RGL – Chapter 178

Even if that day comes a bit later, it doesn’t matter.

As long as one can feel at ease about things, that’s enough.

Having lived two lifetimes, she now had no worries about food or clothing. Even in situations where there truly was no other choice, she still wouldn’t abandon her principles.

However, while Su Min had been hoping to gradually distance herself from Li Weisi’s help, Li Weisi came looking for her again.

On Friday afternoon, after Su Min finished a meeting, Li Weisi showed up at the general manager’s office of Xiuse, as if he had gotten the news instantly.

“What’s the meaning of this? You’re not planning to attend Paris Fashion Week?”

Li Weisi threw a copy of Xiuse’s promotional plan onto Su Min’s desk.

It had been delivered to him by his secretary that morning, said to be the new quarterly plan submitted by Xiuse, including design sketches of several featured outfits.

Upon seeing that some of the outfits were the same ones Su Min had shown him before—designs meant for the Paris Fashion Week—he immediately guessed what was going on.

So he rushed over to Xiuse to confront Su Min.

Right now, Su Min really didn’t feel like seeing Li Weisi.

Both publicly and privately, she felt uncomfortable. But since Li Weisi had come to find her, she couldn’t just turn him away.

“I don’t think I’m capable enough yet, so I want to wait for another opportunity in the future. After all, I’m still young.”

She hadn’t even graduated college yet—there would be other chances later.

“Nonsense. This is fashion design. If you have talent, you can make it at sixteen. If you don’t, even at eighty, you still won’t stand a chance. Su Min, I thought you were a confident person—when did you become so self-deprecating?”

Li Weisi looked furious. This time, he was genuinely angry.

He had always been well-mannered since childhood, the very model of a refined businessman. But Su Min’s retreat-before-battle attitude left him disappointed.

He had to admit—while he’d once thought she was too stubborn and not easy to deal with, he also couldn’t deny how outstanding she was. If he were younger, he might even have had the impulse to conquer her.

But he hadn’t expected Su Min to give up.

She didn’t even need to explain; he could already guess the reason. He’d weathered countless storms in his life, so he simply couldn’t understand the little knots in Su Min’s heart.

To him, as long as success was within reach, every opportunity should be seized. That was his life creed. The reason the Li Group had grown so strong was precisely because of this belief.

So he felt nothing but contempt for Su Min giving up such an easy win over personal feelings.

Su Min lowered her head and pressed her lips together. “President Li, I want to hear the truth. If it weren’t for Xue Mian, would you have helped me so readily back then? I know, when we were in Paris, it was only because of Xue Mian that you paid special attention to me, wasn’t it?”

Li Weisi’s expression softened slightly. After a brief pause, he said, “That’s right.”

Back then, Su Min had shown no signs of brilliance, nor had she yet gained Alice’s favor. He really had no other reason to take notice of such an unknown girl.

As for the few times Su Min had made a name for herself in the Western markets via William, those were mere trifles to Li Weisi—not enough to be taken seriously.

Hearing Li Weisi’s confirmation, Su Min wasn’t surprised, but she still felt an inexplicable wave of disappointment.

“I understand. Without the support of the group, I wouldn’t have had a chance to attend Paris Fashion Week. And even if I did attend, it wouldn’t be because of my own ability. Even the qualification to participate would’ve been through the back door—how could I possibly earn anyone’s respect like that?”

The more Su Min thought about it, the more she felt she shouldn’t go to such a competition.

“Su Min, don’t let emotions cloud your judgment,” Li Weisi said with a frown, his tone a bit stern. “Yes, I initially paid attention to you because Xue Mian used to mention you often when he was in the U.S. I knew my nephew had someone he was very fond of, so I was naturally curious. But I later chose to support Xiuse because I truly believe you have potential in this field. I didn’t bring the group to where it is today by being a man without principles.”

Hearing Li Weisi speak in such a serious tone, Su Min was a little moved, but she still couldn’t get past her own hurdle. “Then what about this matter in Paris?”

“I really do want you to give it a try.”

Su Min was silent for a while before finally saying, “My thoughts are all over the place right now. I no longer have that single-minded drive to compete like before. I’m sorry, President Li, I’d like to wait for the next opportunity. I’m still too young, after all.”

If she still had the same enthusiasm she once did for competitions, she wouldn’t have given up. But now, her mind was in turmoil. Combined with other things going on, she truly no longer had the right mindset for it.

“So you’re giving up?”

Li Weisi frowned at her. He hadn’t expected that after all he’d said, Su Min would still choose to back down.

“No!” Su Min replied with a serious expression. “This experience made me realize my own shortcomings. If I want to participate, I can’t go in as a nobody. I want to wait until I’ve gained enough strength and maturity before going. I’m not going this time just so I can be better prepared for the next.”

Li Weisi looked at her for a while, then let out a light sigh. This young girl was certainly stubborn.

Just like that brat.

Thinking of his nephew still in the hospital, Li Weisi’s mood grew a little complicated. “You haven’t seen Xue Mian in a while, have you?”

“There’s nothing between me and him anymore. I hope you won’t mention him again in the future, President Li.”

“I don’t know what happened between the two of you. Whatever it is, it’s something you should clear up with Xue Mian yourself. But he’s in the hospital, and that’s something I have to tell you. His health isn’t as good as it looks. Back when he was in the U.S., in order to graduate half a year earlier than others, he paid not just with time, but with his health too. Can you imagine what it’s like for someone to stay in a lab for three days and nights without eating or drinking? While he was abroad, he was hospitalized almost every two months. And who do you think he did all that for? You should know that better than anyone. He was recovering pretty well after coming back, but then he got a high fever a few days ago and fell ill again. He’d just barely gotten better when he went looking for you—and then had a gastric hemorrhage. He’s still lying in the hospital.”

Hearing this, Su Min’s mind went completely blank. So this was what Xue Mian had gone through overseas?

She had to admit, what Li Weisi said completely overturned everything she had thought she knew.

In her memory, Xue Mian had always been intelligent. Though he was more delicate-looking than most, he’d spent time in the military and was quite fit—at least tall and usually full of energy.

She couldn’t even imagine what he looked like, being hospitalized every two months.

“Did Sun Manli go see him?”

She had thought that things were already over between her and Xue Mian. Even though they never officially broke up face-to-face, they hadn’t contacted each other in so long. Xue Mian was already with Sun Manli. That silence between them was their unspoken breakup.

Li Weisi looked at her coldly. “You’ve known Xue Mian for so many years. You still don’t understand how he feels about you? After all these years, is this all the trust you have in him?”

Su Min wavered as soon as she heard those words, and her heart clenched for no reason.

Li Weisi took a deep breath and picked up the documents he had tossed onto the table earlier. “If you’re not going to participate, then forget it. We’ll launch it as a new product instead. I’ll be going now.”

With that, he turned and walked out briskly.

“Which hospital is he in?” Su Min’s chest felt unbearably tight, and her voice came out hoarse. Even asking that one question felt painfully difficult.

Li Weisi didn’t even turn around. He just spat out a few words. “Central City Hospital.”

That entire night, Su Min tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

She kept thinking about the things Li Weisi had questioned her about.

After more than ten years of being together, how much trust did she really have in Xue Mian?

Thinking back on everything that had happened, she suddenly felt incredibly petty and childish. Sun Manli had tried to provoke her before, and she had always responded calmly. So why, this time, had she given Xue Mian no chance at all, and believed Sun Manli’s words so easily?

After a sleepless night, she got up before dawn the next morning and hurried to wash up.

Hearing the noise, Liao Zhaodi came out of her room rubbing her eyes. “Su Min? Why are you up so early? Isn’t today a holiday?”

“I need to go out for a bit.”

Su Min quickly changed her shoes.

Seeing that she was really about to head out, Liao Zhaodi glanced outside. The sky was still dim—it was summer, and the sun rose late—probably not even 6 a.m. yet. Where could she be going at this hour?

“Did something happen? I’ll go with you.” She turned to head back and change her clothes.

“No, I’m going to see Xue Mian. I’ll go alone.” Su Min said quickly, then rushed out, leaving Liao Zhaodi staring dumbfounded at the closed door.

Just a few days ago, wasn’t she saying she wanted to break up like her life depended on it? How did it suddenly become a visit to Xue Mian?

She rubbed her head and thought to herself: people in love are either fools or lunatics.

It was so early that it was hard to get a cab. Su Min walked along the side of the road, taking in the rare quiet of B City, which was usually always noisy. Strangely, it brought a sense of calm to her heart.

Her mind grew clearer with every step.

Though she had known she liked Xue Mian, she hadn’t known how to deal with that kind of feeling. So after they had a falling out, she lost all reason. That’s why, when she saw Sun Manli, she’d gotten so worked up—so easily deceived.

Unknowingly, she had actually fallen into this kind of feeling as well.

Su Min felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of joy.

She had always thought something was wrong with her—that she couldn’t have genuine feelings like normal young people. But to her surprise, she was the same. She could act foolish, be impulsive.

Fortunately, she still had a mature and rational mind. Once she realized she was wrong, she was able to correct herself in time.

On the way to the hospital, Su Min took a restrained breath, suddenly unsure of how to face Xue Mian.

When she reached Xue Mian’s hospital room, she took a deep breath, finally gathered her courage, and opened the door—

—Empty!

“Comrade, who are you looking for?”

A nurse-like person walked over.

Su Min was stunned. “I’m looking for Xue Mian. This is his room, right?”

The young nurse suddenly understood and smiled, “You’re looking for Mr. Xue? He was discharged. He left the hospital last night.”

Su Min felt a little disappointed upon hearing that, but at the same time, a little happy—being discharged meant he was more or less recovered.

She thanked the nurse and was about to leave when she heard the young woman mutter behind her, “No idea what he was thinking, insisting on being discharged when he’s still not fully recovered. If you get the chance, try to convince him to come back for a few more days, or who knows how his condition will turn out.”

Su Min felt a tightness in her chest, nodded, and quickly left the hospital.

She had just mustered the courage to come see Xue Mian, but after this twist, she felt her emotions deflate again.

Looking at the sky, it had already brightened. She glanced at her watch—it was already seven o’clock. At this time, Xue Mian might’ve already gone to work. That man, when it came to work, was a complete workaholic.

She shook her head with a smile and decided to look for him after work. After all, going to the office over something personal didn’t seem appropriate.

Since it was still early, Su Min didn’t plan to head to the office right away. Instead, she hailed a cab and went straight home.

When the car arrived at her community gate, Su Min rubbed her forehead and got out. She hadn’t slept the entire night and was now completely worn out. She had to go home and catch up on sleep.

“Xiao Min.”

A hoarse voice suddenly called out, making Su Min shiver and wake up instantly.

She turned her head sharply and saw, beside the flowerbed by the community gate, a tall and slender young man standing there.

Looking at his pale face and those bright black eyes filled with a trace of surprise and delight, Su Min suddenly felt her nose sting. She couldn’t hold back and rushed toward him, reaching out to hug him tightly.

Xue Mian’s arms hung stiffly at his sides. He stood there stunned for a moment before suddenly wrapping the person in his arms tightly. Worried that he was dreaming, he bit his own tongue. Only when the sharp pain hit him did his face break into a joyful smile.

It was real.

Su Min wasn’t mad anymore. She had even taken the initiative to hug him.

Su Min was a rather reserved person. Even though they were dating, truthfully, they hadn’t even kissed before, let alone hugged in public.

Xue Mian had harbored some secret desires, but because of Su Min’s personality, he never dared cross the line. He didn’t want her to think he was frivolous. Now, holding her in his arms, his whole body felt giddy, like he was drunk.

So this is what it feels like to hold someone you love.

The two of them quietly stood there embracing for a long time, neither speaking, ignoring the curious glances from passersby.

Once Su Min’s emotions had calmed down, she lifted her head and looked at Xue Mian with reddened eyes. “Why did you leave the hospital? How could you be discharged when you’re not fully recovered?”

She had heard what that nurse said—he was being reckless.

Xue Mian was still basking in joy when he was suddenly scolded. He instinctively replied, “I’m fine now. Really.”

“Lies!” Su Min said sternly, sniffing as she pressed her lips together. “We’re going back to the hospital first. We’ll talk about everything else later.”

“Okay, okay, whatever you say,” Xue Mian quickly agreed with a grin, feeling like his heart was soaked in honey. He felt like he was dreaming—Su Min was actually caring for him like this.

Seeing him so obviously pleased by such a small act of concern, Su Min thought to herself that she really hadn’t treated him well enough before. That was why he was so happy just because she showed a little care now. Thinking this, her heart softened even more.

Xue Mian had driven over, so the two of them returned to the hospital and completed the admission procedures. When they got back to the room, the nurse who had been taking care of Xue Mian before widened her eyes in surprise—he had just been discharged yesterday, and now he was back. When she saw Su Min beside him, realization dawned.

Xue Mian sat obediently on the bed like a well-behaved child, not daring to move or speak much.

Even though the moment they’d shared just now was beautiful, he still felt a little unreal—worried that Su Min had only acted on impulse and might walk away once she came to her senses.

Su Min returned with a basin of hot water, poured him a glass, helped him take his medicine, and settled him in before pulling a chair over to sit by the bed and talk to him. “I’m going to ask you a few questions, and you’d better answer honestly.”

Xue Mian looked up, ready to explain, but when he saw the stern look in Su Min’s eyes, he swallowed his words and just nodded blankly.

“You asked your uncle to help me before, didn’t you?”

Xue Mian hesitated for a moment, then nervously nodded. “I only mentioned it, I didn’t push it too hard.” After saying that, he guiltily lowered his head.