Song Meiqi quickened her pace—only for broad shoulders to suddenly block her path. She froze mid-step as a familiar citrus scent drifted to her nose. Slowly, she lifted her head—and met golden-brown eyes staring back at her.
Those deep-set almond eyes, sharp yet tender, as if they could see right through her, belonged only to him. A jolt ran through her as she realized who it was.
"Mr. Wang…" she mumbled, caught off guard, lost in his gaze.
Simultaneously, Wang Zi Rui froze for a brief moment, the distant echoes of footsteps around them fading into the background. Then, slowly, he knitted his brows as recognition dawned—those round, midnight eyes belonged only to her. He couldn't look away.
Just then, someone brushed against Meiqi's shoulder, nudging her closer to Zi Rui. Instinctively, her hand shot out to grasp his arm, her nails digging into the fabric of his clothes as she steadied herself. Yet the sudden closeness felt awkward, and they both quickly pulled back.
Zi Rui straightened his three-piece suit, one hand still holding the basket of fruits. Meanwhile, Meiqi rubbed the back of her neck, avoiding his gaze as the tension in the air gradually eased.
"Why are you here, Ms. Song?" Zi Rui asked, his voice low and raspy.
"Ah… I was—" She paused, thinking she had seen her uncle. Her gaze shifted forward, searching for the person she had been following earlier, but found nothing. Maybe I imagined it, she told herself before finally meeting Zi Rui's eyes.
"I was visiting someone," she replied.
"Oh." Zi Rui's tone was flat, almost indifferent. "Then…I need to go." Without another word, he brushed past her, his face unreadable. Meiqi froze for a moment, too slow to stop him, but instinctively turned and followed, her steps quickening to keep pace.
Shortly after, she stopped near the doorway of the shared room, her gaze fixed on Zi Rui as he stepped inside and paused in front of the patient farthest from her. Habitually, Meiqi pulled her cap lower, making sure no one would recognize her in the crowded space.
When her eyes returned to him, they widened in shock. She watched as Zi Rui handed a basket of fruits to the young man by the window. Her lips parted slightly, disbelief flickering across her face as realization sank in.
Mr. Wang… even in this condition, you still wouldn't let him go. You even came all the way here, she thought, recalling that he was into men.
Just as her thoughts spiralled, a woman rushed past her, heading straight for Zi Rui. Clad in a blue blouse and a long white skirt, she shoved him aside, causing him to stumble back a few steps as the basket of fruits slipped from his grasp and scattered across the floor.
Gasps echoed around the room. Meiqi knitted her brows, straining to hear what was happening, when she caught fragments of gossip from a nearby auntie.
"I heard her son fell from a building due to poor safety management, and someone tried to hush it up," one whispered.
"Ah… you mean the man from yesterday? I saw that too," another replied.
Meiqi's eyes flickered back to Zi Rui, a bitter sneer tugging at her lips. In the end, you're just like every wealthy, despicable man I've ever met—selfish, entitled, quick to bully the weak.
Just as she turned to leave, her gaze snapped back—Zi Rui was bowing sharply, a perfect ninety-degree angle, every movement precise and deliberate. She froze, caught off guard, her mind racing to process what she was seeing.
A while later…
Zi Rui stepped out of the room, his face impassive, showing no trace of the man who had just bowed moments ago. His eyes then landed on Meiqi's silhouette, leaning against the wall as if waiting for him.
"Ms. Song… what are you doing?" he asked. Meiqi looked up, her eyes barely visible beneath the oversized cap. "I was waiting for you," she replied flatly, deliberately.
Zi Rui tilted his head slightly, curious. "For what?" Meiqi straightened her posture and cleared her throat, as if gathering her words. "I haven't thanked you yet for what happened a few days ago," she said.
Zi Rui opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off instantly. "And don't say there's no need to thank me—I feel like I emotionally owe you." She added, "Let me at least invite you for coffee."
Zi Rui sighed, glancing at the long list of things waiting for him, but as he met Meiqi's earnest, flickering eyes, he knew she wouldn't stop until he agreed.
"Then… how about dinner instead?" Zi Rui suggested, glancing at his watch. "I have a lot to do, so I'll only be free by eight in the evening," he added.
Meiqi smiled faintly. "Alright, then let's exchange contacts so I can let you know where to meet."
Zi Rui nodded, and they added each other on UrChat. Once the connection was confirmed, he left, leaving Meiqi alone in the hospital hallway.
…
Later that afternoon, at the half-constructed resort, Si Qi rushed to Zi Rui's side the moment he arrived. Leaning close, he whispered in his ear,
"Boss, Cheng Yi did fall from the third floor, but it wasn't due to poor safety netting."
Zi Rui glanced at him, hinting him to continue. Understanding the gesture, Si Qi went on, lowering his voice so no one nearby could hear.
"—I've checked. There was indeed a chunk of cement broken from the edge of the building."