After Ji Chi was wheeled into the operating room, Jiang Shuyin stood alone outside.
She picked up Ji Chi's phone and called his aunt and uncle, but the moment they heard Ji Chi's name, they hung up as if he were a hot potato.
As far as Jiang Shuyin knew, when Ji Shaoqin expanded the Ji family's business, these relatives had reaped plenty of benefits.
Now that the Ji brothers were in trouble, the relatives not only kicked them out of the family registry and drew a clear line, but they also seized the old family estate. Their cold-bloodedness was truly appalling.
Ji Chi's surgery lasted for nearly three hours.
The doctor came out of the operating room and shook his head. "The patient's vital areas suffered nerve damage. It is highly likely he won't be able to function normally in the future; you need to be mentally prepared."
The doctor assumed Jiang Shuyin was Ji Chi's partner.
Jiang Shuyin furrowed her delicate brows.
She hadn't expected Ji Chi's injuries to be this severe.
The major upheaval in the Ji family had already dealt him a heavy blow. If he became impotent from now on, wouldn't it be even more devastating?
After Ji Chi was wheeled out of the operating room, Jiang Shuyin followed him into the ward.
Ji Chi looked at her, his peach-blossom eyes full of guilt. "My brother killed your best friend, yet you still came to help me?"
Jiang Shuyin pursed her lips. "Those are two separate matters. You didn't know about the things your brother did."
Ji Chi coughed weakly. "Why did you suddenly come looking for me at the bar? Did you need something?"
Jiang Shuyin explained how Lu Yan had been poisoned by the highly toxic five-colored flower. "Ji Chi, I know you're not like your brother. Even though you act cynical on the outside, you have a righteous and kind heart. Lu Yan arresting your brother was his duty, and your brother indeed broke the law. But Lu Yan is innocent. He only has one month left before the poison kills him, and I don't want him to die..."
Before Jiang Shuyin could finish, Ji Chi already understood her meaning.
A complex look flashed across his eyes. "You and Lu Yan knew each other all along?"
Jiang Shuyin didn't hide it from him anymore. "He is the father of my two children."
Hearing this, Ji Chi remained silent for a long time.
"Ji Chi, your brother refuses to hand over the antidote for the five-colored flower. You are his only weakness. Only you can make him tell the truth."
Ji Shaoqin was a ruthless man. He was dead set on dragging Lu Yan down to hell with him. According to Qin Chuan, they had subjected him to various harsh interrogations, but he simply refused to hand over the real antidote.
Unless, of course, they could pardon his crimes.
But Lu Yan had said that he would rather sacrifice himself than let a single criminal go!
Ji Chi was silent for a long while.
"Ah Yin, it's not that I don't want to help you and Lu Yan. It's just that I really didn't know about my brother's affairs, let alone where he hid the antidote. However, once I'm discharged from the hospital, I will go to Country M, apply for a prison visitation, and have a talk with him."
Jiang Shuyin nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Ji Chi."
If Ji Chi weren't a decent person, given his standpoint, he would definitely hate Lu Yan.
But he didn't; instead, he was willing to step up and help.
Good people are rewarded, and she believed Ji Chi would surely have a different life from his brother in the future.
Jiang Shuyin hired a male caregiver to look after Ji Chi at the hospital while she searched everywhere for Lu Yan's whereabouts.
But after looking for several days, there was no news at all.
It made sense; if even the IBI couldn't find him, how could she?
Just as Jiang Shuyin was burning with anxiety, a flash of inspiration hit her, and she thought of a place.
The small fishing village!
Jiang Shuyin wasn't a hundred percent sure Lu Yan would be there, but as long as there was even a one percent chance, she had to go and find out.
The next morning, Jiang Shuyin arrived at the small fishing village.
The lady who ran the local convenience store greeted her warmly, "Miss Jiang, you're here too?"
Jiang Shuyin's heart skipped a beat. "Ma'am, why did you say 'too'?"
"That Mr. Lu you were taking care of before, he came to the village a while ago. He's currently working as a teacher at the local Hope Elementary School."
"Really?" A joyful expression appeared on Jiang Shuyin's face.
She hadn't guessed wrong; he really was here!
He kept saying he didn't like her, but it was obviously because they shared some rather beautiful memories here that he chose to return.
"Yes, he even taught my son how to play basketball!"
Jiang Shuyin couldn't wait and ran toward the Hope Elementary School.
Approaching the school gates, she ran into a young male teacher.
"Are you here to volunteer as a teacher?" the man asked.
Jiang Shuyin's lips curled up slightly. "Is the school short of volunteer teachers?"
The male teacher nodded. "We are."
After chatting with him, Jiang Shuyin learned his name was Lin Feng, the math teacher here.
The school was currently in desperate need of a music teacher who could play the piano. A philanthropist had recently donated two pianos to the school, but no one knew how to play them.
"I can play the piano. Could Mr. Lin introduce me to the principal?"
Lin Feng took Jiang Shuyin to the principal's office.
The principal asked Jiang Shuyin to play a piece on the piano. Seeing how smoothly and beautifully she played, he immediately agreed to let her stay.
Jiang Shuyin explained her true intentions to the principal—she was here looking for Lu Yan and wouldn't be staying long as a music teacher.
"That's alright. We are already contacting other music teachers. If Miss Jiang could substitute for a while, it would solve our urgent need."
After completing the formalities, Lin Feng led Jiang Shuyin toward the teachers' dormitories.
Passing by the sports field, Jiang Shuyin spotted a familiar, tall figure.
It had been nearly two months since her failed confession.
Lu Yan looked even thinner now.
It was winter, and the temperature in Hong Kong was a bit low. Wearing a black windbreaker, he was teaching a few young boys how to play basketball.
Seeing him again gave Jiang Shuyin the feeling that a lifetime had passed.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, for the man with his back to her suddenly turned around.
Across the distance, Jiang Shuyin's eyes met the man's gaze.
Seemingly not expecting her to appear here, the man's tall, lean body visibly stiffened.
Almost the exact moment he looked over, Jiang Shuyin withdrew her gaze.
Her expression was indifferent, as if she didn't know him at all.
After Lin Feng brought Jiang Shuyin to her dorm room, he said enthusiastically, "Teacher Jiang, rest for a bit. I'll take you to the cafeteria for lunch at noon."
Jiang Shuyin nodded. "Alright, thank you."
She tidied up the dorm room, touched up her makeup, and changed her clothes.
As noon approached, Lin Feng came knocking on her door.
Seeing Jiang Shuyin walk out, a flash of awe appeared in Lin Feng's eyes.
"Teacher Jiang, you look really beautiful dressed like this."
Jiang Shuyin was wearing a short jacket and jeans, her hair tied in a low ponytail, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on her nose. She had great bone structure, and with a little dressing up, she exuded a stunning, high-class beauty.
When Jiang Shuyin and Lin Feng arrived at the cafeteria, Lu Yan had just gotten his food and was sitting in a corner seat.
As Jiang Shuyin walked past Lu Yan, she acted as if she hadn't seen him at all. She chatted with Lin Feng as they headed to the serving window.
Seeing Jiang Shuyin smiling at another man, Lu Yan's large hand gripping his chopsticks tightened involuntarily.
