C12 He Could Not Hold on Any Longer

Bai Chuman, driven by her fear of death, bit down so hard her gums nearly bled, refusing to let go. Her face flushed red with effort, while the doctor's hand turned a bruised shade of purple from the pressure. The syringe had already fallen to the floor, and the room echoed with her painful cries.

At some point, a crowd gathered in the hallway, and she assumed the security team from the estate had arrived swiftly.

“Hurry up, I can’t hold on much longer,” Chuman gritted through clenched teeth.

Suddenly, she sensed something was off. Shocked, she looked around to find herself surrounded by a silent group of burly men in black suits. Among them were a few familiar faces, staring at her in surprise.

Standing next to the butler was Jiang Yichen, who should have been bedridden and immobile. Yet, there he was, watching her coldly with an inscrutable expression.

Chuman's eyes widened in disbelief, but she didn’t dare release her grip on the door handle. Everything that had happened tonight felt like a dream.

“What’s going on here?” she managed to ask.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a heavy blow to the back of her neck. Her vision went black, and she passed out.

The butler wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cast a sympathetic glance at Chuman, now unconscious on the floor.

"Sir, this..."

The other man standing by Yichen's side stepped forward. His square face and upright posture gave off a military vibe, but his words were far from noble.

"Sir, do you need me to take care of this woman?"

Yichen silently observed Chuman, his gaze lingering on the syringe that had fallen beside her and the doctor in the room who had fainted from pain. His lips parted slightly as his eyes darkened.

"No need, let her be for now. I have my own plans."

Poor Chuman, lying on the cold floor, was unaware she had just brushed past death's door.

Chuman drifted in and out of consciousness, unsure of how long she had been asleep. She was awakened by the glaring sunlight streaming through the window. Frowning, she opened her eyes to find the curtains wide open. The sharp pain at the back of her neck made her collapse back onto the bed.

She reached up to touch her neck, certain there was a large bruise forming. Memories from before she lost consciousness flooded back, leaving her unsure if it was all a dream or reality.

Chuman lay in bed for a long time without anyone coming in, clueless about how long she'd been there. Her stomach ached with hunger, and finally, she couldn't stay in bed any longer. She struggled to stand, fighting the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm her. The injury at the back of her neck made her feel as if she had a stiff neck, unable to move or turn. With her neck rigid, she awkwardly made her way downstairs.

"Bai Chuman..." she called out, her voice echoing through the house. "Is there any breakfast left?"

She glanced at the clock. It was 10 a.m., and she wasn't sure if she could hold out until lunch. Rubbing her neck in discomfort, her face scrunched up as she recalled the events of last night. Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of someone sitting on the living room sofa, and she froze, staring blankly at the figure, unable to react.

Jiang Yichen was leisurely sipping his coffee, dressed in a well-tailored casual outfit. His brown eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched Bai Chuman's stunned expression. The butler, standing nearby, seemed to be reporting something to him. Upon noticing Bai Chuman, who hadn't yet freshened up, the butler turned away in disdain. Young people these days, especially someone of her standing in the family, shouldn't look so disheveled!

It took Bai Chuman a moment to snap out of her daze. She opened her mouth, unsure of what to say to the person in front of her.

"Come here," Jiang Yichen's voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority that was hard to resist.

Bai Chuman wanted to retort with a defiant "Who do you think you are?" but the impact of his presence was too overwhelming. Without much internal struggle, she timidly walked over to him, sitting on the sofa with an unusually obedient posture.

Jiang Yichen glanced up, noticing how her fingers were neatly aligned on her lap, her back perfectly straight. Her gaze was unfocused, and her hair was a tousled mess, still showing signs of bedhead. For some reason, he couldn't suppress a slight smile, a rare expression that caught the attention of the nearby butler. The old man, touched by the sight, felt a pang of emotion, his face wrinkling into a smile, unable to fathom what the young master found so amusing.

"Aren't you curious about anything?" Jiang Yichen's voice was deep and magnetic, with a slight huskiness that was as soothing as honey, sending a pleasant shiver through those who heard it.

However, Bai Chuman's reaction was unusual. Whatever was on her mind, the moment he spoke, she flinched, her face turning pale. Jiang Yichen, with his keen eyes, noticed her legs trembling slightly.