Tang Yan was restrained by the police, yet her anger did not subside in the least. She glared furiously at Tang Yawen across the way, gritting her teeth as though she might break free at any moment.
“You must be insane—completely insane! You even dared to hit me. Everyone, hold her back! Don’t let her come any closer!” Terrified, Tang Yawen cowered behind a desk, frantically grabbing tissues to wipe his bloody nose.
Just then, Pei Wen finally caught up. After rushing into the police station and seeing the tension in the room, she immediately stepped forward to try to defuse the situation. “Tang Yan, calm down. Causing a scene won’t solve anything.”
“What did he do to Aunt Ji? What did he do?” Tang Yan shouted in desperation, still struggling against the strong officers restraining her.
Pei Wen moved closer and gently swept away the stray hairs clinging to Tang Yan’s forehead. Speaking in a steady, soft voice, she said, “Don’t worry. I’ve already contacted a lawyer. Once her injuries have been officially assessed, we’ll use every legal measure possible to ensure he gets what he deserves.”
At those words, Tang Yawen’s eyes widened in panic. He could no longer keep his composure. “Tang Yan, I’m your cousin—your blood cousin. What do you plan to do?”
Tang Yan took a deep breath. Her gaze slowly dropped from the ceiling and settled on Tang Yawen with cold indifference. “I don’t have a cousin like you.”
One of the police officers overheard this and said, “Oh, so you’re relatives? Come here and fill out some personal information.”
In the end, the officers lectured Tang Yan for being too impulsive—saying that, as a young woman, she really should not have resorted to violence, and so on. Pei Wen also advised her to stay calm, which finally helped her cool down.
She sat on a bench in the station, staring into space while Pei Wen explained Ji Yuqing’s situation to the officers. Now that her anger had passed, Tang Yan felt shocked and a bit incredulous at what she had just done. She had actually attacked Tang Yawen. Her former self would never have dared to do that.
She lowered her head and looked at her hands, realizing she had changed somehow.
When Pei Wen finished the paperwork, she walked over, bag in hand. “Let’s go.”
Tang Yan stood and exhaled, silently urging herself to remain calm. After getting into the car, she could not hold back the question any longer. “Will Tang Yawen really be punished?”
Pei Wen drove on, her voice resolute. “Don’t worry, he won’t escape anything he’s due.” She paused and glanced briefly at Tang Yan. “But is that man really your cousin?”
Tang Yan turned to the window, took a long breath, and replied as though forced to speak the single word. “Yes.”
“That’s so strange,” Pei Wen muttered to herself. “How did he end up having a conflict with Sis Yuqing?”
Tang Yan remembered the argument that had erupted that Friday after school. Without a doubt, Tang Yawen had attacked Aunt Ji on purpose out of spite. Whenever she recalled Aunt Ji’s bruised, swollen face, Tang Yan could not help clenching her fists and trembling with rage.
They soon arrived back at the hospital.
Tang Yan sat in the car for a long moment, until Pei Wen reminded her, “Hey, we’re here.”
Tang Yan looked up at the hospital building, her heart contracting with pain. She could not erase from her mind the image of Aunt Ji lying there, battered and bruised.
A hospital always felt cold, with its stark white walls, pale floor tiles, and the smell of disinfectant in the air. Uniforms were white, and so were most people’s faces, leaving only a sense of chill.
Tang Yan followed behind Pei Wen, distracted. “Try to smile,” Pei Wen told her, turning back briefly. “Don’t add to her stress.”
Tang Yan forced her lips into a half-smile, but she could not manage anything genuine.
When they entered the room, someone else was already there—Ji Yuqing’s friend, Zhang Miya.
As soon as they arrived, Ji Yuqing scolded Pei Wen for telling anyone else about what had happened, but Pei Wen merely shrugged and insisted she had to.
“Don’t blame her,” Zhang Miya said. “Something this serious happened—if she hadn’t told me, I would have been upset. Your mother is getting on in years, and you don’t have anyone by your side. If something like this happens, your friends have to help out.”
Lying in bed, Ji Yuqing smiled. “I’m not on my deathbed. It’s just a few external injuries.”
“External injuries? Come on, sis, I read your medical report, and it’s nothing minor!” Zhang Miya exclaimed. “Who was the jerk that did this? Did they catch him?”
“They did,” Pei Wen replied. “We just got back from the station.” She shot a glance at Tang Yan, whether intentionally or not.
Tang Yan had been tugging on her sleeve the whole time. She finally took two steps forward and spoke up. “That person is connected to me. Aunt Ji ended up like this…because of me.”
“Yan Yan, don’t say that.” Ji Yuqing interrupted her at once.
Zhang Miya looked stunned and then turned to Ji Yuqing, puzzled, trying to figure out the connection.
“Don’t get involved,” Ji Yuqing said firmly. “This is my own problem.” She clearly wanted to protect Tang Yan’s dignity as much as possible.
Zhang Miya refused to back down. She grabbed Tang Yan’s wrist. “Tell me what happened. Explain everything.”
Tang Yan had no choice but to recount the entire story. She sat there, shoulders hunched, only glancing at Aunt Ji from time to time to check on her.
“This does sound complicated,” Zhang Miya said with a sigh, resting her chin on her hand. “But it’s not your fault, so don’t blame yourself too much. I’m sure your Aunt Ji doesn’t blame you either.” After a brief pause, she added, “My husband has a few lawyer friends. I’ll call and see what can be done.”
She then left the hospital room alone with her phone in hand, ignoring Ji Yuqing’s pleas to stay out of it. It was clear she intended to help.
Ji Yuqing looked at Pei Wen. “Could you get me a cup of warm water?”
Pei Wen hesitated for a moment before catching on. She nodded and promptly left the room, shutting the door behind her. Now only Ji Yuqing and Tang Yan remained.
“Yan Yan, come here,” Ji Yuqing called, her voice as soft as ever.
Tang Yan hesitated before sitting on the chair beside the bed. She kept her gaze averted, too uneasy to look at Ji Yuqing for long.
“What is it? Do I look that awful?” Ji Yuqing asked.
Tang Yan shook her head, still staring elsewhere. “Aunt Ji has always looked beautiful.”
“Then why won’t you look at me?” she pressed gently.
Tang Yan turned her head toward her, managed a quick glance, and looked away again. Though she spoke haltingly, her sincerity was clear. “Because…it hurts me to see you like this. It makes me sad…”
A hand suddenly brushed Tang Yan’s cheek. It felt cold and soft, smelling of antiseptic. Tang Yan noticed the IV needle still taped to the back of Ji Yuqing’s hand. Her heart twisted, and she bit down on her lip before blurting out, “Do you really not blame me at all?”
“Silly girl, I will never blame you.” Ji Yuqing smiled, her gentle warmth reaching Tang Yan’s heart. “The heater isn’t doing much. Will you warm my hand for me?”
“Yes!” Tang Yan answered without hesitation. She fumbled a bit and nearly brushed the IV site by accident, then carefully placed her own hands around Ji Yuqing’s, mindful not to hurt her.