Chapter 235: Disciplined
Afterward, the two brothers left to deal with Mu Ting, leaving Zhao Lifei and the forgotten Bai Xingyao in the room.
Zhao Lifei awkwardly scratched her head and turned to the doctor. "I'm sorry you had to see that."
Bai Xingyao was on cloud nine, her eyes wide with admiration for Zhao Lifei. She had a frail and tiny body frame where a strong wind could knock her off her feet, but the air around her and the way she commanded the presence of one of the fiercest men in this country was overwhelmingly amazing.
"No...Not at all." She breathed out as she gained a profound new respect for the young woman. She walked to her, clasping her hands over Zhao Lifei, "I should've said this earlier, but my husband actually works for President Yang as his private secretary. I'm sure you know of him by now, his name is Chen Gaonan."
Zhao Lifei was surprised by this sudden news. She did not expect such a charismatic and beautiful woman to be the wife of the grouchy Chen Gaonan.
"My husband has caused you a lot of problems and for that, I apologize. But do not worry, I thoroughly disciplined him for it." She waved her hand and eagerly said, "I think we would make a great team in tormenting our lovers. Don't you think so? They deserve to be knocked down a few notches sometimes."
She amicably laughed. Her husband needed to get off his high-horse and so did President Yang who had the audacity to refuse Zhao Lifei's request.
Zhao Lifei smiled, "I believe you have yourself a comrade in battle." She said while offering a hand to Bai Xingyao who easily took it and gave a firm handshake.
- - - - -
Before Bai Xingyao left to answer another patient's call on the other side of the hospital, the two shared contacts and promised to stay in touch.
Zhao Lifei made her way to Yang Ruqin who still hadn't woken up yet. She pulled a chair beside the sleeping woman and quietly sat down. She gingerly brushed strands of hair away from Yang Ruqin's face.
"Oh, Qinqin..." She whispered, "How much have you suffered in one night?" Her voice cracked towards the end when she envisioned the brutality that unfairly fell on her shoulders.
Zhao Lifei pulled the blanket higher so that it covered all the way to her chin as guilt swarmed her. She was the one who gave Ruqin the advice to fight back. Seeing the result of it, Zhao Lifei could not help but feel a sense of responsibility for what had happened.
She did not know how long she was in this room for, patiently waiting for Yang Ruqin to wake up. When the nurses came in to check every few hours, she would always ask about her condition, even though only a short span of time had passed.
Her heart would not settle until Yang Ruqin was awake, so she waited, and waited, until the sunset in the east, making way for the moon. Even when the stars came out to play, lighting up the benevolent skies, she still stayed by the hospital bed.
Eventually, sleep and fatigue had taken a toll on her body and despite her fight to stay awake, Zhao Lifei's eyelids finally closed. Soon, she was slumped on the edge of the bed, one hand holding Yang Ruqin's while the other was settled on the blanket.
At night, the only sounds that could be heard in the hospital were the beeping of the machines, the janitors cleaning up the hallways, and the tiny chatter of the nurses downstairs, a pair of authoritative footsteps could be heard approaching the hospital room.
Yang Mujian strolled down the hallway with his people in tow. His most-trusted subordinate, Jing Caoxiao accompanied him a few steps behind, like the rest of his people.
When he had received word of what happened to his precious granddaughter, he wanted to rush here as soon as possible, but he had a very busy day and could not come until late at night when all of his work was completed.
He stopped in front of the door, cane in hand. Jing Caoxiao opened the door for him, stepping inside to properly do it, and ensuring there was no visible threat. It was dark in this room, something Yang Mujian noted, but the lights from the hallway were enough to illuminate a small path leading towards the hospital bed.
His eyes fell upon a young woman, asleep, with her head tucked in her arms. She was visibly off-guard.
He took a step into the room, his cane making the slightest thud on the ground from how quiet the room was, except for the occasional beeps.
"Master, I have checked the hospital logs, it seems this person has not checked out ever since she brought Young Miss into the hospital." Jing Caoxiao commented.
Yang Mujian's face shifted, his glum expression becoming a bit softer. "How long has it been since?"
"Ten hours."
Yang Mujian arched his bushy, grey and white brow. That was quite a long time.
He strolled towards the hospital bed and when he saw who it was, he was slightly surprised. He had wondered who exactly had badly beaten the perpetrator bloody, tied him up, and delivered him to the police like an expertly-wrapped present. He wanted to know who it was that saved his granddaughter but he did not expect that it would be Zhao Lifei.
"Interesting, very interesting." He muttered to no one in particular.
He hated to admit it, but he was very grateful towards this woman. If it was not for her, only heaven knows how much more his granddaughter would have had to suffer. If it was not for Zhao Lifei, his granddaughter might not have even made it out alive.
Yang Ruqin was always a defenseless child, too kind by heart and nature to physically hurt someone. It was one of his biggest regrets in his life that he did not teach her any form of self-defense. He never thought that she would need it. His eldest son was not exposed to the dangers of the Underworld and also believed the mere bodyguards they placed around her was enough.
Yang Mujian could see why his eldest grandson believed this woman to be competent enough to stand by his side. It seemed her fighting skills were as superior as the reports had said. Funny enough, Mu Ting was actually a very reputable fighter trained by the Su family a long time ago and was one of their star pupils. For her to had pummeled his face and break his arm, it was not an easy accomplishment.
"Where are my grandsons as we speak?"
"Answering your question, both first and second Young Master are still in the Underworld's black room. They have not left since."
The edge of Yang Mujian's lips curved upwards the tiniest bit, a smile so small, one would have to look closely to even see it. "The same for my eldest?"
"Yes, sir."
Yang Mujian let out a laughter, emotionless and detached. It seemed this grandson of his truly did not care for the young woman. If he was as smitten by her as Su Meixiu claimed, he would've not left her in the hospital by herself in the dead of the night.
Yang Mujian was prepared to turn back and leave, now that he had seen Yang Ruqin was alright. His grandfatherly instincts, however, saw that her blanket had slipped to her chest, revealing her neck. He handed his cane to Jing Caoxiao who respectfully took it with two hands.
Yang Mujian took a step closer, leaned down and placed his hands on the blanket when something roughly snatched his hand, gripping tightly onto it.
"Who are you?" Zhao Lifei snarled whilst her eyes tried to become familiar with the darkness. She was deep asleep until she felt a presence reach out to touch Yang Ruqin and that alone was enough to shake her awake.
Yang Mujian was bewildered by her sharp instincts. Was she awake the entire time? No, that was not possible. He was sure of it.
"Do I need your permission to tuck my granddaughter into bed?" His deep, powerful voice was like the rumble of thunder to Zhao Lifei whose entire body became tense as a rock.
She released his hand as if she was burned by it. Her body shot out of the chair, abruptly standing up and nearly tumbling over the cable wires beside the bed. "Good evening, Elder Yang." She greeted, bowing her head the slightest bit.
Yang Mujian was entertained by her reaction that resembled a frantic tomcat. "Why are you so frightened by me, child?" His delivery was gentle, like that of a doting grandfather, but Zhao Lifei saw past his facade.
"Elder Yang, I was not frightened by your presence. I was merely surprised to see you. I apologize for rudely grabbing you. I mistook you as someone that would hurt Ruqin."
Yang Mujian analyzed her expression. Even though it was quite dark in the room, he could see her face perfectly. Bright amber eyes that seemed to glow like the stars in a canvas of black, they were crystal clear. They were pure, like the spring waters that ran deep in the mountains of Hedong. It was the first time in a while that he had seen eyes like hers, so definite, and filled with good intentions.