A Bad-Hearted Doctor is Unbearably Beautiful - Chapter 64

Seeing that they were about to smash into the guardrail, but knowing he couldn’t slam the brakes, Lu Xiao gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles. He held his breath, desperately stabilizing the car as it drifted toward the inner lane of the first curve.

Screech—!!

Just as the metal was about to scrape against the barrier, Lu Xiao yanked the wheel hard! The car lost its balance and began to spin; the two right wheels lifted off the ground for several seconds under the immense torque. They were on the verge of flipping!

Through sheer, terrifying luck, they cleared the first turn, but the second was immediately upon them. The only sound inside the car was the ragged, synchronized breathing of two terrified men.

Finally, the moment the brakes caught and held, Lu Xiao yanked the handbrake. The car sat by the guardrail with its hazard lights flashing. Both men climbed out, faces pale and hearts hammering.

Shen Zhao’s right hand was still deathly tight around the ceiling handle. The violent lurching had briefly lifted him from his seat, causing his hip to slam hard against the door. He sucked in a breath of cold air at the sharp pain.

“Are you okay?” Lu Xiao’s face was grim.

“I’m fine.” Shen Zhao finally released his grip, quickly unbuckled his seatbelt, and stepped out.

Lu Xiao slammed the car door shut with a ferocious bang. “Motherfucker! Is this his way of giving us a warning shot?”

Shen Zhao nodded grimly. He didn’t speak. This kind of “minor” harassment—dangerous but not immediately lethal—was an unmistakable threat.

“We’re stuck here for a bit. I’ll call a tow truck.” After placing the call, Lu Xiao phoned Wang Deng, telling him to coordinate with the traffic police to track down the bastard who had scattered nails on the highway.

A draft of cold wind whistled down the road and into the back of Shen Zhao’s neck. Just as he shivered, he felt a weight on his shoulders. Lu Xiao had draped his own jacket over him, bringing an immediate sense of warmth.

“I’ve got a strong constitution; I’m not afraid of the cold,” Lu Xiao said with an air of nonchalance.

Shen Zhao paused, his hand touching the lapel of the jacket. “Thank you.”

Lu Xiao pulled out his cigarette pack and bit down on a filter. “Things have been far too restless lately. First, someone was desperate for my life outside the flower shop, and now this.”

“Mm.”

Lu Xiao squinted at Shen Zhao, the unlit cigarette between his fingers as he stared into the distance. “Shen Zhao, stop investigating this case with me.”

Shen Zhao turned to look at him, noting that Lu Xiao’s expression was far more serious than usual. Shen Zhao gave a soft, dry laugh. “I’m not afraid of this.”

“But I can’t help but worry.” Lu Xiao leaned his elbow against the car window, his gaze deepening. “How long has it been? How many life-and-death moments have we shared? Count them yourself.”

Shen Zhao remained silent, pulling Lu Xiao’s jacket tighter around himself.

“We haven’t even touched the real truth yet! The killer’s face, the Zhai family’s secrets, the hidden data on that USB drive, Wen Yu’s cause of death… Every single thing requires us to put our lives on the line.”

“They are in the shadows while we are in the light. The mastermind only has to exert a tiny bit of effort, and I’m already losing my mind with worry…”

Shen Zhao was silent for a long while before finally sighing. “If you’re alone, I likewise… won’t be at peace.”

Lu Xiao’s heart gave a sudden, violent thud. Did he just… admit he cares?

Cars roared past them, the sound of the wind vibrating against their eardrums and masking the surge of hidden emotions between them.

“The tow truck should be here soon,” Lu Xiao said.

As Shen Zhao nodded, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a text notification. Habitually, he opened it, only to turn deathly pale the instant he read the content.

His fingertips went cold. Noticing that Lu Xiao wasn’t looking, he quickly swiped the screen to clear it, locked the phone, and shoved it back into his pocket. He struggled to control his racing heart. When he looked up again, Lu Xiao was walking around the car, inspecting the damage.

Good… he didn’t see. The panic he felt about being discovered by Lu Xiao was a subtle, inexplicable sensation.

Shen Zhao steadied his voice, his expression returning to its usual mask. “I have something I need to handle back at the office. Sorry to leave you waiting here alone; I’ll call a car.”

“Huh?” Lu Xiao didn’t even have time to react. He looked at him suspiciously. “Wait, what’s so urgent? If you wait a bit, I’ll get a replacement car and drive you.”

“No need. I’ve already called one.”

What is with this guy? Lu Xiao thought. One second he’s caring and I’m all touched, the next second he’s ice-cold and untouchable again?

“Shen Zhao, you are truly… impossible to understand!”

Lu Xiao kicked at stones on the side of the road, hoping Shen Zhao would notice his irritation. Unfortunately, Shen Zhao climbed into the car the moment it arrived, failing even to wave goodbye.

The moment he was in the car, Shen Zhao opened the message again. His Adam’s apple bobbed. His fingers trembled as he tapped the unknown number and hit “call.”

He listened to the rhythmic rings of the phone, his tension reaching a peak.

No answer…

On the screen, the message read:

Noah Private Hospital, VIP Room 02 — Nine

Shen Zhao’s fingernails dug into his palms. He was terrified every second that this was a hallucination. He only wished the car would go faster, faster! In an instant, his rationality felt like a collapsing skyscraper.

Fifteen years ago, aside from himself, no one was supposed to have escaped. That uncontrollable, raging fire had destroyed the nightmare that wore a sweet disguise, taking everyone’s lives with it.

A bolt of lightning seemed to strike his brain, the shock leaving him with a splitting headache.

Nine, the most beloved boy in the welfare home… Nine, who slept next to him every night… Nine, who whispered escape plans with him in the dark…

For all these years, Shen Zhao believed his own mistake had caused the plan to fail. But now, he had suddenly received a message from Nine!

He had seen Nine’s silhouette vanish into the sea of flames with his own eyes…

He’s actually still alive!!

He gripped his phone, his heart beating so fast it made his chest ache.

As the city lights began to flicker on, the words “Noah Private Hospital” glowed with a faint blue aura. The entire building was Western-style—luxurious decor paired with intricate marble sculptures on the walls. At the entrance, several Roman Corinthian-style marble columns supported the roof.

Shen Zhao glanced at the lobby; the automatic revolving doors had stopped working. He took a deep breath, pushed open the side glass door, and walked in.

The hospital lobby was decorated like a top-tier luxury hotel, but it lacked the usual sense of oppressive weight. A receptionist was waiting with a professional smile.

Shen Zhao walked quickly to the front desk. “Hello, I’d like to go to VIP Room 02. Could you tell me—”

Before he could finish, he saw a familiar small figure being led past by a nurse. That child… that was clearly Cheng Nianchuan.

He’s here too!?