"Ah..." soft.
Shen Wuyou was about to cry out when he saw the retreating figure of Huo Rou sleeping.
Qin Ningyi's dark eyes stared at him, sharp as an eagle's.
Shen Wuyou met his gaze and noticed his condition. Even so, dissatisfaction flickered in Shen Wuyou's usually gentle eyes.
He decisively stepped forward, separating them.
When Qin Ningyi steadied himself and looked up, he saw Shen Wuyou deftly pick up Huo Rou.
"You can't protect her, I will."
Huo Rou's body was at its limit, not even a broken bow could describe it. How could Qin Ningyi dare to let her be hurt again!
Like or dislike could not be forced, he only wished for the happiness of the person he loved for the rest of her life.
However, if her remaining life was only a month…
"Doctor Shen..." Shen Sitong called out to him anxiously from behind as he entered the room. The words she was about to say died on her lips when she saw the scene before her.
Shen Wuyou held Huo Rou as if she were a treasure. He carefully cradled the sleeping woman in his arms, not sparing a glance, and walked out.
"Stop!" Qin Ningyi, despite his mobility issues, tried to pursue, stumbling to the doorway where he was stopped by a doctor making their rounds, who was flustered.
"Mr. Qin, your leg cannot bear weight yet!"
The doctor dared not let Qin Ningyi's leg have any problems. It not only concerned his career but also his life!
Shen Sitong stood frozen. Shen Wuyou's hurried demeanor from earlier was still vivid in her mind.
He held Huo Rou, and his eyes were only on her.
Shen Sitong thought of many things, but ultimately her worry for Huo Rou took precedence. She also quickly followed.
"Doctor Shen!" she called out as she caught up, looking at the now furious Shen Wuyou with concern. "The doctor has checked. Sister Huo has no external injuries, just a mild concussion. She'll be fine after some rest. You... don't worry."
When Shen Wuyou carried Huo Rou out, he had taken her pulse. He was both angry and heartbroken. Did she not care about her own well-being!
"I know you have your own opinions and plans, but you can't always treat yourself like this," he murmured by Huo Rou's ear.
She had reduced the dosage!
This method was originally intended to alleviate her pain by using sleep to offset it. If she wanted more awake time, she had to endure the physical pain.
During his experiments, he had seen how contorted people were when they were in pain from this poison.
He had also seen the tears and snot of the most stubborn death row inmates when the poison took hold.
That was why he forced himself to use this medicine, which could make someone sleep for a lifetime, on Huo Rou to counteract the poison.
He wanted to take Huo Rou back to the laboratory, but unfortunately, Qin Ningyi was chasing from behind, and Xiao Konglin brought people to block them. After a stalemate, Huo Rou woke up.
"Wuyou, I'm fine. Please put me down," Huo Rou said with a smile, feeling her strength wane.
Shen Wuyou never refused her words.
He carefully put her down, his eyes filled with a trace of pity. "Is it really him?"
Why can't it be me?
He silently added this sentence in his heart. There were things he could say in front of Qin Ningyi, but facing Huo Rou's deep, unruffled eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say them.
After so many years, he couldn't see any genuine emotions beyond her affection for An An and Qin Ningyi.
"Yes, Wuyou," Huo Rou said softly before him. Qin Ningyi caught up, and her voice became even fainter, "In my remaining days, I want to be with him."
She frowned and gently rubbed her ribs while her back was to Qin Ningyi. Then she smiled softly and shook her head at him, signaling him not to let slip any words.
She turned back to look at Qin Ningyi, who was chasing after her in a rather disheveled state due to his injuries.
"Your wound has reopened," she said faintly, walking towards him with a hint of helplessness.
At that moment, Shen Wuyou reached out and grabbed her wrist.
He rarely stopped her.
He also knew that he couldn't stop Huo Rou.
However, he had to do as he said, that he would protect her.
No matter how difficult this poison was to cure, after trying hundreds of methods over the years, he wouldn't let her live only until now.
Shen Wuyou, ignoring Qin Ningyi's gaze, took out a small bottle of pills from his bag in front of Qin Ningyi. "Take your medicine first."
His tone was still gentle, but with a hint of firmness.
"I..." She didn't want to be in a daze every day, unable to be clear-headed.
Before she could voice her refusal, Shen Wuyou's gaze shifted to Qin Ningyi, conveying a sense of threat.
After taking the pill, Shen Wuyou felt a little relieved and let go of Huo Rou's hand, allowing her to leave.
"What's going on?" Qin Ningyi looked at the medicine in Shen Wuyou's hand and asked Huo Rou.
Huo Rou silently examined his wounds, letting the doctor who had followed behind bandage them.
"What's wrong with you?" Qin Ningyi stared into her eyes, trying to discern the emotions within, but Huo Rou deliberately avoided his gaze, focusing only on his injuries.
"Is it related to your lack of energy and constant sleeping?" Qin Ningyi hit the mark. Huo Rou's pupils contracted, but her movements did not falter.
Even with all his schemes, he was unwilling to use them on Huo Rou.
He wished for them to be honest with each other.
When Huo Rou looked up, there was nothing unusual. "I've just been too tired lately. The medicine Wuyou gave me is just for strengthening my body."
How could she tell him about the poison that even Shen Wuyou couldn't cure, only adding to his worries?
Qin Ningyi's gaze flickered and then turned to Zhao Hengyu, who had arrived.
A night passed.
Zhao Wen called Huo Rou according to her usual schedule. "Captain Huo, it wasn't a competitor of Qin Corporation who did this."
Hearing the result, Huo Rou breathed a sigh of relief. "Who was it?"
"Jiang Rong," Zhao Wen had only heard the news reported by someone today. "She was severely beaten last night for playing too wild. Later, someone dumped her at the police station doorstep with evidence of her involvement in this matter."
"Jiang Rong..." Huo Rou murmured the name, an old acquaintance.
"Thank you." She had been worrying unnecessarily.
Zhao Wen assured her that justice would be served.
After the call ended, Huo Rou, uncharacteristically, called Old Master Jiang. "Old Master Jiang, do you still want that unfilial daughter of yours?"
Old Master Jiang was happy to receive her call, but he didn't expect her to immediately bring up his unfilial daughter.
"It's rare for you to call me. Why talk about those people? Huo Rou, you're not being nice." Old Master Jiang grumbled.
Huo Rou smiled. "She's caused trouble for me again, so I have to ask your opinion as a father before deciding."
"Are you alright?" Old Master Jiang's tone was anxious. "You handle it. She's been acting unscrupulously using the Jiang family name all these years. If there was any affection left, it's all gone now."
"Alright, let's not talk about her. Little Huo Rou, I've gotten you a piece of land. It's especially good! It's in Yuchang City. Your birthday is coming up, isn't it? I'll build you a courtyard, just like in the village. That way, you'll have more space to live."