Weight pressed down on her, Bo Xin's hands were occupied. She looked at the frightened passersby nearby. "Can you call a doctor for me?" Of course, "and the police, too." The department store had dense foot traffic, and robberies and abductions were common. A police kiosk was built nearby, serving as some deterrent. After a while, the police and doctors arrived. The police took Jiang Tianyuan away, while the doctors lifted Ji Xingzhi onto a stretcher. Bo Xin chose to follow the doctors with the children.
Bo Yuxu's face was pale the whole way. He gripped his right hand with his left, his usually sharp mind now blank. His mother's hand wore a golden-red bracelet; she stared at it intently, using it to distract herself. The treatment room door closed. Bo Yuxu grabbed her bracelet. "Will he be okay?"
Bo Xin had taken Ji Xingzhi's pulse. "Yes." That didn't help ease his mind at all. Seeing Bo Yuxu's expression, she added, "Yuxu, do you trust Mom?"
"Of course," he said, flustered.
"So, it's just a head injury causing a sudden coma from secondary impact. Jiang Tianyuan is used to lazing around and has no real strength, so he'll be fine." Bo Xin picked words he could understand to comfort him. Indeed, the grip on her bracelet loosened. She pinched his cheek, feeling he was guilty about the Jiang family's affairs—but it wasn't his fault. Bo Yuxu pursed his lips, then leaned his face closer to her hand.
"Why doesn't he eat properly even when he's injured? That just gives people he hates an opportunity." Bo Xin found it amusing. Even when caring, the father and son couldn't speak nicely. And at this age, Yuxu's use of idioms was quite good. She felt a bit relieved and began to soothe the child. "It's not that he doesn't want to eat; he just can't stomach it." When feeling unwell, appetite is poor anyway. He didn't like eating, exuding a wilting, slacker vibe. Bo Xin said, "When he wakes up, we'll have to force him to eat properly. Then I'll trouble Yuxu to buy him some wontons." Bo Yuxu nodded obediently.
They stood in the hallway. Ji Yanyi rushed over. "Mom, I've called Auntie Fan." He knew how to use the village phone number. A few words explained everything—he was no longer the little boy who could do nothing when he saw his father covered in blood. Ji Yanyi clenched his fist to encourage himself. Bo Xin also praised him, patting his head. "Well done." Her voice was gentle, her words naturally reassuring. Soon, the three children calmed down.
Bo Xin remembered the blood test report would be out in three hours, but Ji Xingzhi might wake up soon. She didn't want him to wake up without seeing her, as it happened before—he had transferred to Border City Hospital right after waking up. Though that wasn't the main reason, it contributed to his impetuousness. Looking at his unconscious face, she recalled the doctor saying it was a miracle he held on so long for the children's sake despite wanting to faint. Her comfort to Yuxu was one thing, but the reality was a bit worse. He would wake up normally, but the aftermath might further shorten his lifespan.
Her hand rested on his wrist; she felt him struggle and tightened her grip.
Ji Xingzhi: "What are you doing? I wasn't sedated." Bo Xin thought, typical ex-soldier, worried about anesthesia making him say something wrong? Or maybe last time he said something embarrassing under anesthesia? She wanted to know but first corrected his perception. "You don't need stitches now. Why would they sedate you?"
Ji Xingzhi slowly sat up, clearly disliking lying down when others were sitting. It felt insecure. "Even so, it's not a bad thing to be cautious about what I say under anesthesia."
Because he was dizzy from the coma, his words lacked aggression. Bo Xin couldn't help asking, "So what are you worried about saying in front of me?"
"...Nothing." Ji Xingzhi sighed. What could he hide? Just some company matters—stocks, bonds, Hengxing's development—she'd probably get bored and walk away. So why tease him? He felt that if he hadn't seen her upon waking, he'd panic; now seeing her, he worried about every word she said, making his head ache. Sometimes he felt hard to please. He pursed his lips and asked back, "What would you do under anesthesia?" People always fear embarrassment—mistaking a man for a woman, saying crazy things they'd never say sober.
Bo Xin seriously considered. "I might touch your ears to see if they still blush and when." She was still upset about failing last time.
Ji Xingzhi: "..." So she didn't worry about embarrassment because her greatest pleasure was watching others be embarrassed.
While he was still sighing, Bo Xin reached out. Her fingers were fair and slender—the most beautiful hands he'd seen. But now, even beautiful, they were terrifying. He leaned back abruptly.
Bo Xin was puzzled. "What are you doing? I'm just checking your IV." She'd noticed the bag was almost empty. The hospital lacked staff; family had to monitor. Changing the bag was easy for her as a doctor.
Ji Xingzhi thought this was definitely malicious teasing. "You could have called a nurse."
Bo Xin found it funny. "Doctors hate disobedient patients like you." She meant the disobedience of sitting up right after waking from a coma. So she was covering for him. Ji Xingzhi: "..." She was really good at making excuses. Did she even remember she was a doctor? That sentence sounded weird.
Just then, the door opened. Bo Xin could afford the best single room. He Mingqiao found the door unlocked and heard that remark. He felt awkward, hands and feet at a loss. What was he thinking, coming in when a couple was together? Bo Xin glanced at them both, then decided to remind them before leaving. "The food is on the bedside table. Don't forget to eat."
Ji Xingzhi noticed the bowl of wontons. Were they just cooked? He wasn't picky, but he'd complain about overly soggy food. He found it was still hot. She timed his waking so precisely? He picked it up and ate silently, his movements mechanical and obedient to others.
He Mingqiao widened his eyes in surprise. Was this so natural? Was this how open city people were? If it were him, discovering his secret preferences, he'd want to crawl into a hole. But Ji Xingzhi would shamelessly say, "We're a married couple. We can do whatever we want." He realized he had never, ever gotten a rise out of Ji Xingzhi.
Ji Xingzhi glanced at He Mingqiao, who clung to the wall like a gecko. His disdainful look seemed to bore through him. Feeling better after eating, he asked, "Mingqiao, why are you here?"
He Mingqiao straightened up. "Of course, to make sure the rumor that 'you died and I kept it secret' doesn't come true." He recalled the panic since hearing Sister Fan's call.
Ji Xingzhi smiled dismissively. "I'm fine, aren't I?"
He Mingqiao thumped his chest; that line choked him up. He chose to talk seriously. "The doctor said you have less than five years to live."
Ji Xingzhi: "Can't the doctor come up with something new?"
He Mingqiao thought what he was about to say was new. "Fewer than five years."
Ji Xingzhi choked on his soup. My god, that's new. It scared him. He Mingqiao didn't want this either, but could Ji Xingzhi take better care of himself? His way of getting on the news was anti-trafficking? Why do something so dangerous? Of course, this hospitalization wasn't related to that, but it was still ridiculous.
Ji Xingzhi stopped coughing and put the bowl down. Looking pained, he said, "Seeing me like this, you still want to drag me to work. I can't tell who's about to die sooner."
He Mingqiao: "..." That made him sound like a jerk. It was pure emotional blackmail. And it seemed to work. He gritted his teeth and made a decision. "Then rest for now. The news will buy us some time. Leave it to me."
Ji Xingzhi nodded, coughing weakly to sell the act.
He Mingqiao was silent. His head hurt again. Before, he was just a lazy shareholder, and Ji Xingzhi handled everything. Now that Ji Xingzhi was seriously injured, he had to do everything himself, realizing how enjoyable and busy Ji Xingzhi's life had been. Was this karma for taking too much money too easily? He stood to leave; he had to handle matters and prevent media from filming Ji Xingzhi.
Ji Xingzhi paused in bed. He wanted to get up but lacked strength. He opened his eyes, looked at He Mingqiao, and said, "Also, these days I'm bedridden, my family..." Without finishing, He Mingqiao nodded calmly, regaining his confident business demeanor. "Did you think I came alone?" Obviously, he'd brought the company's lawyers to help with Ji Xingzhi's family issues—the switched children.
He Mingqiao was older than Ji Xingzhi but even more irresponsible—not in personality but in avoiding serious work. Ji Xingzhi wouldn't call him "brother," and he wouldn't address Ji Xingzhi formally. They always called each other by name. Now, He Mingqiao thought how to phrase it. "Um, di—" He almost said "sis" but Bo Xin turned abruptly. He quickly changed. "Madam, how would you like to resolve the Jiang Tianyuan matter?"
The address was formal because they weren't close. The only link was Ji Xingzhi. They were business partners; Bo Xin was Ji Xingzhi's wife. The only time they might have met often was during his car accident, but then Bo Xin didn't come often, so they rarely saw each other.
Bo Xin glanced at him and nodded slightly. She had collected all evidence of Ji Xingzhi's fainting spells, so intentional injury was easy to prove. She pointed at the man behind him. "Is that your company's lawyer?" He looked like a typical elite, different from the lawyer at home.
The man stepped out of the shadows. "Yes, Madam. I'm Zhu Lizhu, formerly from Biancheng Li'an Law Firm, now specializing in Hengxing." He thought he was quite famous, but wondered about his reputation here.
Bo Xin asked curiously, "Do you know a lawyer named Bo Xiao?"
Lawyer Zhu was momentarily confused. Was that a famous lawyer? Admitting ignorance might make him seem unknowledgeable. But he chose honesty. "Sorry, I haven't heard of him."
Bo Xin shook her head, indicating no apology needed. What she needed was someone who hadn't heard of Bo Xiao—meaning he was completely on a different level. Not hearing of him made her more at ease. "Come with me," she said, walking ahead.
Bo Xin was in a bad mood. They found a quiet space, staying close to the hospital. They went to a place supposedly for meals; since it wasn't mealtime, it was empty. Sitting down, she got straight to the point. "Saying 'bankruptcy' is too strong, but since he injured Ji Xingzhi, we can make him cover all medical expenses with his land and house." She'd ordered the priciest options without hesitation, so she had receipts.
He Mingqiao was curious. "Shouldn't we prioritize custody?"
Bo Xin thought, "This solves custody. He lacks financial resources, and I have evidence of Jiang Cuijuan harming the kids. They can't get custody of either child. The court will award them to me." For Yuxu, she had the blood test report. Yanyi was trickier, but a relative with no income, addicted to alcohol and gambling, and now without savings—the court would naturally favor her, the foster mother who's raised them.
Jiang Tianyuan was truly ignorant of the law. Bo Xin smiled, handing evidence to the lawyer. "Lawyer Zhu, please teach him well in the matter of injuring Ji Xingzhi."
He Mingqiao's eyes widened. Wasn't Bo Xin a doctor? Why did she seem so knowledgeable? She had a solution ready, and she seemed to collect evidence constantly. "Madam, did you study law?"
She shook her head. "No, but my profession borders on law. I've seen a lot before people die, so I understand." There were always disputes before death. She had studied to help patients better. He Mingqiao recalled someone saying the worst person to sleep next to is a lawyer. That's why Zhu Lizhu was single at thirty. But Ji Xingzhi was knowledgeable too; he could recite economic law for business. Wait, He Mingqiao remembered Ji Xingzhi said Bo Xin was a doctor... That was even more unsettling.