An Nuan's bright eyes shifted slightly.
She turned her head to look at Qin Jiang, "You don't recognize her?"
"She's a star from a dozen or so popular shows, do you really think I would recognize her?" Qin Jiang retorted.
So in this life...
Qin Jiang and Bai Xiaotu's fateful bond started because of her?!
She felt somewhat apologetic to Bai Xiaotu!
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Qin Jiang felt a chill down his spine from An Nuan's gaze.
"It's nothing," An Nuan came back to her senses, "It's getting late, been a long day, I should head back."
"You really should head back," Qin Jiang glanced at Ye Jinghuai, muttering, "If we don't leave soon, some people might end up incapacitated."
An Nuan was confused.
Who's going to become incapacitated?
Qin Jiang of course didn't elaborate.
Since Ye Jinghuai didn't say anything, he couldn't say much either.
The three of them left Guangming Tower together.
Hu Feng drove them.
Qin Jiang sat in the passenger seat.
Ye Jinghuai and An Nuan sat in the back.
It was very quiet in the car.
"Want to grab dinner together?" An Nuan suddenly spoke up.
She thought that since Ye Jinghuai and Qin Jiang accompanied her the whole day, she should take them out for a meal to show her appreciation.
Although...
She didn't actually know what they did to help her today.
It seemed like...
They were just tagging along.
"No thanks," Qin Jiang declined straight away, "I'm worried if I go back any later, there may be a death."
An Nuan frowned.
Why was Qin Jiang being so cryptic today?
Silence filled the car once more.
The sedan arrived at Ye Jinghuai's villa.
An Nuan and Ye Jinghuai exited the vehicle together.
Qin Jiang didn't get off. As he was winding up his window, he called out to their retreating backs, "An Nuan, take care! I know absence makes the heart grow fonder, but your life is more important!"
An Nuan glanced back at Qin Jiang.
This guy...
Must have had water in his brain today.
She didn't understand a word he was saying.
Ye Jinghuai completely ignored Qin Jiang. He grabbed An Nuan's hand and headed into the villa lobby.
Uncle Zhong greeted them enthusiastically, "Young Master, welcome back!"
"Call Xu Weiming over."
"What happened to you?" Uncle Zhong's expression changed dramatically.
An Nuan also felt something was off.
Who was Xu Weiming? Why did he elicit such a strong reaction from Uncle Zhong?
"It's just a minor injury," Ye Jinghuai said lightly.
What does he mean by a minor injury?!
Was Ye Jinghuai hurt?!
In that instant, An Nuan seemed to suddenly understand Qin Jiang's earlier words.
"Don't worry, it's not fatal," Ye Jinghuai also noticed the change in An Nuan's expression. He added, "Just help me upstairs."
As he spoke, his entire body slumped heavily onto her shoulders.
An Nuan nearly crumpled under Ye Jinghuai's weight.
This guy really was as heavy as a lump of iron.
But right now, she didn't dare push Ye Jinghuai away. She supported him with difficulty up the stairs, then laid him down on the bed.
Lying down, Ye Jinghuai's complexion was deathly pale.
Where exactly was he injured?!
She didn't notice anything off the entire day!
"I told you, it's not fatal," Ye Jinghuai said faintly, seeing An Nuan's expression.
His voice was clearly weak.
"What happened to you?"
"It's nothing major."
"Ye Jinghuai..."
"I want to rest for a bit. Keep it down," Ye Jinghuai's tone was overbearing.
But his voice was clearly feeble.
An Nuan wanted to ask more questions.
But she saw Ye Jinghuai had already closed his eyes, seemingly fast asleep.
She held herself back and chose to stay silent.
She would accompany him quietly in the room.
After a while, a man walked in.
It should be the man called Xu Weiming.
He looked to be in his forties, wore glasses, giving off a scholarly vibe.
He was holding what seemed to be a high-end medical kit, completely different from a household first aid box.
He went straight to Ye Jinghuai and asked, "Gunshot wound?"
"Mm," Ye Jinghuai gave a low grunt in reply, eyes still closed.
An Nuan was visibly shocked.
Ye Jinghuai was shot?!
"Where?" Xu Weiming was nonchalant about it.
"Very close to the heart."
"Was the bullet removed?" Xu Weiming spoke while already unbuttoning his suit and white dress shirt.
Beneath the shirt, a gruesome, bloody wound was tightly sealed by medical tape.
An Nuan was horrified.
Just as Xu Weiming was about to rip the tape away...
"Go outside first," Ye Jinghuai suddenly glanced at An Nuan.
An Nuan froze.
Her eyes met his.
She didn't know what to say.
"Go get something to eat first. Bring me a bowl of porridge later, help feed me," Ye Jinghuai instructed.
An Nuan knew he just didn't want her to see his injury.
In that moment, she really did turn and leave the room.
She understood...
Ye Jinghuai had a side he didn't want others to see when he was weak and vulnerable. He had a truth he wasn't ready to tell her yet.
So she wouldn't pry.
In the room...
Xu Weiming ripped off Ye Jinghuai's medical tape, seeing the inflamed, pus-filled wound.
"How were you shot so close to your heart this time?" Xu Weiming asked conversationally as he cleaned the injury.
"An accident."
"Was it discovered?"
"Nearly." Ye Jinghuai answered through the pain.
"You're usually very careful and cautious."
Ye Jinghuai's hands gripped the bed sheets tightly.
Clearly trying to endure the agony.
Xu Weiming said, "Just slightly closer and you would have died."
Ye Jinghuai's lips were white.
His face and body were drenched in cold sweat.
"Be more careful next time," Xu Weiming reminded.
He didn't ask how such an accident occurred.
As Ye Jinghuai's personal physician, his sole concern was Ye Jinghuai's health.
After all, luck always runs out eventually...
In the room, silence descended.
The pain was so extreme that no sound could escape.
After a long while, Ye Jinghuai's wound was dressed.
Xu Weiming said, "I won't put you on IV antibiotics for now unless there are signs of recurring infection."
Ye Jinghuai gave a slight nod.
As Xu Weiming packed up his medical supplies, he asked, "Should I let your wife in?"
"Let me rest for a bit." Ye Jinghuai's deep voice was barely audible.
Xu Weiming nodded.
Once he was done, he sat by Ye Jinghuai's side.
"Qin Jiang said you and An Nuan seem close."
Ye Jinghuai didn't respond.
He still seemed to be enduring lingering pain.
"A beauty's love is calamity," Xu Weiming laughed. "The downfall of dynasties can always be traced back to a woman's machinations."
"What message were you asked to pass along?" Ye Jinghuai glanced up, his complexion notably improved.
He was adept at concealing his emotions, even agony.
"Yes," Xu Weiming readily admitted.
"Tell them they worry too much," Ye Jinghuai's voice was back to normal.
"Will do," Xu Weiming nodded. "Should I open the door now?"
"You can leave as well."
Xu Weiming shrugged, accustomed to Ye Jinghuai's aloofness.
Carrying his medical kit, he opened the door.
Sure enough, An Nuan was already waiting outside with a bowl of porridge.