She is crying
The knocking sound stopped.
The last ray of hope in Zuo Xiao's heart was gradually swallowed by despair. The pair of bloodshot eyes in front of her gradually blurred, tears blocking her vision.
At this moment, my heart is filled with regrets. It turns out that there are still so many unfinished things in life...
Suddenly, a cell phone rang on the tiled floor. The darkness that enveloped her was torn apart by the notes, and light poured into her desperate heart like a waterfall.
It's him!
Suddenly, strength surged within her body, and she struggled with all her might, only to be met with even more intense suppression. She felt her body straining, while the faith within her mind surged wildly.
Suddenly, a guitar appeared in her shaky vision, standing neatly beside the coffee table. A flash of light flashed through her mind, and she lifted her right leg from the ground and kicked hard against the guitar.
When the humming sound of the guitar filled the whole room, Zuo Xiao's eyes suddenly went dark and his consciousness was cut off.
When I opened my eyes again, there was no one above me.
She sat up suddenly, feeling dizzy. In her distorted vision were two men.
Looking closely, she saw Zhuang Yu'an standing beside her at the dining table, facing Zhang Jianming. The former was unarmed, while the latter held a folding fruit knife.
She gasped in fear and looked around suddenly, searching for a usable weapon within her sight. Zhuang Yu'an noticed her and shouted, "Don't come over!"
At this moment, Zhang Jianming pounced forward, and the figures of the two men overlapped.
When they separated again, Zhuang Yu'an's right forearm had a shocking red patch. Then it gradually faded, and the bright red blood seeped through his white shirt and dripped onto the floor.
Before Zuo Xiaoshang could scream, Zhang Jianming approached him again.
At the critical moment, Zhuang Yu'an quickly and decisively grabbed the knife-wielding wrist with his left hand and twisted it hard. With a snapping sound, Zhang Jianming's arm was dislocated, and the folding knife fell from his hand.
Zhuang Yu'an took advantage of the situation and pushed him down, but Zhang Jianming used his other hand to hit the wound he had stabbed the moment he landed. Zhuang Yu'an's hand loosened, and he was instantly turned over and pinned down.
In terms of size and strength, Zhang Jianming was no match for Zhuang Yu'an. However, he once again mastered his weapon: the folding knife that had fallen to the ground. He grasped the knife with one hand, the tip of the knife aimed at Zhuang Yu'an's carotid artery. Zhuang Yu'an grasped his wrist with both hands, raising the blade inch by inch, and the blood that continuously flowed out dyed his entire arm red.
Suddenly, there was a loud "bang" and Zhang Jianming suddenly lost his strength and fell to the ground. Zhuang Yu'an stared blankly at the person standing at his feet with his eyes wide open.
The guitar case had been cracked, and Zuo Xiao quickly threw it away. She then bent down and grabbed Zhuang Yu'an's shoulders, trying to lift him up. However, her limbs were weak, and she couldn't muster any strength at all. Big tears fell onto his face.
Zhuang Yu'an came to his senses, stood up, supported her, and hugged her tightly.
Two days later.
Zhuang Yu'an was discharged from the hospital. Chen Quan drove, Zhuang Jinghao sat in the passenger seat, and Zuo Xiao sat with him in the back seat. The preliminary investigation into this criminal case has concluded, and Zhang Jianming has been taken to a detention center, facing a minimum prison sentence of three years.
"Boss, do you want to jump over the fire pot?" Chen Quan's expression didn't seem to be joking. "The bruises on my face haven't healed yet, and my hand is injured again. I should go and get rid of the bad luck."
"That makes sense!" Zhuang Jinghao said first, "Why don't we go to the temple and pray for a peace talisman!"
Zhuang Yu'an didn't believe in metaphysics, but he raised his lips when he heard this. He turned to look at Zuo Xiao and said, "Want to go for a walk in the mountains?" She nodded, and he said, "Okay, let's find time to go together in the next two days."
Chen Quan answered a call using his Bluetooth headset and reported after hanging up, "Boss, PR department report: There has been some discussion and speculation following the announcement this morning, but the situation is under control. You don't have to worry."
Zhuang Yu'an had already read the public company announcement. As chairman of a listed company, his personal situation is directly related to the company's operational stability and investor interests, and internal assessments require timely disclosure of information. However, the announcement simply stated that he was injured in a sudden external incident, that his condition is stable after treatment, and that it will not significantly impact the company's governance structure or continued operations. Specific details were not disclosed. This likely leads to widespread speculation regarding the cause and extent of his injury.
"Brother," Zhuang Jinghao suggested, displaying her professionalism as a public relations professional, "when you get home, why don't you post a photo on your social media? That way, the outside world will know you're safe and sound, and it can help mitigate some of the negative speculation."
Zhuang Yu'an readily accepted her suggestion. After arriving home, Chen Quan helped him take off his coat. He said, "I'll go clean up. Jinghao, please take a picture of me on the sofa later."
He walked up the stairs, and Zuo Xiao took the initiative to follow him. Zhuang Jinghao stayed on the first floor and invited Chen Quan to sit down and have tea.
Logically, Zuo Xiao and Zhuang Yu'an had shared their heartfelt messages several times over the past two days, she'd already shed all the tears she needed. When she was first admitted to the hospital, she watched the nurse cut open his bloodstained sleeve, and she burst into tears right there and then. She cried several more times the next day, her eyes swollen all day.
But at this moment, she stood at the bathroom door, looking at his unshaven profile, and couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat and her eyes turned red.
"Why are you crying again?" Although Zhuang Yu'an was shaving, he was still paying attention to her. Suddenly seeing a pair of tearful eyes, he quickly put down the electric shaver, stepped forward and hugged her in his arms.
"Don't cry, don't cry..." He patted her back with his left hand and coaxed her softly, "I'm fine, right? The doctor said it will be completely healed in two months at most. Don't cry, okay?"
Through her tears, Zuo Xiao recalled the scene that nearly suffocated her: the tip of the knife, flashing with a cold light, was aimed at Zhuang Yu'an's carotid artery, less than 20 centimeters away. What if... What if... She didn't dare to think about it anymore.
Her chin was gently lifted, and Zhuang Yu'an first sucked away the tears on her face, then moved his warm lips to her lips, comforting her with utmost tenderness.
After finally tidying up her appearance, Zhuang Yu'an took her into the bedroom.
She carefully helped him take off his clothes, and inevitably saw the bandage wrapped around his right arm, and her throat suddenly choked again.
Zhuang Yu'an pulled her to sit on the edge of the bed, put his left arm around her shoulders, and said soothingly, "It wasn't that dangerous at the time. He wasn't as strong as me, and he was still a patient. How could he have defeated me?"
Zuo Xiao didn't buy it. She nestled in his arms and asked, "If it was that easy, how did you get stabbed?"
She didn't notice the complex flash in Zhuang Yu'an's eyes. He paused, then said, "I was indeed careless at first. I didn't expect that despite looking frail, he was actually quite agile... But then it became a battle of strength. There was no way he could beat me. I was absolutely certain that his knife couldn't penetrate me."
His tone suddenly lightened up: "But it's all thanks to you, baby, for staying calm in the face of danger and turning the situation around with just a guitar. You are worthy of being called China's number one guitarist."
"You're annoying!" Zuo Xiao was very dissatisfied with his joke and raised his hand to hit him on the lower back.
Zhuang Yu'an smiled and hugged her tighter. After a long pause, he said, "I find it incredible. You were clearly in a more dangerous situation that night, but all these days you've been so concerned about me, crying for me. Aren't you afraid of the consequences? When I rushed into the room and saw you lying unconscious on the sofa, my soul almost flew away..."
This was not the first time he had recalled or spoken of that scene, but the feeling of fear that had nearly frightened him to death remained unchanged, as clear as if it had just happened. He pursed his lips and could not help but kiss her brow to confirm that she was still by his side.
Zuo Xiao herself found it incredible. She remembered the fear of near-death experience when Zhang Jianming pinned her to the sofa. However, after witnessing Zhuang Yu'an's blood-soaked arm resisting the knife reaching for his throat, her mind felt like it had been refreshed. She replayed and re-examined that incredibly thrilling and terrifying scene, while the specific details and feelings of her own near-death situation gradually became blurred, as if old memories were being overwritten by new ones, the fear of "I almost died" being overshadowed by the fear of "he almost died."
"I don't know why, but I still don't feel particularly scared..." She tried to analyze the reason. "Maybe the scene of you surviving under the knife was too exciting. My brain only remembers the feeling of that moment, and everything else is downplayed... Or maybe it's the brain's self-protection mechanism that kicks in, automatically fading the painful memory... Or maybe it's trying to make me braver? It's like the saying that pregnancy makes women stupid for three years. In fact, the brain is deliberately trying to make women forget or downplay the pain of childbirth so that they are willing to continue to have children, which is conducive to the goal of human reproduction."
Zhuang Yu'an was silent for a moment, then said, "Your speculation is not unreasonable, but I still want to maintain my own judgment."
"What judgment?" Zuo Xiao looked up and asked.
Zhuang Yu'an loosened his grip and slowly pushed her down onto the bed. His body covered hers, his nose touching hers.
"Maybe I'm just narcissistic..." He chuckled softly, the hot air rushing into her nostrils, making her heart palpitate. He pecked her lips lightly and continued, "I always feel that it's because you love me, care about me, and the anxiety of losing me that outweighs the fear of being in danger. I'm very touched, and at the same time, I feel extremely lucky and happy..."
Zuo Xiao was deeply shocked by his words, her eyes sparkling with stars, her lips moving but unable to utter a word. Zhuang Yu'an felt a surge of heat and dampness in his heart, as if he had been soaked in overheated hot spring water, about to soften and melt.
He lowered his head and kissed her passionately.
On the first floor, Zhuang Jinghao was feeling uneasy.
She and Chen Quan talked about all the possible topics, but the two people who were supposed to go upstairs to "clean up" did not come down for a long time, so they had to check their phones.
She had long been aware of her brother's behavior and assumed he wasn't "dealing" with her. But his secretary probably didn't know that, right? What if he had a bad association? Her brother didn't mind being embarrassed, but she still had some dignity!
"Brother Chen Quan..." She put down her phone and asked tentatively, "Do you have anything else to report to my brother later?"
Chen Quan cleared his throat and said, "It's the annual incentive plan for senior executives. It needs Mr. Zhuang's signature." He paused and said, "There's no rush right now. How about I... come back later?"
Zhuang Jinghao nodded pretentiously: "I think it's okay."
Chen Quan stood up, and Zhuang Jinghao also stood up to see the guest off, when suddenly footsteps were heard on the stairs.
Turning around, she saw her brother approaching with a dignified air. He wore a denim shirt, a navy cashmere cardigan, and beige casual pants. His outfit was elegant and stylish, yet energetic and relaxed. His appearance betrayed no sign of injury. Zhuang Jinghao craned her neck and peered behind her, but there was no sign of Zuo Xiao.
Zhuang Yu'an sat on the sofa and said, "Should I take some props to make it look more natural?"
"Here." Chen Quan took out a document from his briefcase that was waiting for his boss's review and signature. Zhuang Yu'an shook his head: "Starting work right after being discharged from the hospital? Isn't that a bit too stressful?"
Chen Quan was stunned: "Then... where should I get a book?"
"No, no," Zhuang Jing objected. "You're posing for photos just to read and post on social media. It seems so contrived..."
Chen Quan's mouth twitched, and he said, "How about some coffee?" He shook his head, rejecting himself. "Drinking coffee right after being discharged from the hospital is quite strange..."
Zhuang Jinghao also felt a headache. He didn't expect that posing for a photo would be so troublesome. Suddenly, an idea came to him: "How about we take a group photo?"
So, the brother and sister sat side by side on the sofa, and Chen Quan helped take a photo. In the photo, Zhuang Yu'an smiled calmly, while Zhuang Jinghao hooked her brother's left arm and grinned brightly.
Zhuang Jinghao simply edited the photo and sent it back to his brother. Two minutes later, he put down his phone with a smile: "Alright."
She quickly opened her circle of friends and saw the photo her brother had just posted with the caption:
"I have recovered and returned home. Thank you for your concern. And - thank you for being by my side."
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