95. Taken to Heart, Part One

After resting for half an hour in the shabby little clinic, Bai Jinyan ignored all attempts to stop him and left anyway.

Chen Ruowen had assumed he would go home to rest, but instead Bai Jinyan took her by the hand into a shopping center, bought an identical white shirt, and put it on over his short-sleeved one.

"I'll take you home."

Chen Ruowen shook her head. "I'll take you back—no, better let Uncle Bai come get you. You're injured, and you still have the heart to wander around a mall..."

Bai Jinyan suddenly cut her off.

"Wenwen, you have to have Uncle Chen look into the ambush carefully. But whatever you do, don't let my family know."

"Why not?"

Bai Jinyan looked somewhat helpless. "Exams are coming up. My family’s been especially strict lately. If my parents find out I skipped class to come see you and got hurt on top of that... I'll be in for a mountain of trouble when I get back."

"What are you talking about? How could we not tell Uncle and Auntie that you're hurt?"

"Uh... I'm already like this. You don't want me going home only to be punished with memorizing books and copying passages, do you?"

Chen Ruowen could hardly believe her ears. "You're in this state, and they'll still punish you?"

"They definitely will." Bai Jinyan said it with absolute certainty. "So don't let them know."

"Is that also why you wouldn't let me call an ambulance? Then what about your injuries? And who exactly is that Doctor Wei? Is his first aid really reliable?"

"Doctor Wei is a disciple of Master Jiang Yi, the same master I told you about before. You don't need to worry about his skill." Seeing that she still looked uneasy, he added with a smile, "If you're still worried, you can come to my house over the holiday and check on me. I won't be very convenient to get around for a while anyway."

Only then did Chen Ruowen suddenly remember that tomorrow was the May holiday.

"Of course I'll come see you, but..."

"No buts." As if to soothe her, Bai Jinyan drew her a little closer and patted her back. "Be good. I'll be waiting for you at home tomorrow."

Chen Ruowen had no choice but to nod.

The two of them had not gone far down the road when a stretched Phantom came kicking up dust from behind them, screeching to a halt in front of them. The door swung open, and Chen Liwan, still in his suit, strode out quickly from the car, seized Chen Ruowen, and turned her around again and again. He Wanqin followed right behind him, and the moment she got out, she pulled out a full set of medical instruments and was ready to examine her right there on the roadside.

"What exactly happened? Why would someone ambush you in an underground parking garage? Why didn't you contact the family after it happened? Do you know your mother and I were worried sick?"

Seeing the situation, Chen Liwan immediately ordered a full review of the surveillance footage. After watching it, even he could not help feeling a new respect for Bai Jinyan.

The way Bai Jinyan threw himself in front of the blade was clearly instinctive. If he had harbored even the slightest selfish thought, if he had hesitated for even a second, that knife might have landed in his daughter instead.

From the footage, it was obvious that Chen Ruowen had still been angry with Bai Jinyan at the time. Under those circumstances, Bai Jinyan had still protected her without hesitation. Whatever else could be said, Chen Liwan owed him that favor.

"Get in the car first." Chen Liwan motioned to the two of them. "Doctor He, take a look at Jinyan's injuries."

"No need to trouble you." Bai Jinyan politely declined Chen Liwan's kindness, then helped Chen Ruowen into the car. "Wenwen accompanied me to see a doctor just now, which is why I wasn't able to contact the family in time. I apologize for worrying Uncle Chen."

On the way home, Chen Ruowen hardly spoke at all. She only clutched Bai Jinyan's unharmed arm with a downcast air, and it took several rounds of reassurance from him before she felt a little better.

Once they got home, Yang Anxin and Guo Jingyuan inevitably surrounded Chen Ruowen with concern, and after hearing everything, they became even more excessively warm toward Bai Jinyan.

"Jinyan, these are all specially prepared nourishing dishes for you. Your complexion is so poor; you really must eat well and recover. I'll call your mother later. Don't go back tonight—stay with us and rest for a few days. We truly owe you for this, and I don't even know how to thank you."

At the dinner table, Yang Anxin kept piling food onto Bai Jinyan's plate. Before anyone else had even started eating, his bowl was already heaped high.

"This is only what I should do, Auntie. You're too kind. But today's matter... please don't tell my family." Bai Jinyan used the same reason as before and said with a bitter smile, "If my parents find out, they'll make me copy books again..."

"What are you thinking, child? How can something as serious as this not be told to your family? You're hurt so badly—if nobody at home takes care of you, when will you ever recover?" Yang Anxin said unhappily.

This child simply did not take his own body seriously. He was hurt like this, and he still feared being scolded so much that he wouldn't tell his family?

"After dinner, your Uncle Chen and I will go to the Bai household. A child gets injured and still has to be punished? How does that make sense?"

"Uh, Auntie, really, there's no need. Just pretend... you're doing me this favor."

Bai Jinyan insisted again and again that they not tell his family, until Yang Anxin was practically at a loss for words.

"All right. Jinyan isn't a little child anymore; he has his own ideas. Don't force him."

Chen Liwan had already guessed what Bai Jinyan was thinking.

Which family doesn't treasure their own child?

Bai Jinyan had been injured so severely while protecting Chen Ruowen, and with the college entrance exam only a month away, even if the matter had not been caused by Chen Ruowen, the Bai family would inevitably have some feelings about her. That was clearly not what Bai Jinyan wanted to see.

Nor was it what Chen Liwan wanted to see.

Especially if his daughter truly had set her heart on this young man surnamed Bai.

Seeing that the Chen elders agreed to keep it secret, Bai Jinyan finally relaxed a little, and dinner at last could begin in earnest.

But just as Bai Jinyan reached for the chopsticks beside him, his expression suddenly changed.

His right hand had no strength in it.

"What is it?" Noticing the change in his expression, Chen Ruowen asked at once with concern.

"It's nothing."

Bai Jinyan smiled and tried again, but this time, the instant his fingers closed around the chopsticks, they went slack, and both sticks rolled straight to the floor.

"Sorry. Maybe the anesthesia hasn't worn off yet. I don't have much strength."

Seeing the three members of the Chen family looking at him with worry, Bai Jinyan gave an apologetic smile and bent down to pick up the chopsticks.

But Chen Ruowen stopped him.

"Don't pick them up. I'll do it."

She straightened her own unused utensils, then picked a piece of liver. With a somewhat awkward shift of posture, she brought the chopsticks to Bai Jinyan's lips.

"I'll feed you."