Cheng Ji had once wondered how long it would take Qi Beisong to track him down through Ms. Cheng. He initially thought it would take a day, but it turned out to be only a few hours.

Qi Beisong arrived with a bodyguard in tow. Both of them were over 1.8 meters tall, dressed in trench coats and black pants, exuding an intimidating aura. They didn’t look like they were here to seek medical attention or visit a patient but more like they were out for revenge.

The crowd waiting for the elevator instinctively kept their distance, afraid of provoking them and being unable to escape the consequences.

Qi Beisong wore sunglasses, and his handsome face drew subtle glances from passersby. However, the comical bandage around his neck and the visible injuries at the corner of his mouth slightly marred his appearance.

Hiding in the back of the crowd, Cheng Ji found the scene curious. He thought to himself, I didn’t hit him that hard last night, did I? It wasn’t until later that he remembered striking Qi Beisong’s throat during the fight. A night must have passed, and now it was swollen.

Clutching his own injured left chest, Cheng Ji sighed to himself, We’re both in bad shape. Neither of us should mock the other. His swelling might let him visit the surgery department, but I… I have to go to gynecology.

By the way, this guy clearly lacked basic medical knowledge. The breast department isn’t gynecology—it’s part of surgery. He didn’t even qualify for gynecology.

Cheng Ji wasn’t stupid. He knew better than to confront them head-on. Without hesitation, he turned and slipped away, blending into the hospital’s busy crowd. His unremarkable, makeup-free appearance made it impossible for Qi Beisong or his bodyguard to notice him.

He quickly moved toward the hospital entrance, mentally calculating escape plans.

If it were just him, he could think of dozens of ways to get away. Unfortunately, none of them allowed him to take Ms. Cheng with him. How could he ensure her safety without abandoning her while still preserving his own life?

At the hospital entrance, Cheng Ji spotted Qi Beisong’s car—a black Bentley.

He was certain it belonged to Qi Beisong for three reasons. First, it was illegally parked right under a prominent No Parking sign, arrogantly flaunting its presence. Second, while the license plate didn’t feature an “8,” it did have a series of consecutive “9s,” fitting Qi Beisong’s flashy personality. Lastly, another bodyguard was sitting in the driver’s seat, casually smoking with the window rolled down.

Cheng Ji didn’t know this bodyguard’s name was Wang Beifeng, someone who would later become one of his closest friends, always calling him “Cheng’er.” At that moment, Cheng Ji simply thought this burly man deserved a good lesson, just like his trashy boss—a solid beating would do them both some good.

Wang Beifeng didn’t recognize Cheng Ji. Even if they had crossed paths the previous night, the heavily made-up Cheng Ji from then was unrecognizable compared to his current fresh-faced appearance. Wang Beifeng’s gaze briefly skimmed over him before returning to the outpatient building.

Cheng Ji stared at him for a few seconds and was about to walk away when something caught his eye.

The rear window of the Bentley was tinted, making it impossible to see inside, but the front windshield wasn’t. Through it, Cheng Ji spotted someone in the back seat.

Who else could it be but Shen Zimo?

Cheng Ji’s temper flared instantly. Biting his lip, he thought, How could you get caught so quickly? I have a critically ill mother in the hospital tying me down—what’s your excuse for not running further away?

Then it hit him. No wonder Qi Beisong didn’t show up at the hospital until after 8:00 AM—he must have been dealing with Shen Zimo first. Shen Zimo was a college student with a simple background, easily traceable and straightforward to capture.

Cheng Ji rubbed his temples in frustration.

Shen Zimo was right there. Should he rescue him or not?

Sigh, of course, he had to. If Shen Zimo was taken back, the plot would revert to the old routine, and he’d still end up being subjected to Qi Beisong’s whatever.

But he needed a plan—something big, something so disruptive that Qi Beisong’s criminal group wouldn’t be able to handle it.

The hospital entrance was bustling with people coming and going. Across the street, a young man, about twenty years old, was discreetly taking pictures of Qi Beisong’s Bentley. The car was rare and expensive, yet understated compared to the garish sports cars. The young man seemed to have some taste.

Cheng Ji approached him with a smile.

The young man stared at him.

Cheng Ji said, “I left my phone at home when I went out. Could I borrow yours to call my mom?”

Borrowing a phone was a common scam tactic, so the young man hesitated. Cheng Ji quickly added, “You can hold onto my hand while I call. I won’t run off, and I’ll return it as soon as I’m done.”

The young man wasn’t actually hesitating—he was stunned.

From every angle, Cheng Ji was an exceptionally attractive man. And now, his previously gloomy demeanor was completely gone, replaced by a radiant smile.

“Or you can hold my arm with your sleeve, if you’re worried,” Cheng Ji continued, “or grab my shirt?”

The young man finally spoke. “Not the arm. Not the shirt.”

Before Cheng Ji could react, the young man clasped his hand tightly, their fingers interlocked. The sheer bliss of the moment was palpable.

“…”

The young man, clearly smitten, handed over his phone. “Here, use it.”

Cheng Ji thanked him and turned away to make the call. Naturally, it wasn’t to Ms. Cheng—it was to the police.

He had considered several reasons to call but felt none would solve the issue. Should he report illegal parking? Surveillance? Or directly claim someone was being kidnapped?

No.

He vaguely understood Qi Beisong’s influence. Those minor complaints wouldn’t be enough to get him detained. The police might come, take one look at the “distinguished gentleman,” and simply leave.

So instead, he reported, “I suspect there’s an explosive device hidden in a black Bentley parked in front of the Fourth People’s Hospital. There are many civilians nearby.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie—gasoline could technically be considered an explosive.

He knew this call would trigger the highest level of alert. Anti-terrorism, rapid response, and bomb disposal teams would undoubtedly be dispatched—unless such teams didn’t exist in this world. Though he felt slightly guilty about wasting their time, at least he’d be saving Shen Zimo. It wasn’t a fruitless effort.

After hanging up, he returned the phone. The young man took it but didn’t let go of his hand.

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Ji asked.

The “face-lover” snapped back to reality and reluctantly released his hand. “Your hand’s injured.”

“It’s nothing, just a small scrape,” Cheng Ji replied.

He studied the young man for a few seconds and said, “Let me treat you to a bubble tea.”

“Why?” The young man’s heart pounded.

Cheng Ji thought, Because you’ll probably be questioned by the police until late tonight. While they won’t let you go hungry, I’d like to at least buy you a drink to tide you over.

The young man asked, “What are you planning to do to me?”

“Nothing,” Cheng Ji replied.

The young man hinted, Then hurry up and do something!

Cheng Ji scratched his head in confusion.

The young man hinted again, If you’re going to make a move, just do it already. Don’t hold back.

Cheng Ji thought, What’s with all the winking and nudging? I’ve been out of commission for over half a year and clearly can’t keep up with today’s trends.

“What flavor do you want?” Cheng Ji asked.

“Anything’s fine,” the young man said. “Whatever you like.”

“It’s for you,” Cheng Ji clarified.

The young man insisted, “Whatever you like is fine.”

Cheng Ji rubbed his nose, perplexed. I really don’t understand young people these days.

Finally, the young man left reluctantly, clutching his bubble tea. Cheng Ji melted into the crowd, checking his watch and waiting.

How long would it take them to arrive?

Ten minutes, no more than fifteen. The local police would be the first on the scene, followed by specialized response teams and tactical units.

By then, Qi Beisong would probably still be stuck upstairs in the inpatient building. It was visiting hours, and the elevators were packed. Whether going up or down, he’d have to wait a long time, especially since they were searching for someone.

Cheng Ji’s gamble paid off. Including the time it took to buy bubble tea, just over ten minutes had passed when he heard sirens in the distance.

Bodyguard Wang Beifeng clearly heard them too. He rolled up the car window and opened the door, half-standing to look around.

Just as he left his seat, leaving the door ajar, Cheng Ji, who had been waiting for this moment, launched into action. He leaped forward, kicked Wang Beifeng aside, and slid into the car, locking the doors in one smooth motion.

Wang Beifeng recovered quickly, shouting loudly.

Cheng Ji shifted into gear and stepped on the gas to reverse.

He didn’t drive fast since there were still people behind the car, but even this speed was enough to make Wang Beifeng furious.

With one hand on the wheel, Cheng Ji alternated between checking the rearview and side mirrors. When he was about twenty meters away from Wang Beifeng, he suddenly switched to drive, turned the wheel, and maneuvered around him, heading toward the other side of the hospital.

In the backseat, Shen Zimo was so shocked that it took him over ten seconds to let out a startled, “Ah!”

Cheng Ji glanced back at him with a mix of annoyance and exasperation.

Shen Zimo didn’t recognize him at first. “Who—who are you?”

“I’m your dad,” Cheng Ji snapped. “No, wait—you’re my dad. I fought so hard to stay alive, only to keep cleaning up your messes.”

Shen Zimo finally caught on, recognizing his voice. “Ah, it’s you! I didn’t recognize you—you look completely different from last night.”

“That’s because I was wearing my work outfit last night,” Cheng Ji retorted. “At least you remember me. Didn’t I tell you to run as far as you could?”

Shen Zimo stammered in defense, “I-I was trying to, but—but I just went back to my dorm to pack. I didn’t even make it out of the campus gates before they caught me!”

Cheng Ji said, “You’ve never tried escaping for your life before, have you? At a time like this, what are you doing packing your stuff? For the sake of me risking my life twice to save your ass, can you please do me a favor and really run far this time, alright, kid?”

“I… I…”

Cheng Ji asked, “Were you just stuck because the car doors were locked?”

Shen Zimo froze. “Ah, yes, I couldn’t open the door from the inside.”

“They’re unlocked now. Get ready to get out,” Cheng Ji said.

“Ah, aren’t we driving this car to escape?”

Cheng Ji replied, “Are you stupid? This car belongs to that bastard Qi. It’s basically a giant target. Besides, I’ve been back less than a day and have already broken who knows how many laws. I really can’t add grand theft auto to the list. Do you even know how much this car is worth?”

“How much?” Shen Zimo asked.

Cheng Ji did a quick calculation and said, “Enough to buy twenty of you and fifteen of me.”

He turned to look at Shen Zimo and asked, “Did you bring any luggage?”

“Yeah,” Shen Zimo replied, carrying a backpack.

“Is it heavy?”

“No, just a few changes of clothes. I was planning to hide out at a high school friend’s place for a few days.”

“Alright,” Cheng Ji said. “See the west corner gate of the hospital? There are a lot of people there. I’ll park over there, and we’ll both run into the crowd together.”

Shen Zimo nodded.

Cheng Ji checked the rearview mirror. While there was no sign of Wang Beifeng, he was sure the man was still chasing them.

“Get ready.”

“Go!”

Cheng Ji shifted gears, turned off the engine, pushed open the car door, and bolted to the side.

Shen Zimo followed closely, and the two regrouped before disappearing into the back alleys.