Chapter 034: A Slap

Jiang Yao had an extraordinarily long dream.

In the dream, Teacher Chen beamed at her, his smile bright as the sun. “Jiang Xiaoqing, we have evidence now. We’re about to win. Keep going!”

Jiang Yao reached out, wanting to grasp him.

But in the next instant, a speeding car shattered that radiant smile into nothingness.

All that remained was Teacher Chen collapsed in a pool of blood.

Jiang Yao rushed forward desperately, only to find that the face of Teacher Chen had transformed into He Yunqing’s.

She stared dumbly at the blood on her hands and screamed in terror.

“Ah!” Jiang Yao abruptly sat up in bed.

Beside her, Ye Yiyi hurried over, her eyes swollen from crying. “A-Yao, you’re awake?”

Jiang Yao steadied herself and looked around, realizing she was in a hospital.

In her mind, the memory of He Yunqing shielding her flashed vividly; for a moment, she couldn’t distinguish reality from dream.

“Where’s He Yunqing?” she grabbed Ye Yiyi’s hand and asked.

“First thing you ask for is He Yunqing!” Cheng Yanchi, standing nearby with his hands in his pockets, frowned as he complained, “He’s fine, just needs to rest for a few days. You, on the other hand, fainted for no reason—you should get a thorough check-up.”

Hearing that He Yunqing was all right, Jiang Yao silently breathed a sigh of relief, murmuring softly, “As long as he’s fine, that’s good.”

“A-Yao, do you want to come with me to see He Yunqing?” Ye Yiyi tugged at Jiang Yao’s sleeve. “He got hurt saving me, I want to visit him but feel awkward going alone. Will you go with me?”

“Saving you? Don’t flatter yourself,” Cheng Yanchi rolled his eyes and glanced at Jiang Yao.

“How am I flattering myself?” Ye Yiyi pouted. “I thought I had no hope, but then I heard Eileen isn’t He Yunqing’s girlfriend at all. Now he’s hurt because of me—doesn’t that mean…”

“It means he’s got too much time on his hands,” Cheng Yanchi commented.

Ye Yiyi glared at Cheng Yanchi.

Jiang Yao climbed out of bed. “Let’s go. We’ll see him.”

In truth, she wanted to check on He Yunqing’s injuries, too.

He Yunqing’s ward was in a special location, assigned to the innermost room on the top floor of the inpatient department.

Jiang Yao and Ye Yiyi searched for a while before finally finding the door. Before they could knock, voices sounded from inside.

“Yunqing, what am I supposed to say to you? If anything happened to you, what would all of us do?” Sister Cai paced the room, fussing over He Yunqing.

He Yunqing held a book, gently turning a page. “Nothing happened.”

“If something had, it’d be too late!” Sister Cai sighed. “I know you’re kind, but you need to consider the situation. You’re not just on your own—a whole team in the studio depends on you. Don’t you care about them?”

“Sister Cai.” He Yunqing cleared his throat. “I have a headache.”

“A headache?” Sister Cai hurried over. “Let me see—does it hurt badly? Should I call a doctor?”

He Yunqing chuckled lightly. “If you stop talking, I won’t hurt anymore.”

Sister Cai pressed her lips in resignation.

Outside, Jiang Yao and Ye Yiyi exchanged glances, hesitating whether to knock.

A man’s calm voice came from within: “Come in.”

They entered.

Under Sister Cai’s stern gaze, they walked up to He Yunqing, looking like two guilty children.

“Sister Cai, you should go take care of your work,” He Yunqing said.

Sister Cai tapped her head. With all that had happened, she indeed had her hands full.

“I’ve already informed your family. They’ll be here soon.”

Ye Yiyi looked sheepishly at He Yunqing. “Thank you... It’s my fault for being careless.”

“It’s nothing.” He Yunqing’s gaze fell softly on Jiang Yao. “I did it willingly.”

Jiang Yao looked at him; his complexion was pale, his lips colorless. Though he was still handsome, he lacked his usual vitality.

She lowered her head, guilt surging up within her, silently twisting her fingers. “I’m just glad you’re all right. I’ll go now.”

Before she saw him, worry had filled her heart.

But after seeing him, she found herself so troubled she couldn’t stay another moment.

“Hey, A-Yao!” Ye Yiyi called after her.

Jiang Yao pulled open the ward door, only to find Eileen standing right outside.

Her attire remained fashionable and refined, but her expression was icy, and Jiang Yao felt firsthand what coldness truly meant as they stood face to face.

Jiang Yao nodded slightly to her and tried to leave, but Eileen grabbed her back without hesitation.

Jiang Yao stared at her, confused.

Eileen glared at Jiang Yao for two seconds, then suddenly slapped her across the face.

The slap rang out loudly—everyone in the room heard it clearly.

Jiang Yao instinctively covered her face, but before she could speak, Ye Yiyi protested, “What are you doing? Why are you hitting A-Yao?”

“That slap was far too gentle!” Eileen was nothing like her usual elegant self, gritting her teeth in fury.

Ye Yiyi wanted to argue further.

Jiang Yao held Ye Yiyi back and quietly said, “I’m sorry,” before quickly running off.

“A-Yao…” Ye Yiyi shot Eileen another glare and chased after Jiang Yao.

He Yunqing put down his book and prepared to get out of bed.

“Yunqing,” Eileen hurried over to support him, “thank goodness you’re all right. I rushed here as soon as I got the call. Stay in bed, don’t get up.”

He Yunqing looked at her, cold reproach in his eyes. “You weren’t like this before.”

Eileen exhaled. “You weren’t like this before, either. I really don’t understand what kind of magic that woman has, to make you risk your life for her.”

He Yunqing pushed her hand away and got out of bed. “I’d save anyone else just the same.”

“Yunqing, where are you going?”

He Yunqing didn’t answer, only tossed a chilly remark at her: “Don’t let this happen again, or don’t come to me anymore.”

Eileen knew he was angry at her for that slap.

It was the first time he’d ever spoken to her that way…

In the corridor, Jiang Yao rubbed her cheek and gazed silently at the big plane tree outside the window.

“A-Yao, are you all right? That woman must be insane,” Ye Yiyi comforted her.

Jiang Yao shook her head. “I’m fine. I just want to be alone for a while. You go back first.”

Ye Yiyi thought for a moment. “Well... just stay here for a bit, but don’t stay too long. Come back to the ward soon.”

Jiang Yao nodded, listening to Ye Yiyi’s footsteps fade away.

Not long after, more footsteps approached.

“Didn’t I tell you to go back first?”

Jiang Yao turned around, only to bump right into the man’s arms…