Chapter 91: Ended Before It Started
As the autumn haze filled the sky, certain areas of the Army General Hospital finally quieted down after more than ten hours of busyness, and most of the citizens who had been isolated for screening had already left.
Outside the Internal Medicine Ward building, Jiang Yan, still in her hospital gown, took a travel bag from Jiang Yao.
“Sis, are you crazy? I couldn’t reach you for a day and a night! Now that you finally came out, you want to stay here to accompany him during his hospitalization?”
Jiang Yao looked at Jiang Yan with strong dissatisfaction, not knowing how to criticize her decision.
“Meng Huai’s condition has deteriorated too quickly; he fell apart just like that. He doesn’t have a good relationship with his family, so he’s all alone…”
Jiang Yan didn’t argue back with Jiang Yao; she simply accepted the travel bag filled with spare clothes and daily necessities, forcing a smile: “Don’t think too much. I just think he’s pitiful… Buy me a new phone and a SIM card, and bring them tomorrow. Oh, and please ask Brother Zhao Peng for a leave… just three days.”
“Sigh, with Meng Huai’s personality, he probably won’t even have a friend in this life… In the end, it’s still you who’s sending him off on his last journey. Hmph, a bloodsucker, and you’re providing end-of-life care for a dark arrow captain. I don’t even know what to say.”
Jiang Yao’s tone carried a hint of self-deprecation, but seeing Jiang Yan so resolute in her decision, she could only nod.
Even though she had barely interacted with Meng Huai, thinking of her reliance and trust in Jiang Yan since childhood, she could somewhat empathize with the feelings involved.
“Forget it, you’re the older one, you can decide whatever you want; I don’t have a say… There are some medications that Brother Zhao Peng specially prepared for you inside, don’t let anyone find out. I’m leaving.”
“Okay, take care of yourself. If you can’t cook, just order takeout. Make sure to check the gas switch before you leave, and don’t play games too late when you get home… Also, I’m sorry about last night…”
After repeating several reminders, Jiang Yan squeezed Jiang Yao’s arm, and with her bag, turned and walked into the ward building.
“You’re just bullying me…”
Jiang Yao pouted, and a few seconds later, she smiled happily.
…
In the special high-ranking ward of the Army General Hospital, a two-bedroom suite plus a balcony that, if not for a few conspicuous medical devices, looked like a beautifully decorated luxury hotel suite.
All furnishings were complete, with soft color coordination that showed none of the usual cold hospital style. Even the secondary bedroom had been decorated and furnished suitably for family caretakers who might stay long-term.
On the bed, Meng Huai was absentmindedly holding the remote control, staring at the large wall-mounted TV on the opposite wall.
“… The major fire incident that occurred at the Wanquanli Commercial Plaza early this morning has garnered the high attention of provincial and municipal leaders, and an investigation team has been established. The cleanup work at the scene is steadily progressing, and all injured victims have received proper treatment.”
“… According to the latest news from the Fire Command Center, this major gas explosion safety accident has resulted in thirty-one deaths, twenty-five severe injuries, and forty-eight minor injuries. Some of the severely injured patients have not yet escaped the critical period.”
“… Related fire safety rectification work has begun, and the person in charge of the Wanquanli Commercial Plaza and the Yuegong Nightclub has currently been controlled by the police. Relevant safety accountability in business law…”
Although the content of the news was shocking, everything was cleverly covered up.
With a press of a button, the TV turned off, and Meng Huai let out a cold laugh, taking a long breath.
Meng Huai, it’s almost seven. What do you want to eat for dinner? I’ll go get it from the cafeteria.
After tidying up in the secondary bedroom and changing into a set of sportswear, Jiang Yan walked into the main bedroom, smiling as she took down the somewhat dirty military uniform from the hanger, planning to wash it later.
The special high-ranking ward had a dedicated cafeteria and meal area; just one phone call would send someone over, and if the current dishes were unsatisfactory, the kitchen could prepare something special.
However, considering Meng Huai’s eating habits, Jiang Yan decided to personally go to the meal area to choose the food.
“You decide, thank you.”
Meng Huai glanced at Jiang Yan’s new outfit and forced a smile, as if the pain in his body had vanished once more.
“Room 905, Comrade Meng Huai.”
A nurse, pushing a treatment cart into the room, checked the patient’s identity information at the head of the bed while smiling sweetly at the handsome guy in bed and the beautiful girl with black hair beside him, her voice exceptionally pleasant.
It’s time for the IV, and remember not to eat anything after ten o’clock tonight; you’ll need to have blood drawn in the morning. By the way, she’s your girlfriend, right? Make sure to register her as a caregiver at the nurse’s station, otherwise, she won’t be allowed to stay overnight!
Throughout the year, those who could stay in such a class of ward were essentially older and relatively high-ranking veterans or senior retired officials. This time, it was rare to have a young officer like him, so the nurse was understandably in a good mood.
“I understand, thank you.” Meng Huai nodded slightly, looking at the girl beside him. “You’ve been out all day; why don’t you go back first? Don’t let your sister worry.”
Uh, girlfriend…?
How should I respond… Register or not?
Jiang Yan’s expression turned somewhat awkward, uncertain about what to do as a faint blush crept up her ears.
This goes without saying; she obviously wants to stay here with you. Look, she even brought things with her. Do you really plan to send her away at this time?
Misinterpreting Jiang Yan’s expression, the nurse noticed the handsome officer’s emotional intelligence was clearly low and quickly tried to save the situation: “Hehe, miss, you can stay in the adjacent bedroom; basic living supplies are all available, and if you’re missing something, just call the nurse station.”
In fact, having a girlfriend for care is even better and more thoughtful than family.
Oh my God, could you please stop talking…
Jiang Yan felt her head was on fire, quickly clutching Meng Huai’s military uniform, she hurriedly exited the room without daring to glance at Meng Huai and the nurse again.
Hehe, she’s so shy. Your girlfriend is really beautiful; she should be around my age… left hand or right hand?
The nurse smiled as she hung the IV bag at the head of the bed, deftly beginning her operation while joking, “Just now, a colleague mentioned she was your family; I thought it didn’t seem right; turns out I guessed correctly… she’s your girlfriend!”
Meng Huai ambiguously replied with a soft “uh-huh,” feeling an inexplicable warmth flood his heart, confused.
…Before long, the room was left with only Meng Huai.
Looking down at his hospital gown, memories of last night’s disordered and chaotic events flashed in his mind.
The corridor filled with blood, the grotesque and twisted vampire bodies, the shopping mall engulfed in flames, the injured innocent citizens, and Jiang Yan unconscious on a stretcher… This secret war that had lasted for over two thousand years still showed no signs of hope ending, and no one could truly escape.
Normal people and vampires could never coexist… Meng Huai took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, reached out his right hand to grasp the landline phone on the bedside cabinet, fingers hovering over the buttons for two to three seconds before beginning to dial a certain number.
The signal call tone rang only twice before it was answered, a voice devoid of any emotion appeared on the other end.
“Hello, Comrade Meng Huai, this is the Dark Arrow Headquarters, Special Secret Operations Team; please submit your response.”
The highest level of confidential information, with even the phone number managed as a specific one-on-one line, Meng Huai was not surprised by this. He had even long had a premonition that his currently frail and decaying life was likely something some people had been waiting for over twenty years.
The direction indicated by fate was vague and cruel, but he wanted to know an outcome and the unfinished obsession.
“I am Meng Huai; I have decided to accept any arrangements from the organization.”
Meng Huai recovered his trademark cool demeanor, his tone carrying no emotional inflection, directly to the point again.
“Okay, Comrade Meng Huai, your response during the consideration period has been received. Starting now, you will enter a thirty-day remorse period; please take note of the new contact phone number… As long as you dial within this remorse period, regardless of whether someone answers, it will be recorded in the background and regarded as a relinquishment of all previous decisions. Do you understand? Please repeat it back.”
“I understand; after the thirty-day remorse period, as long as I dial the phone, it… it will be regarded as a relinquishment.”
Meng Huai spoke each word clearly, but the last sentence hesitated slightly, and the image of Jiang Yan departing moments ago flashed through his mind.
“Received confirmation; take care, Comrade Meng Huai.”
The call ended, and Meng Huai turned his wrist, dazedly staring at the phone receiver, not putting it down for a long time.
…
The wall clock in the ward struck nine o’clock.
After washing the meal box, drying the military uniform on the balcony, and cleaning and cutting the fruit she brought from the cafeteria, Jiang Yan had hardly had a moment’s rest in more than an hour after dinner.
Opening the foldable dining table in front of Meng Huai, Jiang Yan placed the prepared fruit platter on it, which contained washed cherries, cut mangoes, and fragrant pears.
Watching Jiang Yan’s face quietly, Meng Huai’s hands and lips trembled slightly; longing and detachment clashed violently in his mind.
Still in pain? I’ll contact the nurse station.
Seeing the change in his expression, Jiang Yan quickly got up and walked to the landline phone on the bedside cabinet.
She pressed down on Meng Huai’s hand, which was about to pick up the receiver. His originally calm expression gradually twisted his mouth, and he uttered an unusually cold remark: “You should go back; don’t come anymore.”
…Jiang Yan froze, slowly turning her head, somewhat perplexed.
“I don’t need anyone to take care of me, just go.” Meng Huai’s expression remained unchanged.
Jiang Yan released her hand, stepping back slightly, fiddling with a long strand of hair by her ear, revealing a hint of a smile.
A hint of a smile: “Are you afraid of dying, Meng Huai?”
Meng Huai avoided her gaze, gently shaking his head.
Hehe, she must have misunderstood, thinking I have some terminal illness; that’s why she accepted my invitation. In truth, she had no intention of spending time with me from the start; she was just pitying me all along.
However, according to the superior’s intention, joining the Special Secret Operations Team means giving up the entire world, giving up everyone around me, which is essentially the same as dying…
Meng Huai turned his head, staring at the girl’s smiling face, still stubbornly maintaining his cold demeanor: “I don’t need you to speculate on what I will do; just don’t come back. Otherwise…”
“Otherwise? What will happen?”
Jiang Yan fixated on Meng Huai’s face, her tone gradually growing cold.
Inside, Jiang Yan suddenly felt a strange sense of loss, as if she had failed to reach a certain threshold of expectations from him. Regret, entanglement, and anger surged within her.
“Otherwise, I’m afraid I will regret it.”
Meng Huai looked down at the fruit platter before him, his expression more frigid, hands clenched tightly into fists, knuckles turning white.
Hehe, Meng Huai, your personality is truly rare in this world—aloof yet incredibly fragile… I’m even embarrassed to admit to the nurse that I’m your girlfriend; what are you regretting?
If you truly believe you won’t live long, why do you still care about such things… Speaking of which, was everything you did before considered pursuing me?
If not, why did you repeatedly provoke me and draw my attention, wanting my sympathy!?
After saying this, Jiang Yan felt a sudden sense of relief, even laughing out loud, then walked directly to the bedside, staring intently at the bowed head of Meng Huai.
“I’m sorry, I misunderstood. Just go!”
Meng Huai raised his hand and waved vigorously.
“Well, take care then.”
Jiang Yan turned to walk into the adjacent small bedroom. A minute later, she came out with her travel bag, still wearing a faint smile: Meng Huai, I previously thought it was unreal; now, I feel it’s real again.
Carrying the bag, Jiang Yan left the room without looking back.
Some things, perhaps, have already ended before they even truly began. You might have immersed yourself in the play, but I’m just not good at acting; you were right, I only pity you.
Hehe, that’s fine. A man needs some pride to support him even in death… After the door closed behind her, Jiang Yan sighed softly, leaning against the door, feeling a slight discomfort at the corners of her eyes.
…
…
Close to eleven o’clock at night, Wan Yue returned to the Jinhe Club.
Typically, she would only choose to discuss very important matters or communications with clear confidentiality purposes face to face, rather than beating around the bush over the phone.
As the news concluded and the TV turned off, Wan Yue lit a cigarette, her expression calm.
“A rare move from the Black Blood Clan, yet it was suppressed by the Dark Arrow… Jiang Yao, are you sure that Yan has undergone all inspection items in the isolation area of the Army General Hospital?”
Walking to the window ledge of the luxury private room, her gaze turned towards the Wanquanli Commercial Plaza, and Wan Yue’s brow gradually furrowed.
Yes, that’s why I told my sister this time is very fortunate. But she wouldn’t listen to me and insists on staying there to accompany Meng Huai in the hospital…
In the few hours after delivering clothing to Jiang Yan, Jiang Yao still felt uncomfortable inside, having to pin her hopes on Wan Yue.
“Hehe, that Meng Huai probably won’t live long. He’s not like an ordinary soldier; he’s actually more fragile… As for Jiang Yan, she needs to experience more life-and-death separations to develop her femininity…”
Wan Yue spoke casually, but her expression held some contemplation.
“But!”
Wan Yue’s attitude seemed to differ from what Jiang Yao expected, and the more she listened, the more uneasy she became, especially with the latter half of the sentence, which left her confused.
“Alright, you don’t have to worry; she has some sense of proportion. Besides, she’s very safe right now…”
The emphasis on “safe” made Wan Yue stress a bit, and Jiang Yao managed to nod, albeit reluctantly.
Jiang Yao hesitantly exited the private room, and only then did Wan Yue light her cigarette, a solemn expression on her face.
Zhao Peng, who had remained silent, stepped forward and lowered his voice: “Sister Wan, the effects of hormonal inhibitors inside and out work just fine against rapid test reagents, but they probably won’t completely evade blood and urine tests. Jiang Yan’s internal hormone control capability is about the same as Zhou Ping’s.”
“As long as one or two test results show problems, the observation period will be extended for a second review. It’s a bit strange that Jiang Yan passed this time. And the pistol she took out…”
As he said this, Zhao Peng’s face was filled with confusion and apprehension.
“Well, anything above a baron won’t work, while anything below a baron could raise suspicion in just one test… Zhao Peng, do you remember the last time Elvin intervened in the military hospital? The Engel family has spies in the Dark Arrow, and their level is not low…”
Wan Yue exhaled smoke rings, the mysterious smile at the corner of her mouth growing more pronounced: “Elvin will never admit it, but I should really thank him; this time, he’s inadvertently helped Jiang Yan once again… He’s the closest to the truth. Before he has the means to take her away, how could he bear to let Jiang Yan expose herself?”
“Now, for the two little girls, the Dark Arrow is practically the safest place; there will always be those who do everything possible to keep them out of the Dark Arrow’s attention. Haha, how ironic…”
“As for the pistol, that can only prove that Xia Yan was at Wanquanli; it has nothing to do with Jiang Yan… and now, I’m even more interested in the Black Blood Clan causing trouble at the Wanquanli Commercial Plaza.”
As soon as the words fell, Zhao Peng was momentarily stunned, processing the information for over ten seconds before replying awkwardly with a smile, temporarily suppressing his worries.
As she stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray, Wan Yue lifted her wrist, and Zhao Peng handed her a glass of red wine.
The bright red liquid flowed slowly to her lips as a glint of vigilance flickered in Wan Yue’s eyes: “Jiang Yan being at Wanquanli is just a coincidence, but the Black Blood Clan acting out is definitely not a coincidence; without a significant temptation, the Black Blood Clan wouldn’t take the initiative to provoke the Dark Arrow.”
“Right now, Elvin is the most suspect of sabotage… I have a feeling that someone will become the true victim of this farce. As for most ordinary people, they are merely pawns sacrificed to cover up the truth.”
Zhao Peng pondered silently, probably following Wan Yue’s train of thought: “Are you suggesting that among those who died, there might be an important figure?”
Wan Yue did not respond, merely savoring her wine.
