The pungent smell of disinfectant wafted into her nose in waves. Yun Qingxue suddenly paused mid-step and reached out to pull Xiao Xiaoxiao, who was about to walk forward, her voice devoid of emotion as she said, “That person ahead is Zhou Dao!”
Just as Yun Qingxue grabbed Xiao Xiaoxiao, Officer Li, who was walking ahead, also stopped in his tracks.
The three of them turned their gaze toward Zhou Dao at the other end of the corridor.
At that moment, Zhou Dao was holding a washbasin, slowly making his way from the hospital restroom toward the ward.
“Xiao Zhou,” Officer Li greeted him with a smile.
“Oh, Officer Li,” Zhou Dao replied politely, offering a courteous smile as he held the basin.
Xiao Xiaoxiao, meanwhile, eyed Zhou Dao coldly—the man who had betrayed her best friend.
He stood at about six feet tall, neither too thin nor too heavy, with skin paler than some women’s. His features weren’t strikingly handsome, but at first glance, he gave off an air of refined gentleness.
Seeming to sense someone staring at him, Zhou Dao’s gaze shifted to Xiao Xiaoxiao.
Xiao Xiaoxiao smirked coldly, her expression openly hostile.
Zhou Dao frowned. He didn’t recall ever knowing the girl behind Officer Li.
“And this is…?” Zhou Dao asked Officer Li, eyeing Xiao Xiaoxiao in confusion.
“I’m here to see Qingxue!” Xiao Xiaoxiao snapped coldly.
“May I ask who you are…?” Zhou Dao began, but before he could finish, Xiao Xiaoxiao cut him off sharply, “I’m here to visit my friend. Why do you care so much?”
Her unfriendly tone instantly flushed Zhou Dao’s face with anger, his voice turning icy. “Miss, do Qingxue and I know you?”
“Zhou Dao!” Xiao Xiaoxiao glared, her voice seething. “I wish Qingxue had never met scum like you!”
“Watch your words! Who are you calling scum?” Zhou Dao’s breathing grew heavy, clearly infuriated by her blunt accusation.
Xiao Xiaoxiao suddenly laughed. “The scum knows who he is.”
Then she turned to Officer Li. “Can you take me to Qingxue’s ward now?”
Officer Li studied Zhou Dao thoughtfully, then glanced at Xiao Xiaoxiao before nodding faintly. “Once we’re in the ward, keep it down. Patients need rest.”
“Hmph! I wouldn’t waste my breath on trash!” Xiao Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes.
“Officer Li!” Zhou Dao’s face darkened with suppressed anger. “Qingxue is unconscious. I don’t want strangers disturbing her.”
“Exactly. Poor Qingxue. If I ever catch the bastard who hurt her, I’ll tear him to pieces—no one’s stopping me!” Xiao Xiaoxiao shot Zhou Dao a sinister look.
A chill ran down Zhou Dao’s spine, his heart trembling involuntarily.
“Hmph!” Xiao Xiaoxiao sneered, then glanced at Yun Qingxue beside her.
Qingxue stood there, her clear eyes swirling with complex emotions as she stared at Zhou Dao in the distance. Her hands were clenched into tight fists, as if struggling to contain her feelings.
“Relax. The reckoning is coming. We’ll settle every debt,” Xiao Xiaoxiao muttered under her breath.
Officer Li seemed to hear her and gave her a puzzled look.
“Officer, can we go see Qingxue now?” Xiao Xiaoxiao pressed impatiently.
“Follow me.”
As Officer Li started walking again, Zhou Dao abruptly blocked their path. “Qingxue’s condition is unstable. I won’t allow some random person to disturb her!”
“Pah!”
Before Officer Li could respond, Xiao Xiaoxiao spat in disgust. “Unstable because of you!” she snapped, her eyes blazing. “I wasn’t here before, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what you did! You teamed up with that Lin Chuchu, greedy for wealth, trying to carve out Qingxue’s heart!”
“You—you’re slandering me! I’ll sue you!” Zhou Dao’s veins bulged on his forehead.
“Go ahead, sue me!” Xiao Xiaoxiao smirked coldly. “If you don’t, I’ll sue you for attempted murder!”
“Accusations require proof!” Zhou Dao’s eyes flickered briefly, too fast to catch.
“Enough, both of you!” A patient and their family, strolling down the corridor, couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up.
An elderly man in his sixties smiled kindly at Xiao Xiaoxiao. “Young lady, perhaps you’ve misunderstood? This Zhou Dao has been tirelessly caring for his comatose girlfriend for half a year. We’ve all seen it. And when she was kidnapped, he even risked his life to save her!”
“That’s right! We’ve all witnessed Xiao Zhou’s dedication!” Others chimed in.
Emboldened by the support, Zhou Dao shot Xiao Xiaoxiao a smug look and said firmly to Officer Li, “I won’t tolerate strangers bothering Qingxue!”
Xiao Xiaoxiao exhaled sharply. She’d met shameless people, but never one this brazen! The audacity to play the devoted lover after what he’d done to Qingxue—it was nauseating!
“Like anyone cares what you tolerate!” she snarled. Then, with a sudden move, she tapped Yun Qingxue beside her and hurried into the restroom.
Understanding the signal, the invisible Yun Qingxue followed.
“Qingxue, can you shapeshift?” Xiao Xiaoxiao whispered in the bathroom.
Yun Qingxue nodded. “A little.”
“Can you astral project and possess your modern body?” Xiao Xiaoxiao pressed.
Yun Qingxue frowned. “Astral projection is advanced magic. I’m not strong enough yet.”
“I see…” Xiao Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. “Then how about this: you take my form, and I’ll go invisible with you. Once we’re in the ward, I’ll possess your modern body and expose Zhou’s crimes myself!”
“Xiaoxiao, thank you…” Yun Qingxue suddenly stepped back and bowed deeply.
Xiao Xiaoxiao quickly pulled her up, feigning annoyance. “Qingxue, what’s this for?”
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