Chapter 304: “Do You Love Her?”

In one of the hospital rooms, Fang Zhou lay face down on the bed, shirtless, looking like a frog. He had just been wheeled out of surgery, with five stitches on his back, all done by Qin Yun herself.

This was her hospital, and thanks to her, Fang Zhou didn’t even have to wait in line. He was immediately taken through the VIP channel straight to the operating room.

Qin Yun had quickly changed into her medical gown and sanitized herself before heading into surgery, following the program’s car to the hospital without wasting a moment.

During this time, Chu Xinran and Qiao Sisi waited anxiously outside, their eyes glued to the LED display above the door, which read “In Surgery” in red letters. Qin Yun had reassured them that Fang Zhou’s injuries weren’t life-threatening, but the sight of his blood-soaked back was terrifying, making it impossible not to worry.

Meanwhile, the police had summoned them for statements as witnesses and involved parties. Chu Xinran and Qiao Sisi delayed going until Fang Zhou was out of surgery and they were sure he was stable before heading to the police station.

About two hours later, the anesthesia wore off, and Fang Zhou began to wake up. Opening his eyes, he saw someone sitting by his bed, staring intently at him. Startled, he thought it might be the attacker, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was Han Xi. Her face was steely and expressionless, which was quite intimidating.

Still groggy, Fang Zhou couldn’t gauge Han Xi’s mood. He called out softly, “Han Xi, why are you here?”

Wasn’t she supposed to be filming the show? How did she get to the hospital so quickly?

Perhaps it was the medication or the severity of his injuries, but Fang Zhou’s voice was weak and filled with exhaustion.

Han Xi’s eyes flickered, devoid of warmth, as she looked at Fang Zhou with cold indifference. “If I didn’t come now, were you planning on having me collect your corpse later?”

Fang Zhou’s heart sank. That’s not what he meant at all.

Who had upset Han Xi to make her so sharp-tongued and hostile today?

“I didn’t mean that…” he began, but a sharp pain from his wound cut him off. He tried to adjust his position to relieve the numbness in his arms, but it only made the pain worse, forcing him to stop speaking.

The sound of Fang Zhou’s pained breathing finally made Han Xi’s expression shift. She lifted her gaze to his bandaged back, already briefed by the nurse about his injuries.

“Do you want to be a hero so badly? Why not become Ultraman then?” Han Xi said, her face cold as she stood and moved to his bedside, looking down at him.

This condescending gaze made it feel like she could wrap her hands around his throat at any moment.

Fang Zhou, eyes closed against the pain, missed the change in her expression. He felt an inexplicable chill, wondering if the hospital’s air conditioning was set too low.

Hearing Han Xi’s question, he gave a bitter smile. He knew she was mocking him for recklessly endangering himself.

She was upset that he had tried to play hero without the means to do so, wasn’t she?

He admitted he wasn’t a superhero, didn’t have exceptional skills, and certainly lacked the powers to protect others flawlessly. But in that critical moment, he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Regardless of who was present, even a stranger, any decent person would have intervened. Fang Zhou’s actions weren’t driven by a personal hero complex but by a fundamental sense of kindness ingrained since childhood.

“At that moment, I didn’t think much. I just couldn’t let Sisi get hurt. She’s so frail…” he responded hoarsely.

And besides, he didn’t die, did he? As long as it wasn’t fatal, everything else was manageable.

Han Xi’s gaze remained cold, fixed on his back as if trying to penetrate his flesh and discern the true color of his heart. Fang Zhou could be heartless enough to break up with someone and disappear without a trace, yet here he was, risking his life to protect someone else.

The more Han Xi thought about it, the more jealous and bitter she felt.

Was it because the person he protected was too important to him?

Of course, Qiao Sisi was his first love. Their recent closeness suggested a possible reconciliation. How could he not care about her?

Han Xi’s patience snapped, overwhelmed by jealousy and frustration.

A voice in her head taunted her: “Fang Zhou loves someone else, so much he’d risk his life for them.”

“You should give up. You’ll never have his heart. No matter what you do, he’ll never love you.”

“Enough!” Han Xi suddenly exclaimed, cutting off Fang Zhou’s explanation and her own troubling thoughts.

Fang Zhou, realizing she was upset, stopped talking. Maybe mentioning other women wasn’t the best idea right now.

His mind raced, trying to figure out how to calm her down, unaware that the woman behind him had already withdrawn into a cold, distant state.

“Do you love her?” Han Xi asked softly, her voice full of sorrow.