After crying until her tears ran dry, and her eyes swelled and throbbed, Xie Ming found herself too exhausted to rise from the bed. She laid back down, covering herself with a blanket, surrendering to the solace of sleep.
Whether it was the influence of medication or the consequence of her prolonged tears, Xie Ming had no intention of waking up. She slept straight through the entire afternoon, even skipping lunch. When Yu Mei came to call her for a meal in the late afternoon, intending for her to eat something light before taking her medications, Xie Ming feigned deafness, opting to stay in a blissful slumber.
A hollowness gripped her heart, making it hard to eat or connect with others. Painful memories played on a loop throughout the afternoon. Even in sleep, those troubling thoughts lingered, casting a shadow over her rest, leading to a constant headache and tears streaming down her cheeks.
As the sun sank beneath the horizon, cloaking the sky in darkness, Xie Ming roused from her slumber. When she eventually opened her eyes in the evening, the room, once bathed in sunlight, had yielded to the darkness of the setting sun. Despite being awake, she lingered on her bed, staring at the ceiling with an empty expression, lost in thought.
While Xie Ming pondered the reason for her second chance at life and contemplated how to find happiness without dwelling on her troubled past, a knock echoed on the door. A concerned voice followed, "Madam, it's already 7 in the evening, and you haven't eaten anything yet. I have brought some porridge for you. Please have something; you need to take your medicines."
"You're still weak and need nourishment. Skipping meals is not an option, especially when you have medications to take. If the Master finds out, he will scold us. Please wake up and allow me to come inside," Yu Mei pleaded, seeking permission to enter.
Though the door remained unlocked, Yu Mei was mindful of Xie Ming's dislike for unexpected disruptions and hesitated to enter without permission. That is why, she hovered outside, worried that Xie Ming might react strongly and reprimand her for disturbing her rest.
Unaware of Yu Mei's thoughts, Xie Ming's stomach grumbled at the mention of food. Hungry, she realized she hadn't eaten since breakfast, especially after their visit to the mall.
Sitting on the bed with an exhausted body, she replied in a low and weary voice, "Take the food downstairs. I'll come to the dining room in a while."
Relieved to get a response, Yu Mei nodded with a smile, "Yes, Madam. Please let me know if you need anything else."
"Nothing. Just go downstairs. I'll be there in a minute," Xie Ming replied as she got out of bed and went to freshen up. After crying for a while, her eyes were tired and swollen like a panda's.
In the bathroom, she washed her face with cold water, but her eyes remained swollen, making her appear exhausted. She sighed and went downstairs to have her late lunch-cum-dinner.
Having missed lunch, Xie Ming was now at the dinner table where a delightful spread awaited her. Beyond the porridge, the table was adorned with a hearty meal—stir-fried vegetables, two meat dishes, and porridge, accompanied by an assortment of veggie toppings.
The sight of the food heightened Xie Ming's appetite, and the delectable aroma made her drool. Eager to begin, she reached for her chopsticks, ready to enjoy a satisfying meal. However, her anticipation was interrupted by a cold and indifferent voice approaching from a distance.
"You're having lunch now? Do you want to go to the hospital again?" Liwei's cold and detached voice echoed as he handed his bag and coat to the butler. Striding purposefully towards the dining table, he made his way to Xie Ming.
___
Following his meeting, Liwei called the butler in the evening to inquire about Xie Ming's well-being. The butler reported that she had remained in her room throughout the afternoon and had skipped lunch. Jin Liwei's expression darkened upon hearing this update.
"Does this woman want to die that much?" he bitterly pondered. Considering her recent hospital discharge and neglecting her lunch and medicine, he wondered if she had returned to her old habits of using petty tricks to bother him.
In doubt, he questioned whether she reverted to her past self, deliberately causing harm to make him worry and gain his attention. The uncertainty left him with a mix of frustration and concern.
As this thought crossed his mind, Liwei's expression darkened. Reflecting on her past tactics to seek attention, he remembered the frequent fights she initiated over his delayed return from work or other trivial matters.
These conflicts often escalated into heated arguments, prompting him to avoid going home to face her and engage in further disputes. Since their marriage, peaceful days in his house they have had become a rare occurrence. The recollection of their tumultuous relationship left him with a heavy sense of frustration.
After ending the call with the butler, Jin Liwei gazed at his phone in contemplation before summoning his assistant, Gu Shao, into his office. "Cancel all the meetings for the evening. I'm going home," he declared, closing the files on his desk and grabbing his coat.
Gu Shao, taken aback, stammered, "Sir, there's an important dinner meeting at 7:30 pm. I can reschedule the others, but we can't cancel that one."
Jin Liwei looked at him impassively and stated, "Then ask someone else to attend it. Or you can attend it. I don't care how you manage it; it's your duty to handle my schedule. Right now, I'm heading home. Ensure it's managed well, and provide me with the details tomorrow." He walked past the bewildered Gu Shao, patting his shoulder in passing.
As Jin Liwei exited the office, Gu Shao found himself at a loss for words, muttering in disbelief, "Is this my company? Why am I the one substituting for my boss in the meeting?" Letting out a sigh, he gathered the signed files from the desk and stepped outside. He quickly dialed the other executives, urgently briefing them on the meeting details and requesting their prompt attendance at such short notice.
___
Unaware that Liwei had intentionally overlooked his work and meeting commitments to rush home and check on her, Xie Ming lifted her head with a furrowed brow. Exhausted and drained from an afternoon of tears, her swollen eyes and weary expression revealed her emotional turmoil.
Upon hearing his sarcastic words, a surge of anger welled up within her. She sneered and retorted, "Why do you care? You didn't even visit me in the hospital for the past three months. So, why the sudden concern?" Dismissing him with a scoff, she resumed eating, pointedly ignoring Jin Liwei's presence.
Observing her sarcastic remarks, Jin Liwei frowned, but when he noticed her frail and unwell state, he pursed his lips. Choosing not to engage in an argument with someone who was clearly unwell, he remarked, "Since you're still sick, I won't argue with you. It wouldn't paint me in a good light to quarrel with someone who is unwell." With a resigned snort, he comforted himself with these words and signaled the maid to serve him the dishes as well.
Deciding that since he had already come home for dinner, it would be better to join her at the table. At least during the meal, they wouldn't be compelled to speak and argue without reason.
After wiping his hands with a warm towel, Jin Liwei began to eat the dishes the maid had served. While Xie Ming had porridge with veggies and other dishes, Jin Liwei was served a portion of white rice. The quiet atmosphere enveloped the dining room, with the clinking of utensils against plates being the only audible sound.
The dinner proceeded peacefully as both of them immersed themselves in their meals. However, as Jin Liwei observed Xie Ming eating with a straightened back, displaying an elegant and perfect posture, he found himself momentarily speechless. Her sudden transformation in posture and dining manners took him by surprise.
Elegance and grace had never been words associated with the usually clumsy and casual Xie Ming. Yet, the woman before him exuded refinement and grace even while partaking in her meal. Though her eyes appeared blank, the gaze within them seemed different than before.
He could see the change in her, leaving Jin Liwei unsure of what exactly had changed. Something distinct had occurred in Xie Ming, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
As Jin Liwei was lost in his thoughts, Xie Ming, who had finished eating and was now regarding him with intent, blank, and questioning gaze, suddenly looked up and asked in a serious tone, "Liwei, can I ask you something?"
Jin Liwei cleared his throat and nodded, saying, "Go ahead. What is it?"
Xie Ming wiped her hands with a tissue and took a sip of warm water, her gaze hesitant as she stared at him. "I don't have any memories of the past. However, I have been curious about something since I woke up. Do you hate me that much, that you wouldn't have cared even if I had died?" she asked, her eyes fixed on him.
Jin Liwei, who had put down his chopsticks to listen attentively, froze at her words. Squinting his eyes, he looked at her with an unexplainable frown, observing her face, which remained blank, devoid of any expressions. He couldn't discern her thoughts and stared at her for a while, wondering why she had posed such a question.