TYH-DCI | Chapter 23 – Awakening

The joy on Xi’er’s face came from a childhood surrounded by warmth and affection, which also made her an innocent, carefree girl.

The only hardship she had ever truly experienced was a cup of black coffee her eldest brother once tricked her into drinking.

Well—there was also this trip to the countryside.

Because of that upbringing, she didn’t take her earlier words seriously at all.

In her mind, this was just how she argued with the other kids in the compound since she was little. Every time she ran home to complain, her first sentence was always: “Dad, go break their legs.”

That was because her father, Dongfang Fu, often disciplined his sons with the same phrase: “Believe it or not, I’ll break your legs.”

So Xi’er had simply copied him. After so many years, the habit had stuck.

From her description, Dongfang Fu confirmed she hadn’t been injured, and he finally let out a long breath of relief.

Still, he asked again, “Xi’er, are you really not hurt?”

“No, Dad. I’m fine.”

“Good, good… as long as you’re fine.” Then he suddenly laughed loudly. “Hahaha! As expected of my daughter! Even managed to help rescue someone from human traffickers! Good! A true tiger father has no weak daughter!”

His laughter was so loud it almost blew out her eardrums.

Xi’er pulled the receiver slightly away in annoyance.

When he finally finished laughing, she brought it back and snapped, “Dad, are you even listening to me?”

“I am, I am!” Dongfang Fu quickly returned to the point. “The girl you mentioned—Jiang Lai—how is she now? Where are you?”

Xi’er replied, “The doctor said she’s okay now. The bleeding has stopped and the wound has been stitched. We’re at Lin County People’s Hospital. Dad, we’ve spent all our money. You need to send more quickly.”

She said it matter-of-factly, as if asking for money to be delivered across provinces was the most natural thing in the world.

To her, her father could do anything.

And as expected, Dongfang Fu didn’t hesitate for even a second.

“Alright, I understand. Stay safe. Call me immediately if anything happens. If I don’t answer, call your mother. Don’t handle anything alone.”

“Mm, I know.”

“Oh, right,” Xi’er added, “can you arrange for the four of us—me, Jiang Lai, Wang Shengnan, and Li Zhaodi—to be assigned to the same production team? It’s too dangerous out here. I feel safer staying with them.”

When she sounded like she was about to cry again, Dongfang Fu immediately stopped her.

“Alright, alright, I got it. I’ll arrange it. Don’t worry.”

His daughter was perfect in every way—cute, smart, pretty, kind, and obedient.

The only problem was that when she cried, it was absolutely devastating. If left unchecked, she could probably cry the roof off the house.

After confirming everything with her father, Xi’er immediately stopped crying and happily went off with Wang Shengnan to buy food.

Meanwhile — Dongfang Fu’s Office

Although he was known for being rough, he had not risen to his position without intelligence.

Thinking of his third son, who was currently on assignment, he immediately made a call.

As for the three people Xi’er mentioned, he didn’t investigate them in detail.

His daughter might be naive, but she had a sharp instinct for good and evil—and he trusted her judgment.

Another call followed soon after.

At the same time, Wang Zhenhua and Dongfang Fu were both mobilizing resources in the same direction.

What should have been a difficult matter became unexpectedly simple.

Hospital — Later

The two girls returned with food. Li Zhaodi was wiping Jiang Lai’s face with a damp towel, cleaning off dried blood.

Xi’er slapped her forehead. “I forgot to buy a basin. I’ll go get one.”

Wang Shengnan quickly stopped her. “Don’t rush. Do you still have money? Eat first. I’ll go later.”

Xi’er scratched her head awkwardly. “Hehe… I forgot.”

After calling home and reporting what had happened, her fear had faded. She was back to her usual carefree self.

Luckily, the kettle and bamboo cups Jiang Lai had bought were still there.

Li Zhaodi went to fetch hot water and poured drinks for everyone.

Then she took the meat buns Wang Shengnan handed her and started eating.

“Why did you buy meat buns again? What if we run out of money?” she asked worriedly.

Xi’er quickly reassured her, “It’s fine. I called home. They’ll send money. Just eat.”

But Li Zhaodi still didn’t look relieved.

Still, since the food was already bought, it would be wasteful not to eat it—and they were all starving after the chaos of the morning.

Soon, the three of them finished the buns.

And then Jiang Lai’s fingers moved.

She slowly opened her eyes.

“Jiang Lai!” Wang Shengnan immediately leaned forward. “You’re awake! How do you feel? Does anything hurt?”

Seeing the white ceiling above her, Jiang Lai took a few seconds before realizing she was in a hospital.

The anesthesia hadn’t fully worn off, so she didn’t feel much pain yet.

She tried to sit up, but had no strength.

Li Zhaodi quickly helped her, and Wang Shengnan adjusted a pillow behind her back so she could lean comfortably.

Seeing their tense expressions, Jiang Lai smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I’m fine. I don’t feel uncomfortable.”

Even pale-faced, she was still trying to reassure them.

Xi’er’s eyes immediately reddened again, her lips trembling as she prepared to cry.

Wang Shengnan reacted instantly, reaching out and pinching Xi’er’s cheeks, squishing her face into a ridiculous shape.

Xi’er froze.

She forgot how to cry.

Li Zhaodi and Jiang Lai both burst out laughing.

The heavy atmosphere in the room instantly dissipated.

“Wang Shengnan!” Xi’er protested, embarrassed. “What are you doing?!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Wang Shengnan said awkwardly. “It was instinct.”

Xi’er huffed and turned away.

Jiang Lai’s gaze fell on the buns. She suddenly realized she was hungry.

“I’m starving,” she said. “Can I have a bun?”

Xi’er immediately turned back. “Give me some money. I’ll go buy you porridge.”

Wang Shengnan reached into her pocket instinctively.

But Jiang Lai stopped her.

“I’ve got my bundle,” she said.

Li Zhaodi nodded. “It’s still here. Want it?”

She brought over Jiang Lai’s two worn cloth bundles.

Jiang Lai took one, reached inside—

and quietly pulled out three hundred yuan from her spatial storage.

She handed it over. “You guys paid for the hospital first, right? Is this enough? If not, I’ll repay you once we reach Heilongjiang and I get my parcel.”