Chapter 63: As Long As Your Waist Is Healed

Xu An’an was startled, but from the woman’s heated argument with the shop owner, she gathered that the woman was a relative of one of the victims and had been keeping watch nearby ever since those food stalls opened for business.

The woman’s name was Chen Miao. She grabbed Xu An’an, urging her away. “Don’t be fooled! These people care nothing for human life, only money!”

Once outside, Chen Miao let go of Xu An’an’s hand. Her eyes were red as she recounted her story: her young son, after eating from those stalls after school, had gone home and suffered from severe vomiting and diarrhea. He was still in the hospital.

She wiped her tears. “He finally stopped vomiting, but he’s been unconscious ever since.”

Xu An’an found this odd. If there really was a problem with the food from those stalls, surely the shops wouldn’t still be open. But it seemed unlikely Chen Miao would lie to her. Since she was already here, Xu An’an asked Chen Miao to take her to the hospital, showing her press credentials to reassure her.

Immediately, Chen Miao agreed. “Reporter Xu, you must report the truth! Make sure those heartless shopkeepers don’t profit from their misdeeds! My poor son is only five years old!”

At the entrance to the hospital room, a man stood guard. When he saw Chen Miao arrive with someone unfamiliar, he asked, “Who’s this?”

“This is Reporter Xu—she’s here to seek justice for us!”

The moment he learned Xu An’an was a journalist, the man’s expression changed. He pulled Chen Miao aside, lowering his voice. “Get rid of her now!”

But Chen Miao refused, telling her husband to stay out of it. The man shoved her aside and strode toward Xu An’an. “Leave, now. This is none of your business!”

“Wang Quanan!” Chen Miao erupted in anger, her eyes bloodshot as she forcefully pushed her husband away. “I’ve approached so many journalists and none were willing to help. Now, finally, someone is, and you want to drive her away? Our son is still lying unconscious in that bed!”

“This isn’t the time to make a scene!” he snapped.

“How is seeking justice for your son making a scene?” she retorted.

Standing to the side, Xu An’an observed the exchange, growing more suspicious of Wang Quanan. Shouldn’t a parent put their child above everything? With their son still unconscious, why would he refuse to pursue justice?

Lost in thought, Xu An’an was caught off guard when Wang Quanan, in the midst of arguing with his wife, suddenly turned and charged at her. Unprepared, Xu An’an was shoved aside, staggering backward until her lower back struck the railing.

“Ah!” she cried out in pain, a cold sweat breaking out across her forehead.

Chen Miao hurried over. “Reporter Xu!”

Before Chen Miao could reach her, Jiang Li appeared just in time. His tall, elegant figure radiated dignity, but his eyes were stormy and cold.

He caught Xu An’an, his gaze flashing with icy light.

Wang Quanan paled with fear. “I—I didn’t mean it.”

“Assistant Wang, check the security footage,” Jiang Li ordered without wasting breath. He handed the matter over to his assistant, then swept Xu An’an into his arms and carried her away.

Clad in his impeccable suit, Jiang Li was clearly about to be discharged from the hospital. Along the way, many people turned to look. Xu An’an’s cheeks flushed red as she whispered, “Put me down. I can walk on my own.”

Jiang Li ignored her, bringing her back to his hospital room. With deliberate teasing, he said, “Thanks to you, this room has become my private suite.”

He set Xu An’an down on the bed. “Lie on your stomach. I’ll rub some medicinal wine on you.”

Xu An’an wanted to refuse, but remembering her mission, she refrained from being coy and obeyed. “There’s definitely something wrong with Wang Quanan. If your child suffered like this, would you, as a father, try to sweep things under the rug?”

“I prefer daughters,” Jiang Li replied.

Xu An’an looked at him in exasperation as he rummaged for the medicinal wine. Did he even know what was important here? She couldn’t even bring herself to retort, so she just kept thinking aloud. “In my opinion, this child’s accident has little to do with those food stalls.”

She liked to voice her thoughts as she worked through a problem, as if it helped her untangle the mess.

Jiang Li found the medicinal wine and lifted the hem of Xu An’an’s shirt, revealing bruises on her pale skin, making the wounds look even more severe.

He warmed his hands before pouring the wine. “Bear with it.”

The moment his large hand pressed down, Xu An’an tensed in pain, biting the pillow to stifle a cry.

Jiang Li’s eyes darkened. But to dispel the bruise, he had to use some force.

He deliberately tried to distract her. “Last time, you hurt your waist, and now it’s the same spot. Is your waist even alright?”

Despite the pain, Xu An’an nearly laughed. She retorted without thinking, “As long as your waist is fine.”

“Aren’t you the most familiar with the state of my waist?” he shot back.

“Not necessarily,” she replied.

Jiang Li had no interest in bantering further. After applying the medicinal wine, he called his assistant in from the door. “Well?”

“They’re both waiting outside to apologize to Miss Xu,” the assistant reported.

As Xu An’an tried to sit up, Jiang Li offered his hand, which she took to steady herself. “Tell them to go home.”

Wang Quanan had deliberately rammed her, hoping to chase her off; his apology now was clearly insincere. Since that was the case, she had no interest in dealing with them.

The phone rang. Jiang Li answered, his brow furrowing. After hanging up, he immediately left without a word to Xu An’an, as if he’d forgotten her altogether. Wasn’t their relationship more than just that kind of relationship? Didn’t it count as friendship?

After resting, Xu An’an went to find Chen Miao again. This time, Wang Quanan was nowhere in sight; instead, Chen Miao was talking with another woman. Xu An’an waited nearby.

From their conversation, Xu An’an learned the woman was Chen Miao’s close friend. That in itself wasn’t strange, but Xu An’an noticed the friend wore a couple’s watch—the same model as Wang Quanan’s. Chen Miao’s own wrists were bare.

Could the truth really be this outrageous? Chen Miao’s friend seemed remorseful. “If I’d come to pick up Haohao a bit earlier that day, he wouldn’t have bought food at the stalls, and none of this would have happened.”

Xu An’an’s eyes flashed. So it was Chen Miao’s friend who was supposed to pick up the child that day!

“Miaomiao, I have to go. I’ll see you later,” the friend said, then turned to leave.

Without hesitation, Xu An’an quietly followed her—and her efforts paid off. She watched as Chen Miao’s friend got into Wang Quanan’s car. So that was where Wang Quanan had gone—to wait for his lover.

All the clues pointed to one thing: Chen Miao’s son’s accident might well have been orchestrated by this adulterous pair. Appalling! Even a tiger doesn’t eat its own cubs.

Xu An’an crept closer, pulled out her camera, and snapped a few photos—otherwise, Chen Miao would never believe her words.

From here on, she’d need Chen Miao’s cooperation to make those two pay for what they’d done.

“What are you doing?” Suddenly, someone appeared behind Xu An’an.