Fake dating my enemy, The playboy billionaire-Chapter 39: will you come with me to the Imperial City?”

JUNJIE (Part 2)

I could barely breathe. The emotions swirling inside me were too much, too raw.

Suyin and MeiMei, who had been watching from the sidelines like amused spectators, exchanged knowing looks before slapping the back of my head—one after the other.

"Wrap your hands around her, idiot," Suyin muttered, rolling her eyes, before everyone left the room, leaving me standing there with Yiren.

With my heart racing, I let my arms fall around her, awkward at first. I mean, what do you even do when someone hugs you like they’re holding onto a life raft? But then, instinct took over, and I hugged her tighter, feeling her shaky breaths against my chest.

Everything I’d done, everything I should have said but didn’t—it all came crashing down at that moment.

When her sobs finally faded into quiet hiccups, I held her a little longer before guiding her down the hall, taking her to see Ning. The doctors had told me earlier—Ning was stable, still in a medically induced coma, but out of danger. Kai was passed out on the recliner in the corner, too exhausted to even notice us enter.

Yiren stood there, staring at her sister for only a few moments, just long enough to take it all in. I could see the storm behind her eyes, but she didn’t linger. She didn’t want to disturb Kai or the fragile peace Ning seemed to have found.

Next, we made our way to the NICU. When Yiren’s eyes landed on the incubator, her breath hitched. The baby was so small, so fragile—barely the length of my palm. But that little champ wasn’t giving up, even hooked up to all those machines. I could see the fight in him, the same determination that ran through his mother’s veins.

Tears welled up in Yiren’s eyes, but she smiled through them. I couldn’t tell if she was relieved or devastated, or both. The sight of him seemed to break her and heal her all at once.

After a few minutes, the nurses politely reminded us of the strict visiting rules. I took Yiren’s hand and led her back to her room. The silence between us grew heavier, thick with everything unsaid.

It was awkward.

"I’m sorry."

"Thank you."

We both blurted out at the same time, cutting each other off. I raised my hand to stop her, needing to get my apology out before she could say another word.

"Let me. I’m sorry I behaved like a jerk—"

She raised her hand, cutting me off. "Thank you for everything you did for my family. I’ll never—"

I held up my hand again. "Let me finish. You were right. I’ve been a coward, living like a miserable—"

Yiren huffed, raising her palm to stop me this time. "Almost losing my family and my life... I realized that none of that matters anymore—"

"Why aren’t you letting me talk first?" I snapped, exasperated.

"Same pinch. You’re doing no better job at letting me talk either."

"I have things to say,"

"So do I."

"Me first."

"Ladies first."

I scrunch my nose. "I didn’t take you for that kind of woman. I thought you were independent and believed in gender equality."

"Gender equality? Where the hell did that come from?" Her voice, muffled by the nasal splints, came out funny, almost cartoonish, especially as she raised her pitch to argue. "It’s my right to talk!"

I pressed my lips together, trying to hold back a laugh, but the corner of my mouth twitched.

"Don’t you dare laugh! I know how ridiculous I sound."

"If you know, then you should let me talk."

"I don’t want to hear your apology," she shot back, crossing her arms. "You already—"

"That doesn’t give me a free pass from my wrongdoings," I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended, frustration simmering. "The fact is I spoke hurtful words. I made you believe I’m not someone you can count on in an emergency. You didn’t even think to ask for my help. That night, everything you said... it was true. I’ve become a coward, a miserable excuse for a man who ruins everything good in his life."

The air grew heavy between us, but I wasn’t done. Not even close.

"You’re right, Yiren," I continued, my throat tightening. "I’ve been pushing people away, judging every woman because I was too afraid to face my own insecurities. I’ve built these walls, and all they’ve done is keep me from the things that matter."

She looked at me. I expected her to yell, to call me out, maybe even slap me for being such a fool.

"You’re right. You have been a coward, Jun. But... I haven’t been much better. I’ve been too prideful, too scared to trust anyone, even when I needed help. Especially in a situation where my sister’s life was at stake. Instead of taking a wise decision and saving time, I let my pride ride my brain and took the worst decision."

We sit there, her on the hospital bed, and me in a pathetic excuse of a recliner. There’s this thick, fragile tension in the air, like glass on the verge of shattering. But for the first time, I’m not scared of the cracks. Maybe breaking is exactly what we need.

We both know we’ve messed up. And now we’re sitting in the aftermath, two idiots staring at each other, waiting for the other to speak first.

The silence breaks when the nurse comes in with food and leaves us alone. I stand up, tearing the foil and wrappers off the food bowl, feeling the weight of the awkwardness between us.

"I can do it," Yiren says.

"I’m already doing it,"

"What’s your problem?"

"You."

Her eyes narrow. "Why are you such an asshole?"

I smirk, leaning back slightly. "I prefer the term ’specialist in not giving a fuck’"

She snatches the bowl out of my hands, and I feel the familiar spark between us—the same one that gets under my skin but also... I kind of like it. "Go take some rest. Your panda eyes are scarring the shit out of me."

I raise a brow. "And your voice is raking on my nerves." That panda comment is full adoration and care. It sends this weird tickle to my stomach. Probably just indigestion from the damn rice my dolls forced me to eat.

"Then stop talking," she snaps back.

"I’m not the one with a voice like a stuffed-up cartoon character," I teased. "How many punches did you take?"

She grinned wide, mischief dancing in her eyes, and for a moment, the tension between us lifted. "You should’ve seen that guy’s arm. I bit a chunk out of him."

Atta girl.

That makes me proud.

The way she’s still got fire in her after everything—she’s one hell of a woman. Not to forget that absolutely-fucking-amazing kick in Cyrus’s nuts.

I chuckle, "Cyrus is officially sterile."

Her eyes widen, and she chokes on her food, coughing in disbelief. "My kick?"

I nodded, smirking. "Doc says he’s not recovering from that. You literally crushed his manhood."

We locked eyes, holding back our laughter until it broke free—loud, uncontrolled, and unhinged. The kind of laughter that makes you feel lighter, even after everything. It felt good. Too good. Even the nurses poked their heads in to check on us, probably wondering why the hell two people in a hospital room were laughing like maniacs.

"Good thing I didn’t try that kick on you. I was tempted though," she says, still catching her breath.

I clutch my crotch, mock horror on my face. "Remind me never to spar with you. I like my jewels just fine, thank you very much."

Her laughter calms into soft giggles, but it feels... good. It feels like if we actually try to fix any mess in our life, we can do it. Just have to try first. And this time I actually want to fix a few things in my life....

"Yiren, will you come with me to the Imperial City?"

Her eyes meet mine, the humor fading as the seriousness of my question sinks in. For a second, she looks surprised, like it’s the last thing she expected me to say. But this time, I’m not asking her as part of some fake relationship or arrangement. I’m asking because I want her support.

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