Chapter 31: Thanks, Mr. Zhao, but it’s not necessary.

Chapter 31: Thanks, Mr. Zhao, but it’s not necessary.

Zhao Shengge gave a slight nod, briefly met her gaze out of politeness, then turned his attention back to the surveillance footage, scrutinizing it frame by frame.

The security team had just sent the surveillance footage, showing traffic at intersections leading to Polly Bay.

There were a total of seven intersections.

Zhuo Zhixuan said he hadn’t seen or been able to reach Chen Wan, so he idly skimmed through the footage.

Zhao Shengge’s eyes remained fixed on the screen, without glancing back at Xu Zhiying.

"Go on."

"..."

Xu Zhiying quickly summarized what happened on the road, and Zhao Shengge, silent until then, suddenly asked, "What kind of car?"

"A Jeep, no license plate—"

"No," Zhao Shengge cut in, "the one after that."

"It was a Volkswagen."

Since Chen Wan had acted selflessly the entire time, not even exchanging his full name with Xu Zhiying, she made sure to jot down the license plate number.

No need to keep watching the footage. Zhao Shengge closed the computer, stood up abruptly, his expression unchanged, but the intensity in his gaze gave Xu Zhiying pause.

"You said he watched you leave and then stopped by the roadside?"

"Yes."

He didn’t plan on coming back.

Xu Zhiying didn’t know Chen Wan, but it was unlikely Chen Wan didn’t know her.

Xu Zhiying noticed a slight change in his demeanor. She didn’t know why Zhao Shengge was so focused on this non-critical part of the incident, fearing he might be suspecting Chen Wan, she cautiously added, "It might be a coincidence, but I’m sure they weren’t together."

Zhao Shengge had already stopped listening, turning to grab his coat and car keys while asking, "How is the other party?"

Xu Zhiying wasn’t sure what Zhao Shengge was focusing on, but she answered truthfully, "He’s hurt and lost a lot of blood. I asked him, and he said he was fine, but he seemed reluctant to let anyone know—"

"Got it," Zhao Shengge strode out of the VIP lounge without looking back, "Miss Xu, feel free to stay."

"..."

Renji Hospital.

Following the nurse’s instructions, Chen Wan went through several tests and was finally diagnosed with "soft tissue contusion of the hand joint" and "mild concussion," and was asked to be hospitalized.

"..."

"Doctor," Chen Wan tried to decline politely, "I don’t think it’s that serious—"

"Young people should take care of their bodies," the doctor looked at him, "Just because you don’t feel it now doesn’t mean there’s no problem. Many injuries don’t show up immediately. You’ve injured your brain and eyes, so you absolutely can’t take this lightly."

Chen Wan had no choice but to agree.

"You’ll also need to complete the hospitalization procedures. Is there no one accompanying you?"

"No, doctor, just give me the form, I'll handle it."

The doctor glanced at him and softened his tone: "You can pay by card, and the nurse will bring the form to your room for you to sign later."

Chen Wan obediently said, "Thank you, doctor."

Renji Hospital is a private facility, and Chen Wan requested a single room. The night's ordeal had already pushed him to his limits.

He could tell what the doctor was thinking, but Chen Wan didn't think much of it. He was already accustomed to handling all the adversities in life and facing life's challenges. Injuries like these were nothing when he was a kid.

He was starving and worn out, but figured sleep would fix it, so he closed his eyes.

However, even in such a state of utter exhaustion, his deep sense of responsibility made him realize he had forgotten to inform Zhuo Zhixuan.

He was late, and only Zhuo Zhixuan would probably notice.

So, Chen Wan used the last bit of battery left on his phone to call Zhuo Zhixuan.

Even though Chen Wan downplayed it, Zhuo Zhixuan freaked out and insisted on coming to the hospital.

He'd known Chen Wan's 'no big deal' act since they were kids.

Whether it was getting beaten up by seniors from the international department (though he later fought back) or racing into sketchy spots as a teen to bail Song Qingmiao out of trouble with older guys, all fell under Chen Wan's 'no big deal' category.

Chen Wan was dependable, but sometimes he couldn't be trusted, especially when it came to his own matters.

"Enough with the excuses, I'm on my way," Zhuo Zhixuan cursed a few times, "Once I find out who’s behind this, they’re done for."

"..." Chen Wan's phone died, so there was no stopping him.

Zhuo Zhixuan hung up and just happened to run into Zhao Shengge, who was coming out of the VIP lounge.

"Just the person I was looking for," he had originally planned to stay here tonight, so he had sent his driver home. Now, coming from the city would take a lot of time, "Let me borrow a car, it’s urgent."

He was asking for a car, but his tone was sharp.

Zhao Shengge didn't argue with him and acted decisively: "No need, we’ll go together."

"?" Zhuo Zhixuan turned his head in surprise, "You—"

"It involves me," Zhao Shengge saw that he was slow to press the elevator button, so he pressed B1 himself. Seeing that Zhuo Zhixuan was still processing, he asked in a deep voice, "Are you coming or not?"

He frowned, radiating intensity. Although he appeared calm on the surface, Zhuo Zhixuan felt that he was actually already furious.

Zhuo Zhixuan rarely saw Zhao Shengge angry, so he quickly closed the elevator door.

Zhao Shengge drove smoothly, but Zhuo Zhixuan still gripped the seatbelt.

He had no idea Zhao Shengge, so refined, could drive like a maniac.

Since it concerned Chen Wan, Zhuo Zhixuan had many questions.

Zhao Shengge quickly filled him in on what Xu Zhiying had reported earlier that night, but Zhuo Zhixuan still didn't understand why Zhao Shengge was joining him on this trip.

Facing the other's puzzled and suspicious gaze, he explained seriously: "The leftovers from White Crane Hall are stirring up trouble. The specific details need to be asked from Chen Wan."

Zhuo Zhixuan immediately understood. They were trying to mess with Zhao Shengge’s event, and he wasn’t about to let that slide.

The explanation made perfect sense, so Zhuo Zhixuan bought Zhao Shengge’s reason for tagging along but secretly blamed him.

Chen Wan was an innocent victim of an unforeseen calamity, and Zhao Shengge, being the root cause, indeed had every reason to come here.

The Maybach raced along the coastal highway, the endless night sea on both sides. Only the car's headlights, like the inexplicable emotions in his heart, grew clearer and more distinct until they broke through the darkness.

Hospital room.

Chen Wan had large bandages wrapped around his forehead, arm, and shoulder by a nurse.

"A Wan!"

"I told you I didn't—" Chen Wan paused, his eyes widening slightly, only speaking with uncertainty after confirming who had arrived. "Mr. Zhao?"

Zhao Shengge had never seen Chen Wan so injured and disheveled. His brows furrowed slightly before he nodded.

Chen Wan, who had just doubted the doctor's diagnosis of a mild concussion, now felt not only concussed but also plagued by irregular heartbeats and wild fantasies.

For some reason, Zhao Shengge couldn't stop looking at him after entering the room.

He stared for a long, long time.

Chen Wan felt as if his skin had been stripped away, his soul exposed. The IV needle mark began to swell, and he was embarrassed by his current ghastly appearance. He asked, puzzled and slightly shy, "Why did Mr. Zhao come?"

Zhao Shengge hesitated to answer. He could tell Zhuo Zhixuan it was because of Xu Zhiying and the White Crane Hall, but he couldn't say the same to Chen Wan.

When he remained silent, Zhuo Zhixuan spoke up, telling the truth: "Miss Xu said you saved her. Those people were remnants of the White Crane Hall."

Chen Wan's heart suddenly settled.

So that was it.

He had been so caught up in the joy of seeing Mount Fuji that he nearly forgot he had saved Xu Zhiying.

Chen Wan suddenly felt a pang of embarrassment for his earlier impulsiveness and self-delusion.

It wasn't that he was embarrassed by Zhao Shengge personally coming for Xu Zhiying, but that he hadn't thought of this layer immediately.

It was only right for Zhao Shengge to come for Xu Zhiying, but Chen Wan shouldn't have failed to realize it.

Failing to realize it proved that his subconscious still harbored shameful delusions and dark, ugly thoughts.

This went against Chen Wan's will and principles, and that was what made him feel the most ashamed and unable to face himself.

Chen Wan never saw himself as a person of high moral standards. He had done many bad, ruthless, and dirty things; his hands were already tainted.

But at this moment, this self-condemnation and disgust overshadowed the fact that Zhao Shengge was engaged. For a few seconds, Chen Wan even wanted to find a place to hide.

He dared not face Zhao Shengge, and even less could he face himself.

Chen Wan was in too much pain, his body battered and bruised, but the final straw that crushed him was the moral guilt.

Zhao Shengge didn't understand why Chen Wan's eyes had lost some of their usual sparkle. Perhaps it was because of his injuries; he wasn't as flawless as usual. Zhao Shengge could vaguely see a sense of regret and resolve in his gaze.

He didn't know what Chen Wan regretted or what he was resolved about, but it felt as if something was slipping away at this moment, slipping away forever.

Zhao Shengge, extremely rarely, felt a subtle sense of panic, his heart gripped by an unknown source.

Chen Wan had suffered these misfortunes because of him. Xu Zhiying wasn't entirely innocent in this ordeal. There's a saying in Haishi: "If you eat salted fish, you must endure the thirst."

The Xu and Zhao families had joined forces to divide the White Crane Hall's legacy. If she wanted to partake in the distribution of these high-stakes interests, she should have been prepared to bear the corresponding risks. But Chen Wan gained nothing and suffered many injuries, just like last time at Eagle Pool, when he faced sudden calamity due to Zhao Shengge's obstinacy.

It was a rare moment of conscience for Zhao Shengge, but he had almost no experience in visiting the sick, so he was quite unfamiliar. He walked up to the hospital bed, leaned over slightly, and asked Chen Wan gently, "How are you holding up? Did they have guns?"

Chen Wan thought he wanted to understand the specifics to track the enemy, so he adjusted his mood and spoke seriously, recounting some details of the incident: "They didn’t have guns, but they likely carried other weapons, or there was something in their cars. I noticed that the trunks of two A67 Jeeps were heavily loaded, and they were original models without license plates. Cars like that are typically used for illegal border crossings."

"..." Zhao Shengge pursed his lips, his gaze slowly and carefully lingering on every wound on Chen Wan's face and hands. He said, "You were very observant." But none of this was what he was really asking about.

"..." Chen Wan sensed that Zhao Shengge didn’t seem entirely satisfied, but this was all he could remember in such a chaotic and critical situation.

Chen Wan opened his mouth, unsure of what else to say. His battered appearance, covered in wounds and clad in a hospital gown, evoked a deeply unfamiliar feeling in Zhao Shengge, pushing him to act swiftly and decisively. After a long pause, he finally found a stance that felt somewhat fitting. His expression was more sincere and genuine than usual: "Chen Wan, they were targeting me, and you got caught up in it. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask—"

"Mr. Zhao," Chen Wan spoke softly, and Zhao Shengge paused, looking at him intently, waiting for his response.

Zhao Shengge likely didn’t notice that his gaze held a hint of encouragement, as if he hoped Chen Wan would say more.

Chen Wan had always thought his psychological resilience and mindset were strong, including tonight when he hadn’t felt any particularly intense physical pain.

Being violently struck by the Jeep and hitting his forehead didn’t hurt, his arm bleeding from being pressed against the car window didn’t hurt, and watching Xu Zhiying walk towards the brightly lit avenue was also bearable.

But Zhao Shengge’s visit on Xu Zhiying’s behalf, to express gratitude, tore open a hole in a deep, tender part of his heart.

At first, the blood flowed out slowly, but gradually it became thicker and more turbulent.

Because he once again clearly realized that Zhao Shengge had come on behalf of Xu Zhiying.

To clarify the situation on her behalf, to thank Chen Wan on her behalf, to handle the aftermath and repay the favor on her behalf.

Logically, his mind was screaming warnings, urging him to stop this "immoral" pain at once, but physiologically, he couldn’t stop it. His brain felt like it was being torn apart, splitting into two personalities.

The pain was belated but very clear and profound. Yet Chen Wan stayed composed, smiling gently as usual: "Thank you, Mr. Zhao. I don’t need anything. You don’t have to worry about it."

Zhao Shengge’s heart felt as if it had suddenly been gripped.

And that elusive thing he had never experienced before was slipping away at an even faster pace.

Chen Wan assured him not to worry about it.

Just as polite, considerate, and evasive as before, telling him not to worry about it.

"Nothing at all?" Zhao Shengge didn’t know where the problem lay, but he tried to make himself seem less difficult to get along with, hoping the other would know that he was actually quite reasonable and had some humanity. "After all, it’s my fault that you got hurt. You deserve compensation and gratitude."

Chen Wan then said, "No need. Miss Xu has already thanked me."