Chapter 33: Repeated Confirmation

Inside the intensive care unit, the rhythmic ticking of the machines felt piercingly sharp in the hushed air.

He Lingfeng sat by the bedside, his gaze like a torch, fixed intently upon the slumbering Yun Qiuya. Her complexion was as pale as a sheet of paper, drained of all color; only the faint sound of her breathing and the regular rise and fall of her chest served as proof that she still lived.

He Lingfeng gently took Yun Qiuya’s hand, rubbing his chin against its edge, the coarse stubble of his beard scraping against her soft skin.

"Qiuya, you have been asleep for three months now. When will you finally wake up?" He Lingfeng’s voice was low and hoarse.

The room was deathly quiet, with nothing but the ticking of the clock to answer his plea. Yun Qiuya remained in a deep, unresponsive slumber.

Suddenly, the tenderness on He Lingfeng’s face vanished, replaced by a hideous grimace. He gripped Yun Qiuya’s hand so tightly that her bones creaked, as if he intended to crush them to dust.

"Yun Qiuya, was it you who took the ring?" He Lingfeng’s voice trembled, brimming with fury and bitterness. "You are the only person I can think of. No one else would want me dead but you. If you are harboring resentment, stop pretending to be asleep! Wake up! I will admit I was wrong—everyone makes mistakes, but that doesn't mean I deserve to die, does it? That ring is worth a fortune, and no one else knew of its existence. I know what kind of person Quan Duoduo is; she has worked just as hard as I have to climb to the top, so she wouldn't cut off her own nose to spite her face. I cannot conceive of anyone else who would do this. If you didn’t want to marry me, just tell me. Send me a dream and tell me where the ring is!"

He Lingfeng struggled to restrain his emotions, yet the volatility and rage in his voice grew increasingly apparent.

He crouched down, bringing his face close to hers to scrutinize her features. Moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating his contorted face and Yun Qiuya’s lifeless expression. He Lingfeng stared so intensely he didn't want to miss even a single eyelash, yet Yun Qiuya remained motionless, completely devoid of consciousness.

"You bitch, why do you treat me like this?" He Lingfeng suddenly roared, his voice echoing through the intensive care unit.

He stood up, rummaged through his pockets, and withdrew a syringe. Under the moonlight, the needle glinted with a cold, piercing light. With lightning speed, He Lingfeng plunged the needle into Yun Qiuya’s thigh. His face twisted into an evil grin as he stared unblinkingly at her, yet the woman on the bed showed no reaction whatsoever.

He Lingfeng withdrew the needle and jabbed it into her thigh several more times. As time ticked by, he knew that an ordinary person could never endure such pain; therefore, Yun Qiuya must still be in a coma, for otherwise, how could she not react to such piercing agony?

After confirming repeatedly that Yun Qiuya truly remained unresponsive, he carefully tucked the syringe away and exited the intensive care unit.

After He Lingfeng departed, the unit fell back into a deathly silence.

Deep within the darkness, Yun Qiuya’s consciousness began to stir. She felt the pain in her thigh, yet her body remained paralyzed.

*He Lingfeng, you animal,* Yun Qiuya screamed silently in her heart, but her voice could not reach the world outside.

Just then, Yun Qiuya suddenly felt a surge of warm energy welling up from the depths of her soul. She felt as though a voice whispered in her ear: "Do not be afraid; I will protect you." Though the voice was faint, it was filled with strength and warmth, bringing a sense of profound peace to Yun Qiuya.

She drifted back into a deep sleep.