Chapter 40

Xia Wanyang Is Injured 

In the distance, Li Yu, who was leaning against Li Shanya, turned pale as she watched the scene unfold. Her heart shattered into pieces, and it felt as though all her fantasies had crumbled in an instant. 

Her face, twisted by jealousy, slowly took on an inexplicable and sinister madness. She pushed Li Shanya away, and her tear- and snot-covered face twisted into a grotesque smile, with unmistakable hatred gleaming in her eyes. 

Li Yu picked up a sickle leaning against the vegetable garden and, brandishing it, charged toward Zhang Shiye. 

Zhang Shiye, with his back to Li Yu, was softly coaxing Xia Wanyang. Xia Wanyang, standing in front of him, glanced up and saw the approaching danger. Her body instantly turned cold, her heart raced, and even her breathing halted. 

“Zhang Shiye, if I can’t have you, no one will! Let’s die together!” Li Yu screamed maniacally as she rushed toward him with the sickle raised. 

In that moment, countless images flashed through Xia Wanyang’s mind—Zhang Shiye carrying her out of the psychiatric hospital, the scene of him brutally attacking Li Wenzhuo and Fang Zhaodi for her, and the moment he took his own life at her gravesite. No matter the memory, she knew she would never allow this man to be harmed again in her presence. 

Xia Wanyang shoved Zhang Shiye aside with all her strength just as Li Yu swung the sickle down. 

For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. 

When everyone finally reacted, Xia Wanyang was already lying on the ground. 

“Wanyang—!” Zhang Shiye ran over and knelt beside her. His trembling hands hovered in the air, desperate to touch her but paralyzed with fear, unsure of where to begin. 

Zhou Su and Zhou Yan sprang into action, quickly subduing Li Yu, while Zhang Heping frantically kicked the sickle aside. The others scattered in chaos—some ran outside, some screamed in place, and terrified children wailed loudly. The Li family courtyard descended into utter chaos. 

Li Yu, seeing Xia Wanyang lying in a pool of blood, burst into wild laughter. “Hahaha! If I didn’t hurt you, hitting Xia Wanyang is just as good! Hahaha!” 

Zhang Shiye’s eyes blazed with scorching fury, red as though they might bleed. “I’ll kill you!” he roared. 

His face was dark, his eyes filled with nothing but malice and icy menace. Charging forward, he mercilessly rained punches down on Li Yu. 

Zhang Heping, Qiao Shuyun, the late-arriving Zhang Shifeng and Zhang Shijing, and their second sister-in-law Yuan Hong swarmed to hold him back. “Fourth son, listen to your mother! Right now, the most important thing is to get Xia Zhiqing to the hospital. Let the police handle Li Yu. It’s not worth it!” 

Zhang Shijing wrapped his arms around Zhang Shiye’s waist. “Brother, I’m sorry for everything. Let’s get your fiancée to the hospital first, alright?” 

“Son,” Zhang Heping pleaded desperately, “Xia Zhiqing is fine. I saw it myself—she blocked it with her arm. She’s okay, she’s okay!” He was terrified, having never seen his son like this before. 

Zhang Shiye finally calmed down. “Right, Yanyang. Yanyang! Someone get the tractor. We’re going to the hospital!” 

Zhou Su jumped to his feet and sprinted outside. 

Meanwhile, Li Dafeng and Li Shanya, seeing the Zhang family frantically tending to Xia Wanyang, rushed over to push Zhou Yan away. Li Yu, unrecognizable and covered in blood, had already passed out. 

“My poor daughter! How could you think of doing this?” Li Dafeng wailed, while Li Shanya collapsed to the ground, crying uncontrollably. Li Ling, trembling with fear, hid under the eaves, knowing her fate was sealed—she could never return to the Zhang family now. 

Soon, the tractor arrived. Zhang Shiye cradled Xia Wanyang in his arms as Qiao Shuyun carefully protected her injured arm. 

Before stepping out of the door, Zhang Shiye turned to Zhang Heping and said, “Dad, call the police. Eldest Brother, Third Brother, don’t let Li Yu escape. I want her to rot in jail!” 

“Alright, alright, I’ll handle it!” Zhang Heping assured. 

Zhou Su drove the tractor at top speed. Zhang Shiye, his head bowed, gazed at the girl in his arms. His long fingers, stained with blood, trembled uncontrollably. Overwhelming fear gnawed at his sanity, and tears streamed silently down his face. 

Qiao Shuyun, watching her son’s state, pressed her hands over Xia Wanyang’s wound while tears ran down her cheeks as well. 

Thirty minutes later, the tractor stopped at the entrance of Shen City First Hospital. Zhang Shiye bolted toward the hospital, carrying Xia Wanyang and shouting, “Doctor! Doctor!” 

Hearing the commotion, the on-duty doctor and nurses hurriedly emerged from the station and guided him to bring Xia Wanyang into a room. 

Qiao Shuyun finally released her grip, revealing the shocking wound on Xia Wanyang’s fair forearm—a gaping, twenty-centimeter gash. The raw, crimson flesh and yellowish tissue were nauseating to behold. 

Zhang Shiye stole a glance and quickly looked away, his heart wrenching as though pierced by a thousand needles. The image etched itself into his mind, a grotesque horror that left him overwhelmed by nausea. He couldn’t hold back and began to vomit. 

Seeing this, Qiao Shuyun rushed over to steady him, but he waved her off and strode outside. 

The doctor swiftly poured hydrogen peroxide onto the wound, the solution fizzing and bubbling as it cleaned away the blood and debris. A nurse prepared the stitching tools with precision, lining up the needle, thread, and scissors on a tray. 

Unable to watch, Qiao Shuyun turned away. 

After parking the tractor, Zhou Su wandered aimlessly, searching for Zhang Shiye. Spotting his familiar figure near a ward, he sprinted over. 

“Brother Ye, how’s Xia Zhiqing?” he asked anxiously. 

Zhang Shiye, his face buried in his hands, didn’t respond. His body trembled violently, his blood- and tear-streaked face red and swollen. Zhou Su sighed deeply. “Brother Ye, Xia Zhiqing will be fine…” 

Zhang Shiye’s voice rasped as if cut by blades. “Yes, she’ll be fine.” 

While Zhou Su comforted him, the doctor worked tirelessly to sew the wound shut. After finishing the last stitch, the doctor reassured Qiao Shuyun, “She’s fine now. She fainted due to shock, pain, and blood loss. She’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few days. Later, get some blood donors; she’ll need a transfusion. After the stitches are removed, she can be discharged. The nurse will give her a tetanus shot soon. Please prepare for that.” 

The doctor left, and Qiao Shuyun walked him out, thanking him profusely. 

Zhang Shiye and Zhou Su stood up hurriedly as the doctor exited. Zhang Shiye swayed unsteadily after crouching for so long and nearly collapsed, but Zhou Su caught him just in time. 

As soon as he steadied himself, Zhang Shiye anxiously asked, “Doctor, how is she?” 

The doctor smiled warmly, repeating the information he’d shared earlier. Then, with a playful grin, he added, “Young man, scared of blood? You even vomited after seeing the wound?” 

Zhou Su interjected in disbelief, “No way! Brother Ye once killed a wild boar with three slashes without batting an eye. How could he get sick from this?” 

The doctor chuckled and shook his head before walking away. 

Zhang Shiye entered the ward. Under the stark white light, Xia Wanyang’s already pale face looked even more bloodless, her lips tinged with a sickly bluish-gray. His body tense, he strode to her bedside, gently took her uninjured hand, and pressed a tender kiss on her fingers. 

No one knew how he endured that hour. The emotions coursing through him—fear, guilt, anger, helplessness—were feelings only he could truly understand. 

Three minutes later, he turned to Aunt Qiao and said, “Mom, can you and Zhou Su head back for a bit? Bring the iron box from under my bed. Then go to the Zhiqing dormitory and pack up Wanyang’s things—bring a couple of changes of clothes and her toiletries. She likes to stay clean. Also, buy a few new bed sheets and bring them along.” 

“Alright, alright. Mom will go right away. I’ll stay here the next few days to take care of her, and I’ll bring meals too. Shiye, don’t be too upset—Wanyang still needs you to take care of her!” 

Zhang Shiye turned away, remaining silent.