Chapter 375: Heart Knot
When Wu Sheng heard Su Li introduce herself on the broadcast, he pumped his fist in excitement.
But the very next second, his sharp ears picked up a strange noise.
"What was that sound?" Although the noise vanished quickly and most people would have missed it, Wu Sheng heard it.
He had been recording the broadcast, so he played it back.
Listening again, he confirmed it. There was an odd sound, like a door being slammed or hit.
The people at the radio station were professionals. They would never make a mistake like that unless something had happened.
Wu Sheng thought for a moment, then called the station.
The staff member handling listener calls was still at their post, so the call went through quickly. Hearing that the caller was Su Li’s fiancé, they told him what was happening.
"...Someone brought three homeless men to cause a scene. It’s absolute chaos out here."
"Homeless men?" The color drained from Wu Sheng’s face when he heard those words.
"Protect Su Li! Don’t let any of them get near her! I’m on my way!"
Wu Sheng hung up with a sharp click and bolted out the door.
’Who could be so cruel as to use homeless men...’
Wu Sheng was a mix of furious and horrified, but a deeper fear for what might have happened gripped his heart.
Through their efforts these past days, Su Li’s condition had improved significantly, but homeless people were still a taboo, a line that couldn’t be crossed.
Wu Sheng had seen how Su Li would freeze up and immediately shy away at the sight of a homeless person.
He had been trying to figure out how to help her overcome this deep-seated psychological block, but before he could come up with a better plan, they had brought the source of her trauma right to her.
A deep, icy chill filled Wu Sheng’s eyes. ’They’d better pray I don’t find out who did this!’
While Wu Sheng was rushing to the station, chaos reigned within its walls.
Although Su Li had only been there for a short time, everyone had gotten to know her. She was always polite, respectful, and socially aware, so they all had a good impression of her.
When they heard Golden Chain accuse Su Li of seducing a married man, they were shocked, but their first instinct was still to protect her.
Everyone rushed to block Golden Chain and the homeless men.
The rotten eggs flew straight toward Su Li, but she seemed to have frozen, not even knowing to dodge.
Li Li, who had been by Su Li’s side, turned and wrapped her arms around Su Li’s head, shielding her.
SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! The eggs all smashed against Li Li’s back and head. She looked down at the pale-faced Su Li in her arms and held her tight.
"Don’t be afraid, Su Li. Don’t be afraid."
The last time, Su Li had helped Li Li.
Now, only a short while later, Li Li was protecting Su Li in the same way.
Sincerity between people is a two-way street. One should never be stingy with kindness when it’s within their power to give.
Fostering good will can bring rewards when you least expect it.
Once the station staff had managed to block the men, Li Li let go of Su Li and immediately spotted the box that had fallen on the floor.
Li Li snatched the box, grabbed a handful of rotten eggs, and furiously hurled them back at the group.
After a few more minutes of chaos, Golden Chain and the homeless men started to flee.
They shouted threats as they ran.
"Just you wait! If you dare to employ a shameless slut like Su Li, I’ll be back with more people to smash this place up every day!"
"Get the hell out!" Li Li grabbed another egg and threw it hard.
The station staff breathed a sigh of relief and all turned to look at Su Li, who was crouched in a corner.
"Su Li, you must be terrified."
"Are you okay?"
Su Li stared at the smudges of dirt on the back of her hands and on her feet, her body trembling uncontrollably.
They were marks left behind when one of the homeless men had tried to grab her during the chaos.
"Su Li." Li Li stepped forward to help her up, but Su Li abruptly pushed her away and ran to the restroom.
Su Li retched violently, her entire body shaking.
Li Li held her steady, belatedly recalling the day Qu An had confessed his feelings. There had been a homeless man nearby when he did.
She remembered the homeless man clearly but had never connected the dots until today.
Su Li had been calm when she first confronted Golden Chain; her strange reaction only began when the homeless men appeared. Li Li had clearly seen the terror and repulsion in her eyes.
’So, Su Li is afraid of... homeless people.’
’She was throwing up because of them, just like last time.’
"Su Li..." Su Li couldn’t stop throwing up.
Li Li started to panic. "Su Li, don’t be scared, they’re gone now..."
But Su Li didn’t hear a word Li Li said. She was uncontrollably lost in a terrifying memory.
Her face ashen and her body drenched in a cold sweat, she saw the marks on her hands and feet and scrambled for the faucet to wash them off.
"Su Li, that’s enough, that’s enough! They’re clean now."
Seeing that Su Li was about to soak herself completely, Li Li rushed to stop her.
In the midst of the frantic situation, the restroom door was suddenly thrown open.
"Who are you?"
Li Li had just gotten the question out when the newcomer spoke. "Su Li."
"Su Li, it’s me. Look up at me."
At the sound of Wu Sheng’s voice, Su Li’s frantic movements finally stopped.
Her eyes shifted, and she looked up at Wu Sheng.
"Wu Sheng... What took you so long..."
Before she could finish, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed.
Wu Sheng took a step forward and caught her securely.
Scooping Su Li up into his arms, Wu Sheng looked at Li Li. "Thank you. I’m taking her to the hospital."
Li Li froze for a second, then hurried after them. "I’ll go with you."
Wu Sheng took Su Li to the same hospital where she had been admitted before and found her previous doctor.
The doctor still remembered Su Li. After listening to Wu Sheng’s explanation, he said thoughtfully,
"Let her sleep for a while first."
When Wu Sheng returned to the room, Li Li had already helped change Su Li into a hospital gown.
"You must be Su Li’s colleague. Thank you."
Wu Sheng thanked Li Li.
Li Li waved her hand. "No need to thank me. And you are...?"
She looked at Wu Sheng with a mixture of curiosity and awe.
"I’m Su Li’s fiancé, Wu Sheng. Can you tell me what happened earlier?"
Li Li gave him a brief summary. As she spoke, an icy glint flashed repeatedly in Wu Sheng’s eyes.
Li Li suppressed her fear and finally asked cautiously, "Su Li’s reaction earlier was a little strange. What’s wrong with her?"
What else could it be? It was the lingering trauma from what had happened to her before.
This time, Su Li’s psychological scar could no longer be hidden.
When she woke up again and saw Wu Sheng by her bedside, Su Li gave him an apologetic smile.
Wu Sheng couldn’t stop himself from covering her eyes with his hand.
"Don’t look at me like that." ’Is she trying to make my heart break?’
Su Li blinked, her lashes tickling Wu Sheng’s palm. "Stop blinking."
Su Li smiled slightly, closed her eyes, and asked in a low voice, "Who sent those people?"
Wu Sheng was silent for a moment before he moved his hand from her eyes.
"Ye Xilan."
The whole affair had started three days ago.
The incident’s root cause was Ge Ba.
Something had happened to Ge Ba in prison.
It happened before the Ge family could arrange for his release on medical parole.
Ever since Ge Ba was imprisoned, the Ge family had been trying to get him out, but they had never succeeded.
Until this incident.
Ge Ba’s case was unusual. As it happened, one of his cellmates was also a special case.
He was a pervert, the kind whose mind was already twisted.
Ge Ba was a late arrival to the cell. The others had planned to bully the newcomer, but he ended up beating them all up instead.
The perverted inmate was one of them.
Three days ago, Ge Ba had an allergic reaction to some food. He was weak, and that night, something happened.