Chapter 372: Making an Appointment to Meet Sister Mai Na

"What exactly do you want me to do?" He asked in an emotionless tone.

"You know what I want." What did she want? She just wanted to leave and return to Li Lei's side. Yet, this simple wish was an impossibility.

"No way." His reply was within her expectations. "Xia Ling, just give up."

"How can someone like you speak of fairytales?!" She sneered in disgust. "Pei Ziheng, hear me loud and clear. I don't love you anymore. I don't love you anymore!"

There was silence behind her.

Xia Ling listened to the silence for a long time before realizing that something was off. She turned her head to look behind her and realized that there was no one there. That cold, handsome, cruel man had left without her knowing.

She suddenly felt that perhaps she had been too much. After all, he had saved her life, as well as Li Lei's life. However, the pain of being separated from the man she loved forever made her angry and frustrated beyond measure. She could not control her temper when facing him and just wanted to scream at him all the time. Her mental state was Pei Ziheng's fault, wasn't it?

Her heart was full of sorrow.

She had wanted to remain amicable with him in this life, but why were they in such a mess right now?

She held onto the wheelchair and stood up. She retraced the way through the garden on the pebble path.

After walking a distance, she saw Pei Ziheng standing at the end of the corridor. He was looking out of the window, and his back exuded loneliness. How weird... she was the one that was being tortured, wasn't she? Why was it that whenever she saw him look so forlorn, she could not help feeling guilty?

She hardened her heart and walked past him towards the ward.

"I won't let you go." His low voice rang out from behind her. "Do you have any other wishes that I can fulfill?"

Other wishes? What other wishes could she have? Her entirely heart and mind were pining for Li Lei. If she were unable to go back to his side, then at least...

She turned around and looked Pei Ziheng in the eye. "I want to see Sister Mai Na."

Pei Ziheng lifted his head, and his gaze was unreadable.

"You can't fulfill this wish as well?" She mused. "Sister Mai Na is my friend, Pei Ziheng. Are you going to curate the friends that I make as well?"

Pei Ziheng could tell that she wanted to see Sister Mai Na to get news about Li Lei, or to get Sister Mai Na to pass a message to him. "I can let you see her." He said. "You should settle your affairs anyway. Tell Mai Na, you will remain by my side forever."

He saw through her heart's desire, and she understood his intentions as well.

Telling Sister Mai Na was just a means to the end of informing Li Lei. Pei Ziheng wanted her to cut herself clean of her longing for him. Xia Ling was quiet for a long time before saying in a soft voice. "Okay."

She longed to receive news about Li Lei but was aware that the likelihood of her ever going back to him was minute.

She needed to give him an explanation.

The appointment with Sister Mai Na was set for lunch the next day.

Sunlight shone through the windows into the ward this peaceful morning as the water plant by the window stretched its leaves gracefully towards it. Donned in the loose-fitting hospital garments, Xia Ling sat on the small sofa by the window and watched as the feisty lady pushed open the door to enter the room. It had been a long time since she had seen Sister Mai Na, and she was still dressed in her usual sleek pantsuit, wine-red highlights streaking through her short fashionable bob, exuding the aura of a queen.

She bent over to give Xia Ling a hug as soon as she saw her.

Xia Ling leaned her head on Sister Mai Na's shoulder, feeling comforted at her support. She felt like Sister Mai Na was family, and her tears could not help but fill up.

"Good girl." Sister Mai Na patted her gently on the head and smoothened the stray strands on her head. "You've been through a lot."

Xia Ling shook her head and released Sister Mai Na. "How is... he?"

Even though she did not say his name, Sister Mai Na knew who she was referring to. "Boss is fine." Sister Mai Na said. "He's out of critical condition and was brought back to the headquarters by the Old Master to recuperate. The doctors gave him a thorough check-up and said that he would not have any lasting ailments. Don't worry."

Xia Ling breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that Sister Mai Na's story corroborated with what Chu Chen had told her. She lifted her head and asked, "You're not lying to me, right? If he's really fine, why isn't he coming to look for me?"

Sister Mai Na held onto her hand and sat down on the small sofa as well. "I'm not lying to you. You know that the Old Master was against you being together from the beginning. Boss was locked up the moment he was brought back, and his every action is being monitored. He had to be extremely careful just trying to find out more about you, let alone come to find you."

Sister Mai Na did not know why the Old Master was against them being together, but she consoled Xia Ling. "Xiao Ling, don't worry too much. Boss' feelings for you are real, and we are all witnesses to that. As soon as he regains his freedom, he will fly right back here to look for you. The Old Master can't keep him under lock-and-key forever."

Sister Mai Na failed to mention that while the Old Master did not intend to lock Li Lei up forever, he was already looking for a suitable wife for Li Lei. The Old Master liked Su Tang and had been creating opportunities for Li Lei and Su Tang to spend time together alone. Every time Li Lei was allowed to speak to people from Skyart Entertainment, Su Tang would always be present.

Yet, Sister Mai Na knew that it would not be helpful for Xiao Ling to be bogged down by these additional worries.

Xia Ling's expression was still dull, and she turned her head away from Sister Mai Na to look out of the window.

This was the 16th floor, and she could see the aerial view of a nearby city. It was a glorious day outside, and she stared at the beautiful blue sky for a long time. Finally, she turned back to Sister Mai Na and slowly said, "Sister Mai Na, do me a favor. Help me to pass a message to Li Lei..."

What should she tell him?

She thought of his smiling face and the wonderful days that they spent together. She could not bring herself to end their relationship. Yet, what else could she do? She swore on his life that she would remain with Pei Ziheng. In this life, there was no way that she could break that vow, or she could not imagine what would befall Li Lei.

She was silent.

Sister Mai Na was silent for a while before softly asking, "Xiao Ling, are you in trouble?"

Xia Ling lowered her eyes to the ground.

Sister Mai Na continued, "You don't have to hide it from me. I can fathom a pretty good guess. You were saved by Pei Ziheng's helicopter that day, and Pei Ziheng saved Boss as well. He struck a deal with you, didn't he? For example, he asked you to give him yourself in exchange for Boss' safety?"

Sister Mai Na watched Xia Ling closely and knew from her expression that she was right.

"Why were you so silly?!" While she was furious, her heart went out to Xia Ling as well. "How could you agree to such an outrageous request from Pei Ziheng?!"

"There was nothing else I could do..." Xia Ling's voice was extremely soft.

Sister Mai Na knew that she was probably caught in a terrible position then, and that had been the only path that she could see. Otherwise, Li Lei could very likely have died in that thunderstorm. Her heart ached for Xiao Ling. She was such a young girl, and she had to carry such a massive burden. "Leave him." Sister Mai Na said vehemently. "Leave Pei Ziheng! He forced you to agree to terribly unfair terms when you were in no condition to make good decisions. You don't have to abide by your word!"

"I can't." Xia Ling replied.

Sister Mai Na was not aware of the death vow, and even if she did, she might not think too much about it. Xia Ling did not explain further and only said, "Tell him to take care of his injuries and get well. And tell him that I'm doing well."

Everything else could wait till Li Lei was better.

He was still injured, and if he knew that they could never ever be together again, it would break his heart.