**Outside Mi's Residence - 9:15 AM**
"You think you can escape after hurting me? My men are on their way!" Zaikang exclaimed, his anger palpable.
"Chengxian, hurry! We need to get in the car! His men are coming!" Xueer urged urgently.
Xueer hurriedly pulled Chengxian into the vehicle.
**Inside Chengxian's Car**
"Chengxian, drive faster! Kang's men are pursuing us!" Xueer shouted, panic evident in her voice.
At that moment, a police car appeared in pursuit.
Chengxian felt a surge of anxiety.
"Why is there a police car following us?" he asked, visibly shaken.
"Are we being deceived? Are they taking advantage of us?" Xueer questioned, fear creeping into her tone.
"Focus on getting away! We need to leave quickly!" Chengxian responded, trying to maintain control.
Suddenly, a vehicle belonging to Kang fired shots at them. As bullets flew, Xueer pressed herself tightly against Chengxian. In a tragic moment, a bullet struck Xueer's right temple, causing her to lose consciousness. Chengxian, witnessing her collapse, swerved the car off the road, injuring his left arm in the process. He quickly assisted Xueer out of the vehicle just as it exploded, and they narrowly escaped. They were subsequently rushed to the hospital.
**Busan Central Hospital - Emergency Room - 11:00 AM**
"Quickly, send the female casualty to the emergency room first! The male casualty is somewhat conscious; take him to a regular emergency room," instructed the nurse and doctor.
Moments later, police arrived at the scene.
"Is Mr. Song Chengxian here?" one officer inquired.
"Please hold on. The injured are receiving treatment and cannot see anyone just yet," the nurse replied.
**In the Regular Emergency Room - 11:15 AM**
"Sir, we need to bandage your wound," the nurse said.
"There's no need! I'm fine. I need to see my fiancée immediately," Chengxian insisted.
"Sir, you must understand! Your right arm is seriously injured! If it becomes infected, it could lead to severe complications," the nurse warned frantically.
"I must see her! Let me see Xue'er!" Chengxian exclaimed, his desperation growing.
Ignoring the nurse, Chengxian rushed towards the emergency room.
**Outside the Emergency Room - 11:30 AM**
Steven and Yanger were present when Xueer's mother, Lin Peipei, approached Chengxian and slapped him hard.
"Song Chengxian! What have you done? What's wrong with my daughter? I want answers!" Peipei shouted angrily.
She continued to strike Chengxian, prompting Yanger to intervene.
"Mom! Stop! Chengxian is hurt too! We should be grateful to him. If it weren't for him, my sister would have ended up with that playboy," Yanger protested.
Chengxian collapsed, blood streaming from his head, and was taken back into the emergency room by a nurse.
**The Following Morning - 10:00 AM**
In Chengxian's hospital room, police officers restrained him with handcuffs beside the bed.
As Chengxian regained consciousness, he shouted,
"What is happening? Why am I being cuffed? An Zaikang should be the one in jail, not me!"
"Mr. Song, please cooperate. An Zaikang has accused you of attempted murder," one officer explained.
Desperate, Chengxian knelt down.
"I will surrender, but I need to see my fiancée first," he pleaded.
"Very well," the officer consented.
The police escorted Chengxian to Xueer's ward, where Peipei and Yanger were anxiously waiting outside the intensive care unit.
"How dare you come here to see my daughter! Aren't you ashamed? Now you're handcuffed! At least my daughter won't suffer in vain," Peipei accused vehemently.
"Mom! Enough! Chengxian loves my sister! He's just as affected by this! All of this is because of An Zaikang! Chengxian has no future now!" Yanger retorted angrily.
"Future? Don't forget, his family owns the Song Hotel Company. Even if he's released from prison, his prospects are bright. But my daughter's life hangs in the balance! The doctors said she might become a vegetable!" Peipei cried.
"What? A vegetative state? That's impossible! Xue'er will wake up! I need to see her!" Chengxian shouted, filled with urgency.
Chengxian dashed into the intensive care unit.
**In the Intensive Care Unit - 10:30 AM**
Chengxian gently caressed Xueer's face.
"Xue'er! Remember you said we'd rush back to Singapore to marry as soon as I rescued you from An Zaikang? Wake up! I can't live without you!" he cried out, his emotions overwhelming him.
Yanger pulled him back gently.
"Chengxian, please, don't lose hope. Xue'er may remain in a coma due to the bullet wound and blood loss," she said softly.
"I can't go to jail! I need to ensure Xueer wakes up!" Chengxian insisted, panic rising.
Peipei observed from a distance.
"Mr. Song, I'm sorry, but you must return to the police station immediately. We cannot allow any resistance," the officer stated.
"Chengxian, you should comply with them," Yanger advised reluctantly.
Chengxian lowered his head in defeat as the police led him away.
**At Busan Central Police Station - Detention Room - 11:30 AM**
"Mr. Song Chengxian, you are officially charged with attempted murder of An Zaikang," an officer announced.
"Are you out of your mind? My fiancée and I are the victims! Why am I being arrested?" Chengxian protested angrily.
"Mr. Song, I suggest you plead guilty to avoid further complications," the officer advised coldly.
Moments later, two officers in plain clothes entered the room and began to assault Chengxian, breaking his right hand in the process.
"Master An and Mr. Jiang ordered this as just a warning. The main punishment is yet to come. Master An wants us to break the hand you used to shoot him!" one officer declared.
"You... you're not real police officers! You work for An Zaikang!" Chengxian shouted through gritted teeth before losing consciousness.
He was subsequently taken to the detention center's medical room.
A few hours later, Steven arrived at the medical room with his lawyer friend, Mr. Quan.
"Who did this to Mr. Song?" Lawyer Quan demanded angrily.
"Two officers in civilian clothes," the medical staff replied.
"Mr. Song is a citizen of Seoul, not Busan! He deserves protection and the right to appeal for a trial in Seoul!" Lawyer Quan argued vehemently.
"If you pursue this, we cannot guarantee the safety of his fiancée," the police officer warned.
"What? Are you threatening us?" Lawyer Quan exclaimed in disbelief.
"Andy, don't confront them directly. Let's follow their lead," Steven advised calmly.
The police officers exited the medical room.
"An Zaikang is a well-known figure, but I've never heard of Master Jiang. He seems to have considerable influence, even over the police in Busan," Steven noted.
"If you're right, Master Jiang is among the five richest men in Shanghai. I heard after his sister's suicide, his mother passed away from grief, and he inherited his father's wealth after excelling in business after college," Lawyer Quan explained.
"Why are he and Master An targeting Chengxian? What's the backstory?" Steven inquired.
"It's time to investigate. Young Master Jiang is a crucial figure in this case. The main concern is Xueer's condition; if she loses her memory, Chengxian's chances of winning diminish significantly. Fortunately, An Zaikang's injuries are not permanent. If Chengxian loses, he could face a maximum of three years in prison, which is the worst-case scenario," Lawyer Quan replied.
**- Chapter End -**