He couldn't lose

Fortunately, the driver had called an ambulance earlier, and it arrived shortly afterward.

"Cough, cough." Shen Zhiyi coughed the water out of her chest and gradually began breathing. Chi Ye looked at her anxiously, then gave her mouth-to-mouth again.

When her heartbeat finally returned to normal, he collapsed weakly to one side, leaving the rest to the medical staff. The driver hurried to help them get her into the ambulance.

Chi Ye had long since exhausted his strength. He should never have gone into the water after drinking, but the instant he saw Shen Zhiyi fall in, he had been unable to think.

At that moment, his heart had almost stopped. Even now, he had yet to fully recover.

Chi Ye lay on one side of the ambulance while the driver followed behind in the car.

The doctor spoke to him approvingly.

"You saved her just in time, and she coughed up the water in her chest. We'll give her a thorough examination back at the hospital, but it probably isn't anything serious."

Chi Ye breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Shen Zhiyi, his emotions complicated. They had only parted that morning, yet by evening, things had turned out like this.

Before leaving, the driver had spotted a suitcase not far from where the incident had happened. After a moment's thought, he had taken it along and put it in the car. It was probably that young lady's.

As he had helped pull her ashore, he had felt that perhaps his boss was right. This young woman really did have the face of someone who didn't want to live to see tomorrow.

But what exactly had she been through to consider giving up her life?

After examining her, the doctor found no major problems. She had been treated in time, and she hadn't woken up yet simply because she was too exhausted and needed proper rest.

The nurse put her on an IV, then told Chi Ye beside her to press the call button when the bottle was empty.

Chi Ye nodded and saw the nurse out.

He wasn't exactly comfortable himself. After all, his clothes were still soaking wet, and he would have to trouble his assistant to bring him a change later.

He still had work tomorrow, and there was no one to look after Shen Zhiyi. Remembering the harsh words he had thrown out, he couldn't help thinking she might laugh at him when she woke up.

He agonized over it on his own, thinking perhaps he should just hire a caregiver for her.

Before he could figure it out, his assistant arrived. After changing clothes and dealing with a few things, he fell asleep on the attendant's bed. Even as he drifted off, he was still thinking about finding Shen Zhiyi a caregiver when he got up tomorrow.

Partway through the night, he struggled out of bed to call a nurse to remove her IV, then slept until morning.

Normally, he could have gotten up earlier or even stayed up all night without a problem.

But yesterday's events had been such a roller coaster that he slept far too deeply, completely unaware that the person in the other bed had already woken up.

Shen Zhiyi felt sore and weak all over, unwilling to move a muscle from head to toe. She thought she ought to be at the bottom of the river now, waiting for the river water to fill her body before she floated up from the bottom.

So when she opened her eyes to a white ceiling, she lay quietly, waiting to process it.

Her mind was a muddle, but something felt wrong. Did the bottom of the river smell of disinfectant? Why was this smell so familiar?

Sounds came from outside the window: hungry baby birds on a branch, waiting for their mother to feed them. The early-summer trees were full of the lush vitality of spring just past.

The bottom of the river wouldn't smell of disinfectant, nor would it have such a fresh, pleasant temperature. There was only one possibility: she was still alive.

She was actually still alive.

A sound came from nearby, the rustle of a blanket against clothing. Her eyes shifted, and she immediately realized that someone must have saved her.

She was in the hospital again, and judging by the situation, an ambulance had been called again too.

She hadn't managed to die, and now she had to pay for the ambulance and the IV. She really felt she might as well have died.

[Still not dead.]

Chi Ye felt as though someone was speaking in his dream, their voice cool and utterly flat.

[Why am I still alive?]

He rolled over, trying to drive the voice away.

[So tired.]

He flung off the blanket and sat up, irritably rubbing his head. He was grouchy when he woke up. When he hadn't had enough sleep or was woken by a disturbance, he couldn't help wanting to kill someone.

He clutched the blanket, working himself up. As soon as that voice spoke again, he would give whoever it was a good dressing-down. Who on earth was disturbing his sleep?!

[This is a hospital.]

Chi Ye lifted his head and struggled to open his eyes. Those words brought him to his senses. This was a hospital, not his home. Then whose voice was disturbing him?!

Still not quite able to think straight, Chi Ye frowned deeply. He turned his head and unexpectedly met Shen Zhiyi's eyes.

[Oh, it's him.] The voice sounded again.

Chi Ye's mind froze for a second before he registered what Shen Zhiyi meant. What did she mean, "Oh, it's him"?

Was he really that bad? He was her lifesaver now, even if she hadn't particularly wanted him to save her.

But he had saved her. If she was so capable, she shouldn't have jumped into the river yesterday. She had scared him to death!

Chi Ye got up and stood at the foot of Shen Zhiyi's hospital bed, watching her for a few seconds. Then he walked to the head of her bed and pressed the call button, waiting to hear what the doctor would say.

He couldn't speak first. He was the one who had said those harsh words to her. Speaking now would mean he had lost, and he couldn't lose!

Shen Zhiyi had no idea what he was thinking. Before long, the doctor and nurse came into the room and asked her question after question about her condition.

But she barely spoke, answering each time with either a nod or a shake of her head.

Unable to stand it any longer, Chi Ye added details from beside her. The doctor looked over her chart, then said simply,

"Miss Shen, there aren't really any problems with your health now, but do take care. Irregular meals, staying up too late, malnutrition-you need to pay attention to all of those.

"You can be discharged today. Remember to pick up your medicine at the counter before you leave."

Then the doctor turned to Chi Ye and asked with a smile,

"Sir, could you step outside for a chat?"

Chi Ye was still holding his phone, messaging his assistant to push back all his work for the day. He wouldn't be able to go to the office until the afternoon.

He had spared some attention to listen to the doctor discussing her health just now. He hadn't expected Shen Zhiyi to have so many problems.

The doctor's words made him look up. Seeing the somewhat serious expression on the doctor's face, he put away his phone, nodded, and followed him out of the room.

At the doorway, he glanced back at Shen Zhiyi. She was sitting propped against the head of the bed, her eyes lowered as she stared blankly at the blanket. Worry unconsciously showed in his eyes.

When the doctor called to him, he came back to himself and gave an apologetic smile.

The relaxed expression the doctor had worn in the room was gone. He looked at Chi Ye seriously and said,

"Miss Shen's physical problems aren't too serious, but her psychological problems are more concerning. Based on what you told us yesterday, she may have been in a state of emotional tension for a long time.

"More precisely, Miss Shen may have depressive tendencies. As her friends and family, I hope you'll pay more attention to her. It would be best to make an appointment with the psychology department.

"Ah, young people really are under a lot of pressure, but there's no hurdle that can't be overcome. Have a proper talk about it when you get back."