Chapter 40#
Waking Up
When Lu Yan woke up, he first felt a sharp pain where he had been struck, followed by a sensation of tightness. He slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a sea of white—he must already be in the hospital. The injuries on his shoulder and back had been bandaged, layer upon layer of gauze making it seem as if he had suffered severe wounds. But Lu Yan knew very well that those weren’t too serious. The real problem was his left calf, which had been crushed—likely a fracture. Yet he couldn’t feel it now because it was encased in a thick plaster cast; the anesthetic probably hadn’t worn off yet.
Lu Yan was about to sit up, but before he could even struggle, Song Hui, who had been keeping watch beside him, noticed he was awake and immediately rushed over, exclaiming in surprise, “Brother Lu, you’re awake!”
Lu Yan managed a weak smile, still wanting to get up. A warm, strong hand gently pressed down on his uninjured shoulder, and a deep, pleasant voice sounded in his ear, “Don’t move.” Then the person turned his head and said to Song Hui, “Song Hui, raise the bed a little.”
Song Hui acknowledged, and Lu Yan felt his body being slowly lifted as the bed tilted upward.
Su Mo leaned down slightly, slipping one hand under Lu Yan’s armpit to support his shoulder. With a gentle effort, he lifted him up a bit, while his other hand grabbed a pillow from the side and carefully tucked it behind Lu Yan’s neck.
Lu Yan looked at Su Mo’s features so close to his own—long, thick lashes like two small brushes that swept lightly across Lu Yan’s heart, making him feel both restless at ease.
It didn’t surprise Lu Yan to see Su Mo here. He always appeared at just the right moment, prying open the door of Lu Yan’s heart bit by bit, pulling him down into a shared descent.
After settling him, Su Mo let go. The distance suddenly widened, and Lu Yan felt a slight disappointment—until the other man leaned in again. A warm, dry hand pressed against Lu Yan’s forehead, lingering for a moment to check, then Su Mo said softly, “Good, no fever. Song Hui, bring some water.”
Song Hui had already poured a glass of water and was waiting nearby. Hearing this, he quickly handed it over.
Su Mo didn’t pass the cup to Lu Yan but brought it directly to his lips. Lu Yan naturally took a sip from his hand, moistening his somewhat dry throat.
After drinking, Lu Yan felt a bit more energetic and asked, “How is Teacher Jiang? Is she okay?”
Song Hui replied from the side, “Teacher Jiang is fine—just a few scrapes, but she was a little shaken. She came to the hospital for a checkup yesterday and then went home. She said she’ll come visit you once you’re awake.”
When Su Mo had helped Lu Yan sit up, he had pressed the call button beside the bed. Now the attending physician led a group of nurses filing in.
Su Mo and Song Hui stepped aside, giving room for the doctor to conduct an examination.
After a while, the checkup was done. The doctor removed his stethoscope and said casually, “Now that he’s awake, there’s nothing to worry about. The shoulder and back are just bruises—apply medicine for a few days and they’ll heal. The left calf has a fracture and a crack, which will be more troublesome, but with proper recuperation, it should take about two or three months.”
Su Mo asked expressionlessly, “Will there be any lasting aftereffects?”
The doctor thought for a moment. “Generally speaking, probably not. By the way, the medicine on his shoulder and back needs to be changed. Who’s coming with me to get it?”
Song Hui quickly said, “I’ll go.”
Soon, only Lu Yan and Su Mo were left in the room.
Silence fell for a moment.
Lu Yan was in a private room with excellent conditions—a full kitchen and bathroom. If not for the medical equipment hanging above the bed and Lu Yan’s left leg elevated high, one might mistake it for a high-end private apartment. Rooms like this weren’t always available just for money, and who had arranged it was obvious.
Su Mo looked at Lu Yan and sighed slightly. “How could you be so impulsive?” There was a faint helplessness in his tone, but not blame.
Lu Yan smiled. “It was urgent at the time—I didn’t think much. Besides, I’m young and fit; at worst, I’d just lie in the hospital for a few months. If Teacher Jiang had been hit, it might have led to a lawsuit or worse.”
Su Mo nodded. “You’re right. This time, it’s thanks to you; otherwise, Starfall could have gotten into serious trouble. I’ll thank you on behalf of the company.”
Lu Yan teased deliberately, “So, Chairman Su is here only because of the company?”
Su Mo glanced sideways at him, and Lu Yan thought he saw a hint of playful reproach in that look. “You know that’s not true.”
Lu Yan smiled silently. Though his body still ached, he felt in a good mood.
Song Hui soon returned with the medicine. Su Mo was about to help Lu Yan change the dressing. Just as his fingers touched the bandage on Lu Yan’s shoulder, Lu Yan gently pressed his hand down. He looked up at Su Mo with a slight smile. “Chairman Su, let Song Hui do it.”
Su Mo glanced at him, said nothing, and stepped aside. Song Hui, feeling a bit awkward, came forward to take over changing the dressing.
The bandages were unwound layer by layer, revealing large patches of bruising on his shoulder and back, standing out starkly against his relatively fair skin.
Su Mo watched quietly for a while, then involuntarily averted his gaze. He checked the time and said, “Song Hui, I’m heading to the company. Take good care of him here. I’ll come back in the evening.”
Song Hui quickly agreed.
Su Mo turned back to Lu Yan and said softly, “Rest well.”
Lu Yan smiled and nodded. Then Su Mo turned and left.
Seeing Su Mo leave, Song Hui breathed a sigh of relief and his movements became less stiff.
Lu Yan noticed the change and found it amusing. “What’s wrong? You seem tense.”
“Yeah,” Song Hui nodded. “Under Chairman Su’s watch, I didn’t know what to do with my hands or feet.”
Lu Yan chuckled softly. “Does he seem that scary? You’re usually not this timid.”
Song Hui defended himself, “It’s not that I’m timid—it’s just Chairman Su’s aura is too strong. It’s not exactly fear, but it makes you nervous, afraid to make a mistake in front of him.”
After the dressing was changed, Lu Yan leaned back again. Song Hui brought out an insulated thermos. “Chairman Su had this prepared earlier. He said you’d be hungry after waking up, and the hospital food is bland—he was worried you wouldn’t like it.”
When the thermos was opened, the aroma of food wafted over. It was a pot of pork rib congee. The ribs were carefully selected, chopped into small pieces, and stewed until flavorful. The white rice was mixed with a little millet, cooked until soft and sticky, with chopped celery sprinkled on top. A gentle stir made the fragrance even richer.
Song Hui poured the congee into a bowl and pulled over the bedside table. Lu Yan used his uninjured hand to pick up the spoon and slowly took a sip. It tasted really good, warming his cold, empty stomach.
After a few mouthfuls, Lu Yan praised, “This is excellent. Where did you buy it?”
Song Hui laughed. “It wasn’t bought. A woman brought it over early this morning. She thought at first that the patient was Chairman Su and was really worried. She called him ‘Young Master,’ so she’s probably a servant from Chairman Su’s home.”
Seeing Song Hui’s expression as if he was drooling, Lu Yan pointed at the thermos. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Want to try some?”
“No, no,” Song Hui waved his hands quickly. “This is Chairman Su’s kind gesture. I’ll just go downstairs and grab something to eat later.”
Lu Yan smiled and didn’t insist.
After finishing the whole pot of congee, he felt like a new person.
Lu Yan sent Song Hui to get some food first, and when he came back, Lu Yan asked about what had happened yesterday.
Song Hui said, “After you got knocked out yesterday, the scene was chaotic. Director Gao immediately called 120. I figured waiting around wasn’t going to help, and Brother Feng had gone to Paris with Brother Qi, so he couldn’t come back right away. In a panic, I called Assistant Lu. But Chairman Su arrived at the set even before the ambulance. He quickly got you to this hospital, and by the time we got here, everything was arranged. The surgery was done by the best orthopedic doctor in the hospital. You didn’t wake up all night, and Chairman Su stayed here with you the whole time.”
Lu Yan nodded thoughtfully but said nothing.
Song Hui glanced at him slyly and said in a seemingly casual tone, “Brother Lu, Chairman Su is really good to you. I heard from Assistant Lu that Chairman Su was supposed to attend an important meeting in Manhattan yesterday. He was already at the airport, but as soon as he heard about you, he rushed back, forcing the driver to run quite a few red lights on the way.”
Lu Yan deliberately ignored the implications in his words and instead looked at him with a half-smile. “You seem pretty close to Assistant Lu.”
“Ah? No, no,” Song Hui quickly denied. “It’s just that Assistant Lu kept asking me about your schedule before, and he even left me his number, saying I could contact him directly if anything came up with you. Nothing else, really.”
“So, it was you who leaked my schedule? I thought it was Brother Feng before,” Lu Yan said.
“Yeah,” Song Hui nodded honestly. “I thought you knew, so I didn’t mention it. Brother Lu, you’re not mad at me, are you?”
“Why would I be?” Lu Yan smiled. “After all, Chairman Su is your real boss.”
“Brother Lu, I really don’t think of it that way,” Song Hui’s face flushed. “I’ve worked with a few artists on set before, but none of them treated me with as much respect and kindness as you did. When you took me on as your assistant, I was really happy. I thought then: as long as you still need me, I will always follow you. Brother Lu, it was wrong of me to disclose your schedule without permission. I won’t do it again—even if Chairman Su himself asks, I won’t say a word unless you agree.”
Lu Yan gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’m not blaming you. Since I brought you on board, I trust you—not just your ability, but also your judgment. I believe you know what to say and what not to say, and what information to share with whom. From now on, if Assistant Lu asks about me, just tell him the truth.”
Song Hui looked moved and said earnestly, “Brother Lu, don’t worry. I understand.”
Lu Yan, of course, didn’t mind Su Mo knowing his schedule. What he minded was who told him.
If it was Qin Feng, Lu Yan had nothing to say. He knew that even though he and Qin Feng had reached an understanding, Qin Feng’s trust still leaned more toward Su Mo. The years of subordination and tacit agreement between them couldn’t be matched by the brief trust Lu Yan had built.
But Song Hui was different.
Song Hui was someone Lu Yan had personally chosen, and he intended to keep him close for the long term.
Moreover, a personal assistant was different from an agent. A personal assistant was even closer than an agent. Whatever Lu Yan did, whoever he met, who he got along with or didn’t—all of that was observed by the personal assistant. Qin Feng might not know exactly what was going on between Lu Yan and Su Mo, but Lu Yan knew Song Hui was well aware.
So if a personal assistant couldn’t be relied upon, it was like burying a time bomb beside him. It could cause endless trouble at any moment.
In truth, Lu Yan still trusted Song Hui. Otherwise, he would have replaced him directly instead of giving him this kind of warning. But even for someone you trust, sometimes a little warning was necessary. The effect was quite good, and Lu Yan was very satisfied.