Ji Chenai and Zhou Leling followed the sound of the commotion and quickly located the elderly man’s hospital room.

However, by the time they arrived, the room was already packed with people.

The middle-aged man who had been driving the Audi stood by the hospital bed, looking utterly grief-stricken—any outsider would have thought he was the one who had suffered a grave injustice.

Beside him, a young woman sobbed softly, dabbing at her eyes as she spoke to him. “Brother Zheng, I told you before—you’re too kind-hearted. And now look where it got you… Wuu wuu wuu…”

The elderly man, who had been wearing a scowl from the moment they entered, snapped at her words, his anger boiling over. “What nonsense are you spouting, young lady?! Kind-hearted?! He’s the one who hit me with his car, and now you want to paint him as some saint?! And I’m the one without a conscience? If anyone here has no conscience, then may their whole family get hit by a car, how about that?!”

The moment those words left his mouth, the middle-aged woman sitting silently by his side could no longer hold back. She reached out, anxiously patting his arm.

“Dad, please, don’t get yourself so worked up! Just say less, alright? Just say less…”

The old man knew exactly what his daughter meant. He snapped, “Are you seriously choosing to believe him over me? Let me tell you right now—there’s no way I’m letting this slide. If you won’t admit the truth, we’ll settle this in court!”

At the mention of court, a flash of triumph flickered in the man’s eyes, though he quickly replaced it with a pained, sorrowful expression. “Sir, why take things this far? I helped you up—there were no witnesses. If I really wanted to scam you, would I have given you the chance?”

The old man spat on the floor. “Don’t think I don’t know there was a passerby who saw everything!”

The middle-aged man scoffed. “China’s a big place—where do you plan to find this so-called witness? If they could be found, don’t you think I’d have tracked them down by now?”

Hearing this, Ji Chenai’s mind started working. He realized that revealing himself now wouldn’t necessarily help the old man’s case. The man had already painted himself as the victim in the eyes of the public, and stepping forward too soon might only make things worse.

Lowering his voice, he turned to Zhou Leling, who was practically grinding her teeth in anger. “Let’s step outside for now. We’ll wait until he leaves, then go in.”

Zhou Leling was taken aback. “But… but aren’t we here to help?”

Ji Chenai nodded. “We are, but not like this. Trust me—we need to wait before going in.”

Though confused, Zhou Leling saw the certainty in Ji Chenai’s expression. Reluctantly, she followed his lead and found a quiet corner to sit in.

She huffed. “Brother Qin, that guy is unbelievable! He hit someone with his car and still has the nerve to play the victim!”

Ji Chenai sighed. “Leling, if you saw a news story about someone helping an elderly person and getting falsely accused, who would you believe—the accused or the elderly person?”

Zhou Leling answered without hesitation. “Obviously the one being falsely accused… Oh.”

Ji Chenai nodded. “That’s exactly what he’s counting on. Either way, he has to pay compensation—if he admits to hitting the old man, he gets condemned. If he plays the victim, people sympathize with him.”

Zhou Leling scowled. “So what, we just let him get away with it?”

Ji Chenai chuckled. “If I planned on letting him off the hook, why do you think I came here today?”

As they spoke, Xiao Qi suddenly chimed in, letting Ji Chenai know that the man had finally left—but now, the old man and his daughter had started arguing again.

Ji Chenai motioned for Zhou Leling to follow him. As they approached the hospital room, they could already hear the daughter’s hesitant voice.

“Dad… are you absolutely sure he hit you? If this is just a misunderstanding, we’d be wrongfully accusing a good person.”

The old man snapped, “Are you going to believe an outsider over your own father?!”

His daughter hesitated before sighing. “Dad, it’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just… sigh.”

At that moment, Ji Chenai lightly knocked on the door. “Excuse me.”

“Who is it?” The daughter walked over and opened the door. Seeing two unfamiliar faces, she looked puzzled. “Who are you looking for?”

Ji Chenai replied, “Uh… sorry to intrude. I saw the news about this incident.”

Her expression stiffened with discomfort, but she forced a smile. “Oh? And…?”

Ji Chenai said calmly, “I was there that day. I saw everything.”

The daughter’s eyes widened in surprise.

Ji Chenai continued, “I saw that man knock the old gentleman down with his car.”

The awkwardness on her face immediately turned to anger. She ushered Ji Chenai and Zhou Leling into the hospital room, quickly introducing everyone.

That was when Ji Chenai learned the old man’s name—Yu Zhixue, a recently retired university professor. His daughter, Yu Ruhui, had rushed back from another city as soon as she heard about his injury.

Having dedicated his entire life to teaching, Yu Zhixue was furious that, even at seventy, he had to endure such injustice. But what hurt him the most wasn’t just the false accusation—it was the fact that people around him, even his own daughter, doubted him.

In truth, Yu Ruhui couldn’t entirely be blamed. Ever since Yu Zhixue retired, he had shown early signs of dementia, often forgetting things from one moment to the next. Seeing that middle-aged man named Zheng, speak so confidently, she had naturally felt uncertain. But at the same time, her father was adamant that he had been hit by the car, refusing any chance of reconciliation.

With no possibility of settling the matter privately, the only option left was to take it to court. Just as Yu Ruhui was stressing over this, Ji Chenai showed up at their door.

After hearing Ji Chenai’s detailed account of what had happened that day, Yu Ruhui was furious. At first, she had felt guilty toward that Zheng, believing they might have wrongly accused him. But now… she was so enraged her face turned pale.

Mr. Zheng himself likely never imagined that the very witness to his crime would be so proactive—showing up without even being sought out. It was practically unheard of in today’s world, where most people avoided trouble at all costs. Who would willingly walk into a mess like this?

Seeing his witness arrive, Yu Zhixue was overjoyed. He grumbled and vented his grievances to Ji Chenai for quite some time. It wasn’t until night began to fall that he finally let him leave, but not before warmly inviting him to visit again whenever he had time.

Before heading out, Ji Chenai shared his thoughts with Yu Ruhui.

She looked surprised. “You’re saying… we should let him take this to court?”

Ji Chenai nodded. “Exactly. Not only should this go to court, but it should be public. The more media coverage, the better.”

Yu Ruhui hesitated. “That could work, but… we only have one witness.”

Ji Chenai smiled. “One witness is enough. There were no security cameras and no dashcam footage. That means the entire case rests on his word alone. People believe him because this kind of thing has happened too often before. But now, we have a chance to change that narrative.”

Yu Ruhui looked a little embarrassed. She should have trusted her father, but that Zheng had spoken with such confidence, sounding so wronged, that even she couldn’t help but waver.

She sighed and said, “Young man, could you leave me your phone number? That way, we can stay in touch if anything comes up.”

Ji Chenai nodded and gave her his number.

As she wrote it down, she sighed again. “It’s rare to meet someone as kind-hearted as you these days. Some people… their hearts have truly gone bad.”

Ji Chenai asked, “What’s that man’s full name?”

“Zheng Jiguo,” Yu Ruhui replied. “At first, I thought he was a good person. My father was so rude to him, yet he still ran around helping him. Who would’ve thought…”

“Find a lawyer first,” Ji Chenai advised. “Once the court date is set, let me know. And if anything else comes up, don’t hesitate to call me.”

Yu Ruhui nodded. “Alright. Really, thank you so much.”

Ji Chenai gave a small nod and was about to leave when Yu Ruhui suddenly stopped him.

“It’s already so late, and taxis aren’t easy to find around here. Let me call my son to drive you both home,” she offered.

Ji Chenai thought about it. With his limited mobility and a young girl like Zhou Leling accompanying him, wandering around at night wasn’t exactly safe. He accepted the offer and thanked her.

Yu Ruhui chuckled. “No need to be polite. I should be the one thanking you.”

As they were talking, Yu Ruhui’s phone rang. She answered and then said, “He’s outside. I’ll walk you two out.”

She led Zhou Leling and Ji Chenai to her son’s car and said, “Xiao Jun, this is Zhou Yaoqin and Zhou Leling. They’ve helped our family a great deal—make sure you see them all the way upstairs.”

The young man in the driver’s seat responded with a quick acknowledgment.

Yu Ruhui then added, “His name is Xu Junshu. He’s still working on his PhD. Xiao Qin, what grade are you in now?”

Zhou Leling couldn’t help but laugh. “Auntie, Brother Qin is twenty-one this year.”

Yu Ruhui was momentarily stunned. “Which month?”

“May,” Zhou Leling answered.

Yu Ruhui took a closer look at Ji Chenai and, looking a little embarrassed, said, “Oh, I’m so sorry. My eyesight isn’t great…”

Ji Chenai wasn’t surprised. He knew he looked younger than his age—if he didn’t say anything, people often assumed he was Zhou Leling’s younger brother. So, he simply chuckled and said, “No worries, I’m used to it.”

At that moment, Xu Junshu stepped out of the driver’s seat, effortlessly picked Ji Chenai up, and placed him in the backseat before stowing the wheelchair in the trunk. After confirming their address and bidding farewell to his mother, he started the car and drove off.

On the way back, Xu Junshu asked, “So, you two came because of my grandfather’s situation?”

Ji Chenai responded with a simple “Mm.”

After a brief pause, Xu Junshu continued, “So, you’re the witness? You’re sure my grandfather was hit and didn’t just fake the fall?”

Zhou Leling frowned. “How can you even say that? What would we gain from lying about something like this?”

Xu Junshu’s expression remained indifferent, unfazed by her tone. He simply said, “Oh. I guess it’s just because I don’t like him.”

Yet another family matter. Ji Chenai had no intention of getting involved. “We’re only here because we can’t stand to see someone get falsely accused. That’s all.”

Xu Junshu let out a self-deprecating chuckle. “People like you two aren’t common these days.”

When they arrived, despite Ji Chenai’s protests, Xu Junshu insisted on carrying him upstairs. Only after making sure he was inside and greeting Wang Zhixiu did he finally leave.

Wang Zhixiu welcomed Ji Chenai in and suddenly asked, “Xiao Qin, who was that young man?”

Ji Chenai gave her a puzzled look. “Didn’t he say? Xu Junshu.”

Wang Zhixiu sighed. “Yes, Mom knows his name. I was asking what kind of relationship you two have…”

Even someone as dense as Ji Chenai finally picked up on the strange look on his mother’s face. He sucked in a sharp breath. “Mom, I don’t like men.”

Wang Zhixiu patted his shoulder with an understanding smile, the kind that said Mom knows, don’t worry, Mom supports you no matter what. “Xiao Qin, I’ve told you before—no matter who you like, I’ll support you.”

Faced with his mother’s unwavering acceptance, Ji Chenai was at a complete loss for words.

Wang Zhixiu continued, “Mom knows you used to like Xiaoyun, but he’s gone now… Life goes on, Xiao Qin. If you meet someone suitable, why not give it a chance?”

Ji Chenai never expected his mother to be this open-minded—to the point that just seeing a man bring him home was enough for her to start matchmaking.

He sighed. “Mom, there’s really nothing going on between us. Besides, didn’t the doctor say there’s a chance my leg will recover? Let’s talk about this again after I can walk.”

The moment he mentioned his leg, the warmth in Wang Zhixiu’s smile faded slightly. She gave him a few more words of caution before turning to her own tasks.

Ji Chenai understood her concerns—she didn’t want him to spend his life alone. But from his perspective, if he never met someone he truly wanted to be with, spending his life alone didn’t seem like such a terrible fate.

The next day, the news continued to report that Yu Zhixue, the elderly man, had faked his accident. Zheng Jiguo remained the recipient of public sympathy and support. However, Yu Ruhui soon messaged to say they were preparing to appeal the case. If possible, the lawyer wanted to meet with Ji Chenai as a witness.

Ji Chenai readily agreed.

After a medical check-up, he had already started physical therapy for his legs. Wang Zhixiu had asked if he wanted to go abroad for the best treatment, but Ji Chenai had refused outright. His rehabilitation was more for show—so when he did stand up, it wouldn’t come as too much of a shock.

Ever since the bunny girl incident, Ji Chenai had ignored Zhou Yaoyun for an entire week. Naturally, Zhou Yaoyun was beside himself with frustration, but there was nothing he could do.

A week later, after finishing his walk, Ji Chenai had Xiao Qi check on Zhou Yaoyun’s whereabouts.

The moment the results came in, Xiao Qi let out a dramatic wail. “Oh, how tragic! This is so tragic!”

Ji Chenai snapped, “I know I’m miserable, okay?!”

Xiao Qi said, “I was talking about Zhou Yaoyun… Oh my god, his face is covered in bruises!”

The anger on Ji Chenai’s face finally eased a little. “Show me.”

Xiao Qi pulled up a photo, and the moment Ji Chenai saw it, he realized just how bad things were—Zhou Yaoyun looked like he’d been through a battlefield. His entire face was swollen and bruised, with barely a single unscathed spot. No wonder he had been sending selfies with a mask on.

Ji Chenai frowned. “What’s he doing?”

Xiao Qi: “Getting his ass kicked.”

For a split second, Ji Chenai wanted to say serves him right—but then, he felt a twinge of guilt. He hesitated before asking, “And those two bunny girls?”

Xiao Qi: “…” Seriously? It’s been a week, and you’re still holding onto that? Scary.

The bunny girls were long gone. In their place was a gang of muscular men, all enthusiastically participating in Zhou Yaoyun’s “physical re-education.” Ji Chenai watched for a moment before closing the display. Not my problem.

Getting beaten up wouldn’t kill him. Probably.

Still, despite himself, Ji Chenai ended up sending Zhou Yaoyun an email. With a suspiciously gentle tone that was sure to send shivers down Zhou Yaoyun’s spine, he sweetly inquired about his well-being and explained that he hadn’t replied earlier because—tragically—his internet had been down.

Zhou Yaoyun felt incredibly wronged by Ji Chenai’s hot-and-cold attitude, but no matter how aggrieved he was, there was nothing he could do—he still had a long way to go before he could return.

Not long after his hospital visit, Ji Chenai met with Yu Ruhui again. This time, she had a lawyer with her, a clear sign that she had taken his advice and was ready to settle things in court.

The lawyer asked Ji Chenai some standard questions and informed him of the court date. Ji Chenai readily agreed to attend.

Because of the case, Yu Ruhui’s family had been facing a lot of backlash—even receiving harassing phone calls but she wasn’t one to back down. Once she was certain her father had been falsely accused, she reached out to several media outlets, planning to flip the narrative when the trial took place.

As Ji Chenai was about to leave, Yu Ruhui said, “Xiao Zhou, I heard that Zheng Jiguo knows about you now… He might come looking for you soon.”

Ji Chenai didn’t have the slightest good impression of that man. He simply nodded. “Mm, I figured.”

Yu Ruhui added, “If anything happens, call me.”

Ji Chenai agreed. Yu Ruhui still looked uneasy as she was genuinely worried that he might face trouble because of his involvement.

But Ji Chenai wasn’t concerned in the slightest—because he knew that when the trial day came, Zheng Jiguo wouldn’t be able to lie his way out of it.

Yu Ruhui’s prediction was spot on. Just a few days after she warned Ji Chenai, Zheng Jiguo managed to get in touch with him—not just through a call, but by showing up at his doorstep.

Wang Zhixiu had no idea what her son had gotten himself involved in. She didn’t know he was tangled up in a legal case, so when Zheng Jiguo arrived under the pretense of expressing his gratitude, she welcomed him inside without suspicion.

When Zheng Jiguo saw Ji Chenai, his face was all warm smiles. If it weren’t for Xiao Qi repeatedly flashing warnings about his sky-high negative energy levels, Ji Chenai might have been fooled by the seemingly amiable middle-aged man.

Zheng Jiguo placed a gift box on the table and smiled. “Xiao Zhou, what a coincidence—we meet again.”

Ji Chenai eyed him, finding the man’s smile as fake as a cheap plastic mask. “Yes, we do. So, what exactly brings you to my home?”

Despite Ji Chenai’s lukewarm attitude, Zheng Jiguo’s smile remained unchanged. “Oh, just a little something I wanted to discuss with you.”

Ji Chenai leaned back slightly. “If it’s about that matter, I’m afraid we don’t have much to talk about.”

=^_^=