Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Sorrowful Luo Cheng

Hong Chen’s heart thudded; this was the first time Lin Yuxin had shown weakness and helplessness in front of him. He didn’t rush her to finish her words, but after thinking a moment, he grasped the key point and asked, “Did the other party drag Yufei out of the emergency room because they needed surgery first?”

Lin Yuxin blinked several times, holding back tears, sniffed, composed herself, and spoke softly, “They won’t allow Yufei to have surgery. They even said if anything happens to their side, Yufei and the other two must pay with their lives.”

Hong Chen was startled, quickly considering the possibility: “Does that mean Yufei and the others are fully responsible for the accident?”

“The other party was driving drunk, ran the red light and sped. Yufei and her friends had been drinking too.” Lin Yuxin pursed her lips and added in a voice only the two of them could hear, “He’s the young master of the Jiang family, the only son of the head of the Jiang clan.”

Hong Chen suddenly understood. The Jiang family—the leading elite among the four great families of Qing City—and the only son of its patriarch, truly the city’s number one young man.

The other party in the crash was this person, as if winning the lottery’s grand prize. The cause and process no longer mattered; only the result did.

If he survived without lasting effects, things could still be handled. But if there were complications, the Jiang family’s wrath would surely descend on Luo Cheng, Xiao Ting, and Lin Yufei, possibly implicating their families as well.

In ancient times, if you were in a feudal lord’s territory and collided with his heir’s carriage—even if it was merely a person hitting a carriage—if the heir died or was crippled, your family would face utter ruin.

Hong Chen pondered. “I know a bit of medicine. Should I try to stop Yufei’s bleeding?”

Lin Yuxin stared at him blankly. Hong Chen knew she didn’t believe him, so he added, “I forgot to mention, I once prescribed medicine for Elder Liu’s diabetes.”

Seeing Lin Yuxin still doubtful, Hong Chen stopped explaining, shrugged as if to say believe it or not. Lin Yuxin was silent for a moment, then said, “Go ahead, try.”

Hong Chen nodded.

This time, the others didn’t intervene. Hong Chen approached Lin Yufei; her eyes were closed, her face frighteningly pale from blood loss, arms wrapped around herself, trembling incessantly—so pitiful was her appearance.

Hong Chen’s gaze lingered on her face, then he gently took her wrist, his finger pressed to her pulse. Seeing this, Shen Huifang’s expression turned cold, about to speak, but Lin Yuxin pulled her mother aside, whispering a few words in her ear.

Shen Huifang was still skeptical, shaking her head and grumbling, watching Hong Chen like a thief, but didn’t forcibly intervene.

After half a minute, Hong Chen released her hand, and with a flick of his fingers, a silver needle appeared. He was about to insert it into Lin Yufei’s head when suddenly a large hand intervened.

“What are you trying to do?” A man glared at Hong Chen sharply. Hong Chen frowned, “I’m stopping her bleeding.”

“Who told you to treat her?” The man turned to Lin Yuxin, demanding, “Didn’t you say he was your husband? How is he suddenly a doctor?”

Lin Yuxin responded, “He is my husband, but he knows some medicine. He’s treating my sister’s wound.”

“My young master’s surgery isn’t over yet, and you want her to just keep bleeding?” The man snorted, his eyes warning as they returned to Hong Chen.

Hong Chen didn’t avoid his gaze, calmly holding it for a moment before saying, “My wife’s sister has internal bleeding in her spleen. If it’s not treated soon, she’ll go into shock.”

The man retorted, “Even if she goes into shock, even if she dies, it’s what she deserves.”

Hong Chen narrowed his eyes. “What if I insist on treating her now?”

The man replied stiffly, “Then you can go into shock, too.”

Hong Chen nodded, abruptly moved, and plunged his silver needle into the man’s chest. Instantly, the man’s face flushed, wracked with pain. Hong Chen then kicked him, sending his strong body crashing against the wall with a heavy thud.

Everyone gasped. Immediately, three men and a woman closed in, surrounding Hong Chen.

“What are you doing?” Lin Yuxin, frantic, rushed over without hesitation. Shen Huifang hurried after her, and the scene descended into chaos.

Just then, the emergency room door opened, drawing everyone’s attention. A middle-aged doctor emerged, masked so his expression was hidden, but his eyes were grave and a streak of sweat lingered at his temple.

“Director Shi, how is my son?” The couple at the emergency room door were the heads of the Jiang family, Jiang YiYao and his wife, Dong Miaoyun. Both spoke simultaneously, their faces taut with worry. The doctor hesitated, then said heavily, “His liver is mildly damaged, three ribs are broken, and there are some superficial wounds—but these aren’t the main problems. The most serious issue is intracranial bleeding. From the X-rays, the cerebellum was injured by the impact. This surgery is very difficult. If we were at the provincial hospital, my mentor would have a better chance, but in his current condition, he can’t be transferred. We’ll have to wait for Director Chen.”

Dong Miaoyun pressed, “I want to see him now.”

The doctor shook his head. “My assistant is treating his external wounds.”

Dong Miaoyun asked again, “Tell me, is my son’s life in danger?”

The doctor fell silent.

Dong Miaoyun trembled, and had her husband not caught her, she would have collapsed. Leaning on his shoulder, she wept uncontrollably. After a moment, she looked up, her gaze sweeping the crowd with bitter hatred.

“If anything happens to my son, none of you will escape.”

Her icy voice echoed through the corridor, like the judgment of death itself. Lin YuanGui, Xiao ChunYong and the others shivered, faces pale.

“It was him—he drove and hit your son! If you want to settle accounts, find him! It has nothing to do with our family!” In her utter terror, Shen HuiZhu broke down, pointing at Luo Fei and screaming.

Luo Fei was dumbfounded. “Mom…”

“Don’t call me mom. You haven’t married my daughter, you’re not family. If you caused trouble, don’t drag us down with you.” Shen HuiZhu was agitated, ignoring Xiao Ting’s injuries as she yanked her daughter to her side, distancing her from Luo Fei.

Xiao ChunYong’s face flickered uncertainly for some time, but he remained silent.

Luo Fei was only their prospective son-in-law. No matter how satisfied they were, now they had to draw a hard line—otherwise, when the Jiang family’s wrath came, their family would suffer as well.

Seeing Shen HuiZhu’s resolute face, Xiao ChunYong’s tacit acceptance, and Xiao Ting burying her face in her chest without protest, Luo Cheng felt as though struck by lightning. His mind went blank.

These were the people who claimed to treat him as a son, the prospective parents-in-law who promised by the lake to stay together for life, never forsaking each other.

Yet, before disaster even truly struck, they had already, decisively, abandoned him!

The brutal reality was a sharp knife, driven deep into his heart. Not only did it hurt unbearably—it made him feel as though he was suffocating.

And it wasn’t over. Shen Huifang’s eyes darted quickly, then she jumped out, pointing at Luo Fei and cursing, “My daughter warned you again and again not to drive after drinking, but you wouldn’t listen, insisting your driving was fine. And what happened? You harmed yourself and others—my daughter included! If anything happens to her, I won’t forgive you!”

Luo Fei stared at Shen Huifang, bewildered. She finished her tirade, then lost control and rushed at Luo Cheng, seemingly intent on attacking him—but Lin YuanGui and Lin Yuxin held her back.

Amidst this internal chaos, Dong Miaoyun’s fury reached its peak. She pointed at Luo Fei, her voice cold, “You’re the culprit who harmed my son. Beat him!”

Following her command, two men pounced like tigers, raining blows on Luo Fei, who collapsed, screaming in agony.

Jiang YiYao watched impassively, his brow faintly furrowed—not out of pity for Luo Cheng, but worried the noise might disturb his son in the emergency room. As he hesitated, the elevator doors opened and two doctors, one middle-aged and one elderly, hurried out.

“Stop!” Jiang YiYao’s eyes brightened, and he called out at once, striding forward. Dong Miaoyun was quick to follow, clinging to him like a drowning person to a lifeline.