Limited-Time Attachment - Chapter 40

Just as Zhou Jibai had guessed, Chen Shengrong was not going to let things go so easily.

When the restaurant manager spoke with Song Ming on the phone, he made it a point to tell her that the ambulance and the police car arrived at the restaurant at the same time. Before getting into the ambulance, Chen Shengrong’s nose was still bleeding incessantly, yet he continued to shout in a muffled, heavy voice, “I’m going to make her pay!”

It went without saying who this “her” was.

Song Ming chuckled and said very casually, “Fine, I got it.”

Zhou Jibai, sitting in the passenger seat, frowned and looked over. “Chen Shengrong called the police? Is it really okay that you aren’t at the scene?”

“The closest police station to that restaurant is the Huaihai Road Branch,” Song Ming said, spinning the steering wheel with effortless ease. “It’s no big deal.”

“You arranged everything beforehand?” Zhou Jibai’s brow furrowed deeper. Her faint expression of concern shifted subtly, turning into a silent, scrutinizing gaze.

Song Ming’s eyes flickered slightly, her attention drifting momentarily from the car in front of them.

She was too familiar with Zhou Jibai, she could hear the shift in her emotions.

“It was just a coincidence…” Song Ming said softly, glancing at Zhou Jibai. “How is President Zhou’s ankle?”

It would have been better if Song Ming hadn’t spoken; the moment she mentioned it, a dull, throbbing ache rose from the ankle and crawled up the calf.

Zhou Jibai looked away and said as if nothing were wrong, “It’s fine.”

Song Ming let out a laugh, not saying whether she believed her or not. “Regardless, you should apply some medicine. Do you have any liniment for bruises at home?”

Zhou Jibai’s eyelashes lowered, her expression cold. “I still think President Song should prioritize the dispute that has already reached the police station. Letting Chen Shengrong deal with the police alone won’t do you any favors.”

Song Ming was silent for a moment, her fingers unconsciously tapping the steering wheel. This stubborn streak of Zhou Jibai’s hadn’t changed a bit in two years.

Because the distance was short, it didn’t take long to return to Zhou Jibai’s home.

Song Ming stepped out of the car and walked to the passenger side to open the door. When she reached out to carry Zhou Jibai, she was rejected.

Zhou Jibai braced her hands against the edge of the seat, sitting firmly in the wide space, looking into Song Ming’s eyes with a flat expression. “I thought President Song’s favor had already been repaid.”

Song Ming leaned against the top edge of the car door, bowing slightly to look at Zhou Jibai. Her dark, sandalwood-black short hair obscured half of her face as she frowned. “Stop messing around. I’m taking you up.”

“It’s not necessary,” Zhou Jibai said decisively.

Zhou Jibai dodged Song Ming’s hand, lifting her foot to get out of the car. However, she had ignored the fact that her injured ankle had been stationary for a while. This kind of swelling doesn’t hurt much during the initial injury or while resting, the pain is most intense when one suddenly tries to move again after being still.

Furthermore, Zhou Jibai hadn’t even changed her shoes, she was still wearing those high heels.

Song Ming frowned. Predicting the outcome, she stopped trying to intervene and took half a step back, coldly watching Zhou Jibai try to force her way through.

The moment the thin heel touched the grayish-brown stone tiles, Zhou Jibai’s expression changed. A sharp pain shot up from her ankle. Before she could react, her strength gave out, and she pitched forward uncontrollably. The scene before her eyes blurred from streets and trees into a close-up of the tightly laid stone tiles.

Song Ming raised her arm, hooking it around Zhou Jibai’s waist with one hand, steadily pulling her into her embrace.

The posture was too intimate, almost like a hug.

The scent of Zhou Jibai’s perfume was incredibly clear, and her familiar body was back in her arms… just as soft as in her memory. Zhou Jibai was a soft personl, her skin was fair and smooth, making one never want to let go once they grasped her. Her long legs were well-proportioned, and her waist was so thin it could be bent at will. Not only was she born with flexible bones, but she had also danced Latin for many years… she was very suited to being held and kneaded.

Zhou Jibai’s ankle couldn’t support any weight. Even with Song Ming’s help, she couldn’t stand, sliding down against Song Ming.

Song Ming frowned, feeling a strange flicker of irritation. She simply reached out and gripped Zhou Jibai’s side.

Zhou Jibai stiffened suddenly and stopped moving.

With her fingers wrapped around that slender waist, Song Ming thought expressionlessly: It seems that over the last two years, more than just that stubborn temper has remained unchanged, certain sensitive spots that she never lets anyone touch are the same as well.

“Didn’t President Zhou think my favor was already repaid?” Song Ming held Zhou Jibai with one arm, her gaze landing lightly on the passenger seat as she spoke unhurriedly. “Then how do we count this?”

Her tone was lazy, but her hand was forward, sliding slightly up and down Zhou Jibai’s waist.

Zhou Jibai froze, then suddenly looked up at Song Ming with annoyance. “Song Ming!”

Song Ming ignored her completely. She glanced into the distance, bent down, and swept Zhou Jibai up into her arms, kicking the car door shut with her foot. “I told you I would help, but you refused to listen. How do we settle this now?”

Zhou Jibai pursed her lips, turning her head to hide her face in frustration.

Song Ming let out a soft laugh, finally feeling a bit of amusement. She leisurely carried the woman into the building. They turned a corner and stopped at the elevator bank. She whispered, “Elevator.”

Zhou Jibai looked up with a frown, her annoyed expression tinged with a trace of embarrassment. Pursing her lips, she reached out a slender arm and pressed the “Up” button.

A man nearby, holding a cup of coffee and waiting for the other elevator, looked at the two of them in surprise.

Sensing the outsider’s gaze, Song Ming tilted her head slightly. Her gray-green eyes swept over him, her lazy gaze meeting the stunned man’s eyes. Song Ming pulled Zhou Jibai a bit closer into her arms and curled the corner of her mouth. “What, never seen this before?”

The man startled and awkwardly shifted his gaze away.

Just then, the elevator chimed, arriving at the first floor.

“Don’t say another word,” Zhou Jibai grabbed Song Ming’s collar and buried her face in Song Ming’s shoulder. “Just go up quickly.”

Song Ming smiled, finally feeling a sense of pleasure as she carried the person into the elevator with ease.

“This ankle injury of yours should be massaged with medicine as soon as possible, otherwise it will recover very slowly.”

“Then I wouldn’t dare trouble President Song further. You’ve already helped a lot today; I can handle it myself.” Zhou Jibai’s voice was cold and indifferent. She sat on the sofa, not even looking at Song Ming.

Song Ming leaned against the back of the sofa, looking down at Zhou Jibai from above. “Isn’t President Zhou’s speed at turning hostile a bit too fast?”

Zhou Jibai didn’t back down. “There is a massive headache waiting at the police station. Instead of bickering with me over these trifles, President Song would be better off thinking about how to resolve things over there.”

Song Ming didn’t answer for a moment.

Zhou Jibai leaned forward, pulled over her soft slippers, and changed out of the beautiful but difficult to wear high heels right in front of Song Ming.

Although she had changed her shoes, her ankle was still swollen after all. The moment Zhou Jibai stood up straight, she couldn’t help but wobble. Song Ming instinctively reached out her hand, but Zhou Jibai seemed to have anticipated it, she dodged Song Ming’s hand and stood straight on her own. After taking a moment to steady herself, she walked toward the bedroom.

Someone who has pride engraved in their bones will still act tough even at a time like this.

Not only did Zhou Jibai walk away, but she did so with a graceful posture and steady steps. Her elegant and composed demeanor was no different from usual. If Song Ming hadn’t carried her all the way back, she might have actually thought Zhou Jibai was perfectly fine and healthy.

Song Ming’s hand hovered in mid-air, slowly clenching into a fist.

…This woman, honestly.

“I said it! This matter is of an extremely malicious nature. I want that woman to pay the price. I will definitely make her pay!”

An angry roar erupted from the hospital room, echoing through the corridor and startling the passing nurses.

The two young nurses exchanged looks and hurried past the door. Further away, a young man in a suit wearing black-rimmed glasses turned around along with two people in police uniforms.

“You see,” the young man said with an apologetic tone, as if he were truly sorry. “My boss is currently in an unstable state. Moreover, he is injured. How can he go with you to give a statement? Why don’t you go find the woman who hit him first to understand the situation?”

“We will certainly look into the other side as well, but that is being handled by our other colleagues. We understand your boss is injured and can’t go to the station, we can conduct a preliminary interview here at the hospital. But why does your boss refuse to see anyone now? Hasn’t the wound already been treated? Judging by his voice, he doesn’t seem… particularly weak.”

One of the police officers spoke tactfully.

“Uh, well…” The young man pushed up his glasses. “As you can see, we are here in the country to discuss a partnership. We came with sincerity, but we aren’t very familiar with the domestic judicial system. Our wish is to contact the embassy first.”

The policeman nodded. “Understood.”

“However, if that’s the case,” the other policeman spoke up, “I expect the other party will also request to contact their embassy first.”

The young man was stunned. “What do you mean?”

“You didn’t know? The lady who started the fight is also a foreign national.”

“What exactly is that woman’s background?” In the ward, Chen Shengrong’s expression was extremely dark, his tone icy as he asked Zhong Hexuan. “To talk so big to my face and then lay hands on me like that, does she have a death wish?”

Zhong Hexuan hesitated. “This…”

Involving the Song family made him a bit afraid to speak.

He had accompanied Chen Shengrong to the municipal hospital for preliminary treatment and then immediately transferred him to a quieter and more comfortable private hospital. During the process, he found time to call Zhong Zhengcheng. But so far, Zhong Zhengcheng hadn’t made any obvious reaction, he hadn’t even sent anyone to offer condolences, acting as if he were completely unaware of the situation.

Since that was Zhong Zhengcheng’s attitude, Zhong Hexuan didn’t dare to take initiative on his own.

Chen Shengrong sat on the hospital bed, his teeth-gritting words carrying a hint of hatred.

His right arm was in a splint, his slightly fractured nose was red and swollen, and there was a large bruise across his brow. The colors on his face were as vibrant as a palette.

A cold, ruthless glint flashed in Chen Shengrong’s eyes. “No matter what, I will make her regret what she did today.”

Zhong Hexuan, who had some understanding of the businesses Chen Shengrong operated around Southeast Asia, felt his eyelid twitch. He thought of the Songyun Group, which had been entrenched in City A for many years across numerous fields. Although Song Ming was currently on bad terms with the Song family, it didn’t mean Song Zhongtian would have zero reaction if something happened to her.

Fearing he would get burned, Zhong Hexuan leaned forward. “Mr. Chen, regarding this matter, I think…”

Before Zhong Hexuan could finish, the phone in his pocket rang.

He took out his phone and saw it was a work call, he had to answer it.

Chen Shengrong gave him a cold look. Zhong Hexuan gave an apologetic smile and walked to the window to take the call. “Hello?”

“What? How did that happen? Wasn’t it already agreed upon? Why is there suddenly a problem?” Zhong Hexuan spoke faster and faster, his tone very anxious.

He didn’t know what the person on the other end said, but his expression became worse the more he listened.

A moment later, Zhong Hexuan turned back with a very troubled expression. “Mr. Chen, I’m terribly sorry. My company has an urgent matter that requires my immediate attention, so…”

“Young President Zhong,” Chen Shengrong’s expression was grim. “I thought I and the Zhong family were reliable partners about to take our relationship a step further. Now that such a thing has happened in the restaurant and I haven’t even received a clear stance, you’re leaving?”

“This matter is complicated… but I am definitely on your side,” Zhong Hexuan said ambiguously.

Chen Shengrong studied Zhong Hexuan coldly for a while. “Fine. Since you have business, please go ahead and attend to it. As for this matter, I will naturally have my own way of handling it.”