Chapter 52: Xia Yan Furiously Strikes Liu Xiuying

“Lin You might be willing to let you off, but I certainly have no intention of doing so. You hit my son—however you struck him, I’ll return it to you the same way!”

Xia Yan landed several slaps across Liu Xiuying’s face. The impact seemed to rouse Liu Xiuying, and the two women immediately started wrestling. Fortunately, Jiang Weiguo arrived in time to pull them apart.

Xia Yan’s clothes were a bit torn, but she didn’t look like she’d come off worse—in contrast, Liu Xiuying looked positively demonic. Her face was swollen from Xia Yan’s blows, marked with streaks of blood.

Jiang Weiguo glanced from Liu Xiuying to Xia Yan; he felt not the slightest bit of sympathy for Liu Xiuying. Instead, he was surprised by Xia Yan. Who would have thought that this harmless-looking girl could be so fierce in a fight?

Xia Yan looked down at Liu Xiuying, still sprawled on the ground, and said viciously, “Liu Xiuying, let me tell you, if Captain Jiang hadn’t shown up, I’d have torn that filthy mouth of yours to pieces!”

Liu Xiuying, incensed, scrambled to her feet, ready to pounce on Xia Yan again, but Jiang Weiguo blocked her. She could only shout, “Xia Yan, you little hussy! This isn’t over! Jiang, get out of my way, or I’ll beat you too!”

Jiang Weiguo’s face darkened. He truly had no desire to intervene in this woman’s affairs. “Liu Xiuying, if Zhao Ming hadn’t asked me to keep an eye on things, do you think I’d want to meddle in your family’s business? And let’s be clear, do you really think you can beat Xia Yan? I’m doing you a favor! Don’t be so ungrateful.”

“Then let me go and I’ll settle things with this little vixen myself. Jiang Weiguo, I suppose you’ve taken a liking to her!”

“Liu Xiuying, you’re talking utter nonsense!”

Even Jiang Weiguo, usually mild-mannered, couldn’t help but curse. Only now did he realize just how ignorant and shameless this woman really was. “How did Zhao Ming ever end up marrying someone as brainless as you?”

“Those three children are suffering with a mother like you!”

“Zhao Ming should have divorced you long ago!”

With that, Jiang Weiguo waved at Xia Yan. “Xia Yan, you should go to the hospital. Leave this to me.”

“Thank you, Captain Jiang.”

Worried about the child, Xia Yan offered her thanks and hurried off to the hospital.

When she arrived, Lin Hongzhe had already regained consciousness.

Zhu Yan approached her at once. “Did you get into a fight with Liu Xiuying?”

Xia Yan didn’t hide it and nodded. “Yes, just taught her a little lesson. How’s Xiao Zhe?”

“He’s been checked over—just some scrapes on his face and a few bruises on his belly, but no internal injuries.”

Zhu Yan’s words eased Xia Yan’s anxiety. “Thank you, Zhu Yan.”

“Why thank me? I’m a doctor, and Xiao Zhe is Big Brother Lin’s son. This was a perfect chance for me to show what I can do—maybe he’ll have a change of heart.”

With her hands in the pockets of her white coat, Zhu Yan tried to appear nonchalant.

Xia Yan smiled. “You’re not that kind of person.”

“Oh? What kind?”

“A schemer.”

“Don’t think a few kind words from you will make me give up on Lin You,” Zhu Yan said, feigning annoyance. In her heart, though, she already knew she had lost to the woman before her—it would just take time to accept it.

To love someone is a blessing; but if you cannot win their heart, then all you can do is wish them well.

After a moment, the two women exchanged a smile, as if all the unpleasantness between them over the past two weeks had dissolved in this instant.

“I’m off to the cafeteria. You don’t need to go home and cook; I’ll bring some food back for you.”

“Thank you.”

“If you really want to thank me, just give Big Brother Lin back to me...” Zhu Yan laughed, patting Xia Yan’s shoulder. “Go see Xiao Zhe. This is your best chance to get closer to him.”

She turned to leave, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye.

***

After Zhu Yan left the ward, Lin You finally approached. His eyes were deep, his tone tinged with complex emotions. “Are you all right?”

Xia Yan shook her head, quickly tidied her hair, and reverted to her usual demure self. “What could possibly happen to me? As long as Xiao Zhe’s all right.”

“In the future, let me handle matters like this,” Lin You said, his voice low.

Xia Yan shook her head. “Women’s quarrels are best left to women. Look—I didn’t suffer any loss. Wait till you see Liu Xiuying. But what are you planning to do about this?”

“I’ll do as you suggested—call the police, get the authorities involved.”

“That’s more like it. You’re always too impulsive.” Xia Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’ll be more careful in the future. You should be too—what if that unreasonable woman had hurt you?”

Xia Yan forced a nonchalant smile. “She could beat me? Please, I’ve had training.”

Yet under Lin You’s gaze, she relented. “I was just angry. She hit Xiao Zhe, so I hit her back.”

Lin You’s tone softened. He reached up and gently tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”

At that moment, Xia Yan felt like a startled fawn, unsure of what to say.

Handsome men are dangerous enough, but when they’re gentle as well—it’s almost unbearable.

“Dad, I want some water.”

Just then, Lin Hongzhe called out weakly from the bed. Seizing the chance to escape the gentle tension, Xia Yan grabbed the kettle and hurried out—she needed a moment to compose herself.

Flustered, she didn’t watch where she was going, and as she turned a corner, a sudden figure startled her so badly that the kettle slipped from her grasp.

Thankfully, the other person caught it just in time. “Xia Yan, are you all right?”

“I’m fine, Dr. Zhang. Thank you.”

She took the kettle back, realizing it was Zhang Jun. She didn’t particularly like him, but still offered her thanks.

Zhang Jun shook his head. “No need for thanks. In fact, I should apologize for Liu Xiuying—her actions were my fault. I didn’t notice her leaving the infirmary...”

Xia Yan waved it off. “Dr. Zhang, this has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to apologize.”

But Zhang Jun’s sharp eyes had noticed her torn sleeve. Feigning surprise, he took hold of her arm. “Xia Yan, your sleeve is ripped. Did Liu Xiuying do this?”

Xia Yan frowned. She hadn’t expected Zhang Jun to be so bold—to actually grab her arm.

She quickly pulled away, her tone icy. “Please have some respect, Dr. Zhang.”

Realizing Lin You was in the hospital, Zhang Jun didn’t dare push his luck. He adjusted his glasses and forced a laugh. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

Xia Yan ignored him. “I need to get some hot water.”

Zhang Jun stood there, watching her walk away. He lifted his hand and inhaled. “She smells wonderful...”

Neither of them noticed the figure watching from behind a nearby wall. After they left, she stepped out, a sinister smile playing at her lips.