Qin Ningyi felt as if his dreams were a whirlwind of intrigue, re-experiencing past events.
The final image lingered on a young Huo Rou, clad in a white dress, tears streaming down her face.
With watering eyes, she tugged at his finger and asked in a clear voice, "Big brother, it must hurt a lot, right?"
He followed her gaze to the bruise on his arm. Was this small injury enough to frighten her into tears?
He wanted to reach out, as he had in the past, to wipe away her tears and gently reassure her, "Brother doesn't hurt." But the words wouldn't come. His chest ached with a dull pain, and his palms grew damp.
It felt as though his A Rou was truly crying…
The sun began to rise.
Qin Ningyi finally opened his eyes, drawn from the darkness by the growing light.
As the first rays of sunlight fell, he turned his head and saw Huo Rou's eyes, red and swollen.
His A Rou had indeed been crying.
A tender affection bloomed in Qin Ningyi's eyes. He cleared his throat, his voice still hoarse, "Brother doesn't hurt…"
It truly doesn't hurt, so please don't cry, okay?
He didn't finish his sentence, but Huo Rou's eyes welled up with tears again.
Qin Ningyi sighed and slowly reached out, gently patting her head.
Since An An had come into their lives, he had barely seen any trace of the childhood Huo Rou in the grown woman.
The small girl with thin arms and legs had gained a formidable skill. She was no longer the helpless child who was bullied without resistance. She was no longer the solitary wolf with eyes full of defiance and ferocity. She no longer exposed her vulnerability or her true emotions…
Yet, the Huo Rou before him now had transformed back into the little Youyou who would sob uncontrollably over a mere bruise on his arm.
"It's okay, it's okay," he murmured, his voice raspy yet gentle, coaxing her as he used to. "Shall I buy you some cake? Let's not cry anymore, alright?"
Huo Rou desperately tried to control her emotions, sniffled, and sat up straight. "Are you hungry? The doctor said if you feel energetic after waking up, you can eat a little."
Qin Ningyi tickled her palm with his finger. "Hungry."
The food was brought in by Qin Ningyi's subordinates. In response to Qin Ningyi's questions, he reported on the subsequent events.
"Those who attacked us yesterday were taken away by the Liu family. A few were saved and have been interrogated overnight. They..."
At the same time, Chen Guochao's call came through. After a day of tracking, he received news today that they had reached the vicinity of the Capital Hospital. He immediately called to confirm Huo Rou's safety, never expecting she was in a nearby hospital.
"Be careful." Chen Guochao's movements seemed significant, indicating he was likely bringing people with him.
Considering Qin Ningyi's injuries, Huo Rou instructed those outside to secure the hallway and asked the hospital not to reveal their whereabouts, prioritizing caution.
On the other end of the line, Chen Guochao set off with his men.
Yesterday, upon receiving news from the BDD, he had hesitated whether to inform his father. But he had reasoned that Huo Rou had only stumbled upon something and was not in immediate danger.
The situation had changed now. Huo Rou was in the hospital, and the BDD was in the vicinity. It seemed increasingly likely that Huo Rou was their target. He made the call his father had instructed him to.
"Dad."
Chen Long's voice carried a hint of disdain. "Just do your job. Why are you calling me?"
His father's impatience was as consistent as ever.
"Learn from your little sister Youyou and be more dedicated. Don't be so idle all day."
"I need to talk to you about my sister."
The scolding voice on the other end of the line paused, then shifted a hundred and eighty degrees. "What happened to Xiao You?"
Chen Guochao was accustomed to such shifts. He didn't even bother to roll his eyes. "You said before to tell you if the BDD approached sister…"
Chen Long eagerly interrupted, "Is Xiao You going to the US again?"
What did he mean by "again"…
Chen Guochao felt a momentary confusion but didn't dwell on it, explaining the current situation. "Many BDD members have come to Tai Chuan City. Today they've gathered around a hospital, and sister is inside the hospital."
"What? BDD members are in China?!" Chen Long's voice suddenly rose. Before Chen Guochao could even rub his ear in protest, the call was hung up.