Chapter 69: The Disgraced Actress

The sudden arrival of Han Xi and Chu Xinran caught both Qiao Sisi and Fang Zhou off guard.

Qiao Sisi looked at the two newcomers in a panic, unsure how to react.

Did they see anything?

Han Xi coldly pushed open the door and walked in, her gaze locking onto Fang Zhou’s bleeding arm, her eyes turning icy.

“What happened?”

How could someone get hurt just staying in a room?

Chu Xinran, following behind, gasped when she saw Fang Zhou’s injury and quickly ran over.

“Brother Fang Zhou, you’re hurt!”

Her eyes misted over like gems covered with a transparent veil, filled with worry and pain as she approached Fang Zhou.

“What happened? We were only gone for a little while, and you’re already so badly hurt!”

The girl’s voice, loud and clear, felt like a slap to Qiao Sisi, making her face burn with shame.

Qiao Sisi lowered her eyelids, bending over as if crushed, the once dazzling actress now a shadow of her former self.

Guilt and self-blame surged like a tide, and her tears began to flow uncontrollably again.

“It’s…”

She was about to confess, but Fang Zhou spoke first.

“I was trying to peel an apple and accidentally fell, cutting myself with the knife.”

His voice, as always, was pleasant and clear, like pearls dropping onto jade, giving no hint of the earlier knife threat.

Qiao Sisi’s words caught in her throat, shocked and saddened as she looked at him.

Why is he covering for me?

She almost killed him just now.

Despite his anger at Qiao Sisi’s madness, Fang Zhou’s instincts told him not to reveal the truth in front of Chu Xinran and Han Xi.

Otherwise, there would be endless questions like, ‘Why did she hurt you?’, ‘What’s your relationship with her?’, and ‘What problem required a knife?’

This would go against Fang Zhou’s low-profile nature, so he’d rather take the blame himself than let Han Xi and Chu Xinran discover anything.

“Can a grown man trip on flat ground?”

Han Xi clearly didn’t believe his story and wanted to ask more questions.

Fang Zhou’s brow twitched, and he exclaimed, “Ouch, it hurts so much! Can someone get a doctor?”

He gave Qiao Sisi a look, signaling her to get the doctor.

Chu Xinran quickly volunteered, “I’ll go, I’ll go. You sit down and press the wound with a tissue!”

She ran out like a gust of wind.

Qiao Sisi, who had just taken a step to leave, found herself rooted in place.

She thought dejectedly: Even Chu Xinran, who just met him, cares so much for him. Fang Zhou must think I’m terrible.

Han Xi’s gaze lingered between Fang Zhou and Qiao Sisi, planting seeds of doubt.

Her eyes remained cold, but her actions were gentle.

“I’ll help you sit.”

She extended her hand, supporting Fang Zhou’s uninjured arm, guiding him back to the bed.

Fang Zhou wanted to say his legs were fine, but Han Xi’s cold aura left him speechless.

Meanwhile, Qiao Sisi turned back, watching them.

Though her tears had stopped, her eyes remained watery, lips tightly pressed, her expression cold.

Feeling the pressure from both sides, Fang Zhou reluctantly returned to the bed.

Those few steps felt like the hardest journey of his life.

Fortunately, Chu Xinran soon returned with the doctor.

The doctor carefully rolled up Fang Zhou’s sleeve, avoiding the wound, and disinfected it with alcohol.

Thankfully, the knife wound wasn’t deep, though the bleeding looked scary. The doctor quickly treated it and applied medicine.

Bandages wrapped around the wound, reminding Fang Zhou of Chu Xinran’s injury.

He looked up at her, intending to ask the doctor to treat her too, but saw the usually lively girl standing dazedly, lips pressed tight.

“Xinran, do you need your bandage changed?”

Fang Zhou asked, concerned.

This sudden concern drew the attention of all three women in the room.

Seeing the bandage on Chu Xinran’s hand, Qiao Sisi’s eyes darkened.

How did he know Chu Xinran was hurt?

Why does he care so much about her?

Han Xi, having heard Chu Xinran’s explanation of a scrape earlier, still felt annoyed.

Fang Zhou himself was injured, yet he still worried about others. He really was overly kind.

“I… I’m fine. I already changed it today.”

Chu Xinran didn’t want the island doctor to see her injury, shaking her head in refusal.

“Alright, avoid getting the wound wet, even when bathing.”

“Okay, thank you, doctor.”

In the afternoon, Fang Zhou received an IV drip. Under the medication’s influence, he drifted off to sleep.

Han Xi and Chu Xinran stayed by his side, never leaving.

Qiao Sisi stayed until dinner time, when the director called her to film a segment.

“I’ll get dinner.”

Chu Xinran eagerly volunteered, wanting the chance to feed Fang Zhou.

Han Xi nodded, watching her leave the room, then approached Fang Zhou’s bed.

Looking at the sleeping man, her eyes flickered.

She traced his facial features in the air, from his eyes to his nose to his mouth, each perfectly shaped.

Han Xi slowly bent down, placing a gentle kiss on Fang Zhou’s face, then quickly pulled away, like a dragonfly skimming the surface.

Just like during that truth-or-dare game.

But this time, there was no alcohol for courage, only the advantage of his sleep.

The usually stern CEO’s face softened, but returned to its usual coldness as she glanced at Fang Zhou’s bandaged wound.

“Was it really an accident?”

Her voice, barely a whisper, seemed to ask the sleeping man, or perhaps herself.

Why did Qiao Sisi cry so much over your injury?

She didn’t care about her image, crying her heart out to get you help. Are you really just acquaintances?

Fang Zhou, how many secrets are you hiding?