The night passed uneventfully. Early the next morning, Liu Qing ate breakfast in his room, then drove straight to the hospital in Hearthome City, planning to visit Elesa before heading to the Venue.
"Elesa, it's Liu Qing. May I come in?" Liu Qing knocked on the hospital room door.
"Come in!" Elesa's languid voice drifted out. The sound alone was enough to send a tingling sensation through his entire body.
"Elesa, how are you feeling today?" Liu Qing opened the door, walked over to her bed, pulled up a chair, and sat down.
"Much better!" Elesa replied, though her eyes were fixed on the doorway.
"Nana didn't come today," Liu Qing said with a chuckle.
"Oh!" Elesa gave Liu Qing a surprised look, then smiled alluringly. "She let you come alone? Isn't she afraid I'll gobble you up?"
Liu Qing was speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "You're joking around again. You really must be feeling much better!"
"Liu Qing, what if I said... what if I said I wasn't joking?" Elesa's smile faded, and she looked at him pleadingly as she hesitated.
Liu Qing fell silent, staring blankly at Elesa. After a long moment, he exhaled. "Elesa, I understand how you feel. To be honest, I also... but I won't betray Nana. Do you understand? So..."
"Don't..." Elesa went pale and covered her ears with both hands, shouting in distress, "Don't say it! I don't want to hear it!"
"All right, all right, I won't. Elesa, calm down, calm down!" Her movements terrified Liu Qing, and he hurried to steady her. Her back was still injured; straining so hard could tear the wound open.
"Liu Qing, don't make me leave, please... I won't ruin your marriage to Miss Cynthia. I only need to watch you from afar. If