The hospital room was quiet, deathly silent. Li Jinyang and Qi Yu said nothing as they glanced at Li Sheng's disappointed expression. The image of Jiang Chuchu suddenly screaming and collapsing replayed in their minds. Li Sheng had clearly done nothing…
Did they wrongly accuse her?
"It hurts so much." Jiang Chuchu cried out. "Third Brother, Brother Qi Yu, it hurts so much, wuwuwu."
This time, her crying seemed genuine. She didn't know what Li Sheng had done, but her whole body was numb, as if thousands of needles pierced her. The pain was unbearable.
As Jiang Chuchu wailed, Li Sheng looked at her arm, where a bright red palm print still burned on her skin. Then she raised her hand and slapped Jiang Chuchu hard across the face.
"Smack!"
Jiang Chuchu staggered and fell again.
Li Sheng smiled, calm and casual. "Here, I'll give it back to you."
Everyone in the capital knew—Li Sheng never let anyone off if they crossed her.
Qi Yu reacted first, exploding with anger. "Li Sheng, you've gone too far!"
"Brother Qi Yu…" Jiang Chuchu sobbed, tears streaming. "It hurts so much… wuwuwu…"
"Don't be afraid, Chuchu. I'll take you to the doctor."
Qi Yu carried Jiang Chuchu gently. Before leaving, he shot a fierce glare at Li Sheng.
"Since you saw everything yesterday, I'll make it clear now: the person I love is Chuchu. As for our engagement, break it off—or I will."
The ward door slammed shut.
Li Jinyang also left, but before he walked out, he couldn't resist adding, "Qi Yu and Chuchu are meant to be together. If you keep holding on, you'll only bring shame upon yourself."
Bring shame upon herself?
Li Sheng sat on the bed and chuckled lightly. But the original owner's emotions surged—sorrow, humiliation, self-pity.
The engagement had been witnessed by both families' elders; the marriage certificate hand-written by the Qi family patriarch. She still remembered the words:
[Two families united in marriage, a contract of life and death, a promise with you.]
Now?
A joke.
Li Sheng gently touched her chest and sighed. "This kind of man isn't worth your heartache. And… there's more to life than love."
She had hatred to settle and debts to collect. If she wanted to survive in the ancient capital's tangled power webs, she needed her own strength.
Li Sheng took a deep breath, lifted the blanket, and got off the bed.
In the corner, two nurses who had watched her "outburst" didn't dare approach, yet their attitude carried no respect—only disdain.
To them, she was someone anyone could step on.
People always have those who lift them up and those who drag them down.
But one day, she would stand at the top again.
Li Sheng didn't look back and left the ward.
Walking through the corridor, she passed a high-end room and stopped instinctively. Inside were familiar faces—her father Li Youchang, her brother Li Jinyang, and her fiancé Qi Yu—all surrounding Jiang Chuchu's bed. They fussed over her, comforting, coaxing, showing their concern in every way.
Sure enough…
the crying child gets the candy.
Li Sheng's lips curled slightly, and she continued walking.
At the hospital entrance, she stood by the roadside to hail a taxi—only to realize a problem. She was still wearing a hospital gown. Drivers probably thought she couldn't pay, because none of them stopped.
She couldn't go back, could she?
Li Sheng frowned.
Under a nearby tree, a black luxury car was parked. Inside, a man casually glanced out the window and froze at the sight of her.
The girl's figure was slender; the oversized hospital gown hung loosely, revealing her collarbone and snow-white skin. Her long neck was delicate and elegant. Her face, clean and flawless, glowed under the light. Her dark hair flowed to her waist, fluttering in the wind like a fairy who had wandered into the mortal world.
Most striking were her eyes—bright like glass, filled with cold pride, arrogance, and a quiet defiance.
She looked like a startled swan.
The man's fingers paused. A strange light flickered in his deep, sharp eyes.
Too similar.
Far too similar.
Ji Kaicheng, in the driver's seat, noticed his master's abnormal stare and instinctively followed it. He saw Li Sheng.
He sucked in a breath.
"Young Master… you—you're not looking at that mute girl, right? That's Li Youchang's youngest daughter, Li Sheng. Everyone in Yaozhou knows she has a bad temper, vicious personality, always bullying her adopted sister Jiang Chuchu."
"Li Sheng?" Shen Xiuci repeated softly, his deep voice carrying an unreadable meaning.
Ji Kaicheng was about to continue when Shen Xiuci said calmly:
"Drive over."
…Drive over?
Knowing she had that kind of reputation, why approach her?
Ki Kaicheng was confused, but he dared not disobey.
The luxury car rolled forward and stopped right in front of Li Sheng.
Li Sheng was momentarily stunned as the door opened automatically. In the back seat sat a tall, elegant man.
From the side, he was like a noble pine—straight, proud, untouchably refined. His every movement radiated natural authority.
Like a god descended to earth—admired from afar, never touched.
Li Sheng watched him as he slowly turned his head.
The face revealed was breathtaking.
His features were perfect, sharp yet gentle, and his peach-blossom eyes held a seductive charm that made one's heart tremble. But beneath that softness was a deep, dangerous abyss.
Li Sheng was momentarily stunned by his beauty. She had met countless faces before, but none had ever made her feel this way.
This man was flawless.
Unreal.
But she frowned.
The man's gaze was fixed on her, deep, probing, almost aggressive.
Li Sheng's expression chilled. She met his eyes without fear.
"Have you stared enough?" she asked.
Ji Kaicheng nearly died on the spot.
This mute girl—this troublesome girl—dared talk to the Fifth Young Master like that?!
But the most shocking thing
was…
His Fifth Young Master wasn't angry.
At all.
Shen Xiuci smiled and gestured gently.
"Get in the car. I'll take you."