Feng Na replied, "We're going to see Zhao Yujian. Coming with us?"

Cheng Cheng laughed, "Sure, anywhere is fine, as long as it’s not staying at school!"

Feng Na was delighted and looped her arm through Cheng Cheng's, "Wonderful, let's go together!"

Li Yundong smiled and chimed in, "Then we'll all go together!"

As the group walked and chatted toward the road beside the school, Su Chan tugged on Li Yundong’s sleeve, looking puzzled. "Yundong, what were you guys laughing about?"

Li Yundong looked surprised. "You didn't understand?"

Su Chan shook her head blankly. Li Yundong suddenly realized, "You don't understand English?"

Su Chan nodded. "I don't."

Feng Na, walking ahead, heard this and felt a small surge of superiority. She turned back with a smile and said, "You mean you can't even understand the simplest English?"

Su Chan retorted, "Why should I necessarily understand English?"

This single sentence made the three college students exchange bewildered glances. After a moment, Cheng Cheng gave Su Chan a thumbs-up. "Well said! I didn't expect someone as beautiful as you to be so sharp-tongued. Truly a beauty possessing both grace and wisdom!"

Although Feng Na was jealous of Su Chan, she wasn't the petty sort. She also smiled and playfully struck Cheng Cheng, "That flattery was disgustingly thick!"

Chatting and laughing, the four hailed a taxi and arrived at the Municipal First People's Hospital where Zhao Yujian was hospitalized. Li Yundong went to withdraw money, then Feng Na bought flowers, Cheng Cheng bought fruit, and Su Chan carried a bag of health supplements Li Yundong had bought at the supermarket. The group located Zhao Yujian's room and headed upstairs toward it.

Zhao Yujian came from a well-off family and occupied a private VIP room. The corridor was not crowded with people like those for general wards, nor was there the heavy scent of disinfectant.

Just as they reached the doorway, Li Yundong suddenly heard a voice from inside Zhao Yujian's room, pleading miserably, "Zhou Qin, can you not be so heartless? I truly like you. I believe we have so much in common. Oh right, don't you like Taekwondo? My family bought me a small gold trophy from a municipal competition; I can give it to you, okay?"

A woman's voice also emerged from the room, equally full of supplication, "Student Zhou Qin, my Yujian hasn't eaten or slept well these past few days, thinking only of you. Even seeing how pitiful he looks now, shouldn't you have some compassion? Right? You..."

Before the woman could finish, another girl's voice cut her off. Li Yundong recognized it instantly; it was Ding Nan. "Auntie, do you really think love is something that can be obtained through charity? That love can be dispensed out of pity? If so, wouldn't beggars be the happiest people in the world?"

Ding Nan's words were as sharp and caustic as ever, making even Li Yundong, standing outside the door, involuntarily grimace.

Zhao Yujian's mother was clearly stung by Ding Nan's words, but she seemed fearful of something and dared not flare up, only continuing in a low, conciliatory tone, "Student Zhou Qin, that's not what I meant. What I meant was..."

Ding Nan interrupted her again without courtesy. "Then what do you mean? Are you suggesting Zhou Qin should pretend to be your girlfriend to take care of Yujian while he’s bedridden? Please, how old are you people? That’s so childish!"

Feng Na and Cheng Cheng, standing outside the door, couldn't stomach hearing this; expressions of righteous indignation washed over their faces.

"That woman will eventually cause serious trouble because of her venomous tongue!" Feng Na muttered, frowning.

Cheng Cheng nodded in agreement. "I'd only heard that Ding Nan speaks impolitely, but I didn't realize she was this venomous! It’s too much!"

Zhou Qin finally spoke up. "Ding Nan, enough, stop talking. Auntie, Zhao Yujian needs more rest. We should be going now."

With that, Zhou Qin walked out of the room without hesitation.

As she reached the doorway, she was quite surprised to see Feng Na and the others standing there. Zhou Qin frowned slightly, clearly displeased that they had overheard the recent exchange, but when her gaze landed on Li Yundong, her eyes suddenly lit up, and the tight knot in her brow slightly eased.

Ding Nan followed closely behind Zhou Qin as she exited the room. Upon seeing Li Yundong, her eyes immediately brightened, and a look of pleasant surprise was about to cross her face, but when her gaze fell upon Feng Na and Su Chan, her expression instantly turned cold. "Oh, eavesdropping, are we?"

Feng Na was no pushover either. Though her smile was polite, her words carried a hidden barb. "Well, that depends on whether there's anything good worth listening to!"

Ding Nan, who never lost an argument, changed her expression and was about to speak, but Zhou Qin held her back. "Nannan, let’s go. Don't bother Li Yundong and the others who are here to visit the patient."

Then, she led Ding Nan away gracefully.

Cheng Cheng watched the retreating figures of the two and shook her head. "Those two are strange. The more I look at them, the stranger they seem! One is cold and profound, like an abyss; the other is sharp and venomous, like a blade."

Li Yundong smiled. "Forget them, let’s go in."

Upon entering, Li Yundong saw Zhao Yujian's mother spoon-feeding porridge to Zhao Yujian, murmuring, "Yujian, don't let yourself be bothered by women like that. You still have your mother. Later, Mom will find you someone a hundred times better than her! Does she think she’s so great just because she has a powerful father? Don't give her a second thought!"

Her voice sounded like that of a mother speaking to her newborn child; one could tell from the tone alone how utterly doting she was on her son.

Zhao Yujian impatiently turned his head away. "I won't eat, I won't eat! I only want Zhou Qin, I only like her! Go away, I don't need you!"

Zhao Yujian’s mother didn't get angry. She put down the bowl, cooing and coaxing, reaching out to gently rub his chest. "Fine, fine, I won't mention it. Where do you feel uncomfortable? Shall I give you a rub?"

Feng Na and Cheng Cheng stood at the doorway, looking at each other in dismay. In their eyes, let alone a grown man being fussed over like this by his mother, even they, delicate young women, had never been served so attentively!

For a moment, everyone standing at the door felt awkward and remained silent.

It was Zhao Yujian's mother who noticed them and walked over with a smile. "You've come to see Yujian, haven't you? Wonderful, welcome! Thank you for taking the trouble."

Without any pretense, she immediately took the fruit and flower basket from Feng Na and Cheng Cheng, then gestured to Su Chan. "Put your things on that cabinet over there."

Just as she finished speaking, Zhao Yujian suddenly pointed at Li Yundong with excitement and roared, "What are you doing here? Have you come to mock me? Haven't you done enough to leave me in this state?"

Zhao Yujian’s mother was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. She pointed at Li Yundong and shrieked, "You’re the one who did this to my Yujian? You little bastard, how dare you even show your face! I’ll beat you to death!"

Li Yundong frowned and blocked the lunging woman with his arm. Having achieved success in Qi cultivation, his movements carried far more strength than an ordinary person. Though this was merely a defensive block and he hadn't used much force, the Golden Core vital energy guarding him naturally pushed Zhao Yujian’s mother back.

Zhao Yujian’s mother landed hard on the floor and immediately started throwing a tantrum, crying and shouting, "Murder! This little bastard injured my son and now he’s trying to kill me!"

Li Yundong, Feng Na, and the others exchanged bewildered looks. They had never imagined Zhao Yujian had such an utterly outrageous mother, and for a moment, they didn't know how to react.

Feng Na patiently forced a smile and said, "Auntie, we came to see Zhao Yujian. Last time, Li Yundong only accidentally injured him; he didn't mean to..."

Before she could finish, she heard Zhao Yujian’s mother wipe her nose and tears from her face and start cursing at her. "You shameless little slut, what are you to this guy, defending him like that? You must be his mistress, sleeping around with him, right? I've seen plenty of women like you! What 'accident'? You were just jealous of how outstanding my Yujian is, so you struck him with all your might, isn't that it!"

Feng Na was stunned into silence by the onslaught of insults, her face flushing red as she tried to argue, "Auntie, that's not how it is!"

Seeing that the woman was unreasonable, Li Yundong tugged Feng Na's arm and spoke up. "Auntie, I am truly sorry about Zhao Yujian's situation, but he provoked me first, and I only counter-attacked out of necessity. Many people can attest to this, Feng Na can confirm it."

Zhao Yujian’s mother suddenly jumped up and yelled, "You little bastard, slandering us! The wicked complain first! My Yujian has been polite and well-mannered since childhood; how could he stoop to the level of a brat like you! Who can testify? Her? Of course, she'll testify for you since you two are involved! You even have the nerve to bring her up!"

Li Yundong couldn't take it anymore, rage boiling in his chest. He forcibly suppressed his anger and said, "Auntie, regardless of everything, Zhao Yujian fractured his lower leg. I apologize. How much are his medical fees? I will cover them..."

Zhao Yujian’s mother spat a gob of phlegm onto the floor, interrupting Li Yundong. "Pah! You'll pay? Look at your pathetic state, can you afford it? Never mind the medical fees! Even one strand of my son's hair is worth more than you! Get out! I don't want your money, hurry up and scram! Take this money and buy coffins for your family!"

Feng Na and the others were dumbfounded. They had never expected this mother, who had appeared so benevolent and kind just moments ago, to be so shrill and vicious—like a completely different person when Zhou Qin was around.

While they stood there in stunned silence, Zhou Qin suddenly reappeared at the doorway.

Zhao Yujian’s mother, who had been cursing moments before, instantly regained a gentle expression. She stammered, "Zhou Qin, you... why are you back?"

Zhao Yujian, leaning against the headboard, glared fiercely at Li Yundong, his eyes full of frustration, sadness, anger, and confusion. He couldn't understand what was so good about this boy that all the girls favored him, even Zhou Qin, whom he liked the most, gave him special attention.

But when Zhou Qin reappeared at the door, Zhao Yujian's eyes lit up, and his anger seemed to return to his body instantly. He sat up straight and cried out, "Zhou Qin, are you..."

Unexpectedly, Zhou Qin didn't even look at him. She just said to Li Yundong, "Can I speak with you privately for a moment?" Then, Zhou Qin nodded to Feng Na and Cheng Cheng as well.

Li Yundong realized with a jolt that Zhou Qin was helping him escape this cursed place.

Li Yundong quickly signaled Su Chan and followed Zhou Qin out of the room.

======================================================== Sigh, my dear readers, you've been chasing me so fiercely for updates, I’m getting scared of you all~ Well then, I've updated—where are my flowers?