Chapter 24: The Car Accident

A truck that had lost control swerved out from the side and slammed violently into Qin Jiu’s car. The truck did not slow down at all; instead, it barreled into Qin Jiu’s vehicle at high speed. As a result, Qin Jiu’s car was crushed directly against the guardrail, sustaining severe damage.

The sound of the violent collision filled Jiang Nanxing’s ears. She felt a viscous liquid trickling down the side of her face. She couldn’t tell whose blood it was. She struggled, wanting to check on Qin Jiu’s condition, but her head was spinning, and her entire body felt immobile. Eventually, her consciousness slipped into darkness.

Chaos surrounded them. When Qin Jiu and Jiang Nanxing were pulled from the mangled wreckage, both were unconscious. However, Qin Jiu’s condition was far more critical; he was covered in blood from head to toe. The truck driver had died on the spot.

When Jiang Nanxing woke up, she was in the hospital. Her mother wept with joy, gripping her hand and shouting for the doctors. Soon, a group of doctors arrived to perform examinations. Jiang Nanxing cooperated with the checks, her expression devoid of emotion throughout.

"Host, is there anywhere else you feel uncomfortable?" 240 asked cautiously.

Jiang Nanxing did not answer, instead asking, "Where is Qin Jiu?"

240 sounded even more frightened. "He is still unconscious. He is not out of danger yet." It then relayed the details of the scene to her.

Jiang Nanxing cut it off. "It was Sheng Ting’s grandfather, wasn't it?"

240 replied in a whisper, "Yes."

Jiang Nanxing asked nothing more. This silence made 240 panic, and it quickly began to reflect on itself. "I'm sorry, Host. It’s all my fault for not discovering it and warning you in time."

Jiang Nanxing still did not respond.

The doctor said that because the impact was so severe, even though Qin Jiu had shielded her, she had suffered a mild concussion and needed to stay in the hospital for observation. Once the doctors had left, Jiang Nanxing finally responded to 240. "Since one foot is already in the grave, we should just help him bury the rest, don't you think?"

240 was terrified by such a host and tremblingly said, "Murder is against the law."

Jiang Nanxing’s tone was calm. "When did I say I was going to kill anyone? I just said we’d help him get buried."

Jiang’s mother had been staying with her, but after much persuasion, Jiang Nanxing finally managed to coax her into getting some rest.

She pulled out her IV needle, got out of bed, and prepared to leave the hospital.

"Where are you going, Host?" 240 asked.

"To see Sheng Ting," Jiang Nanxing replied.

240 didn't understand why she would go to see Sheng Ting instead of Old Master Sheng, but it didn't dare to ask. Perhaps the host wanted to use Old Master Sheng’s precious grandson to threaten him.

Just as Jiang Nanxing stepped out of the room, she encountered a beautiful woman. The woman hesitated upon seeing her. "Jiang Nanxing?"

Jiang Nanxing didn't recognize her, but she nodded anyway.

The woman’s expression darkened, and she said stiffly, "Miss Jiang, let’s talk."

Jiang Nanxing refused. "I have things to do. Another time."

The woman frowned. "No, right now." Sensing Jiang Nanxing’s icy demeanor, she added impatiently, "It will be quick. It won’t take much of your time."

Jiang Nanxing nodded then. "Speak."

The woman introduced herself first. "My name is Ye Ying."

Jiang Nanxing nodded. 240 actively introduced her: Ye Ying was a famous actress who was in love with Qin Jiu. In the original plot, she had been ruined by Sheng Ting while trying to help Qin Jiu.

Ye Ying’s tone was sharp, as if she were suppressing anger. "I hear you and President Qin are quite close, Miss Jiang?"

"It's alright," Jiang Nanxing replied. Because of 240's introduction, she looked at Ye Ying with a bit more friendliness.

Ye Ying frowned, looking unsatisfied with her answer. Her tone turned colder. "I think you should know how excellent President Qin is."

Jiang Nanxing felt the tone and the question were off. "And?"

Ye Ying was blunt. "So, I think you should know your place."

Jiang Nanxing realized what she meant. "You mean, you want me to stay away from him? That I’m not good enough for him?"

Ye Ying glanced at her. "Isn't that obvious?"

Tch. Jiang Nanxing’s patience was running thin; she was in a rush to see Sheng Ting. "My business with Qin Jiu has nothing to do with you, Miss Ye. Please move aside."

Ye Ying blocked her way, raising her voice in frustration. "You not only ruined President Qin’s reputation, you almost killed him! I heard that if he hadn't protected you, he wouldn't have been injured so severely!" Thinking of how Qin Jiu was still in danger made Ye Ying even more furious. "So, Miss Jiang, I want you to stay away from him!"

Jiang Nanxing looked at Ye Ying with no emotion and lowered her head to scroll through her phone.

Ignored, Ye Ying was furious. "Do you even have a heart? He hasn't even regained consciousness!"

Jiang Nanxing finally spoke. "'No, doesn't this actress know what she's like? Why are you still friends with her? Break up with her already!' 'What a disgusting character, couldn't she have picked a better role? If she keeps playing roles like this, I'm unfollowing.' 'I'm done, why is she working with this guy? Wouldn't it be better to work with someone else? Wake up.'"

As Ye Ying listened, she realized something was wrong. "Aren't these comments from my own social media page?"

Jiang Nanxing glanced at her and continued reading several more comments from fans who were constantly dictating how she should live her life.

Ye Ying felt her composure cracking. "What do you mean by this?"

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," Jiang Nanxing said. "Can you move now?"

Ye Ying opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Jiang Nanxing bypassed her and walked away.

Ye Ying grabbed her arm, her voice softening. "I'm sorry. I just lost my reason because I knew President Qin was hurt."

Provoked by Jiang Nanxing, Ye Ying had actually calmed down. She had to admit that she was no different from the fans who tried to control her under the guise of "what's best for her."

"Hmm?" Jiang Nanxing replied.

Ye Ying took a deep breath and spoke a bit louder. "I'm sorry?" It wasn't a very sincere apology. However, Jiang Nanxing knew Ye Ying wasn't a bad person. "Miss Ye, I don't care what feelings you have for Qin Jiu. You shouldn't be pointing fingers at our business."

How she and Qin Jiu handled their relationship was their own affair. Ye Ying felt a mix of shame and anger.

Then she heard Jiang Nanxing say, "As compensation, give me a ride to a certain place."

Ye Ying was shocked. "You're leaving the hospital?"

Jiang Nanxing nodded. Ye Ying didn't know how to react. "But you were just in a car accident. Even if you aren't as badly hurt as President Qin, you can't just leave without the doctor's permission!"

"It's not a big deal," Jiang Nanxing said dismissively. "Just drive me."

Once in the car, Ye Ying realized where Jiang Nanxing wanted to go. "A psychiatric hospital? You... you..." She didn't dare to ask directly if she was crazy.