It didn't matter, though. Let her make a fool of herself.
She didn't care how Zhan Jingrui saw her anymore, nor did she care about Chu Xi and Liang Bo.
In fact, the uglier she appeared in front of Liang Bo, the better. If she was ugly enough, he wouldn't bother her anymore. Let's fight.
The two sides chose their court, took their positions, and began.
As expected, He Yao couldn't hit the ball or return anyone's shots.
Within a few exchanges, the three of them realized she was a novice.
Liang Bo felt a little awkward. He hadn't known He Yao was so unfamiliar with tennis.
Seeing that she couldn't even manage one shot, and fearing he might hurt her pride, he tried his best to return more balls, lessening He Yao's burden.
However, as they played, an accident still happened.
He Yao saw a ball flying towards her, thinking she could catch it, and charged forward with her racket.
But Liang Bo had already prepared to intercept the ball.
In a flash of lightning, as He Yao rushed forward, Liang Bo's racket swung towards her.
With a loud "bang," He Yao clutched her head and fell to the ground.
Liang Bo's racket had hit the back of her head.
Judging by the sound alone, the hit was not light.
Seeing He Yao fall, not only Liang Bo panicked, but Chu Xi and Zhan Jingrui on the opposite side also threw down their rackets and rushed over.
"What happened? He Yao, are you alright?"
He Yao's head was buzzing, and the spot she was holding felt sticky.
But she didn't want everyone to make a fuss, lest Zhan Jingrui looked down on her even more, thinking she was being dramatic.
She forced a smile and tried to stand up to say she was fine, but as soon as she moved her hand, Liang Bo covered it for her.
"Damn, you're bleeding! How could it be so serious? Call a doctor quickly!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Xi didn't say a word, turned and ran to find staff to call a doctor.
Zhan Jingrui, who originally didn't want any further interaction with He Yao and didn't want to look at her, couldn't ignore it now.
He took off his polo shirt, tore it into two long strips, and gestured for Liang Bo to move his hand.
"There are too many germs on your hands. Move aside quickly. Use this to stop the bleeding first."
Liang Bo supported her, and Zhan Jingrui bandaged her.
After a flurry of frantic activity by the two, the resort doctor arrived.
Upon opening the bandage, the wound was quite large and required stitches and a tetanus shot. "You should go to the hospital."
Without any delay, Liang Bo said, "I'll go get the car. Wait for me here! I'll be back right away!"
Originally, Liang Bo was holding He Yao as she sat on the ground, with Zhan Jingrui squatting beside her.
In his haste, he ran off, and He Yao naturally fell next to Zhan Jingrui.
Thinking that they were already engaged, and with his fiancée right there, she couldn't lean on him. He Yao tried to steady her dizzy head.
But she couldn't, she was really dizzy.
Zhan Jingrui quickly held her shoulders: "Don't move, don't be scared. I'm here, don't panic."
"No, not panicking..."
He Yao wanted to push his hand away, but any slight movement made her head spin.
The doctor, seeing how pale her face had become, quickly advised her, "It must be too forceful, you have a concussion. You absolutely cannot move recklessly in this situation."
Soon, Liang Bo drove the car to the entrance of the venue.
Hearing him run in while shouting, Zhan Jingrui helped He Yao slowly stand up.
"How is it? Can you walk?"
He Yao wanted to be brave and say she could, but before she could utter a word, she felt like she was about to fall forward. Fortunately, Zhan Jingrui caught her and put an arm around her neck.
"Forget it, don't walk. I'll carry you."
With that, he slowly and gently picked He Yao up in a princess carry.
He was shirtless, and He Yao faced his chest.
Even though so many years had passed, the scene of them being intimate in that house suddenly flashed back to her.
She missed this embrace, this warmth, this heartbeat, this scent so much.
Even though Chu Xi was right there, doing this was truly inhumane. He Yao told herself silently.
Just let me be willful this once. There won't be another chance. I'm sorry, Chu Xi.
Then she lost consciousness.
When she woke up, she was already in the hospital.
The hospital's fluorescent lights made the room bright and dazzling, making it impossible to distinguish day from night.
It seemed like no one was around. He Yao recovered for a while, felt less dizzy, and wanted to figure out the time. She propped herself up on her arms, trying to sit up.
Liang Bo's voice sounded from the foot of the bed: "You're awake?"
He Yao lay still: "Mhm. How long have I slept? What time is it now?"
"It's past three in the morning. I'm sorry, I gave you a concussion."
He Yao didn't say anything, thinking to herself: Why didn't you make me stupid? Make me forgetful? It would be best if I remembered nothing.
Liang Bo thought she was angry. He walked over to look at her, seeing that her eyes were open.
"Are you mad at me? Don't want to talk to me anymore?"
"Not to that extent."
"Then why aren't you speaking?"
"I don't know what to say."
Liang Bo dragged a chair over and sat beside her, and stopped talking.
Although He Yao didn't look at his expression or hear anything different in his words, she clearly felt that Liang Bo was different.
Whether it was due to too much guilt or something else, his attitude towards her seemed less persistent.
After a moment of silence, she couldn't help but turn to look at him.
"You know you were wrong and feel ashamed to talk to me, so you're not speaking either?"
Liang Bo's expression was heavy. He stared at her for a while, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh.
"He Yao, I know you're a woman with a story, but I didn't expect... I'm not worthy of pursuing you, and I won't bother you again."
What did that mean? He Yao didn't understand.
He continued: "I think I know everything. The things you don't want to talk about, I've guessed them all."
"I'm sorry for forcing you to play tennis today, truly. I regret it. If time could turn back..."
"Don't talk nonsense with me. I wouldn't be angry with you for just this. You didn't do it on purpose."
He Yao interrupted him.
"What's wrong? What happened? Why are you acting like this?"
Liang Bo didn't say: "I absolutely have no intention of prying into your private affairs. If you don't want to talk about it in the future, I won't ask again. I'm truly sorry."
Apologizing repeatedly but not stating the reason was driving He Yao mad. She was so angry she wanted to hit him.
Liang Bo quickly held her hand down.
"Don't get excited. You can't get excited now. The doctor said you need to rest well."
"Then why don't you say it quickly? Will you be satisfied only after you make me anxious to death?"
"It's not that I don't want to say it, it's just that I don't know how to say it."
"Tell me the truth. Say it as it is! Are you going to say it or not?"
Seeing that he was really angry, and that this matter couldn't be hidden forever, Liang Bo could only tell her the truth.
"Your condition was quite serious when you came in. You were in shock. I don't know if you have any allergies, so the doctor checked your medical records."
"Just because of that? And then what?"
"Then, then..."
He Yao suddenly understood.
Seven years ago, she had undergone surgery.