Sweetie, sleep with me tonight.

Jiang Xu asked, puzzled, "Since the person has already been caught, why didn't Dad just hand him over to the police? Why did he still beat him?"

Jiang Youxi said, "Because of Zhao Yuan."

Everyone fell silent.

Jiang Youxi immediately asked Xie Zhao to take her to the scene.

An Xiaoyu happened to return and went over with them.

The four people quickly arrived at the scene.

The scene was chaotic, with several police officers in uniform pulling and tugging at He Zhuo.

He Zhuo moved swiftly, giving Zhao Fei no chance at all; his punches landed squarely, and the police officers couldn't stop him.

Zhao Fei, his face bruised and swollen, was extremely agitated: "Damn it! Chi Kuo, you just wait! When I get out, I'll definitely... ah—"

Before he could finish speaking, He Zhuo punched him in the face again, causing him to fall to the ground.

He Zhuo lifted him up with one hand and punched him again: "This punch is for Xiao Xu."

He then threw another punch: "This punch is for Xixi!"

"That last punch!" He Zhuo's voice was cold and deep, each word laced with profound hatred, "was delivered for Zhao Yuan!"

"He Zhuo, stop right there!" Lin Qi pleaded, "Can't you calm down?!"

He Zhuo ignored him, his grip tightening completely.

"He Zhuo!!" Jiang Youxi shouted.

He Zhuo suddenly stopped moving and slowly turned his head to look at him.

Jiang Youxi started her wheelchair and walked over, supporting herself on the armrests with both hands and one leg.

She swayed, almost unable to stand.

He Zhuo quickly released his grip and supported her body.

Jiang Youxi took his hand in hers, her fingertips gently stroking his blood-stained hand. Her voice was soft and soothing: "I understand how you feel, but a person like him isn't worth wasting your life on."

"He Zhuo, let's hand him over to the police, okay?"

He Zhuo stared at her blankly, without saying a word, but he didn't make a move against Zhao Fei again.

The police immediately took Zhao Fei away.

Zhao Fei was still shouting defiantly, "I will definitely kill you! I will definitely kill all of you!!"

Zhao Fei's shouts gradually faded into the distance until they disappeared completely.

Jiang Youxi repeatedly coaxed and persuaded He Zhuo, and finally tricked him into returning to the hospital by using the excuse of leg pain.

Back at the hospital, Jiang Youxi immediately took out her tools and personally treated his hand injury.

His entire back of his hand was red, swollen, and broken, with blood seeping out and some white powder on it.

"Is this whitewash powder?"

"Um."

"..."

No wonder my hand was bleeding; I hit the wall.

Jiang Youxi asked helplessly, "Does it hurt?"

The man lowered his eyes and gazed at her intently.

Noticing that he seemed a little down, Jiang Youxi couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

He reached out and touched her cheek, without saying a word, just quietly stroking her face.

The movements were gentle and tender, as if touching a lost treasure that had been found again.

"I'm terrified," he said in a low voice, still carrying a hint of lingering fear and dread, "afraid that you and Xiaoxu will end up like Zhao Yuan."

His negligence caused irreparable consequences.

Jiang Youxi was taken aback, her eyes filled with heartache.

She held his hand and nuzzled her face against his palm, trying to give him a sense of security.

"But this time you successfully saved me and Xiaoxu," Jiang Youxi said softly. "He Zhuo, you are no longer the little boy you were ten years ago. Now you have enough ability to protect the people you want to protect."

"It's all over now, and the scene you were afraid of won't happen again." Jiang Youxi leaned in and kissed him. "So don't blame yourself, and don't be afraid. No matter what happens in the future, Xiaoxu and I will be with you, okay?"

He Zhuo looked at her.

The girl's voice was gentle, like a unique melody that could soothe the soul.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, deeply inhaling the sweet peach scent emanating from her.

"it is good."

Recalling the scene of him going to the cellar that day, Jiang Youxi felt a pang of heartache: "Were you in great pain in the cellar that day?"

He Zhuo did not answer directly: "I will have to face this sooner or later."

Some wounds may appear to have healed, but they are actually still festering and infected inside.

It will cause you constant, unbearable pain, and you will never have peace.

Accepting it won't make you completely healed.

The only way is to reopen the wound, disinfect it again, and allow the ulcerated wounds to heal and grow new flesh.

Even without Zhao Fei, he would still have to face all of this again.

Only by facing it personally can one overcome the shadows and fears in their heart and achieve complete desensitization to everything from that year.

He dismantled and discarded the past "lateness" in order to welcome the future "congratulations".

He is no longer Chi Kuo.

Instead, it was a congratulatory toast.

A living, breathing He Zhuo, brimming with vitality.

-

Zhao Fei has been detained by the police. He has committed multiple crimes and is undergoing legal proceedings and awaiting sentencing.

Jiang Youxi was hospitalized for a week. During that week, He Zhuo took care of her personally in every detail, bathing her, feeding her, and assisting the doctor in changing her wound dressings on time.

Jiang Xu was very envious when he saw his father feeding his mother. Every day at mealtimes, he would run to Jiang Youxi's ward and, using the excuse that he couldn't eat because of his injured arm, he would beg He Zhuo to feed him.

At first, He Zhuo refused with a disgusted expression and even called Xie Zhao to feed him.

Jiang Xu was displeased upon hearing this: "Why? Dad, Mom's injured foot!"

"What's wrong with your feet? Are you looking down on people with feet?"

Jiang Youxi: "..."

What nonsense is this bastard spouting?!

"Mom doesn't eat with her feet, she can eat by herself!"

Jiang Youxi agreed with Jiang Xu and offered her hand: "Xiao Xu is right, I'll do it myself. His hand is not convenient, you can feed him."

He Zhuo slapped her hand away: "I'm feeding my wife, what business is it of this kid's?"

Jiang Youxi choked: "You really have the heart to let your son go hungry?"

"I can't bear it."

"That's right," Jiang Youxi said with satisfaction, giving a thumbs up. "That's a good example of a father!"

He Zhuo took out his phone and dialed a number: "Come over here for a moment."

Within a minute, Xie Zhao ran over: "Brother Zhuo, what's wrong? What happened?"

He Zhuo gestured with his chin toward the boy who was lying on the sofa in a sullen posture: "You're in charge of feeding him."

"And what about you?"

"I'm feeding Xixi."

"..."

Seeing Jiang Xu's injured hand, Xie Zhao chuckled, picked up the bowl, walked over, and patted him on the shoulder: "Alright, stop being so withdrawn, Brother Zhao will feed you."

Jiang Xu turned to look at him, then suddenly said seriously, "But I can't eat."

Xie Zhao was taken aback: "The food isn't to your liking?"

"no."

"What is that?"

"I have no appetite looking at your face."

Xie Zhao felt as if struck by lightning; his Dao heart shattered instantly: "Damn it, am I really that ugly?!"

"If you don't believe me, ask Aunt Xiao."

Just then, An Xiaoyu came over, and Xie Zhao, feeling utterly hopeless, shoved the bowl into her hands: "This kid refuses to eat, you feed him."

"Why aren't you feeding it?"

"He said I'm ugly and it affects his appetite," Xie Zhao protested. "Am I really that ugly?!"

An Xiaoyu looked at him and nodded: "Really."

"..."

Xie Zhao gave up struggling: "Fine, then I'll go."

An Xiaoyu grabbed his wrist.

Xie Zhao paused, "What?"

She tilted her head and smiled: "But I like it very much."

Xie Zhao was stunned, then his eyes lit up when he realized what was happening.

He was greatly encouraged: "Wife, feed him well. If this kid still refuses to eat, then you can use family discipline!"

An Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow: "Who's your wife?"

"You."

"Who said that?"

Xie Zhao pointed: "That good-for-nothing brat!"

"..."

-

Jiang Youxi was hospitalized for half a month before meeting the criteria for discharge.

Meng Lan also learned about what had happened during this time, and she was so angry that she trembled all over.

"I'm sorry, Grandma is powerless to protect you," the old woman said, her rough, aged hand gently stroking his face, her eyes full of heartache. "My little Kuo has suffered so much."

"It's alright, it's all over now." He Zhuo's eyes were slightly red as he held the old woman's hand. "Grandma, come back to Jianghai City with us, okay?"

"Okay, let's leave here together and never come back."