Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 121 An Accident

November 9, 2013, Saturday. After breakfast, Guan Xuchen said to his mother, "Mom, I'm heading back to the company."

"Do you have to work overtime again this Saturday? Why does your job always have you working overtime?" Guan's mother grumbled continuously and sighed, "You've switched jobs twice. You would've been far better off staying with Director Gao."

"This job is quite busy, yet it also makes life fulfilling." Guan Xuchen smiled and replied, then added, "I'll likely be tied up the whole day, so I'll come home for dinner tonight."

Before heading out, Guan Xuchen remembered that Gao Xinglang and Fan Yueming were starting their annual leave today and going on a short trip to East China for a few days. He dropped Gao Xinglang a WeChat message: "Lang, wish you and Fan Yueming a safe journey and a pleasant trip in East China."

After returning to the company, Guan Xuchen opened his phone and found no reply from Gao Xinglang. He felt a little disappointed at first, then an inexplicable sense of unease gradually welled up inside him. He hesitated for a moment, then dialed Gao Xinglang's mobile number.

The phone rang for nearly half a minute before being answered, only by an unfamiliar woman's voice filled with urgency, "Hello, who's calling?"

Guan Xuchen grew even more anxious and asked tentatively, "Could you please let Gao Xinglang answer the phone?"

"What is your relationship to the patient?" the woman asked in return.

Upon hearing the word "patient", Guan Xuchen asked anxiously, "What happened to Gao Xinglang? Who exactly are you?"

"This is Guangzhou Airport Affiliated Hospital. The patient was in a car accident. I'm sorry, but I have to go save him." The woman gave a brief, to-the-point reply and hung up the phone.

"Lang was in a car accident?" The news hit Guan Xuchen like a bolt from the blue. He dialed Gao Xinglang's number again, but no one answered. He then called Fan Yueming, yet her phone also went unanswered.

Guan Xuchen set down his phone, his face ashen with shock. A few seconds later, he snapped back to reality, grabbed his shoulder bag and rushed toward the office door, nearly colliding with his boss who was walking in.

"Guan Xuchen, where are you going? The meeting is about to start!" his boss asked, sounding clearly displeased.

"I—I'm so sorry, Mr. Zheng. My friend's in trouble. I need to see him in the hospital..." As soon as he finished, Guan Xuchen ignored his boss's furious shouts behind him and rushed out the door.

More than half an hour later, Guan Xuchen arrived at Guangzhou Airport Affiliated Hospital and found Gao Xinglang in the emergency ward on the first floor.

Gao lay shirtless on the hospital bed with his eyes tightly closed. His head was wrapped in a circle of bandages, and his body was covered with bandages of all sizes.

Guan Xuchen felt as if his heart had been pierced by a sharp blade. He hurried to Gao Xinglang's bedside, squatted down, gently stroked his hair, and called softly, "Lang, what's happened to you... Lang..."

Gao Xinglang kept his eyes tightly shut; his lips trembled slightly, but he gave no response.

"Xinglang, Xinglang, what's happened to you!" A woman's frantic cry came from the ward doorway, followed by two people walking inside.

Guan Xuchen looked up and saw it was Gao Xinglang's parents. He quickly stood up, greeted them, and then stepped aside to let Mr. and Mrs. Gao stand by the hospital bed.

Mrs. Gao could only stare at her badly injured son, completely oblivious to Guan Xuchen's presence. In contrast, Mr. Gao glared sharply at Guan Xuchen and asked sternly, "What are you doing here?!"