Chapter 51: The Day After Awakening

Meng Qiaojuan dared not look at Shen Mushizhi’s bare upper body. She furtively averted her gaze from those taut, muscular lines. She couldn’t fathom how a surgeon so obsessed with working overtime managed to find the time to work out.

Unaware of her thoughts, Shen Mushizhi removed his glasses and set them aside. Only then did Meng Qiaojuan recall the reason for her visit.

“My second brother has already taken care of it. The police can take their time finishing the report.”

Shen Mushizhi asked, “Did they catch Lin Rui?”

She shook her head. “He prepared thoroughly, with more than one hideout. Finding him won’t be easy.”

Shen Mushizhi sighed. “And what did the owner of the recording studio say?”

Meng Qiaojuan took a tablet from her bag and placed it in front of him. “Lin Rui said he’d rented out the place for Zhou Kuan to record supplementary audio for his variety show. The owner agreed because it was just business. That’s nothing important. But look at this.”

Displayed on the tablet was an email Lin Rui had just sent. Meng Qiaojuan had immediately shared its contents and address with the police and taken screenshots for backup.

“Lin Rui threatened you with compromising photos?”

Meng Qiaojuan looked helpless. “I’m not really afraid of that. It just makes me uncomfortable. I wanted your opinion.”

Shen Mushizhi shrugged. “Either he proves the person in the photos is you, or he exposes himself and spends a couple more years inside.”

She studied him for a moment, then nodded approvingly. “That’s an interesting perspective. Thank you.”

Gathering her things, she turned to go.

Shen Mushizhi quickly caught her by the wrist. “Dr. Meng… please, take good care of Jiang Zao.”

She froze, forcefully shaking off his grip. “Jiang Zao has Zhou Lichuan to look after her. She doesn’t need you.”

He replied, “I know. That’s why I never intended to tell her anything. I just…”

She cut him off, unwilling to listen. “The day you met her, she was already someone else’s girlfriend, and Zhou Lichuan is your brother. Are you sure you’re mentally sound?”

Shen Mushizhi chuckled. “I never interfered in their relationship. You’re the only one who knows how I feel about her. I just hope she can be happy. Meng Qiaojuan, there’s no need to be so alarmed. I’m not some kind of pervert.”

Her mind was still haunted by the image of him earlier that afternoon, eyes red with fury, risking everything to save someone. Something in her heart twisted with complexity. She said nothing more, simply opened the door, and left.

…

Jiang Zao rose and washed up quickly before hurrying to Zhou Lichuan’s hospital room.

Shen Xiaonan and Zhou Huai hadn’t arrived yet. Shen Mushizhi was inside checking on Zhou Lichuan, and the nurses told her to wait.

A moment later, Shen Mushizhi emerged. Seeing Jiang Zao anxiously waiting at the door, he greeted her with a smile. “Miss Jiang, you’re awake? Chuan-ge is fine, all is well. When you go in, try not to get too emotional.”

Jiang Zao paid him no heed, squeezing through the door at the first opportunity. In her haste, she brushed past Shen Mushizhi, causing his back to strike the sharp edge of the doorframe. His brows furrowed in pain, cold sweat breaking out across his brow.

A nurse nearby was about to speak, but Shen Mushizhi quickly gestured for her to remain silent and leave. The group of medical staff departed, leaving the spacious room to just Jiang Zao and Zhou Lichuan.

Zhou Lichuan lay with his eyes open, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Jiang Zao waved a hand before his eyes. Noticing his pupils tracking the movement, she realized the surgery had been a success. In just a few days, Zhou Lichuan would regain his sight.

Her eyes stung with sudden heat, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

Her emotions were in disarray; after everything that had happened the previous day, she felt as if she were bound together by nothing more than fragments. Sitting at his bedside, she clung to Zhou Lichuan’s exposed fingers, bowing her head and weeping uncontrollably.

Feeling his warm, dry hand gently wipe away her tears, Jiang Zao finally looked up at him. “Don’t worry. Qiaojuan told me you’re still in the recovery period. Your eyes just need some time.”

Zhou Lichuan managed a few words. “Thank you.”

Jiang Zao sniffled, managing a watery laugh. “Why are you thanking me? I’m all right, you’re all right, and soon we’ll both be fine. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Zao remained at his bedside, her world narrowing to Zhou Lichuan, his head swathed in bandages.

No one could persuade her to leave.

Fearing Jiang Zao would wear herself out, Meng Qiaojuan resorted to subterfuge, saying she needed to tell Jiang Zao the details of the kidnapping, and finally coaxed her away from the bed.

“Sitting there won’t help. Zhou Lichuan needs to rest, and the nurse can watch over him just as well. If you keep holding out like this, we’ll only worry about you.”

Glancing around to make sure no one was near, she leaned in and whispered, “Think about the baby, too.”

At the word “baby,” Jiang Zao finally snapped out of her daze.

She followed Meng Qiaojuan out of the hospital, and they found a quiet table at a nearby café.

Meng Qiaojuan stirred her coffee and recounted everything that had happened.

Lin Rui had bribed a gang of thugs, kidnapping Meng Qiaojuan and Jiang Zao from the hospital and taking them to a nearly deserted villa-turned-recording studio. The room, resembling a hotel suite, was the only lounge in the studio.

Lin Rui’s plan had been to hold them until Zhou Lichuan was fully conscious, forcing him to resign and publicly apologize to redress years of grievances.

Unaware of the arrangement between Meng Qiaojuan and Zhou Lichuan, Lin Rui thought that threatening the Zhou family by kidnapping Meng Qiaojuan would put pressure on Zhou Lichuan.

He believed he only needed to release Du Bin, not knowing that Meng Qiaojuan’s second brother, Meng Qiaochong, had served under Du Bin for two years in the military. Meng Qiaochong used his family’s standing to negotiate and left location data and evidence at the scene.

After obtaining a lead from Du Bin, Shen Mushizhi personally headed to the site to protect the two women.

…

Listening to the harrowing tale of what had happened while she was unconscious, Jiang Zao gradually felt her mind clear.

“I’ve been in a daze these past two days. I had no idea so much happened.”

Meng Qiaojuan smiled. “You’re precious now. Your health and safety matter more than anything.”

She sipped her juice and asked, “How is Shen Mushizhi’s injury? Was it serious?”

Meng Qiaojuan shook her head. “Not serious. Just a surface wound.”

Privately, Shen Mushizhi had begged her not to reveal the true extent of his injuries to Jiang Zao. Though Meng Qiaojuan felt a bit stifled, she agreed it was for the best.

Since nothing could come of it, there was no need to make things obvious.

“That’s good, that’s good. What about Zhou Jiayan? Is she safe?”

“She’s being held at the old Zhou family house by Du Bin, who’s in charge of the rescue. He’s still at the police station handling the aftermath, so no one has gone to get Zhou Jiayan, and she doesn’t dare come out on her own.”

Jiang Zao checked her phone and found countless messages from Zhou Jiayan—starting with anger, then worry and fear, and finally, pleas for help. With no one responding, it was clear she had been truly frightened.