Chapter Eleven: Unfathomable...

... "Alright, let's not talk about this right now. After all, Xiao Zheng is my sister, not yours; with Cheng Yunting as her 'godbrother,' that's already enough—no need for another schemer." Qin Nanxiao stood up and quickly made his way to Xiao Zheng's hospital room.

"Hey, brother, wait up!" Shen Dongling, taken aback by Qin Nanxiao's unexpected actions, hesitated for a moment before hurrying after him.

...

Upon entering the hospital room, they found that Cheng Yunting had already woken up. Since regaining consciousness, he had remained by Leng Zheng's side, unmoving, once again becoming the "stone statue" he had been before.

"How is Xiao Zheng doing now? When do you think she'll wake up?" Hearing Qin Nanxiao arrive, Cheng Yunting asked.

"Her consciousness is still strong, but her injuries aren't optimistic. There's no telling when she'll wake." Qin Nanxiao gazed at Leng Zheng with heartache, paused, and then said something puzzling, "Do you know, Cheng Yunting? You're the first outsider Xiao Zheng was willing to risk her life to protect."

Cheng Yunting, hearing Qin Nanxiao's words, felt as if his heart had been stabbed by a knife, the pain acute.

"Actually... you can't really call yourself an outsider. After all, your mother is her godmother and also the godmother of us Qin brothers. So, you were her godbrother." Qin Nanxiao sat across from Cheng Yunting and took hold of Leng Zheng's other hand.

...

The hospital room suddenly fell silent. Cheng Yunting and Qin Nanxiao said nothing further. (In truth, at this moment, I remembered that line: 'The air suddenly grows quiet—how frightening.')

Shen Dongling stood shivering in the corner, quietly watching as these two legendary figures clashed over a woman.

No! Not just any woman! She was the prodigy of the business world, a genius who surpassed even these two extraordinary men. (So, in the future, I must cling tightly to her; if I ever offend her, my fate will be truly miserable. Sigh...)

"Why did you say that?" Cheng Yunting suddenly raised his head and asked.

"Which sentence?" Qin Nanxiao was momentarily stunned by Cheng Yunting's question.

"I am the first outsider Xiao Zheng was willing to risk her life to protect."

Qin Nanxiao smiled at that. "Do you know who started the fire?"

"Who?"

"Miss Gu Xia Bing of the Gu family—one of your admirers." Qin Nanxiao looked directly into Cheng Yunting's eyes and continued, "Isn't it laughable? The dignified head of the Qin family submits for the sake of a man.

If my guess is correct, Gu Xia Bing threatened Xiao Zheng that if she didn't stay put, and tried to escape, the one who would be harmed would be you. Xiao Zheng has had a secret crush on you since childhood—how could she ever let you be hurt?"

The pain in Cheng Yunting's heart multiplied, making it hard to breathe.

He suddenly felt as if he was an accomplice to Gu Xia Bing; if it weren't for him, Xiao Zheng wouldn't be lying here, nor...

"Where is she now?"

"No need to send anyone to search or investigate. She's at the Ninth Bureau. Third Brother is interrogating those behind the scenes." Qin Nanxiao paused, speaking without much thought, "But you should prepare yourself. Either the person behind it all is your enemy, or hers. But she's already eliminated all her enemies, so that's unlikely."

"Alright, I understand." Cheng Yunting nodded and then ignored Qin Nanxiao, resuming his role as the "stone statue."

"Alright, I'll head out first," Qin Nanxiao said to Shen Dongling, paying no further heed to Cheng Yunting.

"Sure, I'll see you off," Shen Dongling nodded, walking with Qin Nanxiao down the corridor.

"Why did you say all that to him? You’re stabbing him right in the heart," Shen Dongling was nearly enraged by Qin Nanxiao, wearing the look of a wronged wife.

"Hey, do you think I don't feel for Xiao Zheng? Xiao Zheng has been spoiled by us brothers since she was three. Why should our pampered queen be tricked by him, only to end up hurt by his enemies?" Qin Nanxiao slapped Shen Dongling, frowning as he spoke.

"Tsk, you're right," Shen Dongling thought for a moment; it seemed there was nothing wrong with that reasoning.

...

"Alright, I’m leaving. Xiao Zheng should wake up in a couple of days." Qin Nanxiao hurried off.

There was a secret Shen Dongling didn’t know, and Qin Nanxiao hadn’t spoken... What a pity—perhaps only when Xiao Zheng wakes will they learn the truth...

———————

Dividing line

Those who've made it this far, remember to keep reading~ The story only gets more exciting as it goes on~

What could it be? Take a guess—no prize, just for fun. The plot might seem a bit melodramatic, but it's not the usual hidden identity story.

I really can't stand those cliché hidden identity plots; you can guess everything with your eyes closed, and your predictions are almost always spot on.

Do you think you can guess what happens next? In my story, you might figure out the beginning and the end, but you'll never guess what happens in the middle.

That's the fun~

Starting tomorrow, I'll update with 4,000 words daily—one update in the morning, another in the afternoon or evening (if I'm not too lazy); or just in the evening.

If you've made it this far, keep reading—the best is yet to come, and I guarantee it will be full of surprises.

This book is about mutual redemption, strong female and male leads, illogical, set in an alternate modern world, and you'll never know what the author will write next.

Alright, see you tomorrow~