Chapter Thirty: Are You Really Worried About Me?

Cheng Yin stood at the door of the private clinic, the smell of disinfectant mixed with the stench of blood.

Through the half-open door, she saw the doctor using tweezers to remove a bloodstained bullet from Li Yaodong's shoulder blade, the metal falling onto the tray with a crisp "clink".

"Ugh..." Li Yaodong's muffled groan sounded like a blunt knife scraping against my eardrum.

Blood flowed down Li Yaodong's back, pooling into a dark red stain on the treatment bed.

In the next room, Lin Shirong was stitching up a knife wound on his arm. He refused general anesthesia, opting for local anesthesia instead. He remained as quiet as a corpse throughout the procedure, with only the cold sweat on his forehead betraying his pain.

"Does it hurt?" Cheng Yin asked softly, standing by Li Yaodong's bed but not daring to get close.

Li Yaodong turned to look at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "A little." His voice was hoarse, as if squeezed out from between his teeth, "But it's better than being driven mad by someone."

The doctor said a few words, then picked up the needle and thread and began to suture.

Cheng Yin watched as the curved needle pierced through Li Yaodong's flesh, the thread pulling the wound shut, like sewing up a torn garment. Her temples throbbed, and her vision began to blur.

"Sit down," Li Yaodong suddenly commanded. "Your face is as white as paper."

Cheng Yin shook her head, stubbornly standing still. She couldn't give up, especially not at this moment. After the doctor finished stitching up the last stitch and bandaging the wound, he gave a few instructions in broken English and left.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

"Thank you." Li Yaodong's voice suddenly softened.

Cheng Yin was stunned for a moment. This was the first time Li Yaodong had thanked her. There was no sarcasm or anger in his tone, only a strange weariness and... gentleness?

"I should be thanking you." Cheng Yin handed him a glass of water, "for saving me..."

Li Yaodong didn't take the water glass, but suddenly grabbed her wrist: "Cheng Yin." He looked directly into her eyes, "Are you really worried about me?"

The question was too direct. Cheng Yin's eyelashes trembled. She remembered how she felt when she saw Li Yaodong get shot.

"Yes." She nodded, her voice soft but firm.

Li Yaodong's expression subtly changed, like a traveler who had suddenly discovered an oasis in the desert, yet could not believe it wasn't a mirage.

He released Cheng Yin's wrist, then gently squeezed her fingertips: "Crazy old woman."

The way he said it carried an inexplicable air of doting affection.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Cheng Yin asked.

Looking at her serious expression, Li Yaodong said, "Yes."

"What?"

"Live like a human being." His voice was low. "Live well." He paused, his eyes turning serious. "Don't be so reckless anymore, don't be so impulsive anymore, don't be so indifferent to everything anymore..."

These three "no's" are like three locks, wrapping Cheng Yin's heart layer by layer.

"I'll try my best," Cheng Yin promised softly.

Li Yaodong raised an eyebrow: "Try my best?"

"I can't guarantee that," Cheng Yin answered honestly, "If someone gets hurt because of me again next time..."

"Cheng Yin!" Li Yaodong's voice suddenly rose, the movement causing him to wince in pain as he pulled at his wound. "You fucking..."

The door was pushed open, and Lin Shirong walked in, his right arm wrapped in thick bandages, and he had changed into a new pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

Seeing the two facing off, he raised an eyebrow: "Sorry to interrupt?"

Li Yaodong withdrew his glare: "Perfect timing." He pointed at Cheng Yin, "Tell her what 'cherishing life' means."

Lin Shirong adjusted his glasses: "I think she was very brave today."

"Brave my ass!" Li Yaodong tried to slam his fist on the table, but the movement aggravated his wound, causing him to gasp. "That's suicide!"

"Laugh?" Li Yaodong glared at her.

Cheng Yin looked bewildered and pointed to herself. Had she just laughed?

Seeing her like this, Li Yaodong's anger deflated like a balloon punctured by a needle: "Forget it." He shook his head helplessly. "Help me up."

"What are you looking at?" Li Yaodong noticed her gaze.

Cheng Yin pointed to an arc-shaped scar on his ribs: "This..."

"Eighteen years old, a dockside brawl," Li Yaodong said casually, "It almost cost me my life."

Lin Shirong added, "My father saved him that time."

Cheng Yin recalled Lin Shirong mentioning how Li Yaodong saved him, and suddenly realized that there was a bond of life and death between the two, which was far deeper than that between business partners.

The sound of a car engine came from outside the clinic. Lin Shirong walked to the window and glanced out: "The car's here, let's go back to the hotel."

Li Yaodong tried to stand up, but swayed due to excessive blood loss. Cheng Yin immediately supported his arm, letting him lean most of his weight on her.

Li Yaodong was a head taller than her, with strong muscles, and his weight almost made her lose her balance, but she gritted her teeth and held on.

"Showing off." Li Yaodong looked down at the small whorl on the top of her head. "Let Lin Shirong come."

Cheng Yin shook her head: "I can."

Lin Shirong supported Li Yaodong on the other side, and the three of them slowly moved towards the door.

Li Yaodong's left arm was draped over Cheng Yin's shoulder, and he could feel her thin frame and slightly trembling muscles.

A black SUV was parked at the back door of the clinic. The driver, a man from Siam, silently helped them into the car.

Cheng Yin sat next to Li Yaodong, his head resting against the car window, gently hitting the glass with each bump of the car. Cheng Yin hesitated for a moment, then gently moved his head to her shoulder.

Li Yaodong opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow at her.

"It doesn't hurt like this," Cheng Yin explained, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness.

Li Yaodong didn't speak, but simply closed his eyes, letting his breath brush against Cheng Yin's neck. Her skin had a faint fragrance, not perfume, but like sun-dried cotton, clean and warm.

Lin Shirong sat in the passenger seat, watching this scene through the rearview mirror, then looked down to send a text message before turning off his phone.

The night sky of Jinfo City surged in like a tide, with neon lights flowing outside the car window.

The car was parked in front of the five-star hotel. Lin Shirong had arranged for a VIP passage in advance, and the three of them took the elevator directly upstairs.

Cheng Yin's shoulder still retained the warmth of Li Yaodong, like an invisible brand.

The suite was spacious and luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a dazzling view of the Golden Buddha City at night. Lin Shirong ordered room service, and food and medicine were quickly delivered.

Lin Shirong told Li Yaodong, "Don't get it wet."

Li Yaodong nodded and pointed at Cheng Yin: "Keep an eye on her, don't let her run around."

Cheng Yin frowned: "I'm not a child."

"More troublesome than a child," Li Yaodong scoffed. "At least a child knows how to be afraid of death."

Lin Shirong glanced at the two of them, then tactfully took his leave: "I live next door. Call me if you need anything."

After the door closed, the suite fell silent.

Li Yaodong sat on the sofa, his wound throbbing slightly.

"Are you hungry?" she broke the silence.

Li Yaodong shook his head: "Come here."

Cheng Yin walked up to him.

Li Yaodong looked up at her, his gaze piercing: "Do you know you were wrong?"

Cheng Yin nodded: "Mm."

"What went wrong?"

"We shouldn't have acted on our own," Cheng Yin said like a student admitting their mistake. "We shouldn't have taken the risk."

Li Yaodong shook his head: "No." He reached out and gently grasped her wrist. "Your mistake is that you don't value your own life."

Cheng Yin's pulse quickened under his fingertips; Li Yaodong's palms were rough and warm, calloused from gunshot wounds.

"I'm used to it," Cheng Yin said softly. "From childhood to adulthood, no one has ever valued my life."

Li Yaodong's eyes darkened. He gently pulled her, and Cheng Yin lost her balance, falling to the ground beside him.

"Now I have it," he said, his voice low. "Me."

This simple word landed on Cheng Yin's heart like a piece of burning embers. She looked up at him, and her small reflection was clearly seen in Li Yaodong's eyes.

"Li Yaodong," Cheng Yin suddenly asked, "Why me?"

"Why what?"

"Why... do you care about me?" Cheng Yin's voice was as light as a feather. "I'm nothing special."

Li Yaodong laughed, the laughter aggravating his wounds and turning into a muffled groan: "Yes, why?" he asked himself, answering his own question, "Maybe because you're exceptionally foolish."

Cheng Yin frowned: "Answer seriously."

Lai Yiu-tung reached out and gently stroked Cheng Yin's cheek with his thumb, lingering on the bruise at the corner of her mouth: "Because you're the only one," he suddenly grinned, "the only woman who makes me hate you so much my jaw drops."

"I don't understand," Cheng Yin said honestly.

"You don't need to understand." Li Yaodong withdrew his hand. "Just remember, your life is mine now." He paused. "So, protect it."

"Okay." She nodded. "I promise you."

Li Yaodong seemed surprised by her quick agreement, raising an eyebrow: "So obedient?"

"It's not about being obedient," Cheng Yin corrected him, "it's about...doing it willingly."

Because he... saved himself.

The word was like a spell, instantly freezing the air in the room. Li Yaodong's pupils dilated slightly, and his breathing became heavy. He reached out to touch Cheng Yin, but the movement aggravated his wound, causing him to gasp in pain.

"Don't move," Cheng Yin pressed him down. "You need to rest."

Cheng Yin helped him back to the master bedroom, her movements clumsy yet earnest and somewhat cautious.

She arranged his slippers at an angle so he could easily get out of bed and put them on if he needed to get up in the middle of the night. She used another pillow on the bed to elevate the injured side of his body and placed warm water by his bedside...

"Cheng Yin." He called out to her as she turned around.

"Um?"

"good evening."

Cheng Yin paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Goodnight, Li Yaodong."

Cheng Yin had that dream again. In the dream, she was standing on a tall building, the wind blowing her shirt, and someone behind her was shouting something in Cantonese.

The starry sky over Golden Buddha City was exceptionally bright that night.