"Take the prescribed medicine on time, apply the ointment, try to speak less these days, drink more water, and your throat will recover in a few days. Get plenty of rest."
After the doctor confirmed Ji Nian was fine, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Shen Qingtang hugged her, her eyes brimming with warmth, though she managed to hold back her tears.
When she woke up and couldn’t find Ji Nian, she had been frantic. Then, when Ji Nian finally returned, Shen Qingtang was horrified to see her entire neck bruised.
Unable to speak, Ji Nian patted her arm reassuringly.
Meanwhile, Zhiliao was still talking to Wei Yang.
She had been the first to receive the news, and when she saw the marks on Ji Nian’s neck, her dark mood had made everyone steer clear.
Wei Yang was drowning in guilt—if he had gone in with Ji Nian, maybe he could have stopped it in time, and she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.
But what weighed on them most was Ji Tingzhou’s condition.
After a brief moment of despair, Zhiliao immediately sought out Zuo Yi and ordered a complete lockdown on the news.
No outsiders could know about Ji Tingzhou’s situation.
Thankfully, he had always kept a low profile.
Ji Xi knows about Dad’s condition. Even though Dad managed to brush it off, she’ll definitely take this chance to stir up trouble.
Ji Nian typed the words on her phone and showed them to Zhiliao.
Zhiliao’s gaze lingered on the bandages around Ji Nian’s neck for a moment before she gently ruffled her hair.
"I’ll handle it."
Then she crouched down, meeting Ji Nian’s eyes. "I need to go to Ji Tingzhou. Can you take care of yourself?"
Hearing his full name, Ji Nian shivered. Dad, you’re on your own.
Zhiliao was really angry.
She nodded.
Ji Nian understood—right now, Ji Tingzhou needed someone more than she did.
Touching her neck, the soft gauze dulling the sensation, she recalled what had happened.
She had thought Ji Tingzhou was waking up when she saw him stir, so she leaned closer.
But before she could speak, his eyes snapped open, and he suddenly sat up, grabbing her throat and lifting her off the ground.
His grip was terrifyingly strong. Ji Nian instinctively tried to pull away but couldn’t, her legs kicking helplessly in the air like a chick.
The feeling of near-death was something she had never experienced before—for a moment, she even blacked out.
Luckily, Wei Yang’s sharp ears caught the commotion in the room. He burst in and knocked Ji Tingzhou away just in time, or Ji Nian might have been strangled to death.
After calming everyone down, Ji Nian refused to rest and went straight to her lab.
She retrieved the extract that was supposedly meant to alleviate Ji Tingzhou’s symptoms.
Originally, she had stayed behind to ask him questions—did it have a scent? Did the taste matter? How could Ji Xi guarantee it would work on him?
But she hadn’t gotten any answers. Instead, she was now barred from seeing Ji Tingzhou.
By afternoon, the results came in.
Ji Xi had indeed planned carefully. Even if the drug fell into their hands, it wouldn’t do anything useful.
Ji Nian’s analysis revealed very few components.
But there was one discovery.
Blood?
There was blood mixed in here??
She circled this detail.
The doctor’s medicine worked well—after spraying it, the burning in her throat eased enough that she could focus without distraction.
Ji Xi’s blood?? The system’s voice snapped Ji Nian out of her thoughts.
Remembering she had tested Ji Xi’s blood before, Ji Nian dug up the remaining sample and rushed to the basement, where a room full of expensive equipment awaited.
The test confirmed it—the blood in the drug was a match.
Why?
Why would Ji Xi’s blood be in a drug meant to ease Ji Tingzhou’s symptoms?
What purpose did something as impure as blood serve here?
Ji Xi’s blood wasn’t special in any way. Why add it?
Another thought struck her—thank goodness Ji Tingzhou had smashed it.
If even a drop had touched him, he’d have been disgusted to death.
No…
She was completely stuck.
She had to talk to the patient himself—Ji Tingzhou.
At the very least, she needed to confirm whether Ji Xi’s concoction had any effect on him.
Sensing her thoughts, the system asked, You’re still going to see Ji Tingzhou?
Ji Nian nodded, peeling off her gloves and tossing them into the waste bin.
Aren’t you afraid?
After nearly dying, even if the attacker was her own father, shouldn’t she be shaken?
What did humans call it again?
Ah, right—PTSD.
Washing her hands, Ji Nian studied her reflection in the mirror—her neck wrapped in bandages, the faint scent of medicine lingering.
I am.
But fear won’t solve anything.
Her voice was calm. The face in the mirror, still youthful, showed no trace of a child’s innocence. If Chen Mo had been there, he might have recognized the same expression from the pharmacist in his dreams.
That night, Chen Mo called as usual, but Ji Nian declined.
She made up an excuse about being out and unable to talk.
Her injury had to stay hidden from him.
Chen Mo wouldn’t care if Ji Tingzhou was sick—if he found out, he’d charge in without hesitation and end up hurt himself.
With the repair serum project at a critical stage, Ji Nian didn’t want him distracted.
When everyone was finally asleep, Ji Nian packed a small bag and slipped out.
But the moment she stepped outside, Wei Yang caught her.
Without a word, he shook his head. "You can’t go."
Ji Tingzhou had given strict orders—Ji Nian wasn’t to see him.
Ji Nian blinked up at him pleadingly.
Wei Yang remained unmoved.
The usually easygoing man had turned to stone, refusing to budge no matter how much Ji Nian begged.
Defeated, Ji Nian slumped, her expression sulky.
Wei Yang crouched and ruffled her hair.
"Your brother has a whole team working on a solution. They’ll figure it out. Once he’s better, I’ll beg him to let you see him."
Wei Yang had been shocked when he spotted Ji Nian sneaking out.
He never expected her to still want to go—not after Ji Tingzhou had almost killed her.
The child showed no resentment. The psychologist they’d prepared hadn’t been needed—she seemed perfectly fine.
The adults were both touched and relieved by her maturity.
Instead of being comforted, Ji Nian glared at him and reached up to pinch his stony cheek.
Wei Yang didn’t even flinch—
But then a glint of cold metal flashed in the corner of his eye.
Too late to dodge.
The needle pierced his skin, the icy liquid pumping in fast.
With a thud, Wei Yang collapsed.
Not fully unconscious, he still reached weakly for Ji Nian.
"No… don’t…"
Ji Nian sighed, crouching to avoid his grasp and administering a second dose. As expected of Wei Yang.
A dose that could knock out a black bear in two seconds, and he was still awake—needing a second shot.
I’m sorry for taking advantage of your trust.
She went back inside, fetched a blanket, and draped it over him, guilt weighing on her heart.
