In her blurry, tear-filled vision, she saw a completely unfamiliar man, approaching step by step.
What was even more despairing was that Lan Shuo recognized him.
...
When Wen Tingxue arrived at the room with bodyguards, Lan Shuo was tied naked to the head of the bed, and Xu Ke Xin was nowhere to be found.
Wen Tingxue's head buzzed, her heart chilling to the core.
Then, a bodyguard said, "There's someone in the bathtub."
Her body moved before her mind could catch up.
As Wen Tingxue reacted, she was already kneeling by the bathtub.
Looking at Xu Ke Xin, who was quietly soaking in the cold water, her hands began to tremble.
Once she confirmed that Xu Ke Xin was still breathing, Wen Tingxue, her soul returning to her body, immediately ordered, "Call 120! Hurry!"
Her voice was somewhat torn due to the urgency.
But Xu Ke Xin remained unconscious, possibly due to the potent effects of the drug.
Wen Tingxue, fighting back tears, wrapped a towel around her and carried her out of the bathroom.
Unexpectedly, the police and media arrived at the same time.
The clicking of cameras was incessant.
There was no way to stop them.
If not for the quick reactions of the bodyguards, the two of them would have been photographed.
However, the reporters' attention seemed to be solely on Lan Shuo; despite the crowd, not a single camera pointed this way.
Wen Tingxue felt something was amiss.
Before she could ponder further, Lan Shuo suddenly woke up.
Perhaps due to being a celebrity for so long, he was highly sensitive to the sound of cameras, choosing this particular moment to awaken.
This was like walking straight into the media's crosshairs.
Wen Tingxue watched the spectacle with a cold smile.
"Someone claims you used your client status to rape a female employee. Do you have any explanation for this?"
Even though the police were trying their best to control the scene, they couldn't deter the persistence of the reporters.
Even from beyond the police tape, they were shouting questions.
"You've always cultivated an image as a top student. Now you're committing illegal acts. Have you thought about how you'll explain this to your fans?"
"Please, how did you become like this? Was it that female employee who made you this way?"
The scene was incredibly chaotic. Lan Shuo, now untied, exploded in anger, shouting, "Who let you in here? How much did he pay?! I'll give double!"
The reporters ignored him, continuing to press him on the matter.
Wen Tingxue squinted at the reporters, almost certain this was a pre-arranged setup.
But who?
Who harbored such deep resentment towards Lan Shuo to orchestrate such a devastating public humiliation?
Wen Tingxue had no clue. But as she turned to leave, she unexpectedly met Lan Shuo's venomous gaze.
It was clear he believed she was the mastermind behind the setup.
How laughable.
No matter how much she despised him, she wouldn't use her best friend as part of a scheme!
Scum!
-
Hospital.
While the test results were still pending, Xing Jiahe and Yu Wenli, having sobered up, rushed over.
Following closely behind were the police officers handling the case.
As fate would have it, they were the same officers from the previous car accident.
They had managed to build a bit of rapport, and Wen Tingxue, unable to engage in lengthy conversation with Xing Jiahe, stepped forward to ask, "Has Lan Shuo confessed to anything?"
"He was taken away by his family," the officer said, pinching his brow with a sense of helplessness.
Wen Tingxue frowned in disbelief, "What?"
The officer explained, "Although the Lan family has declined in the capital, they still have deep roots spanning decades. They still possess some influence. More importantly, they claimed Lan Shuo was injured, so we couldn't detain him."
"He was injured? What kind of injury?" Wen Tingxue asked, utterly annoyed.
The police officer replied, "Psychological trauma."
Wen Tingxue: "..."
The officer assured her, "Don't worry, he can't escape. Moreover, he's also at this hospital. Once the test results are out, we'll interrogate him immediately."
"Thank you," Wen Tingxue finally felt a sense of relief.
"It's our duty. However, we're not just here to discuss your friend's situation; it's also about you."
"Hm?" Wen Tingxue was surprised. What about her?
The officer showed her a photograph. "Do you remember this person?"
Wen Tingxue studied it for a few seconds. "The driver from the drunk driving incident last time?"
"Yes," the officer said, putting the photo away. "We've just confirmed he died at home. The cause of death is currently unknown. However, he called us before he died, stating that he wasn't drunk driving. He claimed he was paid by Lan Shuo to deliberately hit you."
"What?" Wen Tingxue was shocked.
She hadn't dismissed the driver's words at the time, but she never suspected Lan Shuo.
She had thought Fu Yuchuan was a more likely suspect, but now it was...
No, that didn't seem right. What if it was a frame-up?
But that didn't make sense either; the Lan and Fu families had always been on good terms. There was no reason for them to harm Lan Shuo.
The officer stated, "The specific details are still under investigation. We'll notify you immediately once we have news."
As he finished speaking, the operating room door opened.
The doctor emerged, removing his mask. "The remaining medication in her stomach has been cleared. She should wake up in about an hour."
"Then she..." Wen Tingxue's remaining question was conveyed through her gaze.
She would rather be scolded by him than have him bottle up his distress.
Just as Wen Tingxue braced herself for him to push her away and reprimand her, he gently embraced her.
"I'm very happy you got the offer you wanted, and I'm glad you can all find your direction forward."
His voice was low but sincere.
Wen Tingxue could tell he wasn't lying, yet he had been so withdrawn lately...
Before she could ask, he suddenly held her tighter, his voice hoarse and vulnerable, "I'm just afraid... you'll leave me."