Investigation

When Chen Hao woke again, it was already daytime the following day. He was lying in a luxurious private hospital room.

Seeing him wake up, Chu Mengling hurried over, concern filling her tearful eyes. "Chen Hao, you're awake! How do you feel?"

Chen Hao took a deep breath and lifted his leg. His right leg and palm were both wrapped in gauze, making his injuries look quite serious.

"I'm fine." Not wanting Chu Mengling to worry, Chen Hao answered with an awkward chuckle.

"How could you be fine when you're hurt like this?" Tears spilled from Chu Mengling's eyes. "It's all my fault. I'm so sorry, Chen Hao. You ended up like this because of me."

Unable to stand seeing a girl cry, Chen Hao hurried to reassure her. "It's not your fault. I really am fine. Please don't cry."

Just then, the door opened, and Chu Jinliang walked in with Qiao Shan. "Chen Hao, you're finally awake! Mengling was worried about you all night."

Seeing Chu Jinliang arrive, Chen Hao quickly greeted them. "Grandpa Chu, Brother Qiao."

Qiao Shan laughed. "You're one tough fellow, Brother Chen. After injuries that serious, you look like nothing happened!"

Chu Jinliang approached the bed. Chu Mengling had already secretly wiped away her tears, but that hardly escaped Elder Chu's notice.

In a rarely heard reproachful tone, Chu Jinliang said to her, "Ling'er, do you see your mistake now? I told you not to go out looking for Chen Hao, but you wouldn't listen. If we hadn't arrived in time, both of you could have been in serious trouble. Do you understand how serious this was now?"

Chu Mengling lowered her head. "Grandpa, I know I was wrong."

Seeing his precious granddaughter so upset, Chu Jinliang couldn't bear to keep scolding her. "All right, as long as you understand. Don't act on your own again. Go outside for now. I have something to discuss with Chen Hao."

Pouting, Chu Mengling cast a reluctant glance at Chen Hao before leaving the room, looking aggrieved.

After sending Chu Mengling away, Chu Jinliang sat down and asked earnestly, "Chen Hao, what exactly happened yesterday? Who could have hurt you this badly?"

Chen Hao smiled and gave Chu Jinliang a slightly peculiar look.

Chen Hao didn't believe Chu Jinliang knew nothing about that mysterious Qi Refiner, but he didn't bring it up. Instead, he feigned ignorance. "A mysterious man ambushed us yesterday. He was exceptionally skilled."

At this, Chu Jinliang frowned again. "Did you notice any other details? For example, did you get a clear look at his face?"

Chen Hao frowned in thought. "Yes."

Chu Jinliang's expression visibly changed. After exchanging a glance with Qiao Shan, he asked, "Really? What did he look like?"

"He was masked, so I didn't get a very clear look at his face. But I could tell he was around a hundred and seventy centimeters tall and weighed about sixty kilograms. He was good at attacking with stones. Most importantly, he seemed to have a lightning-bolt tattoo at the corner of his right eye."

Qiao Shan narrowed his eyes and immediately turned to leave the room. "I'll have people look into it right away."

After Qiao Shan left, Chu Jinliang offered his praise. "Chen Hao, you really are talented. We've been tracking this man for years. Aside from knowing he's skilled at attacking with flying stones, we've found out nothing. You managed to remember all those details in such a dangerous situation. I'm truly impressed."

Still pretending to know nothing, Chen Hao continued probing. "Grandpa Chu, someone like that has clearly received specialized training. Do they belong to some organization? How did you get mixed up with these people?"

Chu Jinliang didn't explain much. "Chen Hao, don't blame me for keeping things from you. These people are far from ordinary. The less you know about them, the better. It's for your own good."

"Yes, I understand."

After a little more casual conversation, Chu Jinliang left.

He was probably desperate to uncover the man's identity. After all, no one could rest easy with such a formidable opponent constantly targeting them.

Even Chen Hao was beginning to worry. Remembering what the mysterious man had said before leaving sent a chill down his spine.

It seemed he would have to speed up his cultivation. Otherwise, when that man came seeking revenge, he might not be so lucky.

Once Chu Jinliang left, Chen Hao immediately activated the Heavenly Eye Art and examined his injuries. Finding that none had damaged the bones, he figured furnace ash should heal them completely.

He had just started pulling off the gauze to treat himself when Chu Mengling came skipping back in. "Chen Hao, why are you taking off your bandages?"

Since Chu Mengling had already seen how effective his furnace ash was, he didn't bother hiding much. After removing the gauze, he spread the pitch-black ash evenly over his wounds.

As Chen Hao carefully treated himself, Chu Mengling propped up her chin and watched him happily without looking away.

Under her intense gaze, even someone as thick-skinned as Chen Hao felt embarrassed. He cleared his throat. "Why are you staring at me?"

Chu Mengling smiled sweetly. "You look so handsome when you're concentrating."

"Cough, cough, cough."

Chen Hao choked on his own saliva and coughed several times, making Chu Mengling giggle again.

Suddenly, she poked his shoulder. "Give what I said last night some serious thought."

Chen Hao looked puzzled. "What was that?"

"About me supporting you," Chu Mengling said.

"Good grief."

Chen Hao was utterly speechless. Remembering Chu Mengling's confession the night before, he felt embarrassed on her behalf.

He had never imagined that a beautiful, wealthy girl like her would pursue him. If he hadn't already had Liu Yan, he might really have agreed to let her support him.

"I think you ought to consider this carefully."

"I've thought it through very carefully," Chu Mengling answered with a smile.

Chen Hao began to sweat. "No, think about it. I'm so much older than you. Our ages aren't a good match."

Chu Mengling said, "A man three years older brings a fortune to your door. It's a good thing."

Uh... I'm not well educated, so don't try to fool me.

"Fine, you don't care about age, but shouldn't our family backgrounds match? You're from a wealthy family, while I came from some poor backwater. Your parents wouldn't agree," Chen Hao said, searching for another excuse.

Chu Mengling kept smiling. "It's fine. I've already talked my parents around. They have no objections."

Damn it, Chen Hao cursed inwardly, still struggling. "Well, I object. I'm a grown man. How could I let you keep me?"

But by now, Chu Mengling only had eyes for Chen Hao. She continued gazing at him dreamily and said with a smile, "You're so handsome when you're angry, too."

Pfft!

Chen Hao had been thoroughly defeated by Chu Mengling.

Just as he was scratching his head in frustration, his phone suddenly rang. It was Liu Yan.

"Chen Hao, where did you go? The new product launch is today! Hurry back."

Chen Hao slapped his thigh. How had he forgotten something so important?

He wiped the furnace ash off his hand and leg and found that his wounds had healed completely. Then he got dressed, ready to make his escape.

Having personally experienced Chen Hao's miraculous healing, Chu Mengling wasn't particularly surprised to see the injuries on his hand and leg heal instantly. But when she saw him preparing to leave, she hurriedly asked, "Where are you going?"

"I have something very important to do. I need to get back right away."

"Oh, I'll drive you," Chu Mengling said with a forced chuckle, unable to hide the disappointment on her face.

As soon as they stepped out of the room, they saw a doctor and several nurses standing a short distance from the door.

The doctor was giving the nurses instructions with a solemn expression. "Listen, Mr. Chen in this room was brought here personally by Commander Qiao. You must take excellent care of him..."

One nurse saw Chen Hao and Chu Mengling come out and froze for a moment before interrupting the doctor. "Dr. Zhang, those two..."

"Xiao Zhao, could you please not interrupt when I'm explaining things?" Dr. Zhang said irritably.

"No, but—"

"No buts. Listen carefully, all of you. This Mr. Chen has an extremely special status. Keep watch over him twenty-four hours a day and report any changes to me immediately."

With that, Dr. Zhang turned and led the nurses into the room.

But once inside, they found nothing on the bed except a pile of gauze.

"Where is he?" Dr. Zhang nearly jumped.

Only then did the nurse named Xiao Zhao say, "Dr. Zhang, those two seemed to walk out on their own just now."

Dr. Zhang glared at Xiao Zhao. "Then why didn't you tell me when you saw them?"

"I did, but you told me not to speak."

"You..."

After the earlier ambush, a military vehicle now followed Chu Mengling wherever she went.

The driver in the military vehicle had received specialized training, and his driving skills rivaled those of a race car driver. Yet this time, as he crawled along behind Chu Mengling's car at sixty miles an hour, he actually found it rather hard to get used to.

Chu Mengling seemed distracted. After a long silence between them, she finally spoke. "Chen Hao, I might be leaving in the next couple of days. Are you really not coming to Capital City with me?"

Chen Hao naturally understood what she was implying. He smiled and shook his head. "No. I've gotten used to living in Zhonghai City."

"Oh."

Neither spoke for the rest of the drive.

When Chu Mengling pulled up outside Blue Light Pharmaceuticals, Chen Hao got straight out of the car.

"Chen Hao."

Chen Hao turned around to see that Chu Mengling had also gotten out. She came over and hugged him tightly. "I'll be back."

Feeling the softness of her body against him, Chen Hao flushed slightly and only murmured his assent.

As she watched Chen Hao walk away, Chu Mengling's eyes grew moist.

Then she suddenly noticed the military vehicle parked nearby.

She walked over and found the soldiers inside awkwardly holding their phones, doing who knew what.

"What did you just see?" Chu Mengling asked coldly.

Every soldier in the vehicle immediately shook his head like a rattle. "We didn't see anything."

"Good. If my grandpa finds out about what happened today, you're all dead."