Chapter 41: The Blacklist

Chu Xun stood by her side, offering silent support. From time to time, he would bring her a steaming cup of tea or softly ask if she needed any assistance, his actions speaking volumes of his care and dedication.

In the spacious office at the Pei Group, Pei Qizhou sat rigidly at his massive desk. Though it was piled high with documents and reports awaiting his attention, his mind was entirely elsewhere. Thoughts of Yao Shan clouded his focus, swirling in a chaotic mess that made it impossible to work. He could not stop speculating about her condition, his heart heavy with worry, yet he remained agonizingly in the dark about how she was truly faring. This restless anxiety became unbearable, and the unease in his heart finally drove him to a decision: he had to see Yao Shan at the hospital himself to find peace of mind.

Pei Qizhou stood up, smoothing his crisp suit with hurried, nervous movements to ensure he looked composed. He grabbed his car keys from the desk and walked with determined strides toward the elevator. As he waited, his emotions grew increasingly complicated. On one hand, he was terrified that something might have happened to her; on the other, the thought of facing her filled him with an inexplicable tension, leaving him unsure of how to conduct himself. As the elevator doors slowly slid shut, his thoughts drifted, replaying every interaction he had ever shared with her.

Once out of the office building, Pei Qizhou climbed into his car, ignited the engine, and sped toward the hospital. Despite the heavy, weaving traffic, his sense of urgency only mounted; he wished he could simply vanish and reappear by her side. When the towering hospital building finally came into view, he let out a sigh of relief. He quickly found a parking space and hurried into the lobby.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he made for the elevators and pressed the button for the floor where Yao Shan’s room was located. As the doors opened, he stepped out and navigated the corridor until he reached her door. Standing there, he took a deep breath to steady his racing heart, then gave a light knock, waiting for the sound of her voice. Yet, after a long moment, the room remained silent. There was no response.

He frowned and pushed the door open. The room was empty—utterly devoid of anyone. Pei Qizhou’s heart sank, and an unexpected wave of dejection washed over him. He scanned the room; it was tidy and quiet, the bed perfectly made, clearly unoccupied. He walked to the window and looked out, his mind spinning. Had she been discharged? Or had she gone somewhere else?

Refusing to leave without answers, he made his way to the nurses' station. He approached a busy nurse and asked politely, "Excuse me, is Miss Yao Shan still in this room?"

The nurse stopped her work, checked the records, and replied, "Miss Yao Shan has already been discharged. I’m afraid I don't know the specifics."

"Discharged?" Pei Qizhou’s brow furrowed deeper, his eyes betraying unconcealable worry. "Wasn't she quite ill? How could she be discharged so soon?" His voice held a faint, barely perceptible tremor; he was clearly unsettled by the news. In that moment, he began to wonder if she had been faking her illness all along. He recalled seeing her just yesterday—pale, haggard, and looking as though she might collapse at any moment. That she could be discharged after only a day seemed impossible.

"I don't know," the nurse replied with a helpless shrug. "I heard from Dr. Chu that she insisted on leaving herself." Her voice was low, laced with confusion. She hesitated, then added, "I don't know the details, and Dr. Chu didn't elaborate." She could not share anything more. The apologetic look in her eyes suggested she felt limited by the information she could provide.

Pei Qizhou felt a complex surge of emotions—a mix of deep concern for her health and intense suspicion regarding her sudden departure. He knew her character well; she was resilient, and if not for some extraordinary circumstance, she would never have left the hospital in such a state. Realizing he would get no further answers, he turned away and walked, with heavy but steady steps, toward the parking lot.

The parking lot was sparse and desolate. He reached his car, opened the door, and climbed in. Instead of starting the engine, he sat in the driver's seat for a long moment, lost in thought, before pulling out his phone to call Yao Shan.

On the other end, there was only a persistent busy signal. No one answered. He waited patiently, hoping she would pick up, but as the seconds ticked by, the line remained blocked. Pei Qizhou’s heart sank further; he realized then that she had blocked his number.

Out of options, he decided to try reaching out to Chu Xun.

At that moment, Chu Xun was with Yao Shan, the two of them seemingly engaged in a serious conversation. When Chu Xun’s phone screen lit up with Pei Qizhou’s name, his brow knit together in involuntary annoyance.

"What is it?" Yao Shan, sitting across from him, caught his subtle shift in demeanor and looked up, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"It’s a call from Pei Qizhou." Chu Xun placed the phone on the table in front of her, the caller's name glaring on the screen. He said nothing further, letting his meaning hang in the air: whether or not to answer was entirely up to her.

Yao Shan glanced at the screen, a flicker of complex emotion crossing her face before she regained her composure. Without a moment’s hesitation, she pressed the decline button and slid the phone back toward Chu Xun, acting as if the call had never happened.

Seeing this, Chu Xun sighed softly and tucked the phone away. He looked at her with understanding and concern. "If you don't want to answer, I can turn him away for you."