Returning to Colorful Star Eatery, Lin Fang sketched the appearance of the person who had been following her earlier and showed it to Rou Qiu. Afterward, she instructed him not to leave the school before winter break unless it was her or Ma Miao who came for him. Even within the school, he was to avoid being alone.
Next, Lin Fang asked Guo Hongping to take the sketch back to Qiyue County to find Qin Yi. Though she didn’t know Qin Yi well, she inexplicably trusted him. However, she cautioned Guo Hongping not to hand the sketch directly to Qin Yi—he was only to look at it before passing it to Lin Guicheng. Once the task was completed, Guo Hongping didn’t need to rush back to the provincial capital, as Lin Guicheng would handle the next steps.
Over the past two years, Lin Guicheng’s aquatic products company in Liangping City had mostly been managed by his trusted subordinates. Lin Guicheng himself had been stationed in Qiyue County, overseeing his own businesses there while also being responsible for the security of the entire Lin Group. The old monk had advised him to focus on protecting Lin Fang, believing that wherever she was, Qi Biao would inevitably appear.
Filled with confusion but absolute trust in Lin Fang, Rou Qiu and Guo Hongping went their separate ways. Lin Fang visited Lin Yong’s school to discuss the day’s events with him. After a brief conversation, she returned to her own school to collaborate with Ma Miao on crafting specialized throwing darts.
The next morning, Xiao Guanpeng came to Colorful Star Eatery for breakfast and immediately apologized profusely to Lin Fang. He explained that the sudden incident at the previous day’s social event had left him overwhelmed, and he hadn’t even noticed when she left. He admitted it was his fault and said she could punish him however she saw fit.
Lin Fang maintained her usual distant tone: “Dr. Xiao, I’m also at fault for leaving without saying goodbye. You don’t look well—are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Last night, one of my patients nearly died. We spent the whole night resuscitating them, and they’re still not out of danger. This patient had been recovering well, so I don’t understand why their vitals suddenly plummeted. Ah, never mind—you probably wouldn’t understand anyway. You likely don’t even know what vital signs are.” Xiao Guanpeng looked exhausted, his face haggard from the all-nighter.
Vital signs are indicators used to assess the severity and urgency of a patient’s condition, including heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, respiration, pupil response, corneal reflexes, and more.
In her past life, Lin Fang had worked in a hospital. Though not a medical professional, she had needed to fully understand the significance of vital signs and monitor changes in patients’ conditions to assist in emergencies. How could she not know what vital signs were?
But this wasn’t the time to argue. Playing along, Lin Fang nodded. “You’re right—I’m not a medical student, so even if you explained, I wouldn’t get it. You should eat and then go home to rest.”
Her decision to go to the dance hall the previous day had been to clarify things with Xiao Guanpeng—to tell him there would be no romantic future between them and to spare Guo Hongping further pain. Seeing Xiao Guanpeng so worn out now, she couldn’t bring herself to add to his distress but also didn’t want further entanglement, silently willing him to leave soon.
Xiao Guanpeng, lost in his thoughts, muttered, “Sigh. Before Qin Yi left, he specifically asked me to ensure this patient recovered enough to speak. The patient might hold critical information for his case. But now, if the patient dies after showing so much promise, Qin Yi will tear into me.”
“I just don’t get it. The patient’s vitals were stable, and there were no detectable factors that could’ve caused such a sudden decline. Could there be something else going on?”
“Dr. Xiao, is the patient you’re talking about Pi Xinhong?” Lin Fang felt a foreboding unease.
“Yes, it’s that Pi Xinhong you identified the other day—your high school classmate.” Exhausted, Xiao Guanpeng answered without thinking.
Worried about Xiao Guanpeng driving in his state, Lin Fang arranged for the restaurant’s chef to drive him home after breakfast.
After Xiao Guanpeng left, Lin Fang called Lin Guicheng, asking him to investigate Pi Xinhong’s recent years and, if necessary, contact Qin Yi to share the details of the case. She sensed this was beyond individual resolution—police intervention was needed.
Guo Hongping returned to Qiyue County but couldn’t locate Qin Yi. His phone was off, and when she asked Qin Ran at the talent school, she was told he didn’t know his brother’s whereabouts. Not daring to delay, Guo Hongping handed the sketch to Lin Guicheng.
Lin Guicheng instructed Guo Hongping to stay at his resort for the time being, avoiding unnecessary outings unless accompanied by resort security. He assured her he’d handle contacting Officer Qin and arranging matters in the provincial capital.
After settling Guo Hongping, Lin Guicheng immediately sent a young woman to the provincial capital to stay at Colorful Star Eatery. She took over Guo Hongping’s duties, blending in as a restaurant helper but shadowing Lin Fang as a de facto bodyguard whenever she went out.
Unbeknownst to them, Qin Yi was already in the provincial capital. His trip to Qiyue County had been a diversion—after arriving, he left a few team members there for surveillance while he and Xiao Fei returned to the city the same day. The news of Pi Xinhong’s survival had been deliberately leaked by him, with undercover officers assigned to protect her.
Qin Yi was equally puzzled by Pi Xinhong’s near-death episode. During his hospital visit, he’d checked her pulse—despite severe injuries, her vitality was strong, with no signs of relapse. Like Xiao Guanpeng, he suspected foul play.
Lin Fang’s message via Guo Hongping reached Qin Yi through his colleagues in Qiyue County. Though he longed to see Lin Fang, caution held him back. He knew her heightened senses would detect his presence, potentially compromising the investigation or endangering her.
Until he understood the full picture, Qin Yi refused to take the risk. One principle remained unwavering: whether Lin Fang was victim or perpetrator, he would always protect her.
A week later, Lin Guicheng arrived at Colorful Star Eatery at dawn, accompanied by the stoic Chen Siyuan.
Lin Fang was shocked by Lin Guicheng’s appearance—already appearing twenty years older than his age, he now looked utterly drained, his ashen face and unsteady gait suggesting imminent collapse.
“Cheng Uncle?” Lin Fang rushed to support him, alarmed by his icy, withered hands. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing serious. Old injuries from fights—the cold weather’s aggravating them.” Gasping, he forced out the words.
Lin Fang knew about the brutal battles Lin Guicheng had fought to reclaim his aquatic company, leaving his body riddled with damage. “Why come here in this state? A phone call would’ve sufficed, or send someone else! Why torture yourself like this?”
She then turned on Chen Siyuan. “Brother Sun, how could you let him travel like this? You should’ve stopped him!”
Chen Siyuan merely glanced at her, expression unchanging, though Lin Fang sensed subtle emotional shifts. Infuriated, she lashed out: “Cheng Uncle calls you ‘Wood,’ but must you really be so heartless? If you care about him, why not intervene? What if something happened on the way? After all he’s done for you!”
A faint twitch at Chen Siyuan’s lips betrayed surprise at her insight, but he remained silent, his gaze returning to Lin Guicheng. Noticing his unwavering attention to the older man, Lin Fang relented, massaging Lin Guicheng’s pressure points to ease his discomfort.
Once Lin Guicheng’s breathing steadied, he weakly explained, “Don’t blame Wood. There’s something I had to handle personally—I’ll explain when the time’s right. For now, your safety is paramount. Fu Hongxia may target you.”
“Fu Hongxia? Why?” Lin Fang frowned.
“Because she’s no longer the pitiful girl from years ago. She’s amassed considerable power and is exacting revenge on past adversaries—Pi Xinhong is just one victim.”
As Lin Guicheng struggled for breath, Chen Siyuan took over, uncharacteristically detailing their findings. Combined with Lin Fang’s deductions, the situation quickly clarified.
Three years prior, Lin Yong’s family had nearly been kidnapped due to Fu Hongxia’s machinations. Though her adoptive father was the obvious culprit, lack of evidence prevented serious consequences—only the hired kidnappers were jailed.
In this world governed by laws and equality, unlike Lin Guicheng’s former realm where wealth bought privilege, he couldn’t openly retaliate despite his underworld connections. Instead, he’d covertly undermined Fu Hongxia and her adoptive father until the latter fled the province with his followers.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage