40: Chapter 40 Crimson on the Bed Sheets

The hospital room was quiet, with a bland urban drama playing on the television at a low volume, just enough to create a lazy atmosphere.

The exhaustion from his injuries came in waves. Lin Yu didn't try to push himself any further; he leaned back against the pillows as his eyelids grew heavy.

Before long, only the sound of steady breathing remained in the room.

When Director Chu Yao returned, she was carrying two exquisite thermal containers. She had changed into a beige shirt paired with an asymmetrical skirt, and her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, shedding some of her usual icy demeanor and gaining a gentler, more domestic aura.

She pushed open the door to the hospital room quietly and saw Lin Yu sleeping soundly against the headboard.

Sunlight streamed through the window onto his face. His lips were still pale, and his head was wrapped in bandages, a sight that made one's heart ache.

Director Chu Yao softened her footsteps, placed the thermal containers gently on the bedside table, sat down by the bed, and watched him quietly.

From this morning until now, scene after scene replayed in her mind—

The car speeding down the road, the way he had rushed over like a madman to shield her arm with his body, the blood spreading beneath him, and his final actions before losing consciousness—even with his last ounce of strength, he had to confirm if she was injured...

Director Chu Yao felt a sting in her nose, and her eyes quietly reddened again. In her twenty-plus years of life, this was the first time someone had disregarded everything, risking their life to protect her.

The man before her seemed like a playboy, seemingly uninhibited, yet at the critical moment of life and death, he had given her the most pure and desperate tenderness.

Director Chu Yao gently reached out, her fingertips stopping an inch from his cheek. After a moment of hesitation, she let them rest lightly on his forehead, tentatively touching the edge of the bandages.

Her touch was as light as a feather.

Ding! Director Chu Yao's Intimacy + 15

Current Intimacy: 87

"Mmm..."

Lin Yu groaned softly and slowly opened his eyes.

Their eyes met.

Director Chu Yao looked like a child caught in the act; she jerked her hand back, her cheeks instantly flushing, her earlobes turning bright red. Her tone was somewhat flustered: "Y-you're awake?"

"Mmm." Lin Yu watched her flushed cheeks, a smile appearing in his eyes. "Just got back?"

"Just arrived." Director Chu Yao quickly stood up and opened the thermal containers. "I made some light porridge and a few side dishes. The doctor said these are suitable for you right now."

She scooped out a bowl of warm millet porridge, carefully sprinkled some chopped greens on top, picked up a spoon, and brought it to Lin Yu's lips. "I'll feed you."

Lin Yu did not refuse and took small sips from her hand. The porridge was cooked soft and sweet, and the temperature was just right—clearly, she had carefully prepared it at home and kept it warm all the way here.

"It tastes good." Lin Yu complimented her.

Director Chu Yao's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint yet genuine smile.

In that instant, it felt as if ice had melted and spring had arrived.

After the meal, Director Chu Yao cleaned up the dishes, wrung out a hot towel, and carefully wiped Lin Yu's hands, face, and body. Her movements were gentle and meticulous, taking care of him in every possible way.

When she wiped the abrasions on his arm, her movements became even lighter, her eyes filled with heartache. "Does it hurt?"

"Just a minor injury, it's nothing." Lin Yu dismissed it nonchalantly, though his gaze remained fixed on her face. "What about you? You must have been scared yesterday, right?"

Director Chu Yao's movements paused. She lowered her head, her voice soft and tinged with lingering fear. "I thought... I thought I was going to be hit."

"And then you rushed over."

She looked up, her eyes slightly red, and looked at him earnestly. "Lin Yu, thank you."

"Thank you for what?" Lin Yu teased her intentionally.

"Thank you for... saving me." Director Chu Yao bit her lip and spoke the words hidden in her heart. "And thank you for not leaving me behind."

Lin Yu's heart softened. He reached out and gently took her hand. Her hand was slightly cool.

"I won't let anything happen to you." Lin Yu said earnestly. "I will never leave you behind."

Director Chu Yao looked into his eyes; in those eyes, she saw a firmness and tenderness she had never seen before. Her heart completely lost its rhythm; bit by bit, she sank into it completely.

The night grew deeper.

Director Chu Yao didn't mention leaving; she quietly stayed in the hospital room and fell asleep by the bedside.

Lin Yu wanted to get up to go to the bathroom; as soon as he tried to prop himself up, Director Chu Yao woke up.

"I'll help you." She quickly stood up and carefully supported him, her movements natural and practiced. When they reached the bathroom, Lin Yu had injuries and couldn't move easily; Director Chu Yao's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't shy away at all, silently reaching out to help.

She was a mortician and was used to the bodies of the dead, but facing Lin Yu at this moment, her heart was beating so fast it felt like it would burst from her chest, and her face was burning hot. She kept her head down the whole time, not daring to look at him, her long eyelashes fluttering gently.

After returning to the hospital bed, Director Chu Yao helped him cover himself with the quilt before sitting on the companion chair nearby, letting out a small sigh of relief.

Lin Yu looked at her tired yet still gentle expression and said softly, "Don't sleep on the chair tonight; come up and squeeze in."

Director Chu Yao looked up abruptly, a look of astonishment on her face.

"The hospital bed is big enough, it's fine." Lin Yu shifted to the side. "You've stayed with me all day, you must be tired."

Director Chu Yao hesitated for a moment before finally nodding gently.

She cautiously lay on the outer edge of the bed, trying her best not to touch him, her body tense.

Lin Yu turned onto his side and looked at her tense face. Director Chu Yao's cheeks reddened further; she shifted to the side, but couldn't help but lean in slightly. She could smell the faint scent of disinfectant on him, mixed with his unique aura, which was inexplicably comforting.

Lin Yu watched her, somewhat entranced, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

Director Chu Yao sensed that burning gaze; her cheeks felt hot as she whispered, "What is it? You keep staring at me."

"You're beautiful." Lin Yu's voice was low.

Director Chu Yao was so embarrassed by his blunt words that she simply turned her back to him, pulled the quilt up to cover her burning face, and left him only her back.

Lin Yu watched her dark, beautiful hair spread across the pillow, exposing the fair, delicate skin of her nape at the tips of her hair. As if possessed, he reached out, his fingertips gently passing through her hair, his palm resting against her warm back. Director Chu Yao trembled violently, her breath catching in her throat.

"Don't... you still have injuries." Her voice trembled, filled with a hint of panic.

"It's no problem." Lin Yu chuckled, tightening his arm to pull her closer. He nuzzled her hair with his nose and took a deep breath. "You smell so good, it's a scent that makes one feel at ease."

His palm moved slowly up along her waistline, lifting the hem of her shirt bit by bit. When his fingertips touched her smooth, tender skin, both of them felt as if they had been struck by an electric current. Lin Yu's breathing grew heavy, the temperature of his palm shockingly hot as it traced her waistline all the way up.

Director Chu Yao bit her lower lip, a faint whimper escaping her throat. She was still an inexperienced girl; apart from being kissed by him before, and the time he lay on her lap, she had never been this close to a man. But at this moment, the aura of the man behind her completely enveloped her, his palm carrying a wildfire-like heat that ignited the most secret desires in her heart.

Lin Yu's hand reversed direction, lifting the hem of her skirt. His fingertips brushed against her delicate skin, each touch like setting a fire on her heart. Then, Director Chu Yao became tense—an instinctual fear and rejection of the unknown, silently resisting this sudden intrusion.

"It hurts..." She squeezed the word out through gritted teeth, her voice tinged with tears. Her body instinctively shrank back, but she forced herself not to pull away because she didn't want to disappoint him.

Lin Yu's movements came to an abrupt halt. He was not a reckless man, especially when the person in his arms was the treasure he had protected with his own life. His other hand gently combed through the long hair scattered on the pillow, his forehead pressed against the back of her neck. His voice was hoarse but filled with infinite patience and tenderness: "Yao Yao, don't be afraid... relax, I'm here."

His voice was like a gentle sedative, slowly injecting itself into Director Chu Yao's tense nerves. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her wild heartbeat, and tried to relax her stiff body. She knew that the man behind her was someone to whom she could entrust everything.

Lin Yu felt her body gradually relax, and only then did he begin again. This time, he slowed down the rhythm completely.

I don't know how much time passed before that barrier quietly dissolved in love and patience. Sweat slid down his forehead and dripped onto her shoulder—a testament to his restraint and endurance.

In the darkness, Director Chu Yao's breathing gradually changed from rapid to long and steady.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, quietly spilling onto the hospital bed, gently shrouding their embraced figures. In this moment, there was no worldly noise, only two hearts that had completely merged after experiencing a life-and-death test.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and a layer of grayish-white mist hung outside the window.

Director Chu Yao woke up very lightly, rising from the bedside almost silently, fearing she might disturb Lin Yu, who was still in a light sleep on the hospital bed. She looked down at the eye-catching yet shy crimson stain on the bed sheet, and her cheeks instantly burned hot.

Last night's passion had happened so unexpectedly. She tucked in the corners of the quilt quietly, her fingertips gently brushing over Lin Yu's well-defined profile, before tiptoeing out of the hospital room toward the bedding room behind the nurse's station. Before long, she returned with a clean, flat white bed sheet. Seeing that Lin Yu was also awake, she helped him go to the bathroom. Upon returning, she efficiently changed the soiled bed sheet, carefully rolled it up, and stuffed it into the black plastic bag she had brought with her.

Just as she was about to take the bag to find a place to dispose of it, her wrist was suddenly caught by a warm, powerful hand.

Lin Yu's eyes still held the laziness of having just woken up. His gaze landed on the black bag, his tone low and with a hint of undeniable seriousness: "Don't throw it away."

Director Chu Yao's heart skipped a beat, her ears turning bright red: "This... it's dirty, why keep it?"

"This is a testament to us." Lin Yu applied a little force, pulling the bag to his side, his eyes so gentle they could melt. "Keep it; when we think back on it in the future, it will be a memento."

Director Chu Yao felt her heart warm at his words; she bit her lip and didn't insist further, though her cheeks were burning hot.

Before long, there was a light knock on the door, and the attending physician arrived with several interns for their routine rounds.

"Mr. Lin, how are you feeling? Any dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or numbness or weakness in your limbs?" The doctor opened the medical chart and carefully examined his expression.

Lin Yu moved his neck slightly; aside from some soreness after the bumps and bruises, there was nothing major. "None at all, I'm doing quite well."

The doctor let out a sigh of relief, gave a few more instructions on precautions, and then turned to leave. A nurse followed closely, skillfully finding a vein, inserting the IV needle steadily, and adjusting the drip rate. "Mr. Lin, if you need anything, please ring the bell at any time."

"Thank you for your hard work." Lin Yu nodded in thanks.

The medicine in the IV tube dripped down slowly. Director Chu Yao picked up her coat: "I'm going to buy you breakfast. What would you like to eat?"

"Something light is fine; you should eat too."

Director Chu Yao acknowledged him and left, closing the door softly. The hospital room became quiet for a moment. Lin Yu closed his eyes to rest, but before long, his phone suddenly vibrated.

The name flashing on the screen made him raise an eyebrow.

Tang Man.

Lin Yu answered, his voice lowered. "Hello."

"Boss!" Tang Man's tone was filled with undisguised excitement, her speaking speed extremely fast. "Good news! The construction land planning permit for that plot of land has been approved!"

Lin Yu's eyes flickered. "So fast?"

"That's not all!" Tang Man's voice was trembling. "The Deputy Mayor personally brought the documents to the company and is waiting in your office right now, saying she wants to hand them to you in person!"

Lin Yu was silent for a moment.

Not meeting her would obviously be inappropriate; that was the Deputy Mayor, representing the official stance.

But he was currently... in the hospital, completely unable to move.

He pondered for a moment before speaking truthfully: "Tang Man, I was in a car accident yesterday and am currently at the Municipal Hospital. I'm not seriously hurt, but I can't leave for the time being. Please apologize to the Deputy Mayor for me and say that I'm indisposed and unable to receive her. Whatever you do, don't make a scene; don't let anyone else in the company know, as it might affect the work progress."

The other end of the line went dead silent, and then, Tang Man's voice suddenly became panicked, tinged with tears. "What?! A car accident?! Boss, which hospital are you at? Which department? Which floor?"

A series of questions came pouring in.

"Municipal Hospital, Inpatient Department, Spirit Surgery."

Before Lin Yu could give his bed number, a "beep—beep—" busy signal already came from the receiver.

Tang Man had hung up directly, clearly already on her way to the hospital.

Lin Yu rubbed his temples helplessly.

Why was this woman always so impetuous?

Director Chu Yao soon returned with breakfast, the scent of porridge filling the air. She carefully blew on the porridge to cool it down and fed it to Lin Yu one spoonful at a time. Sunlight streamed through the window onto the two of them, the atmosphere incredibly gentle.

Just as Director Chu Yao was using a tissue to wipe the corner of Lin Yu's mouth, the hospital room door was gently knocked.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged couple dressed in simple clothes walked in, carrying a bag of fruit. The man was clutching an envelope, and both of them stood there at a loss as soon as they entered.

"Excuse me... are you Mr. Lin?" The man seemed a bit uneasy.

"I am." Lin Yu nodded.

"I'm, I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry!" The man bowed slightly. "It was my carelessness while driving that caused me to hit you. I've been feeling uneasy, so I specifically came over to apologize... We will definitely cover the medical expenses; please, you must forgive us!"

This couple was the driver who caused the accident and their family member.

Just as Lin Yu was about to speak to reassure them, a rush of rapid, loud high-heel footsteps suddenly sounded in the corridor, approaching from afar and blowing past the hospital room door like a gust of wind. Lin Yu didn't see clearly, but he felt they were somewhat familiar.

At the same time!

At the Municipal Hospital, Inpatient Department, Spirit Surgery nurse's station.