Long Tianjiao's expression immediately fell upon hearing his appraisal. "Fine, then I won't bother."
"Why do you want to work with him?" Shen Congmo inquired. "The salary isn't even substantial."
"I… I just want to see other celebrities more often."
Shen Congmo responded with a smirk, "Oh, I thought you fancied Lianghe."
"What are you saying?" Long Tianjiao rolled her eyes. "Congmo, do you really think my taste is that poor?"
"Why get upset? It was merely a jest," Shen Congmo replied calmly. "Focus on your studies; that is what truly matters."
Lianghe clasped his hands together. "Long Tianjiao, I can't say whether your taste is good or bad, but if you ever liked anyone, it would surely spell disaster. When we find girlfriends or wives, we seek women—not ancestors to be worshipped. Thankfully, that calamity hasn't fallen upon me—hahaha!"
"Get lost…"
As the gathering dispersed, the couple retired upstairs to prepare for bed.
No sooner had they shed their clothes than Long Yubei's phone rang.
It was the hospital attendant calling.
"Mr. Long, Miss He has been crying for several hours without pause, though we don't know why. We asked, but she won't say. This will surely affect her condition. The doctor instructed that she must remain calm. What should we do?"
"Put the phone to her."
The attendant complied, but He Meiwei did not answer.
Long Yubei had no intention of going at first, but with surgery imminent, he thought that once it was over, they would no longer meet.
After hanging up, he rose to leave but was stopped as Gu Lili grasped his clothes. "Where are you going?"
"The attendant said He Meiwei has been crying for hours and hasn't stopped. The surgery is soon, and her emotional state might delay it. I'm just going to see what's wrong—if she's in pain or discomfort."
Gu Lili objected, "If she's unwell, she should see a doctor. What can you do? You're not a doctor. You're not going."
He bent down and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back within the hour."
As he departed, Gu Lili, still in bed, flung a slipper at him. "Don't come back!"
He chuckled. "I'm not up to anything bad. I'll be back soon."
Gu Lili rose and firmly locked the door behind him.
Fury welled up inside her—exes should have their boundaries. She'd paid for the matching test, and now he was expected to respond at a moment's notice?
She pulled back the thin quilt and lay down, her irritation growing.
Kicking off the covers, she sat up again.
Taking a deep breath, she finally rose from bed.
…
When Long Yubei arrived at the hospital room, He Meiwei was eating snacks, no longer crying.
Only her eyes were heavily swollen. Seeing him, she set the snack bag on the table.
"Still fond of snacks, huh?" He glanced at the bag and pulled out a chair to sit.
"Can't do anything else, can't drink much water. If I'm not allowed to eat something, my stomach will be empty." Her delight at his arrival was unmistakable.
"But you said you'd been crying for hours without stopping?" Long Yubei asked. "Why aren't you crying now?"
"Knowing you'd come to see me, I suddenly felt happy. Mr. Long, you truly have a magical effect."
Long Yubei studied her face. "Meiwei, if you're alright, I'll be going now."
Her once radiant smile instantly faltered.
"You just arrived, haven't even exchanged a few words, and you're in such a hurry to leave?"