Chapter 97
Ye Zhi only felt pain, an excruciating, bone-deep pain that quickly covered his forehead in sweat. The chaos around him blurred, and he had no strength to speak, only hearing Huo Youcheng calling for an ambulance and then feeling himself being lifted and rushed outside.
Blood dripped onto the expensive carpet, adding to the disarray of the room.
Huo Youcheng carried Ye Zhi out, and soon an ambulance arrived. Ye Zhi was placed on a stretcher and given an oxygen mask.
The knife was removed at the hospital. Under the influence of anesthesia, Ye Zhi no longer felt pain and only wanted to sleep. He vaguely felt someone holding his hand tightly and kissing his cheek, their lips moving as if speaking, but the words were indistinct.
Before his eyes closed, Ye Zhi thought he saw tears streaming down Huo Youcheng’s face.
Ye Zhi slept deeply but was eventually awakened by a sharp, increasing pain.
When he awoke, he was lying on his stomach, feeling uncomfortable and wanting to move, but someone gently restrained him. A voice whispered in his ear, “Don’t move. The wound has just been stitched; moving might cause it to bleed.”
Ye Zhi obeyed and slowly opened his eyes to see Huo Youcheng’s concerned face.
They had been married for five years, and Ye Zhi had never seen such an expression on Huo Youcheng’s face, making him pause. But he quickly realized why.
He had saved Huo Youcheng’s life, so some concern was to be expected.
Huo Youcheng was genuinely happy to see him awake and cautiously asked, “How do you feel? Is it very painful? The doctor said the anesthesia would wear off and it would hurt a lot. If you can’t bear it, we can give you more medication.”
Ye Zhi’s throat felt dry as he tried to speak. Huo Youcheng immediately noticed, turning to pour a cup of warm water and inserting a glass straw. “Drink like this, small sips. The doctor said although you didn’t injure any vital organs, you still need to be careful.”
“Thank you,” Ye Zhi said, sipping the water and feeling surprised. “I didn’t injure any organs?”
Huo Youcheng nodded, “The weapon wasn’t sharp, and he didn’t use much force. The blade didn’t go all the way in, and the location was just right to avoid any organs.” His expression turned fierce. “If it had, I would have made him pay tenfold.”
Despite the pain, Ye Zhi asked, “What happened to him?” He could tell that Huo Youcheng had completely lost any former affection for Ye Mu, filled only with hatred and certainly showing no mercy.
Huo Youcheng replied, “He’s been reported to the police and arrested.” Then he frowned. “You don’t expect me to just let him go, do you?”
Ye Zhi, struggling with the pain, managed a slight shake of his head, his voice faint, “Let the law handle it.” He understood the gravity of the situation. Unlike before when Ye Mu hit him with an ashtray in anger, this was a deliberate attack. If the knife had struck Huo Youcheng’s heart and accidentally killed him, what then?
“You’ve finally come to your senses and seen them for what they are,” Huo Youcheng sighed with relief, his expression softening. “Because of today, I’ve realized my true feelings. Ye Zhi, you’re different from them. You risked your life for me, and from now on, I’ll cherish and love you properly.”
His sincere expression and evident affection left Ye Zhi momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond. Just then, the door opened abruptly, and a panting, worried man entered, his face pale.
When Huo Youcheng’s brother, Huo Youqiao, saw Ye Zhi, he finally relaxed.
Their eyes met, and Ye Zhi felt a tightness in his chest.
This incident, despite the attacker being from Ye Zhi’s family, demonstrated his willingness to risk his life for Huo Youcheng, which in turn brought positive changes.
Huo Youcheng’s commitment became evident. He severed ties with all his extramarital affairs and stayed by Ye Zhi’s side in the hospital, even moving his work there. His meticulous care and tenderness towards Ye Zhi were a stark contrast to his former behavior.
He officially recognized Ye Zhi’s status as his spouse within his family and even considered holding a formal wedding ceremony. With Huo Youcheng’s newfound dedication, his friends and associates began to respect Ye Zhi more, leading to a steady stream of visitors and well-wishers filling the hospital room with flowers and fruit baskets.
