Chapter 230: Evening Ties

In the evening twilight, as Lin Zheng Ran finished the last book in the library, Fang Meng locked the secret door and the library entrance one by one.

They returned to the car.

The reddening sunset cast a hazy glow on Fang Meng’s side ponytail, sunlight filtering through her hair strands.

Fang Meng’s beautiful face looked dreamlike under the rosy light, matching her name perfectly.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “These past two days have been tough on you, always by my side. Remember when you helped with Jiang Qian and said you owed me a favor? Well, consider it settled now.”

Fang Meng paused, surprised. “Why forget it? This time I helped willingly, not to repay the past.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled and interrupted:

“I know that, but you’ve done so much for me this time, showing me all those old books. If I ever held that old favor over you, I’d just be petty as a guy. So, let’s call it even.”

Fang Meng caught on and sighed helplessly:

“I suddenly feel like Lin Zheng Ran never planned to ask anything of me from the start. Back then, you were good at everything, and I couldn’t really help you anyway. And besides…”

She laughed:

“And back when I said I’d grant you one request to make peace, I thought you wouldn’t help me. Now I see I was the petty one. Lin Zheng Ran is truly a good person.”

Lin Zheng Ran thought it was odd how girls these days called guys ‘good people.’

He chuckled, “I’m no saint. Like I told you before, I only help those I want to. You’re the same, right?”

Fang Meng smiled without denying it:

“True. If someone else is in trouble, I might not step in, but if you need me, Lin Zheng Ran, I’ll always be there—no limits, as long as you ask.”

She gazed at him with straightforward yet gentle eyes:

“After all, you’re special to me.” She paused and added,

“In ancient times, with a finger-pointed marriage, I’d be your fiancée by parental decree. But that’s not the world we live in now.”

Back in the car, Lin Zheng Ran received a call from Pan Lin.

“Hey, Pan Jie?”

Pan Lin said, “Boss Lin, I’ve arranged everything on your list at the hospital today. I personally checked all the materials and equipment. Are you free now? If so, I can head to your place with the room key.”

Lin Zheng Ran hadn’t expected Pan Lin to handle it so quickly; he thought it might take all day to gather those items.

Though the items weren’t rare, the quantities for his experiment were substantial.

Surprisingly, she’d sorted it out in just half a day.

Lin Zheng Ran thought for a moment: ‘No need. Are you still at the hospital? If so, stay put—I’ll come to you right now.’

Pan Lin replied, “I’m at the hospital now. I’ll wait for you here.”

Driving the car, Fang Meng overheard parts of his conversation. Once he hung up, she asked, “You’re heading to the hospital?”

“Yeah,” Lin Zheng Ran put away his phone. “You don’t have to take me all the way—just drop me in the city district, and I’ll grab a cab.”

“Okay. Though I don’t know exactly what you’re up to, do you need any help?”

“No, really. You’ve done enough these past two days. If I ever need you, I’ll let you know.”

“Alright, then I’ll drive you to the hospital.”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her and didn’t argue further.

He just said thanks.

The car reached the intersection near the hospital, but traffic was backed up from the afternoon rush, so Lin Zheng Ran got out nearby, bid Fang Meng farewell, and walked into the hospital.

Pan Lin was already waiting outside the building.

Spotting him, she hurried over: “Boss Lin, you’re here! Everything’s ready for you.”

“Great, you got it all fast. I figured those materials would take until evening at least.”

“Of course, when you arrange it personally, I make it top priority.”

“Lead me to the room.”

“Right away.”

Pan Lin guided Lin Zheng Ran to a special lab in the private hospital. The office space was decent-sized.

The indoor environment was spotlessly clean, clearly not used often.

Though the hospital staff didn’t know what Pan Lin needed the lab for,

to them, she represented Jiang Jingshi, so they followed her instructions to the letter.

Everything was set up to the highest standard.

Once in the lab, Lin Zheng Ran checked the equipment, solutions, and herbs he needed and was fully satisfied.

“Perfect. That’s all, Pan Jie. You can take a break now; I’ll handle the rest.”

“Okay.” Before leaving, she mustered her courage to ask, “Just one more thing, Boss Lin—are you researching Boss Jiang’s illness? Do you know medicine?”

Lin Zheng Ran eyed the materials: “We’ll see in a couple of days.”

Pan Lin’s eyes lit up with hope; she knew Lin Zheng Ran was no ordinary person and had been creating miracles since they met. She nodded earnestly: “Alright, I won’t disturb you. Just call if you need anything.”

And she stepped out of the room.

Inside, Lin Zheng Ran saw a white coat nearby, stripped off his jacket, put on the coat, and slipped on gloves.

Gazing at the well-stocked materials on the table, he began testing the theories he’d been mulling over the past two days.

After leaving the hospital, Pan Lin sat in her car when her phone rang again—it was Jiang Jingshi’s driver calling.

She answered immediately: “Hello? What is it?”

The driver sounded frantic: “Pan Jie! Something’s wrong—Boss Jiang just collapsed at home! I’m taking her and the Second Miss to the hospital now!”

“What?!” Pan Lin exclaimed. “Boss Jiang fainted at home?”

“Yeah, no idea why. She was out for a walk and suddenly dropped.”

Pan Lin realized it was likely related to her condition: “Don’t panic. Bring her here—I’m already at the hospital!”

“Got it! On my way!”

In the villa, Jiang Qian, usually cool and composed while watching TV in the living room, now held the unconscious Jiang Jingshi in the yard, her eyes red with worry:

“Sis! Sis! What’s wrong?!”

She had no clue why this happened.

The driver pulled up: “Second Miss! Is Eldest Miss awake yet?”

Jiang Qian helped Jiang Jingshi into the car, her voice urgent: “Hurry to the hospital!”

The car sped toward the city district’s private hospital.

In the vehicle, Jiang Jingshi showed no signs of waking, and Jiang Qian’s forehead beaded with cold sweat from fear.

She asked the driver, “What caused this? Does my sister ever collapse like this at the company?”

The driver, terrified, stammered, “No, Boss Jiang’s never done this before—just a few days ago…”

“A few days ago? What happened?!”

The driver recalled Pan Jie’s warnings and realized he’d slipped up.

Jiang Qian pressed, “Tell me!”

The driver had never seen Jiang Qian so intense and didn’t know how to respond, just hoping they’d reach the hospital quickly and that Boss Jiang would be okay.