Chapter 101: After the Incident

Since Zhou Lichuan left, that name never appeared again in Li Baixiu’s world, as if the person never existed. Jiang Zao seemed unaffected by Zhou Lichuan’s sudden appearance and disappearance.

Ah, the long and arduous road of a brother-in-law chasing after his wife...

It didn’t take long to finish packing. Just as they were done, the three of them began discussing what to order for lunch.

Suddenly, Li Baixiu’s phone rang.

“Hey, brother-in-law’s calling. Wait, I’ll answer it,” Li Baixiu said, pulling away from the phone.

Jiang Zao looked up from staring at the phone and watched Li Baixiu answer.

“Hello, brother-in-law. Mm-hmm, my sister’s here with me. What? You’re coming over? Oh, okay, we’ll wait for you at home.”

After hanging up, Li Baixiu looked at Jiang Zao and said, “Brother-in-law called because he came home and didn’t find you there, so he called me instead. He sounded pretty urgent.”

Jiang Zao frowned in confusion. “What urgent matter could he possibly have to find me?”

Li Baixiu shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Jiang Zao glanced at Zhou Jiayan, who shrugged in the same way. “I don’t know either.”

Half an hour later, Zhou Lichuan stood coldly outside Li Baixiu’s door.

Li Baixiu opened it, but he didn’t come inside. Instead, he spoke toward Jiang Zao’s figure inside the room.

“Zaozao, you have to come back to Jingzhou with me.”

His voice was cold and grave, carrying the weight of an imminent storm.

Jiang Zao met his gaze and stood up. “What’s wrong? Did something happen in Jingzhou?”

Zhou Lichuan pressed his lips together.

He had only just found out himself.

As he was driving toward Changzhou, he received a call from Shen Mushi...

Jiang Zao’s expression darkened, her voice low as she asked, “Who got hurt?”

Zhou Lichuan met her eyes. “Meng Qiaoyuan... there was a medical dispute. She was injured.”

Zhou Jiayan jumped up from the sofa. “What happened to Sister Qiaoyuan?”

Zhou Lichuan gave her a sharp look before returning his gaze to Jiang Zao. “Don’t worry, she’s not in serious danger. But I’m sure you want to be by her side to support and care for her.”

Jiang Zao dropped the fruit Li Baixiu had prepared for them and hurriedly grabbed her coat. “Let’s go now. You drive.”

---

Zhou Jiayan followed behind Jiang Zao, changing shoes by the door.

Li Baixiu glanced at the packed luggage and quickly said, “Sis, wait a moment. I’ll turn off the power and gas in the house and come with you. I can also run errands upstairs and downstairs for you.”

Jiang Zao didn’t refuse. She watched as Li Baixiu swiftly cut off the unnecessary electricity and gas valves in the house. Together, they all headed downstairs.

---

Meng Qiaoyuan woke up.

The anesthesia hadn’t fully worn off, and she stared blankly at the ceiling.

As if anticipating how soon she would awaken, Shen Mushi appeared precisely within her sight.

“You’re awake.”

Meng Qiaoyuan’s eyes finally focused on Shen Mushi’s face.

His complexion was pale, his features looking somewhat aged.

“Xiao Yuan, you’re awake?”

Meng Qiaochong rushed over as soon as he heard his sister had woken.

The moment Meng Qiaoyuan saw her brother, tears began to stream uncontrollably from her eyes.

“Brother... Zeng Yingying... is she dead?”

Meng Qiaochong hurried to wipe her tears, nodding silently.

A buzzing filled Meng Qiaoyuan’s ears.

“Brother... I... I caused her death... it’s my fault...”

Meng Qiaochong quickly soothed her, “No, Xiao Yuan, don’t be upset. She didn’t die because of you. It was the family involved in the medical dispute. It has nothing to do with you.”

Meng Qiaoyuan shook her head. “No, it’s because of me. She died trying to save me...”

Her sobs grew uncontrollable, her voice breaking, “She saved me, protected me... she looked into my eyes and asked me to save her. I pressed on her wound, but the blood... so much blood...”

Shen Mushi stepped forward, took her hand, and handed her a tissue to wipe her tears. “Qiaoyuan, Jiang Zao heard the news and is already on her way back. If she sees you crying like this, she’ll get too emotional. Try to calm down.”

Meng Qiaoyuan looked into Shen Mushi’s eyes. “But... Zeng Yingying...”

Shen Mushi squeezed her hand. “Her family has taken her body. You should rest well. I’ll take you to her funeral.”

In Meng Qiaoyuan’s eyes was an emotion that was difficult to decipher.

---

But Shen Mushi easily perceived her thoughts.

“Don’t worry. I will make sure she gets justice.”

Finally, Meng Qiaoyuan closed her eyes and fell back asleep.

Backed by the Shen family’s political influence and the Zhou family’s business power, in a place like Jingzhou, if Shen Mushi truly wanted to get something done, no one could stop him.

Jiang Zao sat outside Meng Qiaoyuan’s hospital room, absorbing every word she overheard inside.

She crossed her arms, her thumb resting near her lips, lightly tapping her fingers with her teeth.

A few minutes later, Zhou Jiayan came over carrying a thermos cup and handed it to Jiang Zao.

“I’ve found out everything. The emergency nurse named Zeng Yingying died despite treatment. Sister Qiaoyuan’s internal organs were damaged, with severe bleeding. The surgery was extremely risky, almost... And the intern doctor, who was a key trainee in thoracic surgery but rotating through cardiology outpatient, had his tendons severed and can no longer perform surgeries.”

Jiang Zao glanced at her, then gently blew on the cup and took a few sips of the warm water.

“Where’s Li Baixiu?”

Before her words finished, Li Baixiu came over.

“Sis. The police have almost wrapped up. They have all the evidence: eyewitnesses, physical evidence, and video surveillance. The suspect was controlled without resistance. The drug and alcohol tests were negative—no intoxication or drugs. His family hasn’t caused any more trouble either.”

Jiang Zao nodded slightly.

Upon arriving in Jingzhou, she immediately sent Li Baixiu to the police station to use his connections to keep a close watch on the case.

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