Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Tang Qingqing received the news and hurried to the hospital.

"Qingjie!"

Wang Heizi, who was anxiously waiting at the entrance of the emergency room, saw Tang Qingqing and rushed over, sobbing with snot and tears streaming down his face.

Wang Heizi was beaten black and blue, his eyes swollen like steamed buns, barely able to open.

His left hand was bandaged and hung around his neck, and he limped as he walked.

Seeing him in this state, Tang Qingqing's heart sank:

"How are you? How is Yi-ge? What exactly happened?"

Wang Heizi wiped away his tears with his sleeve, crying as he spoke:

"I was with Yi-ge, preparing to head to town, when we were ambushed! It's all my fault; Yi-ge got severely injured protecting me!"

The college entrance exam was held at the commune, and the No. 1 Middle School there had closed for it, serving as one of the examination venues.

Zhai Hongyi had rented a house in the commune for business convenience.

To avoid missing the exam the next day, he had deliberately gone ahead a day early, just like other examinees and students.

Zhai Hongyi was used to going solo, so he didn't travel with the main group but went with Wang Heizi alone.

No one expected that about seven or eight people would be lying in wait. As soon as they saw them, without a word, they attacked.

Caught off guard, a thick wooden club aimed at Wang Heizi's head, and he stood there motionless.

To protect Wang Heizi, Zhai Hongyi pushed him aside and took a solid blow on his back, bleeding from the corner of his mouth immediately.

That blow was meant to kill; if not for Zhai Hongyi, Wang Heizi might have already met his end.

This strike significantly reduced Zhai Hongyi's fighting ability, making an already difficult situation even worse.

They fought back while looking for an opportunity to escape.

"Those guys were too strong; we couldn't fight back and couldn't even run away! If it weren't for the examinees passing by and scaring them off, we would probably be dead now."

Thinking about how helpless he felt then, Wang Heizi couldn't help shedding tears, not just out of fear and sadness, but more out of frustration at his own weakness.

If only he had been stronger, he wouldn't have been completely defenseless.

Tang Qingqing was furious. With the exam tomorrow, who could be so ruthless as to attack at such a critical moment?

"Don't worry; none of those people will get away!"

The person who informed Tang Qingqing was from the Public Security Bureau. They had already dispatched officers after receiving the alarm.

Wang Heizi remembered the attackers and had reported them to the police.

Seeing Wang Heizi angry, anxious, and self-blaming, Tang Qingqing suppressed her anger and said:

"You're also badly hurt; go rest in the ward for a bit. When Yi-ge comes out, I'll let you know right away."

Wang Heizi shook his head: "I want to stay here until Yi-ge comes out."

Seeing his insistence, Tang Qingqing didn't push further and had him sit on a chair outside the emergency room.

Outside the emergency room stood two other examinees: Wen Xuelan and Zhang Yabin.

Tang Qingqing approached them and thanked them:

"You should go back and rest; don't affect your exam tomorrow. I'll take care of things here."

They had come up a day early not only for the exam but also to check the venue and familiarize themselves with the surroundings.

Zhang Yabin hesitated: "Can you manage alone?"

Zhai Hongyi's injuries were severe, and he would need someone to look after him once he came out.

"I can handle it. If anything happens, I can call a nurse. If necessary, I can find help in the commune."

This exam was crucial and could change their fates. Zhang Yabin hadn't found a place to stay and wasn't sure where his exam venue was, feeling uneasy.

Seeing someone taking charge, he didn't insist further.

"If anything happens, come to the guesthouse to find us."

Tang Qingqing nodded: "Wish you both success in tomorrow's exam."

Wen Xuelan said: "Team Leader, you go back first; I'll return later."

"This... alright, Comrade Wen, come back early; the exam is tomorrow."

Zhang Yabin knew that Wen Xuelan and Zhai Hongyi had grown up together and that she cared deeply for him despite his cold demeanor towards her.

Some examinees thought it was unfair to her and disliked Zhai Hongyi for not appreciating her.

Wen Xuelan always defended him, saying he was cold on the surface but warm-hearted.

With Zhai Hongyi severely injured and his fate uncertain in the emergency room, it was understandable that she couldn't leave.

Zhang Yabin was also worried about Zhai Hongyi. Under normal circumstances, he would have stayed, but the importance of tomorrow's exam made him hesitant.

After Zhang Yabin left, Wen Xuelan and Tang Qingqing stood silently, anxiously watching the emergency room door, deeply concerned about his condition.

The indicator light in the emergency room finally went out, and shortly after, a doctor in a white coat came out.

Tang Qingqing and Wen Xuelan hurried forward to ask, "Doctor, how is he?"

The doctor removed his mask: "He's out of immediate danger, but he has multiple fractures and a ruptured lung. The most troublesome injury is to his head. If possible, it would be best to take him to a better hospital for further examination. Our hospital's facilities are limited, and we can't perform many of the necessary tests to determine the full extent of his injuries."

At that moment, Zhai Hongyi was wheeled out, his head tightly bandaged. If not for knowing it was him, even his own mother wouldn't recognize him. He looked far worse than Wang Heizi.

Seeing him like this, Tang Qingqing felt even more distressed.

A person who had always been invincible was beaten so badly; it showed just how brutal the attack must have been.

If someone hadn't passed by, he might not have survived.

They had gone through several life-and-death situations before, always coming out unscathed, but this was the first time they had suffered such severe injuries.

Who could be so ruthless?

What kind of grudge could make them attack Zhai Hongyi with such brutality!

Zhai Hongyi was taken to a ward for observation, while Wang Heizi was placed in a bed next to him.

Wang Heizi's condition was also dire. He had been holding on until now, but seeing that Zhai Hongyi was safe, he finally allowed himself to rest and soon fell asleep.

After settling both of them, Tang Qingqing turned to Wen Xuelan:

"Wen Zhiging, I'll stay here. Heizi's family will come to help later. The college entrance exam is tomorrow, so you should go back and get some rest."

Wen Xuelan looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze, one that wasn't particularly friendly.

Tang Qingqing was puzzled, unsure what she had done to offend her.

"Could you step outside for a moment?" Wen Xuelan said sternly.

Tang Qingqing followed Wen Xuelan out without understanding why.

Wen Xuelan walked all the way to the stairwell at the end of the corridor before stopping.

"Do you have anything to say about this?"

Caught off guard by the question, Tang Qingqing was momentarily at a loss.

"Wen Zhiging, what do you mean?"

Wen Xuelan didn't answer directly but said, "Earlier this year, Xiaoyi had the chance to return to the city, but he didn't agree."

Tang Qingqing was slightly stunned; she hadn't known about this. Zhai Hongyi hadn't mentioned it, nor had there been any rumors in the village.

She didn't understand why Wen Xuelan brought this up and remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"If he had left then, none of this would have happened today."

While true, no one could predict the future.

Tang Qingqing disliked dwelling on meaningless hypotheticals. The incident had already occurred, and thinking about it now wouldn't change anything.

Zhai Hongyi had his reasons for staying.

Still, Tang Qingqing remained silent, which irritated Wen Xuelan.

"Don't you feel any guilt?"

This question bewildered Tang Qingqing. "Wen Zhiging, what do you mean?"

Wen Xuelan's gaze towards Tang Qingqing was filled with hostility, causing Tang Qingqing to be taken aback and point at herself incredulously.

"You don't think he stayed because of me, do you?"

Their trio's relationship was indeed close, but this was absurd.

Zhai Hongyi had never shown much interest in returning to the city, and everyone knew this.

Wen Xuelan's expression darkened. "If you hadn't dragged him around and offended so many people, none of this would have happened today. Tomorrow is the college entrance exam. Do you know how important this is? His grades have always been excellent, and he would definitely pass. You've ruined his future!"

"Do you know who attacked him? They were all people he offended while protecting you."

Hearing this, Tang Qingqing's face darkened.

Tang Qingqing had solved many theft and arson cases, preventing property losses and catching criminals, but she had also made many enemies.

Many relatives of the criminals held a deep grudge against Tang Qingqing, blaming her for their loved ones' imprisonment rather than acknowledging their own wrongdoing.

Alongside the praise and recognition, Tang Qingqing had faced numerous instances of harassment and attacks.

Once, an elderly woman tried to scratch Tang Qingqing's face, but Zhai Hongyi intervened quickly.

The woman spat at Tang Qingqing, narrowly missing her. Her son had stolen money and goods from the supply store and was caught by Tang Qingqing. Instead of blaming her son, the woman blamed Tang Qingqing for ruining his life.

There were many such unreasonable relatives, each more unreasonable than the last.

Especially since Tang Qingqing was a young girl, they felt free to vent their anger on her.

If not for Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi, who were both fierce fighters, she would have been hurt long ago.

It was then that Tang Qingqing understood why her master initially hesitated to let her reveal her abilities.

In this world, there are many unreasonable people. If Tang Qingqing were wearing the police uniform, she could still leverage the power of the state to intimidate others.

Now that Tang Qingqing is just an outsider, it's easy for her to attract trouble.

And as Tang Qingqing's protectors, Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi aren't in much better positions.

But Tang Qingqing never expected these people to dare ambush them at such a critical moment, with such brutality.

This is clearly a deliberate attempt to humiliate Zhai Hongyi, making him miss an extremely important exam in his life.

Even if they catch and punish those responsible, Zhai Hongyi's fate will have already changed.

This is undoubtedly a provocation, challenging justice and the rule of law.

Tang Qingqing clenched her fists, pursing her lips without saying a word.

Wen Xuelan continued, "I hope you stay away from him in the future and don't drag him into such dangerous situations. His future shouldn't be here. Please let him go."

"If you are truly his friend, you should do what's best for him, helping him reach higher and farther, not selfishly letting him walk down a wrong path."

Tang Qingqing remained silent. Wen Xuelan thought she wouldn't speak and turned to leave, but a clear and sweet voice sounded behind her.

"What does doing what's best for him mean?"

Wen Xuelan stopped.

"Is disregarding his own wishes and interfering with his life really doing what's best for him? Does his personal will mean nothing to you?"

Although Zhai Hongyi rarely talks about family matters, after spending so much time together, one can guess some things.

He ran away and cut in line more out of disgust for his parents' interference in his life, choosing to distance himself.

Zhai Hongyi is someone who yearns for freedom but isn't careless. Once he decides to do something, he takes it very seriously.

But if he doesn't want to do something and is forced into it, he becomes extremely resentful, appearing rebellious.

He's actually quite easy to appease; a few kind words and a clear explanation would suffice. Otherwise, he'll strive to break free, refusing to comply.

Over the past two years, Zhai Hongyi had many opportunities to return to the city, but he chose not to, even during holidays, showing his disdain for being controlled.

His coldness towards Wen Xuelan is also traceable. Every time she appears, she eventually brings up the topic of reconciling with his family.

Zhai Hongyi finds this annoying, naturally distancing himself from Wen Xuelan.

To Zhai Hongyi, Wen Xuelan represents those relatives who pursued him, causing him to feel intense annoyance upon seeing her.

If this injury was indeed due to the case she solved, Tang Qingqing would indeed feel guilty.

But this is their own choice, having decided to face the consequences of their actions. They should blame those who did wrong.

If Zhai Hongyi no longer wants to take such risks, Tang Qingqing respects his decision. But since he hasn't said anything yet, it's not for outsiders to dictate.

Wen Xuelan looked disapproving, her gaze filled with condemnation:

"You're acting emotionally. Xiaoyi is lying unconscious in the hospital bed, and we don't know the extent of his head injury. You still haven't woken up! How can you call yourself his friend when you don't consider his well-being!"

"I've always admired your abilities, but I never thought you'd be so selfish, only thinking of yourself!"

After finishing, Wen Xuelan left the ward, ignoring Tang Qingqing.

When Tang Qingqing returned to the ward, Wen Xuelan pretended not to see her, continuing to ignore her.

The team leader, accompanied by Wang Heizi's parents, rushed to the commune upon hearing the news. Seeing their condition, he slapped his thigh.

"Who was so ruthless? We must catch them and make them pay!"

The college entrance exam is tomorrow, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The team leader learned from Wang Heizi that Zhai Hongyi is exceptionally smart and likely to pass the exam.

This incident has ruined everything!

Wang Heizi's parents were extremely worried on the way. Upon arriving at the hospital and seeing that Wang Heizi, though injured, was not in mortal danger, they finally relaxed.

Tang Qingqing approached and apologized. As Wen Xuelan said, the assailants were indeed people or their relatives whom Tang Qingqing and her companions had previously caught.

Knowing the importance of the exam, they deliberately caused this incident to retaliate against Tang Qingqing and her companions.

They actually wanted to target Tang Qingqing, but she was at the commune school, making it difficult. Injuring her would not be as effective as injuring her close allies.

Tang Qingqing is indeed hateful, but Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi are equally detestable.

They not only protected Tang Qingqing but also provided her with crucial clues, allowing cases to be solved quickly.

Most of the attackers have been caught, but a few remain at large. According to those arrested, the main culprits have fled by train.

They planned to flee, so they wanted to cause significant damage before leaving.

Wang Heizi's mother was initially stunned, then said,

"Qing, this has nothing to do with you. It wasn't you who tied Heizi to this. Besides, when we were praised, we praised you for leading our Heizi. Now that something happened, you can't blame you for bringing Heizi along.

We may not be educated, but we're not unreasonable!"

When Wang Heizi's mother said this, Wen Xuelan was present.

Tang Qingqing turned her back and did not know what kind of expression she had.

In the evening, Wen Xuelan still stayed behind.

The team leader, seeing that she wouldn't leave, couldn't help but say, "Wen Zhiqing, you have the college entrance exam tomorrow. Don't stay here; go back quickly."

Blackie's mother: "Yes, we're here, you don't need to worry."

But Wen Xuelan shook her head: "I can't leave. Before I came down to the team, I promised his parents that I would take good care of him. Now that something like this has happened, how could I just abandon him?"

Everyone present was stunned; no one expected Wen Xuelan to feel so deeply for Zhai Hongyi.

Tomorrow is the national college entrance exam day!

After being suspended for so many years, a new session of the college entrance exam has finally arrived.

This is an opportunity that can change a person's fate, especially for the zhiqings, it is extremely important.

Ever since the announcement of the resumption of the college entrance exam, the zhiqings have been studying day and night almost every day.

The team leader, being a kind person, also reduced their workload, giving them more time to study.

Many people were burning the midnight oil, hoping to soar high tomorrow.

Wen Xuelan's family even sent her a lot of study materials, which she shared with everyone.

It was clear that she took it very seriously, yet she was willing to go to such lengths for Zhai Hongyi.

If she stays in the hospital tonight, she definitely won't get a good night's sleep, which will affect her exam tomorrow.

The team leader continued to persuade her, "Tomorrow is very important for you, and we're here to take care of things."

But Wen Xuelan was determined to stay: "He hasn't woken up yet, and even if I went back, I wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully. It's better to wait here. No matter how important the college entrance exam is, he is more important."

The team leader didn't know what to say for a moment and looked at Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing didn't want Zhai Hongyi to wake up and find out that someone had affected their college entrance exam for him.

Although this might not be what Zhai Hongyi wanted, others might think he had some responsibility.

"Wen Zhiqing, Brother Yi wouldn't want to see you sacrifice your future for him."

Blackie's mother: "Yes, yes, his parents asked you to look after each other, but they didn't expect you to go this far. We're here too, I know how to take care of people, and my husband is strong and can handle everything."

Wen Xuelan still insisted: "This is my own choice, and it has nothing to do with Xiaoyi. I appreciate your kindness, but I can do what you can."

Everyone was surprised by Wen Xuelan's stubbornness, but they couldn't drag her away or force her to leave, leaving them helpless.

Tang Qingqing wanted to persuade her again, but Wen Xuelan gave her a deep look:

"Are you worried that my presence here will affect him, making him not listen to you anymore?"