Chapter 133: Feeding Porridge

I opened my eyes, but everything before me was a blur, nothing but a expanse of white. Immediately following this, I felt an excruciating pain coursing through every inch of my body. It was a torment beyond human endurance, and I couldn't help but let out a soft groan.

At the sound of my voice, the person slumped beside me lifted her head at once, leaning over with concern to ask, "Tang Qian... are you awake? Oh, that is... wonderful!"

Though I could not see her features clearly, her voice told me it was Xu Shu.

With Xu Shu here, I must be safe, right?

I groaned again and managed to rasp out, "Xu Shu... where am I?"

I felt her sobbing gently, her small hand stroking my cheek as she whispered through her tears, "You are... in the hospital. The doctor said that if you could wake up, it would mean you were past the critical stage. You’ve been out for a day and a night! I was worried to death. Now that you’re finally awake, I... I’m so happy!"

Even as she said she was happy, she kept sobbing uncontrollably.

I was deeply moved. No matter what, Xu Shu still regarded me as her best friend. I wanted to smile to comfort her, but the pain throughout my body made my expression look ghastly.

I said, "I'm awake, so I'll be fine. Why are you crying?"

Xu Shu said fiercely, "That old devil Hua Qiming—to think I used to call him uncle! How could he beat you like this? This cannot end here. I have to settle this account with him!"

I wanted to laugh again, but the memory of Hua Qiming’s cold, ruthless face made me grind my teeth in hatred; I was in no mood for laughter. Yet, I did not want Xu Shu to break ties with the Hua family on my account; after all, she and Jingjing were such good friends.

So I said, "Let it go! I will handle this myself. I don't want to drag you into my personal vendetta. After all, your position is different from mine!"

Xu Shu retorted anxiously, "How can you say that? The Hua family is so powerful—how could you possibly fight them on your own?"

"Don't be impulsive! We live in a society governed by the rule of law. I will use the weapon of the law to seek revenge. I will ensure Hua Qiming faces severe sanctions; he will not have a good end."

"You... sigh! Do you still not understand? At Hua Qiming’s level, what law can touch him? He is a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and a deputy to the National People's Congress! He is a renowned entrepreneur and a billionaire. Who would dare to move against him easily? At most, he will pay your medical bills and offer an apology to settle it. Isn't that... too easy on him?"

I remained silent for a long time. Xu Shu’s words were not without merit. Since I wasn't dead, Hua Qiming would never be severely punished for such a "minor" offense. Given his prestigious status and his immense contributions to the state’s interests, what government agency would imprison him just for beating up a poor kid? At most, it would be an out-of-court settlement with some compensation. But to Hua Qiming, what was money?

I gritted my teeth and said, "I won't let it end like this! One day, I will make him pay a heavy price!"

I looked at Xu Shu again. My vision was gradually clearing, and I could see her pale face, her beautiful, bright eyes still filled with tears. I sighed and continued, "But that is my personal matter, and I don't want to drag you into it. Besides, you and Jingjing are such good friends, and our families—the Xu and Hua families—are old acquaintances. How could you fall out over a small person like me?"

Xu Shu said angrily, "We have already fallen out! They even beat the people I sent to save you! How could I swallow this insult? If I don't get even, how can I face my subordinates?"

Seeing Xu Shu so furious that she was using underworld slang, I finally laughed. But the laughter immediately triggered my injuries, and I couldn't help but cough violently. With every cough, the pain in my chest and abdomen became unbearable, and beads of sweat broke out on my brow.

Xu Shu quickly held my head and reached out to rub my chest gently, chiding, "Look at you! You’re so badly hurt and you can still laugh! Do you have a death wish?"

I forced down the violent coughing, but my heart felt a sense of warmth. Xu Shu, this great star, could be ruthless toward me at times, but she also cared for me. It was just a pity that now, my heart held only Jingjing.

Thinking of Jingjing, I couldn't help but worry about her. How was she? Hua Qiming was cruel, but surely a tiger doesn't eat its own cubs? I missed her so much! Jingjing, you must hold on! No matter how much wind and rain we must endure, no matter how much suffering we must face, I will never give up on you! You are my woman! I must be with you!

Xu Shu rubbed my chest for a while, and seeing that I had stopped coughing, she reached out to wipe the cold sweat from my forehead. She said, "Lie down for a while. I’m going to call the doctor. They instructed that once you woke up, I should let them know so they can examine you."

I nodded and closed my eyes. Xu Shu gently laid me back down and turned to leave. I suddenly remembered something and opened my eyes: "Xu Shu, how are your bodyguards? Are they hurt?"

Xu Shu turned back and said, "Yes, the others are fine, but Uncle Wang was seriously injured. I never expected that the old devil Hua Qiming would have such powerful people under him—they actually wounded someone as skilled as Uncle Wang so badly that he vomited blood! I will never let this go!"

I struggled to sit up, saying anxiously, "Where are they? I want to see them."

But with my limbs covered in bandages and casts, how could I rise? And as I moved, the pain flared throughout my body, and the sweat poured out again.

Xu Shu hurriedly pressed me back onto the bed, shouting, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't move? Saving you was my order; it was their duty! I will handle their matters—you just focus on healing your injuries."

I had seen with my own eyes the terrifying strength of the man named Mr. Hu who worked for Hua Qiming. Even Wang Bingzhang, the captain of the special forces, had been severely wounded by him; the situation must have been brutal! They must have risked their lives to save me. Thinking of the cold, indifferent attitude I had shown toward Wang Bingzhang in the past, I felt deeply ashamed.

I knew I couldn't thank them in person now, so I said, "Xu Shu! Please thank them for me. Tell them that I, Tang Qian, will never forget their life-saving grace!"

Xu Shu was both exasperated and amused. "Alright, alright! I’ll pass it on. Just lie there and rest! Honestly! I am the one who saved your life! Without my orders, how would they have come to save you? How come I don't hear you thanking me?"

I knew full well who had truly saved me, so I said, "Great kindness need not be spoken of! I can't bring myself to say such mushy things to you!"

Xu Shu rolled her eyes. "You... you really are ungrateful!"

I smiled. Ever since I truly fell in love with Jingjing, I felt much more at ease with Xu Shu, and even jokes I wouldn't usually dare to make came out. Xu Shu was, of course, incomparably beautiful, and no man could be immune to her. But I knew now that Jingjing was the most important person in my heart, the one most worth cherishing.

I thought of something else and asked Xu Shu, "By the way, how did you know I was in danger? Could you read the future?"

Xu Shu sighed and said, "Jingjing’s brother notified me. Jingjing was locked up by her old devil of a father, and all her contact with the outside world was cut off. When her brother went in to see her, she wept and begged him to find a way to save you. Because she knows her father too well, and she knows you too well. She knew you would never submit to her father’s tyranny, and she knew her father would never let you go easily. Jingjing’s brother was eventually moved and promised his sister he would call me for help. As soon as I received the call, I sent people to save you, but unfortunately, it was still a little late..."

I stared blankly at the ceiling, speechless, but my eyes grew hot, and tears welled up and fell silently. Jingjing! My Jingjing! You feel so deeply for me; even if I, Tang Qian, were crushed to dust, I could never fail you!

Xu Shu reached out and silently wiped the tears from my face, sighed, and turned away from the hospital bed. She opened the door and said something to the bodyguards waiting outside, and the bodyguard left immediately.

I was indifferent to all of it; my heart was already completely occupied by Jingjing...

A while later, a doctor came to examine me. After a busy interval, he told Xu Shu that my life was no longer in danger, but my injuries were severe and I would need a long period of hospitalization for observation. I could now be fed some liquid food, as I was in recovery and IV drips alone would not be enough to sustain my strength.

After the doctor left, Xu Shu produced a thermos from somewhere, opened it, and said to me, "Your injuries are too severe for anything greasy, so you can only have some thin porridge. Come, let me feed you!"

To make it more comfortable for me, she carefully helped me sit up and propped two pillows behind my back. Then she took the thermos, scooped a spoonful, and blew on it gently at her lips. A moment later, she reached it toward my mouth and said, "Come, open up!"

I said gratefully, "Xu Shu... actually, the nurses could do this. You are a great star; I can't afford to have you do this."

Xu Shu rolled her eyes at me. "What if I am a great star? Can't a great star feed you porridge? Am I still your friend or not? Stop nagging! Open up! Be good!"

I was stunned for a moment, then sighed, "Thank you!" As I said this, I opened my mouth. Xu Shu smiled and slipped the small spoon into my mouth...

As I was eating, I vaguely heard the sound of firecrackers in the distance. My heart skipped a beat, and I asked her, "What time is it now?"

Xu Shu used her right pinky to gently wipe a stray grain of porridge from the corner of my mouth. Then, looking at her watch, she smiled and said, "It’s almost New Year’s. Tang Qian, Happy New Year!"

My expression changed, and I said, "Oh no! It’s the New Year and I haven't gone home; my family must be worried to death! Where is my phone? Have they called?"

Xu Shu said, "They have! It’s been ringing all day! I was afraid your family would worry, so I didn't dare answer it. Later, I couldn't stand the ringing, so I turned it off."

I said anxiously, "That's ridiculous! Won't they be even more worried if you don't answer? Give me the phone, quickly!"

At my sharp tone, Xu Shu’s small mouth pouted in grievance. She put down the thermos and reached into her pocket, whispering in protest, "You were in critical condition, hovering between life and death—how could I dare tell your family? Honestly... like a dog biting Lu Dongbin, not knowing a good heart. Hmph!"