“So… last night’s car accident?”
“Our colleagues are investigating the relationship between the driver and Liu Yifan,” Huang Xiumin said, her gaze dropping, “but we haven’t found anything yet.”
“But how could it be such a coincidence?”
Huang Xiumin gritted her teeth, “Lin Wan had just uncovered two suspicious cases. The day before yesterday, she went to question the family of the second case’s victim, and the next night, she got into an accident on her way home!”
Lu Zheng’s eyes remained fixed on Lin Wan’s pale, delicate face.
The ward fell silent, disturbed only by the nurse’s movements and sounds as she changed Lin Wan’s medication.
…
It wasn’t until noon that Lin Wan’s eyes flickered and she opened them.
“Lu Zheng?”
“Xiumin?”
Meeting the worried gazes of Lu Zheng and Huang Xiumin, Lin Wan gave a weak smile, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
“Fine, my foot…”
Lu Zheng grasped Lin Wan’s hand, “Yes, you’re fine, and you’ll stay fine!”
Lin Wan looked at Huang Xiumin.
Huang Xiumin said gruffly, “I told Lu Zheng!”
Lin Wan froze at her words.
Lu Zheng sighed, “Why didn’t you tell me I might be targeted for revenge?”
Lin Wan managed a faint smile, “It’s our duty to ensure that those who do the right thing don’t live in fear or suffer retaliation.”
“And then you landed yourself in a hospital bed?”
Lin Wan retorted, “What kind of talk is that?”
After a pause, she turned to Huang Xiumin, “What’s my condition? When can I be discharged?”
Huang Xiumin’s face stiffened.
Lin Wan stared at her, her heart skipping a beat, then turned to Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng remained silent.
“What’s… what’s wrong with me?”
Lin Wan suppressed the unease rising in her chest, asking in a steady voice.
Still, no one spoke.
“What’s so bad that you can’t tell me? I’m not dead, my hands are fine, my legs are…”
Lin Wan stopped abruptly, realising she could no longer feel her legs.
“My… my…” Lin Wan’s face turned ashen.
Lu Zheng tightened his grip on her hand, “Don’t worry, it’s just nerve damage. There’s definitely a way to recover.”
Lin Wan clutched his hand tightly, her body trembling.
Huang Xiumin turned away.
After a long pause…
“I’m fine. Surviving is already a blessing, isn’t it?” Lin Wan’s voice was faint.
“No, what kind of blessing is this? The culprit is still out there, and you’re celebrating just because you didn’t die?” Lu Zheng held her hand, speaking softly, “This isn’t over. Leave the rest to me.”
“Lu Zheng!”
“Yes?”
“Promise me you won’t break the law,” Lin Wan stared at him.
Lu Zheng met her gaze but didn’t respond.
“My colleagues will catch him!” Lin Wan said, looking at Lu Zheng, “You mustn’t take matters into your own hands!”
Lu Zheng scoffed, “You’re police officers. You need evidence to make an arrest.”
*Bang!*
The ward door was pushed open, and Li Jinglin and Liang Yuandong entered, with Liu Leng trailing behind.
“How is she?” Huang Xiumin stood up immediately to ask.
Li Jinglin looked at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng didn’t even glance at him, focusing only on holding Lin Wan’s hand and comforting her softly.
“Don’t worry, the bone fragments have been removed. You can’t feel your lower body because of spinal cord nerve damage.
It’s mainly about recovery. If you recover well, you can absolutely stand again.
You’re young, you exercise regularly, you’re in good shape, and your recovery potential is strong. There’s a good chance you’ll recover.”
“Lu Zheng.”
Lin Wan interrupted him, giving him a meaningful look, “You’ve been with me all night and must be exhausted. Go home and rest, get some sleep.”
Lu Zheng pursed his lips, seeing that Lin Wan’s spirits had indeed improved slightly. He glanced at Li Jinglin and the others.
“Fine, I’ll head back now and come back tonight.”
Huang Xiumin added, “We’ve notified Lin Wan’s mother. She’s taking the high-speed train today and might arrive this afternoon.”
“You notified my mum?” Lin Wan looked up, her emotions suddenly in turmoil.
Huang Xiumin glared at her, “What, were you going to keep it from her? How long could you hide it?”
“Oh,” Lin Wan could only nod helplessly, her expression somewhat uneasy.
Lu Zheng stood up and kissed Lin Wan on the cheek in front of everyone.
Lin Wan’s face flushed.
Lu Zheng turned to Huang Xiumin, using his body to shield the others’ view, and made a phone-call gesture with his right hand at chest level.
Huang Xiumin caught it and gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Lu Zheng then turned, nodded to Li Jinglin and the others, and prepared to leave.
“Lu Zheng,” Li Jinglin called out.
“Captain Li.”
“You can rest assured. Lin Wan is my subordinate, and I’ll see this through to the end.”
“I trust you,” Lu Zheng nodded.
Li Jinglin nodded back, “Go rest for now. Spend more time with Lin Wan later.”
…
Lu Zheng returned home, first travelling to ancient times to instruct Uncle Li that he might be absent occasionally. He then visited the Liu family, telling Liu Qingyan he’d be busy and wouldn’t be able to visit Renxin Hall during the day for a while.
Then he travelled back, resting his eyes while waiting for Huang Xiumin’s call.
*Ring ring—*
“Hello, what’s the update?”
“They’ve gotten smarter, leaving no direct evidence or financial trail.”
“But there’s indirect evidence?”
“The driver has a daughter studying in the Beacon Country,” Huang Xiumin said over the phone, “Apparently, she’s quite a spendthrift and has gotten into drugs. She graduated this year and is now interning at Longxia Group’s branch in the Beacon Country.
Longxia Group is Liu Yifan’s family business, founded by his grandfather and now run by his father. Liu Yifan himself is some kind of project manager in the company.”
Lu Zheng snorted, “So, of course, this doesn’t count as evidence.”
Huang Xiumin said gravely, “Correct.”
“Are his parents involved in his dirty deeds?”
“Unclear, but with Liu Yifan’s status, he doesn’t need his parents’ involvement for many things.”
Lu Zheng glanced at the sun, now tilting westward, “Rich people really know how to play, don’t they?”
“But this can’t be covered up.”
“Did he even try to hide it?”
“No,” Huang Xiumin said, “But we’ve got our eyes on him now. He won’t dare act too recklessly in the future, so…”
Lu Zheng took a deep breath.
“So, in other words, Lin Wan traded her injury for my safety?”
Silence on the other end.
“She’s such an idiot! She doesn’t know how capable I am!”
“No, she knows, and that’s why she’s worried you’d do something rash in anger. She doesn’t want to have to arrest you herself.”
“She knows nothing…”
Lu Zheng’s voice faltered, and it took several deep breaths to ease the tightness in his chest.
“Fine, I understand.”
“You won’t put Lin Wan in a difficult position, right?”
Huang Xiumin’s voice was laced with conflict, “I’m telling you this so you’re not kept in the dark. Also, don’t let Lin Wan down, okay?”
By now, her voice carried a hint of a sob.
“I know, I won’t.”
…
Lu Zheng hung up, went out for a quick meal, and returned to the hospital.
“Lin Wan.”
“Auntie.”
Lu Zheng noticed a middle-aged woman by Lin Wan’s bedside.
In her fifties, she bore a slight resemblance to Lin Wan but looked weary.
“Hello,” Lin Wan’s mother nodded.
“Lu Zheng,” Lin Wan said calmly, clearly having regained her composure.
“I need to tell you something.”
“Yes?” Lu Zheng’s heart skipped a beat as he met Lin Wan’s calm, steady gaze.
“The doctor just told me my spinal cord nerves are severely damaged, with almost no chance of recovery.”
Lu Zheng was about to speak when Lin Wan cut him off, “Let me finish.
The city bureau has contacted my hometown’s police station. Once my condition stabilises, I’ll return there to work in logistics.
So, I’ll probably head back to my hometown in about two weeks. I won’t be in Haicheng anymore.”
Lin Wan looked at Lu Zheng, her eyes gentle and calm, her expression relaxed and natural.
“So, let’s break up.”
