“I never hit women, but you’re the exception.”

Ye Qiu’s words were simple and direct, exuding a commanding presence.

Lin Jingzhi looked up, surprised, and asked, “Do you know who she is?”

“Who she is doesn’t matter to me. I won’t allow anyone to bully you in front of me.”

Hearing this, Lin Jingzhi felt a tremor deep inside her heart.

Over the years, she had shouldered everything alone. To outsiders, she was a strong woman, but they overlooked the fact that she was also a woman who needed protection.

She never imagined that the man to protect her would be Ye Qiu.

Lin Jingzhi said, “The person you just hit is the sister of my deceased fiancé, from a family in the Capital. That family has immense power, and with just one word, she could make you disappear without a trace.”

“So what?” There was not a trace of fear on Ye Qiu’s face as he said, “As Sister Lin said, a barefoot person is not afraid of someone with shoes. If she really wants to kill me, then I’ll just have to fight her.”

Lin Jingzhi was somewhat taken aback.

She didn’t know what Ye Qiu had been through, but she could clearly sense a change in him.

If Ye Qiu’s initial impression on her was that of a timid newcomer lacking courage, now he was like a man who stood tall and firm.

Lin Jingzhi sighed, “It’s not worth offending her for an outsider like me.”

“Sister, you’re wrong, and I must correct you,” Ye Qiu looked intently at Lin Jingzhi, speaking with utmost seriousness, “You’re not an outsider, you’re my sister.”

A warm current surged in Lin Jingzhi’s heart.

It had been many years since she had heard such heartwarming words. Even her own family had disowned her after that incident, treating her as a stranger.

All these years, she had struggled alone in Jiangzhou, enduring hardships and exhaustion known only to herself.

“Ye Qiu, thank you.” Tears appeared in Lin Jingzhi’s eyes.

Ye Qiu smiled slightly, “Why be so formal with me?”

At that moment, the woman Ye Qiu had sent flying burst into the room, pointing at Ye Qiu and yelling furiously, “Do you know who I am? You dare to hit me, do you want to die?”

“I warn you, this is a special care ward, no loud noises allowed, or else, don’t blame me for being impolite.” After Ye Qiu spoke, a chilling aura emanated from him.

The temperature in the ward seemed to drop below zero, and the woman felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

“You, you…”

The woman was intimidated by Ye Qiu’s aura, involuntarily stepping back.

“Qian Yanru, stop making a fool of yourself here,” Lin Jingzhi interjected.

Suddenly remembering something, the woman laughed out of anger, “I was wondering how a mere doctor dared to hit me. Turns out you’re his backer!”

“Lin Jingzhi, you’ve really sunk low to associate with such a nobody. Shameless.”

Lin Jingzhi seemed accustomed to the woman’s harsh words, showing no sign of anger as she replied indifferently, “Let’s be honest, if I tell you to be shameless, you’d be utterly shameless.”

“You—”

Lin Jingzhi continued, “Qian Yanru, I advise you to get treated if you’re sick, don’t come looking for me, I’m not a vet.”

Ye Qiu couldn’t help but laugh out loud, witnessing Lin Jingzhi’s retort for the first time, which was truly…

Spectacular!

The woman trembled with rage, shouting, “Lin Jingzhi, you dare insult me!”

“Did I insult you? I’m just telling the truth,” Lin Jingzhi said with an innocent expression, “The Qian family is supposed to be a reputable clan from the Capital, how did they produce a daughter like you? Out of respect for Qian Dong, I’ll remind you, don’t lose everything your parents gave you, especially your face.”

“You, you, I’ll fight you!” The woman, like a hen provoked into a fight, lunged at Lin Jingzhi.

However, as soon as she neared the hospital bed, Ye Qiu grabbed her throat.

She struggled to breathe.

“You, you, what are you trying to do?” The woman stared at Ye Qiu in horror.

Ye Qiu looked at Lin Jingzhi and asked, “Sister Lin, should I kill her, or bury her alive?”

Lin Jingzhi immediately understood Ye Qiu’s intention and said seriously, “Killing her outright is no fun, and burying her alive is too much trouble. Let me think… maybe dump her in the river, or death by a thousand cuts could work, what do you think?”

“I think either way is fine,” Ye Qiu replied.

The woman, hearing their conversation, was nearly scared out of her wits. If it had been anyone else, she might not have believed it, but Lin Jingzhi was different. Lin Jingzhi dared to poison her own fiancé, what wouldn’t she dare to do?

“You can’t kill me, you can’t, my family knows I came to Jiangzhou to find you, if I die, they won’t let you off,” the woman said, then suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs, “Murder, help…”

“Shut up!”

Lin Jingzhi suddenly shouted.

The woman immediately clamped her mouth shut, her earlier arrogance gone without a trace.

“Qian Yanru, I won’t kill you today.”

“But listen well, I’m not sparing you out of fear or respect for the Qian family, I just don’t want to dirty my hands.”

“If you dare to trouble me again, I will show no mercy.”

“Ye Qiu, let her go.”

Ye Qiu then released his grip, coldly ordering, “Get out!”

Qian Yanru ran out of the ward as if fleeing for her life.

When only Ye Qiu and Lin Jingzhi were left in the ward, Lin Jingzhi said gratefully, “Ye Qiu, thank you.”

“Sister Lin, why are you being so formal with me?” Ye Qiu approached Lin Jingzhi, looking at the mark on her left cheek, and asked softly, “Does it hurt?”

“What, are you concerned about me?” Lin Jingzhi’s captivating eyes stared straight at Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu felt a bit guilty and quickly lowered his head.

“Lift your head,” Lin Jingzhi commanded, her voice brooking no refusal.

Ye Qiu immediately looked up.

Lin Jingzhi smiled slightly and asked, “Do I look good?”

“Cough cough…” Ye Qiu, extremely embarrassed, quickly said, “Sister Lin, let me treat the mark on your face, okay?”

“Sure,” Lin Jingzhi agreed readily.

Ye Qiu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly began to treat the mark on Lin Jingzhi’s face.

Lin Jingzhi turned her head slightly, presenting her left cheek to Ye Qiu for easier access to the wound.

Meanwhile, with her right hand, she stealthily made an “OK” sign towards the window, unnoticed even by Ye Qiu.

Two hundred meters from the hospital, there was a tall hotel.

On the rooftop.

A woman dressed in black leather, upon seeing Lin Jingzhi’s gesture, retracted the sniper rifle set up on the rooftop and quickly departed.