Ruthless Romance

Chapter 17: Wounded for His Sake

Certainly! I'll translate this chapter of the w*******l into English, refining the grammar and vocabulary while Several days later, Wen Yan, finally freed from her confinement, returned to school. As soon as she arrived, Chen Mengyao grabbed her arm and began chattering incessantly.

"You have no idea how scared I was that day! Are you alright now? You know what? When Mu Tingchu carried you to the hospital, so many people were watching with envy. He's such a good person, and incredibly gentle too. I finally understand why so many people are infatuated with him."

Chen Mengyao's eyes sparkled as she continued, "To be honest, he's so d*mn handsome! If I could spend just one night with him, I'd die happy right then and there! Oh, and because of that incident, our counselor got fired! We'll see him again at today's campus meeting! I'm beyond excited!"

It was only then that Wen Yan remembered today was the campus meeting, and he would be there... After that day, he hadn't returned home. How would their encounter be today? Her emotions were a jumble of anticipation and anxiety.

"That day... did he say anything else?" Wen Yan asked hesitantly.

Chen Mengyao, oblivious to her friend's unease, replied, "No, not really. But I did rant to him about your brother. Your brother is such a jerk!"

Wen Yan was momentarily speechless. No wonder he had inexplicably erupted that day because of her casual remark. It wasn't a volcanic eruption, but rather an ice mountain melting... Being criticized and cursed to one's face must have been an unpleasant experience.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from downstairs. Chen Mengyao, as if injected with adrenaline, grabbed Wen Yan's hand and rushed down. "Mu Tingchu is here! Let's go see him!"

Wen Yan panicked, still unsure how to face Mu Tingchu. "Yao Yao, let go... You go by yourself, I don't want to..."

"Xiao Yan, he helped you so much. The least you can do is thank him in person!" Chen Mengyao insisted, dragging her down the stairs despite her protests.

Wen Yan, who had been contemplating escape, froze in her tracks when she saw the man before her. Mu Tingchu approached, surrounded by a throng of students and teachers. His bespoke suit fit him perfectly, the pure black color accentuating his fair skin. A gentle smile graced his lips, making him the most eye-catching person in any setting.

Chen Mengyao pulled the still-dazed Wen Yan forward. "Senior, thank you so much for that day. Our Xiao Yan isn't good with words, so I'm thanking you on her behalf."

Wen Yan dared not look at the man's expression, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

Mu Tingchu stepped closer to her, bending slightly to examine her face. "You look much better. It seems you've recovered well."

Seeing that she didn't respond, Chen Mengyao nudged her with an elbow. "The senior is talking to you!"

"Thank you..." Wen Yan's gaze inadvertently met his gentle eyes, and in that moment, she failed to notice her own quickening heartbeat.

"No need to thank me. See you later," he said, lightly patting her shoulder. The seemingly ordinary gesture, coupled with his "See you later," left her feeling oddly distressed. She could almost predict the scene that would unfold when they returned home.

As Mu Tingchu passed by her, Wen Yan's eyes suddenly caught sight of a male student wearing a baseball cap and wielding a fruit knife, charging towards Mu Tingchu's back.

"Look out!" she cried out in panic. Almost instinctively, she pushed Mu Tingchu aside, and the fruit knife plunged directly into her shoulder.

Terrified screams erupted from the surrounding students, and chaos ensued.

The assailant, clearly not expecting Wen Yan's sudden intervention, froze for a moment before a twisted smile spread across his face.

In the next instant, Mu Tingchu delivered a powerful kick to the attacker, his entire being radiating a lethal aura.

With trembling fingers, he gathered Wen Yan into his arms, his features contorted with worry and fear. "Yan Yan...!" he called out, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.

Wen Yan had never heard him address her so tenderly. At that moment, despite the heaviness of her eyelids, she couldn't resist the urge to see what Mu Tingchu looked like calling her name in such a manner.

Forcing her eyes open, she saw the man's face, pale and terrified. She noticed the blood spattered across his features and instinctively reached out to wipe it away. He had a phobia of germs; this must feel awful for him. He was even furrowing his brow...

But before her hand could touch his face, she lost consciousness completely.

"Yan Yan!" The last thing she heard was Mu Tingchu's frightened and anxious call...

As Wen Yan's world faded to black, the scene around her erupted into frenzied activity. Mu Tingchu, usually the epitome of composure, now cradled her limp form with shaking hands. His face, typically a mask of cool indifference, was now etched with raw fear and concern.

"Someone call an ambulance!" he shouted, his voice cracking with urgency. The students around them scrambled to comply, phones appearing in hands as multiple calls were made to emergency services.

Chen Mengyao stood frozen, her hands covering her mouth in shock. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched her friend's blood seeping through her clothes, staining Mu Tingchu's immaculate suit.

Security guards rushed to the scene, restraining the attacker who had been momentarily stunned by Mu Tingchu's swift retaliation. The young man's face was a mix of confusion and twisted satisfaction, as if he couldn't decide whether to be pleased or disappointed that his target had escaped harm.

Mu Tingchu paid no attention to the commotion around him. His world had narrowed to the pale face of the girl in his arms. With gentle movements that belied his panic, he lowered Wen Yan to the ground, careful to keep pressure on her wound.

"Yan Yan, can you hear me?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "Stay with me, please. Help is coming."

As if responding to his plea, Wen Yan's eyelids fluttered, but didn't open. A soft moan escaped her lips, causing Mu Tingchu's heart to clench painfully.

The sound of approaching sirens cut through the chaos, bringing a wave of relief. Paramedics rushed in, quickly assessing the situation and taking over Wen Yan's care.

As they prepared to move her onto a stretcher, Mu Tingchu found himself reluctant to let go. It took a gentle but firm word from one of the paramedics to make him step back.

"Sir, we need to take her now. You can follow us to the hospital if you wish."

Mu Tingchu nodded numbly, watching as they lifted Wen Yan onto the stretcher. Her face, usually full of life and subtle expressions, now looked eerily peaceful.

As the paramedics wheeled her away, Mu Tingchu turned to Chen Mengyao, his voice low and urgent. "Contact her family. Tell them to meet us at the hospital."

Chen Mengyao nodded, wiping tears from her cheeks. "I will. Please, take care of her."

Without another word, Mu Tingchu strode after the paramedics, his long legs easily keeping pace with the stretcher. As they loaded Wen Yan into the ambulance, he climbed in without hesitation, his eyes never leaving her face.

The ride to the hospital was a blur of flashing lights and urgent voices. Mu Tingchu sat silently, his hand finding Wen Yan's and holding it gently. He marveled at how small and fragile it felt in his grasp, a stark contrast to the strength she had shown in pushing him out of harm's way.

As the ambulance raced through the streets, Mu Tingchu's mind whirled with a storm of emotions. Guilt, fear, and something deeper, something he wasn't ready to name, battled for dominance in his heart.

He replayed the moment in his head - her warning cry, the flash of movement as she pushed him aside, the sickening sound of the knife finding its mark. It had all happened so fast, yet in his mind, it played out in agonizing slow motion.

"Why?" he whispered, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand. "Why did you do that, Yan Yan?"

Of course, there was no answer. Only the steady beep of the heart monitor and the low murmur of the paramedics working around them filled the ambulance.

As they arrived at the hospital, Mu Tingchu was forced to let go of Wen Yan's hand. He watched helplessly as they rushed her into the emergency room, the doors swinging shut behind them.

Left alone in the sterile hallway, Mu Tingchu felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He slumped into a nearby chair, his head in his hands. For the first time in years, he felt completely out of control.

As he sat there, waiting for news, Mu Tingchu made a silent vow. He would protect her, no matter the cost. He wouldn't let her sacrifice herself for him ever again.

Little did he know, this incident would mark the beginning of a profound change in their relationship, one that would challenge everything he thought he knew about himself and his feelings for Wen Yan.