Chapter 21: N. Confrontation

In the morning, Ning Yixiao worked on his laptop in the back seat of the car, dividing his attention to listen to Carl’s work report.

Most of it was content not worth his focus, better left to his subordinates, until Carl mentioned Su Hui.

“I’ve found relevant information on him, including his current work address and his schedule for the last few days. Do you need me to report it?”

Ning Yixiao’s typing paused, and he nodded.

Through Carl’s investigation, he learned of Su Hui’s current work—he was right there in Manhattan, having worked in the US for nearly a year and a half. Ning Yixiao spent most of his time in the Bay Area, but even though they were in the same city, they had never met. The time he had spent searching in the past now felt like a joke—entirely meaningless.

“For the past few days, his schedule has been primarily shuttling between the hospital and the school.”

“Psychiatric ward?” Ning Yixiao asked.

“No,” Carl named a hospital in Brooklyn, adding, “It’s the hepatobiliary surgery department; the attending physician specializes in liver cancer treatment.”

Ning Yixiao frowned. “Is the information certain?”

“Yes.” Carl provided his reliable source. “The director of the psychiatric department at this hospital collaborates with us. We have an online meeting tomorrow, so I entrusted this professor to look up the information.”

Ning Yixiao checked the time. “There are no other appointments today, correct?”

Carl checked and looked troubled. “Um… what about the second round of acquisition negotiations with Ocha? We’re still not attending?”

“Send Jing Ming.” Ning Yixiao’s plan remained unchanged.

Carl was a bit anxious about Ning Yixiao’s cold-treatment approach. After all, Ocha was one of the largest tech companies in the Bay Area. “But… Luka mentioned before that if he’s the only one going, he only intends to take them on a yacht party…”

“Then let them have a party.” Ning Yixiao had already discussed the division of labor with Jing Ming; their goal was the same: to leave the Ocha representatives hanging. “They will have a third or even a fourth round of negotiations. They need to understand that it is not we who are anxious.”

After saying this, Ning Yixiao temporarily inserted a new arrangement into his afternoon schedule—requesting the cancellation of tomorrow’s online meeting, and moving the meeting to the hospital directly, today.

“Won’t that be inefficient?” Ever since Carl started working for Ning Yixiao, he had been infected by his boss’s obsession with efficiency. The reason the meeting was arranged online was due to his worry that the professor might have emergencies at the hospital; online meetings offered more flexibility.

But this time, Ning Yixiao was uncharacteristically insistent. “It’s fine. I’ll take the opportunity to tour the analysis system they are currently using clinically.”

“Ah… alright.” Carl had to make a temporary phone appointment. Fortunately, the professor was at the hospital, and the meeting was arranged smoothly.

The driver took them to the hospital. On the way, Ning Yixiao, who had been working quietly, spoke again. “Carl.”

“Yes?” Carl turned his head from the passenger seat.

“The liver cancer patient you mentioned—it’s not Su Hui himself,” he asked, his tone almost certain.

Seeing Ning Yixiao’s expression, Carl felt it was unfamiliar. It was a look that seemed close to concern—something that had never appeared before. In the past, in Ning Yixiao’s black eyes, he had only seen calm and burning ambition.

“No, Shaw.” Carl reported everything he knew truthfully. “It’s a 78-year-old elderly woman; the surname seems to be Yang, and the registrant is Su Hui.”

It was his grandmother.

Ning Yixiao’s hanging heart did not fully settle. He knew very well how important Su Hui’s grandmother was to him.

“Shaw, there is one thing I’m debating whether to tell you. It concerns the other party’s privacy.” Carl hesitated. He hadn’t wanted to say it, but he felt Ning Yixiao was concerned for that person.

“Go ahead.”

“According to what I’ve found, this Mr. Su’s current living situation is quite tight. I also checked with Ms. Jones’s staff; Mr. Su has refused many of their previous invitations. Presumably, it is because of this crisis that he agreed to accept Ms. Jones’s commission.”

Although Carl didn’t know exactly what kind of relationship existed between Ning Yixiao and Su Hui, he could perceive his concern from Ning Yixiao’s awkward attitude. His boss was a workaholic who ran like a robot, caring only about work, even ignoring his own health. Since Su Hui appeared, it was as if another side of him had been awakened.

“Also, regarding the psychologist Liang Wen you mentioned earlier, every patient’s information is not public, so I didn’t find anything at first. But later I asked Elvis to help me inquire about it. Su Hui is indeed receiving treatment at the private clinic where Dr. Liang works…”

Ning Yixiao suddenly spoke, interrupting Carl as if pointing out a logical fallacy during a meeting.

“Psychologists are not allowed to have social relationships with patients outside the consulting room.”

Carl paused, thinking Ning Yixiao was objecting to Liang Wen and Su Hui’s relationship out of a sense of brotherly protection. After thinking about it, he explained: “That is indeed true, it is an industry regulation. However, Su Hui’s attending doctor is not Liang Wen, but another clinical psychologist at the same clinic. So, strictly speaking, they do not have a doctor-patient relationship.”

Hearing this, Ning Yixiao fell silent and gave no response until they got out of the car. This silence was like a defense mechanism; Carl understood, so he said nothing and followed behind Ning Yixiao.

The professor specifically postponed his rounds for them to hold an ad-hoc meeting in his office. Carl had originally planned to keep minutes as per the usual convention, but was temporarily sent away by Ning Yixiao and assigned other work. Because the preparatory work had been sufficient, there wasn’t much to discuss, and the meeting ended in two hours.

The professor invited Ning Yixiao to lunch. Ning Yixiao agreed. He ate very quickly, a habit he had picked up from childhood, and was teased by the professor for having unhealthy living habits.

Ning Yixiao smiled and checked his phone. There was only a message from Carl sent an hour ago.

[Carl Bruce: Mr. Su hasn’t arrived yet. There is only his grandmother and a female caregiver in the ward.]

[Shaw: How is the patient?]

[Carl Bruce: I’ll check with the attending physician.]

“What’s wrong?” the professor laughed. “If you have other things to busy yourself with, you can head back to work.”

Ning Yixiao denied it and instead said, “There is one place that can be discussed further.”

Just like that, he came up with many details to discuss, dragging the time at the hospital until six in the evening, almost refining the research content for the next stage. He was teased by the professor for having a plan that was too far ahead.

During this time, Carl reported the status of Su Hui’s grandmother’s illness to him. The situation was even worse than Ning Yixiao had expected.

He could almost imagine Su Hui’s breakdown at this very moment.

In an instant, there was some kind of fleeting telepathy. Ning Yixiao glanced sideways by chance and saw a black sedan that had just stopped at the hospital entrance through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Through the glass, he saw Su Hui’s pale face and the injuries on it. He got out of the car and walked side-by-side with Liang Wen toward the hospital entrance.

“Shaw?” The professor noticed his distraction again.

“I…” Ning Yixiao turned back, his thoughts lost for a moment. He paused for a while before regaining his composure. “Sorry, I suddenly remembered other things. I originally wanted to invite you to dinner, but it seems it won’t work out.”

The professor waved his hand with a smile. “It’s fine. I have to eat with my daughter tonight. The snow outside hasn’t melted; remember to tell your driver to be careful on the road.”

Just like that, Ning Yixiao left the director’s office and entered the elevator alone. The ward was on the fifth floor; he could raise his hand and press it, but the figures of the two people were fixed in his mind, lingering.

Carl’s phone call came, telling him that he had returned to the car. So, Ning Yixiao finally gave up the struggle and pressed the button for the first floor.

When he left the hospital entrance, it was snowing again, but not heavily, and it stopped before he could even get into the car. He suddenly wanted to smoke very badly.

To suppress this desire, Ning Yixiao forced himself to return to the car. The temperature in the car was comfortable, and the driver asked with concern if he needed to adjust the air conditioning, but he did not answer.

He sat quietly in the back seat, staring at the computer screen, not saying a word.

Carl and the driver exchanged glances; both were tacitly waiting for their boss to give orders. Ning Yixiao, who was always racing against time, seemed to have frozen. For a full fifteen minutes, he did nothing.

Fifteen minutes later, Carl saw Ning Yixiao look up in the rearview mirror and noticed him frowning, so he looked in the direction of his gaze. It was Mr. Su and his doctor friend again.

Carl’s brain turned quickly. He guessed that Ning Yixiao must want to talk to Mr. Su, so he racked his brains and finally came up with a clumsy idea.

“Shaw.” Carl unbuckled his seatbelt. “I think I forgot to tell the driver to turn on the air circulation system. Isn’t it a bit stuffy? Do you want to go down and get some air?”

The driver was confused, thinking Carl’s brain had gone wrong. “But I clearly turned it on…”

Carl immediately gave a wink and continued, “It just so happens I want to use the restroom.” He looked at the driver. “How about you?”

“I…” The driver looked confused but scratched his head, feeling that following Carl was always right. “Me too.”

Carl waited anxiously for Ning Yixiao’s reply.

“Hm.” Ning Yixiao opened the door.

At this moment, Carl’s self-esteem reached a new peak; he felt he was close to figuring Ning Yixiao out completely. If it weren’t for an assistant like him, Shaw’s life would be a mess.

“Okay, it just so happens I’ll go buy some water.” Carl was in a very happy mood and took the driver away.

Just like that, Ning Yixiao stayed behind, half-pushed, standing not far away, looking at Su Hui by the cedar tree in the snow. He looked exactly as he had imagined—in terrible shape. Even with Liang Wen by his side, he didn’t look much better.

Liang Wen’s look made Ning Yixiao feel familiar. It was very common for people around Su Hui to develop feelings for him; he had seen this kind of gaze too many times. Even during their burning passion six years ago, he had plenty of rivals, and few could hide their affection when facing Su Hui.

Liang Wen left, heading toward the convenience store. Ning Yixiao remained motionless.

Until he discovered that Su Hui was crying, burying his head, his shoulders trembling.

Driven by some unknown impulse, Ning Yixiao took a step forward, like a robot not controlled by its own will, walking slowly toward Su Hui. With every step he took, he despised his own soft heart in his mind.

His heart had never followed the decisions of his reason.

Standing in front of the broken-down Su Hui, Ning Yixiao originally thought he would feel satisfied, but he didn’t. Su Hui had left decisively and disappeared completely, yet it was as if he had left a thread attached to him. Through this thread, he transmitted all his good and bad emotions to him, regardless of whether he wanted them.

The moment he locked eyes with Ning Yixiao, Su Hui couldn’t tell if this was reality.

He stared for a long time, and finally, his subconscious diverted his gaze.

The reunions between them were more embarrassing each time. Su Hui didn’t know if the next time would be even more painful.

Perhaps the next time is the engagement party, he thought.

Wiping away his tears, Su Hui didn’t know how to face this, and got up to leave directly, but his wrist was grabbed by Ning Yixiao. The cold leather gloves cut off their body temperature and tore the last shred of decency.

“What’s wrong with you?” Ning Yixiao didn’t hesitate to cover up the fact that he had investigated him.

Su Hui didn’t intend to say. “Nothing.”

Ning Yixiao was not surprised by this; he had long expected this attitude, knowing that Su Hui would only close everything off when facing him.

“Even if we aren’t friends, at least we count as classmates.”

Just as he spoke, Ning Yixiao heard Liang Wen’s voice coming from not far away.

He soon walked over, and seeming to sense that the atmosphere was wrong, there was a touch of doubt in Liang Wen’s eyes, but he kept a smile and walked naturally to Su Hui’s side. “And this is?”

Su Hui didn’t know how to introduce their relationship and chose to skip the topic, asking Liang Wen softly: “What did you buy?”

Liang Wen immediately opened the paper bag for him to see. “Just bought some food at random. This cheese corn bread looks good, do you want to eat it now? By the way, there’s also fried eggs and bacon…”

Just as he was about to take it, the man in front interrupted their conversation.

“Hello.” He reached out a hand, switching to English. “Dr. Liang, nice to meet you.”

Liang Wen froze, clearly sensing the aggressiveness of the other party, but he still smiled and shook Ning Yixiao’s hand. “Hello, how should I address you?”

“Shaw.” Ning Yixiao handed over a business card, but his eyes were fixed on Su Hui.

Liang Wen wasn’t sure who he wanted to take it, but after thinking, he took it himself. Glancing at it, he discovered that he was the CEO of MsnF, the founder of the highest-valued unicorn in Silicon Valley.

“Nice to meet you, I didn’t expect Eddy to have such a powerful friend.” Liang Wen tucked away the business card, half-putting his arm around Su Hui’s shoulder, and said with a smile, “However, we have other things to deal with now, so we might have to excuse ourselves.”

Ning Yixiao stared at Liang Wen’s hand, looking very calm.

He turned his gaze to Su Hui, and the words he spoke were more direct than when they were alone.

“Su Hui, even if our romantic relationship is over, a cooperative relationship still exists.”

Liang Wen frowned and looked at Su Hui.

So this is the ex-boyfriend.

The words “cooperative relationship” obviously stabbed Su Hui’s heart.

He smiled suddenly. “Right.”

“Your fiancée is my client; I am working for you both. But that doesn’t mean you can question my private affairs.”

Ning Yixiao was silent, as if confronting something. After a moment, he spoke again: “Since you want to talk about business, then let’s talk business.”

“Handling your private life well is also a professional attitude. I don’t want to interfere in your private affairs, but I don’t want these things to cause you to be unable to focus on your work.”

As he spoke, he took out his cell phone and dialed Carl. “I will let my assistant stay; he is very professional and can help you handle some things.”

Su Hui subconsciously wanted to refuse. “I can do it myself.”

“This is the job I gave him.” Ning Yixiao’s attitude was tough. After saying this, he glanced at the paper bag in Liang Wen’s hand and dropped the last sentence.

“He doesn’t like corn, and he hates fried eggs.”