"Luowa, I'm an old hand at this. At my age, I can tell who's genuine and who's not. He helped us without asking for anything in return, so why wouldn't I trust him? Besides, you know the situation better than I do—we can't go head-to-head with your mom. Do you know how many people were involved in today's setup? We couldn't have pulled it off with just our own strength."
Uncle Li finished speaking and affectionately patted Yi Luowa's head. "Child, you have to trust Uncle Li's judgment. He's definitely a good man. He stepped up for us, saved your second uncle's life, and safeguarded the hard-earned family business. He's our benefactor!"
Yi Luowa let out a faint laugh. Why was it that she couldn't see the "goodness" in him?
"Luowa, did you and him have some kind of misunderstanding?" Uncle Li looked at her suspiciously.
Yi Luowa rubbed her hand against her pants repeatedly and mouthed, "No misunderstanding—it's a grudge! I'm the one who broke his ribs."
Uncle Li and Ao Xiang were both stunned.
"My enemy would help me? Uncle Li, do you believe that?" Yi Luowa looked at him.
Uncle Li thought for a while. "Alright, tell me, why did you break his ribs?"
"He hasn't told you any of this?" Yi Luowa saw Uncle Li shake his head. She mouthed, "After winning the championship at Xiawu, I went up the mountain to show off to my second uncle. Right then, I was video-calling with him when that guy climbed up from below the cliff and accidentally grabbed my foot. I was startled and fell off the edge. He rescued me."
Recalling the event, Yi Luowa rubbed her hands on her clothing endlessly. The more she tried to forget, the clearer the scene replayed in her mind.
"So he's actually your savior!"
Yi Luowa shot an annoyed look at Uncle Li. "He caused me to fall; pulling me back up was just balancing the scales."
Uncle Li's lips twitched slightly. "Fine, let's say he was just evening things out. But this time? Overnight, he exposed Xi Meichen and Huang Jakuan's entire conspiracy. Not only did he save your second uncle's life, but he also protected PCW. For that alone, he's our benefactor."
"I honestly can't figure out why he'd step in to help me. In the Xiawu Race, I beat his younger brother, and then I injured him…"
"You! Running around everywhere as a patient! It's time for your shot—get back to your room now!" Before Yi Luowa finished speaking, a young nurse stormed in, visibly irritated.
Yi Luowa pouted her lips.
"Nurse, I'll take her back to her room right now." Uncle Li hurriedly moved the wheelchair forward.
"I'm leaving." Yi Luowa waved at Ao Xiang as Uncle Li wheeled her out the door.
"This drip has throat medicine mixed in. Drink more water these days and make sure you don't get worked up or stressed."
The young nurse leaned down and patted Yi Luowa's hand. She waited until the veins on the back of her hand were clear, then pushed the needle in.
Yi Luowa gasped in pain, then mischievously craned her neck to sneak a peek down the nurse's collar.
Mi Chenxuan walked in just in time to witness the scene and winked at her. Yi Luowa glared at him before continuing to look at the nurse.
The young nurse taped the needle down and walked out.
Yi Luowa made a disappointed face and pursed her lips.
Mi Chenxuan sidled over with a grin. "You already have your own—why check out someone else's?"
"None of your business!" Yi Luowa shot him an angry glare.
"When's your throat going to heal? It's so frustrating!" Mi Chenxuan pulled out pen and paper and put them on the table. "I just got bullied by my fifth brother—totally bummed out. Can you keep me company and chat for a bit?"
Yi Luowa pursed her lips and wrote on the paper: *Are you even a man?*
"I'm a proper man!" Mi Chenxuan gave her a disgruntled look. "By the way, why'd you look at the nurse earlier?"
Yi Luowa curled her lips wickedly: *Guess what size she is?*
"34D."
Yi Luowa drew a thumbs-up alongside the text: *Good eye!*
"Hehe, I was totally guessing."
*When's your fourth brother getting discharged?*
Mi Chenxuan shook his head. "No idea. But if I find out who hurt him that badly, I'd skin her alive!"
Yi Luowa rolled her eyes internally, then quickly wrote: *Does your fourth brother have a girlfriend?*
Before she even finished jotting down the note, Mi Chenxuan exploded, "You're crushing on my fourth brother, aren't you? I'm telling you: absolutely not!"
Yi Luowa pursed her lips and wrote: *I'm not blind!*
"Then why ask that?" Mi Chenxuan asked, puffed up with indignation.
Yi Luowa ruffled her hair in frustration. Wasn't she struggling to figure out why that jerk decided to help her? Her mind wandered—could it be that idiot fancied her?
*Were you involved in this morning's incident?*
Mi Chenxuan glanced at her. "I was just the errand boy."
*Did he say why he's helping me?*
"My fourth brother never needs a reason to do things."
"Fifth brother, if you dare step inside, I'll break your legs!" Their conversation was interrupted by Tong Airui's furious yell from outside the door.
"Brother, I'm not here to cause trouble—I just want to see the person I lost to." Already at the doorway, Tong Aino spoke helplessly to his pursuing brother.
Yi Luowa glanced toward the door. Although she could only see half his face, she recognized him instantly: it was Tong Aino, the god of racing at Xiawu. Before she made her debut, he was an undefeated champion in the racing world—the man whose trophy she had snatched out of the lion's den.
After finishing his words with his brother, Tong Aino turned to look at the person lying in the hospital bed. When his gaze landed on Yi Luowa, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning—shockingly charred, inside and out. He'd lost to such a young girl?
"You're the one who beat me?" Tong Aino quickly walked in, his eyes locked on Yi Luowa's face.
Yi Luowa adorably nodded her head.
"How old are you? Are you even old enough to compete? No wonder everyone calls you the masked racing god—you probably weren't even at the legal age for participation!"
"Tong Aino, if you can't handle losing, don't embarrass yourself here!" Tong Airui stormed in with a fierce demeanor.
Yi Luowa glanced at him briefly, then quickly shifted her gaze away. She tucked her hands under the blanket and rubbed them hard. She had to admire Tong Airui's audacity—showing up here after she had seen everything. If she were in his shoes, she'd find a noodle and hang herself to save face!
"Brother, I'm not saying I can't handle losing. Look at her—does she seem even close to eighteen? She's just a little girl! How could the organizers let her compete?"
*Nineteen!* Yi Luowa quickly scribbled and raised the paper.
Tong Aino nearly blew a fuse. "Not only that—she can't even speak, just a mute! If word gets out, how can I still show my face in the racing world?"
Yi Luowa frowned, balled up the paper filled with her writing, and threw it directly at Tong Aino's face.
Tong Aino was stunned after the hit but immediately strode over with his exceptionally long legs.
Tong Airui shouted at Mi Chenxuan, "Eighth brother, drag fifth brother out of here!"