In no time, the two close friends had turned into inseparable besties, chatting about interesting things, filling the hospital room with laughter.
"Mucheng, let me tell you something that just happened to me."
Su Yuxin spoke with a blush, quietly sitting by Li Mucheng's bed and whispering into her ear.
"Yuxin, stop it, my ears are ticklish~"
Li Mucheng playfully glared at Su Yuxin and lightly patted her shoulder, but when she noticed Yuxin's face turning red as she mentioned the topic, she became intrigued and asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"What could make the Su family's young lady blush like this? Could it be that you've met your Mr. Right?"
"Oh, Mucheng, stop teasing me~"
Su Yuxin, feeling her secret was exposed, became even more shy, her mind drifting back to the image of the handsome man who had protected her in the elevator.
Ugh... I wish I could have kept him from leaving...
"I can tell there's something going on. Spill it, and maybe I can play matchmaker for you?"
Li Mucheng pulled on Su Yuxin's arm, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, like black obsidian catching light.
"Well... you can't laugh at me, okay?"
"Why would I! I'd love for my best friend to find a handsome and dashing boyfriend."
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you."
Su Yuxin's voice grew more bashful, and after taking a deep breath, she began to recount the incident in the elevator.
"I heard from Uncle Li that you were sick, so I secretly came to the hospital to see you. After asking the nurse at the reception, I took the elevator to your floor, but then something unexpected happened."
Su Yuxin paused, then continued in a sweet tone, as if narrating a fairy tale.
"Because the elevator was too crowded, I got pushed out, and I lost my way in the crowd. Just as I was about to fall, a figure caught me..."
"Oh~ Classic hero saves the beauty trope~"
Li Mucheng chimed in, playing the role of an enthusiastic audience member, completely unaware of what was to come.
"Then... a gentle voice, like a warm ray of sunshine in the cold winter, warmed my heart... so warm..."
"Stop describing your feelings! Tell me the outcome!"
Su Yuxin gave Li Mucheng a glare, but continued, "When I looked up, I saw the boy's face. He's the most handsome guy I've ever met, and for some reason, he had this magical pull on me."
"......"
Li Mucheng, who had been smiling affectionately throughout, felt a sharp pain in her chest as she listened to Su Yuxin's words.
No... it can't be... it definitely can't be him!
Li Mucheng already had a suspicion about who Su Yuxin was referring to, and based on the timing, it was highly likely to be Ye Feng.
"Then he looked down at me and told me to be careful, but I was completely in a daze, and he left on the elevator... I don't even know his name..."
Su Yuxin pouted with regret, but when she finished her story, she noticed that Li Mucheng, who usually loved to join the conversation, had gone silent. Curious, she looked up at Li Mucheng and saw that her face no longer held the earlier joy, her gaze distant, lost in thought.
"Mucheng, what's wrong? Mucheng?"
Su Yuxin gently shook Li Mucheng's shoulders.
"Ah! What is it, Yuxin? What did you just say?"
"Hmph, Mucheng, you weren't even listening to me."
"No, I was just imagining the scene you described, it sounds so... dreamy."
"Hehe, I think so too. It's like a prince from a fairy tale appearing before me. Mucheng, do you think he'll remember me?"
"No."
Li Mucheng said firmly, but then quickly corrected herself.
"Because you don't even know each other's names, of course not."
"That's true... it's all my fault for not asking his name."
Su Yuxin leaned her head on Li Mucheng's shoulder, as if everything was just a fleeting dream.
Li Mucheng didn't respond, but her eyes had lost their earlier brightness, her mood growing increasingly complicated.
"Yuxin, it was just a fleeting encounter, you can't judge a person based on their looks. What if he's a bad guy with ulterior motives?"
"No, I don't think he is."
"He's just trying to use his charming appearance to gain your trust, so he can..."
"Mucheng, you can't judge a person by their looks, you have to get to know them through interaction."
"Then tell me, what does he look like?"
This time, Li Mucheng's tone turned icy, her gaze sharp as she looked at Su Yuxin.
Why, Yuxin? I've already warned you, why do you insist on making a mistake?
Su Yuxin, excited at this point, began to describe him in detail, "He has short, tousled hair, and he's a head taller than me! Most distinctive are his handsome features and his voice..."
"Enough, stop!"
Li Mucheng immediately cut her off, her raised voice startling Su Yuxin out of her reverie.
"Mucheng? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Seeing Li Mucheng's unhappy expression, Su Yuxin asked cautiously. This was the first time she had seen Li Mucheng look so cold towards her.
Realizing her emotions were getting out of control, Li Mucheng quickly hugged Su Yuxin tightly.
"I'm sorry, Yuxin, I just felt... like you were about to leave me, and I got scared. It wasn't intentional."
Oh, I see~
Naive as she was, Su Yuxin took Li Mucheng's words at face value, hugging her best friend and comforting her, "Don't worry, Mucheng, you'll always be my best friend, we'll never be apart."
Unseen by Su Yuxin, Li Mucheng's lips curled into a faint smile, and she hugged Su Yuxin back, nodding happily, "Yes, forever best friends."
Unknown to Su Yuxin, Li Mucheng's fists were clenched tightly, and a trickle of blood seeped from her lips.
I'm sorry, Yuxin, I can give you anything, but not him!