104: Chapter 104 A Subtle "Secret War"

In the corridor of the hospital emergency building, the smell of disinfectant mixed with the chill of late night, making Song Zhiwei's fingertips cold.

Her hand, clutching the examination report, tightened slightly. Looking at the "Radiology" sign at the end of the corridor, she felt as if her heart was being scratched by a cat.

When she arrived at the hospital from the manor, Zhang Fan had already finished his preliminary examination, but she wasn't at ease and had Butler Wang contact the hospital leadership to arrange a more detailed full-body checkup.

"Eldest Miss, please don't worry. The hospital leadership said the results will be out very soon," Butler Wang said, standing to the side. Watching Song Zhiwei pace back and forth, he couldn't help but offer a soft word of comfort.

Having watched Song Zhiwei grow up since she was a child, this was the first time he had seen her so flustered.

Even when she was moved to tears by Pei Yunxiao in the past, she had never been like this, with even her eyes betraying panic.

Song Zhiwei nodded, but she didn't stop pacing.

Her mind was filled with the image of Zhang Fan being carried onto the stretcher—his pale face, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, and the cool temperature of his skin when he gripped her wrist.

If she had just contacted her father to drive Pei Yunxiao away at that time, and if she hadn't been so greedy, wanting to savor the pleasure of watching them fall into the abyss step by step, Zhang Fan wouldn't have been hurt...

"Miss Song, the results are out!" The nurse hurried over, holding a stack of reports. "The patient mainly has a dislocation of the third lumbar vertebra. There is no nerve damage, and the internal organs are fine. He just needs to rest in bed and avoid strenuous activity for at least a month."

Hearing that "the internal organs are fine," the weight lifted from Song Zhiwei's heart, at least by half.

She took the report and hurried toward the ward. When she pushed the door open, she happened to see Zhang Fan leaning against the headboard, on the phone. His brows were furrowed tightly, but his complexion was even better than before.

"...Yes, regarding the overseas agency contract for 'star path', I've already sent you the electronic version. I've highlighted the key terms in red; have the legal department double-check them during the signing."

Zhang Fan's voice carried the weakness of someone who had just finished an examination, but he remained articulate. "I've already had the public relations department prepare the press release for the media. You and Old Gu can finalize it for the banquet."

On the other end of the line was Zhou Yurou. Her voice came through the receiver, tinged with worry: "Xiao Gu and I will be there soon. Don't worry about other things. What did the doctor say?"

"It's nothing, just a soft tissue contusion. It'll be fine after resting for a few days." Zhang Fan smiled and hung up the phone. Turning his head, he saw Song Zhiwei, and his eyes softened instantly. "You're here? How were the results?"

"The doctor said your internal organs are fine, just a lumbar dislocation. You have to rest in bed for a month." Song Zhiwei walked to the bedside, placed the report on the nightstand, and reached out to tuck in the corner of his blanket. "What time is it now, and you're still thinking about work?"

"It's not that I want to, but the banquet in three days is too important." Zhang Fan sighed, his eyes full of helplessness. "It's Singularity's first public cooperation with an overseas company. We need to use the Song family's capital injection to build momentum and pave the way for a future IPO. If I'm not there, I just don't feel at ease."

Not long after, the ward door was pushed open, and Gu Jingshen and Zhou Yurou walked in.

When Gu Jingshen pushed the door open, he moved with a gust of wind. He placed the thermos in his hand onto the nightstand with a "thud," rattling the water glass on top.

He didn't bother with pleasantries, rushing to the bedside. He bent down to stare at Zhang Fan's bandaged waist, his brows knitting together. The anger in his voice was practically overflowing: "Damn it! Who the hell hurt you? Hitting that hard, do they have a death wish?"

He was the young master of the Gu Corporation and had never suffered any grievances since he was a child, let alone seeing his best friend beaten up like this.

On the way to the hospital just now, he had already learned from Zhou Yurou that it was a punk named "Yellow Hair" who had done it. He had already cursed the guy a thousand times in his heart and had even thought of ways to "deal with" him.

"Don't get agitated yet. The doctor said it's just a lumbar dislocation, no nerve damage." Zhang Fan looked at him, ready to fight someone, and couldn't help but smile. He tried to reach out to pat his arm, but it pulled at his waist, causing him to gasp in pain.

Gu Jingshen quickly held his hand down, his tone softening instantly, though it still carried a fierce edge: "Don't move! Focus on your recovery! Where is that Yellow Hair now? Dammit! Today, I'm going to make him know what price he has to pay for hitting Gu Jingshen's brother!"

He paused and pointed to the thermos on the table, his tone softening a bit more. "My mom happened to make pork rib soup tonight. When she heard you were in an accident, she specifically told me to bring extra, saying it's good for the waist."

Zhou Yurou walked over at this moment and reached out to pull Gu Jingshen's arm, her eyes filled with a bit of helplessness. "Alright, stop shouting about fighting and killing. Letting Zhang Fan recover in peace is what matters."

She picked up the examination report from the nightstand, read it carefully, and after confirming there was nothing serious, turned to look at Zhang Fan, her tone tinged with gentle reproach. "I told you not to worry about work all the time, but you wouldn't listen. I've already sorted out the company matters with Gu Jingshen—the legal review of the 'star path' agency contract, the reception process for overseas partners, and the press releases for the media. Everything is fine. You just lie here and recover in peace; don't overthink things."

"Exactly! With Sister Zhou here, it's more reliable than you watching over it yourself." Gu Jingshen chimed in, sitting down on the chair by the bed and picking up an apple to peel.

"She is our company's 'pillar of support.' With so many things in the company, hasn't she managed them all in perfect order?"

Zhang Fan looked at these two friends who were worrying about him, and his heart felt warm.

He knew Gu Jingshen was genuinely worried about him, and he knew Zhou Yurou's capabilities in the company. But when he thought about the banquet in three days, he couldn't help but frown. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's that the banquet is too critical. Signing with the overseas company is a small matter; the main thing is to use the Song family's capital injection to build momentum and pave the way for a future IPO. If I'm not there, I always feel like something is missing."

"Missing what? Miss Song is there, isn't she?" Gu Jingshen said casually, handing him the peeled apple. "Miss Song is the representative for the Song family's capital injection. She's even here taking care of you; what else do you have to worry about?"

Zhang Fan was taken aback for a moment and turned to look at Song Zhiwei, who was standing by the window. She seemed to be thinking about something, her eyes fixed directly in his direction.

That's right! Song Zhiwei was indeed staring blankly at Zhang Fan.

She watched as Zhang Fan, clearly in pain and frowning, still insisted on explaining things clearly. Her heart felt as if it had been gently nudged by something.

This man was always like this, carrying all the responsibility on his own shoulders, not forgetting about company matters even when injured.

Unconsciously, her eyes filled with a hint of love she hadn't even noticed herself, and her gaze remained glued to Zhang Fan, unable to look away.

It wasn't until Gu Jingshen mentioned her just now that Song Zhiwei suddenly snapped back to reality. The tenderness in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a touch of subtle vigilance.

Zhou Yurou also noticed Song Zhiwei's gaze and sighed softly in her heart.

She knew she was a few years older than Zhang Fan, and that she had been married and had a child. Compared to Song Zhiwei, she fell too far short.

Song Zhiwei was young, beautiful, and came from a wealthy and powerful family. She could provide capital injection for Singularity and was a "boost" to Zhang Fan's career. As for her, she could only handle affairs for Zhang Fan in the company, and even the "support" she gave Zhang Fan seemed so ordinary.

But feelings are never measured by "conditions."

She had followed Zhang Fan from the very beginning of his studio, watched him build Singularity bit by bit, and accompanied him through the most difficult days. This affection had long been carved into her bones; how could she just give it up?

Zhou Yurou walked to Zhang Fan's side calmly and helped adjust the height of his pillow, her tone natural. "Don't keep sitting up; the doctor said you need to lie down more. If there's anything else you haven't explained, write it down and send it to me. Don't exhaust yourself."

Watching this scene, Song Zhiwei unconsciously clenched her skirt. She knew Zhou Yurou was good to Zhang Fan, and she knew Zhou Yurou's importance in the company, but seeing the tacit understanding between Zhou Yurou and Zhang Fan, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sourness.

She stood up, walked to the nightstand, picked up the thermos, and said in a calm tone, "Let me pour you a bowl of soup."

Zhang Fan smiled and nodded. "Okay, thank you."

Song Zhiwei opened the thermos, but her hand trembled slightly as she poured the soup. She could feel Zhou Yurou's gaze upon her, filled with a bit of scrutiny and a bit of reluctance.

And Zhou Yurou, looking at Song Zhiwei's back, understood clearly—this young Eldest Miss of the Song Family's feelings for Zhang Fan were definitely not as simple as "friends."

Gu Jingshen stood to the side, taking it all in, and couldn't help but roll his eyes in his heart—these two women, clearly both interested in Zhang Fan, were holding it in and not saying anything. One look could kill for ages; it was more exhausting than negotiating company business.

He quickly tried to smooth things over: "Um... I tasted the soup; it's really good. Zhang Fan, you should try it. By the way, what's going on with Yellow Hair?"

Mentioning Yellow Hair, Song Zhiwei's eyes instantly turned cold. "I had Butler Wang detain him for now. We'll wait for Zhang Fan's recovery status before deciding whether to pursue criminal charges. Daring to hurt Zhang Fan—it can't just end like this."

Zhang Fan looked at Song Zhiwei's serious expression, feeling warm inside, and said softly, "Don't be too angry; let's talk about it when I'm better. The most important thing now is the company's banquet, you guys..."

Before he could finish, Song Zhiwei interrupted him: "I'll go to the banquet for you." She seeing Zhang Fan's surprised expression, she explained, "I am the representative of the Song family's capital injection. I can handle signing with partners and coordinating with the media for you. You just focus on recovering, and when you're better, you can take over the company matters again."

Zhou Yurou was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "That's also fine. Miss Song's status is appropriate, and it will be convenient to communicate with the partners. I will go with you and help coordinate." Although she felt a bit uncomfortable, she knew this was the best arrangement for now.

Zhang Fan looked at the two women in front of him, filled with gratitude, but he didn't notice the subtle "secret war" between them.