Strangers in Sync

Chapter 13:

The Kitten is Hurt and Taken to the Rescue Center. That slope wasn't very high; generally, a fall from there wouldn't cause severe harm, but some might land awkwardly.

Li Ting seemed to belong to the latter group; when Fang Huaining and the others approached, they found him lying on his side on the ground, arms wrapped across his chest, his pale face contorted in pain. "Ah, where did he fall?" Zhao Pang asked nervously. Fang Huaining squatted down beside Li Ting to examine him carefully. As he contemplated lifting him up, he asked, "Where does it hurt?" However, as soon as he lightly touched Li Ting's body, Li Ting curled up tightly like a shrimp, his shoulders trembling. "Does your hand... does your hand hurt?" Fang Huaining noticed that one of Li Ting's arms was unnaturally rigid at his side. Raising his voice, he asked, "Where else?" Li Ting shook his head and remained silent. In the next moment, he felt two arms lifting him from behind his waist and under his legs, hoisting him off the ground. Fang Huaining called out to those around him, "Call a taxi to the hospital." Qian Kun and the others responded quickly; after a brief pause, one hurried to flag down a taxi, while another helped lift the small electric bike that had fallen to the side. The taxi arrived swiftly; Qian Kun sat in the front to direct while Zhao Pang and Fang Huaining took the back seat. However, Zhao Pang's size occupied most of the seat, and to avoid pressing on Li Ting's injured area, Fang Huaining, after a moment's consideration, had no choice but to let half of Li Ting's buttocks rest on his thigh, with his upper body leaning against Fang Huaining's chest.

Initially, Li Ting was numb from the pain, but after enduring the initial shock, he gradually regained his composure, and the pained expression on his face seemed to be suppressed.

Fang Huaining sensed the person in his arms moving, trying to sit up, but he didn't loosen his grip. With his arm firmly holding around Li Ting's waist, he gently opposed his unwillingness to cooperate.

For a moment, Li Ting stiffened, instinctively lifting his eyes to meet Fang Huaining's descending gaze. One person's head rested against the other's chin, and the close distance allowed them to see each other's faces. Unfortunately, they both wore expressionless faces, with only their eyes shining exceptionally bright, clearly reflecting each other's emotions.

After a brief yet seemingly endless interval, they both turned their gaze away; Li Ting ceased struggling, and Fang Huaining remained silent.

The hospital arrived promptly, this time Fang Huaining couldn't intervene; as the car came to a stop, Li Ting carefully shifted his weight off the thigh he had been leaning on and opened the door, taking his first slow and painful steps towards the hospital's entrance.

This person is truly too resilient, Fang Huaining thought.

In this urgent situation, it was unmistakably an emergency. The doctor ordered an X-ray, and after the results were in, the diagnosis was a dislocated shoulder that required resetting. Due to the examination room's limited capacity, only one person was allowed in at a time; the trio looked at each other, and Fang Huaining stepped inside.

He saw Li Ting lying there, the doctor standing beside him, grasping Li Ting's arm and moving it up and down. Li Ting's T-shirt had several buttons undone; Fang Huaining noticed that his right shoulder was completely swollen, red and purple—a frightening sight. "Is it serious?" he couldn't help but ask the doctor. The doctor grunted in response, "Dislocated twice in two days—can a second-degree injury not be serious? The first time was manageable, but didn't you put it back in place yourself?" He looked at Li Ting and continued, "You even put it back incorrectly, then received external force that dislocated it again. Do you not want this arm anymore? If it gets worse, you'll need surgery." Twice dislocated? Didn't he just fall? Fang Huaining was astonished. Li Ting remained silent, his eyes closed, with trembling eyelashes revealing the pain he was enduring at that moment. "It's a bit painful; bear with it. Just relax your muscles," the doctor said kindly, chatting while working. He noted that since university students were on vacation, they should pay more attention to safety and not engage in reckless behavior without understanding the consequences.

Wang Huazhi looked at Li Ting but kept his eyes fixed on the doctor's hands as he slowly moved his feet toward the head of the bed.

Sure enough, as the doctor spoke, he suddenly exerted force with his hands, and a clear "click" sounded.

Wang Huazhi managed to catch Li Ting's other hand just in time, preventing him from bouncing off the bed.

　　"Okay...", the doctor's movements were quick and efficient; he took off his gloves and walked to the side to write the medical records.

　　Li Ting was panting heavily on the bed, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he vaguely felt something being placed in front of him. He lightly opened his eyes to see that it was a tissue; he stretched out to grab it, but found that one of his arms was paralyzed and the other was being pressed.

　　Li Ting could only look on in dismay, wanting to tell the doctor not to bother, but the tissue had already been placed on his face, gently wiping away the sweat from his forehead, cheeks, and neck. It finally stopped at his collarbone.

　　"Not in a hurry, lie there for a bit longer," Wang Huazhi picked up the tissue and calmly walked towards the doctor.

　　"Fix your hand first, at least a week don't use it, then get the discharge," the doctor said.

　　"Need to be hospitalized?" Wang Huazhi asked.

　　"If not, why is he in such pain?" The doctor said, pulling out a computer to show another X-ray. "Look at that, the most painful part isn't the hand, it's this: three ribs fractured..."

　　The doctor's words made Wang Huazhi's eyes widen in shock.

　　"The ribs also fractured?"

　　But what followed was even more shocking.

"This isn't a new injury; it's an old one from several years ago that was never properly treated," the doctor said. "Even a simple fall can cause problems, so fractured bones require complete rest. Given his young age, if he doesn't take care of himself, he'll likely suffer the consequences later in life."

Upon seeing Wang Huazhi's concerned expression, the doctor offered some reassurance: "We're admitting him for observation to monitor his heart and lung function, among other things. If everything checks out, he can be discharged in two days and continue his recovery at home."

The doctor then instructed the people outside to take the patient away and settle the bill. Qian Kun had already arranged for a wheelchair, and Wang Huazhi told Li Ting to sit in it. He noticed that the man who had been handling the phone was struggling with the medical bill, which was a substantial amount for a freelance part-time worker.

"I'll take care of it," Qian Kun said.

However, Wang Huazhi had already taken the bill from him. "You two head to the ward first; I'll take care of this," Wang Huazhi said.

As the medical staff walked away, Li Ting seemed to want to say something, but the person on the phone had already pushed him away. When it was time to pay the bill, a strange voice came from Wang Huazhi's pocket. He pulled out his phone to find that it was Li Ting's phone, which had fallen during the accident. He remembered picking it up and intending to return it to Li Ting later.

Now, he was taken aback by the sight of the old phone, which seemed to belong to another era, with a spider-web-like crack on the screen. The caller's name displayed on the screen was... Li something.

Li Ting was not there, so Wang Huazhi couldn't answer the call, but the phone's loud ringing was bothersome, and no matter how many times he tried to disconnect, it refused to hang up. Finally, the call was answered.

Wang Huazhi hesitantly brought the phone to his ear and heard a boy's voice on the other end: "Brother, do you have time tomorrow? Let's eat together."

They shared the same surname, leading Wang Huazhi to suspect that the boy was a relative of Li Ting.

"I'm not Li Ting," Wang Huazhi replied.

The boy on the other end sounded startled: "Who are you? Where's Li Ting? Can't he answer the phone?"

Wang Huazhi didn't respond to the question about his identity but briefly informed the boy that Li Ting had fallen off his bike.

The boy immediately grew anxious, inquiring about the hospital and promising to come as soon as possible.

Wang Huazhi completed the billing process before making his way to the ward, and by that time, the sky outside had darkened.

In the hospital room, only Li Ting was present, lying in bed with an IV drip, seemingly asleep. Qian Kun and Zhao Bang were sitting at the foot of the bed, looking drained. After all the commotion, they were all fatigued, especially Zhao Bang, who was panting heavily, as if he had just completed a month's worth of hard labor.

Wang Huazhi said, "You two can go home now; everything's fine."

Qian Kun mentioned that he had a date with his girlfriend in the afternoon, and since it was getting late, it was better for him not to be late.

Zhao Bang hesitated, saying, "I'll stay for a bit longer to wait for the IV drip to finish."

Wang Huazhi understood that Zhao Bang felt guilty for scaring Li Ting with his loud shouting. However, the doctor had mentioned that Li Ting's hand injury was two days old, so Wang Huazhi believed it was more likely that Li Ting had lost control of his bike's steering and acceleration, rather than being affected by Zhao Bang's shouting.

"There's no need for that. I'll wait for you," Wang Huazhi replied.

After saying their goodbyes, the three men left, leaving only Wang Huazhi and the patient in the room.

Wang Huazhi was about to move closer to the IV drip when he noticed that Li Ting had already woken up and was looking at him with open eyes.

The pain-relief medication in the IV had likely worn off, and Li Ting's face no longer showed signs of pain. However, his slightly messy hair, pale complexion, and frail body made him look pitiful.

For a moment, Wang Huazhi saw the small cat gazing at him through the window once more, and then it faded from his mind. The cat was in a rescue center, injured.

Wang Huazhi blinked, and then he heard Li Ting say, "There's no need for you to stick around; thank you."

Wang Huazhi sat down in the chair beside the bed, seemingly oblivious to Fang Huaining's presence as he remained silent.

Chapter 14:

Even benevolent strangers will extend a warning claw to those they do not know.

The silence was broken by Fang Huaining. "I'm sorry, I accidentally answered your phone earlier. It likely belonged to your brother, who knew about your situation and was planning to come visit later."

He placed the phone back on the bedside table, his finger tapping against the screen as if searching for something to say.

Li Ting noticed Fang Huaining's hesitation and took the initiative to explain, "This phone cracked a few days ago and has been working intermittently since then."

Indeed, it wasn't damaged in the fall. Fang Huaining recalled how Wang Fuliang's translation group had struggled to get in touch with the other party the previous day, suspecting that the phone might have malfunctioned at the time. The reason behind Li Ting's injuries might also be connected to why he had missed their scheduled meeting without notice.

Fang Huaining wanted to ask but hesitated. The memory of Li Ting's almost weightless body and sharp, thin shoulder blades pressing against his arm earlier lingered on his mind, making it difficult to stop pondering it. However, he felt he was being overly concerned, and the matter had passed, involving the other person's private affairs. He shouldn't pry, so Fang Huaining nodded instead.

Li Ting said, "Once I'm better, I'll pay you back, or you can give me your account number, and I'll transfer the money to you after I fix the phone."

Fang Huaining frowned slightly, "There's no rush."

Li Ting seemed to sense his thoughts and unexpectedly asked, "Do you think I'm poor?"

Fang Huaining was taken aback, nearly retorting, "Isn't that the case?"

However, Li Ting's expression didn't seem to suggest he was joking; he wasn't trying to show off or act tough—he was simply speaking plainly, as if stating the most normal thing.

So... this injured person isn't actually financially strapped?

If he has money, then why is he working so hard? Or does hard work lead to having money?

Fang Huaining was curious about this cause-and-effect relationship.

He chose to express his thoughts from another angle: "You should have seen a doctor earlier if there really were no financial difficulties."

"I'll go if I can't stand it," Li Ting retorted, implying that if he hadn't collapsed that morning, he would have been fine and didn't want to disrupt his original plans.

Fang Huaining recalled what the doctor had said and imagined him pale and collapsed there, feeling an inexplicable tightness in his chest. His tone turned colder: "Your body belongs to you."

Unexpectedly, Li Ting remained unyielding: "I know that very well."

Despite looking fragile and speaking softly, his personality was stubborn and tough, even somewhat ungrateful.

Fang Huaining finally realized that this little cat could scratch. In response to the closeness and touches of strangers, even if they were well-meaning, it would extend its wary claws. Not cute at all. Fang Huaining, high and aloof, was not someone who liked to present a warm face to a cold backside. He stood up immediately, glanced at the nearly empty IV bag, and decided to leave, calling for a nurse to come in and remove the IV. However, he hadn't taken two steps before he was pulled back by a movement behind him. Those two sentences not only caught Fang Huaining's attention but also triggered Li Ting's weak trachea, causing him to cough after finishing his remark. Stubbornly refusing to call for help, he leaned to reach for the paper cup on the bedside, inadvertently tugging at the arm with the IV, spilling half the water, and nearly causing himself to fall off the bed. Fortunately, Fang Huaining sensed something was off and rushed forward, extending his arms to catch the swaying figure, preventing further injury. "Are you alright?" Fang Huaining asked as he held him. The shaking made Li Ting cough even harder, so Fang Huaining quickly helped him lean against the bed frame and went to fetch more water. Li Ting wanted to take it himself, but Fang Huaining didn't allow that, bringing the cup's edge to his lips instead. Li Ting felt very uncomfortable but didn't refuse this time, taking small sips.

His pale, dry lips were stained with water, and his drooping eyelashes and Adam's apple moved with every swallow. Fang Huaining watched closely, and the frustration in his heart seemed to be gradually washed away by the water in the cup. He let out a soft sigh. How had he gotten into an argument with an injured person? He had never been so petty before. "Drink slowly." When he spoke again, Fang Huaining's voice had lost its coldness, even gaining an unexpected warmth. After finishing the water, Li Ting lay back and closed his eyes, his previously stiff body relaxing completely, making him appear harmless. Fang Huaining knew that Li Ting was coughing so hard it hurt his ribs, but he had no idea how to alleviate Li Ting's pain. After thinking for a moment, he found his hand pressing against Li Ting's chest, unsure whether to pat or rub. Fang Huaining was startled. Li Ting must have sensed that something was off; he opened his eyes again, their gazes meeting once more. Li Ting's eyes were still shimmering with tears from coughing, emphasized by his slightly reddened eye sockets, making them appear even more watery. The room fell awkward once again, but amid the discomfort, there was an indescribable atmosphere that left them both bewildered. Just then, a low voice broke the silence, drawing their attention back. "Li Zi..." Fang Huaining and Li Ting turned simultaneously, only to see someone standing by the door.

The person's wide eyes darted between Fang Huaining and Li Ting, eventually landing on the misplaced hand, their expression tinged with complexity. Fang Huaining froze for a moment before quickly withdrawing his hand. Noticing the distance widening between the two by the bedside, the person hesitated before stepping inside. "Li Zi, how are you doing?" The newcomer, with long hair cascading to her shoulders, a small face, and large eyes, looked like a very pretty girl. Fang Huaining watched as she nervously rushed to the bedside, clumsily touching Li Ting all over, nearly kneeling on the bed with her two bare legs in sporty shorts. Li Ting said nothing, only swatted her hand away.

The girl wasn't angry, but she remained on the bed, anxious to find out where Li Ting was hurt. As she searched, she began to chatter: "I waited for you all night last night, and you never came back. I felt something was off, so this morning I went to your workplace. I saw your wrecked car parked there and inquired everywhere; I ran around to a few nearby hospitals. Finally, I found you. Why didn't you tell me... why!" Her gaze fell on Li Ting's hand in a brace, and her eyes began to turn red. Li Ting frowned, annoyed by the noise. Only then did the girl realize she was too agitated. Reluctantly, she climbed down from the bed and turned to Fang Huaining, tentatively asking, "Hi, may I ask who you are?"

Fang Huaining had been silently observing the two of them. At that moment, she tossed aside the tissue she was holding, took a step back, and her expression turned cold again. She addressed Li Ting, saying, "Since your friend is here, I'll be leaving."

Li Ting didn't have time to respond as Fang Huaining exited with an especially cool and stylish gait, hands in her pockets.

Li Ting watched her retreating figure when a faint voice beside him inquired, "Who is that?"

Li Ting cast a sideways glance at the person next to him and said, "Tian Dakai, go buy me a phone."

Tian—no, Tian Dian was taken aback and only then noticed the battered communication device beside Li Ting's pillow. Tears that he had just managed to hold back welled up again in his eyes.

"Li Zi... I'm sorry; I was just afraid of you being like this, so I didn't dare to tell you that I ran into him that day."

Li Ting looked at him without much emotion and asked, "Did you provoke him?"

"What?" Tian Dian was startled and quickly denied it, "How could that be? I wish I could have avoided Cai Yang. There's no way I would foolishly approach him." That day, the jerk had insisted on buying Tian Dian a drink. As a server at the bar, Tian Dian reluctantly accepted one drink to keep the peace, but the other party wouldn't let it rest, resulting in a scuffle and the unfortunate outcome.

"So why say sorry?" Li Ting shifted uncomfortably into a different position.

"I want to hit people; it has nothing to do with anyone." Tian Dian still looked sad. He understood what Li Ting meant, but after thinking about it, he couldn't help but chuckle: "I just called the bar; Xiao Mi told me that Cai Yang and the others are in a bad situation, with two of them hospitalized."

The truth was that Li Ting's skills would likely be enough to hold his own in a fight. Previously, when those guys rushed him in the bar, Li Ting didn't flinch. Despite his thin build, his movements were agile, and he had great physical strength, making it hard to take him down. However, due to his strategy of taking them out one by one, the three big men still managed to inflict some harm on Li Ting along the way.

But even until the last man went down, Li Ting never lost. The reason he ended up in this state was primarily due to a heavy blow to his chest that aggravated an old injury and being restrained by the bar's security. Considering Tian Dian was still working there, Li Ting didn't fight back hard. Unexpectedly, since he held back, Cai Yang wouldn't let it go; drunk, he picked up a wooden stool and swung it at Li Ting. Li Ting only managed to block with his hand, resulting in his current predicament.

Of course, Li Ting didn't let Cai Yang off easily either; despite his injured hand, he still gave him a good beating, knocking out at least four or five teeth and leaving his face swollen for a month—just to vent his anger.

Seeing Tian Dian getting emotional again, Li Ting tried to change the subject.

He shook his hand, grabbed a tissue, and covered it with the corner of the blanket. Tian Dian quickly came to help and, noticing the damp corner of the quilt, suddenly recalled the scene he had witnessed upon entering. He couldn't resist leaning in to ask vaguely, "Who was that handsome guy earlier?"

Chapter 15:

Can't Sleep Without Clarity for One Day. Tian Dian asked vaguely, "Who was that handsome guy earlier?" Li Ting pulled the blanket up, intending to go to sleep. However, Tian Dian refused to give up: "Did he bring you to the hospital? When did you two meet?" Li Ting looked at him and finally spoke, "Yes, but we're not familiar with each other." Tian Dian was skeptical. He noticed the appointment time written on the medical record beside them. If that didn't constitute knowing each other, how could that person have stayed with him from noon until dark? Was this someone like a living Lei Feng, a selfless hero? However, Tian Dian's intention was to tease Li Ting, not to genuinely suggest they had a connection. Li Ting was particularly unique; even after knowing him for nearly four years, Tian Dian had never discovered anything that Li Ting truly liked or cherished from the bottom of his heart—except for money. Whether it was relationships, events, or hobbies, they rarely affected Li Ting's emotions. He was indifferent to common human connections or friendships and lacked the youthful desire for beauty or entertainment.

To outsiders, he often seemed to prioritize his interests above all else, making it difficult for him to form close relationships with others; in his own words, he would rather spend that time earning more money.

Nonetheless, Tian Dian was curious to know who could make Li Ting pause, stop, and truly experience life, regardless of whether it was a man or a woman, and where they would appear.

Just then, a nurse came in to remove Li Ting's IV, followed by someone rushing in behind her – Li Han.

Li Han caught sight of Tian Dian and locked eyes with him. Both of them put on serious expressions.

"Bro, are you okay? How did you get hurt?!" Li Han's reaction was just like Tian Dian's when he first arrived.

However, Tian Dian forcefully pulled Li Han back before he could reach Li Ting.

"Be careful, don't touch his hand," Tian Dian warned, his voice firm.

Li Han suddenly turned around: "Are you saying it's all because of you again?"

Tian Dian was taken aback by Li Han's words. The latter was angry: "I knew it! My brother is always dragged down by you! Can't you stop ruining him?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Dian's usually gentle nature gave way to anger: "I do drag him down, but you have no right to say that! The first ones you should ask are your good parents and grandparents. If they hadn't ruined Li Zi, he wouldn't have to rely on me for help and get dragged down by me!"

"You..." Li Han's voice trailed off.

"—Shut up!"

Li Ting let out a cold shout, startling the little nurse beside him who held the needle, causing it to slip from her grasp, and blood immediately began to gush out from the back of his hand.

Tian Dian quickly approached but was brushed aside by Li Ting. He took the cotton from the nurse and signaled to her that everything was fine, before pressing it against the wound.

Li Han, who was growing increasingly nervous, tried to explain, "Ge, please don't get angry, it wasn't intentional..." Li Ting asked curtly, "Did you say anything?"

Li Han paused, realizing what he meant, and quickly shook his head. "No, I didn't tell Mom and Dad. I rushed over as soon as my internship ended. I could have come earlier, but one of our seniors in the group wouldn't let me take leave, so I..." Li Ting gave a brief glance at Tian Dian before telling him, "Get out."

"Li Ting, ge..." Tian Dian felt unfairly dismissed, "Let me stay and take care of you." However, Li Ting still didn't look at them and turned to lie down on the bed. Both Li Han and Tian Dian knew his personality; they understood that Li Ting genuinely didn't want to talk to them anymore, and that continuing would only make things worse, so they hesitantly gathered their belongings and left. "Ge, I've bought a lot of food for you. If you're hungry, don't forget to eat..." "Li Ting, I brought some clothes and daily necessities for you. They are on the bedside." In the end, their soft murmurs were forcibly cut short by the nurse who came to announce that visiting hours were over.

Old Ni gave Fang Huai Ning several days off, but he returned to the research institute before the break was over. However, his efficiency that morning was low. By noon, he wanted coffee, only to find that the coffee machine was still broken. Reluctantly, he went downstairs and encountered Wang Fu Liang in the elevator.

Wang Fu Liang had heard from Zhao Pang and, while chatting, began to inquire about Li Ting's situation.

Wang Fu Liang: "How did he get hurt?"

Fang Huai Ning lowered his head to put ice cubes in a cup. "I don't know."

"Is he feeling any better these days?"

"I don't know."

"He's been commuting to the hospital every day. His parents are probably not around, and I wonder if anyone is taking care of him there?" Wang Fu Liang expressed his concern.

Fang Huai Ning, on the other hand, knew that someone was looking after him. "Someone is taking care of him."

"Who? Does he have a girlfriend?" Wang Fu Liang asked curiously.

Fang Huai Ning: "..."

"Sorry..." At that moment, a cautious voice intervened.

They turned to see a boy standing behind them, sincerely asking, "Excuse me, were you the ones who took my brother to the hospital that day?"

"Who is your brother?" Wang Fu Liang asked, confused.

Fang Huai Ning had already realized it; this boy looked quite a bit like Li Ting but had a different temperament. Coupled with the previous phone call from the hospital...

He was surprised to find that Li Ting's brother was interning at A University's research institute. Li Han had already confirmed this in his heart, despite having inquired about it, because he had seen a familiar figure leaving the building when he went to the hospital that day. Initially, he thought he might have mistaken it, but just now, he overheard them discussing it by the water cooler. Suddenly, recalling the pleasant voice from their previous call, everything clicked into place. The person who had helped his brother was actually the top student at the research institute—Fang Huai Ning?!

"It wouldn't be Li Ting, would it?" Wang Fu Liang also realized.

"Yes, yes, that's him... I really want to thank you all, truly thank you... for taking him to the hospital," Li Han said, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, his cheeks flushing as he spoke to Fang Huai Ning.

After a moment of surprise, Fang Huai Ning composed himself and replied politely, "No need."

After a brief pause, he asked, "Is he... feeling better?"

Li Han responded, "Much better; he can get out of bed now."

Fang Huai Ning frowned.

"He can get out of bed so soon? Zhao Pang said the doctor advised him to stay in bed. Did you take care of him every day?" Wang Fu Liang asked.

"Uh, I go when I have time, and my brother's friend and I take turns visiting him..."

"Then haven't you gone today?" Wang Fu Liang inquired, then turned to Fang Huai Ning. "Huai Ning, do you have time this afternoon? How about we go visit him?"

"It seemed that Li Ting had helped him last time, and although the second collaboration hadn't been successful, Wang Fu Liang felt obliged to check on him after Zhao Pang mentioned it yesterday. Li Han froze and quickly glanced at Fang Huai Ning. Would he go? Fang Huai Ning was also contemplating this question. He felt no obligation to care for that minor patient—he had already offered assistance, investing both time and money, and in the end, Li Ting was just a stranger he knew by name. Furthermore, since there was someone else taking care of him, what was the point of visiting? "Huai Ning?" Wang Fu Liang, not receiving a response, found it strange that there was hesitation. "Wait for me to finish what I'm doing," Fang Huai Ning said somewhat reluctantly while glancing at his watch. "Alright, let's say four o'clock then," Wang Fu Liang replied, confirming with Li Han, who nodded in surprise. ... At four o'clock in the afternoon, Fang Huai Ning arrived at the entrance right on time. Li Han took a taxi to the hospital with them. Along the way, the bespectacled boy was very curious about Li Ting's situation and asked many questions. In contrast, Fang Huai Ning remained his usual silent self. Li Han was somewhat surprised that they seemed to know his brother for a long time and were genuinely concerned. However, looking at Fang Huai Ning's demeanor, he thought perhaps he wasn't too invested and had only come out of obligation due to Wang Fu Liang's suggestion."

"Speaking of which, your brother is majoring in foreign languages. Which university is he attending?" Wang Fu Liang's questions kept coming.

Li Han thought for a moment and mentioned a name.

"Ah?" Wang Fu Liang and Fang Huai Ning exchanged glances, confirming that A City indeed had that university.

They didn't belittle it and continued, "He must be studying and working hard; it must be very tough for him, right?"

"Yeah, it's quite tough..."

"Then why is he working so hard? About that injury he has... um!"

Before he could finish, Wang Fu Liang was kicked. He quickly turned to look at Fang Huai Ning, who was staring out the window with an indifferent expression. Feeling quite surprised, he rubbed his sore leg and kept quiet.

When they arrived at the hospital, they coincidentally found it was mealtime. Tian Dian went to get food for Li Ting, leaving him alone in the ward, leaning against the bed and looking down at something he was fiddling with.

They noticed the visitor, and Li Ting was taken aback, hastily shoving the items in his hand under his pillow.

Fang Huai Ning observed that it seemed to be a doll keychain.

Li Han entered and said, "Brother, Fang Xiao Zhang and Wang Xiao Zhang are here to see you."

Wang Fu Liang was still outside the hospital buying apples when he walked over to place them on Li Ting's bedside table.

He had heard Zhaǒ Páng say it was quite dramatic, and he thought the other person might end up paralyzed. However, seeing Lí Tíng's spirited demeanor was surprisingly relieving.

Fāng Huà Líng felt the same way, though he was reluctant to admit it. The image of this person—pale, frail, and trembling with pain, lying in his arms—flashed through his mind several times over the past few days. However, as he witnessed Lí Tíng slowly recovering, Fāng Huà Líng's heart unknowingly lightened a bit.

Lí Tíng's response, however, was merely a quiet "oh."

Wáng Fù Liáng didn't mind Lí Tíng's aloofness and bombarded him with a barrage of questions, most of which were answered by Lí Hán.

The two of them crowded at the top of the bedside table, forcing Fāng Huà Líng to stand at the foot of the bed. He noticed Lí Tíng glance at him briefly before returning to his activities.

In front of him lay a notebook. Occasionally, Lí Tíng would pick up his phone to scroll through it, then use his functioning hand to write in the notebook.

What was he writing?

"Lí Tíng is writing what?" Wáng Fù Liáng exclaimed, voicing Fāng Huà Líng's unspoken curiosity.

No one replied.

"Doing accounting."

Suddenly, a voice came from the door.

"Ah?" Wáng Fù Liáng said, confused.

Tián Dìan walked in with two plates, casting a wry smile at Fāng Huà Líng before turning to Wáng Fù Liáng with a pale expression, and then responded to him.

"The daily income from a job, the amount of money lost by not working, the total profit from various banks and financial products, the interest that can be earned each day, and how much money has been lost."

Wáng Fù Liáng said, bewildered, "But this seems too detailed, and he hasn't recovered yet; he should rest first."

"That's not possible," Tián Dìan replied decisively. "If you don't calculate it clearly, you won't be able to sleep."

Wáng Fù Liáng was left in confusion.

Fāng Huà Líng was at a loss for words.

He turned his head and stared blankly at Lí Tíng for a moment, realizing that despite his difficulty in movement, his mind was completely absorbed in the calculations in front of him. He ignored the girl's words, his expression unusually determined and serious.

Fāng Huà Líng suddenly had the thought that this person was constantly seeking ways to make money, not necessarily out of need, but perhaps... he simply enjoyed money?

He was definitely a small miser!

He recalled a post he had seen earlier that asked if Lí Tíng did anything other than work.

Now, the answer was clear: he engaged in other activities, counting money.