"I feel like this is a bit unreal," Yu Mengzhi couldn't snap back to reality for a long time.
Before Chen Jinzhao could say anything, she whispered again, "However, for something like this to happen to him, it seems to be quite reasonable."
Wasn't being unrestrained precisely Yu Huaiqing's personality?
Chen Jinzhao nodded in agreement, "Indeed, this is his usual style. I'm just a bit puzzled why the Su family didn't finish him off."
Yu Mengzhi was even more clueless.
The two fell silent for a moment, and then Chen Jinzhao sighed, "Regardless, he managed to keep his life. We'll ask him for details once he wakes up."
Yu Mengzhi nodded.
While waiting, Chen Jinzhao called Su Wen. The answer he received confirmed his guess: the Su family had indeed made a move.
As for why the Su family didn't kill him, Su Wen speculated that Bai Meizi had intervened.
This was similar to Chen Jinzhao's own conjecture.
He asked Su Wen to continue monitoring the Su family's actions and to notify him immediately if there were any significant developments.
After hanging up the phone, Chen Jinzhao fell into deep thought.
If Yu Huaiqing survived because Bai Meizi intervened, then the Su family would certainly not let him off. There would definitely be follow-up actions.
He still needed to be vigilant.
After two hours at the hospital, Yu Huaiqing finally woke up.
The two didn't rush to question him. They first let Yu Zhengzhi speak with his son for a bit, allowing Yu Huaiqing to calm his emotions and prevent any potential worsening of his injuries due to excessive excitement.
Another half hour passed.
Yu Zhengzhi walked out of the ward, his face grim as he stared at Chen Jinzhao. Yu Mengzhi immediately stood between them, preventing any conflict.
"Don't worry, I'm no match for him, how could I dare to fight him?" Yu Zhengzhi's tone carried a hint of self-mockery, which relieved Yu Mengzhi.
"I just want to ask him if he really knows who the mastermind is?"
Yu Zhengzhi stared intently at Chen Jinzhao.
He continued, "Just now, I asked Yu Huaiqing who attacked him, and he kept saying he didn't know, but I know he's lying."
Recalling what Chen Jinzhao had said earlier, Yu Zhengzhi was certain that he knew who the culprit was.
Chen Jinzhao smiled, "Of course I know, but I have no obligation to tell you."
"You—"
Yu Zhengzhi was furious.
Yu Huaiqing was his only son. Now that his son had nearly been beaten to death, how could he, as a father, allow the true culprit to escape justice?
"All I can tell you is that he is someone you cannot afford to provoke. That should be enough." Chen Jinzhao said nonchalantly, which instantly deflated Yu Zhengzhi's anger.
"What you can do now is protect Yu Huaiqing well and prevent him from being targeted again."
"With that said, take care of yourself."
Yu Zhengzhi scrutinized Chen Jinzhao, took a deep breath, and then said, "Alright, I'll trust you this once. You'd better not deceive me."
Chen Jinzhao chuckled.
Even if he were openly deceiving Yu Zhengzhi, what could be done about it?
"Let's go in and see him." Yu Mengzhi and Chen Jinzhao walked into the ward.
Yu Zhengzhi wanted to follow but took a step and then, after much deliberation, ultimately did not go in.
Inside the ward.
Yu Huaiqing stared blankly at the ceiling.
Even as they approached, he showed no reaction.
Yu Mengzhi glanced at Chen Jinzhao, then at Yu Huaiqing lying on the hospital bed, and asked with concern, "Third Brother, how are you feeling now?"
"I'm alright..." Yu Huaiqing said bitterly.
"You're not alright at all. You were almost beaten to death. Why are you deceiving yourself?" Chen Jinzhao's words were blunt, causing Yu Huaiqing to instinctively turn his head to look at him.
"They say you shouldn't touch a tiger's backside. You not only touched it, but you also gave the tiger a cuckold's hat. You're lucky they didn't kill you."
Yu Huaiqing's expression changed slightly.
He stared intently at Chen Jinzhao, his body trembling slightly, "Have you found something out?"
Yu Mengzhi sighed, "So, the rumors about you and someone from the Bai family are true?"
Yu Huaiqing's pupils contracted, and he became completely dazed. After a long while, he withdrew his gaze from the two of them, his voice becoming even more bitter, "So you both know. I thought no one else knew about my relationship with her. I was indeed too naive."
Upon hearing this, the two instantly understood.
The rumors were true: Yu Huaiqing and Bai Meizi were involved.
Yu Mengzhi asked, "She is from a different world than you. How did you meet? What are her thoughts about you? Did you consider this outcome before getting involved with her?"
Yu Huaiqing wore a wry smile and looked at Yu Mengzhi, asking, "When you were insistent on being with Chen Jinzhao, did you ask if you two were from different worlds? What you did then, I did the same."
It was the same principle.
Yu Mengzhi was speechless and understood Yu Huaiqing's intentions.
Mutual affection, having already placed life and death aside.
"If she hadn't appeared in time, I might be a cold corpse now. But I also know the Su family won't let me go. You'd better stay away from me, otherwise, my blood will splash on you." Yu Huaiqing had already come to terms with it and held no hope for survival.
Yu Mengzhi sighed repeatedly.
Chen Jinzhao suddenly said, "You're so young, in the prime of your youth, why would you seek death?"
"You don't understand. It's not that I'm seeking death, but that the Su family won't let me go." Yu Huaiqing deeply understood the terrifying power of the Su family. They were the sky above the Jiangnan region, the masters beneath this sky.
Chen Jinzhao patted Yu Huaiqing's shoulder, "Don't worry, in Ninghai City, within this small territory, the Su family can't kill you for now. Focus on recovering from your injuries."
"If you truly love each other, I fully support you being together, even walking down the aisle of marriage."
Yu Mengzhi looked at Chen Jinzhao in surprise. This implied making an enemy of the Su family.
But upon closer thought—
The relationship between the two sides was already irreconcilable, with only one able to survive. Chen Jinzhao's support for Yu Huaiqing made sense.
Understanding this, Yu Mengzhi also said to Yu Huaiqing, "He's right. Once a person dies, everything becomes nothing. Only by living can you create infinite possibilities. Besides, if you die, what will happen to her?"
Hope rekindled within Yu Huaiqing's heart, but he quickly shook his head and said, "Her relationship with Su Yuan is a marriage of convenience, which has already linked the Su and Bai families, forming a de facto alliance. This means we face immense resistance, and neither family will agree to our union."
In front of these two powerful families, all his actions were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, an ant attempting to shake a tree.
It was hard not to feel despair.
Chen Jinzhao sighed from the side, "Although it is no longer the cannibalistic old society, these aristocratic families still retain the ugly tradition of devouring people. The dragon-slaying heroes of the past have been corrupted by worldly interests into the very dragons they once fought."
"If your love for her is genuine, I will lend you a hand."
"It depends on whether you have the resolve."
Yu Huaiqing had long felt that Chen Jinzhao was no ordinary person. These words somewhat reassured him and allowed him to fully rally his spirits.
"As long as she doesn't give up, I won't give up!" Yu Huaiqing clenched his fist.
Yu Mengzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way."
"You still haven't told us how you two met?"