CHAPTER 228: CHAPTER 228: RIVAL IN LOVE ATTACKS, MO YINHE: I SLASH! 2

"No, I need to use the bathroom," Si Mingjing said, her voice weak and hoarse.

She tried to get up on her own, but Mo Yinhe threw back the covers and lifted her from the bed. He carried her directly into the bathroom and set her down before the toilet.

Then, his tall figure slipped out. "Alright," he said before closing the door. "Call me when you’re done."

Si Mingjing wasn’t a fussy person. After using the toilet, she washed her face, tidied her sleep-mussed hair, and then opened the door to walk out on her own.

But each step she took felt like stepping on cotton. Watching her, Mo Yinhe felt his heart constrict with pain.

Mo Yinhe gently gathered her into his arms, lifted her again, and placed her back on the bed, urging her to lie down.

Si Mingjing shook her head. "I’ve been lying down too much; I want to sit for a while."

"Hungry?"

Mo Yinhe adjusted the hospital bed to a sitting position and ladled out a bowl of the congee his mother had sent, intending to feed her.

In the morning, Ye Xinguang had visited, bringing breakfast and lunch; he had only just left. Master Su and Qin Yinan had also come to the hospital. They stayed for an hour, but seeing she was still unconscious, they eventually left.

Si Mingjing was hungry. She drank half a bowl of plain congee.

The warm congee settled in her stomach, bringing a little warmth, and only then did Si Mingjing ask, "Do you know who wants to harm me? It shouldn’t be Fang Jing, right?"

Mo Yinhe held a white porcelain spoon, scooped up some congee, and gently blew on it until it was just warm before bringing it to her lips.

Hearing her question, he asked, "What makes you say that?"

Si Mingjing opened her mouth, sipped the congee, and said with a sense of deep frustration, "I am very wary of Fang Jing; I’m wary of every member of the Song family. I pay close attention to their every move, but I didn’t notice anything beforehand. Was it Fang Jing?"

"It wasn’t."

Si Mingjing let out a sigh of relief. This at least proved that her vigilance against the Song family hadn’t fatally failed her.

Then who was it?

"Qu Liushang."

Mo Yinhe’s face was taut and grim as he uttered the name. His tone was so icy it was as if he were speaking of someone already dead.

Si Mingjing was taken aback. "The Prince Gaoyang?"

"Don’t worry, I will avenge you."

"It’s all your fault I was dragged into this! If it weren’t for you, why would Prince Gaoyang want to kill me?" Her mind clear, Si Mingjing felt she had suffered an undeserved calamity due to his involvement. "Until I recover, you must personally take care of me. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be in this state!"

"Yes, I’ll take care of you personally." Mo Yinhe’s bloodshot eyes were filled with apology.

Si Mingjing opened her mouth again. "I’m still hungry."

"I’ll feed you."

Mo Yinhe fed her spoon by spoon, without a single word of complaint.

When Si Mingjing was about to finish the congee in her bowl, she asked Mo Yinhe, "Have you eaten?"

Mo Yinhe didn’t answer. He pulled out two tissues and wiped her mouth.

Si Mingjing knew then that he probably hadn’t eaten either.

"You should have a bowl too. This congee is delicious—soft, smooth, sweet, and very comforting to the stomach."

"I’ll eat later." How could he have any appetite seeing her in such pain?

"Eat now." Si Mingjing was insistent. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, she knew he had taken care of her all night and must be exhausted and hungry.

In fact, she had woken vaguely several times last night. Each time she opened her eyes, she saw him sitting by her bedside, never leaving her side, which had made her feel exceptionally safe and at ease.

Si Mingjing said with a stern face, "I want you to eat now. You’re the reason I’m suffering like this. Until I recover, it’s not too much to ask for you to do as I say, is it?"

"Mingjing, are you worried about me?" Mo Yinhe gazed at her intently, a flicker of emotion rippling in the depths of his eyes.

"Don’t overthink it. I’m just afraid that if you get sick, there’ll be no one to look after me," Si Mingjing said, her voice weak but still tinged with a hint of pride.

Seeing him still sitting by the bed, unmoving, she lifted her phoenix eyes, her gaze sharp. "Aren’t you going to eat?"

Mo Yinhe chuckled, leaned over, and kissed her fever-reddened cheek soundly. "As you command, Lady Mingjing."

The fever left Si Mingjing utterly drained of energy. Watching Mo Yinhe eat his congee, she closed her eyes, wanting to sleep more.

But perhaps she had slept too long; this time, she couldn’t fall asleep no matter what. Her body veered between chills and heat, as if caught between ice and fire.

She took her own pulse. Then she had Mo Yinhe show her the doctor’s diagnosis and prescribed medication. After confirming there was nothing wrong with the treatment, she could only continue to lie in bed, battling the invasive chill in her body.

Deep in her heart, she now harbored a burning resentment for Qu Gaoyang! She was the type to repay every grievance. Qu Gaoyang had nearly cost her her life. At that moment, her mind was consumed with thoughts of how to get revenge. Qu Gaoyang’s status was too exalted; he was the Crown Prince of a nation. For her to seek revenge against Qu Gaoyang was akin to an egg striking a stone—utterly futile. Unless... she could leverage Mo Yinhe’s power and influence!

Just then, Ye Siyuan walked into the hospital room, treading lightly. She asked Mo Yinhe, who had just finished a bowl of congee, "Brother, Mingjing hasn’t woken up yet? Xiaobai, Liangliang, and Susu have been asking all morning where Mingjing is. I didn’t dare tell the children what happened to Mingjing last night; I was afraid it would scare them."

"I’m awake," Si Mingjing said, opening her eyes as she heard Ye Siyuan’s voice. "And yes, don’t tell the children."

Ye Siyuan walked to the bedside and took Si Mingjing’s hand. "Mingjing, you’re finally awake! Are you feeling any better? Thank goodness my brother found you in time, otherwise... It was too close. The doctor told me if it had been just half an hour later, you might have..."

"Shut up!" Mo Yinhe cut his sister off, his voice cold and sharp. He couldn’t bear to hear such ill-omened words.

Ye Siyuan immediately covered her mouth. "It was all thanks to the Su family calling Ye Shen to ask if you’d arrived home. Ye Shen then called my brother, and that’s how he found you in time. If you’d been any later returning, who would have ever guessed something like this could happen to you?"

This was news to Si Mingjing. Ye Siyuan explained that Mrs. Su—Qin Yinan—hadn’t received a text from Si Mingjing confirming she’d arrived home safely. Worried about her journey, Mrs. Su had pulled some strings to get Ye Shen’s number and inquire. Only then did they realize that three hours after she had left the Su residence, Si Mingjing still hadn’t arrived at the Ye family home.

So that was how it was. Si Mingjing felt a surge of gratitude towards Qin Yinan. This was likely what her master meant by ’good deeds beget good results.’ If she hadn’t taken the initiative to cure Qin Yinan’s illness, Qin Yinan wouldn’t have been so concerned about her last night. In that case, she might have truly frozen to death in that refrigerated truck. By the time Mo Yinhe found her, she might have been a corpse.

Si Mingjing called Qin Yinan, addressing her affectionately, "Auntie Su, thank you."

"Child, you’re finally awake! This incident with you really scared us. Fortunately, the worthy are protected by Heaven; your mother must be watching over you from above."

An hour later, Qin Yinan visited again, this time bringing a light and nutritious fish soup. Though her illness couldn’t conceal the small Dragon Horns on her forehead, Si Mingjing wore the hat Mo Yinhe had prepared for her when she met Qin Yinan.

A sense of mutual gratitude deepened the bond between them.