Chapter 165: Chapter 163: Heartbreak
When Chu Chu walked out of the hospital room, her face was still burning hot. Lately, she had often felt unwell, even her monthly cycle had become irregular. At first, she thought, like the books described, that she might be pregnant. Taking advantage of the free afternoon with no classes, she came to the hospital for a checkup, only to find out it wasn't because she was expecting a baby, but rather—
Just the thought of it made Chu Chu's heart race uncontrollably. The female doctor's words had been far too blunt. What did she mean by "excessive intimacy"? It was entirely that scoundrel's endless demands! Hmph, when she got home, she would definitely give him a piece of her mind. He didn't know the slightest thing about tenderness!
Even as she vowed revenge in her heart, Chu Chu couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. After all, that scoundrel seemed like a tireless machine, as if he never felt exhaustion. Dealing with him alone was truly overwhelming. It seemed she might have to seek help from Qing-jie.
Suddenly, Chu Chu froze mid-step, her gaze landing unexpectedly on a familiar figure ahead—Xiang Kui. Why was he here? And who was that female police officer standing opposite him?
Having met the female officer a few times, Chu Chu naturally remembered her well. It wasn't just because she often sought out Xiang Ri, but also because she was quite stunning—so much so that Chu Chu couldn't help but feel a twinge of insecurity.
With that thought in mind, she decided not to greet them right away. Instead, she crept closer silently to eavesdrop on their conversation.
The nearer she got, the tighter her heart seemed to clench, a faint thrill of suspicion stirring within her. Suspecting him of infidelity? The mere idea sent a chill down her spine, and she quickly banished the thought. Xiang Kui might have his faults, but his feelings for her were genuine. He wouldn't deceive her!
Bolstering her courage, Chu Chu took a few more steps forward until she could finally hear their voices.
"Wife."
Chu Chu froze, thinking she'd been discovered. But when she looked up, she realized Xiang Ri hadn't even turned his head. He was still facing the policewoman. Could it be that he wasn't speaking to her? The very notion sent a sharp pang through her chest.
"Come back to me, will you?"
It was as if Chu Chu's heart had been wrenched and crushed into pieces. Her mind went blank, and tears began to stream uncontrollably down her face. Why? Why?
At that moment, Xiang Ri turned around, only to be met with an ashen, bloodless face. He stammered, "Chu... Chu Chu—"
Chu Chu opened her mouth as if to speak, but the words caught in her throat, transforming into a choked sob, as if something were lodged there.
"Chu Chu, I—" For once, Xiang Ri was at a loss for words, realizing that stringing together a coherent sentence could be so agonizingly difficult.
After giving him a long, piercing look, Chu Chu stiffened and stepped back. Suddenly, her body shuddered, and she turned to dash out of the hospital like a lost soul.
"Chu Chu! Chu Chu!" Xiang Ri called out, chasing after her. But he hadn't taken more than a few steps before he came to an abrupt halt, as if frozen in place. Turning back to the policewoman, he stammered, "Xiao Wan, I…"
"Xiang Kui, you should go after her!" After a brief silence, Tie Wan forced herself to speak, suppressing something within.
"Xiao Wan..."
"Go quickly, I have matters to attend to, I must leave now!" The female officer turned away, two clear tears spilling from her eyes. She took a deep breath, her steps heavy as she walked back into the hospital.
Xiang Ri stared blankly at the retreating figure of the female officer, his mouth opening as if to call out, yet no sound came. Meanwhile, the stumbling figure that had fled the scene vanished from view, leaving behind only a few gossiping bystanders.
Xiang Ri slumped onto the long bench in the hallway, his gaze hollow, as if the sorrow in those eyes had branded itself deep into his soul, much like when the female officer had left him before.
"Perhaps I was just deluding myself," he sighed heavily, rising to his feet and making his way back to room 107.
"Haha, you're finally back. So, how was it? Did the police officer's scolding leave a bad taste?" Dr. Zhou, upon seeing the dejected expression on Xiang Ri's face, immediately guessed he must have been sternly reprimanded by the female officer earlier, and she smirked with a hint of schadenfreude.
Xiang Ri's eyes hardened, and he strode toward the doctor. As Dr. Zhou recoiled in terror, attempting to shrink back, Xiang Ri kicked out. In an instant, the smug, despicable doctor was sent flying backward, crashing into the wall like a ragdoll, nearly knocking over the two nurses who were trying to support him.
"Bang!" "Bang!" The wretched doctor slammed into the wall, then crumpled to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth as he lost consciousness.
The surrounding onlookers were frozen in shock, while several frightened nurses screamed in terror. Had it not been for the nearby doctors desperately holding onto their clothes, they might have already run out screaming.
"Drag him away, I never want to see him again!" Xiang Ri glared at the fallen doctor with eyes full of contempt, his voice leaving no room for dispute.
A few security guards swiftly moved in, lifting the unconscious doctor as if they had been granted a pardon, quickly exiting the scene. The remaining doctors and nurses, fearing for their safety, followed suit and hurriedly fled the area, unconcerned with the whereabouts of the female officer. Their only priority was to ensure their own safety.
"Master, what's wrong?" Shi Qing, seeing Xiang Ri's somber expression, though uncertain of the exact cause, could guess that it wasn't anything good. She hurried over with concern.
"I'm fine, Xiao Qing," Xiang Ri replied tiredly, suddenly grabbing his disciple by the shoulder. "Listen, Xiao Qing, you need to follow her immediately. If you see Chu Chu, stay close to her, don't leave her side!"
"Master..."
"Don't ask questions. Chu Chu has just left; if you hurry, you might still catch up with her. Remember, if you see her, stay right beside her! Do you understand?"
"I understand now!" Seeing the seriousness on his teacher's face, Shi Qing sensed the gravity of the situation and hurriedly dashed out after uttering these words.
"Is something wrong?" Song Qiuheng approached, her heart subtly aching as she noticed the exhaustion etched on the student's face.
"Teacher Song, do you think it's truly impossible for a man to live with several women at the same time?" Xiang Ri's voice was low and heavy, as he fought the impulse to pull the woman before him into his embrace.
Upon hearing the student's odd address, Song Qiuheng seemed not to register his latter question. Instead, she appeared to be stirred by some long-forgotten memory, her tone tinged with wistfulness. "You know, you remind me of a friend of mine."
"Really?" Xiang Ri's smile was bitter and tinged with sorrow.
"Yes, not only do you resemble him in mannerisms, but even your temperament is similar." Recalling the brutal way the student had dealt with Dr. Zhou earlier, Song Qiuheng felt a strange unease stir within her, as if, in the past, he too had been inclined to solve problems with violence.
As she pondered, an odd expression suddenly crossed Song Qiuheng's face. "Ah, come to think of it, he shares your surname."
Xiang Ri's heart clenched, quickly diverting the conversation. "How is your brother? I hope he won't need surgery."
The mention of her brother immediately chased away the fleeting doubts in Song Qiuheng's mind, and her face softened with concern. "The doctor says he just passed out. He'll wake up after a while, no need for surgery. Oh, by the way, this is the check you dropped earlier," she said, pulling the 200,000 yuan check from her pocket—the one she had surreptitiously collected amidst the chaos—and handed it to him.
"Keep it," Xiang Ri replied, pushing the check back toward her, his mind already set on leaving. "Help your brother transfer to another hospital. This place is no longer suitable, and it's getting late. I must be going. See you tomorrow!" Without waiting for her to return the check, he turned and walked away.