DXXZL - 69

Jiang Tu was originally scheduled to attend a celebratory dinner in the evening, but there were too many people. Knowing it wouldn’t be convenient for Zhu Xingyao to tag along, she had requested a small private room at the same venue. During breaks from mingling, Jiang Tu would come over to check on her.

When Lin Jiayu called, Jiang Tu had just stepped out of the private room. Zhu Xingyao set down her chopsticks and answered the call.

“Stars, save me!” Lin Jiayu pleaded desperately.

Zhu Xingyao quickly asked, “What happened?”

Lin Jiayu hurriedly explained how Jiang Lu’s livestream had blown up—fans had uncovered that Jiang Tu was Jiang Lu’s older brother. They’d also dug up details about his high school life. Among Jiang Lu’s fanbase were readers of Lin Jiayu’s works. Sobbing, Lin Jiayu lamented: “Wuwu… The main issue is that Jiang Tu is so handsome. After the product launch, some people noticed his name and profile, confirming he’s Jiang Lu’s older brother. In Waiting for the Stars , the character Jiang Xing has a younger brother, a poor family, debts, etc.—all the clues match perfectly. Now, my book fandom group is going crazy! Everyone knows the prototypes are you and Jiang Tu.”

Jiang Tu had always been low-key, cold, and aloof. Lin Jiayu couldn’t even imagine his reaction if he found out he’d been unwittingly cast as the male lead in a novel, with his secret crush exposed to the public—he’d definitely be furious.

Lin Jiayu sobbed: “Stars, aren’t you in Beijing? Only you can save us now!”

Zhu Xingyao: “….”

What could she say? She had assumed that if the story got exposed, at worst, she’d be dragged into online discussions. She hadn’t expected Jiang Tu’s identity to be so thoroughly uncovered. After thinking for a moment, she consoled Lin Jiayu: “Don’t panic. I’ll ask Jiang Tu about it tonight.”

Lin Jiayu suggested enthusiastically: “You might have to sacrifice a little charm to smooth things over.”

Zhu Xingyao blushed and whispered: “How can you be so inappropriate…”

“Love makes people lose their minds!” Just then, a flurry of messages popped up on Lin Jiayu’s QQ. Her editor was once again chasing her for the manuscript of Waiting for the Stars . As her temples throbbed painfully, she suddenly noticed someone in the chat group mentioning local news from Jiangcheng: A detective had fallen off a building while apprehending a criminal and was now critically injured in the hospital.

“I heard it’s Ding Xiang from Class 1 next door.”

“It’s him! When I saw him being carried onto the ambulance stretcher, he was covered in blood—it was terrifying.”

…

Lin Jiayu’s face paled, and her voice trembled: “Stars, I just saw someone say Ding Xiang is injured and in critical condition at the hospital… It sounds serious…”

Zhu Xingyao hung up and immediately rushed to the neighboring large private room where Jiang Tu was. Pushing the door open abruptly, all eyes inside—from the Weichuang Technology staff celebrating—turned toward her.

Everyone froze.

Someone exclaimed: “Isn’t that Zhu Xingyao?”

Jiang Tu noticed her panicked expression and pale face. He quickly walked over: “What’s wrong?”

“Tu Ge…” Zhu Xingyao looked frightened, clutching his clothes and looking up at him. “Ding Xiang is injured and being rushed to the hospital. I don’t know how he’s doing…”

Jiang Tu’s expression darkened. He pulled her into a comforting embrace and murmured: “Don’t worry. Let me make a call.” While putting on his coat, he turned to the stunned crowd and addressed the boss: “Sorry, something urgent came up. I need to return to Jiangcheng.”

The boss nodded understandingly. Glancing at Zhu Xingyao, he said: “It’s fine. There’s nothing left to handle here. Let Lao Yuan take care of the rest. You two go ahead.”

Zhu Xingyao gave Jiang Tu’s boss a quick glance, feeling a vague sense of familiarity, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Jiang Tu quickly led her out of the room. He tried calling Ding Xiang, but no one answered. He didn’t have Ding Xiang’s home number either.

It was already past 9 PM, and the last flight back to Jiangcheng departed at 9:30 PM—they wouldn’t make it. For now, they could only return to the hotel.

Ding Xiang was admitted to the People’s Hospital. Zhu Xingyao called Ding Yu and managed to get in touch with Ding Xiang’s wife. Pregnant and emotionally distraught, she cried: “He’s still in surgery… I don’t know how it’s going…”

Jiang Tu barely slept that night. Zhu Xingyao dozed off intermittently in his arms, waking every so often to ask: “Any news yet?”

“Not yet,” Jiang Tu replied grimly. Ding Xiang had been one of the few close friends he’d made in high school, and the situation weighed heavily on his heart.

Zhu Xingyao clung to him tightly, whispering softly: “He’ll be okay.”

At 6 AM, Ding Xiang was finally wheeled out of the operating room and transferred to the ICU.

Zhu Xingyao, Jiang Tu, Li Xixi, and Xu Xiangyang boarded the 7 AM flight back to Jiangcheng. They arrived at the hospital by 10 AM. Lin Jiayu was already there. The group met outside the ICU. Ding Xiang was still unconscious, under intensive care, with his parents and wife by his side.

Ding Xiang’s wife was four months pregnant, her belly slightly rounded. Exhausted after staying up all night, she wobbled when standing and instinctively reached out to grab Zhu Xingyao, who was closest.

Zhu Xingyao stiffened, her face paling. She stood frozen, not daring to move.

Li Xixi quickly stepped forward to steady Ding Xiang’s wife, asking: “Are you alright?” Turning to Zhu Xingyao, she added worriedly, “Are you both okay?”

Ding Xiang’s wife looked at them through tearful eyes, forcing a weak smile: “I’m fine. The doctor said Ding Xiang should wake up tonight and might be moved to a regular ward in a couple of days. Thank you all for rushing back to see him.”

Zhu Xingyao quietly exhaled in relief, taking a step back and clutching Jiang Tu’s coat tightly.

Jiang Tu glanced down at her, gently holding her slender fingers. In a low voice, he reassured her: “It’s fine now. No need to be nervous.”

Zhu Xingyao remained silent. Her earlier tension wasn’t because of Ding Xiang. Resting her head against his shoulder, she murmured softly: “Mm.”

With Ding Xiang still unconscious, there was nothing more they could do at the hospital.

An hour later, the group prepared to leave. On their way downstairs, Xu Xiangyang called Lu Ji: “Are you at the hospital now? Xixi and I will drop by to see your grandfather.”

Lu Ji’s grandfather had been hospitalized for several days, and Lu Ji had been staying in Jiangcheng.

Lin Jiayu glanced at Xu Xiangyang.

As fate would have it, the group ran into Lu Ji head-on in the lobby.

Instinctively, Li Xixi glanced at Zhu Xingyao and Jiang Tu. Jiang Tu had his arm around Zhu Xingyao, his expression cold and distant. He briefly glanced at Lu Ji before turning to the group: “Xingyao and I will head out first.”

Still somewhat dazed, Zhu Xingyao glanced at Lu Ji before being led away by Jiang Tu.

Lin Jiayu remained rooted in place, staring at Lu Ji’s impassive face without moving.

Lu Ji approached Li Xixi and the others: “You’re coming to see my grandfather? Let’s go.” Turning to Lin Jiayu, he asked, “Are you coming too?”

Lin Jiayu hesitated for a moment before nodding: “Yes. I actually have something to discuss with you.”