ASFSODS 54

It had all happened far too suddenly. The man in a sharp suit, caught by the ankle by a girl, wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He turned his head and glanced down at the man sitting in a wheelchair beside him. “Mr. Huo?”

Huo Yanting’s expression was cold. He looked at the girl who might have inspired pity in others, but only glanced away lightly, wheeling himself aside. He pulled out his phone and made a call, but after several rings, no one picked up.

The man with glasses glanced at Huo Yanting, then helped Qin Yiqing to her feet. His ears twitched slightly, and he turned his head to see a girl running toward them. After a moment’s thought, he asked politely, “Is she your friend?”

Sang Sang ignored him, her gaze locked tightly on Qin Yiqing, her voice trembling in a way that was barely noticeable. “What did you just say?”

Qin Yiqing’s throat seemed blocked by something. She drew a sharp breath. “Save Wen Chi—he’s in the private room…”

The moment the words left her mouth, Sang Sang spun around and bolted upstairs. She didn’t wait for the elevator and nearly ran into someone at the second-floor corner, but she didn’t care.

When she reached the third floor, the hallway outside the Meizhu private room was crowded with people. Sang Sang’s pupils widened. She rushed forward, somehow finding the strength to push through and squeeze inside.

She saw a scene she might never forget for the rest of her life.

Several men were sprawled across the floor, and Wen Chi, the one she had been so worried about, was being held in Jiang Siheng’s arms. Jiang Siheng was murmuring something quietly to him.

“Chi Ge…” Sang Sang stepped into the room, stumbling slightly when she kicked something, but she didn’t notice. She hurried over to them.

Wen Chi, who had had his eyes closed, seemed to hear her voice. His eyelids twitched, and with difficulty, he opened them. When he saw Sang Sang in front of him, he gave a faint smile. “Sang Sang.” 

Only now did Sang Sang realize how bad his condition was. The usually fair, handsome face was bruised, a small cut on his left temple with blood already clotted, and his lip split. His gray hoodie was stained with blood.

Why is it like this again… In less than two months, Wen Chi had been injured more times than before.

“It’s fine, don’t cry.” Wen Chi tried to raise a hand to wipe away her tears, but as soon as he moved, the arm holding him tightened slightly.

Jiang Siheng lowered his gaze to meet Wen Chi’s eyes without speaking.

Though Jiang Siheng said nothing, Wen Chi understood. He immediately shut his eyes, tilted his head against the man’s shoulder, and murmured, “So tired.”

Jiang Siheng’s tone was unreadable. “One against six would tire anyone out.”

Wen Chi: “…”

Sang Sang: “…”

“Make way, make way.” The chubby guy squeezed in easily with his large frame. He glanced at Sang Sang in surprise, then told Jiang Siheng, “The girl’s already been taken to the hospital. Oh, and Jiang Ge, I saw Mr. Huo downstairs in the lobby.”

“Who?”

“Mr. Huo—Huo Yanting.”

Jiang Siheng gave a soft acknowledgement. When the onlookers saw him carrying Wen Chi out, they unconsciously stepped aside to let them pass.

Qin Xiyu glanced inside first, then told Jiang Siheng, “Take him to the hospital. I’ll wrap things up here for you.”

“Thanks.” Jiang Siheng had Xiao Pang drape his trench coat over Wen Chi, then carried him downstairs.

Wen Chi drifted in and out of consciousness. He vaguely realized he was being placed in a car, but the feel beneath him wasn’t quite like a leather seat.

In the passenger seat, Sang Sang kept her head down, typing out everything that had happened tonight to Jin Ge. How he planned to handle it wasn’t something she needed to know right now.

Jiang Siheng sat in the back, holding Wen Chi. Despite being 1.8 meters tall, Wen Chi seemed small in his arms.

Jiang Siheng turned his gaze to the window, but the dazzling lights outside did nothing to calm the unease in his chest. Heaven knew that when he saw Wen Chi fighting five or six men alone, his heart nearly gave out.

“It hurts…”

The boy in his arms murmured, shifting restlessly. Jiang Siheng pulled his gaze back to Wen Chi. “What is it?” he asked softly.

“It hurts so much…”

Jiang Siheng frowned, first checking whether he had accidentally pressed on Wen Chi’s wounds. When he found he hadn’t, he leaned in slightly. “Where does it hurt?”

“My head… it really hurts…” Wen Chi gripped his shirt tightly, pain radiating from the back of his head. His voice carried a sob. “Teacher Jiang… my head hurts…”

Jiang Siheng told Xiao Pang to turn on the overhead light. Sang Sang looked back, worried. “What’s wrong?”

Gently, Jiang Siheng cupped Wen Chi’s face, inspecting him carefully. When his hand brushed the back of Wen Chi’s head, the boy’s leg jerked and his face twisted in pain. That was when Jiang Siheng noticed the wound there, hidden by thick hair, the darkened blood blending with its color. It was something he hadn’t spotted back in the room.

“It hurts…” The stabbing pain was worsening, and Wen Chi almost lifted a hand to hit his own head. He did.

“Hey, don’t.” Jiang Siheng pinned his hands to his chest, keeping him from striking himself. “It’s okay. It’ll stop hurting soon.”

Xiao Pang sped to the hospital. As soon as they arrived, doctors came out with a gurney, clearly having been called in advance.

Jiang Siheng laid Wen Chi down and watched as they pushed him toward the examination room. Xiao Pang’s eyes shifted to Jiang Siheng’s shoulder, and he gasped. “Jiang Ge, you’re hurt too?”

Jiang Siheng followed his gaze to the patch of blood on his shoulder. His eyes darkened. “It’s not mine.”

Sang Sang sat on the bench nearby, waiting. Every now and then she glanced at her phone, but Jin Ge seemed busy with something. Over ten minutes had passed and he still hadn’t replied.

A pair of shoes suddenly entered her line of sight. She looked up to see Jiang Siheng standing in front of her.

“Tell me what happened tonight.” His tone was cool, nothing like the man in the car earlier who had spoken gently to comfort Wen Chi.

Under the weight of his indifferent gaze, Sang Sang swallowed and began recounting everything from the moment her company boss had asked Wen Chi to go for an audition, leaving nothing out.

“Who did you say the director was?” Xiao Pang couldn’t help cutting in.

Sang Sang: “Chen Han and Feng Shengcheng.”

“Holy crap, aren’t those two—” Xiao Pang stopped mid-sentence and glanced at Jiang Siheng.

“Is there something wrong with them?” Sang Sang was puzzled. “Back then, when the boss went straight to Chi Ge and told him about the audition, he didn’t agree right away. After he told Jin Ge, Jin Ge soon had him accept it.”

Jiang closed his eyes briefly and said nothing.

Xiao Pang glanced at him. Seeing the frosty look on his face, he knew Jiang Siheng didn’t want to speak, so he took it upon himself to explain to Sang Sang. “Chen Han and Feng Shengcheng are the worst predators in the entertainment industry when it comes to exploiting newcomers, but they hide it really well. The people they’ve bullied, whether male or female artists, never dare say a word. And yeah, you heard me right, both men and women. Chen Han swings both ways.”

“But then why would Jin Ge still have Chi Ge agree to the audition?” Sang Sang couldn’t wrap her head around it. Wasn’t that just sending him into the tiger’s den? She didn’t believe Jin Ge would knowingly let that happen—he genuinely treated Wen Chi well.

Xiao Pang scratched his head and guessed, “Not many people know about their dirty habits. Maybe your agent didn’t know either? From where you guys stand, Chen Han and Feng Shengcheng are just famous directors and producers in the industry.”

If he hadn’t been around Jiang Siheng and learned all the filth behind the scenes, Xiao Pang would have thought the same.

Sang Sang asked again, “Are they really that powerful in the industry?”

“It’s not them who have the power, it’s the people behind them.”

Listening to the two of them talk, Jiang Siheng called Zhou Ge. What had happened tonight probably couldn’t be kept in silence, but he wanted Zhou Ge to pull the trending topic if possible, or at least suppress it.

In another city, Zhou Ge—who was on vacation—hadn’t expected that taking a single day off would mean Jiang Siheng running into something this serious. On the phone, Jiang Siheng downplayed it with just a few words, then hung up before Zhou Ge could protest or ask questions.

Zhou Ge: …Am I managing a celebrity, or an ancestor?

After hanging up, Jiang Siheng noticed that Huo Yanting had called him over ten minutes ago. He glanced at the closed door of the examination room, then stepped aside and called back.

“Hello?”

There was a few seconds of silence, and then a low, cold voice came through. “Are you at the hospital?”

“You sent Xiao Pang here?”

Huo Yanting chuckled softly. “Mm, this way’s faster, isn’t it?”

“Thanks.”

Jiang Siheng didn’t exchange many words with Huo Yanting before hanging up. The head of the Huo family was known for his cold and sinister temperament. He probably agreed to arrange the hospital matters because their families had been close for generations and had known each other since childhood.

Not long after, the door to the examination room opened. The young man was pushed out on a hospital bed, eyes closed, face pale, and a bandage wrapped around his head.

Seeing the three people quickly gather around, the doctor thought for a moment, then turned to the tallest one among them, whose bearing was distinctly different, Jiang Siheng, and said, “The patient’s fine, just some surface injuries. But the wound on the back of his head needs attention. Keep it dry for the next few days, stick to light food, and come back in three days to have the dressing changed.”

After thanking the doctor, they headed to the ward. Thanks likely to Huo Yanting’s arrangements, Wen Chi was given a VIP single room. It was clean, warm, and far from the cold sterility of the regular wards.

Sang Sang glanced at Jiang Siheng, who was sitting by the bed watching Wen Chi, and at Xiao Pang, who was standing to the side. “Teacher Jiang, Xiao Pang, sorry for troubling you both tonight. Thank you.”

Xiao Pang snorted. “With our relationship, no need to talk about trouble.”

The tension Sang Sang had been carrying all night finally eased, and she smiled. “Still, I should thank you. Teacher Jiang, you should go back and rest. I’ll take care of Chi Ge.”

Jiang Siheng, who had barely spoken until now, lifted his gaze to her. “How will you take care of him?”

H-how? Sang Sang was a little taken aback. “Just… normal care.”

Xiao Pang glanced over and, seeing that this “great Buddha” watching his wife had no intention of moving, sighed. “You’re a girl and taking care of a guy isn’t exactly convenient. What if Teacher Wen needs to use the bathroom or something?”

Sang Sang realized it too and flushed. “Then… then…”

“Leave it to my Jiang Ge to take care of Teacher Wen,” Xiao Pang said with a grin.

“Ah? Having Teacher Jiang do it seems a bit… huh?”

Xiao Pang spun her around and gently pushed her toward the door. “You’re tired too—go back and rest. Sleep in tomorrow, then bring Teacher Wen a change of clothes and toiletries. Oh, right, which hotel are you staying at? I’ll drive you back…”

His voice trailed off, growing fainter until it disappeared entirely.

Jiang Siheng got up and closed the door, shutting out the sounds from outside. When he turned back, he saw Wen Chi, who had just had his eyes closed, was now looking at him, bright-eyed.