Chapter 85: Unwarranted Disaster
The news that Pan Youming and Pan Youshan had been hacked and taken to the hospital threw Fu Yuzhen and Pan Runqing into a panic. They dropped everything, grabbed some money, and rushed to the hospital, with Su Qing naturally following along.
"Aunt Fu, Uncle Pan, please don’t worry. The doctors are there. Brother Youming and Youshan will be okay," Su Qing said consolingly on the way to the hospital, seeing Fu Yuzhen shedding endless tears.
"I just don’t get it. They were fine, so how could they be attacked for no reason at all?" Fu Yuzhen was frantic. "Brother Youming and Youshan never cause trouble for anyone. Who on earth could have done this?"
"It’s already been reported to the police. I’m sure the officers will get to the bottom of it." Pan Runqing was panicking inside as well, but seeing Fu Yuzhen in such a state, he suppressed his own turmoil to comfort her.
Fu Yuzhen didn’t say a word, her tears just streamed down her face.
When they arrived at the hospital, Su Qing saw Pan Youshan sitting on a bench outside the operating room, one arm in a sling, wiping away tears.
"Youshan!" Seeing her younger son, Fu Yuzhen cried out anxiously. She rushed forward to check his injuries and asked, "Where’s your brother?"
"My brother’s in there, in surgery," Pan Youshan sobbed, throwing himself into Fu Yuzhen’s arms. "Mom, he was covered in blood... he got cut up by those people trying to protect me. I’m so scared."
"What!" Hearing her younger son describe how grave her older son’s injuries were, Fu Yuzhen felt her vision go black and started to collapse. Seeing this, Su Qing rushed forward and caught her, secretly channeling a wisp of green mist into her. "Aunt Fu, don’t panic. Brother Youming will definitely be fine. The doctors will save him."
Fu Yuzhen, who had been feeling faint, found her head clearing after receiving the wisp of green mist. She nodded frantically. "Right, right, the doctors are here. Youming will be okay."
Then, she looked back at Pan Youshan. Seeing his arm in a sling, she asked urgently, "Youshan, where are you hurt?"
Pan Runqing looked at his younger son’s injuries and frowned. "You should go back to your room and rest. Your mom and I will wait here. Your brother will be fine."
"I’m okay," Pan Youshan said, wiping his tears. "My brother protected me the whole time, so I didn’t get hurt too badly. It’s just... my brother... SOB... Mom, Dad, I’m really scared. He was covered in blood."
Pan Youshan was only thirteen, after all. It was the first time he had ever encountered something so terrifying, and he was on the verge of a breakdown. The memory of Pan Youming being wheeled into the operating room, covered in blood, sent a chill through his entire body.
Seeing this, Su Qing knew Pan Youshan was deeply frightened. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder and sent some green mist into him. "Youshan, believe me, Brother Youming will be okay."
Pan Youshan wondered if it was just his imagination, but as Su Qing spoke, the pain from his wounds seemed to lessen. He couldn’t help but turn to look at her. He didn’t recognize her at first; he and his brother hadn’t seen Su Qing since they’d returned.
"This is your sister Su Qing," Pan Runqing said quickly.
"Sister Su Qing?" Pan Youshan’s eyes widened in shock. He certainly remembered Su Qing, but ’the Su Qing in my memory was a really pretty big sister. Why does this person have such a large scar on her face?’ However, Pan Youshan had been raised well and didn’t mention the scar. He just nodded quickly at Su Qing. "Sister Su Qing."
After that, Pan Youshan turned back to Fu Yuzhen and Pan Runqing. "Mom, Dad, I’m fine. I want to wait here for my brother to come out."
"Alright then. But if you can’t hold on, go back and rest." Seeing his younger son’s insistence, Pan Runqing nodded. Then he asked, "By the way, Youshan, what exactly happened? Why were you and your brother attacked?"
A moment ago, seeing his younger son’s injuries and worrying about his older son in the operating room, Pan Runqing hadn’t thought to ask for the details.
"That’s right, Youshan, how did you and your brother get hurt?" Fu Yuzhen also asked anxiously.
"My brother and I were walking home today, and we took a shortcut through an alley. We ran into two groups of people fighting. One of the groups was all carrying knives, and they were slashing at anyone they saw. My brother and I couldn’t get away. He got slashed several times protecting me. Luckily, the other group in the fight protected us a little. Otherwise, I don’t know how badly we would’ve been cut up." Pan Youshan started trembling as he recalled the attack; the situation had truly terrified him. "Later, someone shouted that they’d called the police, and the group with the knives ran off. Then, the other group brought my brother and me to the hospital."
Su Qing narrowed her eyes upon hearing this. ’So they were just caught in the crossfire.’
Fu Yuzhen started crying again. "What kind of people are they? Attacking people with knives in broad daylight! They must be rotten to the core!"
As she spoke, she looked at Pan Youshan’s injuries and couldn’t help but start sobbing again.
Su Qing then asked, "What about the people who brought you to the hospital?"
"I don’t know," Pan Youshan said, looking down. "I was in a daze from fear. By the time I came to my senses, they were already gone."
Furious, Pan Runqing slammed his fist against the wall.
A short while later, the police arrived. They asked Pan Youshan what had happened, and he repeated the story for them.
After listening, one of the officers asked, "Did you recognize anyone from the two groups?"
Pan Youshan shook his head. "No, I don’t know them. My brother and I were just passing by when they attacked us."
Pan Runqing quickly added, "Officers, my two sons never cause trouble. This was a completely random attack. I hope you can find the culprits as soon as possible and get justice for us."
"Don’t worry. Maliciously injuring people on the street in broad daylight is a very serious matter. We will do our best to uncover the truth and find the attackers. Besides you, one of the two groups involved also filed a report."
Fu Yuzhen, heartbroken that her sons were hurt for no reason, said angrily, "Those people must know who they provoked, right? Officers, you have to question them and find out quickly. My sons can’t have been injured like this for nothing!"
"Rest assured, ma’am. We will investigate the case and clear it up as quickly as possible."
"Thank you, officers."
The red light above the operating room door stayed on, and the Pan Family’s hearts were in their throats.
Seeing a nurse come out of the operating room, Pan Runqing hurried forward to ask, "Nurse, how is my son?"
"The doctor is still operating. Please be patient." After saying this, the nurse rushed off.
Several nurses bustled in and out of the operating room, each with a grim and tense expression. Fu Yuzhen’s heart clenched even tighter, and she became so unsteady on her feet she could barely stand.
Su Qing quickly supported Fu Yuzhen. "Aunt Fu, he’ll be alright."