Chapter 063: I Also Have a Game

"Ah Yao!" Ye Yiyi arrived in time, calling out to Jiang Yao before she could say anything more. She pulled Jiang Yao to her side, nodded politely to Mother Cheng, and said, "Auntie, I'm Ye Yiyi. We're both good friends of Cheng Yanchi."

Mother Cheng nodded, sizing up Ye Yiyi from head to toe. She had heard from her son that Ye Yiyi was very beautiful, and now that she saw her in person, it was indeed true.

"Auntie, Ah Yao is too upset. I'll take her aside to calm down for a bit," Ye Yiyi said, and then led Jiang Yao away.

At the end of the corridor, Jiang Yao gazed out at the cool moonlight through the window, her tears falling uncontrollably like a string of pearls broken apart.

Ye Yiyi stood beside her and sighed, "Ah Yao, I know you're hurting. I'm hurting too. I don't really know what happened, but judging by your reaction, I can guess the gist of it. But listen, you absolutely can't say anything about this, understand?"

Usually innocent and naive, Ye Yiyi now seemed suddenly mature and worldly.

"I know you well, and so does Cheng Yanchi, but the Cheng family doesn't. If they find out you're involved in all this," Ye Yiyi frowned, searching for the right words, "well, it's going to be trouble. Anyway, the police are already involved, so let's just quietly wait for their investigation."

Of course Jiang Yao understood all of this. She turned to look at Ye Yiyi. "You seem different today—unlike your usual self."

Ye Yiyi pursed her lips, looking a bit awkward. "Different how? Still the same two eyes and one mouth."

Jiang Yao didn't press further. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Cheng Yanchi.

He was still unconscious. When he woke up and found out he could never play professional esports again, how heartbroken would he be…

The surgery went very smoothly.

At dawn, Cheng Yanchi woke up.

Jiang Yao stood at the door of the hospital room, watching Cheng Yanchi, looking frail and exhausted. She saw Mother Cheng, eyes red, telling him everything, saw him staring blankly at the ceiling…

Jiang Yao turned away, pressing herself against the wall beside the door, silently wiping away her tears.

"Is that Ah Yao?" Cheng Yanchi's voice came from inside the room.

Jiang Yao quickly dried her tears, turned around, and walked in with pursed lips. "Are you hungry? I bought you something to eat."

Cheng Yanchi shook his head, glancing at his mother.

Mother Cheng understood and looked at Jiang Yao again. "I'll go talk to the doctor about your condition."

Mother Cheng left, and Cheng Yanchi gestured for Jiang Yao to sit down.

He gave a bitter smile. "I can't move now. I need you to feed me, Ah Yao."

Jiang Yao bit her lip, silently opening the box of porridge. Her choked voice betrayed her, "Alright, I'll feed you."

Cheng Yanchi caught her emotion precisely and smiled. "Where's Ye Yiyi? I'm in this state and I don't see her around."

Jiang Yao composed herself. "She stayed here all night. At dawn, her agent came and took her away."

As she spoke, Jiang Yao raised the bed, scooped a small spoonful of porridge, gently blew on it, and brought it to Cheng Yanchi's lips. "Careful, it's hot."

Cheng Yanchi smiled as he ate. "Actually, being injured isn't so bad."

"What's good about being injured?"

"When I'm injured, you feed me," Cheng Yanchi's smile was bright as sunshine. "You've never fed me like this before."

"Before… was I not good enough to you?" Jiang Yao held the porridge, her face buried so low it was almost in the bowl.

"No, no, you were always good to me," Cheng Yanchi hurried to reassure her. "Ah Yao, don't be sad. It doesn't really hurt, honestly."

How could Jiang Yao not be sad? Recently, two men had told her it didn't really hurt.

But how could it not hurt?

"You used to cry whenever you got a shot," Jiang Yao sniffed.

Cheng Yanchi frowned. "Hey, that was years ago. A grown man—this kind of injury is nothing!"

Jiang Yao's small hand gradually clenched into a fist.

"Cheng Yanchi, do you realize your hand is already…"

"I know, of course I know," Cheng Yanchi interrupted her. "The doctor said it too. If I rest and recover properly, daily life won't be a problem, but I can't compete anymore."

"Can't compete anymore?"

"Right," Cheng Yanchi shrugged with indifference. "If I can't play, then I can't play. I've already won championships anyway. If I can't do esports, I’ll just go home and inherit the family business."

He said it so lightly, so casually.

To most people, those words would inspire envy.

But Jiang Yao knew just how much Cheng Yanchi loved his esports career.

To maintain peak performance, he trained for countless hours every day.

"I'm sorry. It's all because of me." Jiang Yao lowered her head, staring at Cheng Yanchi's hands wrapped in gauze. "If I’d made it in time, nothing would have happened to you."

"What are you talking about?" Cheng Yanchi frowned. "Did that psycho find you again? I don't know what he said to you, but Ah Yao, don't blame yourself. None of this is your fault."

As he spoke, he leaned forward, trying to see Jiang Yao's face.

"Ah Yao, look at me."

Eyes red, Jiang Yao raised her head to meet Cheng Yanchi’s gaze.

"I know, it must be that psycho who did this, but if you let it hurt you, then he’s truly won," Cheng Yanchi said seriously. "He does evil because he is evil, not because of you. Do you understand?"

Jiang Yao nodded, biting her lip, but her tears finally broke free.

"I'm going to the bathroom." Jiang Yao set down the porridge bowl and left the room before the tears could fall.

She suddenly felt so useless. Cheng Yanchi was the one who was hurt, yet it was he comforting her.

Standing outside the ward, she quietly watched Cheng Yanchi on the bed.

In a corner where no one could see, the man frowned deeply, struggling to move his hand.

He tried, failed, tried again, failed again…

Soon, his face turned as pale as paper…

Jiang Yao gently covered her mouth, stifling her sobs.

Such a scene should never have happened to Cheng Yanchi.

If not for her, so many people in this world could have lived happily.

Jiang Yao turned away and slapped herself.

She took a step forward and slapped herself again…

No matter how many times she hit herself, Teacher Chen would never return, and Cheng Yanchi’s hand would never heal…

In the stairwell, Jiang Yao stared at the unfamiliar number on her phone, took a deep breath, and dialed.

The call didn’t go through.

Jiang Yao thought for a moment, typed out a message, and sent it: "I have a game for you too. Let’s play."