Song Xu grabbed Lin Xi’s hand, hurrying to explain, “Xixi, you’ve misunderstood.”

“It’s just a concert. Song Xu and I used to go together all the time,” Lu Yunqi pouted, casting a side-eyed glance. “Lin Xi, are you really going to be jealous over something like this? You’re awfully narrow-minded.”

Lin Xi’s expression remained cool and detached. “So what if I’m narrow-minded? Would you lend your own boyfriend to another woman?”

“I’m not just ‘any other woman,’” Lu Yunqi said, chin held high. “I’ve grown up with Song Xu since we were children.”

“Plenty of people grew up with Song Xu,” Lin Xi replied calmly. “But I’m the only one who will be by his side until he grows old.”

Hearing this, Song Xu looked absolutely thrilled. He showered her face with kisses. “Xixi, yes—let’s grow old together.”

Seeing them getting all lovey-dovey made Lu Yunqi’s teeth ache with rage. She scoffed, “Isn’t it a bit early to be saying things like that? How can you be so sure you’ll be the one to make it to the finish line with Song Xu?” Just wait until Old Master Song returns to the country—we’ll see how cocky you are then.

“Xiao Qi, stop spouting nonsense,” Song Xu said, annoyed. “I’m not marrying anyone but Lin Xi in this lifetime.”

“I’ll buy my own concert tickets,” Song Xu said with a darkened expression. “I’ll be going with Xixi. You should find someone else to keep you company.”

“Xixi and I are leaving. You go busy yourself with whatever you need to do.”

As Song Xu pulled Lin Xi to leave, Lu Yunqi blocked their path. “Song Xu, can I come with you guys?”

She had worked so hard to track him down; she just wanted to spend a little more time with him. Besides, she didn’t mind being a thorn in Lin Xi’s side.

“Xiao Qi, we’re heading to the hospital. Stop acting out,” Song Xu said, not wanting their quality time interrupted by anyone else.

“Song Xu, if you don’t take me, I’m going to tell my brother you’re bullying me!” Lu Yunqi pouted, issuing a warning.

This tactic had always been the most effective in the past; Song Xu was quite intimidated by her older brother.

Sure enough, Song Xu hesitated. Brother Yunzhou had helped him out more than once—he was even helping him track down Xiao Yang’s accomplices right now. If Lu Yunqi were to spout nonsense in front of him, it would not only hurt Yunzhou’s feelings but also strain their brotherhood.

“Fine, but you aren’t allowed to spout nonsense in front of Xixi,” Song Xu compromised. “Go get your car and follow behind mine.”

“Can’t I just ride in yours?” Lu Yunqi wanted to share the car. She wanted to sit in the passenger seat and give Lin Xi the cold shoulder.

“I’m driving the sports car today. There’s no room for a third person.” With that, Song Xu pulled Lin Xi toward the garage.

Lu Yunqi stomped her foot in frustration and had no choice but to head to her own car.

“Why did you let Lu Yunqi come to the hospital with us?” Lin Xi asked, clearly unhappy.

Song Xu kissed and coaxed her. “I’m asking Brother Yunzhou for a huge favor right now. Letting her tag along is just a courtesy to him.”

Hearing this explanation, Lin Xi fell silent. She actually had a pretty good impression of Lu Yunzhou—he was a decent dining companion.

Song Xu parked in the hospital lot, and Lu Yunqi pulled her car into the space next to them. The three of them headed upstairs together.

Lin Xi hadn’t been here in a few days. She sat by the bedside and stroked her grandmother’s face. “Grandma, have you missed me?”

After chatting with her grandmother for a while, Lin Xi began to massage her body, taking the opportunity to check if there were any injuries. She felt truly guilty for not being able to visit every single day.

A caregiver walked over with a smile. “Miss Lin, your grandmother has had some reactions these past few days. I saw her finger move. I believe she’ll wake up before long.”

“Really?” Lin Xi’s eyes widened. It was the best news she’d heard in a long time.

The caregiver nodded. “Really. The doctor checked and said the same. We didn’t call to tell you because we didn’t want to worry you prematurely.”

“Grandma!” Lin Xi hugged her grandmother, burying her head against her chest. “You’re finally going to wake up! Is it because you missed me too much?”

Song Xu felt a sense of relief wash over him. He hoped Grandma Lin would wake up soon, too—otherwise, he wouldn’t know how to answer to his brother.

Lu Yunqi watched from the side, her eyes filled with disdain. How does this grandmother even deserve to stay in such a high-end ward? Seeing how much Lin Xi cared, she felt a surge of jealousy.

Because Lu Yunqi was present, Lin Xi kept a lot of things she wanted to say to her grandmother to herself. She really didn’t understand why Lu Yunqi had insisted on tagging along.

Song Xu stepped out of the room to take a call. When he returned, his expression was grim. Lin Xi assumed something had happened at his company. “If you’re busy, just go—I’m fine staying here by myself.”

Song Xu shook his head. “It’s nothing. I’ll wait for you.”

With Lu Yunqi still hanging around, Lin Xi didn’t want to stay any longer. “I’ll come back to see Grandma tomorrow. Let’s go.”

“That works,” Song Xu said, taking Lin Xi’s hand. He turned and saw Lu Yunqi, having almost forgotten she was there. “Xiao Qi, let’s go.”

“Okay.” Lu Yunqi hadn’t made a fuss; she’d just waited quietly for over an hour.

When they reached the parking lot, Song Xu and Lin Xi climbed into their car, but Lu Yunqi stood by her own vehicle, not moving.

Song Xu rolled down the window. “Xiao Qi, why aren’t you getting in your car?”

“My stomach isn’t feeling too good,” Lu Yunqi said, clutching her lower abdomen. “You guys go ahead; I’ll follow in a bit.”

Assuming she just needed the restroom, Song Xu didn’t press her and drove Lin Xi away.

Lu Yunqi watched their car disappear. She took her hand off her stomach, scoffed coldly, and turned back toward the inpatient building.

She found the room, pushed the door open, and walked in.

The caregiver recognized her. “Miss, did you leave something behind?”

Lu Yunqi smiled. “No. Lin Xi said she was worried about her grandmother, so she asked me to come back and keep her company for a while.”

The caregiver, assuming Lu Yunqi was a close friend, looked uneasy at the mention of being “worried.” “Please tell Miss Lin not to worry. We are professionals; we wouldn’t do anything unethical.”

“Lin Xi didn’t mean it like that,” Lu Yunqi said, feigning an awkward expression. “She’s just worried that you two are getting overworked.”

“Why don’t you two go take a break? I’ll watch over Grandma Lin for a bit.”

The two caregivers exchanged a look. If they weren’t trusted, they wouldn’t stay to be a nuisance. They’d already received their pay for the month anyway.

As soon as the caregivers left the room, Lu Yunqi’s expression turned vicious.

With Song Xu protecting Lin Xi, there was nothing she could do to the girl directly. So, she decided to take all her resentment out on Lin Xi’s grandmother.

Lu Yunqi ripped back the blankets, grabbed the soft skin on the inner side of the old woman’s thigh, and pinched down hard with a malicious twist. “Old hag, don’t blame me—blame your granddaughter! If she hadn’t snatched my man, none of this would be happening! She’s nothing but a shameless slut!”

After pinching the left side, she moved to the right, leaving dark, ugly bruises all over the elderly woman’s body.

The intense pain caused Grandma Lin’s hand to twitch.