Hospital, VIP ward.
Xu Zhiru was carefully placed on the white hospital bed and covered with a soft quilt.
She was pale, her arm was wrapped in gauze, and there was an IV on the back of her hand. She looked extremely weak.
Fu Chen stood by the bed, his eyes never leaving her, his deep eyes filled with worry and pity.
The doctor, a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and looking quite serious, held the report in his hand and spoke to Fu Chen in a heavy tone.
"Mr. Fu, Miss Xu's condition is not optimistic."
Fu Chen's heart sank suddenly, and he asked anxiously, "What do you mean? Doctor, how is Zhiru?"
The doctor's brows were furrowed, and behind his glasses, his eyes were solemn. "Miss Xu has multiple injuries on her body. Although none of them are fatal, it's clear that she has been abused."
He paused and continued, "What's even more worrying is that Miss Xu's mental state is very poor. She's been extremely frightened and her emotions are extremely unstable. The preliminary diagnosis is acute stress disorder, commonly known as... mental trauma."
Fu Chen's face turned ashen in an instant, and a surge of anger rushed to his head.
He stared at Xu Zhiru lying on the hospital bed, feeling extremely heartbroken.
This vicious kidnapper actually treated Zhiru like this!
"How long will you need to stay in the hospital?" Fu Chen's voice was low and cold, suppressing his surging anger.
The doctor pushed his glasses and spoke cautiously, "She will need to be hospitalized for at least a period of observation, psychological counseling, and medication. How long it will take to recover will depend on Ms. Xu's physical and mental condition."
Fu Chen's eyes became even gloomier, and the air pressure around him became terribly low.
He nodded, his voice cold and hard, "I understand, doctor. We must use the best medicine and the best medical team. We must cure her!"
The doctor quickly responded, "Don't worry, Mr. Fu, we will do our best."
The doctor tactfully left the ward, leaving the space to Fu Chen and Xu Zhiru.
Fu Chen walked to the bedside and gently held Xu Zhiru's hand that was not receiving the injection. His palm was large and warm, tightly wrapping around Xu Zhiru's cold fingers.
He leaned down, gazed at Xu Zhiru tenderly, and spoke in a voice so soft as if he was treating a fragile treasure.
"Zhiru, don't be afraid, I'm here, I will always be with you."
He looked at her lovingly, as if he wanted to pour all his tenderness into her eyes.
Xu Zhiru's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
The moment her blurred gaze met Fu Chen, it instantly focused and her eyes turned red.
"A Chen..." She called Fu Chen's name weakly, her voice soft and fragile, with a strong sense of grievance and dependence.
Fu Chen's heart softened in an instant. All his anger and anxiety turned into endless heartache the moment he saw Xu Zhiru.
"Zhi Ru, it's me, I'm here." Fu Chen responded softly, holding her hand tighter.
Fu Chen quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips, his movements gentle and cautious.
"Don't cry, Zhiru, it's all over, it's okay." He comforted her softly, his tone full of pity and love.
"Achen, I... I'm so scared..." Xu Zhiru's voice was filled with tears and her body trembled slightly.
Fu Chen placed her cold hand on his cheek, feeling the trembling of her fingertips, and felt extremely distressed.
"I know, I know you are scared. Don't be afraid. I am here. I will protect you and won't let anyone hurt you again." Fu Chen's tone was firm, and every word was full of power, as if he was making a promise to her and to himself.
Xu Zhiru's tears couldn't stop falling, she held Fu Chen's hand tightly, as if she had grabbed a life-saving straw.
"A Chen, they... they are so scary..." She spoke intermittently, her voice choked, as if she was still suffering from a huge shock.
Fu Chen's heart was tightly clenched. He patiently guided her, "Zhiru, tell me slowly, what did they do to you?"
Xu Zhiru closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and seemed to be trying hard to recall that terrible experience.
When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with fear and anxiety, as if she were back in that dark abandoned factory.
Xu Zhiru's voice was trembling, her tone filled with fear. "They didn't give me food or water, and... they beat me..."
As she spoke, she raised her bandaged arm, her voice choked with sobs, "They whipped me and kicked me... Ah Chen, I really thought I was going to die and would never see you again..."
At the end of her speech, Xu Zhiru could no longer control her emotions and burst into tears.
Fu Chen's heart felt like it was being pierced by countless needles, and it hurt so much that he couldn't breathe.
He hugged Xu Zhiru tightly and let her lean on his arms.
"Don't be afraid, Zhiru, it's all over. It's okay. You are safe now. I won't let anyone hurt you again." Fu Chen comforted her over and over again, his tone gentle but firm.
Xu Zhiru cried in his arms for a long time before she gradually calmed down.
She raised her head, looked at Fu Chen with tearful eyes, and said in a hoarse voice, "Ah Chen, I... I can come back alive, it really feels like a dream..."
Fu Chen looked at her distressedly and said softly, "Silly girl, this is not a dream. You are really back and you will never leave again."
He paused, his tone suddenly becoming cold and sharp, "Zhiru, don't worry, I will definitely seek justice for you. I will never let those who kidnapped you and hurt you go!"
When Xu Zhiru heard this, her body stiffened slightly, and a barely perceptible dark light flashed in her eyes.
She raised her head and looked at Fu Chen with confused eyes, her voice weak, "Ah Chen, will you...will you find them? Will you help me get revenge?"
Fu Chen's eyes were firm, his tone filled with anger and determination, "Of course! I swear, I will find them and make them pay the most painful price!"
"Zhiru, have a good rest. When you feel better, tell me what happened in detail. I will find out everything and make the decision for you." Fu Chen said gently, his tone full of comfort and promise.
"Ah Chen, I don't know what I would do without you. I'm sorry, it's all my fault that I got you into trouble."
Fu Chen pursed his lips and forced himself to suppress the anger in his heart.
"If it weren't for me, you and Ning Nanxue wouldn't have ended up like this. I'm sorry."
Fu Chen hugged Ning Nanxue tighter and kissed her between the eyebrows.
"Don't think like that. I really love you, Zhiru. Ning Nanxue is nothing. She can't destroy us!"
Xu Zhiru nodded obediently, snuggled in Fu Chen's arms, tears slowly flowing again.
She closed her eyes weakly, but a barely perceptible, cold smile quietly appeared at the corner of her mouth.
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