Chapter 58 Fighting for Survival

Chapter 58: Fighting for Survival

Jiang Shen's nerves were stretched taut, actively tuning out the screams from the backseat. His driving skills had always been exceptional, and he exerted every effort to maintain optimal speed and control during sharp turns and U-turns.

Several times, the car teetered on the brink of flipping, but Jiang Shen reacted in a split second, wrenching the tires back onto the asphalt.

The fuel gauge plummeted rapidly. Jiang Shen chose a shortcut, bursting out of the woods before turning right onto the highway and heading straight for the escape lane.

The car’s wrap on Fu Yuanrui's vehicle was scraped beyond recognition, but as he felt the car stabilize, his screams died down. His throat ached terribly from the earlier hysterical shouts. As if granted a second chance at life, only one thought remained in Fu Yuanrui's mind: *Why was I so hung up about it?*

If someone wanted to get engaged, let them. For the rest of his life, he’d just cling to his cousin and live freely.

*Staying alive was what mattered most.*

Fu Yuanrui suddenly felt the world fall silent, as if his soul had been elevated.

Beside him, Zhao Xiangting was rubbing his chest hard, feeling nauseous.

"Brother Jiang, I don’t feel so good."

Jiang Shen’s voice was tense but steady: "Throw up in the car."

Zhao Xiangting held it back with all his might.

Just as he and Fu Yuanrui finally began to calm down, they heard Jiang Shen suddenly speak: "Buckle up tight!"

"Huh?"

The car ran over large chunks of gravel, the tires grinding tightly as the speed abruptly slowed, yet it still surged forward recklessly. The engine roared as if about to explode. Knowing it might not help much, Jiang Shen still slammed on the brakes at the last moment. The barrier ahead loomed closer and closer. As the slope steepened, Jiang Shen saw the dashboard go haywire. Behind the steering wheel was the young man’s grim, determined expression.

In truth, turning the wheel to crash sideways would have significantly reduced the impact on the driver’s seat.

But Fu Yuanrui probably wouldn’t have made it out conscious.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Shen didn’t hesitate.

The front of the car instantly collided with the barrier, deforming with a low roar. The airbags deployed, slamming Jiang Shen back into his seat just as he was thrown forward uncontrollably!

Jiang Shen’s ears rang, and for the next few seconds, he couldn’t see a thing.

White smoke billowed from the front of the car—it had finally stopped.

Jiang Shen fumbled for his seatbelt and forcefully unbuckled it. He then reached for the door. It was a push-open type, and Jiang Shen, initially lacking strength, tried several times. When he finally managed to crack his eyes open, he saw two jagged cuts on the back of his hand. The adrenaline hadn’t yet subsided; Jiang Shen couldn’t pinpoint where the pain was coming from. He only felt as though his brains were sloshing around, his whole body swaying as if standing on a turbulent wave.

Jiang Shen practically tumbled out of the driver’s seat.

He felt a pang of panic because he couldn’t hear Zhao Xiangting or Fu Yuanrui at all.

Struggling to his feet, Jiang Shen went to open the back door, a faint metallic taste of blood filling his throat.

It didn’t take much effort—the door was pushed open from the inside with help. Zhao Xiangting looked dazed and, upon seeing Jiang Shen, called out, "Brother Jiang."

Jiang Shen nodded, his voice hoarse: "Get out."

Before getting out, Zhao Xiangting patted Fu Yuanrui’s face. Fu Yuanrui, obliging, groggily woke up.

He’d mostly been scared unconscious.

Leaning against the car door, Jiang Shen thought about leaving the area first.

Then, Jiang Shen heard something and looked up.

Traffic police cars, several black vehicles, and an ambulance were speeding toward them one after another.

When Fu Cheng opened his car door and saw the scene, his face turned grim.

Medical staff swarmed out. Jiang Shen gave Zhao Xiangting a slight push forward. "Go find a doctor."

Zhao Louyue was the fastest, striding over quickly.

Zhao Xiangting trembled as he called out, "Brother." Zhao Louyue stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace, his emotions unreadable. "Where are you hurt?"

"I’m okay, just a bit dizzy."

Zhao Louyue gave his brother’s head a final pat before handing him over to the medical staff.

Jiang Shen remained standing still.

Zhao Louyue suddenly felt extremely uneasy.

Just as he was about to reach Jiang Shen, the young man’s legs gave way, and he collapsed.

The relaxed atmosphere instantly tensed up again, and the surroundings erupted into chaos.

Zhao Louyue didn’t let Jiang Shen hit the ground—he caught him firmly, resting Jiang Shen’s chin on his shoulder.

His arms wrapped securely around Jiang Shen’s waist as Zhao Louyue’s tone shifted: "Where does it hurt?"

This time, Jiang Shen could feel it.

"My arm hurts, my head hurts, Zhao Louyue..." Jiang Shen murmured.

"I’m here!"

"I think my left leg can’t move."

Zhao Louyue scooped Jiang Shen into his arms. The young man’s chin was pale and gaunt, and he had already lost consciousness in Zhao Louyue’s embrace.

In his daze, Jiang Shen felt as if he were seasick. He vomited twice, and his stomach clenched in pain. Instinctively, he tried to press on it, but a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. Jiang Shen gasped sharply, feeling like cursing.

Then followed a period of chaos. The noise around him faded as someone gently brushed aside the sweat-soaked hair stuck to his face. That person softly comforted him—Jiang Shen didn’t understand a word, but he inexplicably calmed down.

Jiang Shen parted his lips. Zhao Louyue immediately leaned in to listen, but the young man only furrowed his brows before falling unconscious again.

The recoil from the sudden braking had hit the driver’s seat hardest. The screws behind the seat had pierced through viciously, stabbing deeply into Jiang Shen’s shoulder when the seat threw him back. His left leg was fractured, he had a concussion, and the rest were assorted cuts and bruises of varying severity.

In comparison, Zhao Xiangting and Fu Yuanrui were miraculously largely unharmed. They only needed a few days of observation in the hospital before being discharged.

The traffic police stated that if the speed hadn’t been reduced, all three would likely not have survived. And based on where Jiang Shen had crashed, he had fully exposed himself, buying the two in the back the greatest chance of survival.

When Fu Yuanrui came to his senses, he clung to Fu Cheng and cried.

"Brother, I had no idea! I’d only driven that car a couple of times. It was only parked at the company building and outside the bar. I never lent it to anyone."

Fu Cheng nodded. "Alright, I’ll look into it."

Jiang Shen didn’t undergo surgery. After wound cleaning and having a cast applied, he was moved to a private room once his vital signs stabilized.

Zhao Xiangting came by to check on him midway.

He was still wearing his hospital gown, with a bandage wrapped around the back of his hand. The bones of his fingers were slightly misaligned, but it wasn’t a major issue.

"Brother, has Jiang woken up?" Zhao Xiangting asked very quietly.

Zhao Louyue shook his head: "Go back to your room and rest. I can’t attend to you right now. Call me if you need anything."

Hearing this, Zhao Xiangting felt a pang of hurt.

In the past, the two brothers had only ever relied on each other. Now, his brother had someone he loved. But back then, when it was so dangerous, both he and Jiang were in the same car. Zhao Xiangting didn’t even dare to imagine what his brother must have felt at that moment.

Jiang Shen had always had fair skin, and now, deprived of color, he looked as fragile as paper.

The oxygen mask released faint pale white mist, which quietly dissipated. Zhao Louyue gazed at Jiang Shen, his eyes filled with immense tenderness, yet beneath that lay a tempestuous fury.