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墨書 Inktalez
Before the storm arrives, there is often a period of calm.
In the early hours of that night, Zheng Mengni was in a daze, her sleep interrupted by the chaotic clamor from downstairs. The Fourth Concubine was attending to Guan Li during his rest when he suddenly fainted, seemingly suffering a relapse of an old ailment, leaving him unconscious.
Zheng Mengni quickly threw on a garment and rushed downstairs, only to hear the heart-wrenching cries of the Fourth Concubine, punctuated by repeated calls of "Master." A sense of foreboding washed over her as she hastened her steps. Upon reaching the scene, she saw the Fourth Concubine cradling the collapsed Guan Li on the floor, weeping uncontrollably.
The family doctors were doing their utmost to revive him, but Guan Li's aged and withered face appeared ashen and lifeless. His old illness had always been a hidden danger, sustained only by medication. Now that it had suddenly flared up, the situation looked grim.
The hall was in disarray; the concubines feigned tears while the younger generation rubbed their sleepy eyes, still trying to grasp what was happening. The servants wore expressions of panic across the board. Zheng Mengni stood at the edge of the crowd, lost in thought as she observed the chaotic scene.
Suddenly, someone gently tugged at her from behind. The affectionate gesture startled her. She turned around to find Tan Yan standing there. Quickly averting her gaze, she scanned the crowd for Guan Su Lin.
At that moment, her nominal boyfriend was squatting beside Guan Li, focused intently on fulfilling his filial duties and calmly managing the unexpected crisis. Zheng Mengni discreetly glanced back at Tan Yan and mouthed, "Are you crazy?"
Tan Yan whispered back, "It's not me." The relapse of Guan Li's old illness had nothing to do with him. Having learned from past experiences, Tan Yan wanted to clear himself of any suspicion at once to avoid being misunderstood by Zheng Mengni as being heartless.
However, Zheng Mengni was not on the same wavelength as him. With so many people in the hall, did he really dare to pull her? Was he out of his mind? Fortunately for Zheng Mengni, it was merely a false alarm; everyone was too preoccupied with Guan Li's situation to notice her exchange with Tan Yan.
An ambulance was on its way, and the family doctors were administering emergency treatment, placing a respirator on Guan Li.
In the dead of night, this frail and aging body was carried out of the house and into the hospital for emergency treatment. It was a last-ditch effort; each visit to the hospital meant he was one step closer to death.
After Guan Li was taken into the operating room, Guan Su Lin frequently turned back, searching for Zheng Mengni's figure. As he walked, he unbuttoned his coat and draped it over her thin shoulders.
"I’m dressed warmly enough," Zheng Mengni protested. "It's chilly at night; you should wear another layer."
Ignoring her objections, Guan Su Lin continued to wrap her up tightly, ensuring not a single breath of cold air could seep through. Zheng Mengni looked up at him, surprised by the sudden warmth mingled with the faint scent of his coat.
"You need to take care of yourself. If you collapse, who will take care of me?"
"Would you?"
After fastening the last button, Guan Su Lin did not let go; he lowered his head and gazed intently into Zheng Mengni's clear and gentle eyes.
"What do you mean by 'would I?'" she asked.
When Guan Su Lin was serious, he often showed no expression at all. All his actions and demeanor presented to the outside world were merely façades, not stemming from his heart. Over time, he even forgot how he should appear or smile.
"If I were to collapse, would you be willing to take care of my loved ones?"
Zheng Mengni smiled softly. "Then why not take care of yourself? Strive not to collapse; wouldn’t you agree?"
Guan Su Lin gazed at her with deep affection. "Because I want our relationship to be legitimate."
"Legitimate." Zheng Mengni carefully pondered the meaning behind those words.
He maintained a calm expression as he said, "Let’s get engaged, Zheng Zheng."
His voice was soft yet loud enough for everyone around to hear. From front to back, curious glances began to converge upon them.
"Engaged?" Zheng Mengni echoed.
Guan Su Lin smiled. "Yes, engaged."
He finished speaking, seemingly oblivious to all the doubts and inquiries around him. Guan Su Lin reached out to cup Zheng Mengni's face, leaning down to kiss her deeply.
Their breaths mingled with the sound of their kiss, and Zheng Mengni whispered in a tone only he could hear, "This is a bit too realistic, isn't it?"
Guan Su Lin's body was tense, his mind highly focused, pretending he hadn't heard anything. Following the moment, his kiss silenced all her words. He held her close, kissing her with varying intensity—sometimes gentle, sometimes fervent.
Behind them, a cold gaze pierced through the Blindfold Sunglasses, directed at them. Zheng Mengni opened her eyes wide, locking eyes with Tan Yan across the crowd. She felt breathless and instinctively clutched the fabric around Guan Su Lin's waist.
Guan Qingmo, watching in shock from the side, finally snapped back to reality. He was so anxious that he nearly jumped up, wanting nothing more than to rush over and pull the two apart. He almost did just that, his hand reaching towards Guan Su Lin's arm, but was forcefully dragged away by Guan Yao.
Frustrated and furious, Guan Qingmo began to vent his feelings. "Oh my God! Guan Su Lin, you heartless creature! Grandpa is in surgery fighting for his life, and here you are getting all cozy and affectionate! Have you lost your mind? Can’t you show a little self-control?"
Guan Su Lin gently released Zheng Mengni and quietly apologized to her, "I couldn't help it. I'm sorry."
Zheng Mengni pressed her lips together and silently stepped aside, still feeling the icy glare directed at them. With sunglasses on, others were unaware but she felt exposed under their scrutiny. It was utterly unreasonable; they didn’t leave her any privacy.
Guan Qingmo continued to fume. Guan Su Lin glanced at him lightly and said, "Grandpa hopes that Zheng Mengni and I will get engaged soon. Perhaps when he wakes up and hears this good news, it might help him recover faster."
Guan Qingmo was left speechless: "You really have no shame!"
After an hour of surgery, the red light went out and the doctor emerged, removing his mask.
"The patient has survived the critical phase but will need to stay in the hospital for observation. Please have the family complete the necessary procedures."
Outside the door, news of Guan Li's miraculous survival spread. Some sighed in relief while others wore serious expressions filled with concern. With a mix of genuine emotions and feigned sentiments lingering in the air, it had become increasingly difficult to discern what was real after such a long performance.
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