Chapter 117: Forgiven

A gleaming silver knife lunged forward without warning.

Jiang Yunzhu's eyes widened in terror, her soul nearly fleeing her body as she watched the man before her collapse right in front of her.

The drunken man stared at the bloodied knife in his hand, the shock instantly sobering him up. In a flash, he threw the knife away, his legs giving out as he slumped to the ground.

"No, no, I didn't mean to kill anyone, I didn't mean to..." the drunkard muttered over and over, panic-stricken.

Jiang Yunzhu hurried forward, her trembling hands unsure where to go.

"Uncle, are you... are you alright?"

The familiar face was none other than Shen Ruizhang. He was supposed to be in M Country.

Why was he here? Could it be that the person who had been following her all along was actually him?

Jiang Yunzhu shivered all over, her gaze fixed on the blood seeping from Shen Ruizhang's abdomen. Her face drained of all color as she hastily dialed 911 with shaking fingers.

"Hold on, please! Don't close your eyes, you must stay awake!"

She pressed her hand firmly against the wound, desperate to staunch the relentless flow of blood. Her heart pounded so fiercely she could hardly breathe.

Shen Ruizhang's face turned ashen.

"Yunzhu, as long as you're safe, that's all that matters."

"I'm fine, but you're not! Why did you throw yourself in the way? Why play the hero? What will Grandmother do if something happens to you? What about me? What am I supposed to do?"

Tears spilled from Jiang Yunzhu's eyes, falling onto the back of her hand.

Shen Ruizhang managed a faint smile, his bloodstained hand reaching to touch her face.

"As long as you're alright, that's enough. Thank goodness I made it in time. If I hadn't, I'd have regretted it forever."

Jiang Yunzhu pressed her lips together, her face already streaked with tears.

"Don't say another word! You'll be fine—the doctors will be here soon. Just stop the bleeding, that's all that matters now!"

In her panic, she pressed desperately on his wound, but blood still seeped through her fingers, seeming only to flow faster.

Gritting her teeth, she tore a strip from her thin clothing and wrapped it around Shen Ruizhang's injury.

"I saw it," he murmured.

Jiang Yunzhu's hands froze for a moment as she worked to stop the bleeding.

Shen Ruizhang, thinking she hadn't understood, repeated, "I saw what happened between you and Shen Tingxiao on the plane."

Jiang Yunzhu fell silent, her lips pressed tightly together.

He went on, "Yunzhu, Shen Tingxiao already has another woman. Maybe... maybe it's time you gave me a chance?"

She didn't answer, but Shen Ruizhang gazed at her intently, eyes wide open.

When he learned Jiang Yunzhu was planning to return home for a break, he decided to accompany her back to the country. He hadn't told her right away—he wanted it to be a surprise.

He never expected to run into Shen Tingxiao on that flight, let alone see him with a woman intimately holding his arm.

Shen Ruizhang had felt a surge of joy, hoping Jiang Yunzhu would witness it too. And indeed, as he'd wished, she saw Shen Tingxiao with his fiancée. But her reaction wasn't as intense as he'd imagined. She merely walked past them, expressionless, as if she didn't know Shen Tingxiao at all.

He knew she had taken this to heart; she would never easily forgive Shen Tingxiao.

When Jiang Yunzhu went to the restroom, Shen Ruizhang hadn't planned to follow—until Shen Tingxiao did. Unable to resist, he went after them, only to witness them kissing.

That scene had pierced him, almost driving him to rush over, but he restrained his battered heart and watched from afar—until they parted.

"Please, stop talking! I beg you," Jiang Yunzhu pleaded. Without the proper tools, the cloth alone wasn't enough to staunch the bleeding; the wound was too large.

For the first time, she felt utterly helpless, her hands trembling as she tried to bandage him.

"But... but I'm afraid. If I don't say it now, I might never have another chance!"

Jiang Yunzhu's eyes reddened. "Don't talk nonsense. You're going to be fine! I won't let anything happen to you!"

Shen Ruizhang let out a weak laugh, reaching into his pocket.

She quickly stopped him. "Don't move! Don't you realize your wound won't stop bleeding? Please, I beg you, just don't move, alright?"

Seeing Jiang Yunzhu sobbing so uncontrollably, Shen Ruizhang felt a tender ache in his heart.

"It's good to know, after all, that you still care about me, Yunzhu. Otherwise, you wouldn't cry for me."

Jiang Yunzhu wanted to smack him—how could he still joke at a time like this?

Just then, the police finally arrived, and soon after, the ambulance pulled up as well.

Seeing it, Jiang Yunzhu cried out in excitement, "Uncle! Uncle! Hold on a little longer, the ambulance is here—you'll be saved soon!"

Unmindful of the blood staining her hands, she wiped the tears from her face.

Shen Ruizhang looked at her tear-streaked, messy face and managed a feeble smile.

"Little kitten, your face is all dirty," he said, his voice weak, each word bringing fresh pain to his abdomen.

After the ambulance arrived, the medics quickly placed Shen Ruizhang onto a stretcher.

Jiang Yunzhu glanced back at the drunken assailant—he had already vanished without a trace.

She wiped her tears, her gaze fierce as she stared at the spot where he had stood.

"I won't let him get away with this!"

"Family of the patient! Family of the patient!" called a nurse.

Jiang Yunzhu hurried onto the ambulance, where the nurse began to administer first aid and dress Shen Ruizhang's wounds as best she could.

"Family member, the patient's condition isn't very good right now. Talk to him, don't let him fall asleep!"

Jiang Yunzhu nodded quickly, "Alright, yes—Uncle, did you hear that? You can't fall asleep!"

Shen Ruizhang forced a pale smile. "Mm, I won't sleep. I couldn't bear to sleep now."

Her eyes reddened again. No matter what grievances or grudges had ever existed between them, at this moment, she couldn't bear the thought of losing him.

"You have to keep your word!"

"I will, Yunzhu. Will you promise me something?"

With trembling hands, Shen Ruizhang drew out a silk scarf from inside his coat, stained with blood and wrapped around a repaired jade bracelet.

"Yunzhu, I truly know I was wrong. All this time, I've been reflecting on why I kept misunderstanding you—maybe I was just too foolish, too ready to believe others. But I really do love you."

He placed the bracelet in her hand, his voice faltering. "Whether or not you forgive me, in the end, I want you to know—I will always love you."

Jiang Yunzhu took the bracelet, then slipped it onto her wrist.

"Shen Ruizhang! If you want my forgiveness, then you have to stay alive for me!"