After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

A strange balance was miraculously achieved in the ward.

The air was filled with a sour, vinegary scent, mixed with a sweet, tender feeling.

Zhu Xun Chuan closed his eyes to rest. He knew very well that this superficial harmony was nothing more than the calm before the storm.

With the appearance of that knife last night, some people in Tianjin are already itching to overturn the table.

"Buzz—"

A short, sharp vibration broke the ambiguous atmosphere in the ward.

Xia Wanying's private encrypted phone, which was in her suit pocket, lit up.

She straightened up, concealing the allure in her eyes, and reverted to her usual aloof and cold CEO demeanor. She took out her phone, glanced at the message that popped up on the screen, and her expression instantly changed.

The message was sent by the head of security who was stationed outside the hospital.

"President Xia, the Gu family has overstepped their authority by checking the hospital's admission records. They are of extremely high rank, and our people couldn't stop them; they've already gone upstairs."

Family-oriented.

Xia Wanying's mind went blank. As the richest woman in North China, she knew all too well the unshakeable and terrifying power that surname represented in the capital.

How could the Gu family suddenly find their way to Tianjin?

Xia Wanying suddenly turned to look at Zhu Xunchuan, her lips moved as if she was about to tell him the shocking news.

"Tap...tap...tap..."

From the hallway outside the door came the oppressive sound of high heels clattering.

The sound wasn't loud, but the rhythm was surprisingly steady. Every step felt like it was treading on one's heart.

What was most chilling was that, despite the presence of dozens of Jiang family elites and Dinghe Group's top security personnel standing outside the corridor, the area was deathly silent in the face of the approaching footsteps. No one dared to make a sound, let alone step forward to stop them.

This is an absolute suppression created purely by status and aura.

The footsteps stopped outside the door of ward zero.

"Creak—"

The heavy, solid wood double doors were slowly pushed open by a hand wearing a thin black leather glove.

A cold wind blew into the warm hospital room from the corridor.

Outside the door, Gu Qinghan stood there ramrod straight.

She wore a black haute couture trench coat with an extremely fitted silhouette, cinched tightly at the waist to accentuate her slender figure. A pair of red-soled black high-heeled shoes further emphasized her already tall and unapproachable stature.

He wore his signature gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose.

The gaze behind the glasses was as cold as a polar glacier.

Gu Qinghan stood quietly at the door, without making any unnecessary movements, yet she froze the air in the room.

Her gaze, sharp as a tangible icy blade, swept over Zhu Xunchuan, whose right foot was wrapped in bandages on the hospital bed.

He coldly swept his gaze over the three women in the room.

Jiang Yao appeared in a men's white shirt without a bra.

Xia Wanying, a glamorous female tycoon dressed in a white suit.

Su Mucheng, a top female star, is hiding in a corner holding a plate of apples.

Gu Qinghan's lips curled into a faint, cold, mocking smile.

She raised her hand and gently pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses.

"It seems that Zhu's practice report is more colorful and detailed than I imagined," Gu Qinghan's voice was flat, yet carried a suffocating chill.

Gu Qinghan walked straight through the ward in her red-soled high heels.

She ignored the alluring Xia Wanying beside her, and paid no heed to the disheveled Jiang Yao. Her impeccably tailored black haute couture trench coat billowed with every step, revealing glimpses of her slender legs encased in black stockings beneath the coat's hem, perfectly embodying the aura of a restrained, icy beauty.

Gu Qinghan stopped at the foot of the bed. She extended her right hand, gloved in black leather, and took down the medical record card hanging on the headboard. Her gaze, behind her gold-rimmed glasses, quickly swept over the densely packed medical instructions on it.

"Tear in the sole of the foot, eight stitches, minor blood loss." Gu Qinghan's voice was completely flat as she coldly hung the medical record card back in its place. Her gaze fell directly on Zhu Xunchuan, who was leaning against the headboard. "Zhu Xunchuan, is this what you wrote on your sick leave slip: 'palpitations and rest'? It seems the feng shui by the sea in Tianjin is indeed nourishing, even external injuries can be nurtured."

These words were not only spoken with righteous indignation, but also directly exercised the privilege of checking up on students in the capacity of a university counselor.

The air in the ward seemed to freeze again.

Jiang Yao's temper had long since reached its breaking point. When had she ever been treated like this? In the Northern Territory, if anyone dared to speak to Zhu Xun Chuan in such a sarcastic tone, she would have torn their mouth apart long ago.

"Who do you think you are?" Jiang Yao stepped in front of the hospital bed, her body tense in a men's white shirt, like a mother wolf guarding her prey, glaring fiercely at Gu Qinghan. "What are you calling 'counselor'? This is a private ward, no unauthorized personnel welcome! Get out!"

Gu Qinghan stood still, her expression still cold and aloof. She gently raised her eyelids, her gaze lingering for a second on Jiang Yao's neck, which was covered in hickeys, before looking away, as if even glancing at it was too dirty.

"I'm a counselor at the Faculty of Arts at Peking University, and also his teacher. The student took sick leave but came to another city and got injured; the university naturally has the right to visit and verify." Gu Qinghan pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone carrying an undeniable air of class superiority. "Jiang Yao, who are you as a family member? What right do you have to represent him in kicking someone out?"

Jiang Yao's eyes reddened at the words "Who do you think you are as a family member?" and she clenched her right fist tightly, just about to lash out.

"Su Mucheng, take your things." Xia Wanying, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

This richest woman in North China not only possesses astonishing wealth, but also a shrewd eye. From the moment Gu Qinghan entered the door, she began to observe the woman's aura and demeanor.

The air of aristocratic family that emanated from her very being, coupled with the bizarre scene where even dozens of Jiang family bodyguards dared not stop her, led Xia Wanying to instantly conclude that this woman was the "Gu family" mentioned in the security chief's message earlier.

The Gu family in Beijing.

Xia Wanying was a smart woman. A head-on confrontation at this time would do no good; it would only make her look like a shrew. She picked up her white suit jacket from the chair and gracefully draped it over her arm.

"Since the school teachers have come all this way to check up on things, we unemployed people won't bother them." Xia Wanying's lips curled into a perfectly measured smile. She glanced at Zhu Xunchuan, her eyes deep and possessive. "Brother Chuan, cooperate with the teachers' investigation. I'll come see you again tonight."

After saying that, she turned around and pulled up Su Mucheng, who was huddled in the corner. Although Su Mucheng was reluctant, seeing the clash between several important figures, she could only obediently follow Xia Wanying and quickly leave the ward.

The double solid wood doors slammed shut with a "bang".

Only three people remained in the ward.

Jiang Yao watched helplessly as Xia Wanying "escaped," leaving her in the hot seat. She was indignant, gritting her teeth and glaring at Gu Qinghan, looking every bit the part of someone ready to start a full-blown fight in the hospital room.

Ignoring Jiang Yao's hostility, Gu Qinghan calmly removed her black leather gloves, pulled over a chair, and sat down directly on the left side of the hospital bed. Her legs were crossed, and her calves, encased in black stockings, gleamed darkly under the light.

"Zhu Xun Chuan." Gu Qinghan took out a black notebook, opened it, and held a Montblanc pen in his hand. "Regarding your unexcused departure from school and suspected forgery of leave slips, I need you to give me a reasonable explanation. By the way, explain how you got these injuries."

Her tone was stern, just like an ice queen disciplining a student who had made a mistake.

But at the same moment she sat up straight and opened the record book, Gu Qinghan's right leg, which was crossed on top and was wearing red-soled high heels and black stockings, quietly peeked forward from a blind spot under the hospital bed.

P.S.: The new season of Triangle Porridge is here! Anyone want the new knife skin? Nepal! It's so cool! You can snag it from the top of the gift leaderboard! (ง๑ •̀_•́)ง