Everyone rushed into the ward, voices overlapping as they tried to express everything they had been holding in for the past weeks. "Lin Su! You scared us to death!" Xu Yan exclaimed, tears threatening to spill. "I can't believe you're awake! We thought we'd lost you!"
Liu Wen grabbed her hand gently. "Don't you ever do that again. You have no idea how much we've worried."
Jian, still catching his breath from running down the corridor, shook his head. "I was about to break something in frustration. You really can't just disappear on us like that!"
Zhao Yiming, quieter but no less intense, added, "We all missed you… too much. Please don't ever give up on us again."
Xiaomin, her assistant, leaned in close, voice trembling slightly. "Lin Su… I know you've always been strong, but seeing you like this… I thought I'd never get to see your smile again."
Lin Su, exhausted but deeply touched, looked at each of them. She had never realized just how much they had all relied on her presence, and yet here they were, so unrestrained in their relief and care. She managed a small smile, but on the surface, it was controlled, almost indifferent. Her heart, however, thumped wildly with a mixture of warmth and disbelief.
While all of this unfolded, Amy lingered in the background, silently observing. Relief softened her usual sharp expression. She quickly pulled out her phone and sent a short text to someone she trusted: "She's alright now. No major issue here anymore." A few moments later, a single, cryptic symbol arrived in response—a sign only the two of them understood. Amy slipped her phone away and quietly joined the group, careful not to draw attention.
Their reunion, however, was interrupted by a sharp voice from the door. The nurse appeared, arms crossed, her expression strict. "Everyone, calm down! She just woke up. You have no idea how dangerous excessive talking and stress can be for her recovery. Prolonged excitement or shouting could cause complications—her heart is still weak, her energy reserves are low, and we cannot risk any setbacks."
The group froze, sheepish, realizing their exuberance had overstepped. "We're sorry," Xu Yan muttered, lowering her head. Liu Wen added quietly, "We just… we were happy she's okay."
The nurse softened slightly. "I understand, but keep it to brief visits. Her rest comes first. She'll need a few more days of careful monitoring before anything else."
Reluctantly, everyone began to step back, exchanging quick hugs and lingering glances. "We'll be back soon!" Zhao Yiming said, his voice heavy with emotion. "Just… rest and get stronger."
Jinhai, however, remained rooted to the spot. "I'm not leaving," he said firmly. "She needs me here."
Lin Su's heart skipped, almost catching in her throat. On the surface, she tried to maintain her usual calm, indifferent expression. "You don't have to," she said lightly, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
"I want to," he replied, meeting her eyes unwaveringly. "I'm not going anywhere. Not yet."
"You're stubborn," she muttered, shaking her head slightly.
"And you're lucky I am," he shot back, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Lin Su wanted to argue, to tell him he should rest, that he had been by her side enough. But the truth was, seeing him there—steady, protective, refusing to leave—filled a part of her she hadn't realized had been aching for weeks. She didn't respond. She simply let herself observe him quietly, the tension between them settling into something more comfortable, more familiar.
Meanwhile, back at the agency, Director Park convened a meeting with the production team. "We're going to use Lin Su's shooting scene as the ending for the series," he said firmly, pointing to the monitor displaying the raw footage. "Her character dies in this scene, and it's powerful. But we need her consent before anything goes live. No exceptions. We can't release anything without her approval."
The team nodded in agreement. "We'll handle the permissions," Chen Wei added. "And the editing will emphasize the emotional impact without exploiting the incident. It has to feel real but also respectful."
"Exactly," the director replied. "It's a strong ending, and it ties back to the series' theme perfectly. We just have to make sure Lin Su is comfortable with it first. Once she's ready, we'll finalize everything."
Back in the ward, Lin Su finally allowed herself to relax slightly, her eyes tracking Jinhai's every subtle movement. His presence, unwavering and patient, reminded her of something she had almost forgotten—the simple comfort of being cared for by someone who truly knew her.
And for the first time in weeks, she felt… safe.