Chapter 94: Taking a Gamble

His fingertip brushed lightly against my lips a few times, then he leaned close to my ear. I thought he was going to blow on me again like before, and I shrank back in fear.

After a few seconds passed without the warm breath I expected, I suddenly realized: the pervert was actually speaking to me.

Regret surged through me. If only I had agreed when Congxuan Shu first suggested going to Beijing. Instead, I had panicked and tried to run away, even needing sedatives from the doctor. Now, here I was, being humiliated by this sick pervert.

Perhaps sensing my lack of response, Luo Ange sat up and looked at me suspiciously.

Not just him—I myself found it hard to believe how I had gone from being deaf in just one ear to now being completely mute and deaf.

But the truth was undeniable: I could neither hear nor speak.

The moment he let go of me, I jumped up and rushed to the coffee table to find a fruit knife, then to the kitchen when I came up empty-handed. But all the knives, all the glass and ceramic items—everything was gone.

It seemed that Congxuan Shu had taken away everything that could give me a chance to harm myself, in an effort to protect me.

He really was considerate in his own way.

I looked up and saw Luo Ange leaning against the doorframe, a half-smile playing on his lips, as if to say, “Don’t bother struggling.”

I ran to the bedside drawer and pulled out the whiteboard and pen Congxuan Shu had prepared for me, quickly writing: “Please leave. I don’t want to see you.”

He smiled the same way and stepped closer, and I backed away in fright until I sat down on the bed.

He stood in front of me, snatched the board, scribbled a few lines, and handed it back.

His message read: “Yi Lanshan, stop pretending. You can’t fool me.”

I stared blankly at the board. My handwriting was on the top line, his on the bottom—the two lines looked like they were at war, each refusing to give way.

I tossed the board aside, dug under the pillow for my phone, and pulled up the photos I had secretly taken before.

I showed him the phone, then wrote on the board: “If you pressure me again, I will send these to the press.”

His expression suddenly darkened into something sinister. He grabbed my neck firmly, and this time I could clearly see his lip movements as he said, “Try it.”

Struggling, I grabbed the phone, but Luo Ange swatted my hand away.

Those photos were originally my insurance, taken secretly just in case—I never imagined they would become my bargaining chip.

He pushed me onto the bed. I sat up, but he pushed me down again.

Finally, I lost all strength and could only stare at the ceiling.

Soon, he lifted the whiteboard in front of me. His handwriting was filled with anger, as fierce as his face, as if he wanted to devour me alive.

He wrote: “There will come a day when you kneel and beg me.”

He remained at the doorway for a long, long time before disappearing. I sat dazed on the edge of the bed, my mind blank.

If I weren’t so ill, maybe that day would come—when I would beg him. But now, barely able to take care of myself, that day would never arrive.

It was not until dawn that my grandfather appeared. Congxuan Shu hadn’t come, which surprised me, so I asked Grandpa where he had gone.

Now, we communicated through the whiteboard. Although slow, it was clear enough.

Grandpa said there were some family matters at Congxuan Shu’s home and he might not come to the hospital for a couple of days.

A faint disappointment settled in my heart. Grandpa busied himself making porridge in the kitchen while I washed up in the bathroom, but something felt off—my eyelid kept twitching uncontrollably.

After the hospital incident, I never saw Du Fanchuan again because Grandpa forbade him from visiting. I heard his father had locked him up at home, not allowing him to embarrass the family any further.

One day, though, he showed up with heaps of delicious food. He emptied everything onto a plate.

The bed was covered with snacks he had bought. His hands trembled as he tried to offer them. I grasped his hand and looked at him silently, asking what was wrong.

He looked at me, tears filling his eyes. Then he suddenly hugged me, and soon my neck was wet with warm liquid.

I was the one hurt, in pain, nearly killed—and yet I didn’t cry. So why was he crying? Pathetic.

Later, I learned why Du Fanchuan came to see me—he showed me the news.

Though I couldn’t hear the sound, the images told the story clearly.

The Luo Ai Group’s key board members were dining with Luo Ange, seemingly enjoying themselves.

That wasn’t what concerned me.

I cared about Congxuan Shu.

Someone had exposed that the software he developed and designed plagiarized Luo Ange’s ideas. Companies that did business with him demanded huge compensation.

A swarm of reporters surrounded the Lan Feng Group headquarters. Lan Feng held a press conference to clarify it was all a misunderstanding.

At the center, dressed in a suit, was none other than Luo Ange himself.

So many things had happened while I was unconscious these past two days. No wonder Congxuan Shu hadn’t come, no wonder Luo Ange was brazenly threatening me—he was here to stir trouble.

Du Fanchuan turned off the TV and wrote on the whiteboard: “Congxuan Shu wanted you to go to Beijing partly for your health, partly to avoid this mess. He doesn’t want you caught up in it.”

Just a day later, the commercial crime investigation unit summoned Congxuan Shu to assist with their inquiry.

Next, Luo Ange appeared on camera, declaring his belief in his uncle’s innocence.

I sneered silently. The sick pervert’s acting was good—he played the victim well, even though he was the one causing the chaos.

The situation worsened. Companies that had signed contracts with Congxuan Shu sued him for breach, demanding terrifying sums in damages.

That wasn’t all.

The “Qing Qing Ru Wo” cosmetics developed by Shu Aiqing were exposed for containing excessive lead, causing mild disfigurement to customers.

The Luo Ai Group’s board jointly demanded Luo Ange’s father remove Shu Aiqing from the board.

I knew Luo Ange was the mastermind behind it all. Only he had the vast influence to pull this off.

In this world, there was nothing he couldn’t get—unless he didn’t want it.

It was only then that I understood why he said that day I would kneel and beg him. He knew neither Congxuan Shu nor I would abandon each other.

Desperate, I started making calls—many calls—but Luo Ange’s phone was always off. I sent countless messages, none returned.

After finishing the IV drip, Du Fanchuan accompanied me outside for a walk. In the hospital’s little garden, many people wore the same hospital gowns as me. They talked, laughed, played chess, sang—but I heard nothing.

Du Fanchuan and I were like two undercover agents, each holding a phone, beginning our slow, difficult conversation.

“I want to see Congxuan Shu. I’m worried about him.”

Du Fanchuan glanced at me, typed rapidly for a while, then showed me: “Actually, Congxuan Shu asked me here. He told me to take you to Beijing. Everything there is arranged; someone will meet us.”

My heart pounded. Luo Ange was truly ruthless. He was a monster.

Seeing my silence, Du Fanchuan typed again: “The flight is tonight. I’ve already told your grandfather; he’s coming with us. Don’t let Congxuan Shu worry, okay? He’s fighting a battle.”

“Is there really no other way? Isn’t his father a provincial party secretary...?”

Du Fanchuan replied: “Official-business collusion is the most taboo thing. Even if he is a provincial party secretary, now is the time to avoid suspicion.”

Perhaps because I was about to have my period, or because Congxuan Shu’s predicament struck me like a thunderbolt, a sudden wave of dizziness and uncontrollable bleeding from my lower abdomen overwhelmed me.

My body trembled, despair unlike anything before washed over me. Was there truly no hope? Could I not save Congxuan Shu?

Du Fanchuan held me tightly, writing in my palm: “We’ll go. We’ll go. Don’t make Congxuan Shu worry.”

Tears blurred my vision. I couldn’t speak, only nodded desperately.

On the way back to the ward, I saw a familiar figure. I told Du Fanchuan to go ahead; I’d be right behind.

I had seen this man once before at Lichun Private Kitchen. Luo Ange and the others called him “Boss.” Later, I saw him on TV—Guanshan Yuan, Luo Ange’s cousin.

He looked surprised to see me. Next to him stood a beautiful young woman about my age. Looking closely, her belly was slightly swollen—she was pregnant.

He whispered a few words to her. She nodded, smiled sweetly at me, and followed two bodyguard-looking men.

Only then did he turn to me. He said something I couldn’t hear, so I grabbed his hand and told him I was deaf and mute.

He stared in disbelief, then led me to a shaded spot. I had no time for pleasantries, so I typed on my phone, begging him to arrange a meeting with Luo Ange.

He looked conflicted for a few seconds, then wrote in my palm: “You two broke up?”

I was stunned. No time to explain my relationship with Luo Ange, I just nodded and looked at him with pleading eyes.

His gaze softened with pity. Finally, he nodded and told me to wait for news.

Back in the ward, Du Fanchuan was packing my things, with Grandpa helping. Uneasy, I wanted to tell them to stop, unsure if Luo Ange would agree to meet me. So I curled up on the sofa and watched TV.

Perhaps fearing I would spiral into dark thoughts, Du Fanchuan came over, turned off the TV, and gestured for me to lie down and rest.

I had no peace for sleep; my mind was full of Congxuan Shu’s suffering and Luo Ange’s triumphant face.

That afternoon, I received a message from Guanshan Yuan asking me to be at Lichun at four o’clock.

Attached was a note: “This is as far as I can help you.”

I checked the time, grabbed my bag, and left. Du Fanchuan chased after me, and I gestured for him to find someone and come back quickly.

He pulled the plane ticket from my bag, pointed at the time, reminding me not to be late.

We took a taxi and soon arrived at Lichun Private Kitchen. When I got out, the sky was hazy, as if rain was coming.

Perhaps arranged by Guanshan Yuan, there wasn’t a single car outside or in the courtyard. The manager recognized me and led me behind the small bamboo pavilion.

Last time I only noticed the outside scenery. I hadn’t expected such a secluded little world here.

A small courtyard hidden among bamboo groves, inconspicuous at first glance, but inside it contained everything one could need.

This place was slightly smaller than my own courtyard, but the most striking feature was the massive wisteria vine.

But I had no heart to admire nature. I needed to prepare my words—to meet Luo Ange and beg him to spare Congxuan Shu.

He had once said he was a businessman who didn’t do losing deals.

So, if I wanted to beg him to spare Congxuan Shu, what could I possibly offer as leverage?

The waiter came in for the fourth time with tea. As the minutes ticked by, it was already half past four, and Luo Ange still hadn’t arrived. Anxiety clawed at me.

After another agonizing hour, with heavy rain pouring, he still didn’t come. I sat alone in the private room, watching the downpour, feeling like a fool.

I sent him countless messages, but they vanished like stones sinking into the sea, not a ripple in response.

I thought maybe this time I really couldn’t help Congxuan Shu. He had been so good to me, worrying about me even when he was in trouble, yet I was powerless.

Not even a chance to plead—Luo Ange wouldn’t give me that.

Du Fanchuan called several times; I couldn’t answer, so I sent a message telling them to go to the airport without me.

He kept asking where I was and if something had happened. I couldn’t tell him; I had lost all hope.

At six thirty, I couldn’t hold back any longer and sent Luo Ange a message threatening to accuse him of assault if he didn’t show up.

After sending it, I stepped outside and stood under the wisteria arbor, waiting slowly. Every moment felt like a knife cutting through me, but I had to gamble.

Since the last car accident, every period brought unbearable pain, but none like this. I was drenched in cold sweat, seeing stars, yet I could only endure.