It was nearly six in the evening.
Lin An glanced at the time on his communicator and rose to his feet.
"Get some proper rest. Don't worry about the medical bills."
Tang Wuling lay in the hospital bed, her lips moving as though she wanted to say something. In the end, she merely gave a soft "Mm."
Lin An paused by the door and glanced sideways at Xie Xie.
That bastard was sitting in a chair beside the bed, peeling an apple, with absolutely no intention of leaving.
The corner of Lin An's mouth twitched. He said nothing and pushed the door open before walking out.
The smell of disinfectant hit him in the face in the corridor.
By the time he stepped out of the hospital entrance, the sky was already half-dark.
On the distant horizon, the setting sun was red as blood.
The streetlights had yet to come on, and pedestrians were sparse.
Then he saw Gu Yue.
She was crouching beneath the steps outside the hospital entrance, curled up into a tiny ball.
She held a small wooden stick in her hand, drawing circles on the ground.
Her shoulders drooped, and her whole body was curled into a little ball, like a young beast abandoned by the roadside.
Hearing footsteps, she abruptly raised her head.
The instant those violet eyes saw Lin An, they lit up.
But that light burned for only a brief moment before quickly fading—
She tossed the stick aside, stood up, and patted the dust off her skirt.
Her movements were somewhat flustered, and she nearly tripped over the steps.
Then she lowered her head, twisting both hands together in front of her. Her fingers clenched around each other until her knuckles turned white.
"Honey..."
Her voice was soft, so soft it was