Fake dating my enemy, The playboy billionaire

JUNJIE

After a long day full of meetings—and searching for potential fake girlfriends—I'm finally relieved to be home.

Not home. Zian's condo.

Bear sprints inside like a rocket, his tail wagging furiously. Traitor.

I toss my keys and wallet into the drawer by the front door and head straight to the kitchen. The familiar blue food bags and the mouthwatering aroma instantly take me back to the old days. Auntie Tintin's signature dan-dan noodles, steamed fish, and lychee pork. Comfort food.

"Yiren!" I call out, unpacking the disposable boxes into glass bowls for the microwave. Bear barks from the bedroom.

No answer. Weird.

Bear dashes out of the bedroom like a dog possessed, skidding across the marble floor before crashing straight into me. "Whoa, champ. Easy!" He barks again, more insistent this time, his teeth tugging on my trousers.

Something's wrong.

I follow him to the guest room, heart pounding. That's when I see it—YIREN, unconscious on the floor, pinned beneath a heavy ladder.

"Shit."

I yank the ladder off, grunting at the weight. How long has she been like this? Blood stains my fingers as I brush her hair away from her face.

"YIREN!" I slap her cheeks lightly. Nothing.

I pry her eyelids open. Still nothing. Panic creeps in.

"Don't you dare die on me. I swear, I'll never forgive you if you haunt me."

Still nothing.

I pinch her shoulder. No response. Bear won't stop licking her face, whining as if he understands the gravity of the situation.

"Vi, please..." My voice cracks. "I promise I'll never call you 'rabbit' again, just open your damn eyes."

She stirs. A faint mumble escapes her lips. "P-promise?"

Relief surges through me, and I pull her into my arms. "You okay?"

She frowns, eyes still shut tight. I have no idea if she's concussed, has a broken bone, or something worse. "I'm calling 911," I mutter, fishing for my phone.

"N-no!" Her weak fingers grip my shirt, barely holding on. Her voice trembles, but it's there. "I... I don't have insurance."

"For God's sake, Yiren, this isn't the time to argue!"

Tears slip down her cheeks, and it hits me how stubborn she can be. I hold her tighter. I could just take her to the hospital and deal with the bill myself—but I know her well enough to know she'd never accept that.

"Fine," I say through gritted teeth, dialing another number in desperation. Zian's phone rings endlessly before going to voicemail. Useless.

I scroll through my contacts, swallowing my pride. I dial another number. One I've been avoiding for months.

It answers on the second ring.

"Bro, Shishi," I blurt, words tumbling out in a panic. "Ladder fell—Yiren's hurt. I don't think—hospital—no insurance—"

"Calm down," a soothing voice interrupts. It's Suyin, my sister-in-law. Her presence is both comforting and frustrating. "You' babble in panic. Tell me what happened."

She's a doctor too. "Help me. Yiren is hurt. I can't call the paramedics. Don't ask why. Just help me. Is she going to die?"

"No. Is she bleeding?"

"Sort of. She's bleeding, but not a lot. Just—please, help me."

"I'm video calling you. Hang on."

I adjust the phone so she can get a better look at Yiren's face and the cut on her forehead.

"That's not serious," Suyin says calmly. "Check her pupils."

I flick on the flashlight and pry open Yiren's eyes. She winces, groaning. "Go away, Juju."

Still sassing me in a half-conscious state. Good. "Oh, shut up!" I snap, rolling my eyes, but I'm relieved.

Suyin chuckles. "She's going to be fine. Now check for broken bones or bruising."

"How exactly do I do that?" I ask, fumbling with the phone. "Should I—what, shake her and listen for rattling?"

"Cut her clothes and check for bruising," Suyin instructs, voice firm. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Uh..."

"JUST DO IT, Jun."

I grab a pair of scissors from the mess on the floor and start cutting her jeans up to her thighs. Yiren groans, eyes fluttering open.

"Murderer... rapist... help..."

I slap my hand over her mouth. "Seriously? I'm checking for injuries."

Her eyes narrow, darting between me and the scissors. She tries to sit up but falls back, clutching her side with a wince.

"Don't move," I warn.

"If you see anything inappropriate, I'll hang you by your balls," she mutters, still dazed but ever snarky.

"My balls? Now that's a conversation starter." I glance at the phone, where Suyin is trying not to laugh.

Yiren's head jerks towards the sound. "Who are you?"

"Suyin," she replies. "Jun's soon to be sister in law. And you?"

"His..."

"No bruising on the legs," I report to Suyin, ignoring Yiren's fuming. "What's next?"

"Check her ribs."

I lift Yiren's shirt gingerly, revealing a baseball-sized bruise along her side.

"That's not great," Suyin says. "You need an X-ray to be sure nothing's cracked."

"No X-rays," Yiren protests weakly. "Painkillers will do. I'll be fine."

I grit my teeth. "Yiren, that bruise is the size of a grapefruit."

"I'm not going," she says, eyes defiant.

I glare at her. "You see that hammer over there? I'll knock you out and drag you to the hospital if I have to."

"How romantic," she deadpans. "Try me."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, resisting the urge to scream. She's impossible. At least she's alive and still full of attitude.

"Help her to the bed, Jun," Suyin says, laughter in her voice.

I carefully pull Yiren to a sitting position, but she collapses against me, all her weight leaning into my chest.

"Does it hurt to sit?"

She nods weakly, and I slide my arm under her legs, lifting her.

"I can—" she starts to protest.

"Move and we're going to the hospital," I warn, settling her gently onto the bed.

Suyin gives me instructions on icing the bruise and promises to send a prescription. "Keep an eye on her tonight. If anything seems off, hospital. No arguments."

Yiren covers a laugh with a cough. I glare at her. She mouths, I'm fine.

I step away from the bed to talk to Suyin. "Thanks. I was really—"

"Scared? Yeah, you brothers are all the same. Can't stand seeing your women in pain." I can hear the smile in her voice. "Take care of your girlfriend, Jun. You're quite the pair."

I freeze. "Wait—no, she's not—"

"Bye, Jun." Suyin hangs up.

Oh, fuck.

*****