When Yi Buhao reported the situation, Lin Ran was utterly confused, wondering what was going on.
"Is she dead?" he asked.
Yi Buhao paused briefly before responding, "She just drank too much, took a fall, and got a cut on her leg. A few stitches and some rest, and she’ll be fine. Nothing serious."
Lin Ran felt a wave of relief but kept his tone casual. "If she’s not dead, no need to bother me."
Yi Buhao was baffled by Lin Ran’s reaction.
Weren’t they cousins? How could he be so indifferent?
"Miss Chen needs a minor surgery and requires your signature," Yi Buhao added.
"Where’s her agent? And have her family been notified?" Lin Ran asked.
"The bar owner called an ambulance. She was alone and insisted we shouldn’t contact her family—just you. Then she passed out drunk. They’re trying to sober her up now."
Lin Ran sighed in frustration. He was supposed to be spending time with Luo Yao—how could he drop everything for Chen Qingtian?This cousin of his really knew how to cause trouble.
"Fine, got it. Go help her sober up first."
After Yi Buhao left, Luo Yao finally spoke up.
"Ah Ran, you should go check on her."
Lin Ran looked at her in surprise. For Luo Yao to willingly give up his company and send him to another patient—Chen Qingtian must hold some importance in her heart.
"But what about you?"
"Just come back quickly."
Lin Ran shook his head. "I’ll visit her tomorrow morning. Right now, staying with you is my priority. Let her suffer for a few hours—maybe she’ll learn a lesson."
After a moment’s thought, Luo Yao nodded. "Alright."
Chen Qingtian, meanwhile, would’ve scoffed if she were conscious: Wow, you two are so noble, so righteous. Just amazing.
The next day, Lin Ran arrived at Chen Qingtian’s hospital room.
When she woke up, the first thing she saw was his face.
She vaguely remembered drinking too much last night and tripping outside the bar.
"Cousin? Why are you in my house?"
Lin Ran gave her a disdainful look.
"Your house? Open your eyes properly—where do you think this is? I can’t believe you. What were you doing getting wasted in the middle of the night? Passing out like some modern-day Li Qingzhao?"
He’d never known Chen Qingtian to be a heavy drinker.
As Lin Ran scolded her, fragments of last night’s events slowly pieced together in her mind—though it all felt surreal.
"Who asked you to come?"
Lin Ran was speechless. You’re the one who told them to call me!
But considering she’d been drunk, he patiently explained.
"The ambulance brought you here. You were mumbling about not contacting your family, so since you’re my cousin, Director Yi had no choice but to call me. You’re such a handful."
Chen Qingtian didn’t mind his nagging—she knew it came from concern.
As she listened, she tried to reconstruct the night’s events.
But the alcohol had fogged her memory, making it hard to connect the pieces.
After struggling for a while, something suddenly clicked.
Her expression froze.
Last night… had she really…?
"What’s wrong with you?" Lin Ran noticed her shift in demeanor, his tone genuinely concerned now—not just perfunctory.
Chen Qingtian hesitated before speaking. "Cousin, can you help me look into something? It’s about…"
After hearing her out, Lin Ran fell silent for a long moment. Whatever she wanted investigated must be crucial to her.
"Fine. I’ll have Uncle Fu look into it. You can communicate directly with him."
"Thanks, cousin."
For the first time, Chen Qingtian felt having a capable cousin wasn’t so bad.
Her injury wasn’t severe—just a minor suture—and she insisted on leaving the hospital immediately, ignoring the doctors’ protests. Yi Buhao had no choice but to inform Lin Ran again.
When Lin Ran asked why she was in such a hurry, Chen Qingtian replied, "I don’t want to distract you. Your priority right now is taking care of your fiancée."
Lin Ran scoffed. "You overestimate your influence."
Still, since she was determined, he didn’t stop her. To show some familial concern, he personally escorted her to the elevator.
"You getting drunk enough to land in the hospital was already legendary. Now you’re leaving right after stitches? Truly unmatched. Should I let Grandma teach you a lesson?"
Chen Qingtian waved it off. "I know my limits. Yesterday was just an accident—no need to involve the family."
At the elevator, she turned back. "Don’t forget what I asked you to check."
"Relax, I’ve already sent someone."
They parted ways—Chen Qingtian descending in the elevator, Lin Ran heading back to Luo Yao’s room.
Lin Ran mused that Chen Qingtian wasn’t like other celebrities.
Most stars would wail over a paper cut, but she’d endured stitches without a fuss.
Impressive, really.
Suddenly, he felt eyes on him. He turned, but the hallway was empty.
His instincts were sharp—someone had been watching. Was it just his imagination?
Puzzled, and given this was Yi’s hospital, suspicion crept into his mind.
Back in the room, Granny Wang had delivered lunch, and Luo Yao was eating.
Lin Ran naturally took over, feeding her himself.
Luo Yao chewed thoughtfully. "How’s Chen Qingtian?"
"Nothing major. Just a cut needing stitches."
After the meal, Granny Wang meticulously cleaned up, leaving no trace before departing with the trash.
Only then did Luo Yao add, "Good. Give her one of the scar ointments later."
Lin Ran raised an eyebrow. "Yao Yao, you’ve changed. Since when do you care about anyone but me?"
"I don’t care about her. She’s your cousin, and… I don’t dislike her."
Luo Yao understood Lin Ran and his family well.
After witnessing the absurdity of Lin Tianba’s household, a relative like Chen Qingtian seemed downright endearing.
Comparison worked wonders.
Lin Ran knew Luo Yao too—she wasn’t one to extend concern beyond him.
Her offering scar ointment was nothing short of a miracle.
"Well, I’ll make sure to thank you on her behalf."
Just then, Uncle Fu arrived with news.
The New Year was only days away, and many from the Luo family had already returned to the capital, some even settling into the ancestral home.
This was expected, but it served as a reminder—time was running out.
"Ah Ran, it’s almost New Year’s," Luo Yao said softly.
Lin Ran nodded.
"Yao Yao, this year we’ll celebrate in the hospital. But I promise, every year after this, we’ll ring in the New Year in style. Deal?"
Luo Yao smiled—she loved hearing such promises.
"Anywhere with you feels like New Year’s every day."
Lin Ran laughed, and so did she.