A Billion Dollar Exchange

Liling was dumbfounded, dumbstruck and altogether, speechless. Her lips fluttered but she could not get words to come out. She was so overwhelmed by the revelations that everything felt so unreal.

''No, it's not possible, no, no… ma, you have to tell me where she is; please I need to know where she is…'' Liling's eyes had gotten teary at this point. She leaned closer to Xin Yong's mom and tried pleading with her.

Xin Yong's mom stood up and straightened her dress.

''Liling, we need to give her time to heal, for now there is nothing I can do. You are welcome to stay as long as you like, I'll be going inside.''

She concluded and went out of the living room, leaving a flustered Liling, weeping in the quiet living room. Liling did not know how long she sat there, lost in thought.

She knew her friend as someone who was very strong. Xin Yong was strong willed and fierce and even when she had troubles, she did well to hide them and bore them all alone. She could not imagine the kind of pain she was going through all alone.

Something she was very sure of was that Xin Yong loved Jin Yue, so very much. She wondered how hurt she must have been to make her leave. And she was her best friend but wasn't even there for her?

 When she called that night, she sounded okay. But who would have thought that she was going through a lot__ and she, her best friend was not even there for her.

Liling could not even explain how she felt, but she was sure she wanted to get back to that hospital and wake Jin Yue up and ask him what her friend did to him to make him hurt her so much.

Wiping her eyes, Liling stood up from the seat and left the house. Liu Wei was leaning on the car when he saw her come out. From her countenance, he concluded what he had long been thinking in his heart.

Liling did not speak to him; she just entered the car and sat down, closing her eyes. Liu Wei understood that she was not in the mood to talk, so he did not pester her. He walked over to the driver's side and sat down, starting up the engine, he drove off.

''He left her.''

She said after a long while. She was currently looking outside; it was as though she was talking to the trees but Liu Wei heard it anyway.

The silence returned after that, Liu Wei did not speak till they got to the hospital.

When he had parked safely, he turned to look at Liling.

''Baby… we should wait for him to wake up and tell us his own side of the story.''

His words brought back Liling who had been lost in her own world. She turned around to look at Liu Wei. After sometime, she nodded.

''Okay, we should do that.''

Liu Wei nodded and pushed some strands of hair behind her ear. Leaning in, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

''Let's go in now. ''

She nodded and they both alighted from the car.

Jin Yue was still asleep when they returned; a female doctor was talking to the secretary as they walked in. They both turned towards the door when they heard it creak open.

''Doctor, how is he?''

Liu Wei asked as they both walked into the ward.

''He has stabilized; he should be waking up anytime soon. He fainted as a result of stress, anxiety and from the records; he has not been eating for a while. But we've administered a few medications; he should be up in no time. As soon as he wakes up, he should be made to eat, that would be all for now.''

The doctor smiled at them and walked out of the ward. Liling slumped on a nearby seat, the events of the day replaying in her mind. At that moment, she really did not know what to think, but most importantly they had to wait for Jin Yue to wake up.

Jin Yue slept for another three hours before his eyes fluttered open.

''Sweet… sweet, please…''

Liling, who had slept off by the side was stirred awake by the sounds coming from the bedside. Liu Wei was not in the room when she opened her eyes, as though thinking the same thing, she and the secretary rushed to where he was.

''Jin Yue? ''

Jin Yue murmured for a moment before his eyes opened completely. He stared at the figures in front of him before rubbing his eyes. He tried sitting up on the bed but his limbs couldn't move, so Liling and the secretary helped him sit upright.

''Where am I?''

He asked, looking around his surroundings.

''At the hospital, sir, you fainted so I had to rush you to the hospital.''

The secretary explained and quickly excused himself.

Liling stared at the pale looking man before her, she had so many questions she wanted to ask but she knew that it was not the right time.

''Are you feeling better?'' 

''Where is Xin Yong? Please I need to see her, I'll explain everything to her when I see her…''

The door swung open cutting off Jin Yue's words. Liu Wei stepped in.

''You're awake. ''

He walked over to take a closer look at his friend.

''What happened to you? ''

Liu Wei asked but Jin Yue did not reply. Actually, he did not know what to say, he leaned backwards and Liling helped him adjust the pillows at his back.

''I need to see her now. Where is my phone?''

Jin Yue said looking around for his phone.

''If you are talking about Xin Yong, her phone is switched off.''

Liling replied making Jin Yue's face pale.

''Okay, get the doctor to discharge me, I'm good now…''

Jin Yue said as he tried standing up from the bed but realized that a needle was hanging from his arm.

''Before you run off, eat first and get yourself in a good state of mind, unless you want to faint a second time.''

Liu Wei replied as he saw the secretary walk in with a lady carrying a tray of food.