Chapter 51: A Heart-to-Heart Conversation

“Transfusion, transfusion, transfusion,” Wang Wenyu replied anxiously. At this moment, nothing in the world was more important to her than Jiang Fan.

The doctor finished writing the prescription and handed it to Wang Wenyu. “He’s out of immediate danger now, but he’s still unconscious. It’s good for him to rest a while longer. When he wakes up, he’ll need an X-ray. I suspect one of his ribs may be fractured, but I can’t be sure. An X-ray will tell us for certain. As for his other injuries, I’ve checked thoroughly—they’re all muscle injuries, no broken bones, so no further tests are necessary. That’ll save you some trouble.”

“Thank you, Auntie Li. I see his face and eyes are so swollen—will he be all right?” Noticing the doctor’s kind manner, and reading the name “Li Xiangqun” on her badge, Wang Wenyu switched from calling her “Doctor” to the more affectionate “Auntie Li.”

Hearing the intimate address, Auntie Li smiled and teased her, “Don’t worry, dear. I’ve examined him carefully—they’re all superficial wounds. Is he your boyfriend?”

Having only just started their relationship, Wang Wenyu blushed and nodded shyly.

It was nearly midnight, but the hospital was still bustling. There were a few people in line at the payment counter. When it was her turn, Wang Wenyu learned that the fees for medication, treatment, and transfusion totaled 570 yuan.

The banks were closed, and she had only 200 yuan on her. She hesitated, wondering whom she could ask for help.

If she turned to colleagues from the bureau, many would have scrambled to help—especially given that Uncle Liang himself had brought her to the hospital. But that was precisely why she always conducted herself with utmost caution at the bureau; she never wanted to give the impression of throwing her weight around. The incident with Hao Meng had been the sole exception.

In her view, making use of someone like Lu Fo’en wasn’t really an abuse of power; it felt more like doing good by ridding the world of evil. Still, since she was interning there, she always addressed Lu Fo’en politely as “Uncle Lu” whenever they met.

“Mengmeng.” Hao Meng was the first person who came to mind, yet she hesitated. Having just started her relationship with Jiang Fan, reaching out to Hao Meng now felt like rubbing salt in her wounds.

She struggled with herself for a long time, but finally decided to ask Hao Meng for help.

She turned back to Auntie Li’s office and said, “Auntie Li, is it okay if the transfusion happens a little later? I don’t have enough money on me, and the bank’s closed. I’ll need to go home to get it.”

A doctor’s salary was only a few hundred yuan, and Auntie Li wouldn’t carry much cash, but she checked her pocket and asked, “He’s stopped bleeding now, so a little delay won’t matter. How much are you short? If it’s just a few dozen or a hundred, I can lend it to you for now.”

“No need, I’ll be right back.” Relieved that there was no urgency, Wang Wenyu relaxed.

She had the number for Happy Family as well as the convenience store, but she chose not to call. She wanted to go in person, believing it was the greatest respect she could show Hao Meng.

She hailed a cab to Happy Family. As soon as she stepped out at the entrance, the security guard gave her a crisp military salute and greeted her courteously, “Miss Wang, welcome.”

Wang Wenyu realized this was because of the attention she’d drawn last time, which had made her well-known here. She replied politely, “Thank you. Could you please call Deputy Manager Hao for me? I need to speak with her.”

Though she sympathized with women in Hao Meng’s line of work, she had no fondness for the sort of patrons who frequented hotels and disliked setting foot in places like KTVs. Since someone could fetch Hao Meng for her, she preferred not to go in.

Hearing that Wang Wenyu was asking for her, Hao Meng hurried to the entrance and gave her a warm embrace, exclaiming in delight, “Wenyu, what brings you here?”

As a deputy manager, Hao Meng didn’t have to wear the standard hotel uniform. Though she was still required to wear a suit and tie, she could choose the style and color. She wore a suit, but had swapped the form-fitting skirt—designed to maximize her allure—for trousers.

In the hotel world, such subtle changes in attire carried significant meaning.

Wang Wenyu teased, “Deputy Manager Hao, have you gotten used to it yet?”

Hao Meng answered excitedly, “What do you think? No more worrying about room bookings, I can avoid overly troublesome guests, and I can refuse anyone who tries to harass me. Work is much easier now. But you wouldn’t come to see me so late unless something was up.”

Wang Wenyu hesitated, but decided to be honest with Hao Meng before asking for money. She spoke with some embarrassment, “Mengmeng, I didn’t want to hide this from you. Today I made things official with that rascal.”

She watched Hao Meng closely after she spoke.

Hao Meng froze for a moment, then put on a nonchalant expression and said, “Congratulations. I told you, I’m not worthy of him. You two are a perfect match. I sincerely wish you happiness.”

Wang Wenyu caught the change in Hao Meng’s expression and, feeling guilty, lowered her head and whispered, “Mengmeng, I’m sorry.”

Seeing Wang Wenyu’s awkwardness, Hao Meng put her arm around her shoulders and comforted her, “Wenyu, I know why you’re telling me this. Thank you for treating me as a friend. You really don’t need to feel guilty. I admit I liked him, and I wanted to be with him.

But I’m well aware that even if I were with him, I’d spend my whole life feeling guilty. Carrying that burden into a relationship would never bring happiness.

Once you make a wrong choice in life, no matter how hard you try to make up for it, a scar will always remain. I’m no longer clean; how could I expect a pure love?

To tell you the truth, after drinking with you last night, I couldn’t sleep when I got back to the dorm. I thought about this for a long time and finally understood: there’s no point in forcing a relationship filled with regrets. It’s better to let go and send my blessings. At least I can be honest with myself and face life with an open heart.

You might think him choosing you means he’s wronged me, but you’re mistaken. Love is mutual. His choice means I can stop dreaming and feel less regret. In my life, being friends with you and that rascal is enough for me.

All I want now is to earn money and leave this life behind as soon as possible. I know it’s easy for a woman to lie down, but hard to get back up. What’s done is done, and I can’t undo it, but I hope that in the future, I’ll be someone who stands and speaks with men, not someone lying down. As for love, I’ll leave it to fate.”

Hao Meng’s heartfelt words lightened Wang Wenyu’s guilt considerably. She turned and hugged Hao Meng, saying, “Thank you, Mengmeng.”

Having voiced what she’d kept buried in her heart, Hao Meng felt freed as well. She patted Wang Wenyu’s back playfully and teased, “Don’t just thank me with words—let that rascal of yours, who’s always trying to take advantage, treat me to a meal.”