Without another word, Qin Yi followed Lin Fang back to the ward, where Pi Xinhong was still asleep.
Lin Fang told Xiao Guanpeng that she intended to take Pi Xinhong away. Xiao Guanpeng sought Qin Yi’s opinion, but Qin Yi’s indifferent attitude left him baffled. Observing the subtle interactions between Lin Fang and Qin Yi, Xiao Guanpeng felt a pang of jealousy. Despite pursuing Lin Fang for so long, she had always maintained a polite distance, not even reaching the level of ordinary friendship. Yet Qin Yi, who had only known Lin Fang for a short time, seemed to have already made progress with her, leaving Xiao Guanpeng deeply disheartened.
After Pi Xinhong was admitted to the hospital, the person who brought her never showed up again. The prepaid medical fees had long been exhausted, and the recent medical expenses had been covered by Qin Yi using case funds, merely sustaining Pi Xinhong’s life.
Since Qin Yi didn’t object and Lin Fang was willing, Xiao Guanpeng didn’t say much more. He advised Lin Fang to conduct a thorough examination before discharge to ensure there were no abnormalities before letting Pi Xinhong leave.
Lin Fang thanked Xiao Guanpeng politely as usual. Feeling down, Xiao Guanpeng merely nodded in response.
Back in the ward, Pi Xinhong was still asleep. Lin Fang called Lin Guicheng, who soon arrived at the hospital with breakfast. After the previous night’s incident, the medical staff had tightened supervision over all patients in the department, barring unrelated individuals. Lin Guicheng was stopped at the entrance, so Lin Fang went out to bring him to Pi Xinhong’s ward.
Lin Guicheng had already heard about Pi Xinhong’s fright the night before, though his people hadn’t been able to get close enough to know the details. Anxious and restless at home, he had waited impatiently, with Sun Siyuan preparing breakfast in his stead.
While Pi Xinhong slept, Lin Guicheng studied her face carefully, knowing his daughter’s soul resided within. Seeing her curled up in sleep, he felt a deep pang of heartache. After hearing Lin Fang’s detailed account of the previous night’s events, Lin Guicheng decided to personally guard Pi Xinhong until her discharge, ensuring no one could harm her.
True to the old monk’s words, with his daughter as his spiritual anchor, Lin Guicheng now radiated vigor, a far cry from his frail state days earlier.
When Pi Xinhong woke up, Lin Fang introduced Lin Guicheng to her, explaining that this uncle would accompany her when she wasn’t around and that she could eat the meals he brought. Though timid, Pi Xinhong didn’t refuse Lin Guicheng.
After accompanying Pi Xinhong for breakfast, Lin Fang ignored Lin Guicheng’s objections and called Sister He to assist him before returning to school. While Lin Guicheng and Pi Xinhong were father and daughter at heart, as a man, Lin Guicheng found it somewhat inconvenient to care for her alone.
Lin Fang had her own plans, and having someone around would only hinder her. She deliberately used this opportunity to send Sister He away.
In the following days leading up to Pi Xinhong’s discharge, Lin Guicheng brought her meals, with Lin Fang occasionally joining them.
Heeding Lin Fang’s advice, Lin Guicheng restrained himself from revealing his identity to his daughter, fearing her childlike intellect might inadvertently disclose sensitive information to others.
Pi Xinhong, however, remained obedient. Apart from Lin Fang, she refused to speak to anyone. Though she felt an inexplicable warmth toward Lin Guicheng, she didn’t utter a word to him before leaving the hospital.
The nightgown Pi Xinhong wore that night had been bought for her by Lin Fang.
Though nearly a decade had passed since she last saw Lin Yuan, certain preferences endure. Just as Lin Fang loved delicate floral patterns, Lin Yuan had adored white silk nightgowns—a detail Lin Fang remembered. When shopping for Lin Yuan’s necessities, she specifically visited a silk store and bought a white robe-style nightgown tailored to Pi Xinhong’s height.
Now with the mind of a child, Lin Yuan—inside Pi Xinhong’s body—insisted on swapping her hospital gown for the silk nightgown the moment Lin Fang presented it. Despite Pi Xinhong’s tall but emaciated frame (her weight likely less than Lin Fang’s slender 165 cm build), the oversized nightgown clung to her, and she refused to take it off.
Before her coma, Pi Xinhong had been mobile. Her reluctance to leave the bed after waking stemmed from Lin Yuan’s fear and ignorance of the world, adopting an ostrich mentality. But with Lin Fang as her anchor, she grew bolder, even walking around the room in her nightgown before being dragged back to bed by Lin Fang.
Lin Fang could have waited until Pi Xinhong’s discharge to give her the nightgown, but she had done so deliberately.
As a child, Lin Yuan had been mischievous, often tousling her hair before bed and pretending to be a ghost to scare the household staff, earning frequent reprimands from Dong Panyu—yet she never stopped.
Lin Fang harbored a sliver of hope: perhaps Pi Xinhong, draped in the ill-fitting white nightgown with disheveled hair in the dark, might startle any would-be assailants.
She had prepared for the worst, never expecting it to prove useful that very night.
Pi Xinhong’s repeated brushes with danger suggested she knew something about Fu Hongxia’s misdeeds. With Pi Xinhong still alive, Fu Hongxia would undoubtedly strike again. Hospitals, despite police presence, were chaotic places where interference with normal operations was restricted—a loophole Fu Hongxia might exploit.
Any attack on Pi Xinhong would have to be discreet, likely under the guise of medical staff.
Hospital rules barred non-family visitors after 9:30 PM, with even family members restricted from wandering. Patrols ensured compliance, making medical attire the easiest way to access wards at night.
That evening, an excited Pi Xinhong chattered incessantly to Lin Fang, aggravating her throat injury and requiring frequent water breaks. Later, she made multiple bathroom trips—each noticed by Lin Fang, who hadn’t slept at all.
During Pi Xinhong’s final bathroom visit, Lin Fang sensed someone approaching the ward. She remained still, a custom dart from Ma Miao already in hand.
In the darkness, Lin Fang clearly saw Pi Xinhong—disheveled and draped in white—wandering the room. Half-asleep, she fumbled for the bathroom door, then staggered back to bed, her unsteady gait making her resemble a ghostly apparition.
This sight greeted the head nurse, who had crept in silently. The nurse’s scream startled Pi Xinhong awake, who in turn shrieked at the sight of the white-coated figure.
After leaving the hospital, Lin Fang stopped at Caixing Food near the school entrance, where Xiao Yapeng and Shangguan Qinglin were playing Go. As Shangguan Qinglin neared victory, Lin Fang offered Xiao Yapeng a few pointers, swiftly turning the tide in his favor.
Weekend mornings, Xiao Yapeng often breakfasted at Caixing Food. If free, Lin Fang would join him before heading to class together. Not seeing her that morning, Xiao Yapeng guessed she was occupied and passed the time playing Go with Shangguan Qinglin while waiting.
Exchanging brief words with them, Lin Fang said to Shangguan Qinglin, “Professor Shangguan, perfect timing. I have urgent business today and can’t teach Xiao Yapeng. Could you cover for me?”
Shangguan Qinglin asked, “What’s so urgent? Can I help?”
Though his school was just across the square, as student council president, he’d been swamped lately. Today was his first free moment—hardly meant for babysitting.
Lin Fang declined: “No need. A female classmate is hospitalized with no family. I need to buy her personal items—awkward with a man around. If you’re busy, skip the lesson. I’ll make it up later.”
“If my presence bothers you, I’ll wait outside while you shop and carry your bags. My academics are weak—that’s why I repeated college entrance exams. You’re better suited to teach Xiao Yapeng.” Shangguan Qinglin persisted.
Xiao Yapeng scoffed, “If you don’t want to teach, I don’t want to learn. Clearly, Sister Fang is sparing your feelings. Can’t you take a hint?”
“Xiao Yapeng, enough,” Lin Fang chided halfheartedly.
“Fine. I’ll return to campus. You teach Xiao Yapeng—I’m unqualified.” Taking the hint, Shangguan Qinglin left dejectedly.
Lin Fang sighed inwardly. In these critical times, distance from loved ones was safest—for their sake.
She explained to Xiao Yapeng that she’d be busy for a while and asked him to wait for her call before coming to lessons, promising him a preview of her new teaching materials. Reluctantly, he agreed.
After seeing off Shangguan Qinglin and Xiao Yapeng, Lin Fang returned to her dorm—not to go out as claimed, but to collapse into bed. After 24 sleepless hours, she desperately needed rest before nightfall, when important tasks awaited.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage