With all her strength in that slap, Shu Yimo also felt an acute pain in her chest; her complexion turned instantly pale, and she could hardly breathe.
But it wasn't over yet!
'Hmm! Hmm!'
Two muffled groans were heard once more; at first glance, Fan Lingjue was bent slightly forward, clutching his abdomen with an agonized expression on his face.
Shu Yimo pushed Fan Lingjue away and retracted her bent knee, staggering to prop herself against the wall with one hand.
"Ling Jue, how are you doing?"
Bai Xiexie asked in shock, quickly going over and supporting Fan Lingjue.
"Shu Yimo, you've gone too far!"
Bai Xiexie's suppressed angry rebuke came through!
She couldn't believe that Shu Yimo dared to actually hit Fan Lingjue, and with such a heavy blow!
"This is just the interest. You're all right, I am just as vicious as you accuse me of being; now I've given substance to the crimes you've imposed on me!"
"You! Ling Jue, are you all right?"
Bai Xiexie had no words to counter Shu Yimo, while Fan Lingjue's dark eyes were fixed tightly on Shu Yimo, one hand pressing his abdomen that Shu Yimo had hit hard. His complexion looked terrible, especially with the clear imprint of a slap starkly on his handsome face, which was slightly swollen, making it appear somewhat ferocious!
It was obvious that Shu Yimo had not hesitated or shown any mercy.
Shu Yimo's face was deathly pale as she spoke coldly, and, at this moment, the pain in her chest was causing her whole body to break out in a cold sweat, her palms were also damp, surely she had aggravated her wound!
Without giving Fan Lingjue another glance, she turned and headed toward the exit. However, just as she rounded the corner, she unexpectedly ran into a wall!
'Ah!'
The intensified pain made Shu Yimo cry out involuntarily, and her legs gave way.
But, a pair of strong arms suddenly supported her shoulders, almost lifting her up!
A familiar, subtle and cool fragrance drifted through her nostrils, causing Shu Yimo to freeze for a moment. She disregarded the cold sweat on her forehead and quickly looked up!
The noble and serene face of Long Chengyu immediately came into her view!
...
Shu Yimo was at a loss for words to describe the feeling and didn't bother to ask why this man had appeared. Holding onto Long Chengyu's trench coat with one hand, she leaned heavily against him—
"Take me to the hospital, don't let them see me collapse here."
The only thing she could do was to desperately hold onto her laughable pride at this moment.
"Weren't you quite fierce and articulate just now?"
Long Chengyu's dark eyes flickered slightly as he quietly watched the small woman who was nearly collapsing in his arms.
"I can't just take insults like some useless person."
Shu Yimo inhaled sharply with difficulty, replying coldly, but her face was even paler than before.
"Car keys."
Long Chengyu's gaze was deep as he glanced at her and simply uttered those few words.
Only then did Shu Yimo hand over the keys.
Fortunately, the car was parked in the square in front of the building, not too far away. Otherwise, Shu Yimo really feared she wouldn't be able to hold on.
After getting into the car, Shu Yimo took a deep breath, bearing the severe pain in her chest. Her face was as pale as paper, her whole body was covered in cold sweat, and it seemed like she had used up her last bit of strength.
Long Chengyu quickly got into the car as well and, hearing her breathing slightly heavy, glanced sideways at her.
Shu Yimo, now weak, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and slowly closed her eyes, leaning against the back of the seat. She gasped with great effort, her complexion void of any color, looking extremely ill.
The slender, handsome hand reached out, deftly pulling the seat belt beside her and fastening it, then he started the car.
"Is your phone still charged?"
The deep, soothing voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Hmm?"
Shu Yimo was a bit slow to react, she opened her eyes and looked at him blankly.
"Turn on the navigation."
"Turn right at the third traffic light ahead, continue along Yingbin Avenue straight to the end, then turn left and it's S Hospital."
Shu Yimo was very familiar with Jiangcheng, the city where she had lived for so many years.
"Just turn it on when I tell you to."
Long Chengyu said this as he took out his cellphone from his pocket and threw it to her.
Shu Yimo frowned slightly before reaching out to take the phone. Of course, she remembered the password—it was so complex that only this guy would dare to use it like this.
Long Chengyu's sense of direction at night was particularly bad, nearly equivalent to that of a half-wit; he seldom drove at night, which was why he asked Shu Yimo to use the navigation.
However, his driving skills were quite good; the car drove steadily.
"How come you were there?"
Shu Yimo reached out to turn on the car's music player, hoping to distract herself by listening to music so she wouldn't have to suffer so much.
"A friend invited me."
He replied succinctly.
Shu Yimo took a breath and gently lowered her eyelids, "Did you see everything?"
"Mhm."
Long Chengyu was quite candid in his response, not attempting to hide anything.
Shu Yimo raised her hand to rub her temples, trying to dispel the awkwardness that had crept into her heart and the smothering pain and irritation.
She hadn't expected that she would lose control and strike Fan Lingjue so harshly; Fan Lingjue's facial expression at that moment had said it all.
"Do you think I'm very vicious?"
After a while to compose herself, Shu Yimo finally asked.
Light flickered in Long Chengyu's dark pupils as he glanced at her. A rare calm passed over his noble and handsome face and he actually nodded in agreement, "Pretty harsh."
Shu Yimo gave a bitter smile, "Actually, I should blame myself more, and I can't entirely blame him."
"Your feelings for him are indeed deep and profound."
Long Chengyu stated calmly.
"I suppose that's how most people are, aren't they? When you've given too much, you can't reconcile getting nothing in return. I'm not that noble, not a member of the kind-hearted or the good..."
Taking a strained breath and lightly covering her aching chest, Shu Yimo turned her head to look out the car window. Her expression was somewhat desolate and lonely.
"Do you want to be a good person?"
Listening to her, Long Chengyu gave her a profound look.
Shu Yimo quieted down, a faint trace of serenity brushed past the corner of her mouth, but she didn't respond to Long Chengyu's question. Instead, she turned to look at him. He had already diverted his gaze and was focusing on driving the car.
"There's no turning back now; from the moment I went in, the sins I bear could no longer be washed away."
After a long while, Shu Yimo finally sighed, leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, and breathed lightly.
Long Chengyu paused for a moment and turned his head to give her a look...