Lin Xingwan's deer-like eyes looked at Zhou Jinbai in a panic, her long eyelashes fluttering. Her misty eyes appeared both pure and alluring.
"This is going to kill me," the man grunted, no longer able to bear it, and removed the bath towel from his waist.
Before bathing, they had said they would rest early; after bathing, however, he no longer wanted to rest.
That night, the bedroom light finally dimmed close to four in the morning.
Lin Xingwan felt as if she had just closed her eyes when the alarm clock rang. She was a disciplined person by nature, but today she truly didn't want to get up.
Zhou Jinbai, wearing an apron and having prepared breakfast, walked into the bedroom and turned off Lin Xingwan's alarm.
"Not going to work, hmm?" he kissed Lin Xingwan's forehead lightly. Seeing the woman's fair face, he couldn't help but pinch it affectionately.
"I don't want to. I have no strength at all right now."
Lin Xingwan mumbled, her slightly swollen lips a faint pink, like two petals about to bloom.
"Then I'll call Liu Mengqin?" Just as Zhou Jinbai finished speaking, Lin Xingwan's phone rang.
Zhou Jinbai glanced at it and raised an eyebrow. "Perfect, Liu Mengqin is calling."
The man thoughtfully picked up the phone and placed it by Lin Xingwan's ear.
"Hello, Qin Jie?"
Lin Xingwan felt her throat was very uncomfortable, and her mouth was sore. The moment she remembered how Zhou Jinbai had held her head the previous night, she felt a surge of hatred. She had been tormented to the point of wanting to vomit several times, yet the man showed no concern for her. Even now, she felt as though she was covered in the man's scent. How could he make her do such things?
"Xingwan, hurry to the company. The company... something has happened at the company. Hurry... Uncle Ye and Ranran are in very bad condition. Uncle Ye is unconscious, and Ranran's hand is broken..." Liu Mengqin's voice trembled. Even through the phone, Lin Xingwan could feel her fear and helplessness.
Lin Xingwan felt as if her heart had been struck by a blunt object. She suddenly opened her eyes. "Qin Jie, don't worry, tell me what happened from beginning to end."
"I don't know what happened. After I sent Congcong to school, I came to the company. But the company's main door was smashed. I saw blood all the way. I rushed in to see, and found Ranran covered in blood. She was sitting on the ground, dazed, and Uncle Ye was lying beside her. No matter how many times I called him, he didn't respond." By the end of her account, Liu Mengqin was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Call 120 first and take them to the hospital. Jinbai and I will be right there." Things that are broken can be replaced, but people must be safe.
"Okay."
"What's wrong?" Zhou Jinbai asked, seeing Lin Xingwan's anxious expression.
"Someone broke into the company and attacked Ranran and Uncle Ye. I've already asked Qin Jie to take them to the hospital." Lin Xingwan explained briefly, and two minutes later, she was rushing out the door.
In the taxi, Lin Xingwan was extremely worried, her hands unconsciously twisting together. Zhou Jinbai clasped her cold hands.
"They'll be alright, don't worry," Zhou Jinbai comforted Lin Xingwan. She dejectedly lowered her dark eyelashes, her lips pale, her body trembling.
"Who would be so cruel as to attack a child and an elder?" Lin Xingwan's body was tense, her mind highly strung, feeling as if a string in her brain was about to snap.
"Either it's Ye Zong's enemies, or they're targeting Top Entertainment. And Ye Zong and Ye Ranran just happened to be caught in the crossfire at the company." Zhou Jinbai's lips tightened, his cold eyes filled with darkness. How dare they lay a hand on his woman? They must be tired of living.
"Uncle Ye and Ranran have always been bullied. How could they have enemies? The most likely scenario is that the group who beat them was targeting Top Entertainment. I've harmed them. It's all my fault." Lin Xingwan's voice choked, and the tears welling up in her eyes fell, dripping onto Zhou Jinbai's hand. It was scalding, like the pain of being burned by sulfuric acid.
Zhou Jinbai pulled Lin Xingwan into his arms, a chill emanating from his bones that made even the driver shiver. The driver wondered why the car's heater was on.
Ten minutes later, at the hospital.
Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai arrived at the emergency room entrance. Liu Mengqin was pacing back and forth alone. Her white dress was stained with blood, and she looked disheveled and helpless.
"Qin Jie—" Lin Xingwan hurried to Liu Mengqin's side.
"Xingwan... you're finally here. Uncle Ye's condition is not good. The doctor said it's a heart attack." Liu Mengqin was extremely flustered. "My father died of a heart attack years ago. This disease is very dangerous. If the rescue is successful, he can live like a normal person. If it fails, he will die."
Lin Xingwan's heart pounded wildly, countless fearful thoughts racing through her mind, but she still comforted Liu Mengqin, "Qin Jie, it will be alright. Don't worry."
Zhou Jinbai looked at Lin Xingwan, who was comforting others despite her own distress, and felt that this woman was foolish to the point of being pitiable. He made separate calls to Bai Xiao and Lu Shiyan. Bai Xiao was to investigate the morning's events, and Lu Shiyan was to bring a medical team. After hanging up, he walked to Lin Xingwan's side and put his arm around her shoulder.
Lin Xingwan leaned limply against Zhou Jinbai's chest. The warmth from the man's body transferred to her, and she felt her cold, stiff body become slightly more flexible. "What about Ranran? Where is Ranran?"
"Ranran has a fractured arm. The doctor has treated it, and she is not in life-threatening danger for the time being. However, the little girl is badly shaken. She hasn't spoken a word since this morning."
Just then, the emergency room door opened, and the doctor emerged.
"Doctor, how is Uncle Ye's condition?"
"It's been this long, is it very serious?" Lin Xingwan and Liu Mengqin looked at the doctor with grave concern. The doctor nodded affirmatively. "The patient's condition is very critical and requires immediate surgery. However, during the surgery, there's a risk of damaging major blood vessels, which could lead to massive internal bleeding in the chest cavity, causing hemorrhagic shock, or cardiac arrest during surgery, which could be life-threatening. Who is the patient's family member? Do you wish to proceed with the surgery?"
"Does it have to be surgery?" Liu Mengqin's heart trembled at the doctor's description. In a daze, she remembered the scene of her father being taken into the operating room. He went in, but never came out. Ten minutes before he fell ill, her father had bought her breakfast and told her not to forget to eat.
"If you don't have surgery, he can only be treated conservatively at home." The doctor's expression seemed somewhat numb. Although she sympathized with the patient's family, after facing so many deaths every day, her emotions were not easily stirred. Conservative treatment, in this case, meant going home to wait for death.
"I am the patient's family member. Proceed with the surgery immediately. Doctor, please save him, no matter what." Lin Xingwan said.
"Alright, follow me. Sign first, then pay the money." Lin Xingwan nodded and was about to follow the doctor when Zhou Jinbai spoke up. "You and Liu Mengqin wait here. I'll go sign and pay."
Lin Xingwan still wanted to say something, but Zhou Jinbai had already strode towards the emergency room, the door blocking all sight.
"With your technical expertise, what is the probability of the patient's successful rescue?" Zhou Jinbai quickly signed his name. His expression was calmer than the doctor's, especially his sharp eyes, which made the doctor feel as if she were being interrogated by a superior.
"We have considered the patient's age and all the recent examination reports. The probability of successful surgery is only ten percent. Furthermore, the patient has other underlying conditions, which will significantly increase the surgical risk."
"Send the patient to the operating room first and try to delay as much as possible. Lu Shiyan is bringing the medical team." Zhou Jinbai handed the signed form to the doctor.
The doctor did not understand him. "Delay? Do you know what you're saying? The patient needs surgery immediately, otherwise... Wait, you said Lu Shiyan? Are you referring to the renowned Lu Shiyan in the medical field?"
"Yes, I've already called him. He'll arrive within five minutes at the earliest, so I asked you to send him to the operating room and have the doctors try to delay the time until Lu Shiyan arrives." Zhou Jinbai was annoyed by the doctor and didn't want to explain further. He felt that the time spent explaining could be better used for other things.
"You're being ridiculous. I've been a doctor for so many years, and I don't even have the right to meet Dr. Lu. You say Dr. Lu is rushing over for surgery? That's laughable. Our temple is too small to accommodate a Buddha like Dr. Lu, and the emergency room is not a place for boasting. Since you've signed, please leave quickly and don't hinder our work." The doctor pushed Zhou Jinbai away with disgust. Just then, her phone rang.
The doctor quickly answered, her tone fawning and respectful. "Yes, yes, President, what can I do for you?"
"Dr. Lu Shiyan is coming? Okay, I'll prepare immediately."
"Please rest assured, President, I will not disappoint you." The doctor hung up the phone, trembling, and looked at Zhou Jinbai again with fear in her eyes. Before she could apologize, Zhou Jinbai spoke with his usual indifferent expression, his thin lips uttering words that made the doctor extremely embarrassed. "The heart of a physician is benevolence, saving people from dire straits, not adding fuel to the fire." With that, Zhou Jinbai turned and left.
After Zhou Jinbai came out, Lin Xingwan and Liu Mengqin immediately surrounded him. He gently held Lin Xingwan's hand, which was still cold. "Ye Zong has been sent to the operating room, and the surgery will take at least several hours. Let's go see Ranran first."
The three of them walked to Ye Ran's ward. The little girl sat blankly on the bed, allowing the doctor to administer an IV drip. The usually spirited little girl now had chapped lips and a dazed expression, like a puppet. Sitting beside her was Ge Xuansi, his young face gloomy as he looked at Ye Ranran with concern.
"Ranran..." Lin Xingwan's heart ached even more seeing Ye Ranran in this state, tears welling up in her eyes.
Ye Ranran slowly raised her head. Upon seeing Lin Xingwan, the emotions she had been holding back could no longer be contained. "Sister Xingwan... Sister Xingwan..."
Lin Xingwan hurried to Ye Ranran's side and held her hand. The girl then sobbed, "They hit Daddy, and they threw me on the ground. Daddy is unconscious. I'm so scared."
"It's okay, it's okay. Everything will be alright. I will definitely catch those bad guys and make them take responsibility for their actions." Lin Xingwan soothed Ye Ranran. Zhou Jinbai also said, "Don't worry, this kind of thing won't happen again."
As Ye Ranran's emotions gradually calmed down, Lin Xingwan asked, "Tell me properly about what happened this morning."
"I went to the company with Daddy and saw a group of people with clubs and long knives destroying things in the company. Daddy tried to stop them, but they surrounded and beat him. When I tried to save Daddy, they threw me from the stairs. I was in so much pain that I couldn't even stand up. After they left, I crawled to Daddy's side, but he was already unconscious." Ye Ranran clutched Lin Xingwan's hand tightly. To her, Lin Xingwan was her elder sister whom she relied on. Besides Ye Zong, she trusted no one else but Lin Xingwan.
"This group of people clearly targeted the company, but we haven't provoked anyone recently at Top Entertainment." Liu Mengqin frantically tried to recall who they might have offended. But no matter how much she thought, her mind was blank.
"The company's surveillance cameras were also destroyed. It's obvious they didn't want us to find out," Ge Xuansi said, his voice cold as a thousand-year-old ice. He had avoided the incident this morning due to work commitments, but he wished he had been there. A group of people bullying one old person and one weak person, just thinking about the company's ruined state made him furious.
"The net of heaven is cast wide, but it misses nothing. We can check the surrounding surveillance later." Zhou Jinbai looked at everyone in the room, having already formed a general idea of the attackers' identities. The fact that they only knew how to destroy the company's surveillance and ignored the surveillance around the villa indicated they were not very capable, more like street thugs.
As Zhou Jinbai finished speaking, there was a 'knock knock knock' at the ward door. Everyone turned their gaze to the door and saw over a dozen police officers led by Bai Xiao. Especially Bai Xiao, his uniformed presence exuded righteousness, and his sharp gaze made everyone feel solemn. Liu Mengqin and Lin Xingwan were stunned as Bai Xiao walked into the ward. He nodded slightly at Lin Xingwan and Liu Mengqin in greeting, then quickly focused on Zhou Jinbai. "All the people who smashed Top Entertainment this morning have been apprehended. A total of eighteen, and they've all been taken to the station."
"Have you found out who the mastermind is?" Zhou Jinbai stared at Bai Xiao, his dark eyes swirling with anger, which he controlled very well.
"It's Lin Shirou and Gu Shaoting." Bai Xiao said concisely. Anyone who fell into his hands would not be able to keep their mouths shut.
"It's Lin Shirou and Gu Shaoting? Are they crazy?" Liu Mengqin gritted her teeth in anger. If those two bitches were in front of her, she would stab them dozens of times, each stab carefully avoiding vital points. Lin Xingwan found this outcome unexpected yet understandable.
"They are indeed crazy." Lin Xingwan's tone shifted from worry to gnashing of teeth. "They treat human lives as child's play and disrespect life. Since she doesn't know how to be a person, I don't mind teaching her."
"Xingwan, what are you planning to do? Don't be impulsive." Liu Mengqin had never seen such an angry expression on Lin Xingwan's face before. Worried that Lin Xingwan might do something foolish, she couldn't help but warn her.
"I'm not impulsive, I'm very calm." Lin Xingwan pulled at the corner of her mouth, revealing a cold smile.
Zhou Jinbai then said, "The surgery will take at least five or six hours to complete. Whatever you want to do now, my wife, I will support you."
Lin Xingwan instructed Liu Mengqin, "Qin Jie, Jinbai and I are leaving. If anything happens here, just call me." With that, Lin Xingwan turned and left immediately.
Liu Mengqin was extremely anxious. "Mr. Zhou, Xingwan has a temper. Please hurry and advise her, don't let her do anything foolish."
"It's alright. Even if she brings down the sky, I'll be there to catch it for her." Zhou Jinbai said, then also left.
Liu Mengqin: ??? You kill, I bury. It's not without reason that these two ended up together.
Bai Xiao looked at Liu Mengqin's anxious state and couldn't help but say, "Don't worry. With Jinbai there, sister-in-law will be fine. As for you, the weather is thin, wear more clothes." Liu Mengqin looked down at her clothes and realized that several buttons on her chest had come undone at some point, revealing a large portion of her skin. Her face flushed, and she quickly fastened the buttons. The trouble with having a large bust was that buttons always popped open unintentionally.
...
In the CEO's office of Huanyu Company.
Lin Shirou straddled Gu Shaoting's lap. She was wearing a tight-fitting dress today, and due to her movement, the skirt had already retracted to her waist. Her legs dangled loosely around Gu Shaoting's waist.
"Shaoting, they won't really expose us, will they?" Lin Xingwan deliberately rubbed her chest against Gu Shaoting's face. As she was wearing a V-neck, this action revealed a lot.
"No, after all, I gave them hundreds of thousands in hush money. These people have been to prison before, and they are the kind of thugs the police are troubled by. Lin Xingwan has no connections in the police station, and they can't do anything to them." Gu Shaoting's tone was extremely smug. Who told Lin Xingwan to humiliate them so many times? Last night, the police had even taken his sister away from the banquet. He had to teach her a lesson. He couldn't help but think of the stunning appearance of Lin Xingwan the two times he had seen her. One sister was cold and aloof, the other alluring. If this woman could tolerate polygamy, he wouldn't have been so relentless. However, she was too stubborn. Her existence had severely hindered Huanyu's development.
"My sister will cry when she sees the company destroyed, won't she? Are we being too cruel to her?" Lin Shirou was overjoyed inwardly, but outwardly she feigned a look of unbearable compassion.
"Whether she cries or not, I don't know. But you'll be crying soon." Gu Shaoting's hand slowly caressed upwards along Lin Shirou's knee, a lecherous smile on his face.
"Stop it, we're in the office, anyone could walk in at any time." Although Lin Shirou said this, her body coiled around Gu Shaoting like a snake.
"Don't you love a thrill the most? My little dog." Gu Shaoting was impatient to possess her. But Lin Shirou stopped him. "Oriental Consortium posted an update this morning, refuting the rumors that Top Entertainment relied on connections. They also posted a video of my interview. Netizens are mocking me for only knowing how to pout and glare. Husband... I want to make a profound film to prove my acting skills."
"Alright, alright, whatever you say. You satisfy me, and I'll satisfy you." Gu Shaoting said, then pushed Lin Shirou onto the desk. Just as he was about to get busy, the office door was kicked open.