The morning sun was still hidden behind thick clouds when Wu Mei began to tremble in her sleep.
"No…, please… Don't do it," she murmured.
Her face was pale, her brows knitted tightly. Beads of sweat rolled down her temples as her breathing quickened. The weight of her nightmare pressed heavy on her fragile form.
Qin Yanzhou had already woken. He lay there, watching her sleep in his arms with an uneasy expression. But when he heard her soft whimpering and the name "He Sheng" escape her lips, his body went rigid.
"A Mei?" he called softly, brushing the strands of hair away from her damp forehead. "A Mei, wake up…"
But Wu Mei didn't wake.
Then her hand clenched into a fist, and she let out a painful groan. "It hurts… my stomach… it hurts…"
Qin Yanzhou bolted upright. Panic surged in his chest.
Without wasting a second, he scooped her up into his arms and rushed out of the bedroom. "Prepare the car," he barked at his assistant, who was already waiting outside.
"Yes, Mr. Qin!"
The black luxury car sped through the early city streets. Wu Mei had curled into herself, her face contorted in pain. Yanzhou held her tightly, his arms trembling slightly. This was not the woman who usually faced danger with fire in her eyes. This Wu Mei looked small, fragile… terrified.
They arrived at the hospital within minutes.
"Emergency," Qin Yanzhou shouted, carrying her straight through the entrance. "Her stomach—she says it hurts badly."
Doctors and nurses immediately surrounded them, taking Wu Mei from his arms and placing her on a stretcher. "Sir, please wait outside."
Qin Yanzhou reluctantly let go of her hand. "A Mei, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
Then the doors closed.
He stood motionless outside the examination room, fists clenched, his jaw tight. His assistant handed him a bottle of water, but Yanzhou didn't even glance at it. All he could do was stare at the doors, praying silently.
Twenty minutes later, a doctor finally emerged.
"Mr. Qin."
"Yes?" Yanzhou stepped forward immediately.
"We've conducted scans and tests. There's… nothing physically wrong with her."
Qin Yanzhou's brows furrowed. "Then why is she in so much pain?"
The doctor sighed. "In rare cases, especially with patients who are under immense emotional pressure, the brain can convince the body it's in pain. She believes her stomach hurts—so it hurts. It's a psychosomatic response, likely due to severe depression or mental trauma."
Qin Yanzhou's heart twisted. Is it because of the dream? he wondered silently. Is He Sheng still haunting her, even now?
He clenched his fists tighter, the memory of her crying out in pain burning into his chest. "Can I see her?"
"She's sleeping now, but yes. Try to keep her calm and avoid stress."
He nodded and walked into the room.
Wu Mei was lying in bed, her skin pale against the white sheets. The soft beeping of machines accompanied the shallow rise and fall of her chest.
Qin Yanzhou sat beside her and took her hand gently in his.
His heart ached at the sight of her—so strong on the outside, yet fighting invisible demons within.
He leaned forward and whispered, "I'm here, A Mei. Whatever it is… I'll protect you."
After a while, Wu Mei's eyelashes fluttered. She stirred and slowly opened her eyes.
"Yanzhou…" her voice was faint.
He smiled warmly, brushing her cheek. "How do you feel?"
Wu Mei blinked. "Are you… upset? Is there something wrong with my body?"
He shook his head quickly. "No. The doctors said there's nothing wrong physically. It's just… your body reacting to stress."
Her expression changed slightly, guilt flickering across her eyes.
"I had a dream again, didn't I?" she whispered.
"Yes," he said, brushing his thumb against her fingers. "You called my name in the dream. You said… I hate you."
Her breath hitched.
Wu Mei's mind traveled back to her past life.
"I want a child," Qin Yangzhou had said, tying her hands.
"You're dreaming," she had spat. "I hate you, Qin Yanzhou!"
But he had kissed her anyway, crushing her resistance.
Wu Mei's chest tightened.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered now, coming back to the present.
Qin Yanzhou stared at her with soft eyes. "For what?"
"I… don't even know," she whispered, unsure of how to explain a past life full of pain he would never remember.
He pulled her into his arms. "I don't know what you've gone through, Mei. But I promise you, whatever demons you carry, we'll face them together. I won't let anyone hurt you again. Not even yourself."
Tears gathered in her eyes. She clung to his shirt, burying her face into his chest.
He stroked her hair gently.
"I'll have soup brought in. Something warm. And after that… you're staying in bed, no negotiations."
She chuckled weakly. "Bossy…"
He smirked. "Of course. What kind of husband would I be if I didn't pamper my wife when she's hurting?"
She raised her head and looked into his eyes.
"Yanzhou… thank you."
He kissed her forehead, then rested his against hers.
"You don't need to thank me, A Mei. Just stay with me. That's enough."
And for the first time in a long while, even through the lingering shadows of her past, Wu Mei felt safe.
She wasn't alone anymore.
For the first time, the suffocating darkness that had haunted her felt a little less overwhelming, softened by the warmth of his presence. Qin Yanzhou's steady heartbeat against her cheek reminded her that no matter how deep the wounds ran, there was a sanctuary to return to—a place where she could finally begin to heal. Slowly, her trembling subsided, replaced by a fragile sense of hope.
Outside the sterile hospital walls, the world continued its endless chaos, but here, in this quiet room, wrapped in his arms, she found a fragile peace. Tomorrow would bring new battles, but tonight, she would rest.
But what shadows still lurked in her past? Could Qin Yanzhou truly protect her from them?