The hospital was unusually quiet when Yue Ling and Lu Tian arrived.
The morning rush had already begun in the lower floors, but the private wing remained peaceful. Only the soft beeping of medical equipment and the occasional footsteps of nurses could be heard along the corridor.
Lu Tian walked beside Yue Ling, his hand resting lightly against the small of her back.
Neither spoke.
Yue Ling's expression remained calm as they approached the private room, but the closer they got, the tighter her fingers curled around the strap of her handbag.
She stopped outside the door.
For a moment, she simply stared at it.
Her brother was on the other side.
Alive.
That was all that mattered.
Lu Tian noticed her hesitation but said nothing.
Instead, his hand gently covered hers.
Yue Ling glanced at him.
His eyes met hers.
A silent reassurance.
She took a breath before reaching for the handle.
The door opened quietly.
The first thing she noticed was the silence.
