After returning to Jialishan Villa, Ah Feng went up to the second-floor bedroom and into the walk-in closet, casually picking out a suit.
As he turned to leave, he noticed Lei Shaoxin’s phone on the bedside table and slipped it into his pocket.
He then went into the bathroom and grabbed a set of toiletries.
Standing by the bedroom door, Ah Feng glanced toward the bed. His eyes fell on the mess—stains on the floor, traces leading out of the room, scattered pajamas, spilled porridge, and everything left in disarray.
It made him think of his past as a mercenary, where injuries and blood were nothing unusual. But Lei Shaoxin was nothing like him.
Perhaps it was because of the past few days they had spent together—having grown up without family, he had unconsciously begun to see her as one of his own.
At that thought, his brows furrowed, and his chest tightened.
With everything gathered, Ah Feng headed downstairs.
On the living room sofa, he spotted another phone—Fu Haoyan’s—and put it into his pocket as well.
At the time, things had been so urgent that nothing else mattered besides Lei Shaoxin.
He picked up a pair of shoes by the door before finally driving off.
When Ah Feng returned to the hospital, he saw Fu Haoyan leaning back in a chair with his eyes closed. At his feet were ashes and cigarette butts—he had only been gone for twenty minutes, yet nearly an entire pack was gone, as if reflecting his overwhelming anxiety and loneliness.
Ah Feng had never seen him like this before—the same man who was always so composed in the business world.
He walked over silently and sat beside him.
Hearing the movement, Fu Haoyan slowly opened his eyes. Ah Feng handed him the two phones from his pocket.
The two sat in silence. The hospital in the early hours was still busy—doctors racing against time to save lives.
The heavy doors of the operating room finally opened. Both men stood up at once.
The chief doctor walked out and approached Fu Haoyan.
“Mr. Fu, the procedure is complete. She lost a significant amount of blood, so she may regain consciousness within about twenty-four hours.”
“And…” the doctor hesitated briefly.
Noticing this, Fu Haoyan said calmly, “It’s alright. Please go ahead.”
The doctor continued, “If she had arrived any later, her condition could have been critical. There were multiple injuries, and one came close to a major artery. After she wakes up, it will be important to monitor her emotional and mental state.”
Having seen countless cases, the doctor understood that her condition wasn’t just physical.
“I understand. Thank you, doctor. You’ve worked hard,” Fu Haoyan said, lightly patting his shoulder in appreciation.
At that moment, Lei Shaoxin was wheeled out. Seeing her pale face, Fu Haoyan frowned and let out a quiet sigh.
Ah Feng, standing behind him, also felt a sense of relief.
A private room on the top floor had already been prepared, with security stationed outside.
The nurses brought her in and gave Fu Haoyan instructions for her care. He listened carefully.
Just then, Director Zhang entered the room. After checking the monitor, he said, “Mr. Fu, there’s no need to worry too much. Miss Lei’s vital signs are stable.”
Fu Haoyan turned to him. “Thank you for your hard work, Director Zhang.”
Director Zhang then handed him a diamond-studded snake-shaped bracelet.
Fu Haoyan took it. It was stained, though the marks had already dried.
He placed it quietly on the bedside table.
After seeing the director out, Ah Feng stood guard by the door.
The large hospital room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the steady beeping of the monitor.
Fu Haoyan sat beside the bed and gently took her hand from under the blanket. Seeing the bandages wrapped around her wrist, his expression tightened with concern.
He carefully placed her hand back under the covers.
Then, lowering his head, he removed a white jade peace pendant he had been wearing all along.
The jade was pure and smooth, like snow—something Chen Jenny had given to him.
He leaned down and gently placed the pendant around Lei Shaoxin’s neck.
After tucking the blanket around her, Fu Haoyan stood up and walked out of the room.
Hearing movement behind him, Ah Feng turned around and met his gaze.
“Ah Feng, find out who threw the red paint,” Fu Haoyan said.
Ah Feng immediately left to investigate. Fu Haoyan returned to the room and changed into the suit Ah Feng had brought.
He didn’t dare close his eyes, staying by Lei Shaoxin’s bedside the entire time.
As dawn slowly broke, the darkness faded, as if signaling that the worst had passed.
That morning, Chen Jenny received news from the hospital as soon as she woke up and hurried to the top-floor room.
The moment she opened the door, she saw Fu Haoyan’s bloodshot eyes—he clearly hadn’t slept all night.
She paused briefly, then walked in and placed her bag on the sofa.
Slowing her steps, she approached the bed. Seeing Lei Shaoxin lying there, pale and fragile, her expression filled with concern.
Standing by the bedside, she could no longer hold back her emotions and quietly began to cry.
Fu Haoyan gently patted her back to comfort her.
As Chen Jenny reached out to adjust the blanket, she noticed the pendant around Lei Shaoxin’s neck and froze for a moment.
Fu Haoyan understood her reaction immediately.
Afraid her crying might disturb Lei Shaoxin, Chen Jenny turned and walked out of the room, with Fu Haoyan following behind.
As soon as the door closed, he said softly, “Mom… I’m not alone anymore.”
Chen Jenny lowered her head, wiping her tears, and nodded.
The pendant had been something she personally obtained for him when he was young, blessed at Wanfo Temple.
She asked, “How is Shaoxin now?”
“Someone threw red paint at her house last night…”
Fu Haoyan explained everything that had happened.
Inside the room, just after the two of them left, Lei Shaoxin slowly regained consciousness.
She opened her eyes, her vision slightly blurred, and stared at the ceiling. She lifted a hand to her forehead, trying to steady herself.
Looking around, she recognized the room—it was the same hospital room she had stayed in when she first returned. The familiar surroundings helped her realize where she was.
Hearing the steady beeping of the monitor, she turned her head to look at the changing numbers on the screen.
Her gaze then fell on the bedside table—where the diamond snake-shaped bracelet lay, stained and dried.
Her eyes widened in alarm. She quickly sat up, removing the monitoring pads and the clip on her finger.
Grabbing the bracelet, she stumbled out of bed and rushed into the bathroom.
Turning the faucet on full, she began washing it over and over, scrubbing insistently, her fingers turning red as she tried to clean it completely.
At that moment, Ah Feng returned. Fu Haoyan signaled for him to go check on her.
Ah Feng nodded and greeted Chen Jenny briefly before pushing open the door.
The first thing he saw was the empty bed.
“Brother Yan, is she awake?” he asked.
Fu Haoyan immediately realized something was wrong and hurried back inside.
Perhaps they had been too focused on their conversation, or the room was too soundproof—they hadn’t heard anything.
Back in the room, Fu Haoyan glanced at the empty bed, then heard the sound of running water from the bathroom and quickly headed over.
The bathroom door was open. He saw Lei Shaoxin bent over the sink, scrubbing the bracelet with all her strength. A flash of alarm crossed his face.
He stepped forward, turned off the faucet, and gently held her hands, pulling her into an embrace.
“Shaoxin…” he said softly.
The moment she was held, it was as if something inside her finally snapped.
Her strength gave out. The bracelet slipped from her hands into his. Her legs weakened, and she slowly sank to the floor.
Fu Haoyan crouched down with her as she leaned against his shoulder.
In a faint voice, she whispered near his ear—
“It hurts so much…”