The doctors said they had barely managed to save him. Chen Feng sighed repeatedly, then smiled, saying to You Mingxu: “See? The wicked always live long.”

You Mingxu remained silent at these words.

She gazed at Xiao Yan’s pale, thin sleeping face, her heart softening as she accompanied Chen Feng to take him to the ward he would share with Tu Ya. You Mingxu watched them both for a while before returning to wait outside the operating room. The tender, aching feeling in her heart wouldn’t subside. She wondered when these peculiar people under Yin Feng’s command had become companions she cared for so deeply.

Jing Ping was the third to emerge. His face was frighteningly pale, completely still, and silent. The doctors said he had lost too much blood, and the location of the gunshot wound was dangerous. Fortunately, his underlying health was excellent. They would continue observing him through the night—if nothing went wrong, he would pull through.

You Mingxu helped the nurses wheel Jing Ping to another ward, where he would share a room with the unconscious Xu Mengshan. Looking at them both, so weak and covered in wounds, yet still alive. Even in unconsciousness, their features showed identical determination and stubbornness. You Mingxu recalled hearing how these two, despite their severe injuries, had maintained their armed position on the hilltop, keeping watch over the criminals trying to escape.

You Mingxu stood by their beds for a long while before lowering her head, finding herself unable to hold back a smile. Her heart ached, yet held a hint of joy.

“Wake up soon,” she muttered to herself. “Both of you, don’t keep me waiting too long.”

When she returned to the operating room entrance, she saw Chen Feng staring at the doors, his expression grave. Seeing her, he managed a relaxed smile: “Didn’t I say they’re all tough to kill?”

You Mingxu also looked at the tightly closed operating room doors, with one person still inside. After a moment of silence, she said: “Yes, he’s the toughest of all.”

They sat down again, both falling silent as if neither had the energy to speak anymore.

Time ticked by slowly. Chen Feng got up twice to check on Xiao Yan and Tu Ya. He was growing restless, but Yin Feng still hadn’t emerged.

“Are these doctors good enough?” Chen Feng’s face had darkened. “If not, we should find better ones!”

You Mingxu said: “Sit down. His doctor is a specialist brought in from Guiyang. Where do you think you’ll find better ones right now?”

Chen Feng’s expression shifted several times before he finally looked out the window and said: “It’s almost dawn.”

You Mingxu also noticed the graying sky, but her mind flashed back to when Yin Feng was attacked—the knife tip through his chest, the blood pooling on the ground, his life force seeming to drain away rapidly. The memory opened a deep, dark hole in her heart, one she’d been trying all night not to fall into.

But as time passed, even her stubborn faith began to waver.

Chen Feng, being naturally composed, quickly calmed himself after his moment of panic. Seeing You Mingxu’s increasingly cold expression despite her silence, he said: “Go get some sleep. When Teacher Yin comes out of surgery and wakes up, you’re the first person he’ll want to see. I can keep watch here.”

You Mingxu merely replied softly: “No need.” She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. Seeing her like this, Chen Feng fell silent and soon mimicked her position, closing his eyes as well.

When morning sunlight fell across You Mingxu’s face, she heard the doors being pushed open in her half-conscious state. Her eyes snapped open to see doctors and nurses wheeling out a bed.

Chen Feng also jerked awake. You Mingxu’s first glance confirmed that while there was a white sheet on the bed, it wasn’t covering the patient’s face. And though the doctor looked exhausted, there was no regret in his expression. Her heart finally loosened as she hurried forward.

Chen Feng’s voice trembled uncharacteristically: “Doctor, how is he?”

The doctor paused before answering: “We’ve done our best. The bleeding has stopped, and we’ve closed the wounds. His injuries are severe—we can’t guarantee his survival yet. He’ll be moved to intensive care. His condition could either worsen or improve. You should be prepared for either outcome.”

Chen Feng was speechless for a moment.

You Mingxu followed them, her gaze fixed on Yin Feng’s face. He looked as if he were merely sleeping, except his face was completely bloodless, his lips white. Such a large man suddenly seemed so small lying there.

You Mingxu and Chen Feng followed into the ICU, initially only able to watch from a distance until the doctors and nurses had arranged everything—connected the IV drips and various medical equipment—before they were allowed to approach.

Chen Feng’s face showed confusion as he stared for a while before saying: “I’ll call to check how long until the specialists from Xianghu Hospital arrive. If necessary, I’ll find a way to bring doctors from Beijing.”

“Alright.”

Chen Feng left the room to make his calls. You Mingxu sat by the bed, watching Yin Feng in the soft light. His features were truly handsome, capable of stirring her heart with a single glance. She sat quietly, seemingly forgetting time and everything else.

After a while, she lowered her head, pressing her hands against her face as tears fell into her palms. Then, very carefully, very gently, she took hold of his fingers and said: “Yin Feng, you must live. If you don’t make it through this, I’ll never forgive you. I’ll forget you completely—Yu Yingjun, Yin Feng, whatever name you use—you’ll mean nothing to me anymore. I’ll go find a new boyfriend right away, someone tall and handsome and unreliable, just to make you angry enough to crawl out of your grave.”

“Yin Feng, you have to keep your word. You promised to love me forever, to worship me. I don’t want you to… get hurt for me, I just want you to live for me.”

—

By noon that day, Yin Feng still hadn’t woken, though his condition had neither improved nor worsened.

The good news was that the specialists from Xianghu Hospital had arrived and immediately began consulting with the previous doctors, developing a new treatment plan.

Yin Feng was wheeled back into surgery.

As You Mingxu and Chen Feng waited outside, she received a call from Ding Xiongwei: “Several leaders and I have arrived in the city, and the special case team has arranged everything else. Only that person… We’re planning a brief internal memorial service this afternoon. You should come.”

You Mingxu lowered her phone, her mind feeling empty for a moment. When she came back to herself, she told Chen Feng: “I need to go to the city bureau. I’ll be back as soon as it’s over. Call me immediately if anything happens.”

Chen Feng agreed.

—

You Mingxu had experienced two memorial services before—one for Fan Jia, and one for Guo Xing.

This would be her third.