Fake dating my enemy, The playboy billionaire-Chapter 32: Ning

YIREN

I wake up in the early morning, or at least that’s what I think, judging by the soft haze filtering through the window.

My body feels stiff and sore, the cold from the floor seeping into my bones. The events of last night blur together in my mind, and I realize I’m still in the bikini—damp, sticky, and uncomfortable.

My head pounds, and I feel the weight of a fever setting in, no doubt from falling asleep naked and wet.

I groan softly, forcing myself up, my muscles protesting with each movement. My mouth feels dry, and as I blink away the remnants of sleep, the argument with Jun comes rushing back. The anger that had me ready to pack my bags is still fresh.

Where’s my phone?

I glance around the dim room and spot it face-down near the bed. It’s dead. Of course.

I plug it into the charger and drag myself to the bathroom to change and freshen up. The reflection staring back at me in the mirror looks pale, my eyes slightly puffy from the tears that had fallen earlier. I pull on a pair of old sweatpants and a hoodie, shivering as I leave the bathroom, feeling the exhaustion settle deep into my bones.

I flop onto the bed, ready to catch a few more hours of sleep when I remember to set my alarm. Grabbing my phone again, I turn it on. The screen lights up, and immediately, I’m greeted by 46 missed calls. All from Kai.

My heart skips a beat, and dread creeps up my spine. I sit up straight, fumbling as I dial his number, my hands shaking. The air in the room feels suffocating.

The phone rings once—just once—before he picks up.

"Ning," Kai’s voice cracks through the phone, frantic and trembling. "She had an accident."

The breath leaves my lungs in a rush, and the room tilts, my mind flooding with memories of Dad’s accident. The hospital. The waiting. The fear.

"What? How?" My voice shakes, and I hate how weak I sound. "Where are you?"

"She was coming home after locking up the café late last night," Kai explains, his voice cracking with each word. "A car hit her from behind... a speeding car, Ely. They didn’t stop. They just—" He chokes on the words. "--They just ran away after hitting her."

The tears fall before I can stop them. Dark thoughts creep in, swirling around me, threatening to pull me under. Kai is on the verge of breaking, and I’m not far from it either.

I want to ask how she is, but I’m terrified of the answer. My hands shake, and I can’t breathe.

"I’m on my way, Kai," I say, my voice trembling. I’m already throwing on whatever clothes I can grab from the half-packed bag. "I’m coming."

I’m half-dressed, hopping around the room as I try to pull on some warm clothes. The phone is pressed between my ear and shoulder, and neither of us is willing to hang up. We’re clinging to the connection as if it’s the only thing holding us together.

"Ely—" Kai’s voice wavers, and I hear the terror in it. "They’re saying they might not be able to save the baby."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of me. I freeze, nausea washing over me. "N-Nothing will happen, Kai. Nothing."

Even as I say it, the words feel hollow. But I can’t let myself believe otherwise. I grab my bag, sprinting through the connecting door between my and Jun’s rooms. He’s sprawled out on the bed, drunk and asleep, lost in his own misery, oblivious to the storm raging inside me.

The thought of asking him for help crosses my mind—almost—but then fades as quickly as it came. Whatever happened last night... it’s over.

I rush out of the apartment, the walls feeling like they’re closing in around me. I take the elevator down, stepping into the cold morning air, my heart pounding with fear.

All I can think about is getting to Ning.

Please, don’t let it be too late.

I can’t lose her. Not Ning. Not the baby.

*****

JUNJIE

Bear’s paws land squarely on my chest, jolting me awake. I groan, rolling over and shielding my face with my arm. "Bear," I mutter, my voice rough from sleep and the throbbing headache splitting my skull. I feel like hell—probably thanks to the whiskey I downed last night.

Bear barks, insistent. He jumps off the bed and then onto it again, circling in agitation. That’s when I notice something’s off. The apartment... it’s too quiet. Like something vital’s been stripped away.

"YIREN?" I call, my voice cracking the silence. No answer.

I sit up, squinting at the dull light streaming through the curtains. The memories of last night come rushing back, sharp and painful. The argument, the accusations. The look in her eyes when I accused her of seducing me. Hell, I know I pushed too far. I’ve been replaying her words over and over—how she called me a coward. And maybe... she was right. Hell, she was right! Word to word!

I run a hand through my hair and look around the room. Bear barks again, pulling me out of my thoughts. His tail wags frantically as he trots toward the living room, beckoning me to follow.

The house feels... empty. Hollow. Like something’s missing, and I know exactly what it is. YIREN.

I walk into her room, calling her name again. Her half-packed bag lies open on the bed, clothes strewn across it in disarray. That’s when it hit me—she was leaving for real.

"Where is she, Bear?" I ask. He barks, running toward the open door of the apartment and back to me, a frantic little dance of urgency.

I quit.

Her words.

Last night... I should’ve knocked on her door after hearing those quiet sobs that went on for so long. But I didn’t. I chose whiskey and solitude over facing the mess I created. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

And now, she’s gone.

My phone rings from the balcony, cutting through the eerie silence. My heart jumps, hoping it’s YIREN as I sprint for it, answering, "Yiren-"

"It’s me," Zian’s voice is sharp, tense. "Where the f**k are you, Jun? I’ve been calling you non-stop." I checked my phone. 16 missed calls from him.

I blink, confused. "What happened?"

"Come to the hospital," Zian says, his voice trembling. "Ning met with an accident last night."

Everything inside me stills.

******