Chapter 93: The Choice
Zhou Tianzui spent the night in the on-call room, checking on You Ruxu a few times. Each time, she would just glance at her from a distance, then return to the on-call room. She was exhausted. Even after knowing You Ruxu was fine, she couldn’t relax, as if she was the one who jumped from the car, her muscles tense and aching. After a sleepless night, she woke up with a slight headache.
He Wei, seeing her like this, asked worriedly, “Dr. Zhou, are you alright?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m fine.”
Her voice was hoarse.
She didn’t look fine at all.
Zhou Tianzui coughed a couple of times, her throat dry and scratchy, a slight nausea, the telltale signs of a cold. She went to make herself a hot drink and heard He Wei ask, “Which ward is Teacher You in?”
The doctor opposite her said, “Third floor, not sure which room, ask Dr. Zhou.”
He Wei looked at Zhou Tianzui hesitantly, not daring to ask.
Zhou Tianzui’s face was dark, her expression stern. He Wei swallowed and turned to whisper to the other doctor, “How did Teacher You end up in the hospital yesterday?”
“Really? Wow! That’s so cool!”
“I want to marry Teacher You!”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” The doctor opposite her chuckled. “Reporter You isn’t gay.”
He Wei retorted, “So what if she’s not gay? Beautiful things transcend gender! Like my love for Teacher You, you wouldn’t understand!”
Zhou Tianzui’s slightly hoarse voice called out, “He Wei, is that report ready yet?”
He Wei cleared her throat: “Almost, almost done.”
Zhou Tianzui glanced at her, a chilling gaze that made He Wei shiver. She quickly turned on her computer and started working on the report.
The news about You Ruxu’s involvement hadn’t been published, not a single report. The video footage of her jumping from the car, filmed by a few drivers, was also suppressed, all news about the incident blocked.
Captain Zhou had been severely reprimanded by her superiors.
Emerging from her superior’s office, her team member quickly asked, “Captain Zhou, what did they say?”
“A written self-criticism.” Captain Zhou said, “Want to write it for me?”
The crew-cut officer’s shoulders slumped. He hated writing self-criticisms, “What about those two men…”
Captain Zhou looked towards the interrogation room, the driver still insisting he didn’t know anything, the other man claiming it was a personal vendetta against You Ruxu, not mentioning Zhou Heng at all. She asked, “Any leads on the informant?”
“They’re still reviewing the footage.” The crew-cut officer said, “We also have the forensic report.”
He handed it to Captain Zhou.
As You Ruxu had said, they had very little information about Xu Jinwan, too little to arrest any suspects, “Has the construction site manager woken up?”
The crew-cut officer said, “He just woke up, then passed out again.”
Captain Zhou nodded: “Let’s go to the hospital.”
You Ruxu was at the hospital, hadn’t slept all night. The doctor asked if it was the pain keeping her awake, You Ruxu wanted to say no, but it did hurt. The doctor gave her a sleeping pill, hoping she would get some rest.
Captain Zhou arrived just as You Ruxu fell asleep.
She didn’t go to see You Ruxu, but directly to the manager’s ward, his injuries more severe than You Ruxu’s, on the seventh floor. The two police officers stationed outside greeted her. Captain Zhou arranged for someone to replace them, then entered the ward.
The room was quiet, the monitor beeping steadily, the heart rate monitor showing a regular rhythm. Captain Zhou pulled a chair over to the bedside, sat down, and looked at the manager.
She glanced at the report in her hand, then at the manager.
The officers outside switched shifts, the ones at You Ruxu’s door also changed. She slept for two hours, the sleeping pill seemingly ineffective, or perhaps the dosage was too low. When she opened her eyes, it wasn’t noon yet.
It was a sunny day, the sunlight streaming through the window, a comforting warmth.
You Ruxu tried to sit up, but her arm couldn’t support her weight. She tried again, but slid back down, leaning against the pillows, turning her head to look out the window.
Zhou Tianzui—was probably at work, right?
Was she still angry?
You Ruxu reached for her phone, wanting to message Zhou Tianzui, but remembering her words last night, the pain in her heart intensified, a suffocating ache. She suppressed the pain and messaged Zhou Tianzui: [The weather’s nice today.]
No reply.
You Ruxu had expected this.
Zhou Tianzui didn’t always reply to every message before, something You Ruxu had been used to, but she had become spoiled by Zhou Tianzui’s recent attentiveness, and now, just a lack of reply, was enough to make her feel a pang of sadness, her eyes stinging slightly.
You Ruxu hadn’t realized she was so fragile now.
She was still staring at her phone.
When there was a knock on the door.
Was it Zhou Tianzui?
You Ruxu tried to sit up, supporting herself with one arm, looking towards the door, “Come in.”
The door opened, and Yu Qiao walked in, carrying a thermos of chicken soup. The light in You Ruxu’s eyes flickered, and her arm gave way, her body falling back onto the bed. Yu Qiao, seeing this, quickly said, “Don’t move.”
You Ruxu nodded.
Yu Qiao walked over to her bedside, placed the thermos on the nightstand, and heard You Ruxu ask, “Godmother, what are you doing here?”
“You didn’t tell me you were sick, you didn’t tell me you were injured.” Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Tian told me.”
You Ruxu asked, “Isn’t she working today?”
“She said she took the day off.” Yu Qiao said, “She just dropped me off and went back home.”
You Ruxu felt a pang of guilt, spreading through her, a painful ache in her throat. She blinked back tears, waiting for her vision to clear before speaking, “Godmother, you shouldn’t go to so much trouble, I’m fine.”
“Your hand and leg are injured, you can’t even move, how are you ‘fine’?” Yu Qiao’s attitude towards You Ruxu had become much warmer and less formal since adopting her as her goddaughter. She said, “I made you some chicken soup, have some later, I also made braised pork ribs, you’re not avoiding anything, are you?” Then she noticed the bandage on You Ruxu’s arm and added, “Oh, I forgot, I added soy sauce, then don’t eat the ribs today, I’ll steam some for you tomorrow.”
You Ruxu said, “You don’t have to go to so much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all.” Yu Qiao said, “You call me Godmother, it’s my duty to take care of you.”
“Have you called your parents to let them know you’re okay?”
You Ruxu paused.
She hadn’t told You Shu and Wu Xiulian yet. Captain Zhou had told her about the news blackout, so not wanting them to worry, she hadn’t told them.
Yu Qiao said, “It’s better that way, they’ll just worry more.”
You Ruxu said, “Godmother, you should sit down, is your leg better now?”
Yu Qiao moved her leg slightly, “It’s fine, just a little slow, I’m okay.”
She looked at You Ruxu, “I heard from Xiao Tian that your job is very dangerous, is this case over yet?”
You Ruxu said, “Not yet.”
“Still haven’t caught the person after all this?” Yu Qiao said, “Is it that Fengyuan boss?”
You Ruxu said, “You’ve heard about it?”
“Heard what?” Yu Qiao waved her hand dismissively, “I heard it from the people at the park, they said a host from your station was murdered? Is that true?”
You Ruxu nodded, “Yes.”
“That’s so dangerous.” Yu Qiao said, “It’s practically risking your life…”
She paused.
You Ruxu looked at her, “Godmother?”
Yu Qiao sighed, “I just thought of Xiao Tian’s father.”
You Ruxu was silent, lowering her head.
Yu Qiao, lost in her memories, didn’t notice You Ruxu’s reaction. She said, “When I first met him, we were still in school, after graduating, I never thought he would become a reporter, join a TV station. He got a job there, said he was just an editor.”
“I didn’t understand the difference back then, I just thought it was a good job, no need to be out in the elements, and the salary was good. Later, when he became a reporter,” Yu Qiao said, “I realized how dangerous it was.”
You Ruxu’s voice was low and soft, “Did he ever think about changing jobs?”
“Changing jobs?” Yu Qiao said, “That would be like killing him. I never understood why he loved being a reporter so much. Xiao Xu, why did you become a reporter?”
You Ruxu looked up at Yu Qiao, speechless, her hand gripping the edge of the blanket so tightly that her knuckles were white.
“I…” You Ruxu pursed her lips, “I did something terrible…”
A knock on the door interrupted her. She and Yu Qiao looked over and saw Zhou Tianzui standing at the doorway. Yu Qiao was surprised, “Why are you here?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Just bringing some things over.”
She was carrying a bag, You Ruxu’s toiletries. Yu Qiao said, “Give it to me.”
For her safety, You Ruxu had a private room with its own bathroom. Yu Qiao took the bag inside. Zhou Tianzui stood by the bed, her face pale and tense, her expression serious. You Ruxu looked up at her, “Zhou Tianzui.”
Zhou Tianzui suppressed a cough, her body tense. She took a deep breath and looked at You Ruxu.
You Ruxu said, “I’m sorry.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Don’t be.”
Her words were curt, as if she didn’t want to say anything more. You Ruxu’s face paled further, her lips bloodless, her vision slightly blurred as she looked at Zhou Tianzui, “I yesterday…”
“You Ruxu.” Zhou Tianzui called her by her full name.
It had been a long time since she had called her that. You Ruxu froze, a strong sense of unease, like a sharp blade, severing the connection between them. Her heart sank. Zhou Tianzui said, “Being a reporter is so important, then what about me?”
You Ruxu, meeting her cold gaze, felt her heart plummet into an abyss. She said, “You’re also important.”
“Then choose one.” Zhou Tianzui’s tone was sharp, almost as if she was about to break up with her. You Ruxu didn’t know how to respond, her heart clenching, rendering her speechless.
Yu Qiao came out of the bathroom, “Are you going back later? Why don’t you have dinner here?”
Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu, her gaze deep and unreadable, then turned away, “No, I’m eating at home.”
“You’ll have to cook at home, there’s food here.” Yu Qiao said, “I can just reheat it.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I have to finish a report at home.”
Yu Qiao finally relented: “Then you must eat.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded: “I will.”
She didn’t even glance at You Ruxu.
After she left, Yu Qiao took a peeler, wanting to peel an apple for You Ruxu, and turning around, saw her crying. She asked, “Xiao Xu, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
You Ruxu touched her face, her hand cold. She said, “I’m fine.” Glancing at the bandage on her arm, she added, “My arm hurts.”
Yu Qiao said, “Where? Here?”
You Ruxu choked back a sob, “Yes.”
Yu Qiao said, “Then don’t move, I’ll go get the doctor.”
You Ruxu nodded.
Yu Qiao turned and left the ward. The moment the door closed, You Ruxu clutched her hospital gown, her head lowered, her shoulders shaking slightly, biting her lip hard to suppress her sobs.
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