Chapter 97 Zhenzhen, I'm afraid

When Shen Zhen and Gu Yushu arrived at the hospital, Jiang Yu was standing alone outside the operating room.

The smell of disinfectant filled the hospital corridor. The hospital was eerily quiet at night. Shen Zhen quickly walked to Jiang Yu's side and cautiously called out softly, "Xiao Yu'er, what's wrong?"

Jiang Yu numbly turned around, her face already covered in tears. It took her a long time to realize that the person standing in front of her was Shen Zhen. After a moment of reaction, she collapsed into Shen Zhen's arms and burst into tears.

Shen Zhen hugged Jiang Yu tightly, feeling her trembling body and feeling heartbroken. She didn't say anything more, but gently patted Jiang Yu's back, repeatedly comforting her in a low and gentle voice, "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay."

Through Jiang Yu's intermittent sobs, Shen Zhen and Gu Yushu finally understood. It turned out that when Jiang Yu left her studio earlier that day, she was harassed by a few thugs and got into an argument. Zhong Li somehow followed behind her and rushed out to protect her, but he was severely beaten in the process.

When Mr. and Mrs. Zhong arrived, Zhong Li's surgery had just ended, and she had been transferred to the intensive care unit. Overnight, Mr. Zhong seemed to have aged a lot, and Mrs. Zhong leaned helplessly in his arms, hoping that Zhong Li could pull through.

Gu Yushu contacted specialists and arranged for Zhong Li to have a consultation tomorrow. She walked up to Zhong's father and said with difficulty, "Uncle, don't worry, I will contact the best medical team to help Ali get through this difficult time."

The Zhong family and the Gu family were old acquaintances. Mr. and Mrs. Zhong were a perfect couple in the industry, deeply in love and with a smooth and successful life. They never expected to encounter such a thing in their old age.

Mrs. Zhong looked as if her heart had been ripped out; her eyes were red and swollen as she tightly gripped Gu Yushu's hand, her voice trembling, "Yushu, our Ah Li has always troubled you so much. Now that she's lying there, Auntie... Auntie..."

Zhong's mother choked up several times, unable to speak. Zhong Li was her only child. Compared to losing her, what else could she not accept? What did it matter if she didn't get married or take over the company? As long as she was by her side, as long as she was happy, that was enough.

With red eyes, Jiang Yu took the initiative to help Zhong's mother up, her eyes filled with guilt and self-blame. "Auntie, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... It's all my fault..."

Zhong's mother squeezed her hand, "Don't say that. Ah Li is such a cold person. The fact that she's willing to help you means you're very important to her. Those thugs deserve to die; they must not be let off!"

Jiang Yu's heart trembled. She hadn't expected Zhong's mother to be so considerate of others. She wasn't as aloof as she had imagined; she was just a mother who cared for and loved her child.

In the middle of the night, Gu Yushu pulled Shen Zhen aside, looking at her with heartache and downcast eyes. "Zhenzhen, I'll have the driver take you home first. Go back and rest for a bit. I'll watch over things here."

Shen Zhen opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Gu Yushu gently and forcefully stopped her from speaking, stroking her hair. "Zhenzhen, listen to me. Ali might not wake up for a while. I'll stay here."

Gu Yushu hugged Shen Zhen and coaxed her softly, "Go back and get a good night's sleep. You'll bring us food tomorrow, okay?"

Shen Zhen had no choice but to go back first.

Jiang Yu stayed with Zhong's mother, listening to her ramble on about Zhong Li's childhood. She said that Zhong Li had always had her own ideas, and they, as her parents, indulged her because they knew their daughter wouldn't do anything outrageous. So, although Zhong Li seemed rebellious, she was very considerate of their feelings and never wanted to hurt them.

Jiang Yu gradually understood Ah Li's desire for an arranged marriage. Between her parents and herself, she chose her parents. But why was Zhong Li constantly getting closer to her lately? It seemed that Zhong's parents had no idea that Zhong Li liked girls.

Jiang Yu didn't have time to think about those things; she just wanted Zhong Li to wake up. No matter what happened between them, she wanted Zhong Li to be alright.

...

The next day, Shen Zhen woke up to the local entertainment headline. The previous night, the Yang family's daughter had spent the night with married man Zhang Ping, only to be caught red-handed by Zhang Ping's wife at the hotel entrance. Zhang Ping's infidelity had already been discovered by his wife, and this time she had brought reporters and lawyers to catch him in the act.

It's said that when the door was opened, both men were naked and somewhat disoriented. The Yang family's daughter selflessly sacrificed herself to save the company, while Zhang Ping was threatened with being kicked out of the house with nothing by his wife. The online discussion was heated; people are always enthusiastic about gossip.

Shen Zhen scoffed inwardly, not paying much attention. Yang Yao had brought it upon herself. If Yu Shu had been in the room today, who knows what she would have forced Yu Shu to do. Those who do many evil deeds will surely perish!

Shen Zhen rushed to the hospital with a lunchbox. Zhong Li's condition, as determined by the expert consultation, was not optimistic. Even after leaving the intensive care unit, he might still suffer from many sequelae.

When Zhong's mother heard the result, she almost fainted. Jiang Yu held Zhong's mother tightly, her eyes red, and whispered to comfort her, "Auntie, as long as Ali is still alive, it's not a problem."

A strange feeling swept through Zhong's mother's heart, but she was too sad at the time to think about it carefully. She only felt that Jiang Yu and Zhong Li had a good relationship.

Gu Yushu then began to investigate who had hired these thugs. She found it strange that these people would approach Jiang Yu for no reason.

Shen Zhen watched as Jiang Yu stayed up all night with Mr. and Mrs. Zhong, her heart filled with pity and heartache. She quietly walked to Jiang Yu's side and gently took her hand: "Little Yu'er, you've been up all night, why don't you go back and rest for a while?" However, Jiang Yu seemed to have lost her soul, her eyes were empty and confused, her face was as pale as paper, revealing endless pain.

Jiang Yu's lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only let out a low murmur. She slowly rested her head on Shen Zhen's shoulder, as if she had found a sliver of support and comfort. The gentle touch made Shen Zhen's heart tighten; she could feel the deep sorrow in Jiang Yu's heart.

Jiang Yu murmured softly, "Zhenzhen, I've already decided to let her go completely. The pain and heartache are mine alone. But... why does she have to provoke me again? And she even seriously injured herself. How can I bear to do this?"

Shen Zhen didn't know what to say, so she could only put her arm around her shoulder and say, "I understand, I understand. Our little Yu'er is the most soft-hearted. But no matter what, can you eat something? Don't exhaust yourself."

Jiang Yu shook her head, looking at the delicious-looking food, and said with difficulty, "Zhenzhen, I can't eat. I'm so scared... I'm scared she'll never wake up again."