Nineteen.
Jo Ning was nineteen now.
No longer the timid, awkward girl in pigtails clinging to the corners of Chi Xiyang's memory.
She had grown into a young woman—fresh-faced, delicate, and almost heartbreakingly beautiful. Her skin was soft and glowing, her figure slender and shapely in all the right places. There was a certain youthful allure about her now, a quiet sensuality that seemed unintentional yet impossible to ignore.
Chi Xiyang narrowed his eyes.
"So," he drawled, the corners of his lips curling into a mocking smile, "little Jo Ning has grown up."
His tone was lazy and taunting, but his eyes—those sharp, dangerous eyes—scanned her with a casual contempt that made her skin crawl.
Jo Ning fidgeted where she stood, wringing her fingers in front of her. She didn't know what she had done to earn that look from him, but it made her feel… exposed. Small. Judged.
"Learned how to seduce men now, have you?" he added suddenly, his voice low and cutting.
Jo Ning froze.
Her heart stopped for a beat, then thundered in her chest.
"What… What did you just say?" Her voice trembled, disbelief and shame battling in her expression.
Chi Xiyang pushed off the wall with calculated ease and walked toward her. Each step was slow, deliberate, like a predator closing in on prey. When he stopped just inches from her, she could feel the coldness radiating from his body like a winter storm.
He leaned in slightly, his breath brushing against her cheek. "You've certainly gotten good at luring men in," he whispered, his tone cruel. "Just like your mother. Like mother, like daughter."
Jo Ning's eyes widened, color draining from her face. "I didn't—! That's not true!"
But Chi Xiyang only smirked, reaching out to grip her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look up at him. "No? Then why was that man so eager to get his hands on you tonight? Why risk everything for just a taste?"
"I didn't ask him to!" she burst out, twisting her face away. "That had nothing to do with me!"
"Oh, please." He chuckled darkly. "Don't play innocent. I know exactly what kind of girl you are."
Jo Ning's heart clenched.
He didn't believe her. He never had.
"You've had a talent for seducing men since you were a child," he continued, voice dropping into something more venomous. "Always hanging around, trying to get close to me. Back then I just found you annoying. Now?" He laughed coldly. "Now it's just pathetic."
She shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "That's not fair…"
"Oh, don't start with the teary-eyed act." He released her chin with disgust, as if even touching her left a stain on him. "That pathetic look might work on other men, but not me."
Jo Ning's breathing was ragged now, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she fought back the sobs clawing at her throat.
Chi Xiyang gave a mirthless laugh, reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out a crisp handkerchief. He wiped his fingers slowly, methodically—like he was cleaning off something dirty.
Then, without even a glance at her, he turned and tossed the handkerchief into the trash can beside them.
The gesture couldn't have been clearer.
To him, she was filth.
Jo Ning clutched her arms around herself, body shaking. Her knees felt like they might buckle. She bent forward, covering her face with both hands, forcing the tears back down her throat.
Today, she had almost been violated.
She had nearly lost everything.
And yet the man she cared about the most had looked her in the eye and accused her of being the cause of it all. Called her manipulative. Dirty. Just like the mother she barely remembered and never wanted to become.
The pain was too sharp. Too deep.
But she had no one to tell. No one who would believe her.
Chi Xiyang would only think she was putting on a performance. Playing the victim. He wouldn't listen—he never had.
She was alone.
Utterly alone.
And yet, after sitting for a few minutes in silence, she drew in a deep breath and stood.
By the time she pushed open the door to the hospital room again, her face was calm.
Expressionless.
She had learned over the years how to wear a mask.
Inside, Ethan Yu still sat beside Hailey's bed, one hand wrapped protectively around hers. He hadn't moved in hours. His dark eyes remained locked on her pale, unconscious face, silently willing her to wake up.
The contrast from this afternoon was jarring. She had been lively, bright, full of sharp comebacks and dazzling smiles.
Now, she looked like a porcelain doll—fragile and cold.
If he could trade places with her, he would do it in a heartbeat.
If only he hadn't pushed her so hard earlier.
If only he hadn't said those words in his office.
Maybe then she wouldn't have stormed off.
Maybe then she wouldn't have gone to the university.
Maybe…
Ethan clenched his jaw.
It didn't matter.
The only thing that mattered now was protecting her. From everything. Everyone. Even herself.
The sound of the door opening made him glance up, and he saw Jo Ning hesitating at the threshold.
Her presence brought back a storm of emotions, but he kept his voice steady.
"Miss Jo," he said coolly.
Jo Ning flinched. "Is… Is Hailey awake yet?"
"No," he said without looking away from Hailey's face.
"I—" She paused. "Can I stay here tonight?"
"No need." Ethan's tone was clipped, firm. "You should go home and rest."
She blinked, startled. "But I—"
"You've already been through a lot. There's no point in staying."
He wasn't being cruel. He didn't want her around simply because her presence would only remind him of the danger Hailey had faced. And he had no intention of sharing a moment like this with anyone else.
Jo Ning bit her lip and nodded. "Alright. I'll come back tomorrow."
Ethan gave a slight nod. "Goodnight."
She lingered for a second longer, then glanced at Hailey, worry swimming in her eyes. Without saying another word, she turned and left the room.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Ethan leaned closer to Hailey, brushing her hair gently off her forehead.
"Hailey…" he whispered, voice softer than it had been in years. "Please wake up."
He had spent so much time trying to control her, push her away, deny how much he cared.
And now?
Now he would tear the world apart just to see her open her eyes again.