Unable to turn around in time to assess the situation, Qin Zhao could only use his tall frame to shield Chu Xinyue in the critical moment.

The knife that was meant to strike Chu Xinyue's head directly slashed Qin Zhao's shoulder instead.

In an instant, blood stained his white shirt red.

By the time Chu Xinyue turned her head to look, Qin Zhao was already swaying unsteadily.

Chu Xinyue's pupils constricted. "Qin Zhao!"

Screams erupted throughout the hall.

Two male researchers who had regained their senses quickly rushed forward to restrain the man who was still wielding the knife.

"It's you, Kang Zhi! Have you gone mad?" A female researcher supported the shocked professor as they continuously backed away.

"Shameless bitch, I'll kill you! Let's see how you dare to gossip after this!" The person wearing a black hoodie raised his head, glaring furiously in Chu Xinyue's direction. This man was none other than Cao Ya's ex-boyfriend.

His eyes bulging with rage, he roared as he tried to charge forward. "If it wasn't for you, you whore, Xiao Ya wouldn't have abandoned me to go abroad. It's all because you couldn't stand to see us happy!"

However, several security guards quickly swarmed in from behind, surrounding Kang Zhi. Xiao Tao followed behind the guards, having alerted them.

Kang Zhi frantically swung his knife like a madman, trying to break through the encirclement, but was gradually driven away from the crowd by the security guards.

Qin Zhao, having lost strength due to blood loss, had already collapsed on the ground.

Chu Xinyue was completely flustered. In her daze, she seemed to see the blood-covered boy who had fallen down the hillside years ago.

Her face turned pale with anxiety, and she could only hurriedly press on Qin Zhao's shoulder to help stop the bleeding. Her voice trembling, she said, "An ambulance, quickly call an ambulance..."

The hotel manager ran over, his forehead beaded with sweat. Seeing someone injured, he quickly took out his walkie-talkie to contact someone.

"Our hotel has its own medical department, very professional. They'll be here right away. Don't worry, we can definitely handle this." While saying this, he still called for an ambulance, just in case.

Everyone gathered around, concerned.

"Fortunately, it's not a major artery."

"Only the muscle is injured, the wound isn't deep. Don't panic."

But Chu Xinyue's hands were still trembling constantly, which Qin Zhao could naturally feel as she pressed on his wound.

At this moment, his lips had lost their color. He smiled weakly, "Don't be afraid, I'm fine."

"You..." Chu Xinyue bit her lip, not knowing what to say, but her eyes reddened. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't meddled in others' affairs..."

The onlookers felt distressed hearing this. Such a wretched incident was truly unfortunate for whoever encountered it.

Qin Zhao could only pat her with his other hand, clumsily trying to comfort her. "It has nothing to do with you. It's their fault."

At this time, Ji Fei also came over with a furrowed brow.

Seeing her approach, Qin Zhao immediately said, "Second Sister-in-law, thanks to you. Thank you."

This time, he was genuinely and sincerely grateful to Ji Fei. If it hadn't been for Ji Fei's timely warning, that knife would have truly taken Chu Xinyue's life.

Just thinking about that possibility, Qin Zhao didn't know how he would have gone on living the next second.

Qin Zhao had never been so clearly aware as he was in that life-or-death moment... that Chu Xinyue had become an existence more important to him than his own life.

Chu Xinyue came to her senses and also looked gratefully towards Ji Fei. Others also expressed their admiration.

Ji Fei, however, frowned deeply, her gaze wandering, without responding.

Qin Zhao thought she was frightened and was about to say something about how he was fine, when he heard Ji Fei's puzzled inner thoughts.

[Strange, how come it's Kang Zhi?]

Qin Zhao: ?

[What I saw was information about Chu Xueqi lying in wait in the hall, planning to use a syringe to infect Xinyue with the disease. That's why I ran down to stop it.]

Qin Zhao: !

It was when Ji Fei had just woken up and thought about how Gao Hao knew about Chu Xueqi's contagious disease. She was quite curious about what would happen to Chu Xueqi next, so she used the system to check.

[If Kang Zhi rushing over was unexpected, then Chu Xueqi should still be lurking in some dark corner, ready to strike at any moment!]

Qin Zhao's expression changed drastically, and he instinctively gripped Chu Xinyue beside him tightly.

Chu Xinyue thought there was a problem with his wound and didn't resist, asking worriedly, "What's wrong?"

But Qin Zhao was already anxiously looking around.

The next second, shouts came from the distant corridor.

That corridor was the direction in which Kang Zhi had fled. Because there was a woman's voice among the shouts, everyone's faces changed upon hearing it.

Had someone else been injured by mistake?

Just then, people from the medical department arrived to treat Qin Zhao's wound. The anxious lobby manager immediately led a doctor towards the corridor.

Two male researchers, also very curious, followed to see what was happening.

In such a potentially life-threatening situation, Ji Fei still didn't dare to approach, and she needed to be on guard for the possible appearance of Chu Xueqi at all times.

And Qin Zhao, who was dizzy from blood loss, forced himself to stay alert, even more vigilant of the surroundings than Ji Fei.

But after a short while, the manager returned with the two male researchers, his face ashen.

Their panicked gazes fell on Qin Zhao and Chu Xinyue.

By this time, Qin Zhao's wound had already undergone hemostasis treatment.

"What happened?" Qin Zhao asked, "Did he escape?"

The manager said, "The person has been caught, but someone else was injured."

As he spoke, the manager looked towards Chu Xinyue and said, "Miss, if I'm not mistaken, you must be related to Miss Chu Xueqi?"

Although they shouldn't pry into client privacy, they did have identical faces after all.

Chu Xinyue instinctively frowned with distaste upon hearing such words.

Qin Zhao: "Did you see Chu Xueqi?"

Ji Fei was also quite surprised and couldn't help but use the system to check.

[Oh my goodness! This... is really... hard to judge.]

Qin Zhao became even more confused.

The male researcher finally couldn't contain his shock and said, "Chu Xueqi was slashed by Kang Zhi. When I got there, I heard Kang Zhi still shouting... Apparently, in his frenzied state, he saw Chu Xueqi's face and mistook her for you, Xinyue, so..."

[What do you call this? In the past, Chu Xueqi used Chu Xinyue's identity as she pleased, regardless of what harm it might cause Chu Xinyue. Now she's been mistaken for Chu Xinyue and encountered this accident...]

Everyone was stunned hearing this.

The manager quickly said, "Miss Chu Xueqi is seriously injured and will definitely need to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. So, Miss Chu Xinyue, could we ask you to go with her?"

Chu Xinyue's face was as cold as water. After thinking for a moment, she still stood up, intending to go with the manager.

"Don't get involved. You're not part of the Chu family anymore. Don't let them entangle you," Qin Zhao said, not wanting Chu Xinyue to come into contact with such dangerous people.

Moreover, it was hard to say how the Chu parents would treat Chu Xinyue when they learned the reason why Chu Xueqi was attacked.

Qin Zhao held onto Chu Xinyue and gave the manager a string of numbers. "Contact Chu's parents directly."

The manager looked hesitant but still dialed the number under Qin Zhao's stern gaze.

Chu Xinyue let out a silent sigh. She indeed didn't want to have any more entanglements with that family.

After contacting Chu's parents, the manager was about to leave when Qin Zhao suddenly spoke up, "Tell your medical staff to be careful. Chu Xueqi has an infectious disease."

Qin Zhao named the infectious disease, and instantly the entire hall fell silent.

Such explosive news, announced so publicly? Completely disregarding someone's privacy?

Qin Zhao sneered. Considering what Chu Xueqi was planning to do, he couldn't care less about her privacy. It would also prevent that crazy woman from harming other medical staff.