Chapter 27

Barely half a second of struggle before the item was forcefully snatched away.

"You guys—" the man in glasses said with indignation, just as he was about to roar in fury, someone forcefully clamped a hand over his mouth.

Against his lower back, a sharp object radiated a bone-chilling coldness, sending shivers down his spine.

Beside his ear came the dark, menacing voice of the man in black.

"If you don't want any trouble, you'd better behave and come with us."

The man in glasses closed his eyes for a moment, wearing an expression of grim resolve.

One of the men in black wrapped an arm around his shoulder, leading him away with a facade of familiarity.

All of this was taken in by Jin Yuchuan.

Judging by the motive of the bespectacled man, there should only be two of them.

It seemed... almost too simple...

Just as doubt crossed his mind, the man beside him suddenly spoke: "The guy from earlier is back!"

Hardly had his voice fallen when commotion erupted over there.

A man appeared suddenly, moving with such blinding speed that the action was impossible to follow. The man in black who was restraining the bespectacled man was knocked flat to the ground in an instant.

With his speech no longer restricted, the first thing the man in glasses shouted was: "Don't ruin my computer!"

The man, who was currently grabbing another man in black by the collar: "..."

His fist, already raised, dropped abruptly as he snatched up the laptop.

The hand that had been gripping him tightened, yet he was effortlessly flung aside.

Clutching the laptop protectively to his chest with lingering fear, the man in glasses tremblingly reached out to touch the man's immensely reassuring arm.

"Someone's watching us, we'd better leave first."

The man let out a disgruntled, cold huff, forced to let the matter drop.

Not until the car drove away did Jin Yuchuan issue any further commands.

The man beside him could no longer restrain himself, anxiety flashing in his gaze.

Qing Ya was puzzled: "Master Jin, this is a prime opportunity to investigate Bai Lan's identity. Are you just going to let them walk away like this?"

Bai Lan's identity was classified to an extreme degree, making it difficult even for him to trace any whereabouts.

For a medical practitioner, this level of secrecy was somewhat absurd.

Now that all other leads had been cut off, the only ones who could accurately locate this place were acquaintances who had seen the car accident video online.

After remaining quiet for days following the incident, being discharged from the hospital was the absolute best timing.

It provided the cover of a public crowd to obscure sightlines while eliminating any concerns regarding Bai Lan's physical condition.

Jin Yuchuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed into the direction where the car had vanished.

Deep and fathomless, his gaze resembled an endless night, impossible to read for any trace of emotion.

Two seconds later, he withdrew his gaze. "No need."

Lifting a hand, his cold, pale fingertips pressed against his earpiece. "Cancel the alert."

Before getting out of the car, he instructed Qing Ya: "Send those two passed-out guys to the hospital."

Qing Ya glanced at the men in black slumped by the roadside, then back toward the hospital entrance, silently muttering to himself: This has got to be a record for the fastest casualty admission time ever.

...

Having followed Jin Yuchuan for so many years, Nan Sheng had experienced this sort of thing often enough to be entirely accustomed to it.

Yet this time, it ended so swiftly that it left him in a daze.

Just as he finished handling the paperwork, he happened to run into Jin Yuchuan heading upstairs.

"Master Jin."

Jin Yuchuan's expression remained tranquil, his calm eyes gazing straight ahead, deep in thought.

Upon entering the hospital room, Ye Chunxi was looking down at her phone, a lollipop tucked between her lips—acquired from goodness knows where.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, her slender, straight calves dangled, swaying slightly. Her delicate, bare feet were small and refined, glowing with the pale hue of cold porcelain, her toenails tinged with a soft, pinkish flush.

Jin Yuchuan's gaze darkened momentarily before he averted his eyes.

"Put your shoes on. Get ready for discharge."

The familiar timbre of his voice made Ye Chunxi immediately look up.

Catching sight of the face she had been longing for day and night, she quickly put down her phone and slipped into a pair of white canvas shoes placed nearby.

She picked up a small bag containing her personal items.

With swift and fluid movements, she walked quickly over to Jin Yuchuan, standing upright before him with both hands gripping the straps of her bag, looking exceptionally well-behaved.

In a soft, sweet voice, she called out, "Brother, I'm ready."

This utterance of "Brother" sounded even more pleasant than the previous ones.

Ye Chunxi's voice was naturally cool and clear, but this particular phrase carried the inflection of a spoiled pet, laced with a trace of endearing clumsiness.

Jin Yuchuan momentarily lost his focus. Blinking lightly, he turned around, his voice carrying its habitual coldness. "Let's go."

At his side, his slightly curled hand suddenly clenched into a fist.

Taking the elevator down to the hospital's underground parking garage, Ye Chunxi followed closely behind Jin Yuchuan step for step.

Nan Sheng moved ahead to open the car door for the two of them.

Sitting beside Jin Yuchuan, the subtle pine scent lingering around the tip of her nose seemed to grow richer, enveloping her entirely.

Turning her head sideways, Ye Chunxi couldn't help but steal a glance at him.

His hands, slender and delicate as plum tree branches, held an iPad, while a pair of dark pupils behind gold-rimmed glasses moved slightly as he read with intense concentration.

Observing his brother working so diligently, Ye Chunxi dared not disturb him and remained quietly seated for the entire journey.

The servants were still busy preparing the dishes when Ling Qiao eagerly made his appearance.

"Never thought I'd live to eat hotpot at Deer Garden."

When Ye Chunxi arrived, she saw him lounging on a deck chair, crossing his legs with an unconstrained air, rocking back and forth in leisurely comfort.

His deportment was far too casual, utterly lacking the restraint and self-awareness one usually exhibited in someone else's home.

Hearing everyone else address him as "Young Master Ling" and knowing he was on close terms with Jin Yuchuan, she figured their relationship must be exceptional.

Walking over, she asked out of curiosity, "What is your relationship with my brother?"

Ling Qiao half-closed his eyes in comfort, and upon hearing the question, the words spilled out automatically: "Brothers."

Life-and-death brothers.

Naturally, Ye Chunxi interpreted it as brotherhood forged in loyalty and righteousness.

Ling Qiao opened his eyes, and a face of breathtaking, stunning beauty drifted into his view.

The mountain mist had yet to completely disperse, and as the moisture hung in the air, wisps of ethereal fog swirled around her, giving her the hazy, transcendent aura of a fairy descending from the heavens.

His breath hitched, and for a moment, he was utterly mesmerized.

Not until Ye Chunxi took her seat in the center of the pavilion did he finally snap back to reality.

Ling Qiao immediately hurried over to sit beside her, casting sideways glances at the young girl from time to time.

No matter how many times he looked, the level of sheer astonishment remained the same.

A towering figure in the traditional Chinese medicine community, yet possessing such an overwhelmingly gorgeous appearance.

Ling Qiao couldn't fathom how all the good fortune in the world managed to land on Jin Yuchuan.

He wished he could have a fairy-like younger sister just like that!

The servants quickly prepared everything, and the moment the hotpot was served, a rich, spicy aroma filled the air, stimulating the senses.

Considering that Ye Chunxi had just been discharged from the hospital yet craved something strongly flavored, Butler Kong had specially ordered a mandarin duck split pot, ensuring the spicy broth was not excessively hot.

Steam billowed upward, feeling somewhat out of place in the humid weather.

Yet Ye Chunxi paid it little mind.

Accustomed to nutritional meals, the bland flavors had nearly subdued her palate, and she genuinely longed for something bold and savory.

Watching the broth bubbling inside the pot, Ling Qiao couldn't help remarking, "Normally, Master Jin would never tolerate this sort of thing around here. I never expected him to arrange it the moment you asked."

Ye Chunxi had just popped open a can of iced cola, her lowered eyelashes beaded with fine moisture.

Hearing this, her brows knitted slightly as she turned her head in confusion. "My brother doesn't eat hotpot?"