At first, Shen Wan didn't pay much attention to her health. She thought that as long as her brain was functional, everything would be fine.
Later on, as the internal struggles within the company intensified, she, Shen Qian, and Shen Ru formed their own factions, each with their own supporters. As the situation progressed, the three sides fought for power and profit, not only competing for projects but also for personnel.
Being a leader and decision-maker, every move Shen Wan made was under scrutiny. A slight misstep could not only spell trouble for herself but also affect a large number of employees who were associated with her.
Sometimes, she even forgot her original intention to seize power. She dared not look back, and she couldn't look back. She had to press forward relentlessly, absorbed in the ongoing work and strategic maneuvering.
Consequently, she had to take into account various viewpoints. Beyond fulfilling her work obligations, she found herself continually reflecting on the perspectives of both Shen Qian and Shen Ru, proactively anticipating potential challenges.
The consequence of such tightly wound emotions was nights of insomnia. Just when she managed to fall asleep, the alarm would wake her up again. Shen Wan would then drag herself out of bed, freshen up, and as she stepped into the company's entrance, she would automatically switch to her "iron lady" mode, ready to face another day of work and competition.
This continued until a year later when her body finally collapsed.
The situation stemmed from a mix of inherent malnutrition leading to fundamental shortcomings and the serious repercussions of irregular sleep patterns and persistent insomnia.
Shen Wan redirected her gaze from the IV bag hanging high and brought her drifting thoughts back to the present.
The events of yesterday were already in the past and held no more significance.
Ruminating on them wouldn't change anything. The key was how to navigate the present.
Shen Wan was a premature baby, and it was said that she had suffered several serious illnesses when she was young. Despite her tall stature, her weight didn't exceed 45 kilograms.
No wonder Shen Yan found her as thin as a stick...
Occasionally, when she looked in the mirror, she wasn't entirely satisfied with her current figure.
After all, a woman's charm lies in the balanced proportions of her body, not in bones and skin stretched tautly.
Reflecting on her previous life, following the shock she experienced, the doctor's words had left her apprehensive. Regardless of her busy schedule, she would carve out moments for exercise, engaging in activities like running or practicing yoga. Gradually, this routine became ingrained as a habit.
By the time she died on the operating table at the age of thirty, her physical condition wasn't much better, but her figure was well-proportioned.
Since fate had given her a second chance, how could she let it go to waste?
Noon, a quarter past twelve.
Upon Shen Qian's arrival in the hospital room, a modest volume of liquid remained within the IV bag. The young girl perched herself on the bed's edge, her hand, with the needle carefully placed, rested flatly on the pristine white sheets, as if she sought to meld seamlessly with them.
But because of this, the bruises on her hand were even more pronounced.
The man only glanced at her and then averted his gaze, his brow furrowing slightly. Maybe, he himself hadn't even noticed this unconscious little movement.
Of course, even if he noticed, Shen Qian probably wouldn't dwell on it.
Smart people are accustomed to seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages; there was no reason to make things difficult for oneself.
At that moment, the girl's eyelashes quivered, and she opened her eyes.
"Brother?!" Joy was evident in her voice, "When did you come?"
"Just now."
"... Are you here to bring me lunch?" Shen Wan's gaze fell on the takeout box in his hand, which had a logo from a certain five-star hotel printed on the plastic bag.
Shen Qian nodded, walked over, flipped up the small table that was attached to the hospital bed, and then placed the takeout bag on it.
Shen Wan was indeed hungry, and her eyes eagerly looked inside, but in the next second, her expression turned dim.
"What's wrong? Not satisfied?"
"I didn't..." She subconsciously waved her hand, and although she quickly stopped the motion, it unavoidably pulled on the rubber tubing, causing the hanging IV bottle to sway.
The man's brow furrowed deeper for a moment but quickly relaxed. His gaze turned cold and distant, with an inexplicable sense of distance.
Shen Wan's expression remained unchanged, but in reality, she didn't feel disappointed.
If she could be easily moved, then he wouldn't be Shen Qian!
"Go ahead and eat."
"... Thank you, brother!"
After spending five days in the hospital, Shen Wan's forehead wound began to scab over, her various physical indicators stabilized, and there were no signs of any brain aftereffects from the strong impact. With special permission from the doctor, she was allowed to be discharged.
Early in the morning, Shen Wan packed her belongings and waited quietly in the hospital room.
At nine o'clock in the morning, someone came to pick her up, but it wasn't Shen Qian.
"Steward Zhou?"
"Third Lady, how's your health?" The usually reserved person showed a rare smile and began with a casual greeting.
"I'm fine." Shen Wan also smiled in response, innocent and pure. "My brother...?"
"Young Master had some matters to attend to, so he asked me to pick you up from the hospital."
Shen Wan hesitated for a moment and then said, "You've worked hard."
Zhou Qingfu was a considerate and thoughtful person. In addition to efficiently handling the discharge procedures, he also sought the opinion of the attending doctor and purchased a complete set of anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing medications, prepared for any unforeseen needs.
Finally, he opened the back seat car door for Shen Wan and said, "Miss Shen, please."
"Thank you."
The journey was quiet, and upon arriving at the Shen residence, Zhou Qingfu handed her a brand-new mobile phone and a bank card.
"What's this for?"
"Young Master entrusted me to pass these to you. If you have any questions, you can ask him directly."
Shen Wan pondered for a moment, then accepted them, her expression thoughtful.
She wasn't sure what Shen Qian said, but after returning home, Shen Wan felt an unprecedented sense of tranquility.
Yang Lan remained indifferent, Shen Yan went to school, Shen Chunjiang was at the company, and Old Master Shen was visiting friends – he hadn't returned for two days.