At first, Guo Min deliberately ignored the fact that Zihan was also in the same hospital. She stayed where she was, seated neatly on the chair beside Lixi's bed, her posture straight, her expression calm and composed.
But that's only on the outside, on the Inside, everything was still unsettled.
Her thoughts were loud. Messy and refusing to stay still.
The door suddenly pushed open.
"I heard she's awake." Yufan's voice came with urgency as he stepped in, his breathing slightly uneven, like he had rushed all the way there without stopping.
Guo Min turned her head toward him. "Yes… she was," she replied softly. Then paused. "She fell asleep again a few minutes later. The doctor said she's still very weak, so she needs a lot of rest."
Yufan nodded, his shoulders dropping slightly in relief as he walked further into the room. "Okay…" he murmured. Then, after a beat, "Thank you… for staying with her, Guo Min."
He finally sat down, leaning back like the weight of everything had caught up to him all at once.
Guo Min shook her head lightly. "You don't have to thank me," she said. "She's my sister-in-law… and you're my brother."
Her voice softened slightly, but her gaze turned serious. "…Yufan," she continued.
He looked up.
Her lips pressed into a thin line before she spoke again. "Do well to make things right this time." A pause, then. "I know she was wrong," she added quietly. "What she did… forcing you into that situation, into marriage… it wasn't right."
A brief pause. "But you've punished her enough."
Yufan's jaw tightened slightly.
Guo Min held his gaze. "We all know," she continued, her voice steady but firm, "that you wouldn't tolerate it if Zihan treated me the same way, …Do this for my sake," she said more softly now. "Love her, if you can."
A small pause.
"And if you can't… then let her go properly."
The room fell silent. Yufan didn't speak immediately. He just looked at Lixi. A long breath left him. "…Okay," he said, his voice was low.
Then he glanced back at Guo Min, a faint, tired smile forming. "My sweet little sister."
That earned him a small smile from her, "I'm not little anymore brother Yufan". She chuckled then she stood up, picking up her bag.
"I wanna check on Zihan, stay with her". She then left.
The hallway was quieter now, her steps were steady but her mind wasn't, just as she turned the corner, she bumped into someone. "Oh..."
"Guo Min?"
She looked up. "Xiang."
Wu Xiang stood in front of her, his appearance looked slightly disheveled. His eyes flickered with concern. "How is she?" he asked immediately.
"She woke up," Guo Min replied. "But she's still weak. The doctors said she needs rest."
Relief washed over his face, though it didn't completely ease the tension in his expression. "…That's good."
A brief silence passed. "Go see her," Guo Min added softly.
Xiang nodded. "I will." They exchanged a small, understanding look before moving past each other, and Guo Min continued down the corridor.
She stopped in front of Zihan's ward, and didn't move. Her hand tightened slightly around the strap of her bag as she stared at the door.
One minute passed ...Then another.
Just because I'm going to see him doesn't mean anything… her thoughts started.
She shifted her weight slightly, putting more weight on one leg. "…I mean, I'm just checking on him," she muttered under her breath. "He's injured." She paused then her hand lifted toward the handle... Then stopped midway.
"…We're not divorced yet," she added quickly, as if correcting herself. "So people won't say I'm a bad wife."
After that came another pause, then silence before she finally placed her hand on the door handle. "…Why am I even explaining this to myself?" she whispered, annoyed. "Screw it."
She pushed the door open and walked in.
When Guo Min pushed the door open and stepped in, she didn't see Zihan. Instead, a doctor turned toward her, slightly startled.
"Oh... Miss…?"
"Mrs. Zhu," she corrected calmly, though her eyes were already scanning the room. Her brows furrowed as she scanned the empty room. "Wasn't Mr. Zhu here a few hours ago?"
"Yes, he was," the doctor replied. "But he's already been discharged. He insisted on leaving."
Guo Min's expression hardened slightly. "Discharged?"
The doctor hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his words. "…He needed rest," he said carefully. "But his temperature had risen slightly, and his stress levels are not ideal for recovery." A pause. Then, more pointedly... "Please do your best to take care of him, Madam."
Guo Min didn't respond immediately. She only gave a small nod. "Thank you."
The doctor excused himself, leaving her alone in the quiet room.
For a few seconds, she just stood there, Then she let out a soft, frustrated sigh before turning and walking out.
The drive to Zhu Villa was faster than she intended. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly too in both annoyance and concern.
Zhu Villa.
She parked in the underground garage and stepped out, her heels tapping softly as she made her way inside.
The moment she entered, a maid rushed forward, eyes widening in surprise. "Y-Young Madam, welcome back!"
Guo Min gave a small nod. "…Thank you." Her gaze swept the living room briefly before returning to the maid. "Where is Zihan?".
"Young Master… went to the office, ma'am."
Guo Min paused. "…He isn't home?"
"No, ma'am.
"Alright. Thank you." But she was already turning before the maid could say anything else. Minutes later, she was back in her car. The engine started. And she drove off again.
Zhu Empire.
Her car pulled into the parking lot with more force than necessary. As she stepped out, her expression was now carrying irritation. "…Why does he act like a child sometimes?" she muttered under her breath as she walked toward the entrance.
"Does he not understand what 'rest' means when a doctor says it?"
Her heels clicked against the marble floors as she entered the building.
Staff members greeted her in surprise, bowing slightly. "Madam..."
But she didn't stop and just headed straight toward the executive floor, she was going to deal with him.
The elevator ride up felt longer than usual.
Or maybe it was just her impatience.
Guo Min stood still, arms crossed, her reflection staring back at her from the mirrored walls. When the doors opened with a soft ding, she stepped out immediately.
The executive floor fell silent the moment she appeared.
Staff straightened. Heads bowed in greeting.
"Madam..."
And she answered with smiles and nods. Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she walked straight toward the CEO's office.
Secretary Lin, who had just stepped out with a file in hand, froze the moment he saw her.
"Ma...Madam?"
Guo Min stopped in front of him.
"Where is he?"
Lin swallowed. "…Inside."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "He came straight here from the hospital?"
"…Yes."
A pause.
"Did he get some rest?"
Lin hesitated.
That was the answer.
Guo Min exhaled sharply, pushing the office door open without knocking.
Inside, Zihan was seated behind his desk.
A stack of files lay open in front of him, his laptop lit, phone buzzing faintly to the side.
But his head was rested on the neck of the chair he sat, as he took slow breaths as if trying to stay strong for a while.
"Guo Min?". He raised his head as he noticed her presence.
You're going back home," she said firmly, as she barged in, without any explanation.
Zihan raised a brow slightly. "I have meetings..."
"Cancel them."
"Guo Min..."
"I'm not asking you."
Her voice was calm, but left no room for arguments.
Zihan watched her, then almost smiled. "…You're ordering me now?" he asked.
A hint of something almost amused flickered in his tone.
Guo Min didn't hesitate. "Yes. And you're going to listen."
Zihan leaned back slightly, exhaling. He gave in. "…Okay."