"Zihao." Jiang Ruolan saw the blood on Xian Zihao's shoulder and tried to touch it. She found a layer of bandage under his shirt. Apparently, he had left the hospital too early and without the doctor's permission. His blood had already seeped through the bandage and dyed his shirt red.
"It's okay, it's not very deep. I just need to rebandage it again." Xian Zihao held her back, not giving her a chance to face the outside world while she was still in a state of fear. When Jiang Ruolan tried to push him away, Xian Zihao immediately kissed her lips gently, with guilt in his eyes. "It's my fault that I didn't protect you well. You must feel very scared right? You don't have to think about anything, no matter what, let me think about it, let me handle it."
"Do you want to die? You still say that you are fine even though you have been injured like this?!" Jiang Ruolan pulled his collar. Xian Zihao originally wanted to push her hand away, but Jiang Ruolan craftily twisted his collar and pulled it by force.
Xian Zihao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Jian Ruolan stared at the bandage on his shoulder, which had already been dyed red with blood. She didn't say a single word and only raised her eyes to glare at him.
Xian Zihao sighed. At that moment, a doctor who was accompanying him, called.
Xian Zihao answered the call, then opened the car door. A doctor came in and gave him medicine to stop the bleeding. The police chief walked toward the car and asked if he could take Jiang Ruolan's statement about the kidnappers' characteristics.
Xian Zihao glanced at Jiang Ruolan. He did not want her to recall back the memory. He wanted to reject the idea. However, without waiting for his answer, Jiang Ruolan directly got out of the car. Although she was worried about his injuries, she still chose to give him space so that doctors could treat his wounds easily.
Jiang Ruolan looked back at him before leaving, "You're right, escaping is the stupidest way, I won't do that!"
After she said so, under Xian Zihao's pained and pampered gaze, she followed the police officer.
When Jiang Ruolan was walking to the police car, she saw Qin Gengxin leaning against his car's door with his arms crossed over his chest, looking at her.
She paused for a moment, then tightened her blanket and jacket. Then, step by step, she walked towards him. Jiang Ruolan saw the worry and some of the emotions that she couldn't describe on his face.
Qin Gengxin just looked at her before he sighed softly, "Looks like you are indeed much stronger than seventeen-year-old Jiang Ruolan. Seven years ago, you shut down yourself and didn't talk to anyone. When I saw you in that basement, I thought you …"
Qin Gengxin suddenly couldn't continue. He just looked at her red and swollen face and wanted to gently stroke it, but just as he raised his hand, he lowered it. Qin Gengxin looked back at the black Land Rover and slowly raised his eyebrows.
Jiang Ruolan looked at him. "Everything I have experienced since I was young has turned me into the strongest rock. And these two times are enough to make me immune to fear. Qin Gengxin, I know you will show up to save me. Thank you. I do not know how to express it in words, but you understand what I mean, don't you?"
Qin Gengxin smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. He looked at her with deep eyes and said, "I initially planned to snatch you from Zihao. When I went to visit him in the hospital, he was barely out of danger and just a few hours after he woke up from his coma. However, when he heard about your accident, he immediately pulled out the needle in his hand and ran out without the doctor's permission. Do you know what I was thinking at the time?"
Qin Gengxin paused for a moment before suddenly smiling bitterly. "I was really late."
Jiang Ruolan just kept silent and didn't know what to say to him. Love can't be forced. She's already giving her heart to Xian Zihao.
****
When they returned to the Greenville Residence, Jiang Ruolan specially invited a family doctor to follow them home and take care of Xian Zihao's injuries.
Upon entering the house, Xian Zihao's arm was still around her. Although his face was pale, his eyes were warm and clear like a spring. There wasn't a shred of disdain, only heartache.
"Don't think too much, go take a shower." He pointed with his chin towards the bathroom.
Jiang Ruolan's whole body was exhausted. Although she was worried about Xian Zihao's wounds, she could tell that he was still fine except for his pale face due to excessive blood loss. Knowing that the family doctor had been arranged nearby, she nodded obediently.
Xian Zihao, on the other hand, still wasn't at ease with her. Although her current mood was normal, Jiang Ruolan would occasionally sit in a daze. It was as if her soul had left her body. Xian Zihao went to prepare hot shower water for her.
When Jiang Ruolan walked into the bathroom, the bathroom was already filled with warmth and steam, blurring her vision. She submerged her body in the warm water. All of her thoughts were ignited in an instant. She wanted to cry when she remembered the damned incident.
Jiang Ruolan lowered her head and vigorously rubbed every part of her body with soap.
She rubbed the skin all over her body until it turned red and still felt that she couldn't remove those disgusting marks. Jiang Ruolan lowered her body, immersing her head in the water, allowing the warm water to wrap around her everything.
"Ruolan!" The bathroom was soundproof, but Jiang Ruolan could still hear the sound of the bathroom door opening, and then Xian Zihao pulled her out of the water.
"What are you doing?" His gaze was locked on her face, and he saw that all the skin on her body was completely red. His eye stayed on her face for a long time, unable to leave it.
"I just want to soak in hot water." Jiang Ruolan wiped her eyes, which had turned even redder due to the hot water. She forced a smile and looked at him. "Zihao, don't worry about me. I'm fine."
Xian Zihao's brows furrowed tightly as he held her back with one hand. "Ruolan, you can't do anything stupid."
"I won't, don't worry!" Jiang Ruolan nodded her head vigorously and sincerely assured him, "The wound on your shoulder should not be exposed to water. Hurry up and get out. Once I'm done, I'll get out."
Xian Zihao sighed helplessly. He looked at her face for a moment before walking out of the bathroom.
Jiang Ruolan no longer dared to think about those scenes. She raised her hand to stroke the old scar on her shoulder, then stroked the fading red scar on her collarbone. Her gaze fixed on a certain point in the steaming mist. However, when she thought about the nude photos that Wei Donghai had taken and the camera in the basement, her heart sank.
Wei Donghai escaped ahead of time. Jiang Ruolan didn't know if he would use the photos as a threat. All of this was related not only to her honor but also to Xian Zihao's reputation. She was held naked by others and had too many unbearable memories.
Jiang Ruolan would only stain Xian Zihao's life if she continued to be with him.
