangcheng County, a small yet vibrant town filled with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, featured a crisscrossing network of streets.

An ambulance wailed as it sped forward, taking less than five minutes to travel from the skating rink to the hospital.

However, for Lin Junsheng, those twenty-odd minutes of waiting felt as long as an entire century.

Enduring sharp pains, he felt beads of sweat the size of soybeans constantly rolling down his forehead while he silently prayed in his heart that there would be nothing seriously wrong.

Liu Siyao anxiously stayed by Lin Junsheng's side, using a handkerchief to wipe away his sweat while offering him constant words of comfort.

She knew very well that the skating date had been her own proposal, and now that Lin Junsheng was injured, her heart was filled with a deep sense of self-blame.

Consequently, she immediately called her older brother, Liu Zhiyu, briefly explaining the situation to him.

Upon receiving the call, Liu Zhiyu was consumed with anxiety.

While arranging for men to track down those hooligans, he drove straight to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Liu Guo'an had already been waiting at the hospital, his face etched with worry.

Lin Huijuan was preparing dinner at home when she suddenly received a call from Liu Siyao.

The moment she heard her nephew was injured, the spatula in her hand dropped to the floor, and she rushed off to the hospital in a panic.

Time ticked away second by second, and the hospital was shrouded in a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

Finally, two hours later, Liu Zhiyu arrived at the hospital, dust-laden from his journey.

He brought good news: "All those hooligans have been caught. Tomorrow they will be paraded through the streets to be publicly humiliated, and then locked away in prison for thirty years." This news allowed everyone present to let out a sigh of relief; at least those evildoers had received the punishment they deserved.

The doctor also conducted a thorough examination of Lin Junsheng, and the results were much better than everyone had anticipated.

As it turned out, his injured leg was not actually broken; rather, it was his other foot that had been sprained. Although a bone and tendon injury required a hundred days to fully recover, at least he had not been left disabled.

With a cast on his foot, Lin Junsheng looked at his own "crippled" state, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

It seemed both of his feet were out of commission.

Seeing that their nephew was in no serious condition, Liu Guo'an and Lin Huijuan finally put down the heavy stones weighing on their hearts.

They looked at Liu Siyao and Liu Jingjing with gratitude, knowing that this time they owed a great deal to these two girls.

As the initiator of the skating date, Liu Siyao took the initiative to ask for time off from work so she could take care of Lin Junsheng.

She stayed by Lin Junsheng's side every day.

Liu Jingjing had also stayed at the hospital for a few days, accompanying Liu Siyao in caring for Lin Junsheng.

However, there were still matters at home waiting for her attention, so she had to bid farewell to her friend and Lin Junsheng and return to her own home.

Today, Liu Siyao had to go to work as usual, while Liu Guo'an, in order to take care of Lin Junsheng, had specially arranged for a nurse to attend to him full-time.

Although Lin Junsheng felt a bit embarrassed in his heart, he knew this was well-intentioned kindness from his family, so he did not refuse.

Seated in a wheelchair, Lin Junsheng was carefully pushed by the nurse through the bustling hospital corridors until they finally reached the small hospital garden.

In the small garden, the sunshine was bright, the breeze was gentle, and the air was filled with floral fragrance, making it feel like a tranquil world isolated from the hustle and bustle of reality.

Liu Siyao took a deep breath, feeling her mood lift considerably.

The nurse pushed him under a large tree and stood quietly to the side to keep watch.

Just at that moment, a familiar and slightly surprised voice rang out: "Lin Junsheng!"

Lin Junsheng was stunned for a moment, and looking in the direction of the voice, he saw Zheng Qiushui standing not far away, gazing at him with an expression of astonishment.

He smiled slightly and responded rather awkwardly, "Qiu... Zheng Qiushui, why are you here too?"

"Didn't I mention it last time? I'm here taking care of my grandfather."

Zheng Qiushui walked quickly up to Lin Junsheng, looked him up and down, and asked with concern, "What happened to you? Why are you in a wheelchair?"

Lin Junsheng gave a wry smile and said, "Oh, I accidentally fell on my leg. Now I can't walk, so I can only use a wheelchair."

Zheng Qiushui frowned and scolded, "You are so careless! How can someone as old as you still manage to fall?"

Lin Junsheng helplessly shrugged his shoulders and said, "Who knows? I suppose it was just bad luck. But it's no big deal; after resting for a while, I'll be fine."

Naturally, he couldn't very well say he got this way from a street fight.

Zheng Qiushui nodded and said, "That's good then. I was planning to go buy some food for my grandfather, and I didn't expect to run into you upon coming back."

Lin Junsheng smiled and said, "It really is a small world. I never thought I'd run into you here. How is your grandfather now? Is he feeling any better?"

Zheng Qiushui sighed and said, "Still the same as before, but the doctor said as long as he rests well, there shouldn't be any major problems. What about you? Is your leg injury serious? Is it a problem?"

Lin Junsheng shook his head and said, "It's not serious, just a fracture, and it's already in a cast. The doctor said as long as I rest properly, it will heal in a few months."

After chatting for a while, Zheng Qiushui glanced at her watch and said, "It's getting late. I need to hurry back and bring the food to my grandfather. You rest here for now, and I'll come visit you another day."

Lin Junsheng nodded and said, "Alright, you go ahead. I should head back to the ward as well."

The nurse pushed Lin Junsheng back to his ward, and as he lay on the bed, he began to feel somewhat bored.

Suddenly, he remembered that he had been writing a full-length novel, and thinking that since he had already started writing, he might as well continue his creative work right there in the hospital room.

Thus, he picked up pen and paper and began to brainstorm and write.

Just as he was deeply immersed in his writing, the door of the ward was suddenly pushed open, and Zheng Qiushui walked in carrying a bag of fruit.

She said with a bright smile, "Lin Junsheng, I've come to see you! I even brought some fruit for you; taste it and see if you like it."

Lin Junsheng looked at her in surprise and said, "Why did you get back so fast? Is everything alright with your grandfather?"

Zheng Qiushui shook her head and said, "It's fine. My grandfather is asleep right now, and since I had nothing to do, I figured I'd come check on you. What are you writing? You look so focused."

Lin Junsheng smiled and said, "Oh, I'm writing a full-length novel, just wanting to see if I can write something worthwhile."

Zheng Qiushui's eyes lit up, and she said, "Wow, you can write novels too! That's amazing! Can you let me read what you've written?"

Lin Junsheng scratched his head somewhat bashfully and said, "Not yet, I've just started writing. I'll let you read it after I finish."

Lin Junsheng knew that in his past life, this wife of his was curious about everything and interested in all sorts of things.

Even though he told her he was writing a novel, it wasn't something she would make a big fuss over.

It was just like any ordinary thing—some people worked in factories, while others farmed the land.

It was just as ordinary as those everyday matters.

After the two of them chatted about the novel for a bit, Lin Junsheng suddenly asked with curiosity, "How did you end up in this ward? How did I know you were in this ward?"

Zheng Qiushui smiled and said, "Oh, that? Actually, it was quite a coincidence. That nurse also takes care of my grandfather's ward. When I asked her which room you were in just now, didn't she tell you?"

Lin Junsheng nodded and said, "So that's how it was. Won't you be bored being here all by yourself? Do you want me to keep you company and chat?"

Zheng Qiushui smiled and said, "Of course not, I'm keeping my grandfather company."

The ward door was pushed open with a squeak, and like a gentle breeze, Liu Siyao suddenly barged in.

She wore a light blue dress, the hem gently swaying, resembling a breath of fresh air on an early summer morning.

Zheng Qiushui was sitting in the corner of the ward, looking down and fidgeting with her fingers, appearing somewhat flustered.

When Liu Siyao's figure caught her eye, she couldn't help but raise her head, and at that moment, her heartbeat seemed to skip a beat.

The girl before her was dressed so exquisitely; both her makeup and her attire exuded an indescribable fashion and elegance, making Zheng Qiushui feel deeply inferior, and her face flushed red in an instant.

Her heart beat frantically like a frightened little rabbit, and she almost wanted to turn around and flee from this scene where she felt so outclassed.

Just at that moment, a warm and familiar voice rang out: "Older sister, this is Zheng Qiushui, she's from the village next to mine."

Lin Junsheng stood nearby, introducing them with a beaming smile.

His eyes were filled with gentleness toward Zheng Qiushui, as if saying, "Don't be afraid, she's my sister."

Hearing these words, Zheng Qiushui felt a surge of secret delight—so this exceptionally beautiful girl was Lin Junsheng's sister!

An inexplicable sense of familiarity welled up within her, easing her initial nervousness quite a bit.

She secretly glanced at Liu Siyao and discovered that the other girl was also sizing her up with a pair of eyes filled with curiosity and goodwill, devoid of any arrogance or disdain, carrying instead a warmth that felt like a spring breeze.

"Oh, Qiushui, hello there!" Liu Siyao smiled and extended her hand, her voice crisp and pleasant like a mountain spring, refreshing to anyone who heard it.

Zheng Qiushui hurriedly stood up and rather clumsily shook that slender, warm hand.

After Lin Junsheng introduced the two of them to each other, Zheng Qiushui took her leave.

Liu Siyao looked at Lin Junsheng and said,
"Boy, you're something else, hiding a beauty in your golden house. Have you decided you don't want Jingjing anymore?"