Chapter 20 The World Is Really Small

After calming down, Yun Qingsheng turned back to the inpatient department—he still wanted to see Yun Jinxin.
Now that he was here, there was no reason to run. Yun Jinxin was in the ICU, time was short. Even if caught by the hospital or tracked by the Ninth Bureau, he’d deal with it later.
He dragged his tired body to the nurse’s station.
Two young nurses were on duty.
“Excuse me, where is Yun Jinxin’s ward?”
“Relationship to the patient?” A nurse asked—standard procedure.
“I’m her grandnephew. Elders at home sent me to visit.” Yun Qingsheng chose to be a junior to avoid suspicion.
“Oh, register here. Yun Jinxin is on the 34th floor, Room 34 – 03.” The nurse handed him a form—simple: name, age, relationship, contact info.
He filled his real name, others randomly, contact info modified from the previous one.
“Thanks.” After filling, he left.
In the elevator, he pressed 34.
The 34th floor was the top—by his world’s logic, only the wealthy and powerful stayed there, so he assumed the same here.
His previous floor was 12—no overlap with doctors/nurses there.
“34 – 13, 34 – 09, 34 – 03—found it.” Out of the elevator, he searched room by room. The floor was spacious, maybe 20 – 30 rooms.
“Knock, knock—anyone there?” Politely, he knocked. 55 years apart—time, the greatest weapon, takes all.
“Hello, may I…?” A woman opened the door, then froze.
Yun Qingsheng froze too—small world.
“Why are you again? What do you want?” Before he spoke, the woman eyed him warily.
It was the woman he stopped downstairs—awkward to meet again.
“I warn you—leave now, or I’ll call the police.” Her face was frosty.
Understandable—his earlier behavior was abrupt, now a coincidence.
“Miss, it was a misunderstanding earlier—I was anxious. Sorry.” He apologized again.
“Last warning—leave, or I will call the police.” She treated him as a harasser.
Her looks and status attracted many suitors—harassers like him weren’t rare.
“Xinrui, who’s outside?” Another woman’s voice, lazy.
“Mom, nothing.” The woman, Xinrui, replied.
She turned, phone out: “Final warning—leave.”
“Miss, you’re mistaken. I’m here to see Yun Jinxin.” He knew she was a junior of Yun Jinxin, so spoke gently.
Hearing this, she tried to close the door—Yun Qingsheng blocked it with his hand.
“Are you sick?” She stopped, fearing injury and trouble.
“Xinrui, what’s wrong?” The woman inside came out—only Xinrui and Yun Qingsheng could see each other, door half – closed.
“Hello, I’m here to see Yun Jinxin.” He heard the conversation and spoke again.
“To see Mom?” The new woman looked at Xinrui, said nothing, and opened the door.
“Since you’re here to see Mom, come in.”
Inside, Yun Qingsheng saw another woman—around 40, well – maintained, elegant, with a noble air—like a wealthy matron.
He felt a familiar warmth.
The woman saw him, froze.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Xinrui noticed and asked.
Yun Qingsheng was confused—familiar but no contact.
“Oh, sorry—you look like an old friend. Come in.” She welcomed him, making way.
Xinrui reluctantly let him pass.
“May I ask your relationship to my mother?” The woman asked—Yun Qingsheng mentioned her mother’s name, but neither she nor her daughter knew him.
Only possible—he knew her mother. She knew her mother’s friends, but her mother’s real name was Yun Guilai, not Yun Jinxin.
Her mother said, “Waiting for his return.”
So she guessed Yun Qingsheng was related.
“Descendant of an old friend, here to visit.” He made up a reason—saying he was Yun Jinxin’s nominal husband would get him kicked out.
“Wait—you said Yun Jinxin is your mother? Did she marry?” He blurted, then regretted.
After so long, Yun Jinxin might have remarried—their marriage was nominal, even verbal, no intimacy or rites.
“No—my mother never married. She waited for a heartless man her whole life.” The woman’s tone was bitter.
At one, her father left—mother raised her alone, changing her name for him.
She urged her mother to remarry, but her mother insisted he’d return.
She built her mother’s energy company, saw through “wealthy family love.”
Convinced her father left for wealth, she hated men—remained unmarried, adopted her daughter.
Childhood rumors: her father left with cars—never returned.
Back in the city, her mother faced rumors but raised her.
She grew up mocked—hated her father.
Thus, her hostility—she suspected Yun Qingsheng was her father’s descendant, a half – brother.
Her mother never told her she was adopted—Yun Jinxin feared hurting her.
Yun Qingsheng resembled her father—almost identical. Their only family photo: mother, father, her (black – and – white). Her mother said it was taken the day after naming her, to remember.
Mother often showed it, so she knew her father’s face.
She thought Yun Qingsheng was of the same generation—his haggard look made him seem 40.
Yun Qingsheng didn’t overthink—assumed an adopted child.
Ignoring time, Yun Jinxin was 56—couldn’t be this young.
“Jinxin, you’re too foolish.” He whispered—never thought she’d wait lifelong, unmarried.
Looking around, the room wasn’t an ICU—like a regular ward. He saw the electronic calendar:
July 23, 2028
Three days had passed—transferred from ICU. Living here meant wealth.
He looked around—the ward was luxurious: a living room, private bathroom/kitchen (40 – 50 sqm), an inner room (patient’s area).
“My mom is in the inner room—ten minutes, then leave.” The woman’s tone was bitter.
Yun Qingsheng was confused—no offense, yet hostility.
Xinrui was also confused—mother was gentle, never seen angry.
“Mom, are you unwell?” She asked.
“Fine—just bad memories.” The woman glared at Yun Qingsheng.
Finding her mother’s hospital meant the father was alive, status not low. Yet, as her mother lay dying, he ignored them.
“Mom, are you okay? Rest if unwell—I’ll stay with Grandma.” Xinrui, seeing her Complexion,urged.
“Fine.” The woman held Xinrui’s hand, reassuring her.