CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 166: I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE

Gu Yikun felt like every second outside was a year. The image of An Junxi, disheveled and covered in blood, haunted his mind. He sat on a chair, his fists trembling uncontrollably.

If he had been a moment later, what would have happened?

After a long while, An Junxi was pushed out and transferred to a ward. Gu Yikun approached, "How is she?"

The doctor said, "CEO, we’ve examined her. They’re all external injuries. The wound on her leg was too deep, and she lost a lot of blood. We’ve just given her a blood transfusion and bandaged her up. When she wakes up, we’ll do a detailed full-body examination. She should wake up tomorrow. Also, we need to arrange a psychological therapist for her rehabilitation."

Gu Yikun walked into the ward. An Junxi lay on the hospital bed like a lily fallen in the wind. Her wrists were wrapped in thick bandages. He held her hand, afraid to apply too much pressure, fearing it might hurt her.

"Xi Xi, I’m sorry," he kissed the back of her hand. "I said I would protect you, but I failed."

Yu Chen watched for a while outside. He went to ask the doctor, "Why hasn’t Zhang Miaoyan come out yet?"

"Doctor Yue is examining Miss Zhang," the doctor replied. "Miss Zhang suffered a severe blow to the back of her head. The situation isn’t very optimistic."

Yu Chen pressed, "What do you mean by ’not very optimistic’? Explain clearly!"

The doctor stammered, "It depends on the extent of the brain injury. There might be postoperative sequelae..."

Yu Chen slumped into a chair, wiping his face harshly.

Now that he thinks about it, the only image in his mind is Zhang Miaoyan crying in front of him and her desperation when nearly being violated.

He seemed to have never really paid attention to her before. When he heard her tearfully confessing, "The person I like is you," he felt only surprise.

So why did seeing her being bullied, almost naked, make him so pained?

Yu Chen leaned his head against the wall, Zhang Miaoyan, you must be alright!

Yu Chen waited for nearly an hour. Zhang Miaoyan was finally pushed out by a nurse.

Yue Xiaoyang walked tiredly behind her. Yu Chen hurried over, "How is she?"

Yue Xiaoyang breathed a heavy sigh of relief, "She’s stabilized. We’ll know more after she wakes up."

"When will she wake up?"

"By tomorrow morning at the latest."

Zhang Miaoyan was placed in the ward next to An Junxi. Yu Chen quietly watched her. She really was beautiful, but now, seeing her so weak and pale, he was terrified.

In the middle of the night, An Junxi woke up once in a fright. She cried and screamed. Gu Yikun grabbed her arm, preventing her movements from hurting her wrist, and said, "Xi Xi, open your eyes and look at me. I’m Yikun, it’s okay now."

His voice gradually calmed An Junxi down. She clearly saw his face and cried, "Yikun, it hurts so much."

Gu Yikun’s heart shattered. He called for Yue Xiaoyang, "Can we use a pain reliever?"

Yue Xiaoyang gave An Junxi an injection. She calmed down, but she didn’t dare to sleep, gripping Gu Yikun tightly.

Gu Yikun wiped the tears from her face and whispered in her ear, "Xi Xi, sleep for a while. I’m here with you."

An Junxi shook her head and weakly said, "Yikun, I’m afraid if I fall asleep, you’ll disappear. There were so many people, they tied me up..." Fear filled her eyes.

"I’m here. I’ll always be here," Gu Yikun sat by the bed and held her, kissing her forehead, gently patting her shoulder. "I’ll hold you while you sleep. Don’t be afraid, those bastards are gone."

His voice was gentle, but his eyes were filled with chilling coldness. The woman he held dear had been treated this way. Everyone involved would pay dearly!

An Junxi lay in Gu Yikun’s arms, gripping his shirt tightly, and slowly fell asleep.

Gu Yikun held her, not daring to move, afraid to wake her.

An Junxi slept soundly until dawn broke through the curtains, waking up in his arms.

Gu Yikun poured some water for her, helping her take a few sips, "Does your leg still hurt? If it does, we can use a painkiller."

An Junxi said, "It’s much better." She didn’t want to use painkillers if she could bear it.

She asked, "How is Miaoyan? Was she..."

Gu Yikun said, "No, she’s fine. She should wake up soon."

An Junxi felt a bit relieved, "Lv Jing hates me. If Miaoyan got hurt because of me, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself..."

Gu Yikun wiped her face, "Don’t blame yourself, Xi Xi. It’s over now. I promise, I’ll never let you be in danger again. It was my fault for not protecting you."

Seeing the pain in Gu Yikun’s eyes, An Junxi said, "Yikun, you arrived when I was most scared. That’s enough for me."

Gu Yikun kissed her, fearfully saying, "Xi Xi, if anything happened to you, I couldn’t live alone."

An Junxi felt the warmth of his embrace, realizing how precious it was.

She buried her head in his chest, "Yikun, hold me and sleep a bit more. You need to rest too."

Gu Yikun held her gently, careful not to touch her wounds.

Yue Xiaoyang stayed at the hospital all night. He checked both wards alternately. When he saw An Junxi awake, he conducted a routine examination and noted her reliance on Gu Yikun. He whispered to Gu Yikun, "Try not to leave her side for now. She’s severely traumatized. Without you, even we doctors can’t calm her."

Gu Yikun nodded. He would keep a close eye on her all the time.

As the morning light brightened, Zhang Miaoyan also woke up.

Yu Chen had been by her bed all night. When Zhang Miaoyan saw him, she suddenly started yelling, "Bad man, go away, go away!"

Yu Chen grabbed her hand, "Miaoyan, it’s me, Yu Chen!"

Zhang Miaoyan wouldn’t look at him, crying, "Let go of me, sob..."

Yue Xiaoyang walked in with wide strides, "Miaoyan!"

Zhang Miaoyan pushed Yu Chen away and grabbed onto Yue Xiaoyang, "Xiaoyang, who is this man? Sob... Where’s Jun Xi? We were captured by bad people..."

Yue Xiaoyang patted her back, "It’s okay now. You’re both safe. This is Yu Chen. Do you not recognize him?"

Zhang Miaoyan pulled his white coat over her face, "I don’t know him. Xiaoyang, he’s a bad man. He’s with those other men. Make him leave, make him leave!"

Zhang Miaoyan’s reaction shocked Yue Xiaoyang. He signaled Yu Chen to step out. Meanwhile, Zhang Miaoyan kept mumbling, "They’re a gang. I saw him..."

A foreboding premonition grew stronger in Yue Xiaoyang’s heart. Could this be Miaoyan’s trauma-induced aftermath?

He finally managed to calm Zhang Miaoyan and walked out to find Yu Chen slumped in a chair, his eyes bloodshot.

Yu Chen’s eyes were filled with pain. He asked, "What’s wrong with her? Does she really not remember me?"

Yue Xiaoyang said, "I’m no psychology expert, and it’s hard to be sure at this point. But there’s a possibility that, due to extreme fear before she lost consciousness, the last person she saw was you. She subconsciously associates you with those men. I asked her, and she doesn’t remember your name, only that she’s very afraid of you."

Yu Chen’s eyes filled with sorrow. She’s forgotten him just like that?

Yue Xiaoyang said, "We’ll contact top psychological experts. For now, you should avoid appearing in front of her."