Chapter 78: So, how do you plan to punish me?

Jiang Yao gazed at Cheng Yanchi from across the crowd, their eyes meeting from afar. A faint smile of relief curved on her lips as she raised her hand and gave him an "OK" gesture.

Cheng Yanchi, however, could not muster a smile. He strode toward Jiang Yao and pulled her slender figure tightly into his embrace.

"Who told you to come to a place like this alone?"

"Who allowed you to take such a reckless risk?"

"Ah Yao, from now on, you mustn't make such decisions on your own..."

Nestled in Cheng Yanchi's arms, Jiang Yao's head rested weakly on his shoulder.

In the dark of night, the flashing lights of police cars blinked sharply. Amid sirens and the clamor of the crowd, she saw the silhouette of He Yunqing, gradually swallowed up by the throng.

The man quietly walked toward the crowd. He turned back, almost inadvertently, his gaze meeting Jiang Yao's. Then he smiled faintly.

Jiang Yao stared in a daze at that smile, watched as the man disappeared bit by bit into the crowd, never to be seen again, her vision growing ever more blurred.

"Ah Yao, are you hurt? Let me see where you're injured," Cheng Yanchi asked, concern etched in his voice.

"I'm fine, I..." Jiang Yao managed a weak, wan smile, but the next moment, darkness overtook her and she collapsed, limp as clay, into Cheng Yanchi's arms...

Jiang Yao had no idea how long she slept; she only felt an overwhelming exhaustion and a longing for restful sleep.

When she opened her eyes again, bright sunlight spilled across the room.

Ye Yiyi sat at her bedside, tears sparkling like golden beads.

"Why are you crying? I'm still alive and well, aren't I?" Jiang Yao said softly.

Ye Yiyi looked up at Jiang Yao, realizing she was awake, and broke into tears and laughter. "Ah Yao, you're finally awake. I thought you would never wake up again."

Jiang Yao raised her hand and rubbed her aching forehead. "With the way you cry, even the dead would be stirred to life. How could I not wake up?"

"Spit, spit, spit," Ye Yiyi retorted three times in succession. "Do you know you've been asleep for seven days?"

Jiang Yao smiled, struggling to sit up on the hospital bed. "What happened to me?"

Ye Yiyi shook her head. "The doctors couldn't figure it out either. They said you might just be too tired, so all we could do was wait for you to wake up on your own. You scared me to death!"

With that, Ye Yiyi hugged Jiang Yao tightly.

Jiang Yao comforted her, patting her back. "You've been here all these days?"

"Of course. With you like this, how could I think of working?" Ye Yiyi replied matter-of-factly. "Oh, and Cheng Yanchi—he was called home this morning to celebrate his grandfather's birthday. I'll tell him you're awake; he'll be so happy."

Jiang Yao stopped Ye Yiyi's hand as she reached for her phone. "Let him focus on his family for now."

Ye Yiyi thought for a moment. "Alright."

Jiang Yao leaned back, hesitated, then asked, "What about He Yunqing?"

"He Yunqing?" Ye Yiyi paused, scratching her head. "I don't know. I haven't seen him these days either. Ah Yao, you must be hungry, right? I'll go get you something to eat."

Jiang Yao nodded, watching Ye Yiyi's departing figure. She picked up her phone, her finger hovering over He Yunqing's number, lingering for a long time, but she never pressed dial...

Suddenly, her phone vibrated, startling Jiang Yao so much she nearly dropped it.

Steadying herself, she answered the call.

A gentle woman's voice came through, "Ah Yao, it's been a long time since we last spoke."

Jiang Yao glanced at the screen. It was her former psychologist.

It had been five or six years since she last reached out; it truly had been a long time.

"Yes, it's been a long time since I last came to you."

"I wonder how you've been," the woman said warmly. "Strictly speaking, in our profession, if a patient doesn't seek us out, we shouldn't intervene too much in their lives. But Ah Yao, I consider you a friend. I'm leaving for abroad in a month, and before I go, I'd like to see you one last time."

Jiang Yao nodded. "Alright."

Unlike countless times before, Jiang Yao did not arrange to meet her in the clinic. Instead, they agreed to meet in a restaurant.

The woman sitting across from Jiang Yao wore a friendly smile. She looked at Jiang Yao's still pale face. "You're still so thin."

"Dr. Xia, you haven’t changed either."

Dr. Xia chuckled softly, then said, "Ah Yao, I probably won’t return after this trip abroad. There’s nothing left in this country to keep me, but the one thing I can't let go of is you."

"I'm doing well," Jiang Yao replied politely.

Dr. Xia nodded, took a business card from her purse, and placed it before Jiang Yao. "This is a former classmate of mine. She’s much more dedicated to psychological research than I am. If you ever need help, you can reach out to her."

Jiang Yao looked at the card bearing the name "Xu Anxin," and nodded gently. "Thank you for coming to share all this with me."

A trace of unease flickered in Dr. Xia's eyes, but it quickly vanished, replaced by composure. "Ah Yao, I hope you won’t blame me in the future."

"Blame you?" Jiang Yao was puzzled. "For what? Why would I blame you?"

Dr. Xia hesitated, then merely shook her head. She picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and said, "Let's eat—the food will get cold."

After the meal, Jiang Yao, holding the card Dr. Xia had given her, returned to the hospital.

Cheng Yanchi was already waiting.

Seeing Jiang Yao return, he breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you..."

"You thought I slipped away alone again?" Jiang Yao teased.

Cheng Yanchi shot her a look. "Let me tell you, just because you fainted and ended up sick doesn’t mean your sneaking off alone can be swept under the rug."

Jiang Yao sat down, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Cheng Yanchi. "Yes, yes, Young Master Cheng. So, how do you plan to punish me?"

Looking into her bright, lively eyes, Cheng Yanchi found all his anger dissipated instantly, no matter how upset he was.

He cleared his throat, deliberately feigning annoyance. "Your punishment is to accompany me abroad in a few days!"

"What?" Jiang Yao was caught off guard by the unexpected request, her mouth agape in surprise and confusion.

"In a few days, my old team is heading overseas for a tournament," Cheng Yanchi explained patiently. "They’ve invited me to watch in person."

Jiang Yao's gaze fell on Cheng Yanchi's hands.

Though he could no longer compete, he remained deeply attached to the world of e-sports.

How could fate be so cruel as to take away his hands?

Cheng Yanchi, seeing Jiang Yao’s expression, guessed her thoughts and spoke in a deliberately light tone. "You must come with me, or else I might lose track of you again if I’m not careful."