Chapter 49: Leukemia!
Seeing Zhao Dong in such a state startled Xu Yafei, who rushed over to support him. "Zhao Dong, are you alright? What's happening to you?"
Zhao Dong could no longer speak. He gasped desperately for air, his face turning as pale as a sheet of paper.
Xu Yafei gritted her teeth. No matter how ruthless she could be, she couldn't just stand by and watch Zhao Dong come to harm right in front of her.
Finally, Xu Yafei turned to Yan Yan. "Yan Yan, go upstairs and help Han Chuxue down. Do it now, immediately!"
Yan Yan was confused. "Isn't Han Chuxue drunk? What do you want with her?"
"Just get her down here! It's better that she's drunk!"
"Okay, I'll go right now!"
Yan Yan immediately went upstairs and laboriously helped Han Chuxue down. Han Chuxue's eyes were hazy and her face was flushed. She was heavily intoxicated, her steps unsteady. She leaned on Yan Yan's shoulder, swaying precariously.
"Yafei, what now?" Yan Yan still didn't understand what Xu Yafei was planning.
Xu Yafei bit her lip. "Help her into my car, then come with me. I'll have my trusted people take care of Fang Yunshan's body later. Let's keep the bar closed for today; I'll compensate you for the losses."
Yan Yan gave Xu Yafei a look. "Why are you being so formal with me? If it weren't for you, I would have..."
Xu Yafei smiled, and the two women shared a knowing glance. Yan Yan said no more.
After helping Han Chuxue into the car, Xu Yafei also got Zhao Dong settled inside. She locked up the bar, then slammed her foot on the accelerator and sped away. As the road grew more familiar, Yan Yan seemed to guess what was happening, a look of shock appearing on her face. She didn't ask any questions, only gazed deeply at the drunken Han Chuxue beside her.
They soon arrived at one of Xu Yafei's other properties, a small suite in an apartment building. No one knew about this place besides Yan Yan; not even Hong Wu or the others were aware of it. Xu Yafei and Yan Yan supported both Zhao Dong and Han Chuxue into the bedroom.
Yan Yan remained silent, having already guessed Xu Yafei's intentions. After laying the two of them on the bed, she saw that Zhao Dong was still unconscious. Standing by the bedside, Yan Yan finally couldn't hold back. "Yafei, aren't you afraid Chuxue will hate you for this later?"
"Even if she hates me, there's nothing to be done," Xu Yafei replied coolly. "Zhao Dong is in desperate need of a powerful backer right now. Besides, Han Chuxue has her own issues. It's time she found a man to set her straight. Yan Yan, you must not tell anyone about this."
Yan Yan gave a bitter smile. "I know. But his body seems to be in serious trouble. Is it really okay to leave him here like this?"
Xu Yafei narrowed her phoenix eyes and said, enunciating each word, "No one can help him with his condition. If he pulls through, great. If not, then that's his fate."
With a final, deep look at Zhao Dong on the bed, Xu Yafei walked out with Yan Yan. They closed the bedroom door and left.
Not long after they were gone, Zhao Dong's body began to heat up rapidly, turning into a human furnace. A faint sliver of consciousness returned, and he instantly realized what was happening to him.
It's this damned blood cancer! The cancer cells in my body are strange. When I fought Fang Yunshan, I used my Spiritual Energy. For some reason, the cells must have multiplied explosively, and now they're eroding my organs! I must have gotten careless. I used my Spiritual Energy to suppress them before, and that moment of negligence allowed them to rebound violently. At my current Qi Refining Realm, I can't possibly eradicate them. Perhaps I'll have to wait until I reach the Foundation Establishment Realm or even the Golden Core Realm to be completely cured.
In his daze, Zhao Dong desperately tried to channel his Spiritual Energy, enduring the excruciating pain to destroy the cancerous cells. In moments, he was drenched in sweat, as if he'd been doused in water. His temperature soared, and he felt like he was going mad; his body felt like it was about to explode. Just then, a refreshing coolness pressed against him. Zhao Dong slowly calmed down. In the last moments before losing consciousness again, he thought he heard a woman's low sob.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Dong groggily opened his eyes to a snow-white, European-style ceiling. The bedsheets were just as white. On the pristine sheets lay a single strand of ink-black hair, its darkness a stark contrast. Zhao Dong shifted his gaze to the side. When he saw the scene before him, his jaw dropped and his body went rigid, as if turned to stone.
How can it be Han Chuxue?
She was lying in his arms, her dark brows slightly furrowed as if she were having an unpleasant dream. Her exquisite face was the kind that could topple nations, with brows like distant mountains, flawless fair skin, a delicate little nose, and lips as tender and red as rose petals. No matter how he looked at her, she was stunning, easily on par with Lin Qingyun and Xu Yafei.
At that moment, however, Zhao Dong only felt his scalp tingle with dread.
How could I have ended up in this situation with Han Chuxue?
He gently lifted the white sheet. He looked at the scratches on his own body, then at the bright red stain of blood on the white linen. He lowered the sheet and sighed.
It's over. It's really over this time. This is Han Chuxue, a daughter of the Han Family, and Xu Yafei's friend. Even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its own burrow, yet I slept with Xu Yafei's friend. Am I even human?
Just then, Han Chuxue's long eyelashes trembled, and her beautiful eyes slowly fluttered open. Her face was still flushed from the alcohol. When she saw Zhao Dong, her pupils constricted instantly. She shot up, staring blankly at him before exclaiming in shock and anger, "Why are you here?"
As the words left her mouth, she looked down.
"AHHH!!!"
A piercing scream ripped through the room.
Like a madwoman, Han Chuxue grabbed a pillow and hurled it at Zhao Dong, her eyes already brimming with tears. "Zhao Dong, you beast! You... you did this to me..." Her voice trailed off as large teardrops began to fall.
Zhao Dong sat on the bed, looking at her helplessly. "I swear, I don't remember anything from last night," he said, full of guilt. "Why... are we here?"
Tears streamed down her face. "Get out! You beast, you bastard! You did this on purpose!"
"I really didn't! I honestly didn't do it on purpose. I have no idea what happened myself." Helpless, Zhao Dong lit a cigarette.
Han Chuxue buried her face in her hands and began to sob.
I actually slept with a man I've only known for a few hours. I already hated this Zhao Dong, which would have been bad enough! But the crucial point is... I don't like men at all. I like women!
In an instant, she felt utterly filthy, as if she reeked of a man's stench. She snapped her head up, her eyes red and her face streaked with tears. "Zhao Dong, I really want to kill you!"
"Don't be angry," Zhao Dong said helplessly. "I truly didn't mean for this to happen. If it's really that bad, I'll let you have a go at me."
"You bastard!"
Han Chuxue shot him a look filled with hatred. Tears streaming, she ran straight for the window.
Zhao Dong instinctively felt something was wrong. In the next second, Han Chuxue was climbing onto the windowsill, preparing to jump.
Defiled by a man... I'd rather die!
Zhao Dong gasped, and his Spiritual Energy erupted from his body. He shot across the room like an arrow loosed from its bow, grabbing her and roaring, "Are you crazy?!"
Held in his arms, Han Chuxue struggled violently, her nails digging into his neck and leaving several bleeding scratches. She broke down completely, sobbing, "Let me go! I'd rather die! Let go of me!"
With a stern expression, Zhao Dong pulled her back inside. He tossed her onto the bed and covered her with the sheet.
Han Chuxue buried her face in her hands and wept. Zhao Dong stood by the bed, watching her for a long moment before sighing softly. "I know you're in pain, and I apologize. But please, believe me, I really didn't do it on purpose."
"I don't accept your apology! I just want to kill you! You ruined me!"
Without another word, Zhao Dong turned, walked out of the room, and returned a moment later with a fruit knife. He tossed it to her and roared, "You want to kill me, don't you? Go on! I'll let you do it!"
Han Chuxue froze, staring at him. A second later, filled with rage, she snatched up the knife and lunged, stabbing straight for his chest.
Zhao Dong didn't dodge or block. He simply stood there, letting her stab him.