BXBX NOVEL Chapter 354 - Three-Hundred and Fifty-Four: Sounding Out
Yun Nan didn’t turn her head back. Lin Yu knew she was sad and couldn’t help but feel pleased. Xiang Yang walked Lin Yu to the door and said, “Thank you, Lin Yu.”
Lin Yu chuckled, “It’s my pleasure. There’s no need to be so polite. Don’t treat me like an outsider.”
Xiang Yang nodded and watched Lin Yu leave. When she returned to the ward, Yun Nan subconsciously closed her eyes. Xiang Yang walked over and patted her. “It’s okay. She left. I saw her go downstairs myself. Don’t worry.”
Only then did Yun Nan open her eyes and let out a deep breath. Xiang Yang sighed, “She sure is incredible. I wouldn’t be able to control myself as easily and freely as she does and act like nothing unpleasant had happened between us in the past if it were me!”
Yun Nan agreed. “She must hate us very much for making a mess of her wedding, and she clearly knows about my relationship with Fang Xi but still came to see me so peacefully today. Just this calculative manner of hers is enough for us to be more wary.”
Yun Nan continued, “I would be more at ease if she were here to gloat. But you saw how she was; she was clearly here to see if I really fell ill and if Shi Nian was truly injured. Moreover, she even asked the doctor in advance. This perfect way of handling things often hides a true purpose.”
Xiang Yang nodded and sighed. “This is why I stay away from crowds. With people like her, I won’t even know if she sold me off.”
Yun Nan patted her hand. “Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. There’s no need to compare your shortcomings with others’ strengths. I really admire you for being able to remain so calm in the face of such a big matter.”
Xiang Yang smiled bitterly. “I was already mentally prepared before I married Shi Ke. But I’m still very flustered when it really comes down to it. Shi Ke often leaves without saying goodbye; that means he’s out on a mission.
Every time he’s out on a mission, I lose sleep and am on tenterhooks until he suddenly returns. It’s like my feelings are on a roller coaster. The longest he was away for a mission was three months, and I lost ten pounds that time.”
Yun Nan held her hand, not knowing how to comfort her. Xiang Yang smiled lightly. “I can see the question in your eyes. You want to ask me if I regret marrying him, don’t you?”
Yun Nan nodded. Xiang Yang answered, “I’ve asked myself that same question in the dark nights when I couldn’t sleep, and every time, my answer was, ‘No, I don’t regret it!’ I would still stand by his side without hesitation if I were to choose again. I love that man for who he is. I support him no matter what he does or what profession he takes up.”
She continued, “Every time he and his men go on a mission, they write a will in advance. I feel like crying when I think of that. Yun Nan, if that day truly comes, I don’t think I can live without him.” Here, Xiang Yang covered her mouth to stop herself from crying aloud.
Yun Nan hugged Xiang Yang and gently stroked her back. Xiang Yang’s love always gave her the feeling of a moth darting into the flame, ready to die at any time without hesitation.
Xiang Yang calmed down and looked gratefully at Yun Nan. “I’m sorry you guys got dragged into this.”
Yun Nan smiled and brushed the loose strands of hair beside Xiang Yang’s ear back into place. “There’s nothing to apologize for. We’re family!” With that, she inwardly sighed softly.
The person lying in the intensive care unit behind her wasn’t Shi Nian but Shi Ke. He had a through-and-through bullet wound in his chest. Fortunately, it didn’t damage his heart or lungs, but he still lost half his life due to excessive blood loss. During the last moments before he collapsed, Shi Ke arranged for his younger brother, Shi Nian, to be his substitute, take his place, and return to the army to cover up the matter of his injury. He did that because there was a mole in the army, and there would be serious consequences if they weren’t caught as soon as possible.
They staged Shi Nian’s ‘tragic’ car accident to cover up the brothers’ exchange of identities because Shi Ke had to be hospitalized. It was easy to deceive everyone when something unexpected happened in a hurry. However, their plans were soundly defeated by Yun Nan.
Yun Nan realized the person lying inside wasn’t her husband, even through the glass window and such a far distance. Thus, she turned to question Xiang Yang, who was beside her. Xiang Yang told her to “faint immediately” in a whisper only she could hear. Yun Nan followed her instruction without hesitation and ‘fainted’ in Xiang Yang’s arms.
That’s how they managed to spread the news that Shi Nian had suffered serious injuries in the car accident, and it’s unclear if he’ll make it through, confirming that the person lying in the hospital was indeed ‘Shi Nian.’
“I’m curious; how did you tell I’m not Shi Nian even with my head half wrapped up in bandages from such a distance?” Shi Ke asked, his injury making his tone slightly weak..