"Mr. Pei, I don’t understand what you’re saying. All I know is that it’s completely over between us. Once it’s punctuated, there is no possibility of starting again."
"And you also clearly know that I’ve already registered for marriage with Lu Yi. If you want to break us apart and meddle in our relationship, there’s no need to concoct such absurd lies to deceive me."
Shen Heyu calmly looked at Pei Yansi, feeling the grip on her wrist gradually tighten.
The force with which he held Shen Heyu’s wrist was almost enough to crush her bones, but Shen Heyu just endured the pain, frowning without making a sound.
After staring silently at each other for a moment, Pei Yansi gave a cold laugh, then forcefully let go of Shen Heyu’s hand.
"Shen Heyu, I know I’ve left a bad impression over the past three years. You can choose not to believe me, but please reflect carefully on the things that have happened around you these days."
"I admit I don’t like Lu Yi, but I’m not despicable enough to scheme behind his back and slander him. If I wasn’t sure, I wouldn’t say this. Since I’ve said it, it means I have concrete evidence."
"I’m telling you this because I hope you’ll be more vigilant and not fall into any traps."
"And don’t forget, just yesterday, you were almost in grave danger, but I saved you. When you woke up, you didn’t even say thank you. Not only that, but you even turned against me, thinking I was badmouthing Lu Yi."
Pei Yansi gave a miserable laugh, "Let’s just consider this a punishment for a past misdeed I committed. I readily accept it."
"You’ve just experienced something terrible, and it’s natural to be emotional. If my staying here prevents you from thinking rationally, I can leave, but you really need to be cautious about Lu Yi."
Pei Yansi slowly released Shen Heyu’s wrist, then left the room and disappeared from her sight.
After he left, Shen Heyu let out a heavy sigh. Once she was alone in the room, she carefully examined her surroundings.
She wore nothing under the covers, and her clothes were scattered all around. Yet, Pei Yansi was neatly dressed, making it impossible for Shen Heyu to determine what, if anything, had happened between them last night.
In any case, it was better to leave this place. Shen Heyu gathered her energy, got out of bed, dressed, freshened up, and then left the hotel.
When she returned home, she was greeted by an empty villa. Lu Yi wasn’t there—where could he be?
Normally, Shen Heyu wouldn’t worry about Lu Yi’s whereabouts, but Pei Yansi’s words lingered like a curse in her ears, making her uneasy.
She took out her phone and called Lu Yi.
After waiting for half a minute, the call was finally answered.
"Lu Yi, where are you...?" Shen Heyu started to ask but was cut off as soon as the call connected by a strange woman’s voice.
At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, Shen Heyu was stunned, her incomplete question awkwardly breaking off.
With trepidation, Shen Heyu asked, "May I know who’s speaking?"
"Hello, this is Zhonghe Hospital. The owner of this phone is currently unconscious, and you are listed as his emergency contact. We tried calling you earlier but couldn’t get through. It’s really good that we’ve finally reached you now."
"What did you say about the phone’s owner being in a coma? What happened to him?" Shen Heyu had just returned home when she picked up her bag and hurried out again, heading to the hospital.
"It’s , when the phone’s owner was brought to the hospital, he already had multiple injuries, and one of his ribs was broken. He is currently in a coma from severe injuries. As for what happened to the phone’s owner at the time of the incident, we’ll have to wait for you to arrive to find out."
"I’m coming to the hospital now. Which room is he in?"
Zhonghe Hospital VIP area, Building One, Room 8208.
Half an hour later, Shen Heyu arrived at the hospital where Lu Yi was admitted.
She hurriedly entered the elevator with the phone in hand, and there happened to be two nurses inside.
During the elevator’s ascent, Shen Heyu overheard the two nurses gossiping.
"The patient in Room 8208 is really unfortunate, I heard when he was brought in yesterday, he was beaten beyond recognition by his own mother."
"It’s indeed tragic. I heard he is a rich man’s son, but after offending the young master of the Chen family, he was taught such a harsh lesson."
"What did he do to offend the young master of the Chen family?"
"I heard from a little bird that it was because his wife was schemed against by the young master of the Chen family. When he found out, he couldn’t contain his anger and punched the young master of the Chen family. That brought him big trouble and he was severely beaten by the bodyguards of the young master. I heard he even vomited blood then."
"Oh my god, that’s too awful."
"It really is sad. If he didn’t have injuries on his face he would probably be quite handsome. I heard that when he was rushed to the operating room yesterday, he kept mumbling his wife’s name. He must really love his wife."
"Where is his wife now? How come she hasn’t shown up at Room 8208 after such a long time since the patient was admitted?"
"Who knows? I just hope she doesn’t disappoint his genuine affection for her. A man has sacrificed so much for her."
The two nurses sighed. Shen Heyu, feeling a chill run down her spine upon hearing their conversation, didn’t even realize when the elevator doors opened until a nurse gently tapped her shoulder.
The sudden tap startled Shen Heyu, and she quickly came to her senses.
She turned to see the nurse smiling apologetically, pointing quietly to the elevator doors.
"Miss, the elevator doors are open. Weren’t you going to the eighth floor?"
She had pressed the button for the eighth floor herself. Shen Heyu nodded weakly, muttered a thank you, and stepped out.
Shen Heyu walked step by step to the doorway of Lu Yi’s hospital room. Standing at the door, through the glass pane, she saw Lu Yi lifelessly lying on the hospital bed.
Seeing Lu Yi so lifeless, Shen Heyu felt as though her heart had been kicked. She entered with a heavy heart, quietly stepped over to the bedside,
"Heyu, no! I’m sorry, I failed to protect you..."
When Shen Heyu entered Lu Yi’s hospital room, he was still talking in his sleep. In his dreams, he was still worrying about Shen Heyu.