Chapter 58

Chapter 58

◎"I know how to get the missing evidence."◎

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Shen Ruzhen’s mind, but in the end, all the words dissipated like fleeting dust, leaving only one sentence: "You saved me."

"Mhm." A simple reply, devoid of any mention of the desperate worry he felt when he learned of her accident, or the hardships he endured searching for her. It was merely an acknowledgment of a fact.

Chao Wendao took a step back, subtly increasing the distance between them.

His expression was calm and composed, as always, yet no one knew that merely uttering that single "Mhm" had almost taken his breath away.

The air in the hospital room seemed to thin.

Shen Ruzhen didn’t notice his unease. She simply asked, "How did you find me? I thought..."

It wasn’t until the moment of the crash that she finally understood the root of all these anomalies.

A stormy day, failed brakes, a road almost devoid of other vehicles...

The large truck that "happened" to appear was likely pre-arranged by the other party—naturally, it wouldn't call for help for her.

They wanted her dead!

They wanted her to die silently on that stormy day. Even if the crash didn’t kill her instantly, she would succumb due to lack of timely medical attention.

In the end, the traffic police report would simply conclude that she was unlucky—driving on a desolate road during a storm, only to coincidentally suffer brake failure and crash.

But Chao Wendao had found her.

Chao Wendao gazed at her, saying softly, "I set off for here as soon as I got your call."

Shen Ruzhen’s heart fluttered. Had it been that early?

At that time, she hadn't even left the courthouse. But her long experience battling darkness had given her a premonition. To ensure her safety, she had called Chao Wendao.

Only...

She hadn't expected the other party to resort to such extreme measures, catching her completely off guard. Truly, if Chao Wendao hadn't set out early and arrived in time, she might not have made it.

Chao Wendao: "Thankfully, your injuries aren't severe—no fractures. But the doctor had to put in quite a few stitches."

Shen Ruzhen looked at him with a complex expression, then said, "Thank you."

Chao Wendao was peeling an apple for her. He seemed completely unfamiliar with such modern tools; the amount of apple flesh he cut away far exceeded what remained. He then examined the misshapen apple in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally handed it to Shen Ruzhen.

Amused, Shen Ruzhen looked at the "mangled" apple and bit into it without caring about its appearance, finishing it in just a few mouthfuls.

Seeing this, Chao Wendao asked, "Do you want another?" He reached for another apple to peel, but Shen Ruzhen quickly waved her hand, stopping his needless waste of apples.

As Chao Wendao withdrew his hand, his fingers accidentally brushed against hers.

"I'm sorry." Chao Wendao suddenly lowered his head, his face filled with guilt.

Thinking he was apologizing for their hands touching, Shen Ruzhen quickly said it was fine. The next second, she was pulled into Chao Wendao’s arms.

Shen Ruzhen froze, unmoving for a moment.

The hug wasn't tight; if Shen Ruzhen had wanted to push him away, she could have easily done so. But for some reason, she didn't.

Instead, she gently wrapped her arms around him. The moment her hands touched Chao Wendao’s back, a hint of joy appeared on his face.

The next second, the loosely held embrace tightened. Shen Ruzhen winced as he accidentally pressed against her injury, letting out a small "Ow." Chao Wendao immediately released her in a panic, asking anxiously, "Where does it hurt? Does it hurt much?"

Seeing his distress, Shen Ruzhen deliberately said, "It hurts a lot."

Chao Wendao grew even more worried. "Wait here, I’ll go get the doctor," he said, already striding towards the door—until Shen Ruzhen grabbed his sleeve.

When he saw Shen Ruzhen smile, he suddenly understood everything. He sat on the edge of her bed, leaning in to ask, "Is that a yes?"

Shen Ruzhen remembered her earlier words to Chao Wendao: "For two people to hug, there needs to be a special relationship."

After a moment’s thought, she answered honestly, "I haven’t made up my mind yet, but perhaps I don’t dislike it."

Chao Wendao’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Shen Ruzhen nodded, then skillfully changed the subject: "Let’s first focus on figuring out who was behind the attack on me."

After a pause, she continued, "Looking at the whole incident, I think two things are very strange. First, the brake failure—even on a rainy day, it’s uncommon for a car’s brakes to malfunction like that. Second, why did I end up on a road under construction? I was following the navigation."

Chao Wendao mused, "They might not have just tampered with your brakes but also altered your navigation."

Shen Ruzhen frowned slightly. "Is that even possible? Regardless, we need to report this to the police and have them inspect my car."

Chao Wendao: "Oh, right—speaking of the car. Did you leave a laptop in the backpack on the back seat?"

Shen Ruzhen: "Yes, why do you ask?" A sudden sense of foreboding gripped her.

Chao Wendao: "..."

"That laptop got soaked. It’s unusable now."

Shen Ruzhen: "..." Her eyes widened. "Completely unusable?"

Chao Wendao: "I took it to a repair shop. It’s probably beyond repair."

Shen Ruzhen: "What about the storage card?"

Judging by Chao Wendao’s expression, the outcome was the same.

Shen Ruzhen murmured, "Well, at least I’ve already filed the case. But even though it’s been accepted, those materials would still be useful later..."

"Not to mention, there are supplementary documents to submit..."

Once the personal protection order is issued, Cheng Yan will be separated from Meng Yi. Naturally, Meng Yi will learn about the divorce lawsuit from the court’s complaint, and obtaining further materials from him afterward will be difficult.

Chao Wendao hadn’t considered all this. He was still trying to figure out: "Who would want to harm you?"

Shen Ruzhen’s mind was a tangle of thoughts, but Chao Wendao’s words suddenly cut through the confusion like a ray of light: "You’re right. Who would want me dead? If I died now, who would benefit most?"

"I know how to get the missing evidence."

*Author's Note*

What a windy day!