Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Impulse
The incident of Qin Qiao falling down the stairs dates back to twenty minutes earlier.
Tao Ting stormed into the provincial TV station looking for Yao Man, the news anchor for social issues, but was stopped at the gate. Just then, the anchor's car drove by, and Tao Ting blocked it without hesitation. Fearing it would be inappropriate to do this in front of the station, Yao Man had no choice but to get out of the car and follow Tao Ting to the small park next door.
The main entrance to this small park is located on a slope, requiring a climb of forty or fifty steps to enter. The morning snow had just begun to melt, making the steps slippery and difficult to traverse. Yao Man, wearing five or six-centimeter high heels, was unsteady on her feet and was dragged and pulled onto the platform by Tao Ting.
Tao Ting was instantly enraged at the thought of this vixen seducing Zhu Ao time and time again. She grabbed Zhu Ao's face, determined to ruin her appearance.
The scene of the two pushing and shoving was witnessed by Qin Qiao, who was driving by. Fearing an accident, Qin Qiao ran over to stop them and stood between them, but was accidentally injured.
Yao Man pushed Qin Qiao down the steps, and she rolled to the ground, immediately losing consciousness.
Bright red blood spread from the back of her head. Tao Ting rushed to Qin Qiao's side, but was stunned by the pale face and the crimson blood...
Yao Man thought she had accidentally killed someone, and she knelt down on the ground with a thud.
A passerby helped them call an ambulance and took them to the hospital. The initial examination in the ambulance showed no life-threatening injuries, but further examination at the hospital was necessary.
Zhu Ao rushed to the emergency room entrance. After hearing Tao Ting's account of what happened, he was both anxious and angry. He wanted to yell at her, but seeing Tao Ting's remorseful face and red eyes, he swallowed back the scolding that was about to come out.
Yao Man, the confident and poised anchorwoman in the studio, now sits on a bench, hunched over, hands on her knees, staring intently at the door of the emergency room, awaiting the verdict.
With a hiss, the emergency room door slid open automatically, and the doctor stepped out, removing his mask: "Qin Qiao's family—"
Zhu Ao: "Doctor!"
The three quickly stepped forward and surrounded the doctor.
The doctor looked at Zhu Ao and said, "He has multiple soft tissue contusions and abrasions all over his body, and his scalp laceration has been stitched up. He also has a moderate concussion, but fortunately, he is not in life-threatening danger."
The three of them breathed a sigh of relief, and Zhu Ao thanked the doctor. Qin Qiao was still unconscious when she was wheeled out and needed to be taken to the surgical ward of the inpatient department.
Following the hospital gurney upstairs, Zhu Ao stopped in the elevator lobby. After the footsteps and wheels disappeared, he took out his cell phone from his coat pocket and walked to the window to call Chen Jiashu.
*
In the private hospital room, the smell of disinfectant lingered in the air.
Tao Ting was on the phone with her housekeeper, her voice hoarse as she instructed her to buy towels, a washbasin, and slippers for the hospital. After hanging up, she turned around and her gaze fell on Qin Qiao on the hospital bed.
Qin Qiao's face was still deathly pale, and there were two bruises on her forehead. Tao Ting felt very guilty and twisted her fingers. She, who was usually quick-witted, could only remain silent.
The bed shifted slightly, and Yao Man, who had just reached the foot of the bed, placed her well-maintained hands, adorned with exquisitely painted nails, on the railing. Tao Ting snorted coldly, turning her eyes away; even a glance felt filthy.
Yao Man stared intently at the woman on the bed with her eyes closed. The doctor's confirmation that she was out of danger was like a pardon, temporarily rescuing her from the abyss of fear of being a "murderer." But before she could fully relax, another, more realistic and colder worry immediately gripped her.
The primary responsibility for Qin Qiao's accident lies with her. How many eyes witnessed that push? What will passersby in the park say?
not to mention……
Yao Man shifted her gaze from Qin Qiao's face to the bright weather outside the ward window.
The station's leaders will definitely come to visit her, both out of courtesy and reason. At that time, all the questions will be directed at her: How could anchorwoman Yao do such a thing? What is her relationship with that woman?
What to do with the impeccable, professional, and glamorous image she has cultivated for so many years?
Yao Man stood there for more than ten minutes, then made a decision, turned around, and went out to find Zhu Ao.
Two heavy, loud footsteps approached rapidly down the corridor.
In the nurses' station, a young nurse who was eating her meal stopped chewing when a very handsome man swept past the station like a gust of wind.
He had a companion beside him, supporting him with his hand; both were dressed in suits. But it wasn't the support of close friends or family; it was more like a superior-subordinate relationship, with a sense of respect in their gestures.
My gaze followed him, but I only managed to see the man turn right and enter the 001 private room before he disappeared completely.
Someone entered the room, and Tao Ting turned her head to look. When she saw that it was Chen Jiashu, she immediately got up from the stool.
Overwhelmed with guilt, she felt utterly ashamed: "Jia Shu."
The man's face hardened for the first time ever, ignoring her greeting. Zhang Zhu led him to the bedside, where the man bent down, reached out, and lightly placed his palm over Qin Qiao's face, his fingers visibly trembling.
This made Tao Ting feel even worse. Her lips trembled, and her words of apology were too soft. She didn't know what to say.
They both knew how important Qin Qiao was to Chen Jiashu.
Zhu Ao walked in and gave Tao Ting a wink.
Tao Ting understood and immediately followed them out. Assistant Zhang also walked out at the same time.
As soon as the door closed, Chen Jiashu knelt on the ground, supporting himself on his left knee. Zhu Ao told him that Qin Qiao had a laceration on the back of her head that had been stitched up, and she also had multiple soft tissue contusions. He dared not touch her, afraid of hurting her.
Only when he got very close did Chen Jiashu notice the bruise on her forehead: "Qiao Qiao..." A slight tremor came from his throat.
His hand slid down her shoulder and, through the thin hospital gown, grasped her fingers.
Is there any injury here? Chen Jiashu realized he had to call a doctor. Only when the doctor told him in person that Qin Qiao was alright could he feel at ease.
Chen Jiashu was about to get up and call Wang Zhu to fetch the doctor when, just then, slender fingers grasped his: "Jiashu..."
"Qiaoqiao, I'm here." He knelt back down. "I'm here."
Her almond-shaped eyes slowly opened, and her dark, bright pupils met his eyes as she turned her neck.
Moving her body hurt a little. Qin Qiao forced her eyes open and stared at Chen Jiashu. The man's deep brows were full of tenderness and affection. His face was still the same face that always made her heart flutter when she opened her eyes, but she felt a strange feeling in her heart, as if... he had aged.
How could it only take one night?
And why are his eyes so red? Is he crying?
The unpleasant smell of disinfectant wafted into her nostrils, and Qin Qiao wrinkled her nose as she looked around the room.
White walls, a simple three-piece sofa set, and plain light blue curtains. The pale yellow sunlight from outside filters into the room, casting polygonal light spots on the white tile floor.
Qin Qiao lowered her eyes. The blanket had the words "First Affiliated Hospital of Lanchuan City" printed in large blue letters. Her bright eyes trembled, and she realized a few beats later that she had been admitted to the hospital.
Weren't we discussing with Jiashu last night about taking a three-day trip to Yizi Township this week?
She tried to recall, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of her head.
He couldn't help but let out a painful hiss.
"I'll go get the doctor!"
Chen Jiashu let go of her hand, hurriedly got up, and rushed out, his right hand still gesturing in the air.
Qin Qiao craned her neck to watch his retreating figure, feeling somewhat puzzled and flustered. She had only been hospitalized, so why was he so nervous and disoriented?
Chen Jiashu turned right into the corridor, and Qin Qiao could no longer see him from her perspective, but she heard the sound of the door opening and Chen Jiashu saying loudly, "Zhang Xin, call the doctor over!"
Who is Zhang Xin?
"Jia Shu..." she realized that the voice she was making sound like a dream.
Her chest heaved heavily, sending waves of pain through her body. She tried to sit up, but couldn't; the moment she lifted her head, the world spun around her, and her stomach churned unbearably.
Qin Qiao looked at the ceiling, which was a large, clean expanse of white. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chen Jiashu—his hand waving in the air.
"Qiaoqiao?" he called tentatively in a soft voice.
Her heart clenched, Qin Qiao closed her eyes and didn't answer.
The next second, the bed shook slightly, the man touched the edge of the bed, his body suddenly relaxed, and then he put down the hand and walked along the bed towards the headboard.
With a "bang," his toe hit the bedside table. He stopped, took a step back, and turned to face her.
Then, Chen Jiashu slowly lowered his eyelids. Beneath his thick, dark eyelashes, his dark pupils reflected the light in the room, as well as her eyes that were silently observing him.
"...Asleep..." he muttered to himself.
These words struck her like a bolt of lightning, confirming all her suspicions. She couldn't describe the shock she felt; her heart felt like it was being repeatedly crushed by wheels, the pain excruciating.
Unable to lie down any longer, Qin Qiao propped herself up and sat up. Despite her head being in turmoil, she rushed over and hugged Chen Jiashu tightly around the waist, tears streaming down her face: "What happened to your eyes?"
The man's body suddenly stiffened, as if he had been struck by a heavy blow.
Chen Jiashu didn't speak. She raised her chin, tears rolling down her cheeks: "What's wrong with your eyes?"
"What happened?"
"What happened?"
She kept asking questions, her throat twitching. Halfway through her crying, a sticky, sour taste rushed into her mouth. Before it could come out, Qin Qiao immediately turned her head away and spat out a mouthful of filth.
After that, she fainted. Before she completely lost consciousness, she felt Chen Jiashu pull her into his arms and lean against his chest. She heard him calling her anxiously and tremblingly, which was deafening. She also heard a lot of footsteps. After a few seconds, all the sounds disappeared like the tide receding in the middle of the night, and everything became eerily quiet.
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Author's note: The female protagonist does not have amnesia.
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