Give Me Another Smile

"Ah… Is that so?" Yin Zhao-an held her chin and put on a pondering look. Then, recalling her memories, she said, "He mentioned to me in the past that his father doesn't seem to like him very much and is very strict with him."

"Mhm…"

Although Tang Yu wasn't aware of the whole situation surrounding Zhao Yu, she could more or less see that he had come from a strict household. When she first got acquainted with Zhao Yu during her previous life, the boy would put on a facade and behave courteously in all situations. It was only after Zhao Yu had met Gao Rang did he gradually find out that he possessed a mischievous side, similar to most boys his age.

Originally, Tang Yu thought that with all the changes she had caused, Zhao Yu and Gao Rang might never meet each other in this life. However, because of Wen Tao's "assistance," the two still ended up meeting each other. Although Tang Yu had no idea what the future would hold, she was eager to see how the relationship between Zhao Yu and Gao Rang would develop.

While Tang Yu was lost in her thoughts, Yin Zhao-an continued in distress, "I wonder how Wen Tao is going to resolve this huge mess..."

Tang Yu found Yin Zhao-an's troubled look a little amusing. However, the expression on her face remained unchanged as she said, "You should worry more about yourself. You still have a long ways to go before you make a full recovery."

It was a rare occasion for Tang Yu to show concern for her, so Yin Zhaoa-n tactfully nodded and smiled, saying, "Roger! I'll make sure to take good care of myself!"

As soon as Yin Zhao-an finished speaking, the phone on the bedside table suddenly started to vibrate. The two girls simultaneously turned to look at the phone. Then, they exchanged looks, and Yin Zhao-an saw a curious look in Tang Yu's eyes. A brief moment later, Yin Zhao-an reached for the phone, and a look of disbelief appeared on her face when she saw the caller ID displayed on the screen.

When Tang Yu saw Yin Zhao-an showing her the caller ID, she, too, was a little surprised.

"Hello..." Yin Zhao-an answered the call and quietly listened to the other party speak, her expression changing several times throughout the mostly one-sided conversation. Finally, the person on the other end hung up the phone after receiving a dazed "Okay" from her.

"What did he say?" Tang Yu asked, unable to hold back her curiosity.

In response, Yin Zhao-an gestured for Tang Yu to move closer, looking as if she was about to share a secret that shouldn't be shared. Tang Yu hesitated when she saw this, but she eventually gave in to her curiosity and slowly leaned closer to Yin Zhao-an with her left ear.

Once Tang Yu's ear was close enough, Yin Zhao-an softly said, "Li Beining went to the school's guidance director and confessed that he was the one who hit Zhao Yu and would foot Zhao Yu's medical expenses. He asks that we corroborate with his confession."

Putting on a complicated expression, Tang Yu asked, "Will Zhao Yu agree to it?"

"...Probably?" Yin Zhao-an weakly said, her voice lacking any sort of confidence.

"How can you be sure?"

"Because he likes..." Yin Zhao-an's words came to an abrupt end. Realizing she had misspoken, she timidly looked at Tang Yu's expressionless face like a child who had done something wrong.

Meanwhile, Tang Yu parted her lips slightly and finished Yin Zhao-an's words for her, "Because he likes you."

"I..." Yin Zhao-an grew flustered.

"What about you?" Tang Yu's voice was very gentle, like a persuasive parent guiding a lost child. "Do you like him? Do you want to be with him?"

"I..." Do I like him? Do I want to be with him? No. Yin Zhao-an shook her head. Then, an image suddenly flashed in her mind, and she subconsciously said, "I like you."

As soon as these words fell, the two people in the room were momentarily stunned. Immediately afterward, a light flickered in Tang Yu's eyes, and her hands resting on her kneecaps trembled a little. Then, she tentatively asked in a trembling tone, "You like me?"

Yin Zhao-an covered her lips with one hand and looked away guiltily, her ears becoming red like cooked crayfish.

Tang Yu had waited for this sentence from Yin Zhao-an all her life. However, even until she died during her previous life, she never got to hear it. On the brink of tears, Tang Yu got off her chair, moved closer to Yin Zhao-an, and persistently asked, "Did you just say that...you like--"

"I didn't!" Yin Zhao-an flatly denied. However, as soon as she said these words, she grew even more afraid to look Tang Yu straight in the eyes.

"..."

Tang Yu felt a stabbing pain coming from her lower lip, followed by a rusty smell permeating her mouth. Her wet eyelashes drooping, Tang Yu nonchalantly smiled and faintly said, "I'll go and check on Zhao Yu."

Sure enough...she was imagining things yet again.

...

Wang Zhen entered the ward a moment after Tang Yu left. Then, while looking in the direction Tang Yu was walking in, she asked her daughter, "What happened here? Why was Little Yu crying?"

C-Crying?

Yin Zhao-an felt a sudden pain in her chest, her hands subconsciously clamping down on her quilt. However, she couldn't think of anything to say.

…

When Gao Rang stepped out of Zhao Yu's ward, she met Tang Yu face to face. Seeing the girl's red and swollen eyes, he was momentarily taken aback. Then, he asked, "What's wrong?"

Tang Yu shook her head and looked into the ward through the gap in the door.

"Zhao Yu's family members didn't show up, but they did send a care worker. They've paid the hospitalization fee already, and they said they will take over the matter from now on," Gao Rang explained.

"Is he awake now?" Tang Yu asked, her voice sounding a little hoarse.

"No. The anesthesia is still in effect, so he won't be waking up anytime soon," Gao Rang answered. Then, after taking a look at his watch, he looked at Tang Yu apologetically and said, "I still have things to do, so I'll be taking my leave first."

...

The care worker was a middle-aged woman, and she was a little puzzled when she saw Tang Yu entering the ward. "You are?"

"I am the classmate who sent him to the hospital," Tang Yu frankly replied.