CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: THANK YOU, I’M SORRY

You Le was extremely surprised, looking incredulously at Ji Ning who had somehow come to her side.

Ji Ning flicked her forehead lightly, not using much force, yet instantly calming her impulsive brain.

In her mind, it was as if she heard a "ding", and everything became clear, like the clouds parting to reveal the sun, and the scene in front of her changed instantly.

Apart from Ji Ning still being there, the amiable man in front of her became a stranger.

The man was looking at her in horror, as if she were a lunatic.

"What is... going on?"

Ji Ning pinched her wrist, "You’ve been drugged."

"What?" You Le immediately thought of the man she met on the deserted path and frowned.

Could it be him?

You Le clenched her fist, seething with anger.

No wonder he didn’t make a move, it turns out he used a drug.

You Le scanned her surroundings and noticed the hospital security personnel eyeing her closely, and even her grandma was standing teary-eyed, supported by others outside the crowd.

Realizing someone was out to harm her, You Le whispered her thanks to Ji Ning, "Thanks, but why are you here?"

Ji Ning tapped her arm and shoulder a few times, then habitually took a half step back, creating some distance between them, "Just wanted to chat with you."

"Chat about what?"

Ji Ning glanced at the approaching security personnel and said calmly, "We’ll talk after you finish here." Without caring about You Le’s reaction, she turned and walked away from the encirclement with an air of indifference.

You Le smiled wryly, raising her hands, allowing the security personnel to take her away for questioning.

By the time she emerged from the hospital security room, it had already been three hours.

Because she had been drugged, they drew several tubes of blood, and she had to wait for the drug reaction test results.

You Le realized from the surveillance that she had been in a hallucination since entering the hospital until she was flicked awake by Ji Ning.

Unexpectedly, her S-Class physique was still susceptible, indicating that the person targeting her had thoroughly investigated her background.

Declining the security’s suggestion to call the police, she walked out of the security room with big strides.

"Le Le, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Grandma You, who had been waiting outside, immediately got up when she saw her come out.

You Le quickly stepped forward to support her, "Grandma, I’m fine. Didn’t I ask you to go back to the ward first?"

"Oh dear, you scared me to death, how did you suddenly not recognize anyone anymore?"

Grandma You gave her a light punch and glanced around, lowering her voice to ask, "Did you do something shady to earn money?"

You Le was somewhat amused and exasperated, "No."

"Then how come you were drugged out of nowhere?"

You Le, not wanting to worry her, changed the subject, "Grandma, I’m really hungry, can we eat first?"

Unexpectedly, Grandma You took out a senior’s phone, pointing to the message on it and read aloud, "Xiao Ning wants you to meet her at the restaurant outside the hospital."

"Xiao Ning?" You Le had a hunch but was unsure.

Grandma You continued to ramble, "You need to thank Xiao Ning well, if it wasn’t for her, you’d be in the police station by now."

It really was Ji Ning.

Why hadn’t she left?

You Le felt a strange warmth in her heart, her expression brightening slightly.

"Where is she?"

***

When You Le hurried to the small restaurant where Ji Ning was, she found her two younger sisters and Bai Xiaotang were there as well.

The three of them were visibly worried when they saw her, and Ma Weiwei even shouted in her loud voice, "Sister You, are you alright? Have your wounds healed?"

You Le was quite surprised, "Why are you all here?"

"It’s dumb... Bai Xiaotang said you were in trouble and brought us here." Ma Weiwei was still slightly awkward towards Bai Xiaotang, but after today, You Le owed her a bigger favor.

You Le looked at the worried Bai Xiaotang, awkwardly scratching her nose, "How did you know..."

"It was Sister Ning who asked me to find help for you to get a drug test quickly, are you alright? Do you need a full-body checkup?"

"Thank you, and I’m sorry." You Le sincerely thanked Bai Xiaotang, also apologizing for her past behavior.

"I’ll pay you back the money I borrowed from you as soon as possible."

"Ah, no need..." Bai Xiaotang was caught off guard by You Le’s sudden apology, looking at Ji Ning in confusion.

But Ji Ning was focused on playing a mobile game.

Following her gaze, You Le looked at Ji Ning, stepping over to her.

Ji Ning, sitting in her chair very casually, leaned against the backrest, crossing one leg over the other, holding her phone in front of her face.

She had very attractive features, especially her eyes. When not smiling, her eye contours were large and deep, with sharp inner corners and slightly curved, narrow outer edges, shaped like peach petals.

Such a person appeared affectionate yet without emotion. You Le couldn’t quite describe her feelings, but she sensed a mysterious aura surrounding the girl, making one curious yet hesitant to get too close.

"I owe you a favor."

"Mm."

"If you ever have trouble at Anhe Middle School, you can come to me. I’ll have your back and Bai Xiaotang’s."

"Okay."

You Le noticed Ji Ning’s indifferent attitude, quietly pursing her lips, "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Ji Ning’s eyes finally left her phone screen, glancing at her, though they soon returned to the screen. However, she didn’t avoid the topic due to the presence of others, "Who told you to give Bai Xiaotang trouble?"

Everyone’s expression changed at her words, Ma Weiwei was about to explain, but Xu Jiaying pulled her back, signaling her to wait for You Le to speak.

You Le was slightly taken aback, not expecting the question. Ji Ning didn’t seem like someone who liked to meddle.

She glanced at Bai Xiaotang again, suddenly feeling a bit envious of her.

"It was her driver’s doing."

Bai Xiaotang widened her eyes at this, already pre-warned by Ji Ning and Ye Tong, but hearing the truth from You Le still hurt. She couldn’t help but ask, "Why though?"

"Because your brother doesn’t want you living in Anhe City. He hopes you’ll return to Beijing soon." Ma Weiwei answered quickly, adding grudgingly, "We didn’t intend to bully you, your brother hired us to do it."

"No way, my brother was very supportive of me back then." Bai Xiaotang looked shocked, unable to believe it, her eyes filling with tears.

At that moment, You Le suddenly asked her, "Would your brother send someone to silence you for fear of you finding out he was behind this?"

Bai Xiaotang immediately flared up, glaring at You Le fiercely, "Impossible, absolutely impossible, my brother is always law-abiding, he would never do such a thing. Saying that makes me angry."

"I’m sorry," You Le apologized, looking at Ji Ning.

The person targeting her probably wasn’t Bai Xiaotang’s brother.

But then, who could it be?

You Le was baffled, and Ji Ning offhandedly added, "The hallucinogen you were hit with contains a herb unique to Nanling."

"Nanling?"

"I’m going to Nanling next week, you’ll be her bodyguard for a week."