The Byoukidere Is Her Sweetie

Chapter 99: 099: Nurse Ah Fang, patient Jiang Zhi
 

At that moment, the door to the hospital room swung open.

Jiang Zhi bent his legs, propping up the blanket, and casually grabbed a pillow to press to one side, “Why have you come?”

Old Lady Jiang, leaning on her cane, entered, “If I don’t come and check on this ancestor of mine, how could I possibly sleep?”

Not only were Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli there, but someone from the second branch of the Luo Family had also come. She waited on Old Lady Jiang’s side, taking her coat and pulling up a chair for the older woman to sit down.

“Feeling any better?”

Jiang Zhi, listlessly, hummed in response, shifting his position slightly, his hand resting on the pillow beside him.

Seeing him in such a sickly state, Old Lady Jiang felt truly heartbroken and, with gentle words, urged him, “Don’t go filming these next few days. Rest well in the hospital.”

Jiang Zhi agreed.

Old Lady Jiang continued her inquiry, “Has anyone from the police station been over?”

“Nanchu has.”

She was preoccupied with this matter and immediately asked, “Then, were there any new clues?”

Jiang Zhi, lethargically squinting, stayed silent.

Old Lady Jiang was sharp-minded and definitely understood his thoughts. Turning her head, she ordered, “All of you, go out and wait.”

Luo Changfang, unlike Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli, who were composed and self-assured, had an expression that seemed unable to hide her unease. However, she dared not speak out, taking the two younger ones with her and leaving the hospital room.

After they had all left and the door was closed, Old Lady Jiang then asked Jiang Zhi, “Does it have anything to do with those two?”

“Those two” referred to the first and second branches of the family.

Jiang Zhi switched the leg he was bending, with no semblance of a sleeping posture, the blanket becoming uneven. He said, “The killer had scratch marks on the back of their hand.”

The little girl under the covers was breathing hotly, making him feel warm.

“Are you talking about Lin?”

Jiang Xiaolin hadn’t particularly concealed the injuries on his hands. Old Lady Jiang had seen them the night before. When she asked what had happened, he didn’t tell her. But it turned out the culprit who’d pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea also had scratches.

How could it be such a coincidence?

“It’s hard to say,” Jiang Zhi stretched his hand for a cup, took a sip of lukewarm water to moisten his throat, “If he wanted to kill me, he didn’t need to dirty his own hands.”

“Perhaps he anticipated you’d think just that and deliberately did the opposite.”

That possibility couldn’t be ruled out.

“That Fuli girl too, she never leaves early or late, but just when you were in trouble, she wasn’t on the boat.” Old Lady Jiang huffed, her expression showing displeasure, “Every single one of them is nothing but trouble.”

The Jiang Family was not as splendid as rumors suggested. With each branch of the family having its own issues, falling apart was just a matter of time — it was all waiting for this old lady to pass away.

Jiang Zhi didn’t want to talk further, stating his position, “Leave this matter alone. If the investigation does lead back to our own Jiang Family, it would bring you trouble as well.”

Old Lady Jiang was unconvinced, her grip on her cane tightening, her tone just as firm, “What trouble? If the police can handle it, let them. If not, whoever dared hurt you, I’ll retaliate in kind. Other matters we can solve behind closed doors, but this murderous behavior cannot go unchecked.”

They were of the same family tree; unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn’t take extreme measures.

“Ms. Xu,” Only Jiang Zhi dared to tease the Old Madam like that, “what’s all this about retaliation? Didn’t you always teach me to speak elegantly?”

This was all because the incident had riled her up!

Old Lady Jiang was both exasperated and amused by him, “You’ve learned quite the thuggish ways from the outside world yourself.” Deciding to stop joking around, she put on a serious face, “Let’s not talk about that. Tell me about that errand runner you employed. Where was he when you had your accident?”

A small shape beneath the blanket shifted slightly.

Jiang Zhi adjusted his position, his hand naturally sliding under the blanket, finding a head, and gave it a rub, “It has nothing to do with her.”

His family’s thin one, cowering in a ball under the blanket, was hardly noticeable.

He would need to watch her eat from now on.

“How can you say it has nothing to do with him? After taking a commission of twenty million, you’d let someone take advantage of this. What’s the use of hiring him?” Old Lady Jiang was naturally dissatisfied with the errand runner, having paid a high price yet not receiving the expected service.

“She dived into the sea to save me.”

His tone was still assertive, as if no one could say otherwise.

Knowing Jiang Zhi’s temperament well, how could Old Lady Jiang not understand? When had he ever defended someone like this? His protectiveness was truly baffling.

“Why are you making excuses for him?”

He felt the cold little hand of the girl under the blanket, her fingers docile, allowing him to rub and poke them, toying with them made him feel much better. He said, “Let’s stick to the facts.”

“And your hulking assistant, why didn’t he stay with you?” Up until now, Old Lady Jiang had not remembered Lin Wanwan’s name; she always referred to her as “hulking.”

Speaking of the hulking assistant made Jiang Zhi lose interest, “He gets seasick.”

“…”

What kind of people were these?

Jiang Zhi urged, “When will you go back?”

This guy, really rushing people off.

“Am I, an old woman, being too naggy?”

Jiang Zhi’s eyelids drooped, “I’m tired and want to sleep.”

Old Lady Jiang scolded the little ancestor with a smile and got up, “I’ll keep an eye on Lin and Fuli. Don’t be careless yourself. I’ll send some more skilled people over to watch over you tonight.”

He hummed a response, listless and weak.

Old Lady Jiang left after giving a few more instructions.

When the door closed, and there was silence in the room, the bundle under the pillow stirred a bit before extending a finger to poke Jiang Zhi’s arm.

“Don’t move.” Jiang Zhi tossed the pillow aside, “You’re making me itch.”

Hearing him speak at last, Zhou Xufang dared to squeak, “Is he gone?”

“He’s gone.”

“Then I’m coming out.”

“Come on out.”

The lump under the blankets slowly shifted backwards, and the head gradually emerged. Just as her head peeked out, a handsome face leaned in.

“Jiang—”

Jiang Zhi planted a kiss directly on her blushing little face.

Zhou Xufang: “!”

Her ears turned red in an instant.

She froze for three seconds, then suddenly sprang backward—

With a creak, the bed collapsed.

Jiang Zhi, who had just wanted to steal a quick kiss and was now half on the ground, half dangling from the hospital bed: “…”

At that moment, there were voices outside the room.

“Hold it steady, don’t spill the soup.”

“Oh.”

“Jiang Zhi he—”

The door wasn’t locked, and opened with a twist.

Ah Wan and Ms. Song, who’d just pushed the door open: “…”

And Ms. Song’s pet chicken, Shuangxi: “Cluck cluck!”

What an awkward time to walk in!

Bang, bang, bang—the IV stand shook violently. Zhou Xufang, quick to react, jumped up and stabilized the IV bag with her hands and feet.

She looked at Jiang Zhi with concern: “Did you hurt yourself?”

The puncture site was a bit painful.

Jiang Zhi coughed once and said with an unchanged expression, “No.”

Zhou Xufang felt guilty and proactively approached to support Jiang Zhi, bearing an extremely red face, admitting her mistake, “I shouldn’t have jumped around. This bed,” her voice grew fainter, “… it’s not sturdy.”

She really didn’t use much force; if she had, the bed would’ve been dust by now. So annoying, her strength was so great. She would definitely be extra, extra careful in the future to protect Jiang Zhi and never bump into him again.

“Mmh, it’s not your fault.” Jiang Zhi glanced at the ultra-luxurious wooden VIP hospital bed that had broken in half without changing his expression, absolving his girlfriend’s responsibility, “It’s all the bed’s fault.”

Zhou Xufang hung her head in chagrin.

The mother and son at the door exchanged glances, both exhibiting the calmness that comes with experience.

Ah Wan: “Boss, do you need us to step outside for a moment?” How considerate of him.

Jiang Zhi showed no embarrassment or guilt of being ‘caught in the act,’ dressed in checkered hospital pants, embodying the nonchalance of a peerless young master.

“Go get me another bed,” he added, “Something sturdier.”

Ah Wan thought to himself: Were they fighting on the bed?

Of course, switching beds wouldn’t happen immediately. First, Ah Wan helped his employer switch rooms. And when filling out the bed-change form, under the reason, Ah Wan decisively wrote—intense activity.

Oh, his damned clever wit.

This was Ms. Song’s first encounter with Zhou Xufang, her curious gaze sizing up the young woman for a long time. With rosy lips and white teeth, the more she looked, the more she liked what she saw.

“You must be Miss Zhou.” Ms. Song had a round face and could be described as… very robust, with permed trendy hair and a hair clip suited for a young girl attached to her curls.

Ah Wan’s build, it turned out, was similar to his mother’s.

Zhou Xufang stood as upright as if she were facing an interviewer: “Yes, that’s me.”

Ms. Song’s wide face broke into a smile, eyes squinting into slits: “I’m Wanwan’s mom.”

Zhou Xufang was a little shy around strangers, hardly lifting her head, bowing politely: “Nice to meet you, Auntie.”

Aw, she was like a primary school student.

So well-behaved, so sensible.

Ms. Song observed her ‘future daughter-in-law’ with increasing satisfaction and straightened the feathers on the big rooster in her arms: “Shuangxi, say hello.”

Shuangxi, wearing a pink hand-knitted sweater-dress: “Cluck!”

Zhou Xufang: “…”

Ms. Song was enthusiastic and comfortably familiar: “I heard from Wanwan that Shuangxi was a gift from you to Jiang Zhi.”

Zhou Xufang looked at the rooster dressed in a pink dress, somewhat befuddled.

Jiang Zhi saw her standing there like a block of wood and pulled her to sit down: “It’s that free-range chicken you gave.”

Oh, it was that chicken that had pooped on Jiang Zhi.

Zhou Xufang stared at the rooster more closely: “It seems to have put on weight.” It had gotten much rounder, and the chicken legs were also plumper—eating it would probably be very nourishing…

Ms. Song gently stroked Shuangxi: “With both you and Jiang Zhi so busy, and since I have nothing much to do at home, I thought I’d take care of it for you. If you want to take care of it yourselves later on, just take it back. After a while, it’ll get familiar with you.”

As Ah Wan listened, something seemed off. It sounded like his mother was talking about raising a grandson.

The conversation about Shuangxi came to an end.

Ms. Song started talking business, “Have they caught the guy who pushed you yet?”

“Not yet.” Jiang Zhi played with Zhou Xufang’s hand, pulling it towards him; she pulled it back, and he pulled it back again, seemingly enjoying the game.

“That damn bastard!” Ms. Song had a temper and was furious, “Wanwan, you move in with Jiang Zhi tomorrow and sleep on the floor. From now on, you can’t let him be alone.”

Ah Wan really didn’t like her mom calling her Wanwan.

He refused, with the reason, “He has germaphobia.”

Ms. Song’s tone was as spicy and choking as if she had eaten a pound of chili peppers, “You have the nerve to say that, even Shuangxi bathes more often than you.”

“I—”

“What about you! If you hadn’t gotten seasick, would Jiang Zhi have been pushed into the sea?”

Ah Wan: “…”

Alright, blame him for everything, for getting seasick, for not liking to bathe, for even being born!

“It’s not convenient for him to stay with me,” Jiang Zhi casually mentioned.

Ms. Song immediately revealed a girlish smile, “Not convenient, huh? Fine, then he won’t stay. From now on, make Wanwan go earlier and come back later.”

Ah Wan: “…”

This wasn’t his mom, this was Jiang Zhi’s mom.

From today onwards, he was an orphan.

“Wanwan, quickly pour out some soup for Jiang Zhi to drink.”

Ah Wan stubbornly held on for three seconds: “…Oh.”

Forget it, it’s his own fault for not being good-looking.

Ah Wan poured a bowl of soup, which Ms. Song first handed to Jiang Zhi, then Ah Wan poured another bowl, which Ms. Song gave to Zhou Xufang: “Xiao Fang, you have some too.”

Xiao Fang took the soup: “…” Xiao Fang was still not used to this new nickname.

Ms. Song drank the third bowl herself.

Then the thermos was empty, and Ah Wan’s heart also cooled.

Ms. Song still smiled like a blooming spring flower, “You two as well, young and energetic as you are, can’t overdo it. You should wait until your health is better before—”

Ms. Song coughed twice, pretending, too embarrassed to continue.

The ‘young and vigorous’ Jiang Zhi looked a bit embarrassed, and the ‘young and vigorous’ Zhou Xufang was so clueless, she didn’t understand the implications of the colorful words spoken.

Ms. Song was talkative and sat in the ward for more than ten minutes discussing everything from Ah Wan wetting the bed at seven years old to fainting from nervousness at a boxing match when he was seventeen.

Ah Wan felt utterly dispirited throughout.

After Ms. Song and her son left, Zhou Xufang said to Jiang Zhi, “Wanwan’s mom is very nice.”

“Wanwan?” It was grating, very grating; Jiang Zhi wasn’t too pleased, and tugging at Zhou Xufang’s clothes, he pulled her close, “Lin Wanwan has a nickname.”

Zhou Xufang: “Ah?”

Jiang Zhi casually made one up: “It’s Lin Dazhuang.”

Zhou Xufang believed it utterly and corrected herself: “Oh, Lin Dazhuang’s mom is very nice.”

So well-behaved.

Jiang Zhi couldn’t help but pat her head, “Yeah, she is nice.” He then explained in detail, “Lin Dazhuang’s mom used to have uraemia, and I paid for her surgery.”

As for the fact that Lin Wanwan had signed a thirty-year indentured servitude contract for that, there was no need to mention.

Moved by what she heard, Zhou Xufang said, “You’re really a good person.”

Jiang · Philanthropist · Zhi: “…”

Zhou Xufang checked the time, it was getting late: “I should go back now.”

Jiang Zhi didn’t want her to leave: “Go back for what?”

She put on her backpack, “I have to go to work.”

Jiang Zhi took her backpack, tugging her along, coaxing and almost deceiving, “Don’t go, can you work for me here?”

“What would I do?”

Anything would work.

He coughed, breathing weakly and looking pitiful, “Be my nurse, I have no one to care for me.”

She seriously considered it for a moment, “Okay.”

She agreed too quickly, and Jiang Zhi hadn’t expected it, “You agree?”

She was afraid someone else would harm him again, “Mhm.”

He smiled, his small tiger teeth hardly noticeable, and he lay back on the hospital bed, extending his delicate and pale hand toward her, “Then start by wiping my hands.”

Of course, Jiang Zhi didn’t really let Zhou Xufang serve him; instead, as the patient, he spoiled her with delicious treats. He found that Zhou Xufang seemed to like snacks, especially sweets, and there were so many things she had never tried before, as if she had no childhood.

Thus, Jiang Zhi sent Ah Wan to buy a bunch of snacks for Zhou Xufang to taste to her heart’s content.

In the afternoon, Qiao Nanchu came by and from a distance saw Jiang Zhi, the usually ill-tempered little ancestor, holding a jelly in one hand and a lollipop in the other, offering them to Zhou Xufang, saying she couldn’t eat too much since dinner was soon, and could only have one.

“Which one do you like?”

Jiang Zhi’s tone… Qiao Nanchu felt it was exactly like how his cousin would coddle his daughter.

Zhou Xufang chose the jelly: “This one.”

She hadn’t tried it before and found the jelly incredibly tasty; this was the last one left.

Jiang Zhi tore open the packaging for her: “Lin Dazhuang, go buy some more jelly.”

Lin Dazhuang: “…”

In this world, the person he hated the most was Jiang Zhi, and the second one was Ms. Song.

Ah Wan turned his head with a grudge and noticed Qiao Nanchu, who was rarely in his crisp police uniform: “You seem quite comfortable in this place.”

Jiang Zhi ignored his joke and stuffed a few gummies into Zhou Xufang’s hand: “How about you and Lin Dazhuang go buy some jelly together? Pick the flavors you like.”

He wanted to send her away.

Zhou Xufang agreed.

When everyone had left, Jiang Zhi then asked Qiao Nanchu, “Have you canvassed?”

Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair to sit down and unwrapped a candy, popping it in his mouth: “This case is a bit troublesome.”

“How so?”

“Unfortunately, we’ve already caught three with scratch marks on the back of their hands, not to mention another with a burn.”

Jiang Zhi wasn’t surprised: “Who are they?”

Qiao Nanchu showed him photos on his phone: “What’s even more coincidental is that they all have some grudge against you or less.”

The four suspects were either associated with the Jiang Family or the Luo Family.

Jiang Zhi’s guess wasn’t too far off: “Do any of them have alibis?”

Qiao Nanchu went through them one by one: “Huang Peidong said he was in a second-floor cabin on the cruise ship, talking on the phone with Jiang Fuli. We’ve checked the call logs; the timing adds up, but it doesn’t rule out him committing the crime while on the phone.”

Huang Peidong was familiar to both him and Jiang Zhi, as Jiang Fuli’s right-hand man.

“And the scratches? How and when did they happen?”

“They happened this morning, from his mistress,” Qiao Nanchu crumpled the candy wrapper into a ball and tossed it into the trash. “She was interrogated as well, no issues for now.”

Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment.

Qiao Nanchu continued, “Han Feng and Luo Changde were together on the second floor; no surveillance backs them up, they’re each other’s alibis. Moreover, Luo Changde burned his hand last night at home, and because the burn is quite severe, it can’t be confirmed whether there were any scratches before it.”

Huang Peidong was suspect number one, Han Feng, and Luo Changde were two and three.

Whether it was the Jiang Family or the Luo Family, they were all Jiang Zhi’s sworn enemies and all had motives for murder.

Jiang Zhi, leaning on his hand, with his jacket sleeve slipping down to reveal a small square of white, asked, “Who scratched Han Feng’s hand?”

“He said it was Luo Qinghe, for incompetence. The forensic examiner did a live collection of evidence; the results are not out yet.”

Han Feng was Luo Qinghe’s secretary; with everyone on the same boat, the possibility of colluding testimonies was quite high.

“Only Jiang Xiaolin has no proof at all; he says he was in his room alone. As for the scratches on his hand,” that guy was quite arrogant, “he said it was a private issue and declined to comment.”

Aside from Jiang Xiaolin, the other three, regardless of the truth, had alibis and stories to tell; on the surface, Jiang Xiaolin seemed to be the most suspicious.

Qiao Nanchu speculated: “All these suspects might have issues.”

“Then keep an eye on each of them.” Jiang Zhi took out a notepad from the cabinet and handed it to Qiao Nanchu, “I’ve drawn a quick sketch; start by checking this men’s wristwatch.”

Qiao Nanchu glanced at it and laughed: “Brother Zhi, your drawing skills…”

Are beyond words.

Jiang Zhi gave him a cold look.

He stopped teasing and closed the notebook: “What’s that thing you’ve got on your hand?”

Jiang Zhi casually pushed up his sleeve, his eyes brimming with pride: “A heat patch, Zhou Xufang put it on for me.” He had a total of four patches, all applied by Zhou Xufang.

He was even bragging about it now.

Qiao Nanchu teased with a laugh: “Virtuous indeed!”

In the evening.

Jiang Zhi received a call from the old mansion, saying Jiang Wei’er and the Old Madam were having a dispute. When he arrived at the Old House, he saw Xiao Linsu outside the door.

It was dark by that time; he stood beneath the large lantern at the entrance of the Jiang Family, his back straight, his shadow on the ground solitary and desolate.

Jiang Zhi got out of the car and paused when passing by him. It was cold at night, and Xiao Linsu was wrapped in a coat, coughing lightly: “Go back, you can’t enter the doors of our Jiang Family.”

He stood immobile, his eyes devoid of light and spirit, muttering, “Wei’er is crying inside.”

Jiang Zhi looked at him: “And?”

Standing in the light, he looked distantly, weak yet resolute: “I cannot leave.”

Then keep standing.

Jiang Zhi entered the house and from afar saw a courtyard full of people. A screen had been set up on the outdoor lawn, projecting images. It was somewhat dark and unclear, a hazy grey, but the screams were clear.

“Scream!”

“Does it hurt?”

“If you don’t scream, I’ll beat you to death!”

As Jiang Zhi drew closer, he recognized the projection on the screen. Jin Song, having grown tired from using a belt, had switched to a cigarette end, pressing an entire handful onto Xiao Linsu’s bare back.

He was undressed, lying there like a corpse, neither crying out in pain nor begging for mercy.

Both the masters and servants of the Jiang Family were there, all silent.

Old Lady Jiang’s face was ashen as she stood beside the screen, while Jiang Wei’er knelt in front of her, wailing loudly: “Please, Mother, stop it…”