Chapter 116: Hitting Exactly Where Aimed (Includes 4,900 Diamond Bonus Chapter)

While changing his clothes, Lin Wanbai noticed that Fu Juxing’s body temperature was incredibly high—frighteningly so.

Before changing him, she had wiped his body down, though she let the old doctor assist with his lower half. Once he was dressed, she sat nearby while the old doctor went out to prepare medicine. The physician seemed to be a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, as the room was thick with the scent of herbs. Yet, judging by his technique, he appeared quite accustomed to treating gunshot wounds.

Lin Wanbai didn't overthink it; she had reached such a desperate state that worrying was useless. She had no choice but to rely on him. Looking at the unconscious man on the bed, a sudden thought crossed her mind, and she was startled by it. She was actually contemplating escape—leaving while he was incapacitated. If she waited for him to wake up, he would surely take her back and lock her away again.

To her, everywhere was unfamiliar now. But living freely was surely better than being dragged back into confinement, wasn't it?

As she pondered this, the old doctor’s voice suddenly sounded above her. "Here, these are my daughter's clothes. You don’t look heavy; they should fit. Change out of your own so you don’t catch a cold. I don’t need another patient to look after."

The old doctor’s face looked rather stern when he wasn't smiling. Lin Wanbai twitched the corner of her mouth, took the clothes, and after offering profuse thanks, went to the next room to change. The old man was quite thoughtful, having even provided undergarments. She couldn't afford to be picky. After changing, she came out and saw a basin of hot water by the door.

Touching her damp hair, she called out, "Sir, is there any extra hot water?"

"The kettle on the side is full."

She thought for a moment and decided to wash her hair. As she did, a dull ache throbbed at her temple—that collision had been quite severe. After a quick wash, the old doctor had already prepared a towel and a hairdryer for her. Once she dried her hair, she felt much more comfortable, though she still smelled faintly of the sea since she hadn't bathed.

After tidying up, she returned to the treatment room. The old doctor handed her a bowl of herbal medicine. "Drink this."

She shook her head. "I don't need it. I'm fine."

"Drink it. Just in case. Looking at your complexion, you’re weak and have poor constitution. You might look fine now, but by tonight, you’ll be sick."

Seeing his insistence, Lin Wanbai had no choice but to take it. She loathed traditional medicine; she had been forced to drink bowl after bowl to recuperate before, to the point of vomiting. It had left a psychological scar. Before, she’d had candied fruit to wash away the bitterness, but now there was nothing. She frowned as she prepared to drink it straight.

When the old doctor turned back and saw her still holding the bowl, he chuckled, pointed to a nearby cabinet, and said, "I left two pieces of candy there. Eat them with the medicine."

Feeling slightly embarrassed, she followed his instructions, took the candies, ate one, swallowed the medicine in one go, and then popped the second candy into her mouth. It was much better that way.

"Are you two eloping, or on the run? A young couple?"

Lin Wanbai hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "No, we are brother and sister. We had an accident at sea, but fortune smiled upon us, and we washed ashore."

The old doctor smiled, noncommittal.

After he finished tending to Fu Juxing, he told Lin Wanbai a story—the story of this village. It was a unique place; originally, there was no village here at all. Later, a group of people, much like them, met with misfortune at sea and washed up on the shore. After waking, they wandered through the woods but could never find their way out, as if trapped by a ghost.

After circling for a full week, they decided to find a place to settle. By accident, they discovered an abandoned village. The houses were old, but they provided shelter, and the village was stocked with tools. As long as people want to live, they will find a way to be self-sufficient. So, they stayed. Fortunately, the surrounding mountains were rich in resources. It was like returning to a primitive era. Eventually, they found a way out, but given their backgrounds, this hidden village became their best choice. After all, life outside meant hiding and fleeing; here, they were far from the city, and no one could reach them.

They chose to stay, occasionally going out to purchase necessities or bringing back seeds to farm. The proximity to the barren coast allowed for fishing, and they could hunt game in the mountains. The only thing they lacked was entertainment. As there were several women in that first group, the men’s only pastime became having children.

Later, more people washed up on this magical shore, all surviving by luck. Some stayed to live, while others left following the guidance of the elders. Gradually, the once-empty village became full, and everyone became villagers. They elected a village chief and formed a system. Over time, they renovated the old houses. The tallest buildings were three stories high, belonging to the wealthier families, while most were single-story with courtyards, similar to the layout of rural homes in the Northeast.

It was an open community; everyone did as they pleased. The old doctor’s place was simpler, consisting of three rooms and a shed, with a large courtyard filled with racks drying various herbs he gathered from the mountains.

"This place," he said, "is a paradise far from the world."

Lin Wanbai sensed something fishy. These survivors who washed ashore were likely not ordinary people. They stayed because it was safe—they didn't fear being found. Her mind immediately jumped to heinous murderers. She couldn't believe it; the two middle-aged men she had encountered earlier looked so simple and honest, nothing like criminals. And this man before her, with his white goatee and benevolent air—she couldn't believe they were all villains.

The old doctor looked over, and Lin Wanbai immediately lowered her eyes to her toes.

"After living here a long time," the old doctor said, "you will soon forget what kind of person you used to be."

"Do people lose their memories living here?"

He chuckled. "That's not what I mean. Every villain wasn't necessarily born a villain; people are born good. Arriving here is like starting life anew."

Lin Wanbai didn't fully understand, but she didn't press him. The old doctor stood up, handed her a towel, and said, "Wipe him down, and feed him that medicine later. If this fever doesn't break, he’ll burn his brain out."

"Sir, do you mean that ordinary people can't find their way in here?"

"Yes. You arriving here means you have a connection with this place. Of course, if you want to leave, I can point you toward a path that will let you depart safely."

He gave her a deep look before walking out. That look made Lin Wanbai’s heart skip a beat, as if he had seen right through her.

She patted her chest, stunned for a moment, before beginning to wipe Fu Juxing’s body to cool him down. When the time came, she tried to feed him the medicine, but he couldn't swallow. She remembered the old doctor using a bamboo tube. After a quick search, she found it on the table. She positioned Fu Juxing, inserted the tube into his mouth, and slowly poured the medicine in.

Though much spilled, a good amount went down. He choked and began to cough. Lin Wanbai stopped immediately, seeing him open his eyes for a split second before closing them again, falling back into a deep sleep.

For two days, Lin Wanbai cared for him tirelessly. When she had a chance, she went to the shore to see if she could find Yu Zhi and Ke Nian, but she found nothing.

Fu Juxing’s fever finally broke on the third day. His wounds, under the doctor's care, began to heal, no longer looking as gruesome. On the fourth day, he showed signs of waking.

That day, the thought of escaping resurfaced. She didn't know why she was so fixated on it—it felt like an instinct. She had to leave while he was incapacitated, run far away, even if she didn't know where she was going.

She rested her hands on her knees, staring intently at his face. Just as she prepared to leave, the man who had been lying motionless on the bed suddenly opened his eyes and sat bolt upright, as if he had dreamt of something agonizing.

Lin Wanbai instinctively stood up and turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist with a tight, forceful grip. She gasped, shouting in pain, "Are you trying to kill me? You're gripping so hard you'll crush my bones!"

"Wife!"

She froze. Legally, they were married, but she had lost her memories and wasn't used to the term. "You—don't call me that."

"Aren't you my wife?" he asked in a questioning tone.

She looked at him, meeting his bewildered gaze. She paused, feeling that something was wrong. "I am not."

"Impossible. You must be. I only remember you. You have to be my wife."

"What do you mean? 'Only remember me'? What are you talking about? Do you even know who you are?"

He blinked. "Who am I?"

"Huh?" Lin Wanbai couldn't believe it. What the hell? Had he lost his memory? Did the fever fry his brain? But if he had lost his memory, how could he not know who he was but still remember she was his wife? What kind of condition was this? Was he playing a trick on her?

"Fu Juxing, stop messing around!"

However, he looked genuinely lost, not like he was acting. "My name is Fu Juxing?"

Lin Wanbai raised an eyebrow, looking at his idiotic expression. She smirked and said, "No, your name is Stinky Dog Shit."

Fu Juxing frowned, incredulous. "Stinky Dog Shit?"

Lin Wanbai kept a straight face. "Yes."

"Is there a surname 'Stinky'?"

"Why wouldn't there be? There is here, and it's you—one of a kind."

He was silent for a while, looking at her. After a moment, he chose to believe her. "You are my wife; I believe you."

Lin Wanbai held back a laugh. She glanced at his hand gripping hers and said, "Let go. My hand hurts. Are you trying to break my bones?"

He released her immediately, thought for a second, and then quickly grabbed the hem of her shirt like a panicked child. "Don't go."

"I'm not going. I'm going to pour you some water. Listen to your throat; isn't it painful to talk?"

"It's not painful." He swallowed hard—it was clearly painful, but the thought of her leaving was worse.

Lin Wanbai tugged at her shirt. Seeing he wouldn't let go, she looked at him. "Let go. I’m just getting water. I’m not going outside. Look, the kettle is right there, only three or four steps away."

She coaxed him patiently. The kettle was empty. Fu Juxing still wouldn't let go. He believed her when she called him "Stinky Dog Shit," so why was it so hard to get him to let go of her shirt? He stared at her longingly, like a puppy.

Lin Wanbai thought for a moment and put on an angry face. "Are you going to let go or not? If you don't, I'm going to be angry! If you're so capable, watch me without sleeping every day! The moment you close your eyes, you'll never find me again!"

"Then I won't close my eyes."

Lin Wanbai was caught between laughter and tears at his persistence. She stopped moving, sat cross-legged on the bed, and looked at him. "Fine. Then we won't sleep or eat. We’ll just sit here and wait to die, okay?"

"I—I don't want you to die." His grip on her hem loosened. "That's not what I meant. I... I'm just afraid. Afraid you'll leave me behind."

"Why would you have such a strange thought?"

"A feeling." He stared straight at her.

"I won't. Sit properly. I'm going to get you water; I can't stand listening to your throat like that." She took his hand, softened her tone, and gently stroked the back of his hand. "Be good. Your sister won't abandon you."

"You are my wife, not my sister."

"I am not your wife; I am your sister."

Before he could speak, Lin Wanbai covered his mouth. "Enough, don't talk. It sounds terrible."

While he was stunned, she quickly pulled her shirt free and hurried out of the room.

The old doctor was sitting in his chair, fanning himself while boiling medicine in the sun, appearing as if he were asleep. She glanced back at the room and saw Fu Juxing had climbed off the bed. He didn't stand up, but leaned his head out, peering eagerly, his gaze locked on her.

"Sir, he's awake." She walked to the kitchen to fetch a cup, pouring water slowly. "But he seems to have lost his memory."

The old doctor opened his eyes, not looking surprised, as if he had expected it. He nodded. "I know."

Lin Wanbai couldn't help but grumble, "Great, now we have two amnesiacs. What are we supposed to do?"

She carried the water inside. Seeing her walk in, Fu Juxing immediately beamed. He wasn't fully recovered; his face was deathly pale and his lips were cracked. That smile caused his lips to split and bleed, which was particularly striking. It was a silly, puppy-like smile.

Lin Wanbai walked over and handed him the cup. "Drink."

He took it. "Thank you, wife."

He called that out very smoothly. "I told you, I'm your sister, yet you still call me wife!"

"No, I believe you are my wife."

"Why?"

He looked at her, his eyes a bit shy. "I can be certain you are definitely my wife."

He drank the water in one gulp. Just then, the old doctor walked in with a bowl of medicine, smiling at him. "Though it's a bit later than I expected, you're awake at least."

Lin Wanbai stood to the side. The old doctor sat in the chair by the bed and handed over the medicine. Fu Juxing held it with both hands and gulped it down. Lin Wanbai guessed he was starving; she had only fed him rice soup while he was unconscious. After finishing the medicine, he scanned Lin Wanbai and smiled foolishly at her again, his eyes filled with joy.

Lin Wanbai coughed and said, "Old doctor, what is wrong with him? Did he burn his brain, or what?"

The old doctor checked his pulse and asked a few simple questions. "It should be temporary amnesia. He might remember everything in a few days."

"Is it possible he'll never remember?"

"No," the old doctor smiled. "He will remember. Alright, I'm going to get some food. You take good care of him and let him rest."

Lin Wanbai grabbed the old doctor. "I'll go."

"Forget it. You nearly burned down my kitchen last time. Just stay here and take care of the patient." With that, the old doctor walked out.

Fu Juxing was very happy, patting the space next to him. "Wife, sit here, or lie on the bed."

He started to move, and Lin Wanbai quickly stopped him. "Stay lying down and don't move."

He asked again, "Are you cold?"

"I'm not."

Lin Wanbai stood by, looking down at him, carefully observing his expression. In his eyes, aside from joy, there was nothing else. She sat down, propped her chin on her hand, looked at him one last time, and then turned away.

"Wife, are you unhappy?"

"I said, I am not your wife. Why do you keep calling me that?! Can't you understand human speech?"

"Did I do something wrong? Are you angry, so you refuse to admit you are my wife?"

She was silent for a while, then turned back, sat straight, and looked at him seriously. "Fu Juxing, you’d better not play this joke on me. If you’ve lost your memory, fine, but shouldn't you have forgotten everything? How is it that you don't even know who you are, yet you're so certain I'm your wife? Who gave you that courage?"

"I told you, no one is named 'Stinky Dog Shit.' That must be a name given to a foundling." He chuckled. "Wife, you really love to joke."

Lin Wanbai glared at him and stopped talking. Fu Juxing reached out, took her hand, and said obediently, "Wife, I was wrong. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I will never do anything to make you unhappy again. From now on, if you tell me to go east, I won't dare go west. If you tell me to sit, I won't stand. Whatever you want, even if it means climbing a mountain of swords or diving into a sea of fire, I will get it for you. As long as you're happy, I'll do anything."

"Wife, you are my life. If you abandon me, I'll have no life left."

Lin Wanbai was dumbstruck. When he was clear-headed, he had never said such things. Now that his brain was malfunctioning, where did he learn these cheesy lines? He was clearly messing with her!

She reached out and tapped his head, not too hard. "Your brain really has water in it."

"No, my brain only has you, no water."

As he said this, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms with surprising agility. He hugged her tightly. "You are my only one."

Lin Wanbai struggled, bumping into the wound on his left shoulder. He groaned but didn't let go, holding her firmly. Only when Lin Wanbai saw the white bandage stained with blood did she stop. "Have you had enough?"

"Just a little longer, I'll lose my strength soon."

Sure enough, a few minutes later, he couldn't hold on and released her. Lin Wanbai helped him lie back down and ran to the kitchen to find the old doctor. Seeing the situation, the doctor couldn't help but scold them. "One more time, and I'll kick you both out. I’m not wasting my medicine. Do you understand?"

Fu Juxing said, "It's my fault. If you want to scold someone, scold me; it has nothing to do with my wife."

Old doctor: "I am talking about you."

Fu Juxing fell silent and lay down obediently. After dressing the wound, the old doctor hurried back to the kitchen to watch the porridge.

Lin Wanbai stopped being angry with him, sat nearby, and said, "Don't think about anything right now. Rest well and heal your wounds before talking about anything else. We can't stay here for free. Don't let his benevolent appearance fool you; he has a terrible temper."

"Is he mean to you?"

"Not mean, just makes me do chores. Get well soon, and you can take over the work."

He nodded, agreeing with every word she said. "Don't worry, I will get better soon."

"Good, then don't mess around. Don't do what you just did again."

"Okay, I'll hug you after I'm better."

Lin Wanbai twitched her mouth and didn't argue. There was no point in reasoning with someone whose brain was flooded.

In the following days, Fu Juxing was very well-behaved and obedient, doing whatever he was told. Most of the time he was awake, his eyes fixed on her, refusing to look away for even a minute, as if afraid she would run. In reality, Fu Juxing wasn't afraid she would run; he just couldn't get enough of looking at her.

The village had two newcomers—a handsome man and a beautiful woman, who were supposedly siblings. The news spread quickly, and the area outside the old doctor’s house became busy. Most people were just "passing by" to see how beautiful the beauty really was. The women were more reserved, only coming by once or twice under the guise of getting medicine to steal a peek. He was truly handsome—even in his sickly state, he was a "sickly beauty."

Lin Wanbai knew the background of this village and was fearful. Once she realized the attention they were getting, she started smearing dust on her face every morning, making herself look disheveled. Every morning as she did this, the old doctor would watch and laugh at her for being unnecessary.

One day, a young man, looking about seventeen or eighteen, came to the door clutching a bunch of wildflowers. He straightened his clothes, spat, smoothed his hair, and knocked on the courtyard gate. The wall wasn't high; one could see everyone inside, so knocking was entirely superfluous. But it made him look more sophisticated.

The old doctor was fiddling with herbs and, seeing the newcomer, smiled. "Come in."

The village hadn't been this lively for a long time. With new arrivals, it was bound to be busy, especially with two such good-looking people.

Lin Wanbai was crouching by the door of the room boiling medicine—she was there only because Fu Juxing wanted to watch her. The old doctor had ordered her to prioritize the patient and follow his wishes so he would recover faster. Lin Wanbai didn't want to, but complied, not wanting to cause trouble for others.

The young man, given permission, entered happily. He walked up to the disheveled Lin Wanbai and fell to his knees on both shins with a thud. Lin Wanbai was startled; she covered half her face with a grass fan, staring at him. She remembered him—he came by three times a day, early, at noon, and at dusk, and had brought them a dozen fish over the past few days. She didn't want to remember his face, but she did.

He was nervous, holding the flowers out to her, and stuttered, "I... I... I... I like you."

Before he could finish, Lin Wanbai caught a glimpse of a flash of white in her peripheral vision. A white medicine bowl flew through the air and struck the young man square on the head. As the bowl fell, the young man let out a cry, and Fu Juxing’s cold voice sounded in his ear: "Trying to court my wife? Are you tired of living?"

The young man was stunned, clutching his forehead as he sat on the ground, his head throbbing. He looked at his palm, his eyes widening, and scrambled to his feet, ready to rush inside. Fortunately, the old doctor was quick, intercepting him and saying coldly: "Don't cause trouble here!"

However, the young man seemed to have changed into a different person, roaring at Fu Juxing. Lin Wanbai was terrified by the scene and ran into the room, quickly locking the door behind her. The young man kicked the door hard, his shouting continuing, until it suddenly stopped. Lin Wanbai pressed her ear to the door, listened for a long while, then opened a crack to see the young man lying on the ground, seemingly unconscious.

The old doctor looked at her. "It's fine. Stay inside for now."

Lin Wanbai swallowed hard and didn't ask questions, quickly locking the door again. She turned and glared fiercely at Fu Juxing, walking over to him and patting his head, suppressing her voice. "What are you doing?!"

"Asserting my territory." He wasn't afraid at all, looking up into her eyes. "You are my wife. What did that man mean just now? Proposing to you right in front of me? Did he think I was dead?"

"You..."

He suddenly pulled Lin Wanbai down and blocked her mouth with his own. She was shocked and pushed him away. "You—are you sick?!"

"If loving you is a sickness, then yes, I am sick!"

"You, you..." Lin Wanbai was furious. She put one hand on her waist and pointed at his nose with the other. "You—are you playing with me?! Fu Juxing, stop acting! With the way you're behaving, it’s a ghost story if you really have amnesia!"

"Memory doesn't matter. As long as I have you, it's enough."

He looked at her intensely, completely serious.

After the old doctor finished dealing with the young man, he pushed the door open and glanced at Fu Juxing. "It seems your injuries are mostly healed; that was a heavy blow. That young man is usually fine, but he can't stand the sight of blood, especially his own. He loses control when he sees it. You're quite something, smashing a hole in someone's head like that."

Lin Wanbai worried about a blood feud, but she didn't say it in front of Fu Juxing.

"I’ll solve the trouble I caused myself. Besides, he was the one peeping at my wife first. As a man, if I don't speak up at a time like this, when will I?"

The old doctor said, "Everyone in the village only knows you two are siblings; no one knows you are husband and wife."

Fu Juxing looked at Lin Wanbai, his eyes filled with a flash of disappointment, like an abandoned puppy, and he fell silent.

Lin Wanbai said, "Go apologize to him tomorrow."

He pursed his lips, saying nothing. After a moment, he nodded. "Whatever you say, I will do." This was what he had promised from the beginning; he hadn't forgotten.

...

Two weeks passed. Meng Changdong had arranged several search parties to scour the sea, but apart from a few yacht fragments, they found nothing. They conducted a thorough search of the nearby coastline but found no news of Fu Juxing. In Beicheng, there was no sign of him either; he seemed to have evaporated into thin air.

Li Ting had the message spread that Fu Juxing had been buried at sea—that he was dead. The news reached Beicheng, and before Liang Yusheng could suppress it, the whole city knew.

The corporation was shaken, and rumors ran wild. Even with Liang Yusheng personally intervening, he couldn't stop them. Liang Yusheng realized, to his surprise, that many people within the group harbored ulterior motives.

Liang Xi had been on vacation, but the moment the news of Fu Juxing's death broke, she appeared at the company to stabilize the situation. Liang Yusheng hadn't expected Liang Xi to have gained such prestige; many people trusted her. Liang Yusheng kept his thoughts to himself, only praising her briefly. She was very much like her mother—flawless in her work and highly capable. She could be the best assistant or stand on her own.

Xiao Bao hadn't been found, and now Aunt Rong and Lin Wanbai were also missing. With the news of Fu Juxing’s death, Liang Yusheng’s workload increased drastically; he was out early and back late, barely able to manage the search.

That night, returning home, he passed Fu Juxing’s room and heard crying inside. He paused, noticing the door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open and saw Liang Xi standing inside, weeping into her hands.

Hearing the movement, Liang Xi stopped, wiped her tears, and turned to look, forcing a smile. "Father, you're back."

"Why are you hiding here crying?"

"I'm not. I just miss Ah Xing. I hope the news is false. I really hope it's false. He has suffered so much, enduring everything with gritted teeth. Now that he had finally made something of himself, to encounter such a thing... why can't Heaven give him a way out?" She hung her head, sobbing uncontrollably.

Liang Yusheng sighed. "I don't believe he would meet his end so easily. I don't know where this news came from, but as long as there is no body, I won't accept it. Unless I see the body, I won't believe he is truly dead."

Liang Xi nodded. Liang Yusheng coughed, and she immediately stopped crying, rushing to his side to support him. "Dad, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Busy with work lately, haven't rested well. Don't worry."

"Dad, your health hasn't been good these past two years; don't overwork yourself. If you don't trust me with some things, you can hand them to Uncle Qin. Money can always be earned, but health is the most important thing."

"I have my own judgment. Don't worry."

"I'll accompany you to your room."

"Hmm."

Afterward, Liang Xi helped Liang Yusheng back to his room. Later that night, she brought him a cup of milk. Only after watching him drink it did she return to her room to rest.

...

Because of the Lin Wanbai incident, Li Ting and the Tianhe Society had a falling out. Originally, they didn't cross paths, but now they were sabotaging each other at every turn. A major deal for the Tianhe Society was about to be signed, but Li Ting personally stepped in and ruined it.

Zuo Yushan was furious, flipping a table at home. "That Li Ting! He should be content with his tiny patch of land, but he dares to meddle in my business! Does Zuo Yushan look like a pushover to him?!"

The people standing nearby were motionless, heads bowed in silence. Zuo Yushan, in a fit of rage, kicked a wine bottle away. Just as Han Chen walked in, the bottle flew right toward him, nearly hitting him. He stopped dead.

Zuo Yushan glanced at him, his expression softening slightly. "Are you alright?"

Han Chen shook his head, walked around the bottle, and approached. He had heard about the sabotaged business. Half of his mind was currently occupied with searching for Lin Wanbai. The situation at the time had been so chaotic, with several groups rushing in, that no one knew who had actually gotten hold of her. She was nowhere to be found, dead or alive.

The only thing he knew was that Li Ting had finished off Fu Juxing. That was good news. With Fu Juxing dead, the obstacles were fewer, and Lin Zhouye wouldn't have to hide anymore; he could go to the Lin Group and reclaim what was rightfully his. Yet, the reason for Li Ting’s unprovoked hostility towards them left Han Chen with lingering doubts.

"I heard about the Li Ting incident. It was my negligence. Brother Shan, punish me. It was my personal business that delayed the deal and gave Li Ting an opening. It's my fault; you have to punish me."

Zuo Yushan lit a cigarette and smoked it slowly. He paced back and forth, then sat on the sofa. Halfway through the cigarette, he looked at him. "Since the law applies to everyone, I cannot shield you. Go to Old K and take your punishment."

"Yes."

After Han Chen responded, he went to Old K. After enduring fifty lashes, he returned to Xiansheng Mansion. As soon as he entered, he collapsed. Lin Zhouye heard the noise and rushed over, shocked to see him on the floor. His face was pale, his hair matted with sweat against his forehead.

He helped him up. "What's going on? What happened?"

Han Chen waved him off. "There's medicine by the TV cabinet. Help me clean up. Thanks."

Lin Zhouye helped him upstairs and settled him on the bed. Returning downstairs, he heard the urgent ringing of the doorbell. He thought for a moment and went to open it. A woman in a black suit stood there, expressionless. "Brother Shan sent me."

Lin Zhouye knew roughly who Han Chen was with. He stepped aside to let her in. The woman walked in, her heels clicking.

"He's upstairs."

"Hmm."

She went up first, and Lin Zhouye brought the medical kit. Han Chen had already passed out and taken off his shirt; his back was a bloody mess. Lin Zhouye frowned slightly, though the woman seemed accustomed to it. She put down her bag, went to the bathroom to fetch a basin of hot water, and began cleaning the wounds.

Lin Zhouye remained silent, helping her. The two worked well together, and apart from Han Chen’s occasional groans, the room was quiet. About half an hour later, the wounds were cleaned and dressed. The woman wrote down a list of daily tasks, handed it to Lin Zhouye, and gave him a naked, appraising look. "These must be done perfectly every day until his wounds scab over."

"Okay."

"Alright, nothing else. I'm leaving."

She grabbed her bag, waved at him, and left. Soon after she left, the doorbell rang again; two caregivers had arrived, presumably to look after Han Chen. Lin Zhouye handed them the list and finally let out a sigh of relief. In his life, other than serving Lin Wanbai, he had never served anyone.

Old K was notoriously ruthless; no one who went to him for punishment came out without shredded skin. It usually took ten to fifteen days to heal, or even a month for those with weaker constitutions. Han Chen had been exercising for the past two years, and his physical condition was much better, so he had survived the fifty lashes without losing face, collapsing only after he reached home. That was the spirit and endurance expected of a second-in-command.

The next afternoon, Han Chen woke up. Lin Zhouye went up to check on him. He struggled to sit up, but even that simple motion left him covered in cold sweat. It was truly painful—his whole back burned like fire. He frowned, his face pale, and took the cup from the caregiver, swallowed his medicine, and then waved them out. These people had been sent by Zuo Yushan.

Zuo Yushan hadn't wanted to punish him, but having recently risen to power, showing favoritism would make it hard to command respect later. Moreover, they had invested immense resources in that deal, negotiating for a year, only for it to be ruined. It was the biggest deal since Zuo Yushan took power, meant to establish his authority. The failure hit him hard.

Han Chen, waking up and seeing the caregivers, felt his heart finally settle. He had been terrified that Zuo Yushan would be disappointed and eventually strip him of his power, but it seemed there was no long-term damage.

Lin Zhouye sat in a chair nearby. "A woman came to treat you last night."

"I know." He nodded.

"What happened?" Lin Zhouye asked.

Han Chen closed his eyes, enduring the intense pain. After a moment, he said, "News came from Macau that Fu Juxing was buried at sea."

"Reliable?"

"Should be."

"And Xiao Bai?"

"Still haven't found her. We don't know whose hands she fell into. The situation that day was chaotic; besides our Tianhe people, others were trying to snatch her. Everyone was chasing, and in the end, she disappeared."

Lin Zhouye furrowed his brow, his expression somber.

"How are the arrangements for the Lin Group?"

"Don't worry, I have a plan."

"Then don't wait."

Lin Zhouye shook his head. "Better to be cautious. You know back when the Fu family hadn't fallen, everyone thought Fu Juxing was incompetent and harmless, all under my control. But the result? He didn't just make waves—he wiped us all out. I don't believe Fu Juxing would rush to Macau to die without being absolutely certain. He is not that kind of person."

"What do you mean? You suspect he faked his death?"

Lin Zhouye smiled. "Dead means seeing a body. Did you see one?"

Han Chen looked at him. After a long time, thinking of how Li Ting had suddenly attacked the Tianhe Society, a guess formed in his mind.

Lin Zhouye said, "Xiao Bai is missing, and Fu Juxing is buried at sea. Do you think there’s a possibility they are together?"

"I will arrange for a carpet search. Dead or alive, I will find them."