Chi Yu leafed through the book throughout her journey. As she carefully recalled all of Chi He's reactions, a sudden thought crossed her mind—perhaps Chi He wasn't pretending after all. When he first saw the book, he showed a surprised reaction, but it wasn't particularly strong. His astonishment seemed to stem from Chi Yu bringing a book to him rather than from the content of the book itself. Could it be that the book Chi He saw was not the same book Chi Yu saw?
Back at the hospital, Chi Yu handed the book to Qi Hui, asking him to read its contents. Qi Hui read the text of "Aurora Flame," which was entirely different from what Chi Yu had seen. This discrepancy explained Chi He's peculiar reaction. It felt as though an invisible force was obstructing Chi Yu from revealing the truth. But what did it intend to do? Was it to make Chi Yu aware of the cruel truth, yet still prevent her from escaping her fate, forcing her to die in Ning Jin's place, helpless and desperate?
Chi Yu felt like a trapped beast, frantically trying to tell Qi Hui the truth. The scene with Chi He played out once again—Qi Hui stared at her in confusion, even asking, "Miss, are you feeling ill?" Chi Yu was perfectly fine! She could have grown up healthily like Ning Jin, without any illness, if it hadn't been for Chi He stealing her away to serve as Ning Jin's scapegoat!
She would have preferred not knowing the truth; then she would have died in ignorance, far better than now—knowing she bore a man-made curse yet unable to tear it away, left to wait helplessly for death in despair. It felt like a heavy stone pressed against Chi Yu's chest, making it hard for her to breathe. Her chest was filled with resentment, her body cold as ice, as she stared intensely at the book in her hands, gritting her teeth.
Qi Hui noticed something was off about her and cautiously asked, "Miss?" Chi Yu gripped her hands tightly, eyes wide open, her whole body trembling. As Qi Hui tried to support her, she looked up at him, suddenly spitting out a mouthful of blood. Her eyes closed, and she fainted.
Qi Hui, with his face splattered with blood, rushed to call the doctor. The attending physician checked Chi Yu's pulse, finding it so weak it was nearly non-existent. Even his usually calm face showed a hint of panic. After half an hour of emergency resuscitation, Chi Yu narrowly regained consciousness.
When Chi He learned that Chi Yu had fainted from coughing up blood, he rushed to the hospital immediately. Chi Yu stared wide-eyed, ignoring all his questions and simply lying on the bed crying. With no other choice, Chi He called in the doctor to administer a sedative.
"What did Chi Yu do after she came back?" Chi He asked Qi Hui outside the hospital room. Qi Hui mentioned the book "Aurora Flame." "Miss asked me to read the first page, then made me stop halfway through, grabbed the book from me, and then she started coughing up blood."
Chi Yu had read the entire "Aurora Flame," a mere account of some Antarctic expedition members and their interesting experiences during their investigation. He couldn't understand what about this book had so greatly agitated Chi Yu.
Chi He stayed by the bedside and read the book again through the night.
When Chi Yu woke up at dawn, she saw Chi He napping against a chair. He was indeed a tall man, looking so cramped on that wooden chair. In the past, Chi Yu might have felt sorry for him, but now there was only coldness in her heart.
That night, Chi Yu had not slept well; she kept waking up and falling back asleep. Whenever she was awake, she thought about how she should face Chi He next. Facing the man responsible for her tragic life, she wished he would drop dead before her eyes.
But reality was harsh. Until she found her biological parents and that damned Taoist priest, Chi Yu had to pretend she knew nothing. Otherwise, if Chi He sensed her intentions, she might not survive even six months and could be secretly dealt with.
Thinking back on her madness the previous night, Chi Yu felt a chill of fear. If it hadn't been for that strange silencing, would she already be lying in the morgue downstairs?
From what she knew, the reason Chi He could elevate the declining Chi family business to its current heights in just over a decade was not solely due to his iron-fisted methods. Chi Yu wasn't sure how many hands Chi He had bloodied in the process, but the rumor was that any company opposing the Chi family met with a dire end. Chi Yu did not believe those who died mysteriously were all merely unlucky.
She had to compose herself and quietly seek the truth from Chi He without arousing suspicion.
When Chi He woke up, he was greeted by Chi Yu's smiling face. "Uncle, did you stay with me all night?"
Chi Yu's brows were relaxed, her eyes clear, a far cry from the enraged, unhinged woman from the previous day.
Chi He nodded, then inquired about Chi Yu's health. Hearing that she felt much better, he hesitated before asking, "Last night…"
Chi Yu quickly interrupted, her expression somewhat uneasy. "I had a nightmare last night. When I woke up and found no one around, I panicked and foolishly lashed out at you. I'm sorry, Uncle. Please, blame me."
By saying this, she placed all the fault on Qi Hui. How could Chi He bear to blame Chi Yu? "It was my oversight. I should have stayed with you. Tomorrow is the surgery; I'll be waiting outside the operating room, so you don't have to be afraid."
His tenderness and care made Chi Yu feel momentarily dazed. If it weren't for the book's too-real content, she might not have doubted Chi He's love for her. After all, his expressions and actions were flawless. But no matter how well he acted, it was still just a performance.
Chi Yu's eyes shone with a light that seemed to reflect the immense sense of security Chi He's words gave her. She affectionately whined, "Uncle is the best."
In truth, Chi Yu wasn't worried about the surgery failing because the book said it would be successful. It would keep her failing body alive for another six months.
Qi Hui was punished by Chi He, receiving ten lashes. When Qi Hui returned to the hospital, his steps were weak, his face pale, barely able to stand straight. Chi Yu watched coldly, feeling a twinge of regret. It was Chi He who acted first; otherwise, when she got out of the hospital, she would have personally given Qi Hui a beating.
It wasn't the first time in the past six months that Qi Hui had been so negligent, seeming almost to forget who he was and what his duties were. If it weren't for his past loyalty, Chi Yu's temper would have demanded more than just ten lashes; she would have made sure he couldn't get out of bed for ten days to a fortnight.
With the surgery now scheduled, Chi Yu's mindset was more composed than ever. After leaving the operating table, she didn't cry or make a fuss like she usually did.
Chi He praised Chi Yu for having grown up, but Chi Yu just smiled, the smile not reaching her eyes.
On the third day after the surgery, Chi Yu lay in bed, flipping through the book, slowly tracing the timeline. Suddenly, she was horrified to discover that the criminal gang who had kidnapped her five years ago had been released from prison!
(End of Chapter)