Chapter 34: Astonishment
When Liang Jingshang returned home, her mother rushed to her, anxiously asking, “Jingshang, yesterday you said you managed to get Director Chao’s appointment and insisted we move out in such a hurry. How much longer do we have to wait?”
Liang Jingshang looked into her mother’s eyes; it had been a long time since she’d seen such light in them. The first time she’d met Chao Jingyu, her mother had looked at him the same way, as if seeing a savior.
Yesterday, on the way home with Chao Jingyu, she’d explained Liang Xizhou’s situation. Chao Jingyu had said, “I want to do a comprehensive evaluation for your brother as soon as possible, but my appointments are hard to get. If you’re available, the day after tomorrow is my day off—I can work overtime for you.”
Setting aside all his outward qualities, a doctor whose medical skill is extraordinary and whose heart is so compassionate—Chao Jingyu was almost the most perfect man Liang Jingshang had ever met.
But she kept thinking of what she’d seen on the street today—the anxious, tender concern Chao Jingyu had shown for Gong Xueyuan…
A vague worry gnawed at her heart. If he found out she was the one who released the video, would he still help her?
...
Sunday arrived quickly. Liang Jingshang borrowed a wheelchair and took Liang Xizhou to the hospital.
Chao Jingyu was already waiting in the consultation room.
Liang Jingshang kept secretly watching his expression, but he was as calm as ever, even teasing her, “Why do you keep sneaking glances at me? I’m an honorable man, I don’t accept gratitude of that kind.”
She felt a weight lift from her heart, guessing that Gong Xueyuan must be in chaos and hadn’t had time to tell Chao Jingyu about the video.
She chatted and laughed with Chao Jingyu for a moment, then turned to the treatment room.
Liang Xizhou was lying there, shirtless, with many devices attached to him. Years of confinement had wasted his muscles; he looked too thin to be a normal man.
Sensing her gaze, Liang Xizhou lifted his eyelids and suddenly said, “That Director Chao just now—he seems quite familiar with you. Experts of his rank, how did you manage to get him to do you a favor?”
His tone was like an interrogation. Liang Jingshang, patient as ever, explained, “I tutored his brother, helped him out a little, so he agreed to help me.”
“A little help… Hmph. Don’t inherit your mother’s habit of messing around with men,” Liang Xizhou said sarcastically. “Jingshang, you’re one of the Liangs—you know that, right?”
Behind her back, Liang Jingshang’s hand clenched into a fist. After a moment, she replied, “Yes.”
“You’ve graduated now, and Dad doesn’t have much time left. When are we going to take care of our business?”
Liang Jingshang suddenly looked up at him, the soft flesh of her cheek trembling, but she said nothing.
Her breath was heavy, still lingering on his last words.
Back when she attended Jin City First High School, whenever Gong Xueyuan’s followers insulted her mother as a ‘homewrecker,’ if Liang Xizhou heard it, he’d beat them every time.
Liang Xizhou used to be upright and full of justice; now he had become someone who scorned her mother.
But no matter how much it hurt, Liang Jingshang could not move against him.
“What’s wrong? Don’t want to?” Liang Xizhou raised his voice. “Do you think just because you carry the Liang surname, you’re passing down the family name? Let me tell you, carrying on the lineage means—”
His words were cut off by a burst of crying from the outer office. Gong Xueyuan’s voice rang out, “Ah Yu, what should I do? I don’t want to live anymore! Why should those netizens care about my private life? Everyone outside is driving me to despair! Yucheng hasn’t seen me since that day, and my father wants to kill me! The wedding is the day after tomorrow… If he leaves me now, I have no way out! I’ll die alone at the wedding!”
“Xueyuan, don’t talk nonsense,” Chao Jingyu’s voice was deep and steady.
The treatment room and office were separated by just a door, and from Liang Xizhou’s position, he could see Gong Xueyuan’s face.
The moment he saw her, it was as if he’d been possessed—his body trembled, even the tubes attached to him fell loose.
Liang Jingshang knew he had recognized Gong Xueyuan.
Liang Xizhou’s hatred for Gong Xueyuan surpassed even Liang Jingshang’s—she had ruined his life!
He had been bedridden for years, his blood pressure already high. Liang Jingshang rushed to soothe him, “Xizhou! Brother Xizhou, don’t get upset! I’ll deal with her, I’ll avenge you! I’ll make her pay… Don’t do this… please, don’t…”
Liang Xizhou, like a wounded beast, let out a pained howl that barely sounded human.
Though his lower limbs were paralyzed, his upper body was still strong. Suddenly, his eyes bloodshot, he grabbed Liang Jingshang by the throat and yanked her over, pinning her to the examination bed.
Her forehead struck the metal rail with a brief cry, “Ah!”
His grip tightened, and she could no longer make a sound.
“You’ll deal with her, you’ll deal with her… Will that let me stand again? Will it bring her back to me?! Do you know what she suffered for you?!”
The crashing in the consultation room caught Chao Jingyu’s attention. He told Gong Xueyuan to sit for a moment and walked into the treatment room.
He was stunned by what he saw!
The weak patient, paralyzed for eight years from a spinal injury—Liang Jingshang’s brother—was tearing at her clothes, choking and beating her as if he’d lost his mind!
Chao Jingyu rushed over and pulled Liang Jingshang free.
She collapsed limply, and Chao Jingyu had to scoop her up by the legs and lay her on a chair.
He forced Liang Xizhou down to check his vitals. Since he hadn’t administered any drugs since entering, it was not a medication-induced stress reaction.
He examined Liang Xizhou’s pupils; the man was conscious, but his behavior suggested otherwise.
“What’s going on!” Chao Jingyu easily subdued him.
He was shocked.
Looking at what Liang Xizhou had done to Liang Jingshang—how could a brother treat his sister like this?
Chao Jingyu glanced at Liang Jingshang’s devastated face, gritted his teeth, and sternly rebuked, “Even if you’re a patient, I can call the police and have you arrested!”
Liang Xizhou, wild with rage, could harm Liang Jingshang, but he was no match for a grown man’s strength.
His eyes were crimson as he cried out in agony.
“Doctor Chao…” Liang Jingshang’s voice was weak, “please, please… don’t call the police, I’m fine…”
Chao Jingyu’s eyes brimmed with pain.
But Liang Jingshang looked at him pleadingly, a look no man could refuse.
After a while, he said gruffly, “Let me take you out to treat your wounds.”
“No, we can’t leave him alone here,” she said, eyes downcast, unable to look at Liang Xizhou. “He’ll hurt himself, Doctor Chao…”
In the end, Chao Jingyu administered a sedative to Liang Xizhou, who slowly drifted off to sleep.
Chao Jingyu carried Liang Jingshang out. As he pushed the door open, he was surprised to see Shang Yucheng standing quietly outside.
Who knew how long he had been there.
Liang Jingshang was startled at the sight of Shang Yucheng and instinctively shrank into Chao Jingyu’s arms.