The hospital on New Year's Eve was more lively than the hottest restaurant in the city.
Most of the patients were children and the elderly, suffering from indigestion or having eaten something they shouldn't have. Someone like Liu Fang, with her heavily pregnant belly and eyes closed, looked alarming. She was rushed to the emergency room immediately after getting out of the car.
After a series of examinations, the doctor's conclusion was the same as that for Xia Tian.
"Anger causing distress, a bit of an internal fire. You need two bags of IV fluids. As family members, you also need to pay more attention to the expectant mother. She's in her late pregnancy, so focus on her psychological changes."
Liu Fang was pushed out in a wheelchair. Seeing her mother's tightly closed eyes, even though she knew it wasn't a serious issue, Liu Chen still felt a sense of regret.
"Perhaps I should have told my mother what happened yesterday directly."
Chen Long was also filled with regret. While regretting, he still comforted Liu Chen, saying,
"If Afang knew someone was trying to murder you, she wouldn't have gotten so worked up."
"Murder?!"
Liu Fang, who had been 'unconscious' in the wheelchair, suddenly looked up at Chen Long speaking, then turned to Liu Chen with a look of realization.
"Someone's trying to murder you?! You've been targeted for murder?!"
Her voice was sharp and powerful, carving out a path through the noisy hospital corridor.
Seeing the curious eyes of people in the hallway looking at her, Liu Chen quickly leaned down, gently placed his hands on his mother's shoulders, lowered his voice, but ensured his mother could hear him.
"Ahem, Mom, calm down. Let's get the IV drip first. I'll explain after that, there are too many people here."
Liu Fang opened her mouth, wanting to say it was okay, but looking up, for some reason, perhaps due to her state of mind, she felt as though everyone in the hospital corridor was scrutinizing her.
"Alright, alright."
Liu Chen and Chen Long's expressions were calm. Coupled with Xia Tian supporting Old Master Chen as he walked behind Liu Chen, this normal scene made the passersby who had looked up upon hearing the word "murder" doubt if they had misheard.
When they reached the infusion hall, the crowd density immediately decreased. After all, it was New Year's Eve, and unless it was absolutely necessary, parents would opt for medication to take home.
Liu Fang shared the same sentiment.
"I'm fine. Let's go back. It's not safe out here."
"Mom, if you want to know exactly what happened yesterday, you need to sit here obediently for the IV drip, or we can find a bed for you to rest."
As soon as Liu Chen finished speaking, Liu Fang shook her head like a rattle drum.
"No need. Just two bags of IV fluids, it'll be over in a little more than an hour. No need to go back and forth. Tell me, what exactly happened yesterday."
Seeing his mother gripping his hands tightly, Liu Chen knew he couldn't deceive her this time.
"Yesterday..."
The entire story took less than five minutes to tell, though Liu Chen had deliberately omitted the panic of the brake failure.
After listening, Liu Fang was stunned for a long time, then gave a wry smile.
"Mom now understands why you didn't want to tell me, because even if you told me, I wouldn't have any good way to help you."
"Mom, it's okay now. See Xia Tian and Dong Tian who came to our house today? They were invited by Grandpa Shen to protect me. Besides them, there are the other four who came when I was in junior high. Grandpa has also hired bodyguards for the house, so don't worry."
Liu Fang listened to the string of bodyguards, pursed her lips, and managed a smile that looked worse than crying.
"Then, then it's okay. What will you do when you go to school?"
"Mom, don't worry. Once I'm on the campus of Shui Mu University, I won't need bodyguards anymore because the school's security is higher."
This touched upon Liu Fang's blind spot. She opened her mouth, but in the end, she said nothing, only nodding.
Fortunately, Liu Chen had been her daughter for over thirty years combined across two lifetimes. Seeing her mother's hesitant expression, she guessed what she wanted to say.
"Don't worry, for now, those people have had their murder plot exposed by me. If any accident happens to me now, they will definitely be suspected."
"Yes, as long as you have a plan. The hospital is crowded and chaotic, why don't you go home first?"
After her mother's repeated persuasion, Liu Chen finally took Old Master Chen back to the old house. Of course, Dong Tian was driving, and Xia Tian sat beside Liu Chen.
Upon returning to the old house, looking at the brightly lit garden, Liu Chen suddenly understood why Old Master Chen wanted to pave the entire garden.
Looking at the withered branches and fallen leaves, it felt particularly desolate.
Just as this inexplicable sense of loneliness began to surge from the bottom of his heart, a white light suddenly shone on Liu Chen's back.
Xia Tian quickly pulled Liu Chen behind him and stood in the shadows, looking warily in the direction from which the white light was cast.
"Are you going out?"
The dazzling white light disappeared, and Ren Yu's voice came from the opposite side.
Hearing the familiar voice, Old Master Chen let out a sigh of relief, then laughed and scolded, "Hoo... Ren Yu, you child, you almost gave this old man a heart attack!"
Liu Chen stood in place, stunned.
On New Year's Eve, why was Ren Yu in C City?
"You... why are you here?"
As Liu Chen asked, Old Master Chen also reacted.
He muttered in a low voice, "I'm getting old, my memory is failing. What else could Ren Yu be here for?"
Although Old Master Chen's voice was very low, it was clearly heard by everyone in the garden.
"Yes, I came over after having the reunion dinner."
Reunion dinner?
Liu Chen glanced at his phone. It was just before 8 PM. Flying from Beijing to C City takes three hours, plus time before boarding. This meant the Ren family had their reunion dinner at 4 PM, or even before 4 PM?
For most Chinese families, the New Year's Eve dinner is served with the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Gala. A reunion dinner at 4 PM?
How did Ren Yu get everyone to agree?
"It's so cold, won't you invite me in to sit for a while?"
Ren Yu said, walking from the shadows towards Liu Chen.
The garden lights gradually illuminated Ren Yu's profile. Standing at over 1.8 meters, wearing a long black coat, the stiff fabric gave Ren Yu a sharp, angular appearance.
Even Xia Tian, who had performed countless bodyguard duties for celebrities, couldn't help but admire inwardly,
"What a handsome young man!"
The handsome young man, Ren Yu, walked to Liu Chen's side and reached out to mess with the stray hairs on Liu Chen's head.
"Let's go, I brought some tools, and we can upgrade the surveillance systems for the old house and the factory area."
Liu Chen looked at the 28-inch suitcase Ren Yu was pushing and held reservations about the "upgrade" part.