Chapter 45: Negotiating Terms
Xiao Han arrived at the hospital as fast as lightning.
At this moment, many people were gathered in the hallway of the top floor of the special care department at Sheng’an Hospital.
The hospital director, Zhou Rong’s attending doctor and nurse, and the two bodyguards responsible for guarding her.
Seeing the cold, murderous aura on Xiao Han’s handsome face, everyone was too afraid to speak.
Especially the two bodyguards, who were as quiet as cicadas in winter.
Xiao Han’s gaze swept around, and he jerked his chin at the two of them.
Understanding his meaning, the two followed him into Zhou Rong’s ward.
The ward was now empty.
Zhou Rong had not left even a single word on a note.
Only the hospital gown was folded neatly and placed on a chair.
And that red sweater, which was almost finished, lay quietly on the smooth quilt of the hospital bed.
With the ward door closed, Xiao Han stood still, turned around, and stared coldly at the two bodyguards.
He didn’t speak.
The two bodyguards exchanged a look.
“Brother Han!” they called out simultaneously, then knelt on the ground together.
Despite his young age, Xiao Han had a set of methods for training his subordinates.
Therefore, the team he led was highly capable and fiercely loyal.
“Brother Han, we really didn’t mean it!”
“We didn’t expect her to be hiding behind us eavesdropping!”
“We thought she was asleep…”
“We were tired too and slept for just a little while…”
The two of them spoke intermittently and incoherently, making their defense with a full desire to survive.
Xiao Han’s thin lips were tightly pursed.
These two were people he trusted and found easy to use.
He knew the importance of guarding Zhou Rong, which was why he sent the two of them here.
Now that such a thing had happened, he knew Gu Xinglan would definitely punish the responsible parties severely.
His master’s severe punishment was not as simple as a pay cut or being fired.
So, Xiao Han’s mind was also in a mess right now.
He had to find Zhou Rong quickly and also find a way to save these two brothers.
“You want to live, right?” Xiao Han asked coldly.
The two immediately nodded desperately. “Brother Han, please save us!”
“If you want to live, you have to work desperately when you go out to find the person later. Ideally, you can find her and bring her back; that way, the probability of your survival will be higher.”
“If, worst comes to worst, she isn’t found, you can’t come back in one piece either. Do you understand what I mean?”
Naturally, the two understood. Their leader was telling them to risk their lives to make up for their mistake—ideally getting injured or breaking an arm or leg in the process—so that their leader could plead for mercy with the boss.
“We understand, we understand!”
“We get it!”
Xiao Han looked at the two trembling figures on the ground, shook his head slightly, and stepped out of the ward.
Tan Feng had also arrived.
Last night, to find the medicine for the boss, he had chatted with several friends in a bar until past midnight.
He was in a deep sleep in the early morning when he was dragged out of bed by Xiao Han’s call. Tan Feng’s hair was still a bit messy.
A pair of beautiful peach-blossom eyes were stained with a few red streaks.
However, as a well-trained gold-medal special assistant, he quickly entered his working state.
“Xiao Han, check the surveillance and search along the roads. I’ll contact the city bureau, and you arrange for your brothers to go out and search,” Tan Feng said.
Xiao Han nodded. “Alright, my people are already assembled downstairs.”
After speaking, he took the two subordinates who had messed up and went downstairs with Tan Feng.
When Qin Wan woke up in the morning, he found Gu Xinglan sitting beside him, leaning against the headboard with his eyes closed.
He seemed to have fallen asleep.
One of his own hands was being held tightly in the man’s palm.
He didn’t understand how the man had gone from sleeping to sitting up.
He wanted to gently pull his hand out.
However, he found that the man was holding it very tightly.
As soon as he pulled, Gu Xinglan woke up and slowly opened his eyes.
” Gege , you’re awake. Why did you fall asleep sitting up?” Qin Wan tilted his head slightly, looked at him, and asked.
In Gu Xinglan’s amber-colored glazed pupils, there was a thin layer of moisture, making his phoenix eyes appear even deeper and more charming.
“Mn, I couldn’t sleep at night, so I sat for a while before falling asleep.”
Qin Wan nodded and pursed his lips slightly. “In the future, if you wake up at night and can’t sleep, wake me up. I’ll tell you a story, okay?”
He blinked his long eyelashes and looked at him.
A warmth welled up in Gu Xinglan’s heart, but it was quickly extinguished by deep unease.
“Okay.” A smile curled the corners of his lips.
“Get up, let’s go have breakfast.” His voice was very gentle.
“Mn.”
In the dining room, Qin Wan served white porridge to Gu Xinglan, peeled eggshells for him, and spread butter on his toast, then watched him eat with a smile.
Gu Xinglan’s eyelashes drooped slightly, realizing this was a posture of someone asking for a favor.
“If there’s something, say it.”
Qin Wan was slightly stunned for a moment and gave an embarrassed, awkward laugh.
” Gege , um, I was thinking… could you take me to see Auntie Rong today?” he asked cautiously.
Before waking up this morning, he had a dream.
That dream was not very pleasant.
In the dream, Auntie Rong was soaking wet, and her face was indistinguishable between water and tears. She stood in the distance, not speaking, just looking at him.
He ran toward her, but no matter what, he couldn’t reach her.
Then, in his anxiety, he woke up.
After waking up, he had been feeling uneasy. So, he planned to go see Auntie Rong.
Gu Xinglan’s eyes dimmed slightly.
“I wondered why you were so kind—voluntarily offering to tell me stories to help me sleep, serving me porridge, and peeling eggs. Turns out it was to negotiate terms.”
Qin Wan quickly shook his head. “No, Gege , I’m not…”
Gu Xinglan looked up, but he didn’t stare at him with a fierce gaze as he usually did.
Instead, his eyes dodged slightly.
“Zhou Rong is fine, don’t worry about her. I’m busy these few days; we’ll wait for a while.”
Qin Wan’s small face drooped, a bit unhappy.
“Oh.”
Gu Xinglan felt a bit suffocated in his chest and stood up. “I won’t eat anymore, you eat slowly.”
After speaking, he turned and walked toward the dining room door.
After walking a few steps, he stopped and tilted his head slightly. “Don’t forget what I’ve said. Without my permission, you are not allowed to go see her privately.”
He warned.
After saying that, he walked out of the dining room.
Qin Wan looked at the table full of a sumptuous breakfast and had no appetite left.
Gu Xinglan wouldn’t agree to take him to see Auntie Rong, and he wouldn’t allow him to go to the hospital himself.
But because of that dream, he really couldn’t stop worrying.
He tore off a small piece of toast and put it in his mouth; it tasted like wax.
Soon, he made a decision.
Gu Xinglan wouldn’t allow him to go see Auntie Rong privately, but he had other ways!
He finished breakfast hurriedly.
Qin Wan changed his clothes, greeted Butler Wang, and went out.
Walking onto the street, he found an ATM and took out the card Gu Xinglan had given him from his pocket.
He withdrew two thousand yuan from it.
After putting away the card and the money, he went to the food stall where he used to work.
The small shop had just opened.
Three workers inside were busy preparing for the meal service.
Qin Wan walked in with a smile.
“Brother Liu, Xiao Linzi, A-Ming, you’re all busy.”
He greeted them.
The three workers looked up and saw it was Qin Wan, so they all nodded and greeted him.
“Brother Wan, you’re here!” Xiao Linzi ran over with a grin and patted Qin Wan’s shoulder.
“You were doing so well, why did you say you’re quitting just like that?”
Xiao Linzi was a year younger than Qin Wan. After graduating from high school, his family had no money to continue supporting his studies, so he dropped out.
He had a very good relationship with Qin Wan.
Qin Wan nodded. “Mn, I’ve had other things to do lately, so I haven’t been able to manage.”
He looked at Chen Ming, who was wiping tables nearby.
He walked closer.
“A-Ming, I want to ask you to do me a favor.”
Chen Ming didn’t stop wiping the table; he lifted his eyelids and said, “What favor? I’m busy here too!”
Qin Wan gave a light laugh and leaned closer. “I won’t let you help for free.”
Hearing this, Chen Ming finally looked up.
“What is it?”
Qin Wan smiled and pulled him to a corner of the restaurant.
“Run an errand for me, and this is for you.”
As he spoke, he stuffed a stack of red bills into his hand.
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