Broken Leg

At the military district hospital, Si Jinyan remained conscious even as he was wheeled into the operating room. He had not fainted. He even gave Chi Li's hand, resting by his side, a reassuring squeeze, making it seem as though his injuries were not that serious.

But Chi Li had witnessed it all firsthand. He had heard the bullet sink into flesh, felt Si Jinyan's warm blood splash across his face, and watched Si Jinyan's brow crease faintly.

Throughout it all, Si Jinyan had not said a word. Only at the very end, protected against Si Jinyan's chest, did Chi Li hear the slight tremor in his chest and the nearly imperceptible, pained grunt that came from his throat.

Outside the operating room, Chi Li stared at its closed doors. Without even realizing it himself, his fingertips were trembling slightly.

Not far away, Geng Ji had arrived. The soldier on duty pointed at Chi Li standing by the door and asked Geng Ji whether he should take him away.

The military was under tight security, and ordinary people were not allowed inside. The guards did not know who Chi Li was.

They had only seen that, when the Marshal was brought in earlier, Chi Li had stayed at Si Jinyan's side the entire time, holding his hand. Si Jinyan had shown no intention of making him leave, which was why they had not stopped Chi Li.

Geng Ji had not accompanied Si Jinyan on the mission today, but he had monitored and followed the situation from the rear throughout. This sensational terrorist kidnapping incident had likely spread across the entire Empire by now.

Geng Ji had also heard Qiu Rui briefly describe what had happened. Qiu Rui was not badly injured. In this incident, Si Jinyan had likely suffered the worst injuries, and now that Si Jinyan was in surgery, Qiu Rui had to handle the aftermath.

For now, Geng Ji was in charge of Si Jinyan's side of things.

Recognizing Chi Li, Geng Ji waved a hand at the person beside him. "It's fine. Let him stay."

Only when Geng Ji approached did Chi Li seem to come back to himself and look at the man walking over.

Ever since that incident, Chi Li had been restless and unsettled. Images from that time, the sensations, Si Jinyan's face—they kept flashing through his mind in fragments. He could not clear them away.

This was not the first time Chi Li had experienced such a bloody, violent scene. He had hovered at the edge of life and death countless times, yet this was the first time he had felt so uneasy. He did not know what was wrong with him.

Geng Ji still looked as casual and flippant as ever as he smiled at Chi Li. "Scared?"

Chi Li had never met this man before, but judging from Geng Ji's uniform, rank, and his appearance here at this moment, he could tell that Geng Ji was no ordinary person.

Chi Li had not forgotten his identity.

"Mm." Chi Li's voice was very soft.

Chi Li looked toward the operating room doors. The pale corridor lights fell across his face, making his complexion appear even paler. "Will the Marshal be all right?"

After a brief silence, Geng Ji suddenly reached out and gently ruffled Chi Li's hair.

The unexpected gesture startled Chi Li.

Chi Li's eyes widened slightly. He recoiled to avoid Geng Ji's hand, looking at him with caution and confusion.

Geng Ji chuckled without explaining. Instead, he answered Chi Li, "He'll be fine. The Marshal has a tough life. A little injury like this is nothing to him."

It sounded like mere comfort. Si Jinyan had been shot in the back and the thigh. Those were already very serious injuries.

Chi Li's expression did not improve because of Geng Ji's words.

Geng Ji said, "There's no use standing guard here. Go rest and get something to eat first. I'll take you."

Chi Li said nothing, nor did he leave.

After a brief silence, Geng Ji suddenly said, "You really aren't afraid at all, are you?"

Chi Li froze at his words.

Geng Ji narrowed his eyes slightly and scrutinized Chi Li. "You're much calmer than those people. You don't look like someone who just went through such a chaotic scene."

Naturally, Geng Ji meant the rescued civilians. After the military had successfully subdued the criminals, all the civilians had been taken away for comfort and psychological counseling.

Geng Ji's words made Chi Li panic inwardly.

This incident had suddenly disrupted Chi Li's rhythm, making him forget how an ordinary person without military training should have reacted after encountering such a scene.

A few seconds later, Chi Li turned to Geng Ji, his lips trembling faintly. "I'll wait here until the Marshal comes out."

There was quite a bit of blood on Chi Li's body, leaving him a mess. Blood and dust were mixed across his fair face, his lips were slightly cracked, and the rims of his eyes were faintly red. He looked as though he were forcing himself through utter exhaustion, and when he said those words, he seemed especially pitiful.

After saying that, Chi Li pressed his lips together tightly and stared silently at Geng Ji, as if he had made up his mind about something, meeting his gaze.

Not long after, Geng Ji looked away and stopped watching him.

A moment later, Chi Li turned and left as well, stopping at an open spot not far away.

There was still blood on him, so Chi Li did not sit on one of the chairs placed along the corridor. Instead, he leaned against a chair leg with his back against the wall and sat on the floor beside it.

Geng Ji watched Chi Li sitting on the ground, knees drawn up, curled into a ball with his head buried in his arms. After watching him for a while, he finally let out an almost imperceptible sigh and looked away.

Perhaps he was too exhausted, because Chi Li actually fell asleep sitting there.

When Chi Li opened his eyes again, someone was shaking him awake.

Geng Ji said, "Get up. Go eat first. Don't die here later—I can't afford to answer for that."

Chi Li opened his eyes groggily and looked at Geng Ji.

Geng Ji said, "The Marshal is out of surgery. He's been transferred to the intensive care room inside. The doctors are still wrapping things up. Go eat first, then change your clothes."

Only then did Chi Li abruptly snap awake. "The Marshal is out? How is he?"

When he stood, his legs had gone numb from sitting too long, and Chi Li nearly fell. Fortunately, Geng Ji caught him.

"He's fine." Geng Ji supported Chi Li and had him sit on a nearby chair to recover. "He just broke a leg. As long as he's alive, that's what matters."

It was as if Chi Li heard his heart thud and stop beating.

All the strength seemed to drain from his body at once. Chi Li stared at Geng Ji in disbelief and confirmed, "...His leg is broken?"

Geng Ji seemed unconcerned. "Who goes on a mission without being prepared to lose an arm or a leg? It's fine. As long as his brain wasn't damaged, he can still command the military. He just can't go to the battlefield anymore."

As he said this, Geng Ji wore a somewhat troubled expression.

Chi Li's breathing tightened faintly. He did not know how he had followed Geng Ji out, nor did he know where he was going. When he realized Geng Ji was leading him toward the main entrance, he paused. "Are we going to the ward?"

Geng Ji put an arm around Chi Li's shoulders and guided him forward. "We're going to eat. People are made of iron, and food is steel, kid."

Chi Li could only follow Geng Ji to get something to eat first.

While eating, Chi Li's mind buzzed nonstop. All he could think about was Si Jinyan's broken leg—Si Jinyan's leg had been broken because of him.

Geng Ji seemed to be giving him time to process it, as he did not say a word throughout the meal.

Chi Li knew he could not become too entangled with Si Jinyan, nor could he develop any feelings for him. He was only using Si Jinyan, investigating him, and maneuvering at his side.

Yet precisely because of that, he did not want Si Jinyan to pay any price for it. Si Jinyan had broken a leg protecting him, and Chi Li found that difficult to accept.

Over the time they had spent together, Chi Li had come to understand that Si Jinyan was not a person with a terrible temperament. If political stances and the interests entangling them were set aside, Chi Li would cherish a friend like Si Jinyan. Perhaps they could even become quite good friends.

After finishing the meal, Chi Li did not even know what he had eaten.