After calling on the system for 20 years of medical experience, I immediately carried Ruxue to the bedroom. Her bleeding arm needed urgent attention. With calm precision, I opened the medical box, disinfected the wound, and bandaged it tightly to stop further blood loss.
Only after I stabilized her did I rush her to the hospital.
Now, after hours of IV drips and care, she slowly opened her eyes. The pale color on her face began to return, and her breathing became steadier.
"Chen Yu…" she whispered, surprised to see me beside her. And then, as the memories of what happened came rushing back, tears welled up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry… I just wanted to make Yuxin a little jealous… I didn't think she'd go that far—I ruined everything—I wasted your time, you must be so mad… You're not going to leave me, are you? Please don't say that…"
Before she could spiral any further, I gently placed both my hands on her cheeks, looking into her eyes.
"Hey, hey—calm down," I said softly. "I'm not going anywhere."
She froze, staring at me.
"This wasn't your fault. She crossed the line. You didn't do anything wrong. So don't blame yourself, alright?"
She bit her lower lip, still trembling slightly, but nodded.
I ran my thumb gently along her cheek. "Ruxue… when I tell you not to do things that upset me, it's not just about avoiding drama. It means I want you to protect yourself too."
She blinked.
"You matter to me. So take care of yourself. Promise me you won't let that woman anywhere near you again. You don't know what she's capable of next time."
Her tears finally fell, but this time it wasn't fear—it was relief.
"I promise…" she whispered.
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling softly. "Good girl."
Hospital Room – The Next Morning
Just as I was about to leave for the night, Ruxue reached out, her fingers wrapping around my wrist with surprising strength despite her condition.
"Don't go, Chen Yu…" she said softly, her eyes glimmering with vulnerability. "Can you stay with me tonight? Maybe… we can go home together tomorrow morning."
I looked into her eyes for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
I dragged the chair closer to the bed, sat down, and leaned back, prepared for a night of light sleep beside her.
The Next Morning
Sunlight peeked in through the pale curtains, and I slowly opened my eyes, feeling warmth beside me.
Wait—warmth?
I blinked in confusion.
I wasn't on the chair anymore. I was lying in the hospital bed. And Ruxue… was curled up beside me, one leg casually draped over mine, her arm clutching me like a pillow. Her head rested gently on my shoulder.
I didn't even realize when she pulled me up here. But seeing her peaceful sleeping face… I didn't feel like waking her up.
Still, we had to get going.
"Ruxue," I whispered, brushing her hair back. "Time to wake up."
She stirred, slowly opening her eyes. For a second, she looked confused. Then she noticed our position, her cheeks immediately flushing pink.
"Ah—sorry! I… I didn't mean to…"
I chuckled. "It's fine. Come on, let's go home."
At the Villa
After reaching the villa, I helped her settle down and went to freshen up. I decided to cook something simple but filling.
Ruxue came down a little later, her hair still damp from the shower, wearing a fresh set of clothes. She smiled as she saw me at the kitchen counter.
"Chen Yu… you cooked today? I was actually craving your food."
I turned, placing the final dish on the table. "Yeah. Eat as much as you want. After breakfast, we'll head to college together."
Her eyes lit up as she sat down. "You're too good to me, you know?"
I just smiled and sat across from her.
At Tianxu University
We arrived at campus just like the previous day, riding in the sleek black LMW. Whispers spread the moment we stepped out of the car. People stared, trying to make sense of what they were seeing.
But I didn't care. Their opinions didn't matter.
"Ruxue, I'll go meet the guys in the dorms," I said casually.
"Alright, don't take too long," she replied with a smile, giving my hand a quick squeeze before walking off.
I made my way to the male dormitory, where my three closest friends—Zhang Qiang, Li Wei, and Zhou Feng—were already waiting.
Just as we started chatting and joking around, everything changed.
The ground trembled.
At first, it felt like a small vibration—then it intensified.
The walls shook violently. Alarms blared. Furniture began crashing down. The building swayed like it was alive.
"Earthquake!" someone screamed.
"Everyone outside! Move!" I shouted, instantly taking charge.
I grabbed my friends, one by one, shoving them toward the exit with the crowd.
As soon as we burst outside, a deafening crack echoed behind us. We looked back—windows were shattering. Panic spread like wildfire.
And then—
"Chen Yu!"
I turned toward the voice.
Ruxue came running, barefoot, her face pale with fear. She threw herself into my arms, trembling.
"What's going on?! The sky—it's… look!"
I looked up.
The sky had turned pitch black—unnatural and sudden. Clouds swirled like a vortex. A strange pressure filled the air.
Something… wasn't right.
This wasn't a normal earthquake.
Something bigger was coming.