Chapter 277: Let's Make That Deal
Tang Qiqi stopped her steps, turned back, glanced at Zhang Yang, and said lightly: "Take good care of her."
Zhang Yang nodded: "I know, you go sit for a while."
Seeing her pale face, she had probably given Pan Ningning quite a lot of blood. Although her earlier words were harsh, at this moment Zhang Yang finally understood that this seemingly cold female killer actually had a very soft heart, just like her chest.
Pan Ningning was lonely, and she herself was no different.
Tang Qiqi looked at Zhang Yang, hesitated for a moment, and sat down on the chair.
More than an hour later, Meixin was pushed out of the operating room, but because she still had a high fever, she was put on an IV and pushed into the monitoring room for continued observation.
The doctor briefly explained to Zhang Yang: "There won't be any major problems with her condition, but after the surgery combined with the high fever, her whole body is weak. Once the anesthesia fades, she'll need someone to take care of her."
"Being weak is good!" Zhang Yang replied instinctively. Meixin was a dangerous person—who knew if she had a whole set of skills? Although this was a military hospital, most personnel were civilians. If she happened to be extremely skilled in martial arts, she wouldn't even need something like the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. Just some powerful combat techniques would be enough for her to fight her way out of the hospital.
The deadly part was that Zhang Yang intended to hide her identity yet couldn't reveal that Meixin was a dangerous individual.
So it was a good thing she was weak right now. According to his original idea, he should just feed her some sleeping pills.
The doctor heard this and looked at him, shocked: "Good? What's good about that? Comrade, how can you say something like that?"
Zhang Yang immediately realized he slipped up. He quickly forced a flattering smile: "No, what I meant was—my friend has hyperactivity. It's good if she can rest for a while."
Only then did the doctor's expression soften: "Alright, comrade. She's immobile right now. When she wakes up, give her some liquid food after six hours. Help her use the toilet, and if she can move, help her turn a bit, let her limbs move lightly."
"Okay, I understand."
"Also, she's a foreign friend. Does she understand Chinese?"
Zhang Yang shook his head.
"That's quite troublesome. You're a male comrade, she's female, and in this condition… Right, what is your relationship?"
"Friends, I guess!" Zhang Yang thought for a moment and answered.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
Zhang Yang shook his head: "No!"
"Oh, then that's really troublesome. Why don't you hire a caregiver later? Have them wipe her body and change her clothes. Since you can't communicate well, you just stay by the side and help."
Zhang Yang thought, should I say her English is actually terrible too? But he still nodded: "Okay, thank you, doctor."
To be honest, Zhang Yang still felt uncertain. After all, he didn't know Meixin's background. What if she suddenly went crazy and took a nurse hostage or something? So he really had to stay by her side.
For now, he could only wait for Lulu and the others to arrive. Actually, from Meining to Shangyan, if he drove, it would take no more than three hours with highways and transfers. So he wasn't afraid of the caregiving. When they arrived, Lulu would naturally arrange everything appropriately.
After the doctor finished, he went inside and gave the duty nurse some instructions. After a while, he came out again and said to Zhang Yang: "You can go in and see her now."
Zhang Yang nodded. Judging from the situation, Pan Ningning's operation wouldn't be done soon, and once she came out, she'd likely enter the ICU. He wouldn't be able to see her for now.
Also, after Zhang Yang yelled at Ao Tian earlier, the leadership of Pan Ningning's unit had already sent people over. The best internal and external medicine experts of the hospital were now all helping her. She had become the most heavily protected patient in the entire hospital. Even if Zhang Yang wanted to help, he couldn't.
Thinking a bit, Zhang Yang decided to explain things to Meixin first. After all, she had asked him not to send her to a hospital, yet he brought her here anyway. Worse still, it was a military hospital, full of officers and soldiers in uniform. If she wasn't despairing, that would be strange.
When Zhang Yang entered, a doctor and two nurses were attaching an ECG, measuring BP, P, R, and performing postoperative checks.
Because Ao Tian had notified them, she was placed in a single room.
Meixin was awake. But likely because the anesthesia hadn't fully worn off, her beautiful eyes were hazy. When she saw Zhang Yang, her gaze carried clear anger and helplessness. Her dry cherry-like lips trembled as if she wanted to speak.
Zhang Yang could only shake his head lightly, signaling her not to speak. Their communication was limited to English, but with two nurses and a doctor present, speaking English wasn't strange. If they learned the woman in the bed was a mercenary, it would be shocking if they didn't immediately cuff her.
"Alright, there aren't any major issues. The fever was likely caused by cold invading the body and infection in the wound. It's mostly controlled now. She's already passed gas. If she needs it, give her some water. But she can't move around. The nurse will check on her every half hour." The resident doctor, who appeared to be a military officer, turned to Zhang Yang and instructed, "If anything happens, come find me. For now, let the patient rest well."
After that, the doctor looked at Meixin again, afraid he had missed anything. He reminded Zhang Yang once more, and even had the older nurse patiently explain the caregiving details.
After the doctor and nurses left, only Zhang Yang and Meixin remained in the room.
Meixin had just opened her mouth when Zhang Yang gestured for her to stop: "You must have a lot of doubts right now…"
Zhang Yang worried she might not understand the word "doubt," so he repeated it several times. "Why I brought you to a hospital—because if you didn't come, you would have died!"
Meixin clearly didn't believe him. She turned her head away and looked out the window.
Zhang Yang smiled, unfazed. Her reaction was within his expectations. "But don't worry. You won't lose your freedom."
The word "freedom" made Meixin turn her head back and look at Zhang Yang, though she still didn't speak.
"You might not believe me, but you have to believe me," Zhang Yang emphasized deliberately. "Think about it—if you still want to see your family."
He believed that for someone her age to become a mercenary, she was likely forced. Her family was probably the only thing that could move her.
Meixin finally fixed her gaze on Zhang Yang and quietly looked at him.
Her facial features weren't as sharply defined as typical Westerners. Instead, she had a mixed-race softness—a delicate oval face, a refined nose, fair skin so smooth it seemed reflective. She was far more beautiful than the Western actresses Zhang Yang had seen in movies and TV.
Of course, this might also match Zhang Yang's preference for Eastern-style facial aesthetics.
She could be considered an A+-level beauty. No wonder the nurses caring for her earlier couldn't help glancing at her face with hints of jealousy.
"Water?" Zhang Yang remembered the nurse saying she had local anesthesia and had already passed gas, meaning she could drink some water.
Meixin finally nodded.
After giving her some water, she seemed calmer. She turned her head and looked at Zhang Yang again without speaking.
After a long while, she finally furrowed her brows and said softly: "My clothes, important things."
"Clothes?" Zhang Yang looked at what she was wearing. She was now dressed in a hospital gown. Her original clothes had likely been taken for cleaning and would probably be brought back later.
"Mm, there are important things inside."
"I'll bring them to you. Don't worry. Just rest well now."
"Thank you!" Meixin looked at Zhang Yang and smiled gently. Two faint dimples appeared at the corners of her lips. "Can you tell me your name?"
"Zhang Yang!" Zhang Yang thought for a moment and decided no need to lie.
"Are you a cop?"
"No, I'm an ordinary civilian!" Zhang Yang emphasized the word "civilian."
Meixin's eyes brightened slightly—fleeting, but Zhang Yang noticed. It proved she truly feared being detained.
"You have big connections, right?" Meixin was silent for a while, then looked at the room's facilities and added, "That's why you can stay in a room like this."
To Zhang Yang's surprise, she used the Chinese word for "connections." It seemed the word had spread even to foreign countries. At first, he didn't understand what she meant, but then it became clear—she must think he had powerful connections to get her this room.
He didn't bother explaining. As long as she felt at ease, everything would be easier. So he nodded: "You're right. I have very powerful connections."
"Then why did you help me?" Meixin looked at Zhang Yang. Without waiting for his answer, she bit her lips and said softly, "Is it because I'm pretty?"
The question was direct. Zhang Yang didn't expect it. If he told the truth, he'd feel a bit bad. He definitely couldn't say he wanted to extract information from her.
"You are very pretty." Zhang Yang stared at her face. Honestly, she really was. Coupled with her figure, it was hard to imagine why she ended up as a mercenary. "But I didn't help you because of that."
"Then why?" A trace of disappointment flashed across Meixin's face.
"This…" Zhang Yang hesitated, unsure how to phrase it.
While he was hesitating, Meixin suddenly smiled faintly at him: "If you can't say it, then you're admitting—I'm very pretty."
"Then let's make a deal, okay?"
"What deal?" Zhang Yang looked at her with interest.
"I'll give you my body…" Meixin looked at Zhang Yang, a faint blush on her face, and said very directly, "But you help me do one thing."