"Still pretending! The first time you saved me was because you caused me to fall off the cliff. But this time? Why did you save me again?" Yi Luowa frowned, staring at him intently.
"I don't have time to waste saving you!" Tong Airui frowned back at her. He was determined not to admit he saved her the second time. The reason was simple: he'd lied to someone over the phone, claiming Yi Luowa was a lucky customer of Zhuo Yuan's cellphone promotion. "A scammer with a conscience not completely eaten by dogs!" This was the definition Yi Luowa had given him. Just hearing it made him lose face completely.
Yi Luowa glanced at him sideways and raised her hand to point at Yuan Hang, "There's only one number in my phone. I just called it, and his phone rang. How do you explain that?"
Tong Airui slightly tilted his chin toward Yuan Hang, "Why don't you explain this?"
Yuan Hang's mouth twitched violently, tasked with explaining this—how could he?
"I don't mean anything else. I'm the kind of person who hates owing others favors. I just want to find the person who saved me and thank them properly." Seeing Yuan Hang's clear hesitation, Yi Luowa explained her intentions.
Tong Airui furrowed his brow to buy Yuan Hang some time to think up a lie, "Why would you even think the person who saved you might be me?"
"Because of Mi Chenxuan."
Mi Chenxuan came running over, crouched halfway down beside the wheelchair, and grinned, "Because of me? Hey, kiddo, tell me, why because of me? Is it because I'm too handsome?"
Everyone rolled their eyes together at silly Chenxuan.
Yi Luowa's lips twitched subtly, "Don't call me 'kiddo,' my name is Yi Luowa."
"I know your name is Yi Luowa, but I like calling you 'kiddo.' I also know you're a lot of fun!"
"Old Eight, go stand over there and let her finish talking." Tong Airui propped his hands on the bed and slowly sat up.
Mi Chenxuan pouted but reluctantly stood up.
"I overheard Mi Chenxuan say something in the hospital room earlier. He said: 'Brother, is Fourth Brother really going to be crippled?' After hearing that, my hand instinctively rubbed hard against my pants." Yi Luowa paused, knowing she'd developed a bad habit. Whenever this issue came up, or whenever she saw Tong Airui, she couldn't help but feel her hands were dirty.
Tong Airui glared hatefully at her, "Continue talking!"
Yi Luowa pouted slightly, "Uncle Li gave me some information. I know Mi Chenxuan's older brother is Mi Chenshuo, the movie emperor. I actually met him once before. At first, I thought the person who called for help on my behalf was him. He received my call and then sent his younger brother to the accident scene to rescue me—that seemed like the most reasonable explanation."
"The movie emperor can't spare time to bother with your trivial issues," Tong Airui remarked sourly out of nowhere.
Mi Chenshuo shot Tong Airui a sideways glance, "You're wrong about that. Ms. Yi is my fan. How could a fan's matter ever be 'trivial'? If Ms. Yi had called me, I would have personally gone to the scene to save her."
Tong Airui's eyes rounded in disbelief: Just you wait!
Mi Chenshuo raised an eyebrow lightly: Sure, I'm waiting.
"Kiddo, don't pay attention to them. Keep talking." Mi Chenxuan grinned mischievously and leaned closer again.
"I heard you all coming into this hospital room, so I followed to confirm my suspicion. To verify, I made a phone call and heard the voice of that guy who loves pretending to be cool." Yi Luowa glanced at Yuan Hang before turning to Mi Chenxuan, "Based on my analysis, this guy wouldn't have the ability to command you, the second young master of the Mi family."
Mi Chenxuan nodded repeatedly, "The way you lay it all out makes you even sharper than my aunt. Ha ha... Your analysis is spot on. If he dared order me around, I'd break one of his legs."
"But he's one of your Fourth Brother's people. Wouldn't you have to listen if it was your Fourth Brother giving the instructions?" Yi Luowa smiled at him.
Mi Chenxuan turned his head to look at Tong Airui, who was lying on the hospital bed, "Fourth Brother, is she trying to lead me into a trap here?"
"Sounds like she's got that intention." Tong Airui looked amused, glancing at silly Chenxuan.
"Not funny! Kiddo, you're no fun at all!" Mi Chenxuan grumbled and plopped onto the sofa angrily.
Mai Zekai, who'd been sitting silently next to him, suddenly spoke slowly, "Do us the honor of lifting your royal rear!"
"Why!" Mi Chenxuan shot him a glare.
"You're pressing the world's most expensive hand underneath your gluteus maximus." After saying that, Mai Zekai subtly wiggled his fingers beneath Mi Chenxuan's bottom.
Mi Chenxuan let out a howl and leapt up, "Brother! Seventh Brother is harassing me! He touched my butt!"
Mi Chenshuo chortled, "Serves you right! Why'd you go cozy up to him for no reason?"
Yi Luowa chuckled briefly, but her smile quickly faded. Her face clouded over with Wu Yun; with everything happening in her family, how could she truly laugh at a time like this?
"Brother Yuan Hang, I don't want to disturb your rest. Could you tell me the truth?"
Yuan Hang glanced sneakily at Tong Airui before saying, "Actually, it's pretty straightforward. We had some minor disputes earlier. That day, I saw your photo with Third Master on his social media and thought I'd play a prank. So I called you. Not long after, you called back. I'm the kind of guy who looks tough but isn't heartless—I couldn't just ignore someone in need. So I made up a story pretending to act on Fourth Master's command and sent Eighth Master to save you."
Tong Airui was quite satisfied with Yuan Hang's fabricated explanation. At least it removed him from the picture and wouldn't let the 'kiddo' know how much of a bored busybody he actually was.
Yi Luowa eyed Mi Chenxuan skeptically, "Is what he said the truth?"
"Yep." Mi Chenxuan nodded.
"So my saviors are Brother Yuan Hang and you?" Yi Luowa continued.
Mi Chenxuan quickly waved his hand, "Saviors is too much—just a small effort."
"As long as my savior isn't him, that's what matters!"
Everyone naturally understood whom Yi Luowa referred to when she said "him." It seemed the grudge between the two had settled deeper.
Yi Luowa turned her wheelchair toward Mai Zekai, "I have one more question. Mai Zekai, the top surgeon in the imperial capital, you abandoned a critically ill patient to not rescue them and chose to save me—the one only suffering superficial injuries. Was that your true intention?"
Mai Zekai froze slightly; of course, it wasn't his intention. Fourth Brother had pressured him, hadn't he?
"Were you coerced?" Yi Luowa stared at him without blinking.
"…" Mai Zekai avoided her gaze. Her piercing look seemed to possess the power to see through anything.
"If you don't want to say, I won't force you. I just want to make one plea. Tomorrow, specialists from country F will arrive. I'd like to invite you to join their consultation for my second uncle. Is that okay?"
Seeing her eyes filled with hope, Mai Zekai nodded without hesitation, "Alright!"
"Thank you!" Yi Luowa said while glancing around the hospital room at everyone—excluding Tong Airui, of course. "And thank you all for your help. I will not forget this kindness. If any of you ever need me, Yi Luowa, just give me a heads-up. I'll go through fire and water without hesitation."
"Ha ha… A true heroine!" Mi Chenxuan laughed aloud.
"Well then, we'll meet again in the Jianghu!" Yi Luowa glanced at him, then wheeled herself out of the hospital room.