When the rice and dishes were served, Lin Xiaoxiao took a deep breath. The aroma of steamed rice nearly moved her to tears—she could finally have a proper meal.

But her eyes were bigger than her stomach. Out of the entire pound of rice, she managed only about three ounces before feeling completely full. Cradling a cup of tea, she contentedly watched Zhou Huai'an finish the rest.

It felt strangely domestic—wasn't it a man's job to clean up what was left?

The thought made her smile, eyes curving with amusement.

After the meal, they left the cafeteria and stopped by the police station to inform them that Zhou Chang'an had woken up. The officers who had gone to Zhoujia Village hadn't returned yet; they were told the police would come to the hospital later.

Walking beside Zhou Huai'an with her hands behind her back, Lin Xiaoxiao asked, "Your mother said Luo Caixia might have hired someone to hurt Zhou Chang'an. Do you think that's possible?"

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "No."

Lin Xiaoxiao smirked. "Is it because she's your ex, so you don't think she's capable?"

There was an unconscious hint of jealousy in her tone. Even though she knew nothing had happened between Zhou Huai'an and Luo Caixia, the thought that they had known each other since childhood—that Luo Caixia had witnessed all his awkward and vulnerable moments—made her irrationally bitter.

Zhou Huai'an frowned. "Don't talk nonsense. There was never anything between us."

Lin Xiaoxiao snorted. "You even taught her how to write, didn't you? Did you guide her hand with yours?"

Zhou Huai'an didn't understand where these strange ideas came from, but he answered seriously: "No. I only showed her how to hold the pen and pointed out where her characters needed improvement."

Lin Xiaoxiao muttered under her breath, "Still, that's pretty close."

Zhou Huai'an didn't know how to respond. He didn't understand why she was dwelling on these irrelevant details—or why she seemed upset.

So he stayed silent.

Noticing his silence, Lin Xiaoxiao mumbled two more words: "Blockhead."

Then it occurred to her—how could a man this clueless ever understand the subtleties of a childhood friendship? She suddenly giggled.

Zhou Huai'an was completely lost. Her mood shifts were too quick for him to follow. For the first time, his focus drifted.

When they returned to the hospital room, Wang Fenglan and Chen Qiaolan had stopped arguing.

Chen Qiaolan was sitting in a corner wiping her tears, while Wang Fenglan, grim-faced, was eating a steamed bun by the bed.

Zhou Changyuan stood up quickly when he saw them. "Have you eaten? Should I go buy some buns?"

Zhou Huai'an stopped him. "We've eaten. How is he?"

Zhou Changyuan glanced at Zhou Chang'an lying motionless with his eyes open. "Like this the whole time. He won't respond to anyone."

Zhou Huai'an walked over and looked down at the dazed Zhou Chang'an. "Where did you go yesterday? Who did you see? What benefit did you take from them?"

Wang Fenglan stood up instantly at the last sentence. What did he mean, "took benefits"?

But before she could speak, Zhou Chang'an finally reacted. He turned his head slowly, blinked, and sneered, "What's it to you? Haven't you already cut ties with us?"

Zhou Huai'an ignored the sarcasm. "Don't take what isn't yours. Next time, you might lose your life."

Zhou Chang'an seemed to remember something. He tremb slightly and turned away without another word.

Zhou Changyuan grew anxious. "Chang'an, you have to tell us what happened! Who did this to you? We can' catch the culprit if you don't talk."

Zhou Chang'an spat out three stiff words: "Don't know them."

Lin Xiaoxiao watched from the side, thinking he deserved to be left in the wild for stray dogs to finish off.

Wang Fenglan pressed urgently, "Chang'an, how can you not know? Was it Luo Caixia? Did she send someone?"

Zhou Chang'an, already in pain and irritable, snapped in extreme annoyance: "I said I don't know!"

Just then, two police officers entered. Having met them the night before, they nodded to Zhou Huai'an first, then turned to Zhou Chang'an. sternly, one asked, "Comrade Zhou Chang'an, did you get a look at who injured you? Why did they attack you?"

Zhou Chang'an, a bully only at home, became meek in front of the police. "Didn't see. Don't know them."

The officer's tone hardened. "Think carefully, Comrade. Being injured doesn't make you the victim here. We've made inquiries in Zhoujia Village and learned a few things."

Zhou Chang'an clenched his jaw and stayed silent.

The officer opened a notepad. "Have you recently been involved in gambling with people from outside the village? Card games in the mountains?"

Wang Fenglan was stunned. "What? Gambling? No way! My son is an honest man! How could he gamble? We don't even have money!"

Ignoring her, the officer kept his eyes on Zhou Chang'an. "If you don't cooperate, we will find the perpetrators—and you will also face penalties for organizing gambling activities."

Zhou Chang'an's already pale face lost all color. "I don't know them... They asked for directions, then invited me to drink... later we played cards. I won at first, then lost a lot. I couldn't pay back... so last night they grabbed me."

Wang Fenglan was horrified. "You really gambled?"

The officer turned to Zhou Changyuan. "You're the production team leader, correct? Were you aware your brother was gambling?"

Zhou Changyuan shook his head. "Never heard about it."

"Any debt collectors come to your house?"

"No. We had no idea what he was up to."

Lin Xiaoxiao listened, fascinated. If it was really about gambling debts, wouldn't they want their money back? Usually, they threaten or vandalize property—not go straight to mutilation without demanding repayment.

So what was the motive?

Zhou Huai'an was clearly thinking the same. Frowning, he listened silently, wondering whether those who lured Zhou Chang'an into gambling were simply after money—or had another goal. And if so, what?

The officers pressed Zhou Chang'an on these very points.

But Zhou Chang'an truly knew nothing else. He didn't understand why they didn't ask for money—just knocked him out and mutilated him.

After a few more questions, the police left. The room fell into heavy silence.

Wang Fenglan was too stunned to even scold her son. She never imagined Zhou Chang'an's injury was tied to gambling debts.

Lin Xiaoxiao watched, amazed at how the drama kept unfolding.

In the silence, the hospital door opened.

Lü Zhigang walked in.