When the car arrived at the hospital, Zhao Lifei did not wait for Hu Wei to open the door. She sprang out of the car, running up the hospital path like she was being chased by a pack of wild dogs. No one could match her speed. She reached the hospital room in no time. Panting by the door, she held onto the door frame to catch her breath before opening it to reveal Yang Ruqin sitting by the window. She was motionless and did not move even when the door was opened.
"Qinqin." Zhao Lifei walked into the room. When Yang Ruqin was unresponsive and continued to look out the window, she felt something was off.
Zhao Lifei placed a hand on Yang Ruqin"s shoulder and turned her around. What she saw broke her heart.
Yang Ruqin"s eyes had lost the light. Dull and bleak, there was no hope within them. Mu Ting had not only broken her body, but also her soul.
Zhao Lifei embraced her in a tight hug, holding onto the woman for dear life. Yang Ruqin"s arms hung by her side for the smallest second before she slowly raised them and hugged her back. It did not take long for sobs to echo in the room, as the fragile woman broke down for the first time since she had woken up. She clung onto her Feifei, crying all of her heart out, the sound was wretched and tore Zhao Lifei"s heart into pieces.
Yang Feng had finally caught up to his woman, but when he saw the scene before him, he left the room to give them s.p.a.ce. He would never forget that sight for the rest of his life.
"It"s going to be alright. Everything is going to be just fine." Zhao Lifei tenderly whispered, rubbing her hand on Yang Ruqin"s back. "You"re safe now." She stroked her hair and hugged her tighter.
"I"m...so weak." Yang Ruqin choked out, burying her head into Zhao Lifei"s body, refusing to let go.
"You are not weak."
"I-I come f-from the family t-that rules the Underworld b-but I couldn"t e-even defend myself!"
"It"s not your fault." Zhao Lifei firmly said, pulling back to cup Yang Ruqin"s face. "It"s not your fault." She repeated. "Do not blame yourself for the things that could not be prevented."
She brushed away the stray tears. "No one knew you would be hurt like this. Everyone believed the security around you was enough."
"Everyone treats me like a d.a.m.n princess and because of that, I-I didn"t want to learn how to d-defend myself." Yang Ruqin began to wipe her own tears away, something she never did before. It was usually someone else doing it for her.
Zhao Lifei saw the small glimmer within Yang Ruqin.
"I"m going to stop being a pathetic coward from now on." Yang Ruqin suddenly said. She was determined to change. It was time to stop playing the sheltered damsel-in-distress card. It was time for her to own up to her lineage.
"I"ve let so many people take advantage of my kindness, it"s going to stop from now on." Yang Ruqin declared. She lifted her head and there was a new spark in her eyes. They s.h.i.+ned like the sun with a heat that burned anyone who dared to get close to it.
All her life, Yang Ruqin was sheltered and protected, in one form or another. First was her parents, the second was her brothers, and the third was Zhao Lifei. "I"m going to stop relying on others to save me."
Zhao Lifei felt like a mother watching her child grow up. Her heart swelled with pride, happy at the change. "Very well." She whispered, taking a step back to allow Yang Ruqin to stand up. And she did so, with the poise of a high-societal woman, but the eyes of a fighter.
Yang Ruqin abruptly yanked out the IV needle, which startled Zhao Lifei. "Woah there, let"s do this one step at a time." She hurriedly grabbed Yang Ruqin"s wrist before she did something else. "We have to get you all healed before you can do anything." She guided her back to the hospital bed and pressed the b.u.t.ton beside the bed.
"Why can"t I start now?" Yang Ruqin whined, then paused and glanced at her fingers. "S-sorry, I promise to become stronger, but here I am, still complaining."
Zhao Lifei shook her head. "It"s fine to desire empowering yourself, but you do not have to force yourself to change so much. I quite like this behavior of yours, it"s more natural." She smiled.
"It"s alright to become stronger physically and mentally, but preserving the original you is also very important." Zhao Lifei fluffed the pillow so that Yang Ruqin could sit upright. "Besides, you can use your current behavior to your advantage. No one ever suspects the innocent and childish type."
Yang Ruqin felt relieved at her words. She only wanted to become a less brittle pushover. It would be incredibly hard for her to change her habits, especially because she liked them so much.
"Okay," She grinned and just like that, reverted back to her usual ways by wrapping her arms around Zhao Lifei.
"Feifei, will you stay with me and hold my hand when the nurse comes in to attach the needle?" She widened her eyes, causing Zhao Lifei to pinch her cheek.
"Of cour—"
"Absolutely not." Yang Feng scowled, storming into the room to take back his woman. His eyes narrowed upon Yang Ruqin"s pale arms that were entwined around Zhao Lifei"s hand.
"Feng-ge, she"s my best friend. I can touch her however I like." Yang Ruqin stuck out her tongue. "Besides, are you going to threaten and hurt an injured woman? Especially your sister? Are you really going to?" She egged him on.
Yang Feng was taken aback by her tone and behavior. She was always a crybaby and a scaredy cat that would never dream of talking back and threatening him like this. What happened to her?
"Yes, I am." He shamelessly said, pulling Zhao Lifei back and forcefully detached the two of them.
Right on cue, the nurse walked in with the needle. Yang Ruqin glowered at her brother, her eyes shooting daggers through his skull. Just you wait, Feng-ge, one day I will beat you and have Feifei all to myself!
Yang Ruqin braced her fear of the needle by herself. She viewed it as her first step of change. Instead of looking away from it and shrinking back, she stared at it and watched as the needle entered her skin, moving like b.u.t.ter.
"This is why I can never become a doctor or a nurse." She voiced her thoughts out loud.
Zhao Lifei laughed, "Same here."
Yang Feng grumbled, "It"s not even funny."
Yang Ruqin rolled her eyes, "You"re just jealous I can make Feifei happy."
Yang Feng took a threatening step forward, only for Zhao Lifei to place a hand on his chest. The billionaire tyrant and the list supermodel, they were all children to her. Bickering, little, kindergarten children.
She sighed and prayed that her children in the future will not mimic their father and aunt"s behavior. She then blinked upon realizing what she had just thought. Children. With Yang Feng. The thought never crossed her mind until today.
Zhao Lifei raised her head to examine the man beside her. He was continuing the glare-off with Yang Ruqin, but even through his petty banter, he was still a very handsome man. She admired his features, his chiseled jaw, fierce and full eyebrows, thin and delectable lips, and his high-bridged nose.
Upon feeling her stares, he turned to her, a tiny smile on his face. He brought his hand up to caress her face with his thumb. "What is it, my love?" He whispered, leaning in to kiss her forehead.
Zhao Lifei could feel b.u.t.terflies in her stomach at his loving gesture, She placed a hand over his and slowly shook her head. "Nothing." She was still angered at how fast he jumped to conclusions this morning, but decided to talk it out once they got home today.