I Don’t Mind You Being Ugly and Blind
Chapter 88
The following day, the relentless downpour persisted, silver arrows of rain hammering against the windowpanes with a persistent "click." The sky hung a dreary gray, devoid of any promise of light. Within the ward, a profound quiet settled, amplifying the sense of peace.
The hospital bed was modest in size which allowed for only a close embrace between two occupants. Su Yue who was held tightly in Jiang Ci's arms the whole night , now stirred, as her body shifting slightly. Her eyes still heavy with sleep, slowly fluttered open. Subconsciously, she reached out, her fingers gently touching Jiang Ci's forehead beside her.[Read More Here]
A faint warmth still lingered on it , but it was far less alarming than the feverish heat of yesterday. A sigh of relief than escaped her taut lips.
Carefully, she eased Jiang Ci's arm away. Normally, he would awaken instantly, but the previous day's ordeal—the terrifying thought of her accident, the relentless tension on his nerves, his profound exhaustion, and the raging fever—had clearly taken its toll on him . No wonder he remained deeply asleep till this time . Her gaze drifted to his hands again which is enveloped in thick white gauze. She lowered her head and pressed a gentle kiss to it. Get well soon, she silently wished.
Stepping into the bathroom, a half-meter wide mirror reflected her image. Su Yue's eyes widened in surprise. Her complexion, once flawlessly snow-white, now possessed an ethereal radiance. Her skin, plump and dewy, seemed to glow with an inner light, so tender and inviting that one might long to pinch it.
The most striking change, however, was her chest. Before, her slender waist and ample figure had pleased her. Now, the delicate, undulating curves were even more pronounced. She tentatively pinched herself, as a blush creeping up her cheeks. It was soft, elastic, and surprisingly pleasant to the touch.
Yesterday, Jiang Ci's anger had surged to 100, then miraculously receded to 0. The unexpected effect of it on her had been remarkably pronounced. And, for reasons she couldn't quite articulate, she felt a subtle shift within her body, a difference she couldn't pinpoint.
Su Yue dismissed the lingering mystery, her mood brightened by her more enhanced beauty. No woman would ever lament becoming more beautiful. Her skin now required no foundation, no concealer; it could withstand the scrutiny of even a high-definition camera.
After washing her face and brushing her teeth, Su Yue found Jiang Ci still sleeping soundly . She quietly opened the ward door, intending to buy breakfast for him, only to discover Sheng Yan already waiting outside. It was still so early; had she been there for long?
"You came early this morning?" Su Yue asked, surprised.
"Yes, President Jiang is injured. It's our responsibility to be on standby at all times and follow orders," Sheng Yan replied, her posture erect, her expression as serious and unyielding as ever.
Su Yue admired Sheng Yan's strong sense of responsibility. "It's fine; I'm taking care of him here. How are Sheng Tian's feet?"
Sheng Yan hadn't expected Su Yue's concern for Sheng Tian's injury. She glanced at Su Yue, wondering if it was an illusion. The other woman's appearance today was so dazzling she almost couldn't meet her gaze. "The doctor has already diagnosed and treated her. He said she needs to rest for one to two months."
"Well, then let her recuperate. You can go back and take care of her. She has limited mobility and needs assistance," Su Yue suggested.
Sheng Yan, in truth, wasn't overly concerned about Sheng Tian. Su Yue's words, however, brought her relief. "Yes, Madam."
Su Yue than descended to the hospital cafeteria, purchasing light, palatable breakfast items for Jiang Ci. But as she exited the cafeteria and approached the elevator, a throng of reporters surged through the entrance, clearly there to cover yesterday's landslide.
In the quiet of the early morning, with few people about, Su Yue's striking appearance, her snow-white complexion, made her instantly conspicuous. Many reporters recognized her and swarmed forward, cameras flashing, almost striking her face.
"Su Yue, what are your thoughts on Chu Mengyun's online post accusing you of not saving her?"
"Su Yue, did you send the response message posted online yesterday?"
"I heard that Chu Mengyun's foot was crushed and disfigured because of you. Do you feel no guilt at all? Have you considered apologizing to her?"
"I heard the other actors were injured, and you escaped without looking back. Do you consider yourself lucky?"
The blinding flashes continued, every camera aimed at Su Yue, eager to capture her in a moment of distress or embarrassment.
"You're about to bump into my breakfast; please step back," Su Yue stated, one hand protecting the porridge she held for Jiang Ci. Her expression was cool, her voice lacking its usual softness.
Her tone, though not loud, carried enough authority to silence the reporters, who invariably quieted and looked at her. They realized that this newcomer, unlike many, showed no panic under their relentless questioning. Her face remained calm, utterly unlike a bewildered rookie.
"You asked just now, about Chu Mengyun's accusation and why I didn't save her. What do I have in mind?" Su Yue's red lips curved slightly. Under the camera, her small, snow-white face was flawlessly beautiful, as if she were born to be captured by the lens. "I thought the message I posted online had made my mind very clear."
"The news on the internet was sent by me. To those who accuse me, I ask you: in a critical situation, if you are pulled by someone and cannot escape, are you noble enough to let the other party drag you both to your death, or would you throw them away?"
Su Yue faced the camera without a hint of timidity. "I'm not a kind person; I'm afraid of death. I would never sacrifice my life for someone I don't know well. I'm not against doing good deeds, but please, exercise some compassion. Don't stand and talk without feeling the pain, blaming me for not saving people. After all, I'm not the Virgin Mary, and I'm not a rescuer. I am very selfish."
In the entertainment industry, everyone wore a mask, speaking carefully crafted words, especially in front of reporters. Many celebrities spoke ambiguously, deliberately turning phrases to avoid direct answers. The Su Yue before them with her blunt answer was a first for these reporters.
"Aren't you worried about losing fans or damaging your image when you say this?" a reporter couldn't help but ask.
"I'm telling the truth, and I have no fans," Su Yue replied. She only planned to make this one film, so losing fans didn't concern her.
The reporter sputtered. No fans? This was the woman who had gained a million followers overnight and was still trending!
"I have said what I needed to say. In the face of crisis, I can only save my own life. If I had to do it again, I still wouldn't save Chu Mengyun. I'm sorry, my breakfast is about to get cold, so let's end the questions here." Su Yue pressed the elevator button and stepped inside.
It wasn't until Su Yue's figure disappeared that the reporters stirred, realizing they had been completely led and controlled by her. They still had so many questions, yet they hadn't had the chance to ask them. For years, reporters had held the power, pressuring celebrities. Now, they had been utterly intimidated by a newcomer?
Moreover, if Su Yue wasn't injured, why was she at the hospital? And who was the breakfast she protected so fiercely meant for?
The victims of yesterday's landslide were housed in the wards on the third floor. Chu Mengyun's assistant burst through the door.
"Didn't I tell you to go down and buy food? Why are you back so soon?" The painkillers for Chu Mengyun's foot had worn off, and the severe pain left her irritable, her temper flaring.
"No..." The assistant, having run quickly, was breathless. She swallowed, taking several deep breaths before recovering. "When I was going downstairs," the assistant said anxiously, "I saw a large number of reporters downstairs, and they were interviewing Su Yue."
"What?" Chu Mengyun sat bolt upright in shock, a sharp pain shooting through her injured foot, causing her features to contort.[Read More Here]
"They must be questioning Su Yue about not saving me." The thought, surprisingly, lessened her physical pain.
The assistant confirmed that the reporters had indeed been asking Su Yue about her decision not to save Chu Mengyun.
"Hurry and bring me my cosmetic bag," Chu Mengyun urged.
The assistant looked bewildered.
"The reporters will definitely come to interview me later. How can I be interviewed like this?" Chu Mengyun said impatiently. "Hurry up."
True to her prediction, just as Chu Mengyun finished her makeup, several reporters, having bypassed hospital security, found their way to her ward.
"Mengyun, I heard your leg was injured; is it true?"
Chu Mengyun lifted a corner of the quilt, revealing her plastered foot that is an undeniable proof of her injury. Facing the camera, she offered a magnanimous smile. "I know many fans online are scolding Su Yue. This has already happened, and I don't want to pursue anything more."
Beside her, the assistant looked anxious, trying to discreetly signal Chu Mengyun. But with the reporters present, she dared not speak, only winking nervously.
"Although Su Yue injured me, we still have to film together later. I don't want to make our relationship too awkward and rigid. I forgive her."
The reporters, accustomed to such saccharine pronouncements, paid little heed to it . However, perhaps because they had just come from interviewing Su Yue, they found Chu Mengyun's performance utterly hypocritical, falling far short of Su Yue's raw honesty.
A reporter, struggling to suppress a smile, said, "You may be recovering from an injury and haven't read the fans' messages online yet..."
The assistant internally groaned. After Su Yue's post last night, the tide of public opinion had completely shifted. From initial accusations, many had gradually come to agree with Su Yue's words. Chu Mengyun had gone to bed early last night, and the assistant hadn't had a chance to inform her of the change occurred.
Ever since Su Yue's defiant post yesterday, directly refuting Chu Mengyun's claims and prompting Sheng Yan to unleash a flood of paid commenters, the online narrative had undergone a dramatic reversal.
"So just, so straightforward. I inexplicably fell in love with Su Yue."
"Yes, yes, those who curse with open mouths truly don't have back pain when they stand and talk. If you're so virtuous, why don't you go save people?"
"If it were me, and someone tried to grab me while I was escaping, I'd kick them to death. I'm being polite by not doing so."
"In a moment of danger, why demand others save you? If you can't run fast, why blame others for not pulling you? White Lotus is truly thriving."
"They're all accusing Su Yue of being selfish? I'm afraid of death too, and I'm selfish, aren't I? It's normal. I think Su Yue is real and dares to speak her mind."
"I originally wanted to ask, who can take care of others when escaping? Are Chu Mengyun's fans clueless? If you're so kind and generous, why don't you go to the disaster area and save people?"
"When it's dangerous, you don't have time, and you expect others to save you? Stupid. Chu Mengyun, you pulled Su Yue, and Su Yue hasn't even scolded you, but you're jumping to conclusions. How can you blame her?"
After the reporters left, Chu Mengyun heard the assistant's words and quickly grabbed her phone. As she scrolled through the online messages, her face grew increasingly ugly. Netizens were now siding with Su Yue, praising her while accusing Chu Mengyun in turn.
Were these netizens stupid? She was the one who was hurt! Su Yue was perfectly fine. They should be sympathizing with her and condemning Su Yue.
"Why didn't you tell me about such an important matter earlier?" Chu Mengyun glared at her assistant, her eyes blazing with fury.
"I..." The assistant stammered timidly. "You asked me to buy breakfast. I haven't had time to say anything yet."
"How difficult is it to say a word? Are you dumb?" Chu Mengyun flung the phone at the assistant, hitting her shoulder. "You made me make a fool of myself!" she ground out, no wonder the reporters had been smirking; they were laughing at her.
Just then, the phone, lying shattered on the ground, began to ring.
"Why aren't you picking up the phone for me?" Chu Mengyun snapped, her rage still boiling, glaring at the assistant.
The assistant's shoulder throbbed with pain, but she dared not complain. Silently, she picked up the phone with its cracked screen and handed it back to Chu Mengyun.
Chu Mengyun saw it was her manager calling and temporarily composed herself. "Hello, Manager."
"You don't need to act in Director Guan's film anymore," the manager stated. "Since your foot is injured, you should take good care of it."
"What?" Chu Mengyun's voice rose sharply.[Read More Here]
"What do you mean? What do you mean I don't need to act?"
"The investor is dissatisfied with you and proposed to replace you." The manager, who also represented two other well-known artists, knew that Chu Mengyun had clearly alienated someone powerful, and her future would be difficult. She intended to focus on her other clients.
"The investor is dissatisfied with me? Why? I don't even know them, and Director Guan personally selected me! Sister Hua, you know how much I've invested in Director Guan's play. Can you help me? Should I talk to the investor?"
"Director Guan can't overrule this either. The investor clearly has no interest in speaking with you and has made it clear they want to replace you. You can use this time to recover from your injury." The manager, finished with her unpleasant task, hung up.
Chu Mengyun was left stunned, as if her soul had been ripped away.
"Sister Mengyun, are you alright?" The assistant tentatively stepped forward to offer comfort.
"Get out!" Chu Mengyun shrieked, pulling the quilt over her head.
When Su Yue returned to the room, Jiang Ci was awake, sitting calmly at the head of the bed. He watched her enter, his eyes lazily drifting to the breakfast in her hand. "You could have had someone buy it," he said languidly. "You didn't have to go yourself."
"But others don't know your taste," Su Yue replied, approaching with the breakfast. "Eat these first, and I'll make you mango cake when we get home."
At her words, a faint smile touched Jiang Ci's usually cold features. "Su Yue," he said slowly, "I haven't brushed my teeth or washed my face yet."
Su Yue paused, then remembered his bandaged hands. "Then get up; I'll help you."
In the bathroom, Su Yue stood on her tiptoes, holding a toothbrush, ready to brush Jiang Ci's teeth. "You're too tall; you have to bend over."
Jiang Ci cooperated, lowering his head and opening his mouth.
It was Su Yue's first time brushing someone else's teeth, and she felt a little awkward, but she moved gently and meticulously. After a moment, seeing Jiang Ci's mouth full of white foam, she smiled and handed him the cup of water, motioning for him to rinse.
Washing his face proved easier than brushing his teeth. Su Yue took a wet towel and gently wiped Jiang Ci's face, taking particular care around the scar on his left cheek, trying not to hurt him. She noticed that the scar seemed smaller and smoother than before , its area now less than half the size of her palm.
"You are very handsome," Su Yue said, imitating Jiang Ci's usual gesture as she pinched his cheek. "Let's go out for breakfast."
"Don't you forget something ?," Jiang Ci said, his lips curving. He tilted his chin, with a playful gleam in his eyes. "My beard troubled you too."
Su Yue picked up Jiang Ci's razor. "I can't use it."
"Oh, I'll teach you."
Jiang Ci lowered his eyes, gazing at her small, delicate face. It was so soft, so tempting, he wanted to take a bite. His gaze drifted lower, to her upper body. Was it an illusion, or were her curves were even more pronounced? He only knew they were incredibly soft, a softness he craved to truly experience.
"Your chin should be lower," Su Yue instructed. Jiang Ci was so tall; her arms were growing tired.
"Step on my feet," Jiang Ci said lazily.
"Huh?" Su Yue blinked, not understanding.
"Step on."
Su Yue could only obey. She kicked off her flat shoes and stepped onto Jiang Ci's instep. In contrast, her feet looked so small and white, exquisitely delicate.
Jiang Ci wrapped an arm around Su Yue's waist, pulling her closer. He lowered his head. "That's it."
It's even more inconvenient! Su Yue thought, annoyed, glancing at him. However, as she tried to continue shaving the stubble from his face, she felt a sudden, strange sensation ripple through her body. She desired to be closer to Jiang Ci, a yearning for intimacy that was both overwhelming and tinged with an unspoken shame was seeping in her bones.
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