Chu Chu sat on the sofa in the lounge, with people standing behind her.
Her palm had been slashed with a large gash, blood steadily pouring out, looking quite terrifying.
But compared to what had happened earlier when she almost died, this minor injury seemed rather merciful.
The only awkward part was that Old Master Zhao mistakenly thought she had protected him.
Aunt Zhao, Old Master Zhao's daughter, looked at her with concern: “Why did you grab the knife like that, child? Couldn’t you have dodged it?”
Chu Chu shook her head dazedly: “I was afraid the knife would hit someone else.”
If it could kill her, it could kill someone else too.
At least, she wanted to minimize the damage.
The family doctor took her hand carefully and spoke cautiously: “This might hurt a little, please bear with it.”
Chu Chu nodded and secretly grabbed the edge of the sofa with her other hand.
With so many people watching, she would be too embarrassed to cry out loud.
But when the iodine swab gently touched her wound, Chu Chu's face turned red like a liver, and her hand gripping the sofa became pale.
[It hurts so much! Why is it so painful?!]
Her brothers simultaneously changed their expressions.
Pei Youchuan couldn’t help but say: “Please be gentler.”
Chu Chu looked at Pei Youchuan with teary eyes.
Pei Youchuan met her gaze stiffly, then turned his head away.
The doctor became more gentle with his movements.
Chu Chu didn’t find it too hard to endure, but when the disinfection was over, she looked at her hand, the large wound in her palm, the flesh even slightly turned outward, making it look shocking and disgusting.
Everyone’s expressions changed: “This will need stitches.”
The doctor nodded: “I’ll bandage it for now. You need to go to the hospital for stitches and a tetanus shot.”
Chu Chu felt it was too much trouble: “No need—”
“Yes, you do.” Pei Yuan interrupted, signaling the doctor to finish the bandage: “I’ll take her to the hospital.”
Soon, Chu Chu was rushed down the stairs by Pei Yuan.
Lin Qing and the other brothers quickly followed.
Chu Chu repeatedly emphasized: “I’m really fine, Big Brother.”
Pei Yuan ignored her, pulling her into the family car and forcing her to sit beside him: “We’re going to the hospital.”
Pei Youchuan followed behind: “Should we find that little troublemaker’s parents?”
Pei Yuan shoved Chu Chu into the car: “You go check the surveillance and find out which family the kid is from. Give them a day; if they don’t apologize by midnight tonight, do as you see fit.”
Pei Youchuan nodded and took out his phone to handle it.
Chu Chu tried to argue further.
Pei Yuan glared at her: “Be quiet.”
Chu Chu: “……”
The atmosphere in the car was very tense.
The other brothers had dark expressions, staring at Chu Chu resentfully.
Chu Chu looked to Lin Qing for help.
Lin Qing stifled a laugh, looking as though he was used to it, and shrugged at her.
His expression seemed to say, "I told you they’re all obsessed with you."
Chu Chu bit her lip and said nothing more.
Lou Ting Si stood outside the hotel, watching the family car disappear from his view.
Lou Yue Jue stood beside him, somewhat curious: “Dad, do you think Chu Chu protected Old Master Zhao because she predicted what was about to happen?”
Lou Ting Si remained noncommittal: “Regardless, Chu Chu has information we need.”
Lou Yue Jue was puzzled: “But wouldn’t it be enough if I just avoided Xia Xue Chun?”
Lou Ting Si snorted coldly: “You think avoiding Xia Xue Chun will solve everything? What did you do before you died for Xia Xue Chun? What did I do? Why was I shot in a gun-free country like China? Who shot me, and why are we two key characters in this story, huh?”
Lou Yue Jue began to understand.
Lou Ting Si lit a cigarette, determination in his eyes: “No matter what, we need to keep Chu Chu close, just in case. I don’t care if I die, but you can’t.”
Lou Yue Jue was startled and grabbed his hand nervously: “Dad, I’m fine with dying, but you can’t die! I’m still young, it doesn’t matter. I’m not afraid of death.”
Lou Ting Si looked down at his son.
Lou Yue Jue looked at him with firm resolve.
The two of them were like two peas in a pod, even their gazes were the same level of resolute.
Lou Ting Si gently patted his son’s head: “It looks like we’re after the same goal. Let’s cooperate well together.”
Lou Yue Jue nodded heavily.
For his dad, and for himself, he would definitely stay close to Chu Chu!
He would figure out everything that was going to happen to them!
—
Chu Chu walked out of the hospital with her hand heavily bandaged, enduring the pain.
Surrounded by handsome men, she attracted curious looks from passersby.
The only downside was that both the handsome men and the beautiful women looked rather grim.
Pei Yuan took off his jacket and draped it over Chu Chu’s shoulders, pulling her arm as they walked toward the parking lot.
Chu Chu dared not say a word.
When Big Brother was angry, she and the other brothers couldn’t even breathe.
A male voice called from behind them: “Miss Qiao.”
Chu Chu stopped and looked back.
Lou Ting Si was standing under the pale yellow streetlight, smiling as he looked at her: “Are you alright?”
Chu Chu was surprised: “Mr. Lou?”
The others’ expressions changed.
Pei Yuan looked at Chu Chu in surprise, whispering: “What’s going on? Didn’t I tell you not to provoke the Lou family?”
Chu Chu was equally surprised, lowering her voice to explain: “I didn’t, we only talked for a few words on the sofa earlier.”
Suddenly, Lou Yue Jue rushed over enthusiastically and threw himself into her arms: “Sister Qiao!”
Chu Chu staggered two steps from the impact, surprised as she held him tightly.
Lou Yue Jue looked up at her with a pitiful expression: “Are you alright, sister?”
Chu Chu froze.
This sickly boy was so gentle?
Lou Ting Si helplessly said from the side: “Ever since you got hurt, my son has been very worried about you. No matter how I explain it to him, he doesn’t listen and insists on coming to check on you.”
Lou Ting Si’s gaze was sly, shifting between Chu Chu and the others: “My son and I… didn’t interrupt you, did we?”
“Of course not.” Pei Yuan stepped forward and extended his hand to Lou Ting Si: “It’s an honor for my sister to receive the attention of Mr. Lou and Young Master Lou. I’m Pei Yuan.”
Lou Ting Si also extended his hand and shook it with a smile: “I’ve heard of Mr. Pei for a long time.”
The two men were of similar height, their smiles polite but their eyes filled with subtle testing.
Lou Yue Jue stood on tiptoe and looked at Chu Chu with concern: “Sister, come with my dad and me in the same car. I’m so worried about you.”
Chu Chu was even more uncomfortable.
[When did this scheming little brat become so cute and refreshing? This is so weird.]
Lou Yue Jue: “?”
Pei Yuan smiled and pulled Chu Chu behind him: “My sister is hurt right now. If she accidentally injures you, that would be bad.”
“I don’t mind.” Lou Yue Jue replied swiftly: “A real man should protect the sister he likes.”
He tilted his head and smiled at Chu Chu: “Right, sister!~”
Chu Chu shivered!
[What the heck, when other little kids talk to me like that, I just think they're cute, but when you say it, you just creep me out!]
Lou Yue Jue: “……”
This fool is getting a bit too cocky.
He was being so sincere, and she still thought he was scary!