Persuade With Reason

Jin Fei lifted the corner of her suit jacket slightly, looking curiously at the man standing protectively beside her. How did he know her age?

The weather in November was starting to turn chilly. Jin Fei noticed that the man was only wearing a shirt, and his sleeve was stained with blood. "Are you cold?" she asked.

"Not cold," Shi Yibai replied. Sensing the gazes directed at Jin Fei from all around, he tugged his jacket higher, covering most of her face.

"Boss, the perpetrator has been restrained. The police and ambulance are on their way," the assistant said, his voice tinged with lingering fear as he glanced at the silver-gray sports car with its crumpled front. If it hadn't been for this young woman driving in to block the impact, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

The police arrived quickly at the scene, reviewed the surveillance footage from the tea garden entrance, and took the middle-aged man away in a police car.

As a heroic citizen who had acted bravely, Jin Fei was immediately taken to the hospital for a full-body checkup and kept under observation for a day.

Lying in the hospital bed, Jin Fei held a bowl of freshly cut fruit, staring wide-eyed at the female officer who had come to take her statement.

"Thank you very much, Miss Jin, for your courageous act in saving the victim's life. Your spirit is truly admirable," the officer said, her heart aching for Jin Fei as she recalled the mangled state of the sports car.

"I didn't think much about it at the time," Jin Fei replied, placing the bowl on the bedside table. She didn’t like eating while talking to others. "I couldn’t just stand by and watch the car crash into someone."

"Not everyone has that kind of courage," the officer continued. "When the car came rushing at you, did you instinctively feel that the driver had malicious intent?"

"Yes," Jin Fei nodded. "I felt he clearly intended to hit the victim."

"Thank you for your help," the officer said, jotting down a few notes and occasionally asking some minor, less important questions.

The male officer accompanying her noticed that Jin Fei’s cup was empty and got up to fill it for her.

"Are you familiar with Mr. Shi?" the male officer asked as he handed the cup to Jin Fei.

Jin Fei shook her head.

The two officers exchanged a glance, and the female officer subtly shook her head. She put away her notepad and said, "Miss Jin, thank you for your time today. We wish you a speedy recovery."

"Thank you," Jin Fei replied, holding the cup of water as she watched the two officers leave.

Just as the officers reached the door, it was pushed open abruptly as several people hurried in.

"Fei Fei, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

"Are you dizzy? Do you feel like throwing up?"

"Sis, I knew it. Whenever you get involved with anything or anyone related to Xie Lisu, something bad happens," Jin Bo said irritably. "You go out for tea with his mother, and you end up in a car accident. That Xie Lisu is nothing but bad luck!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Jin Bo felt something was off, but upon reflection, he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

"Sorry."

Jin Bo turned to see a strikingly handsome man standing at the door.

He quickly glanced back at Jin Fei. Had his sister gone and charmed another man again?

"Miss Jin was injured because she saved me," Shi Yibai said as he walked into the room, placing a food container on the table. "I thought you might not have eaten yet, so I brought you something."

Jin Bo: "..."

What kind of cliché "beauty saves the hero" scenario is this?

Jin Weifeng glanced at the police officers still standing at the door, sensing that the situation might be more complicated than it seemed. Seeing his daughter looking calm and unharmed, he politely smiled at the newcomer.

Zhou Yun opened the food container and thanked Shi Yibai.

Shi Yibai stood to the side, watching Jin Fei surrounded by her family. He then quietly turned and left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

"Mr. Shi, the suspect claims that he bore a grudge against you due to business conflicts," the officer in charge of the case said as Shi Yibai stepped out. "As for Miss Jin, the brave citizen who intervened, she had no connection to the suspect. Her saving you was purely coincidental..."

"A coincidence," Shi Yibai finished the sentence. "She simply wanted to save my life. I understand."

The police were somewhat surprised. It wasn’t often they encountered such a reasonable wealthy person. In previous cases involving influential figures, the individuals often acted as if everyone was out to get them, demanding that even stray dogs passing by be investigated.

After the police left, Shi Yibai looked down at his bandaged hand, his entire wrist trembling slightly.

"Really, you don’t need to stay with me. If you keep this up, I might as well just go home with you," Jin Fei said, sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed. "I’m just here for observation overnight. I’ll be discharged tomorrow morning. The hospital isn’t exactly a fun place. Why are you all hanging around here?"

"Mom, I’m a grown woman," Jin Fei said, half-laughing, half-exasperated. "It’s really not a big deal. You don’t need to worry so much."

The other three family members: "..."

"Mom," Jin Bo whispered to Zhou Yun. "Maybe we should just let her have her way. I’m afraid she’ll really come home with us."

Staying at the hospital was at least better than having her at home, where they’d worry even more.

"The high-end ward here has nurses on duty all the time. Nothing will happen," Jin Bo added in a low voice. "Besides, sis has been practicing martial arts since she was a kid."

Jin Fei had always been exceptionally beautiful, standing out in any crowd. Worried that she might be taken advantage of, her family had insisted she learn self-defense. However, as she grew older, Jin Fei often maintained her "goddess" image, preferring to talk her way out of conflicts rather than resort to physical means. As a result, most of her classmates had no idea that Jin Fei could easily take down five whining crybabies with a single punch.

Jin Bo often wondered if this was why his sister, after her mental breakdown, became so narcissistic, believing herself to be both intellectually and physically superior.

After seeing off her parents and her noisy younger brother, Jin Fei pulled out her phone and continued watching *Tom and Jerry*.

A knock sounded at the door. Jin Fei quickly closed the video and opened a finance forum. "Come in."

"Miss Jin," Shi Yibai stood at the door. "May I come in?"

Jin Fei got up and opened the door halfway. Behind Shi Yibai stood a male and female assistant. She stepped back and opened the door fully. "Please, come in."

"Thank you so much for what you did today," Shi Yibai said, his gaze fixed on Jin Fei. Without his glasses, his eyes seemed deep and tender, no matter who he looked at. "If it weren’t for you, I might not be standing here today."

Jin Fei silently took two steps back, fearing his next words would be something like, "I can’t repay your kindness, so I’ll offer myself to you."

"All your losses will be covered by me," Shi Yibai said, noticing Jin Fei’s retreat. He paused, then took the gold-rimmed, frameless glasses his assistant handed him and put them on. "If there’s anything you need in the future, Miss Jin, please don’t hesitate to ask."

It was then that Jin Fei remembered why Shi Yibai seemed familiar.

When she had gone out to eat with Zhao Yue, she had once reached out to steady him.

Assured that he wasn’t about to propose marriage, Jin Fei invited them to sit down.

"How’s your hand?" she asked, recalling the injury on his hand.

"The doctor has already treated it," Shi Yibai replied, glancing down at his hand. A long, stark wound ran across the back of his pale hand, looking both vivid and unsettling.

"Why isn’t it bandaged? Doesn’t it hurt?" Jin Fei felt the man was being careless with himself. "What if it scars?"

The male assistant explained, "Miss Jin, the doctor said the wound is shallow. Bandaging it might actually hinder the healing process."

"Oh," Jin Fei said, noticing that the skin on the back of his hand seemed to tremble slightly—a muscle response to pain. Yet, his expression showed no sign of discomfort.

"Wait a moment," Jin Fei said, remembering there was a small fridge in the room. She opened it and found some ice cubes.

She placed the ice cubes in a sterilized cup and handed it to Shi Yibai. "You can apply this to the wound."

Shi Yibai looked at the transparent cup being handed to him, slowly reached out to take it, but instead of applying it to his wound, he simply held it and looked at her quietly.

"The ice can help relieve the pain," Jin Fei explained, thinking he didn’t understand. "You can try it."

It’s not embarrassing for a guy to admit he’s in pain.

The two assistants exchanged glances but said nothing. Their boss was a man, after all. There was no need for such fuss. But since Jin Fei meant well and Shi Yibai didn’t refuse, they maintained their professional silence.

"Thank you." The cool cup was placed on the back of her hand, and Shi Yibai slightly lowered his eyelids. "Miss Jin, rest early. If anything comes up, just press the bell by the bed."

His index finger gently tapped the cold cup twice. "If Miss Jin doesn’t mind, you can also contact me."

He set the sterilized cup aside and took out his phone. "This is my personal contact information."

"No need, I’m fine," Jin Fei waved her hand. "Mr. Shi, you don’t have to be so polite."

"It’s not politeness. I might need to discuss the purchase of a new car with Miss Jin later," Shi Yibai didn’t put his phone away. "Miss Jin is a good person, and I can’t let a good person suffer."

The first "good person card" of her life came unexpectedly, catching her off guard.

Jin Fei stared at Shi Yibai for three seconds. To commemorate the first "good person card" of her life, she exchanged phone numbers and WeChat accounts with him.

"My surname is Shi, and my name is Shi Yibai."

A good-looking person with a beautiful name.

Jin Fei typed "Shi Yibai" into her contacts.

"My surname is Jin, and my name is Fei, as in 'fei' from 'feicui' (jade)."

"I know," Shi Yibai looked at the WeChat profile picture on his phone, his voice deep. "Miss Jin is the goddess in the hearts of many at Imperial Capital University."

The cool cup was placed on the back of his hand.

"Here, apply this," Jin Fei’s slender, delicate fingers held the cup. "It won’t hurt as much this way."

Her glossy nails were even more beautiful than the ice cubes in the cup.

The Jin and Zhao families had arranged to have a meal together. By noon, Zhao Yue noticed that Jin Fei hadn’t arrived.

"Aunt Zhou, why hasn’t Fei Fei come?" she asked. Could she have overslept?

"Fei Fei was in a car accident yesterday and needs to stay in the hospital for observation for a day…"

"She was in a car accident?" Zhao Jiuyu’s voice sounded anxious. He glanced at his parents and sister, who were looking over, and quickly regained his composure. "Is she badly hurt?"

"She’s fine, don’t worry," Zhou Yun looked at Zhao Jiuyu and praised him. "In the blink of an eye, Jiuyu has become a business elite. Time really flies."

"Looking at other people’s children, it always feels like they grow up so fast," Zhao’s mother laughed. "But when it comes to your own children, you always wonder when they’ll finally grow up a little more."

The Zhao parents asked about Jin Fei’s condition again. After confirming that she was fine, they began their meal.

Halfway through the meal, Zhao Yue sneakily glanced at her phone and nudged Zhao Jiuyu with her elbow. "Fei Fei really lives up to her reputation as a goddess adored by both men and women. Even in the hospital, she’s attracting girls."

In Jin Fei’s WeChat Moments, two nurse sisters were posing with her, their heads close together, smiling sweetly.

Zhao Jiuyu noticed that in the corner of the photo, a man’s arm was slightly visible.