### Chapter 3: The Hospital

### Chapter 3: The Hospital

The people outside were still shouting, and the door was about to be smashed when it finally opened. A man with a scruffy beard, bloodshot eyes, and a face that clearly said "I'm in a bad mood" emerged, bringing with him a pungent smell of alcohol.

Cao Kun, standing under a tree with his arms crossed, watching the scene unfold, was taken aback when he saw who had come out of the house.

Cao Zilong and his group instinctively took a step back. Realizing their reaction, they immediately stepped forward and yelled, "You finally came out, you coward!"

Before Cao Zilong could finish his sentence, Shenchi's fist had already landed on his face, causing him to spit out two bloody front teeth.

Shenchi's attack was swift and unexpected. Before anyone could react, he lunged into the crowd, grabbing one of the thugs by the arm and delivering a sharp chop, resulting in a loud crack as the thug clutched his twisted arm and screamed in pain.

The others were momentarily stunned, then roared and attacked en masse.

There were at least seven or eight men with Cao Zilong, each sporting tattoos on their arms, looking like seasoned thugs.

A flash of a blade caught Cao Kun's eye, making him frown slightly. Meanwhile, Shenchi used a scissor grip to grab the attacker's elbow, using the momentum to leap and kick backward, sending another thug flying. As he spun 360 degrees in mid-air, a shiny fruit knife grazed his scalp, and another arm was dislocated. The knife then fell into Shenchi's hand.

Shenchi's gaze slowly fell on the fruit knife as the thugs quickly drew their own knives from their pockets.

He lifted his eyelids, revealing bloodshot eyes and heavy dark circles. His stare was that of a vengeful spirit suddenly sensing the scent of his father's killer. Several thugs involuntarily took a step back.

Shenchi picked up the fruit knife and greedily licked the blade, as if savoring a drop of blood. He took a deep breath, and a flush of red appeared on his pale face.

His appearance made him look like a madman, a psychopath!

Several of the thugs glanced at the stunned Cao Zilong, considering whether to retreat and get reinforcements.

Shenchi took a step forward, and the thugs recoiled in unison, their hearts pounding like drums.

He took another step, his bloodshot eyes fixed on them, as if ready to devour them alive.

As he closed in, their psychological defenses crumbled. Just as they were about to flee, the man suddenly stumbled—

And fell to the ground.

He actually fell!

"Haha... Haha, what a ridiculous fall! ... Ahahaha..."

Cao Zilong pointed at the man who had just been so intimidating but now lay sprawled on the ground, laughing loudly. Then he kicked him in the spine, causing the man to wince in pain.

The man lying on the ground looked frail and defenseless. Cao Zilong felt it was time to regain some dignity and began kicking him repeatedly, cursing, "You bastard, dare to defy me again? You were so brave just now, weren't you? Try being tough again! How dare you challenge me, you lowlife!"

Shenchi's curled-up form emboldened the thugs, who started beating him mercilessly. "Damn it, you're asking for it!"

Cao Kun picked up the fruit knife with his foot and caught it as it spun into his hand. He looked at it, puzzled by the sudden change in Shenchi's behavior after seeing him drunk just two days ago.

Cao Kun glanced at the beaten man and decided to intervene, but laughter suddenly erupted from the crowd.

"Haha... Haha, cough, haha..."

It was clear he was genuinely amused.

Cao Zilong angrily kicked Shenchi again. "What the hell are you laughing at, you crazy bastard?!"

"Haha, cough, cough... Hahaha..." Shenchi continued laughing, coughing between fits, his laughter bordering on madness.

"Damn it!"

Cao Zilong grabbed a fruit knife from one of his companions and aimed it at Shenchi, intending to teach him a lesson without killing him.

Just as he was about to strike, someone grabbed his hand.

Cao Kun said, "Enough, Mother is back. Don't scare her."

Cao Zilong ignored him, swore, and tried to stab Shenchi again, but his hand was held firmly in place, as if by an iron grip.

The thugs noticed Cao Zilong's immobility and asked, "Brother Long?"

"Damn it, I'll let you off this time, but next time I see you, I'll beat you every chance I get!" Cao Zilong pointed at Shenchi and left with his gang.

After everyone had gone, the man remained motionless on the ground, bruised and battered. Sunlight slanted across the ground, dividing the area into two worlds.

Shenchi gazed at the sun peeking through the leaves. Less than ten meters away, a bustling street filled with pedestrians, various smells, and the stench of garbage...

He smiled, feeling the pain spreading and cracking through his body.

"Come on, you two, have some chicken soup. I cooked it for two hours with lots of nourishing ingredients." Cao's mother served the soup to her son and nephew after setting the table.

"What nourishment?" Cao's father, sitting at the head of the table, glared at his son, remembering the trouble he had caused earlier. "You better cut ties with those guys before your mother and I have to clean up your mess!"

Cao Zilong retorted, straightening his designer suit and tie, head held high. "What nonsense? Why would parents curse their own son? Besides, I've done well this year, even got a car. I'll tell you, by this time next year, I'll buy an apartment in Huayuan New Mansion, the new luxury complex!"

"Dream on! With the company you keep, you're lucky not to end up in jail!" Cao's father nearly threw his chopsticks at his son.

Cao's mother intervened, snatching the chopsticks and handing him a bowl of soup. "Why can't you let them eat in peace? It's rare for them to come home."

Cao Zilong didn't appreciate his mother's concern and replied, "I'm not dreaming. I work for a legitimate financial company, unlike some people who mysteriously disappeared for years, only to end up in prison."

Cao's father glared at him. "Stop talking nonsense!"

Cao's mother glanced awkwardly at Cao Kun, relieved to see no reaction, and urged, "Eat, eating will shut your mouth."

Cao's father sighed, looking at the soup in his bowl, then turned to his nephew. This nephew had always been a troublemaker, dropping out of school at a young age to work. Initially, he seemed to settle down, but later disappeared, only to be arrested. Thankfully, he had become more stable over the past few years, working in City A. Now he seemed to want to settle down, which was good since he was getting older and needed to start a family.

"Ah Kun, what are your plans? Any girls you like?"

Cao's mother nodded. "Ah Kun, stay here. You should find a girl and have a child while we're still able to help take care of them."

Cao Kun, while gnawing on a chicken leg, said, "I plan to start a business with a friend in real estate. It'll be hectic at the beginning, with no time to spare, so... let's put the wedding plans on hold for now."

Cao Zilong exclaimed, "Oh! Real estate? Don't overestimate yourself. Don't think it's easy just because others have made fortunes in this field. Every year, countless people jump off buildings! You might end up losing all the hard-earned money from your construction site. I can introduce you to a job at Huayuan New Mansion; the foreman there is my buddy. Just mention my name, and you'll definitely get a position as a foreman!"

Cao Kun looked at him, smiling but silent.

Father Cao nodded, "I heard that foremen earn around ten thousand yuan a month. Being your own boss is just as demanding, and the pay is similar."

Cao Zilong put down his chopsticks and straightened his sleeves, puffing out his chest like a victorious rooster.

Mother Cao disagreed, "No matter how busy you are, you can't delay getting married. You're already thirty! Since you're back, I'll arrange a meeting for you. Your Aunt Wang's niece is quite nice, good-looking, and a teacher. Let's set a date for you two to meet."

Before Cao Kun could refuse, Mother Cao eagerly picked up her phone to call her friends, even Father Cao nodding in agreement, "That girl is good. Rest assured, your aunt will vet her for you."

"Why do you worry more about my cousin finding a wife than me?" Cao Zilong asked, "Aren't I your biological son?"

Father Cao retorted, "Don't go ruining other girls' lives until you break up with those 'Baby,' 'Xiaoya,' and 'Koukou'!"

Cao Zilong shrugged, then winked at Cao Kun, "Brother, I have plenty of sisters-in-law and girlfriends. Want me to introduce you to some?"

Cao Kun replied, "No thanks, I don't think I can handle it."

Cao Zilong snorted dismissively, then started humming, clearly in high spirits.

Meanwhile, Shenchi wiped the blood from his injured mouth and pushed himself up from the ground. As he stood, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen.

Shenchi's face turned deathly pale, and he froze for several seconds before regaining his senses and rushing out. Halfway through, he stopped, returned to his rental apartment, changed into decent clothes, and retrieved his wallet from under the bed before hailing a taxi to the hospital.

At the People's Hospital, Shenchi held the registration slip, hesitated, then went to the restroom to splash cold water on his face.

The cool water refreshed him, and after rubbing his face vigorously, he felt somewhat human again. He then sat on a bench outside the obstetrics and gynecology department, waiting to be called.