Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
The enormous glass chandelier shattered on the ground, emitting a few final, crisp sounds, like the last lament of a star. Smoke and dust filled the stage, mixed with a cold, faint aura of residual energy—a chilling malice belonging to the "Star Remains" that Su Nian knew all too well.
The spotlight stubbornly shone on, piercing through the dust and focusing on the two figures embracing.
Xie Chen knelt on one knee, shielding Su Nian tightly beneath him. His broad back resembled a mountain ravaged by a storm, and from the tear in his suit, glaring blood was slowly seeping through. But he was oblivious to this, his eyes, slightly constricted by extreme fear, fixed intently on Su Nian in his arms, his voice hoarse and broken as he repeatedly confirmed:
"Niannian...Niannian! How are you? Answer me!"
His arms were so tight, almost suffocating Su Nian, the force conveying a sense of panic, a near-collapse after surviving a near-death experience. Su Nian could even feel the uncontrollable trembling of his muscles and the cool, sweaty touch of his skin through his thin clothing.
"I'm fine... Xie Chen, I'm fine." Su Nian responded immediately, trying to keep her voice calm and soothe the frightened beast. She raised the hand that wasn't holding the trophy and gently patted his back, avoiding the wound. "You're injured. Don't move. Wait for the medical staff to come."
Her reassurances had some effect. Xie Chen's rapid breathing calmed down a little, but his arms around her didn't loosen at all; instead, they tightened even more, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones to confirm her safety. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, greedily inhaling her comforting scent, a suppressed whimper escaping his throat like that of a wounded cub.
A wave of fear washed over him like an icy tide. He was so close... so close... to losing her again. This realization nearly destroyed his already crumbling sanity.
Below the stage, after a deathly silence came even greater chaos. Terrified screams, frantic footsteps, and the desperate cries of staff trying to maintain order mingled together. Flashbulbs blared, recording this horrifying and shocking scene.
Su Nian's gaze swept past Xie Chen's trembling shoulders, precisely landing on the "reporter" in the audience wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He remained standing there, out of place amidst the surrounding chaos, the cold, satisfied smile on his lips not yet fully faded. In the instant their eyes met, he even slightly raised the device disguised as a camera in his hand, silently mouthing those two words again:
"Perfect."
Then, he turned around and calmly disappeared into the chaotic crowd.
A chill ran from Su Nian's feet to the top of her head. "Star Skeleton"... they hadn't just created an "accident," they were testing! Testing Xie Chen's reaction, testing her worth, or rather, testing the strength of their "protector and protected" relationship! And the result clearly made them very "satisfied"!
Medical staff and members of the NF club rushed onto the stage.
"Shen! Sister Nian! How are you?!" Manager Wang's voice was choked with sobs, and his face was pale with fright.
Medical staff tried to check Xie Chen's injuries, but he resisted them fiercely. Like a ferocious beast guarding its prey, he only allowed Su Nian to approach, his scarlet eyes filled with vigilance and violence. Anyone who tried to take Su Nian away from him would be met with his almost predatory gaze.
"Xie Chen, let go, let the doctor check your injury." Su Nian softened her voice, her fingertips carrying a barely perceptible icy power as she gently brushed across his tense nape.
That familiar, cool scent acted like a tranquilizer, slightly calming Xie Chen's raging emotions. He raised his eyes, looked at Su Nian, and then glared warily at the doctor beside him. Only then did he reluctantly and slowly loosen his grip on Su Nian's arm, but he still held her wrist tightly with one hand, as if it were his lifeline.
Medical staff seized the opportunity to step forward and carefully cut open the torn clothing on his back to conduct a preliminary examination and stop the bleeding. The wounds were mainly caused by flying shards of glass, which looked frightening, but fortunately, no bones or internal organs were damaged, which was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
Throughout the entire process, Xie Chen remained silent, seemingly oblivious to the pain, his gaze fixed intently on Su Nian, never leaving her. Only when the medical staff indicated that he needed to return to the hospital for debridement, suturing, and further examination did he suddenly tighten his grip on Su Nian, his eyes filled with complete dependence and unquestionable certainty: "You'll stay with me."
“Okay, I’ll go with you.” Su Nian agreed immediately without any hesitation.
Escorted by staff, the two left the venue amidst chaos and flashing lights. Xie Chen held Su Nian's hand tightly, almost leaning against her, not because of weakness, but because of a deeper need—he needed this close contact to fill the fear and emptiness that had almost swallowed him up in that instant.
The internet is already in an uproar.
The hashtags #GoldenKeyboardAwardsAccident# #ShenGodInjured# #XieChenSuNian# instantly dominated the top trending topics. Videos and photos from the scene spread like wildfire—Xie Chen's superhuman reaction speed, his selfless act of rushing forward, his scarred yet resolute back protecting Su Nian, and his urgent need to check on Su Nian's safety as his first reaction upon waking... Every detail was magnified infinitely.
【Oh my god! This is terrifying! How could the chandelier have fallen?!】
[Shen's save... I cried so much! He really risked his life to protect Nian-jie!]
[I almost suffocated watching the video! Xie Chen's speed at that time was beyond human capability!]
[Who said they were fake?! That look! That reaction! If they're fake, I'll twist my head off!]
[The Silent Couple is real! The kind of real love where they're bound together through life and death!]
I hope Shen is alright! Praying!
[Is venue safety something to be taken lightly? This must be thoroughly investigated!]
Public opinion was overwhelmingly filled with sympathy, admiration, and blessings for the two. After surviving this life-or-death ordeal, the "Silent Couple" reached an unprecedented peak in reputation and popularity. All previous doubts about "fake girlfriends" and "hype" completely vanished in the face of this real, bloody "accident."
The smell of disinfectant permeated the VIP ward of the hospital.
Xie Chen's back wound had been treated and wrapped in thick bandages. He lay on the hospital bed, his face pale from blood loss and pain, but his mind was in an unusually excited and tense state. The doctor suggested that he stay in the hospital for observation overnight. He wanted to refuse, but after Su Nian said, "I'll stay here with you," he immediately quieted down.
Finally, only the two of them remained in the ward.
Xie Chen tilted his head, his gaze fixed on Su Nian, who sat on the edge of the bed. The neon lights of the city outside filtered through the blinds, casting flickering shadows on his face. He reached out and gently hooked Su Nian's fingers around hers, his voice low and husky:
"Were you scared?"
Seeing the lingering fear in his eyes, Su Nian shook her head and grasped his slightly cool fingers in her hand. "No. I know you will protect me." She paused, then added, "Just as I will protect you."
Xie Chen's eyes brightened slightly, as if he had received the affirmation he most desired. He stroked her delicate hand, remained silent for a moment, and then whispered, "At that moment... I was very scared." He rarely revealed his vulnerability so openly, "More scared than ever before."
He raised his eyes and looked deeply into Su Nian's eyes. His gaze was so complex it was heartbreaking, a mixture of intense love, the joy of regaining what was lost, and a deep-seated fear that seemed to be branded into her soul.
"Niannian," his voice was soft, yet carried immense weight, "Don't... make me experience that feeling again."
Don't put him at risk of losing her again. That would be a million times more painful for him than death.
Looking into the deep sea in his eyes, a sea that seemed to engulf her, a sea called "Xie Chen," Su Nian felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, aching and throbbing with pain. She clearly realized that the person before her, this seemingly strong but actually heartbroken and sickly man, was laying bare all his vulnerabilities, all his fears, and all his obsessive yet pure love before her without reservation.
Her original task was to "deceive hearts".
But when such a sincere heart is presented to her, so warm and so fragile, can she still... merely "lie"?
[Host, the target's favorability and dependence have exceeded the critical threshold! Mission completion rate 95%! Victory is in sight! Please stay calm, host! Don't be blinded by false emotions!] 088 popped up at the right time, issuing a "rational" reminder, with a virtual lollipop in its mouth.
Su Nian ignored the system's warning. She simply looked at Xie Chen, at the eyes on his pale face that reflected only her own image, and then made a move that followed her heart.
She leaned down and gently placed a feather-light kiss on those uneasy eyelashes.
"Okay." She heard her own voice, filled with an unprecedented gentleness and firmness. "I promise you."
Xie Chen's body stiffened abruptly, and then, in those eyes that always held a stormy or dependent quality, it was as if a sky full of dazzling stars had suddenly exploded. An immense joy and disbelief, almost overwhelming him, shattered all his defenses. He abruptly reached out, ignoring the wound on his back, and forced himself to sit up, pulling Su Nian tightly, tightly into his arms, with a force so great it seemed he wanted to etch her into his very soul.
"Niannian... Niannian..." He called her name over and over again, his voice choked with sobs, yet filled with immense satisfaction and happiness, like a child who had finally received the only candy in the world.
Su Nian let him hold her, feeling his rapid heartbeat and burning body temperature. The icy field in her heart, which had originally existed only for the mission, seemed to be quietly melting away.
However, in this atmosphere of extreme warmth and dependence, the star brooch around Su Nian's neck once again emitted a very faint but continuous stinging sensation!
This time, the source of the stinging sensation was not the outside world, but... Xie Chen, who was holding her tightly!
Su Nian's heart skipped a beat!
She subtly stepped back a little, carefully observing Xie Chen. He was still immersed in immense joy and a sense of security, his eyes unfocused and dependent, seemingly unaware of anything unusual about himself.
However, through the soul link, Su Nian clearly sensed that in the depths of Xie Chen's consciousness, where he was caught off guard due to the intense emotional fluctuations (extreme joy after extreme fear), a very subtle, cold mark, which was of the same origin as that scarlet energy, was like an activated parasite, faintly flickering with an ominous light, and trying to establish a deeper connection with a source further away!
Was it because his emotions fluctuated too much just now, causing a gap in his soul defense, which allowed the residual "contamination" that couldn't be completely eliminated that night to be activated? Or... was "Star Remains'" "test" actually meant to plant this "seed" in his soul?
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the ward.
Manager Wang pushed open the door, his face showing lingering fear and worry, but also a hint of excitement in his eyes: "Shen, Sister Nian, are you alright? There are so many reporters outside, all wanting to know what happened... Also, the alliance and the venue just contacted me, saying that the preliminary investigation results are in, the chandelier fixing device... appears to have been tampered with!"
Human intervention!
These two words, like a thunderclap, exploded in the ward.
Xie Chen suddenly raised his head, the dazed joy in his eyes instantly replaced by terrifying violence and killing intent! The aura around him suddenly became icy cold!
Su Nian's heart sank.
"Star Remains"... They not only test things, but they also muddy the waters, steer the situation toward "human retaliation," and cover up their true purpose!
Just as Xie Chen's killing intent was about to overflow uncontrollably, Su Nian grabbed his clenched fist and quietly channeled her Ice Soul Power to suppress his surging violence.
She looked at Manager Wang, her eyes frighteningly calm:
"Manager Wang, could you please inform the league and the venue management..."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power:
"NF team will investigate this matter thoroughly."
"But before that..."
She paused, then turned to look at Xie Chen beside her, who was barely suppressing his destructive impulses due to her touch, but whose eyes were still bloodshot. She spoke clearly, word by word:
"Prepare for the playoffs first."
"We'll settle all the scores once we win the championship..."
"...Let's settle the accounts with them one by one, every single one of them!"
Xie Chen stared intently at her, his chest heaving violently. Finally, as if infected by her calmness and determination, the crimson in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a deeper, colder will, like the icy depths of an abyss.
He grasped Su Nian's hand tightly in return, their fingers intertwined, his voice hoarse yet unwavering:
"good."
"I'll listen to you."
(End of Chapter 96)
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