Chapter 52: Save Me

Sheng Ran looked at him and spoke gently, "If you keep acting like this, she's even less likely to want to see you. Let's focus on your treatment first."

Indeed, his condition had worsened again.

No one understood what kind of spell this Miss Gu had cast to torment such a good man into this state.

It was only the next day at work that Gu Shenshen learned Zhou Ci would be on sick leave for a week.

She stood in front of the office door, dazed for a moment, then returned to her desk and resumed her tasks. Usually, she never contacted Zhou Ci unless it was work-related.

A week later, Zhou Ci returned to his post.

Gu Shenshen began to report on the past week's work, then handed him the schedule for the day to review.

Zhou Ci glanced at it, showing little interest.

For some reason, Gu Shenshen could clearly feel that Zhou Ci was much colder than before. In the past, whenever she was in the office, he would look at her boldly and even act out of line.

After a brief moment lost in thought, Gu Shenshen left the office.

Yet her workload hadn’t lessened in the slightest.

She was far more resilient under pressure than most people and could handle the tasks given to her.

That evening, after settling Zhou Ci, Gu Shenshen had just left the apartment complex when she received a call from Shen Qiqi.

"What’s wrong?" Gu Shenshen immediately noticed the unusual tension in Shen Qiqi’s breathing; her brow furrowed.

"I’m at Seaside One, Shenshen, please help me," Shen Qiqi’s voice trembled, barely above a whisper, thick with fear.

"Send me your exact location. I’m coming right now." As she spoke, Gu Shenshen jogged to the busy roadside to hail a cab.

When she finally found Shen Qiqi, she was sitting alone in a dark, deserted stairwell, clothes in disarray, her body covered in bruises.

Gu Shenshen went over and took her hand, but Shen Qiqi winced in pain and pulled away.

"What happened? Who did this to you?" Gu Shenshen didn’t dare touch her again; the dim light made it impossible to tell where she was hurt.

"Jiang Ling was drunk. I was here negotiating an important contract, and he suddenly barged in…"

She trailed off, unable to continue.

"Let’s go," Gu Shenshen said softly, gently helping her up.

Suddenly, Shen Qiqi grabbed her hand in return. "Don’t let Zhou Yili find out about this."

Gu Shenshen nodded. "I understand."

The night wind was chilly as Gu Shenshen supported Shen Qiqi by the roadside. Her coat fluttered in the wind, her figure frail and unsteady.

"I can’t go to the hospital. He’s looking for me, and if he finds you, he’ll hurt you too."

Gu Shenshen’s face was tense and silent. With bruises like this, it would take weeks for Shen Qiqi to recover. To beat a woman like this—Jiang Ling was nothing but a monster.

Shortly after getting in the car, Shen Qiqi lost consciousness.

At the hospital, examination results came quickly: a mild concussion and severe soft tissue contusions. It wasn’t until the doctor, unaware of the circumstances, suggested calling the police that Gu Shenshen snapped out of her daze.

She thanked the doctor for her concern and then sat quietly by the bedside, waiting for Shen Qiqi to wake up.

When Shen Qiqi finally regained consciousness, she saw Gu Shenshen sitting motionless like a statue at her bedside, staring at her. For someone always so strong, Shen Qiqi felt her nose sting, tears welling in her eyes.

"You should go. Jiang Ling is far crazier than Zhou Ci—when he loses it, he’d even hit his own parents…" Her voice was hoarse, her whole being exhausted.

Gu Shenshen replied, "Why endure it? You’re an orphan, with no ties. Why not fight him to the bitter end?"