Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 63

Together

Love me well, just this once.

With Wei Hui’s guarantee, Shiyi’s appointment became much easier. Luo Zhouping, who initially had many objections, suddenly changed his attitude, saying it would be good to give young people more opportunities. Wei Hui knew this old fox’s thoughts – he previously didn’t want Shiyi in the vice president position because he feared his own power would be diminished. But now with her guarantee, it was different. He only needed to manipulate things to make Shiyi cause company losses, and then both would be gone at once.

            

She understood Luo Zhouping’s intentions and naturally wouldn’t let him have his way. His impression of Shiyi probably remained from two or three years ago. Even though Shiyi had become sharp-tongued, she hadn’t produced any actual results yet. How would he know Shiyi’s true capabilities?

Nevertheless, the smooth appointment put Wei Hui’s mind at ease.

After the meeting, Shiyi wheeled Wei Hui to the office. Once the door closed, Wei Hui asked, “Did you meet Shen Hao?”

            

Shiyi pushed her to the floor-to-ceiling window, where scattered sunlight refracted through the glass onto Wei Hui, adding a multicolored halo. She embraced Wei Hui, nuzzling her ear, and softly said, “Yes.”

“The contract is signed too.”

Wei Hui tilted her head, her cheek brushing against Shiyi’s lips, receiving a kiss in return. Shiyi’s previous worries and fears hadn’t been fully released, and now with Wei Hui here again, their lips and teeth met, tongues touching, enjoying sweetness like preserved fruits. Shiyi kissed her deeply, only stopping when Wei Hui’s lipstick had transferred to her own lips.

            

“Shiyi,” Wei Hui’s voice was soft, “The land in Huaicheng, we must secure it.”

This was Shiyi’s first task at the company, a foundational project that needed to be executed perfectly. Shiyi, still kissing her, frowned upon hearing these words: “You’re such a mood killer, I don’t want to hear it.”

Wei Hui laughed at Shiyi’s rare display of childish temper. Shiyi was half-crouching, so Wei Hui could look directly into her eyes. She placed her finger on Shiyi’s nose tip: “Even if you don’t want to hear it, I must say it. This is your first battle, and I hope you can win.”

            

Shiyi was only acting childish to make Wei Hui happy, and seeing her smile, she also smiled gently. She leaned forward, pecking Wei Hui’s slightly swollen lips several times: “I know.”

“Huihui, don’t worry. I know what I should and shouldn’t do. I’m not a child anymore.”

Wei Hui nodded at her composed expression. Indeed, she had grown up and matured. She was no longer the timid girl who used to stand behind her, tugging at her sleeve. In a flash of realization, they had been together for two or three years.

            

Time really flew by.

After saying this, Shiyi stared at Wei Hui, contemplating for a long time before saying: “Dr. Su told me you’re planning to have the surgery earlier. Is that true?”

The early artificial heart transplant surgery had always been a topic they avoided discussing, because having an early heart replacement meant Wei Hui’s life would be prematurely set. Su Ziyan had said that with an artificial heart, even without rejection, the best outcome would only last four or five years.

            

How could four or five years be enough?

Shiyi truly felt she was too greedy. Initially, she thought being together even for moments would be enough, but now she yearned for more time, even if—even if it meant exchanging her own life.

But Wei Hui would never allow that.

            

Shiyi knew this deeply. If she used her own heart, Wei Hui would certainly not live alone.

Seeing Shiyi’s suddenly dimmed gaze, Wei Hui smiled: “What’s wrong? Ziyan has already talked to me about the early surgery. We haven’t set a date yet. Don’t worry too much. Ziyan has extensive surgical experience; nothing will go wrong.”

Shiyi nodded, not clinging to Wei Hui crying as she used to, but instead spoke calmly: “I understand. You need to go to the hospital, right? I’ll have Pei Tian take you. Should I come to the hospital tonight to see you?”

            

Having just taken over Wei Tian, she was too busy to get away. Wei Hui’s body couldn’t hold out much longer. She had received Pei Tian’s message, knowing about today’s meeting and the difficulties Shiyi would face, which was why she came regardless. Now that everything was settled, she needed to go to the hospital.

The two parted reluctantly in the office. Shiyi couldn’t help but hold Wei Hui’s face and kiss her again and again, wishing she could merge this person into her very bones. After two years, her love for Wei Hui had only grown deeper. She couldn’t bear to see Wei Hui suffer even the slightest bit – it hurt worse than being stabbed in the chest!

Wei Hui felt the same way. Initially, she had only thought to follow her heart once and have one romance, but unexpectedly, her heart became tied to Shiyi, and her gaze could no longer turn away.

            

The more they faced illness together, the deeper their feelings grew. Shiyi pressed against her lips and whispered: “Wait for me tonight, you must wait for me this time.”

Wei Hui smiled: “Alright.”

She extended her pinky finger: “I won’t break my promise.”

            

Shiyi’s about-to-cry expression froze, then broke into a smile through her tears. A few minutes later, she contacted Pei Tian to come take Wei Hui to the hospital. Looking at the desk full of unprocessed documents, Shiyi took a deep breath, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down as a black sedan slowly drove away.

After getting in the car, Wei Hui coughed several times. Pei Tian’s sword-like eyebrows furrowed: “Third Miss, do you need me to get your medicine?”

“No need.” Wei Hui took a deep breath: “Let’s go to the hospital.”

            

This hospital visit was different from before. Under the cover of the car accident, she walked straightforwardly through the hospital entrance. Su Ziyan was pacing at the door, and upon seeing her being wheeled in, his face immediately darkened. Only after pushing her into the ward did he scold: “This is truly reckless! Do you know what you’re doing? Your body could experience cardiac arrest at any moment, yet you still dare to go out? Do you really not fear death?!”

Wei Hui shook her head at his words: “I’m quite afraid.”

“But I’m more afraid that Shiyi won’t be able to handle things.”

            

“You…” Su Ziyan didn’t know whether to be angry or laugh. He had previously worried that Wei Hui would spend her life in loneliness, thinking it wouldn’t be bad to experience love before leaving. But he hadn’t expected that once she experienced it, she would become completely immersed. Two years had passed, and he had witnessed firsthand how Wei Hui transformed from someone who didn’t know how to love into someone who now considered everything for Shiyi’s sake. This person who used to be without heart or lungs [沒心沒肺 | méi xīn méi fěi | meaning: completely casual and carefree] was, for the first time, deliberately caring for someone.

He truly didn’t know what to say.

Seeing her thin profile, he couldn’t say anything more. Su Ziyan sighed lightly: “Fine, I can’t control you anymore.”

            

As he spoke, he set up an IV drip for Wei Hui. The hospital room was very quiet. Wei Hui gazed out the window at the dazzling sunlight, thinking of Shiyi’s kisses on her lips, carrying warmth, and those hands, that person, always carrying warmth – the warmth and softness she craved.

It was so hard to let go.

After inserting the IV needle, Su Ziyan said: “I’ll go out first. Get some rest.”

            

“Ziyan.” Wei Hui looked up at Su Ziyan, her gaze gradually becoming clear and calm: “Please help me contact Dr. Bai.”

Su Ziyan was stunned: “What?”

Wei Hui thought for a moment and said: “I had a three-year agreement with him. Could you ask if he’s still willing to take on my case?”

            

Su Ziyan knew about the three-year agreement. The year Wei Hui had just returned to the country, he had repeatedly urged her to seek surgery from Dr. Bai, but when Wei Hui became stubborn, she was more obstinate than anyone. She had said Shiyi wasn’t grown up yet, and she couldn’t rest easy. But now?

“Has Shiyi grown up?” Su Ziyan asked her, his gaze intense.

Wei Hui thought of Shiyi’s performance in the meeting room, nodded, and affirmed: “Yes, she has grown up.”

            

At least to a stage where she could feel at ease.

Su Ziyan had always been urging her to have the surgery, but now that he actually heard it, he felt reluctant: “Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider? There might not even be a four percent chance anymore. Maybe Dr. Bai has forgotten, maybe…”

“Ziyan.” Wei Hui lay on the hospital bed and said: “Three years ago, I chose not to have the surgery because I wasn’t at ease. I feared the surgery would fail and Shiyi would have nowhere to go. Now I choose to have the surgery because I am at ease. Even if I’m gone, Shiyi will be strong.”

            

“As you said, take a chance. Since heaven has favored me by sending Shiyi to my side, I’ll pray once more, hoping it will favor me again.”

“But…” Su Ziyan still wanted to persuade her, but Wei Hui said: “Contact him.”

Su Ziyan was silent for a few seconds: “Should we tell Shiyi?”

            

Wei Hui thought for a moment: “Don’t tell her for now. Wait until the Huaicheng project is stable, and I’ll tell her myself.”

Tears welled up in Su Ziyan’s eyes. He nodded, his voice choked: “Alright, I’ll contact him.”

The hospital room door closed softly, leaving complete silence except for the dripping of the IV. When Shiyi came to the hospital after work, she saw the sleeping beauty on the hospital bed. The IV had stopped, and Wei Hui’s hand was black and blue. Her skin was fair and delicate, showing terrible marks at the slightest pressure. Shiyi tenderly placed her hand under the thin blanket. Thinking of what Su Ziyan had said, she remained silent for a few seconds before lifting the blanket and undoing Wei Hui’s hospital gown. Seeing the healed scar, her fingertips trembled. She slowly redressed Wei Hui in her hospital gown, pretending nothing had happened. While Wei Hui was still asleep, she turned and ran into the bathroom, buried her face in a clean pillowcase, and broke down sobbing!

            

When Wei Hui woke up, it was already past nine in the evening. Her car accident wasn’t very serious, mainly injuring her leg. Under normal circumstances, hospitalization wouldn’t have been necessary, but Wei Hui’s body was different from others, so Su Ziyan forced her to stay for observation.

After waking, she had dinner with Shiyi. Late at night, Shiyi slept on another hospital bed, the atmosphere unusually peaceful. Shiyi talked about interesting things from abroad, mentioning that Du Yueming had contacted her about returning, saying she was going crazy over there, that she had fought with her girlfriend, and that she had met that idiot again. She rambled on about others’ affairs with slightly red eyes. Wei Hui listened, occasionally responding with “mm,” until late into the night. Shiyi kept talking until Wei Hui said, “Alright, let’s rest,” and only then did she stop.

After Wei Hui fell asleep, Shiyi quietly crept out of bed, moved to Wei Hui’s bedside, and lay her head on her chest, listening to the faint heartbeat for a very long time before returning to her own bed. After she left, Wei Hui turned over, crystal tears overflowing from her eyes, leaving a wet spot on the pillow.

            

Wei Hui stayed in the hospital for over half a month. On the day of discharge, Shiyi took a half-day off to pick her up. During this time, she had become quite familiar with Wei Tian’s operations, checking various projects with Wei Hui without major issues. Luo Zhouping, obsessed with the Huaicheng land, had left early. Shiyi, reluctant to leave Wei Hui, had delayed her departure. After returning home on discharge day, Aunt Liu made them chicken soup. Shiyi, seeing oil on Wei Hui’s lips after drinking, smiled and wiped it with tissue paper. They toured the Wei residence twice. In late July, the weather suddenly warmed, and Wei Hui sat in the wheelchair wearing thin clothes. Near dusk, she patted Shiyi’s hand: “Let’s go back to the room.”

Shiyi crouched down: “Are you tired?”

Wei Hui nodded: “Mm.”

            

Not daring to delay, Shiyi immediately wheeled Wei Hui back to the living room, carried her upstairs, and placed her on the bed. Wei Hui wasn’t completely unable to walk, but Shiyi worried about her overexerting herself and wouldn’t let her walk. Upstairs, Wei Hui went to the bathroom to freshen up while Shiyi arranged clothes, saying: “Huihui, I’m going to Huaicheng tomorrow, eight o’clock morning flight, with Assistant Pei. Stay home, don’t see me off.”

A soft response came from the bathroom: “Okay.”

Shiyi thought for a moment: “About the surgery, can we wait until I return? I want to be with you.”

            

This time she was answered by the splashing sound of running water. Perhaps Wei Hui hadn’t heard, as there was no response for a while. After arranging the clothes, Shiyi walked to the bathroom and knocked: “Huihui?”

The door opened, and Wei Hui appeared wearing a deep red silk nightgown, mid-sleeve, thin fabric, revealing her fair and slender calves. Apart from her pale complexion, she was incredibly sensual. Shiyi froze on the spot, softly calling: “Huihui.”

Wei Hui took two steps forward, standing before Shiyi, her hands at the sides of her nightgown. She gazed at Shiyi without blinking, seeing the desire rising in her eyes. She undid her nightgown, letting the silk fabric fall from her shoulders. There was nothing underneath, and except for the scar on her chest, everything was perfect. Shiyi still stood there dumbfounded until Wei Hui placed both hands on her shoulders, pressing close with dampness and softness. Wei Hui’s pink lips parted slightly as she whispered in Shiyi’s ear: “Shiyi, before you leave, I want you to love me well.”

            

Shiyi shook her head: “No, I…”

Wei Hui held her tightly, with determination and no hesitation: “Just this once.”

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