By the time I placed Luo Tong in the back seat of the Bentley, I was drenched in sweat, my shirt clinging to my skin.
Those twenty-some meters felt like they'd taken years off my life. The stabbing pain in my chest grew more intense, even affecting my breathing.
Clutching my chest, I gasped in agony. A-Kun quickly helped me into the opposite back seat.
Only then did the tension in my heart ease. But as soon as I relaxed, excruciating pain surged from all over my body, nearly causing me to black out. I shut my eyes, regulating my breath, struggling to stay conscious.
After arranging for his subordinates, A-Kun got into the car and started the engine.
"Mr. Liao, should we go to Jiangcheng Hospital first?" A-Kun asked, turning his head.
"Let's head back to Yuncheng first," I decided immediately. Jiangcheng was Hu Sanyong's territory, and I couldn't feel at ease here.
"But this road leads to Longyang City. Detouring to Jiangcheng would take over three hours," A-Kun pointed out.
"It's fine, I can hold on," I insisted.
Hearing my resolve, A-Kun said nothing more and drove off.
I turned to look at Luo Tong. She was leaning against the car door, her head resting on the window, lost in a daze. For now, her emotions seemed stable.
At this point, I couldn't spare any concern for her. I hadn't had a drop of water all evening, and after being brutally beaten, it was a miracle I had held on until now. My entire body felt as if it had fallen apart, and I truly had no strength left.
I lay back on the sofa, closed my eyes, and tried to regulate my breathing. Before I knew it, I drifted into a heavy, exhausted sleep.
When Ah Kun woke me up, we had already entered the city limits of Yuncheng. I asked for the time and found it was past 1 a.m.
I tried to shift my body, but even the slightest movement of my arm sent waves of excruciating pain shooting through me from every direction. There wasn't a single spot that didn't hurt.
The intense pain made it impossible for me to move even a finger without immense effort.
I glanced at Luo Tong, who was still sitting there in a daze. Had she been spacing out the entire ride?
I wanted to comfort her but found myself at a loss for words. I could only sigh inwardly, hoping she would recover from the shock soon.
"Mr. Liao, we've arrived at the hospital. President Su is already waiting here," Ah Kun said, pulling the car to a stop right at the entrance of the outpatient building.
A group of people stood at the entrance. I saw my mother-in-law at the front, her expression cold and stern, with my anxious wife and Li Ke standing behind her.
As soon as Ah Kun parked the car, he got out and opened the door, helping me step out.
"Husband, how did you get hurt so badly?" My wife rushed over as soon as I got out of the car, tears streaming from her large eyes. In an instant, she was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Don't cry, Nan Nan. I'm fine, really," I said hurriedly. I couldn't bear to see my wife cry—it always made me panic.
"You're covered in blood and you say you're fine? Where are you hurt? Does it hurt?" she asked frantically, her hands moving over me as if searching for injuries.
There wasn't a single part of my body that wasn't in pain. The moment she touched me, a sharp, piercing agony shot through my mind, making me gasp sharply.
Seeing my reaction, she hastily raised her hands, crying helplessly. Her distress broke my heart, and I repeatedly assured her I was okay.
Just then, my mother-in-law walked over. She gave me a concerned glance before slapping Ah Kun hard across the face, her voice icy as she said, "You've disappointed me greatly."
Ah Kun, still holding me, didn't dare move a muscle and replied cautiously, "I'm sorry, President Su. It was my negligence."
"Mom, Luo Tong is still in the car," I quickly interjected, trying to change the subject.
My mother-in-law nodded. "Let's get you checked first. I'll personally take Luo Tong back to the Chengnan Hotel later."
"Mom, I'm fine. Nan Nan and Li Ke can take care of me. Please take Luo Tong back now—her situation is more serious," I insisted.
"Alright," my mother-in-law said without hesitation. She immediately made a decision and instructed Ah Kun to take them to the Chengnan Hotel.
My wife carefully supported me, and Li Ke quickly came over to help as well. Together, they flanked me and helped me into the outpatient building.
After the examination, it turned out my injuries weren't too severe—mostly superficial wounds. The most serious issue was two broken ribs in my chest, which required hospitalization. My mother-in-law had already arranged a luxurious private room, so after some treatment, I was directly admitted.
My wife sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes swollen and red from crying. After staring at me for a moment, she suddenly burst into tears again.
My hands were mangled from being cut by shards of glass—not a single spot on my palms or fingers was left unscathed. They were now wrapped up like two bulky sandbags, making it impossible for me to wipe away her tears. Frustrated, I kept shooting meaningful glances at Li Ke.
Li Ke sat down beside my wife and began wiping her tears as she said, "Don't worry, Nannan. Haven't you heard the saying? 'The wicked live a thousand years.' This guy's tough—he won't go down easily."
"You're the wicked one," I muttered under my breath. What kind of comfort was that?
Li Ke rolled her eyes at me and said coldly, "Still denying it? You hurt Nannan so badly she can barely walk without pain. I was waiting for you to come back so I could settle the score, but instead, you show up lying in bed. I have every reason to suspect you injured yourself just to avoid taking responsibility."
"Keke, what are you saying?" My wife immediately grabbed Li Ke's hand, stopping her from continuing.
The trip to Jiangcheng today had left me utterly distressed, and I had completely forgotten about my wife's condition. Li Ke's words filled me with guilt, and I quickly asked my wife, "Nannan, did you see a doctor?"
She nodded, her voice still choked with sobs. "I was too embarrassed to go at first, but Keke insisted on taking me for a checkup. The doctor prescribed some topical medication and said I'd be fine after a few days of rest. Don't worry about me."
Feeling remorseful, I nodded at my wife and then turned to Li Ke. "Thank you, Li Ke. Thank you for taking care of Nannan."
Li Ke immediately perked up, pointing a finger at me and saying, "Liao Fan, I have to say this—do you lose all reason the moment your lower half gets excited? If you don't cherish your own wife, who do you expect to do it for you?"
"Keke, Liao Fan is already badly injured. Don't scold him anymore," my wife hurriedly interjected.
"Su Nan, I really can't with you. You're such a husband-defender! No wonder you got hurt," Li Ke scolded, exasperated. Then she turned to me and added, "But let's be clear—since you're injured now, I won't press the matter. Once you've recovered, I'm going to teach you a proper lesson on Nannan's behalf. You need to remember this."
"I'll take whatever punishment you give," I nodded repeatedly.
Just then, my phone rang. It was my mother-in-law calling. Since my hands were unusable, my wife answered the phone for me.
My mother-in-law asked about my injuries and then said that Luo Tong was extremely emotionally unstable. She didn't dare leave her side and would come over first thing tomorrow morning.
I quickly asked my wife to hold the phone to my ear so I could inquire about Luo Tong's condition. My mother-in-law simply assured me that she was there and told me not to worry before hanging up.
"Well, well, Liao Fan. Worried about her already?" Li Ke suddenly remarked in a chilly tone.
---------------------------------------
Hey guys To read Ahead go to my patreon
patreon.com/Satya69
Now join my telegram channel for a chance to get a free membership every month.Check patreon recent post for more information.
This book has 80 chapters in my patreon and many other exciting stories for you to enjoy.