Chapter 59 Stomachache

William sat on the sofa, his eyes flickering uncertainly. Finally, as if having made up his mind, he took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Alright, I agree to cooperate."

With that, he stood up, walked with resolute steps toward Chu Linchen, and proactively extended his right hand.

Seeing this, a faint smile curved the corner of Chu Linchen’s lips. He gently clasped William’s hand, and the atmosphere between them subtly eased at that moment.

Under the illumination of the lights, their figures were drawn out into slender silhouettes, having reached a silent consensus.

After William left, the private room door slowly closed, emitting a slight sigh.

Outside the door, his footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, every step heavy and lonely.

The corridor lights stretched his shadow long upon the floor, resembling a desolate silhouette.

A complex expression hung on his face—a mixture of reluctance and helplessness.

Lu Qiqi breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden of a thousand pounds had been lifted from her shoulders.

She gently raised her hand, brushing away the stray locks of hair by her ear and tucking them behind, her movement graceful and natural.

Lu Qiqi tilted her head slightly, her gaze revealing genuine gratitude, and whispered her thanks to Chu Linchen, "Thank you, it's all thanks to you today."

Her voice was soft yet carried an undeniable strength, piercing through the tense atmosphere inside the private room.

Hearing this, Chu Linchen curved his lips into a faint smile and shook his head slightly, signaling that thanks were unnecessary.

Their gazes met at that moment, conveying countless unspoken words in silence, and the air was filled with a subtle tacit understanding and mutual comprehension.

Lu Qiqi let out a relaxed breath and smiled.

That smile was like the first flower blooming in spring, warm and bright, dispersing the lingering gloom within the private room.

Chu Linchen parted his thin lips slightly, his voice deep and magnetic, "Let's go back."

Lu Qiqi nodded, lifting the hem of her dress slightly, and followed lightly behind Chu Linchen.

The corridor lights outside the private room were soft, casting the silhouettes of the two walking side by side and drawing out a long contour.

Stepping out of the club, the night was already deep, and the neon lights cast mottled reflections upon the damp ground.

Lu Qiqi bit her lower lip slightly, a look of slight distress on her face, "President Chu, holiday tickets are truly impossible to get. I... I might have to take a taxi back, but that will waste quite a bit of time."

Hearing this, Chu Linchen looked at her gently, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips, "I happen to have driven here, I'll give you a ride. Your workplace isn't far from my home, it's on the way."

A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Lu Qiqi's eyes, and she nodded quickly, "Then I'm putting you to such trouble, President Chu. I'm really sorry."

Saying this, she walked quickly toward the parking lot, her figure swaying gracefully under the colorful lights, resembling a striking scenery.

Chu Linchen drove the car while soft music flowed within the cabin, blending into the night.

However, shortly after they merged onto the highway, the car suddenly shuddered and then slowly came to a halt.

Chu Linchen furrowed his brows, quickly turned on the hazard warning lights, and steered the car slowly toward the emergency lane.

The wind outside whistled past, carrying a hint of chill.

A trace of panic flashed across Lu Qiqi's face, but she quickly regained her composure, looking at Chu Linchen with eyes full of inquiry.

Chu Linchen got out of the car to inspect. In the night, his figure appeared exceptionally tall. He attempted to restart the vehicle, but it still refused to respond.

On the highway, traffic flowed like a river, car headlights flashing and reflecting their anxious and helpless faces.

Lu Qiqi asked, "What's wrong?"

Her voice carried a trace of unease, her gaze following Chu Linchen's movements closely.

Chu Linchen crouched down, inspecting the underside of the car and the hood, his brows tightly knitted, his expression particularly solemn in the night.

He looked up at Lu Qiqi and shook his head helplessly, "The car seems to have malfunctioned and won't start."

Hearing this, Lu Qiqi felt a pang in her heart, but immediately calmed herself. She walked over to Chu Linchen's side to inspect the vehicle's condition together with him.

The night breeze brushed past, blowing the stray hair across her forehead. She had no time to mind, focusing solely on the vehicle before her, her eyes gleaming with intensity.

Suddenly, a wisp of thin smoke curled out from under the hood, followed by flying sparks, and faint flames began to lick upwards.

Chu Linchen's expression changed drastically, and he quickly pulled Lu Qiqi back to a safe distance.

The firelight looked particularly glaring in the night, making their faces flicker between light and shadow.

Lu Qiqi nervously gripped Chu Linchen's sleeve, her gaze filled with terror.

Chu Linchen quickly took out his phone to call for rescue, only to find that the signal had become extremely weak due to interference from surrounding vehicles.

In the distance, rescue vehicles were blocked solid by a sudden traffic accident behind them; sirens, screeching brakes, and the clamor of the crowd intertwined in absolute chaos.

The fire grew larger, and the heat wave surged forward, swallowing their figures in a sea of blazing red.

The driver hurriedly retrieved a warning triangle from the trunk and placed it firmly behind the car, the red reflection standing out vividly in the night.

At that moment, Lu Qiqi suddenly clutched her abdomen, her face turning pale as beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks. She clenched her teeth, trying to endure the sudden, stabbing pain.

Seeing this, a flash of anxiety crossed Chu Linchen's eyes. He quickly took off his coat and gently draped it over Lu Qiqi's trembling shoulders, saying gently yet firmly, "Don't be afraid, I'll take you off the highway and find a place to rest."

He carefully supported her as they crossed through the traffic, every step cautious and steady.

In the night wind, Lu Qiqi's figure appeared exceptionally frail. She leaned tightly against Chu Linchen, their shadows elongated under the dim street lamps, resembling the warmest sanctuary in the dead of night.

Chu Linchen led Lu Qiqi through a dense forest path, arriving at a quiet small village located beneath the highway.

In the night, a few dim lights filtered out from a crude adobe house—that was the village clinic.

Pushing open the door, a faint medicinal fragrance assailed their noses. An elderly doctor was bent over his desk organizing herbs.

Chu Linchen anxiously explained the situation. The doctor stood up promptly and examined Lu Qiqi's condition with a solemn expression.

"Could you help take a look?"

The doctor gently pressed Lu Qiqi's abdomen, causing her to frown slightly, her complexion turning even paler.

The doctor then concluded, "I'm afraid she's eaten something bad; it needs to be treated immediately."

With that, he efficiently prepared an IV drip. Under the dim light, the silver needle gleamed, and the medicine bottle hung from a makeshift stand, its dripping sound exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

The doctor spoke as he mixed the medicine, slowly injecting it into the IV bottle. The transparent liquid, carrying a hint of warmth, flowed along the slender tubing into Lu Qiqi's delicate arm.

Under the dim indoor lighting, Chu Linchen sat beside the bed, gazing at Lu Qiqi with tender eyes. Her complexion was gradually regaining some color under the effect of the medication, though her brows remained slightly furrowed, as if she were still enduring a mild ache.

He gently reached out and tucked the blanket around her, his movements as tender as if he feared startling her.