Chapter 208

Chapter 208

The staff member smiled and said, “Alright then, tomorrow at nine in the morning, I’ll come pick the two of you up at nine over here.”

Zhong Ning had been in contact with her over the past two days, so their tone of conversation wasn’t unfamiliar.

The next day, the two of them got up early, had breakfast, and followed the planned schedule to visit the patient’s family at the hospital first. Although the parents looked worried, since they didn’t have to stress over medical expenses, their overall mental state was relatively stable.

They then went to meet with the hospital’s administrators.

Because it was a rare and difficult disease to treat, only large hospitals had the relevant specialists available. In order to connect accurately with families who truly needed help, Lanheng’s side actually used a very cumbersome process.

They relied on medical staff to do the screening.

Whenever the staff came across a family facing hardship, they would reach out to Lanheng. Then, someone from the foundation would personally visit the family to investigate, go through their records, and confirm that the household was genuinely impoverished before offering financial aid.

Of course, the reporting medical personnel would also receive a “whistleblower” red envelope.

This had been agreed upon with the hospital.

The foundation also placed advertisements and accepted direct help requests from families in need, though those, too, had to go through multiple levels of verification.

Zhong Ning familiarized herself with the process and only felt at ease once she had clearly understood the entire route of the funds from donor to recipient.

She then turned around and added another five million in donations to the foundation.

Naturally, during today’s hospital visit, she had also filmed the process. After discussing it with the family and confirming that it could be made public, she edited the video with slight blurring and uploaded it to her account.

She didn’t post any kind of donation QR code on her account, just tagged the official account of the Lanheng Foundation, indicating that if anyone wanted to donate, they could go through the foundation’s channels.

The trip to Shancheng wasn’t for leisure. Since the purpose had been fulfilled, there was no reason to stay longer.

The two returned together to Fengcheng. After getting off the plane and walking out of the terminal—

Xie Shiqing spoke first, “The driver’s here to pick me up, he’s already waiting outside. How about I take you home?”

Zhong Ning looked at her deeply and slowly shook her head. “Let’s go to your place. I have something I want to talk to you about.”

Something to talk about? What kind of talk?

Was it something like agreeing to get back together?

Xie Shiqing’s eyes lit up like two electric bulbs, glowing instantly.

No, no—that couldn’t be it. Zhong Ning wouldn’t change her mind that fast. If not reconciliation, then maybe she was agreeing to give her another chance?

It wasn’t surprising that Xie Shiqing was thinking of all these good possibilities. Mainly, over the past few days, Zhong Ning’s attitude toward her couldn’t be described as cold at all. How could she not start to daydream and imagine the best-case scenario?

On the way back, the two of them sat in the backseat. Xie Shiqing clenched her hands tightly, wanting to speak, but not knowing what to say.

Yet the joy in her heart surged, like a powerful tornado sweeping up her entire being. It felt as though her heart had been lifted into the sky, dizzy and floating among the clouds, completely disoriented.

They returned to the villa.

Got out of the car.

Zhong Ning said softly, “Shall we walk in the garden?”

Xie Shiqing had no intention of refusing. She nodded repeatedly, the joy in her eyes almost turning into colorful bubbles, drifting all around her.

By evening, crimson clouds blazed across the sky, setting half of the horizon aflame. Under the hazy, warm light, Zhong Ning’s side profile looked as if it carried a tender gentleness.

A light breeze rustled the leaves, bringing with it a rich floral fragrance.

All around was silent. Only the two of them wandered through a sea of flowers and greenery.

Zhong Ning gradually slowed her pace, eventually coming to a stop. She turned to face Xie Shiqing, the smile on her face gone.

“These past few days, I’ve been thinking seriously. Most of the time spent with you, I was actually quite happy. When there’s someone in your heart to hold on to, each day feels a little less difficult.”

Her voice drifted into Xie Shiqing’s ears like a cool evening breeze.

“But I’m afraid I can’t accept your pursuit again, and I can’t keep facing you anymore.”

The unconcealable joy on Xie Shiqing’s face shattered like a ridiculous mask, smashed by Zhong Ning’s words, each one like a nail hammering it to pieces.

Her heart plummeted from the skies. The colorful bubbles burst one after another, exploding with thunderous bangs that made her eardrums ache.

Xie Shiqing stood there stunned, as if completely unable to process it. “You… what did you say?”

Zhong Ning let out a sigh she couldn’t suppress. “What I must make clear is that my decision isn’t because I hate you or resent you. Quite the opposite, there’s still a bit of love left in my heart for you.”

“It’s exactly because of that love… that I must stay away from you.”

“I don’t understand, I don’t understand…”

Xie Shiqing’s eyes widened in panic, her speech speeding up, “What are you talking about? If you still love me, then why won’t you be with me? Why won’t we get back together? I love you too, Ning Ning! I love you, and you love me—we’re supposed to be together!”

Pain welled up in Zhong Ning’s eyes. “That’s not how it is. Our love is unhealthy, it’s twisted. Love is everything, but it doesn’t mean it can explain everything. Does having love mean all the hurt can be treated like it never happened? Does love mean we can go against our instincts and nature, and become someone without dignity?”

“This isn’t the kind of love I want.”

Xie Shiqing looked completely disbelieving. “Not the kind of love you want? Then what kind of love do you want? What more do you want me to do?”

She shouted the question, even letting out a few strained, broken laughs. “What else can I do?! You like someone sunny and cheerful—haven’t I become that? Don’t I look like that? You like tolerant people, ones who face life positively, ones who are lively—isn’t that me now?”

“What part of me isn’t good enough? Tell me! Where exactly am I not enough?!”

Xie Shiqing suddenly yanked the hair tie off her head, letting her fluffy wool-like curls spring free. Holding the pale yellow scrunchie in her hand, she cried out, “To fit that personality, I turned my perfectly fine hair into this ridiculous mess, wore this childish hair tie just to look cute—am I not convincing enough?”