The rustle of discharge papers was the only sound in the room.
Lin Shuyin's hand trembled as she signed the final line of her name, each stroke faint but deliberate.
Her signature looked like it belonged to someone else—someone who hadn't spent the last three days pretending not to feel the bruises beneath her skin.
It was done.
The nurse left with the papers.
Lin Shuyin took a deep breath.
This white, antiseptic room could finally fade behind her.
Chen Yiwei zipped up her duffel bag with a loud whirr. "That's everything," she chirped, cheerful as ever. "Are you sure you're okay? I can ask a nurse to bring a wheelchair—"
"I'm fine," Lin Shuyin said too quickly, her voice sharper than she intended.
Before she could soften it, her phone buzzed on the counter. The screen flashed: Unknown Number.
Her stomach sank.
She hesitated, fingers brushing the phone. The air suddenly felt heavier.
She answered.
"Hello?"
There was a slight pause—then a calm, refined voice came through the line.
"Miss Lin."
She recognized it instantly.
Ji Wen.
Lu Yanzhou's secretary. The one who had handled her hospital admission, bills, and now—apparently—her release.
"I apologize for the delay," Ji Wen said politely. "There was a hold-up on my side. President Lu instructed me to assist you with the discharge process. I'll be there shortly."
A strange chill curled around her heart at those words: President Lu.
Not Yanzhou. Not even Mr. Lu.
Yes, that's what he was—someone forever out of her reach.
"There's no need," she said, forcing her voice to remain calm. "A friend came. Everything's settled. Please thank President Lu on my behalf."
There was a pause on Ji Wen's end.
"…Understood." He sounded hesitant now. "But at least allow me to stop by and ensure everything's in order. It won't take long."
"No, really." Her grip on the phone tightened. "I'm fine. I'd prefer to leave quietly."
Another pause.
Then Ji Wen's voice turned more businesslike. "In that case, may I have your friend's contact details? For safety purposes. In case something comes up."
For a moment, Lin Shuyin didn't speak.
Would he pass the number to him?
Would Lu Yanzhou even care?
But in the end, she recited Chen Yiwei's number and address.
What did it matter? She wasn't important enough for Lu Yanzhou to personally chase her down. Not when he'd already erased her from the room, the conversation, and possibly even from memory. Or so she thought.
She ended the call after a few more quiet words, slipping the phone into her coat pocket just as Chen Yiwei pushed open the door, arms overflowing with paper bags.
Bottles clinked inside. Prescription labels stuck out in all directions.
"What the hell is this?" Chen Yiwei frowned, peeking into one of the bags. "Why do you need, like, five kinds of ointments? You fainted from anemia, not fought a tiger!"
Lin Shuyin froze mid-step.
Her ears turned red.
A flash of memory cut through her like lightning.
Flashback: The day before her discharge
The knock on the hospital door had barely registered before it creaked open. A gentle-faced female doctor walked in, followed by two young nurses.
A gentle knock interrupted her spiraling thoughts. She looked up sharply.
A young female doctor entered, smiling warmly, followed by two nurses.
"Miss Lin? Good morning. I'm Dr. Zhao. I'm here for your follow-up consultation."
Lin Shuyin gave a small nod, her voice caught somewhere between her chest and her throat.
Dr. Zhao glanced at the chart, then cleared her throat lightly. "So… um. First off, Dr. Xu—your primary physician—asked me to speak to you instead. He thought it'd be… less awkward."
Lin Shuyin blinked. "Less awkward?"
The doctor gave a polite chuckle, stepping closer. "Well, the nature of your… condition requires a bit of a delicate conversation."
Condition?
"Your vitals are normal, and the bloodwork came back fine. But the physical marks and bruising across your body raised some concern. Though," she added gently, "we've already determined there's no cause for alarm."
Lin Shuyin's hands froze.
She knew what the doctor meant—but hearing it aloud was like being slapped.
Seeing her silence, the doctor took it as shyness and continued in a reassuring tone. "It's perfectly natural. First times can be… overwhelming. Especially when emotions run high."
Lin Shuyin looked up sharply, her face pale.
Overwhelming? First time? Emotions?
Did they… really think that was what happened?
The doctor sat at the edge of the bed with a calm, friendly demeanor. "You're only eighteen, Miss Lin. It's important to take things slow. I understand—young couples can be... passionate. But judging by your condition, it was quite... intense."
Lin Shuyin almost choked on air.
Young couples?! Passionate?!
The nurses behind the doctor tried very hard not to laugh. One of them bit her lip so hard it turned white.
One of the nurses behind her turned away, shoulders shaking slightly.
Lin Shuyin wished she could melt through the mattress and disappear forever.
They think… they think we're in love?
The doctor's voice softened. "He must care about you very much. He stayed until morning, you know. Didn't say much, just stood there, listening when I explained your condition. Looked like he wanted to say something but didn't. Stoic type, isn't he?"
Stoic? No. That was just his face. Always.
Lin Shuyin's ears turned bright red. Her lips parted—she wanted to correct the misunderstanding, to explain that Lu Yanzhou wasn't her boyfriend, that they weren't in a relationship, that she barely even knew what had happened—
But no words came out.
How could she even begin? She was too embarrassed to correct them.
"I've prescribed some topical ointments for the bruises," Dr. Zhao continued kindly, holding up a bag. "Apply them gently to the affected areas. If the soreness doesn't subside in three days, let us know. And I've included mild painkillers, but avoid overexertion for now."
The nurse placed the bag beside her bed, still smiling like she was watching a teen romance drama unfold live.
"Do you feel pain anywhere else?" the doctor asked gently.
Lin Shuyin quickly shook her head, looking down at her lap. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire.
"Alright then." The doctor stood, her tone turning half-scolding, half-amused. "You girls today… No restraint at all."
She paused at the door and glanced back. "And you might want to remind your boyfriend that your body isn't made of steel. He was quite the beast, hmm?"
The door closed before Lin Shuyin could die of embarrassment.
She stared blankly at the bed sheets, her heart thudding loudly in her ears.
A beast?
Lu Yanzhou hadn't even spoken to her after that night.
And now he had a report. On her… condition?
No wonder he didn't show up.
Curling her knees to her chest, Lin Shuyin buried her face in them, too overwhelmed to even breathe properly.
She had never felt this ashamed. This exposed.
This… wrong.
And the worst part?
She couldn't even defend herself.
Because deep down… she wasn't sure if she had wanted that night.
Or just… wanted to be wanted.
Back to Present
Lin Shuyin snapped back to the present, her fingers instinctively clutching the medicine bag.
She pasted on a casual smile.
"Oh... they just found some skin dryness," she lied smoothly. "The extra checkups showed minor irritation, so they gave me these."
Chen Yiwei raised a brow but didn't press. "Okay, your skin, your problem. I'll carry the bag."
And with that, they left the hospital.
***