In the early morning, as people passed by, he mustered his strength to walk home. Turning the corner, he spotted Ye Zhengchen driving out of the residential complex and stopping by the roadside. Shortly after, another man approached, and Ye Zhengchen got out to meet him. Yin Zhongtian recognized the man as Zheng Wei.
He was the first person to talk to Yin Zhongtian when he was brought to Lingzhou City for isolated investigation. Yin Zhongtian repeatedly stated that the case had nothing to do with him and that he had simply done his job. Zheng Wei told him they were only in the preliminary investigation and that he should cooperate and tell everything he knew. Yin Zhongtian explained everything, but the task force still wouldn’t let him go and kept him detained. Each time he inquired, investigators said they knew he was innocent, but higher-ups wanted to investigate thoroughly.
Seeing Ye Zhengchen and Zheng Wei chatting and laughing, Yin Zhongtian understood this was a setup. They deliberately arrested him to give Ye Zhengchen an opportunity to steal his love. Knowing his predicament was due to Ye Zhengchen, he could no longer control his anger and rushed across the street, confronting Ye Zhengchen.
Ye Zhengchen pushed him away, noticing the crowd gathering. He coldly straightened his clothes and approached. “Secretary Yin, don’t overestimate yourself. I’ve been in more fights than reports you’ve written. In front of your fellow townspeople, I’ll give you face, so don’t humiliate yourself.”
“Ye Zhengchen, you’re so despicable for framing me…”
“So what if I framed you? Can you get revenge on me?”
Ye Zhengchen moved closer, speaking in a voice only he could hear: “Honestly, I not only had people lock you up, but I also spread rumors that you embezzled public funds with evidence that would lead to a death sentence. Your fiancée was running around trying to save you… I lured her to the presidential suite and subjected her to… She endured it to save you… Last night, to ask me to help you return to the city government, she agreed to marry me…”
Yin Zhongtian stared in disbelief, falling into chaos as Ye Zhengchen’s arrogant smile distorted before his eyes.
“Oh, I almost forgot to mention, last night when she slept in my arms, she kept calling your name, saying: ‘Zhongtian, what else can I do for you?'” Ye Zhengchen took out a diamond ring and held it in front of him. “I really don’t understand what’s so special about a useless man like you that she would be so devoted…”
Zhongtian broke down, grabbing Ye Zhengchen’s clothes and hoarsely saying, “You’re a beast.”
“That’s right, she always called me a beast, sometimes worse… So what? At least I’m single-minded about her and will do anything for her. Would you?” Ye Zhengchen pushed him away and turned toward his car.
At that moment, another car stopped by the roadside.
The driver, who knew Yin Zhongtian, approached and asked if he needed help. Yin Zhongtian’s mind went blank; he rushed into the car and pressed the accelerator hard. The car had just started and wasn’t going fast. When Ye Zhengchen leaned to open the car door, he saw Yin Zhongtian driving towards him. He didn’t dodge, seemingly certain that Yin Zhongtian wouldn’t dare to hit him.
In just a few seconds, everything happened quickly. By the time Yin Zhongtian considered the consequences and hit the brakes, Ye Zhengchen had already been hit.
In the ambulance, Zheng Wei shook his head. “Damn, your reaction was slow. You couldn’t even dodge when you saw him coming.”
Ye Zhengchen gritted his teeth, pressing his chest, sweat rolling down his forehead. “After all, I did steal his fiancée… It’s only fair to let him vent his anger.”
“Are you not afraid he’ll run you over?”
“How could he possibly run me over at that speed?” Ye Zhengchen said, taking a deep breath. “Later, go to the police station and tell him that if he doesn’t want to go to jail, he should do as I say.”
Zheng Wei snorted coldly. “It’s just a woman. Just tell her directly: you want her, whether she agrees or not. Look at how much effort you’re putting in, making yourself half-dead!”
“Ah, if she were that easy to submit, I would have taken her three years ago.”
Why would I wait until she has a fiancé to come back and snatch her?”
Zheng Wei’s face showed guilt. “This is my fault. I should have helped you keep an eye on her…”
Ye Zhengchen shook his head, frowning at Zheng Wei: “Tell me the truth… Is it necessary to arrest Yin Zhongtian? Are you doing this just to help me…”
Zheng Wei glared at him, putting on a righteous expression: “Am I the type to abuse my power! I’ve always enforced the law impartially…”
Suddenly, the ambulance jolted, and Ye Zhengchen let out a muffled groan of pain.
Zheng Wei yelled at the driver: “Can’t you drive?”
Afterward, he looked down at the pale-faced patient. “What can I say? People’s Hospital is so close, but you refuse to go. Aren’t you just asking for trouble?”
Ye Zhengchen softened, “She can’t bear to see me hurt… I’m afraid she’ll be upset…”
Zheng Wei couldn’t help but curse. “Damn, why did I ever know you!”
His wound was clearly not healed, swollen and red. The push I just gave landed right on his wound, with blood seeping out, forming droplets of shocking red.
In that moment, all my anger vanished.
I wanted to know how deep his wound was and how much pain he was in.
“How… did you… get this?” My teeth chattered as I spoke. I had seen patients with more severe injuries, but I had never trembled before. My heart felt like dry leaves on an autumn tree.
Ye Zhengchen’s response was evasive. “I had a bit of an accident after leaving your apartment.”
“What accident?” I pressed.
He remained silent, buttoning his shirt, clearly unwilling to answer. My chest ached, remembering his weak voice on the phone that day.
“That day… when you called me…”
He held me, trying to smile casually, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. Don’t believe me? I’ll show you in a moment.”
He always joked, regardless of the situation. I wasn’t in the mood for banter and dragged him to the car. “Come, I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“But I haven’t had hot pot yet.”
A medical doctorate who studied in Japan should know that unhealed wounds should avoid spicy food and fatty meats. Remembering I had just mentioned hot pot, he agreed without hesitation, and my internal organs felt more numb and spicy than the hot pot itself.
Some people, no matter how much you hate or resent them, still make you love them because they love you with all their heart.
Tears fell again, impossible to wipe away.
When Ye Zhengchen saw me cry, he panicked, leaning close to wipe my tears with his sleeve. “I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d cry.”
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to the hospital.” I wiped my tears, opened the passenger door for him to sit, then got into the driver’s seat.
As the car left the residential area, Ye Zhengchen told me, “Go to City Hospital.”
“City Hospital? You’ve been staying there this whole time?”
“Mm.”
No further explanation was needed. I understood why he didn’t go to People’s Hospital, why he ran out to walk with me. Everything he did was driven by one simple, ordinary word.
“Are you still angry with me?” Ye Zhengchen asked.
“Not angry anymore.”
I’m not angry at him. I’m angry at myself.
From our first reunion in the presidential suite, I was already wavering. I thought my refusal was firm enough that he would give up like three years ago. I forgot who Ye Zhengchen was, how he could see through my hesitation.
He knew whether a woman was reluctant or willing in bed. All my inner conflicts, my mixed signals, he saw clearly but didn’t expose because he didn’t want to force me.
He chose to use any means necessary.
“You don’t hate me?” he asked, looking at me strangely. “Why?”
