The two leaned against the railing, facing the river and gazing into the distance.
In the darkness, the river water rippled with black waves, rolling forward like a monster with a gaping maw waiting for food, somewhat terrifying.
Fortunately, Pei Kexin was not afraid of heights or water, so she felt nothing.
As a seasoned acrophobe, Jiang Jingyu felt quite fearful in his heart, but he did not show it.
Seeing Pei Kexin staring into the distance, lost in thought, he paused for a few seconds and quietly took off his wedding ring, tossing it to the ground.
With a clink, Pei Kexin looked down.
"Did something fall?"
"My wedding ring."
Jiang Jingyu pretended to be anxious and looked down to search for it.
"I've lost weight recently, and my wedding ring doesn't fit securely anymore. Help me find where it fell. I can lose anything, but not this. If my wife finds out, she'll kill me."
Unexpectedly, the formidable President Jiang was also afraid of his wife. Pei Kexin, amused, crouched down to help him search.
The gaps in the railing were wide enough for a slender person to fall through.
While she was crouching on the ground, turning on her phone's flashlight and searching patiently, Jiang Jingyu executed his plan.
Before Pei Kexin could even react to what was happening, she was pushed with immense force and slid over the railing.
When Zhan Jingchen arrived, he saw his second brother reaching out to grab Pei Kexin.
He rushed over in three quick strides, but it was still too late.
Jiang Jingyu couldn't hold onto her. With a scream, accompanied by the sound of a "plop," Pei Kexin fell into the deep water.
The brothers exchanged a look, both stunned.
Jiang Jingyu was the first to react, frantically fumbling with his coat buttons and kicking off his shoes.
"It's all my fault, I caused Kexin to fall. She absolutely cannot be harmed. You stand back, I'm going down to save her."
How could he not care?
Before the party started, she had clearly said she couldn't swim.
Although it was summer now, the seawater wasn't cold, but it was night, and she was so high up. Wouldn't she be scared?
At that moment, Zhan Jingchen's mind was a blank, filled only with Pei Kexin's terrified face. Without a word, he snatched the opportunity before Jiang Jingyu, without taking off his clothes or shoes, plunged over the railing with a splash.
When Pei Kexin woke up, she was already in the hospital.
She had been changed into a hospital gown and lay alone in the cold, sterile ward, with no sign of Zhan Jingchen or Jiang Jingyu.
She still couldn't figure out how she had fallen at the time, nor did she know if Jiang Jingyu was alright.
Fortunately, she wasn't in pain and was unharmed. She quickly threw off the covers and went out to find Jiang Jingyu.
Upon reaching the corridor outside the ward, she happened to encounter a nurse passing by quickly. Pei Kexin called out to her.
"Hello, could you please tell me who brought me to the hospital? Have Mr. Jiang Jingyu and Mr. Zhan Jingchen come?"
"You mean President Jiang? He's here, at the entrance to the intensive care unit. It's the room at the end of the corridor."
Intensive care unit? Who had been admitted to the ICU?
Before Pei Kexin could ask more, the nurse hurried into the adjacent ward.
She had no choice but to run towards the end of the corridor.
When she reached the spot, not only Jiang Jingyu, but also two young women holding children, Jiang Nanfang, Zhan Beijue, and two young men she didn't recognize were all waiting in the corridor.
Hearing her footsteps, everyone turned their heads in unison.
Seeing her, Jiang Nanfang hurried over.
"Kexin, you're awake? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Are you alright?"
Pei Kexin vaguely guessed what had happened and held Jiang Nanfang's hand, saying she was fine.
"President Jiang is also sitting here fine, so who is in the intensive care unit? What exactly happened? Where is Zhan Jingchen?"
Jiang Jingyu approached her with a look of guilt and explained that due to his momentary negligence, she had accidentally fallen. When Xiao Wu came up, he jumped down to save her without regard for his own inability to swim.
He hadn't dared to jump down because of his fear of heights. After calling for staff to rescue them, Xiao Wu had lost consciousness and hadn't woken up yet.
Knowing she had fallen, Zhan Jingchen, who couldn't swim and was afraid of water, had jumped in without hesitation?
Hearing this, Pei Kexin felt a mix of emotions.
She was both touched and scared, trembling uncontrollably, and looked at Jiang Nanfang hesitantly.
"President Jiang, I'm sorry, I..."
"It's not your fault, Kexin, you shouldn't blame yourself."
"But Achen..."
"He's strong and lucky. With so many of us caring for him and protecting him, he'll be fine. The doctor said he choked on water in his lungs, but he's out of danger. He should be alright after tonight, so don't worry too much."
Zhan Jingge, Lei Dongyi, Tiantian, Chen Dongyang, Tong An'an, and He Yao all came over and surrounded Pei Kexin.
No one blamed her. They all said Xiao Wu would be fine, the doctor said he would be fine, so don't worry too much, it's not your fault. Your primary task now is to take care of yourself. We're here watching.
Jiang Nanfang introduced the family members to her one by one. Looking at everyone's sincere and warm gazes, Pei Kexin felt an indescribable warmth.
But it was impossible not to feel guilty.
The more they were like this, the more guilty she felt, wanting to cry.
With so many people doting on Zhan Jingchen, if something happened to him because of her, she wished she wouldn't live either.
Everyone was worried about her frail health and that staying in the corridor for too long would be bad for her, so they asked her to go back and rest. Pei Kexin refused.
"Knowing that something happened to him, how can I possibly sleep? If I go back and just lie there, it's better to stay here and watch. At least if he wakes up, I can be at ease immediately. Please don't send me away, let me stay here with you."
Jiang Nanfang instructed, "Then Dongyang, go get her a thicker coat to wear. She can't catch a cold."
Chen Dongyang went to the nurse's station to get a thick coat for her. Pei Kexin put it on and sat in the corridor with Jiang Nanfang's arm around her shoulders.
No one spoke, their faces serious as they stared at the intensive care unit. Time passed agonizingly in the silence.
After an unknown amount of waiting, the door to the intensive care unit finally opened.
A nurse ran out with a joyful expression.
"He's awake, he's awake. I'll call the doctor to check his vitals now. Family members, please don't go in yet."
Awake?
Everyone stood up happily.
Looking through the glass, Zhan Jingchen, who was usually full of life, lay on the bed with a pale face, covered in tubes, looking utterly pitiable.
Pei Kexin couldn't hold back any longer, and tears burst forth.
Jiang Nanfang hugged her and gently patted her back.
"He's awake now, so don't feel guilty. If anyone should feel guilty, it's Jingyu. It's all his fault, that foolish boy!"
Jiang Jingyu took the initiative to admit his mistake, "Yes, yes, it's all my fault. Kexin, please don't be like this, or I'll feel even worse."
Pei Kexin had no choice but to hold back her tears.
She couldn't help but sigh, "The Zhan family's family atmosphere is truly wonderful. Faced with such a major incident, no one blamed each other; instead, they comforted each other. Whoever is fortunate enough to join such a family in the future will truly be blessed."