Chapter 106: Hard to Chase
It was acute asthma triggered by a cat allergy.
Ruan Yu remembered that on her fifth birthday, her father had given her an adorable kitten as a present—a gift that nearly cost her life. It was only after that incident she learned she was allergic to cat fur.
Over the years, she had carefully avoided direct contact with furry animals, and her asthma rarely flared up. Who would have thought she’d suddenly encounter that Persian cat today?
After inhaling the medication, Ruan Yu’s symptoms gradually eased. She was then sent for an IV drip. Considering her celebrity status and to avoid causing a commotion in the infusion room, the doctor arranged a private ward for her.
Teng Yi stayed by her side the entire time, but from the moment she regained consciousness, he never held her hand again. The warmth in the car had vanished like fleeting bubbles.
When the nurse came to insert the IV needle, Ruan Yu sat on the chair, enduring the sting on the back of her hand while stealing glances at Teng Yi’s expression. Ever since the doctor mentioned, "Acute asthma can be life-threatening if not treated promptly," Teng Yi’s face had turned icy, and he refused to even look at her properly.
As soon as the IV drip was hung, Teng Yi’s phone rang.
When he pulled it out, Ruan Yu caught a glimpse of the caller ID: Rui Shu.
Teng Yi answered the call, and from the other end, Rui Shu was likely asking about Ruan Yu’s condition. Hearing this, Teng Yi finally spared her a glance.
“She’s fine now,” he said.
Ruan Yu turned her head away, feeling inexplicably guilty under his gaze. But then she wondered—why should she feel guilty? It wasn’t her fault. The cat had come after her, hadn’t it?
"...Go ahead and eat, don’t save any for me... Yeah, I’ll be back late. Let him sleep first, no need to wait for me. Bye."
Listening to Teng Yi’s conversation with Rui Shu, the suffocating feeling she had just recovered from surged back. But this time, it wasn’t the cat making it hard to breathe—it was the cat’s owner.
Why was Rui Shu so familiar with Teng Yi’s bar? Why could she come and go freely from the Teng household?
Could she really be Teng Yi’s current girlfriend?
After hanging up, Teng Yi pulled a chair over and sat by Ruan Yu’s bed.
“I’m fine now. You should go back so you don’t keep anyone waiting,” Ruan Yu said.
“I can’t leave you here alone.”
“Then I’ll ask a friend to come stay with me.”
“No need. I’ll stay.”
“You’ve already done enough. I don’t want to take up any more of your time.”
“...”
Ruan Yu took out her phone and sent a WeChat message to Chen Manbai.
After graduating from university, Xia Qiaofeng had returned to her hometown, Jian Xiangxiang had gone north, and only Ruan Yu and Chen Manbai remained in Liaocheng. From roommates, they had become like family, relying on each other. Though they didn’t live together, in times of need, a single call or text would bring the other running.
Chen Manbai called back immediately.
“What? You’re in the hospital? Which one?”
Ruan Yu told her the name.
“I can’t hear you—where?” Chen Manbai’s end was incredibly noisy, as if there were a crowd around her.
Ruan Yu repeated it.
“Okay, okay, got it. Hang tight!”
Chen Manbai hung up.
Ruan Yu put her phone away and looked at Teng Yi.
“There. You can go now.”
He didn’t move.
“My friend will be here soon.”
“Then I’ll leave once she arrives.”
“I don’t need you to wait those extra minutes.”"I can spare a few more minutes."
Ruan Yu fell silent.
The hospital room was quiet. Teng Yi's presence beside her exuded a chilling aura that made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. She wanted to say something to break the tension, but resentment still simmered in her heart, so she let the awkward silence linger.
About ten minutes later, a male voice echoed from the hallway.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where the asthma patient who was just admitted is?"
"You mean the host, Ruan Yu?"
"Yes."
"Right over there."
As the conversation ended, the slightly ajar door was pushed open.
A man in a black motorcycle jacket walked in, sporting a buzz cut and a left earring that practically blinded anyone who looked at it.
It was Luo Sheng.
"Host Ruan, can you stop giving me heart attacks—" Luo Sheng cut himself off mid-sentence when he spotted Teng Yi. "Well, well, who do we have here? If it isn’t Teng Yi!"
Luo Sheng was surprised to run into Teng Yi here, and Teng Yi was equally taken aback to see Luo Sheng.
Six years ago, the two had missed their chance to face off on the competition stage. Now, they found themselves crossing paths in this hospital room.
"Long time no see," Teng Yi said, standing up and looking at Luo Sheng with indifference.
"Indeed, six years. I thought you'd never come back."
Teng Yi fell silent, as if suddenly thrust back into those six long, bleak years.
Ruan Yu glanced at Teng Yi's silent figure, and her heart inexplicably twinged.
She felt that unexpectedly reuniting with Luo Sheng was cruel for Teng Yi. He must have been reminded of the past, of that day.
"Luo Sheng, why are you the one who came?" Ruan Yu tried to steer the conversation away.
"Why shouldn’t I be the one?" Luo Sheng checked the IV drip and grinned at her. "Isn’t it an honor for this young master to accompany the great Host Ruan during her IV session?"
"That’s not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
"Just... thank you."
"Since when are you so polite with me?" Luo Sheng counted on his fingers. "Want me to tally how many times I’ve sat through your IVs?"
"Don’t exaggerate. Three times at most."
"Three isn’t enough? I’ve lived over twenty years and haven’t even had three IVs myself."
"..."
Teng Yi stood to the side, listening to their banter like an outsider. After a while, he turned to Ruan Yu.
"Since your friend is here, I’ll head out now."
"Alright, take care."
Teng Yi nodded at Luo Sheng as a farewell.
"I’ll walk you out," Luo Sheng offered.
"Why bother?" Ruan Yu instinctively grabbed Luo Sheng’s arm and shot him a glare. "It’s just a short walk. He won’t get lost."
Teng Yi had already reached the door when he heard them. He turned back to look at them, his gaze instantly landing on Ruan Yu’s hand.
She quickly let go of Luo Sheng, but it was too late—he had already seen it.
"Sorry, man," Luo Sheng shrugged at Teng Yi with a grin. "Since she won’t let me escort you, guess we’ll have to catch up another time."
Without a word, Teng Yi turned and left the room.
Ruan Yu watched his retreating figure and let out a long sigh before collapsing onto the pillow like a deflated balloon. After narrowly escaping death’s door, exhaustion finally hit her.
"You okay?"
Luo Sheng reached out to pat her head, but she swatted his hand away.
"I’m fine. Why did you come?"
"You already asked, miss."
"You didn’t answer earlier.""Chen Manbai called me. She's busy right now and can't get away."
"Aren't you busy too?"
"No matter how busy I am, I’d be happy to help you." He stared straight at Ruan Yu, his gaze sincere.
Ruan Yu turned her face away. "Can you stop joking around?"
"Are you afraid I’ll joke with Teng Yi too? Is that why you won’t let me take him?"
"Who knows what you’d say to him."
"What could I possibly say? At most, I’d just vent to him about how hard it is to chase after the great host Ruan Yu."
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