Huo Rou had already dodged aside. She hadn't expected Wang Wanrou to suddenly lunge at Wang Rong. By then, the knife was already upon her.
Behind her was the stage. If she retreated and fell off, Wang Rong would rush down with momentum, and she would lose her balance, putting her at a disadvantage.
Even dodging again was too late.
In an instant, Huo Rou weighed the pros and cons and chose to be injured intentionally.
She shifted her body, moving her heart an inch away from the path of the blade.
She gave a wry smile. Blades, guns, and arrows had failed to harm her, yet to be wounded by someone who could only wield a brush felt utterly incompetent.
The wound wouldn't be deep. If it went in completely, she could still walk out of the building herself to find a doctor. Huo Rou even had the leisure to think about such subsequent matters.
Bang—
The expected pain did not come.
A black object flew over, hitting Wang Rong's hand. The force was not light. The knife slipped from Wang Rong's grip, and he, propelled by his forward momentum, tumbled off the stage beside Huo Rou.
A white figure leaped onto the stage from below, and a clear, crisp aura enveloped her. This embrace was as reassuring as always.
"Are you alright?"
Qin Ningyi held her tightly, his eyes filled with panicked concern as he scanned her from head to toe.
Upon hearing that Wang Ximo of the Calligraphy Association had lost his position as president after being defeated in a calligraphy duel, he had worried about Elder Wang's health. Knowing Huo Rou couldn't handle it alone, he had rushed over.
Fortunately, he had arrived.
The sound of the phone hitting the ground and shattering, accompanied by Wang Rong's pained cries as he fell from the stage and Wang Wanrou's screams as she fell, echoed throughout the venue.
Huo Rou glanced at the shattered phone not far away. Understanding dawned on her, and she managed a smile, her voice as calm and gentle as ever, "I'll be fine."
"Don't smile."
Qin Ningyi held her tightly, unwilling to look at her smiling face.
His heart was pounding out of his chest, yet Huo Rou could still smile.
"Xiao Rou, how are you?"
Madam Ren stood up and stumbled over, asking anxiously from across Wang Rong.
"Auntie, I'm fine."
Huo Rou pushed Qin Ningyi slightly, signaling him to release her.
Ren Zhen hadn't expected Wang Rong to attempt murder simply because he lost the position of president.
This was on their Ren family's territory, and he wanted to kill a member of the Ren family! If he succeeded, how would the Ren family maintain its dignity?
He coldly called for security to escort the somewhat dazed Wang Rong to the police station. If he wasn't sent to prison for a few years, he wouldn't be a Ren.
Wang Wanrou watched as Wang Rong was being led away towards the exit, her heart filled with panic. She feigned confusion on the ground.
Huo Rou had no intention of letting her off. This person had caused trouble more than once. This time, she hadn't even considered that the target was her own father!
"And her, take her to the police station as well."
Huo Rou pointed at Wang Wanrou, her eyes devoid of much emotion, like a judge passing sentence.
She stated Wang Wanrou's actions word by word, "Wang Rong didn't intend to kill, she gave him a push."
A storm gathered in Qin Ningyi's eyes. "Take them both away!"
"I didn't!" Wang Wanrou, already being dragged away by security, cried out piteously in a pathetic manner.
"I'll send the surveillance footage too. What you did will be clear for all to see."
Ren Zhen smiled menacingly, like a fox, completely crushing Wang Wanrou's hope.
"I fell by accident. Don't try to scare me." Wang Wanrou argued feebly.
"Do you think a few years in prison will be the end of it?" Qin Ningyi swept a casual glance over her.
"It was just an accident! I won't be locked up."
Qin Ningyi took Huo Rou's phone and sent a message.
After finishing, he looked at Wang Wanrou with utter indifference, as if she were already dead. "Someone will escort you to Jiushan Prison. One year will be enough."
Going there would be akin to death.
Jiushan Prison did not hold ordinary criminals; no one could survive there for more than six months.
The only person who had ever emerged from Jiushan Prison in all these years had done so only because Qin Ningyi's grandfather had vouched for them with his military rank.
Even then, that person had stayed in Jiushan Prison for three days and required over half a month of recuperation upon release.
Jiushan Prison was unheard of for ordinary people, but by chance, Wang Wanrou had heard of it from a certain dissolute young man.
She understood its horror and knew that going there meant a most miserable death.
Only then did she recall the rumors about Qin Ningyi and began to panic. "Spare me! I'll stay far away and never appear before you again! Don't send me there…"
No one listened to her as the security guards dragged her out the door.
Elder Wang, sweating profusely, was helped by a friend to Huo Rou. "Are you injured anywhere? Little A Rou, don't hide it. If you're hurt, you must say so!"
Hearing Elder Wang's voice, Huo Rou finally came back to her senses.
She looked at Elder Wang's flushed and unhealthy complexion, a bad feeling stirring in her heart. She spoke in a steady voice to calm him, "I'm fine. Don't worry, take a deep breath, don't rush."
"If I hadn't thought of bringing you here, none of this would have happened. I..."
Elder Wang was consumed by self-reproach. He had originally intended to let Huo Rou gain recognition and then, in front of everyone, hand over the presidency to her.
He admitted to having selfish motives, but it was also to give Huo Rou a powerful backer.
Without him, there would be more people to support her, and she could live more freely and easily.
"It's not your fault. I know you meant well. Don't overthink it. Breathe with me now, quickly."
Huo Rou watched Elder Wang's condition worsen, her heart growing anxious.
His friend beside him also noticed Elder Wang's poor state and quickly chimed in, "Listen to your little apprentice. At your age, you're not as steady as this young girl."
"She's not my apprentice." Elder Wang took a deep breath and retorted, word by word, "Xiao A Rou and I are friends of many years. She's my friend!"
He was very insistent on this identity. He had never taught Huo Rou anything and couldn't shamelessly claim her as a disciple, even though he had always regarded Huo Rou as his granddaughter.
This declaration of being friends of many years stunned his friend. A few years ago, Wang Ximo had also boasted about a piece of calligraphy, saying it was written by his friend.
He searched his memory for that piece of calligraphy and, comparing it with what Huo Rou had written today, a terrifying thought began to surface…
Elder Wang's eyelids grew heavier. He looked at his friend's astonished expression and finally closed his eyes with satisfaction.
That old rascal!
The surrounding sounds became distant, "Xi Mo!"
"Elder Wang, Elder Wang…"
Gradually, all voices faded away, leaving silence.
"Doctor! Ren Zhen, help me contact the hospital!"
Huo Rou felt a pulse on Elder Wang's wrist. Qin Ningyi's phone had been used to save her and was now broken. She could only ask Ren Zhen to call for an ambulance.
She took out her phone and called Shen Wuyou.
By the time Shen Wuyou arrived at the hospital, all the tests had been completed, and they were just waiting for the results.
"Don't worry, let me take a look."
Shen Wuyou gently reassured Huo Rou and walked to Elder Wang's bedside, feeling his pulse.
His handsome brows furrowed deeply.
Seeing his reaction, Huo Rou likely had an idea of what was to come. Thus, when the doctor said Elder Wang's condition was poor and that aggressive chemotherapy might only extend his life for a month, she remained calm.
She looked calmly at Shen Wuyou. "What was the plan you mentioned before?"
Shen Wuyou looked at her with some difficulty. The plan was purely theoretical.
"Tell me," Huo Rou frowned, knowing that Shen Wuyou's hesitation meant the chances were slim, but they had to try.
"Song Ju from Country M. My brother did some research on it before. It contains a component that can inhibit spread. Theoretically, if a high-purity dose is continuously supplied, it can be cured."
Shen Wuyou couldn't stand seeing her frown; he didn't want her to be troubled.
Upon hearing "Country M," Huo Rou's brows instinctively tightened.
Qin Ningyi reached out and gently smoothed them for her. Shen Wuyou looked at Qin Ningyi's hand and felt a moment of loss.
"What stage is it at now?" Huo Rou pressed.
"We've experimented many times, but this component is difficult to extract, so we haven't been able to achieve such high purity. There are only three Song Ju flowers left. To avoid waste, we're optimizing the plan and re-experimenting."
Huo Rou said sternly, "I'll try."