Chapter 138: The Place in Her Heart

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but suspect that in her previous life, Mu Chenze’s truck had also been sabotaged because of her.

If someone who couldn’t stand to see her doing well found out that Mu Chenze was helping her sell grilled fish snacks, would they target him too?

That night, whether it was because her period had come or because she had a premonition that something was about to happen, she slept restlessly.

When she got up the next morning, her dark circles were heavy.

Around nine in the morning, Qin Mahua and Fu Qing didn’t show up for work. Gao Meijuan brought some bad news.

Mu Chenze had been injured and was being treated at the county hospital. The details were still unclear.

Chu Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. He knew self-defense—if he still got hurt, he must’ve run into someone truly vicious.

Worried sick, Chu Xuan entrusted the house to Gao Meijuan, grabbed all her bankbooks and cash, and rushed to the county hospital.

She didn’t remember anything like this happening on this day in her previous life.

Back then, she’d been at the hospital taking care of Feng Chunhua, who’d hurt her leg. She’d even paid Feng Chunhua’s medical bills. Maybe Mu Chenze had been injured too, but her in-laws hadn’t told her.

In this life, she’d already fallen out with Feng Chunhua, who’d been discharged early. It was obvious now that she’d been the sucker in her past life.

Chu Xuan felt like she was the one dragging Mu Chenze down.

No matter how much his treatment cost, she was willing to pay.

An hour later, Chu Xuan arrived at the county hospital. Not knowing Mu Chenze’s room number, she wanted to ask Dr. Zhang for help.

But Dr. Zhang happened to be out.

Chu Xuan had to check the rooms one by one.

After ten minutes or so, she found him.

There was only Mu Chenze in the ward, lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

Was he unconscious?

Where were Auntie Qin and Sister-in-law Fu Qing?

Why weren’t they here?

Chu Xuan pushed open the door and went straight to Mu Chenze’s bedside.

She called softly, “Mu Chenze, how are you? Are you alright? Where are you hurt? Can you hear me?”

In a daze, Mu Chenze heard Chu Xuan’s voice. He struggled to open his eyes, his voice hoarse and tired. “Why are you here? Where am I hurt? I can’t remember!”

“How could you not remember? Did you hurt your head? Let me see.”

Chu Xuan’s gaze fell on his head.

There was no visible wound on his forehead, but she couldn’t see the back of his head.

She cupped his head in her hands, about to check.

Mu Chenze hurriedly stopped her. “Don’t move! I’m the patient here!”

Startled, Chu Xuan immediately let go.

“Sorry! I was just too worried about your injury.”

Mu Chenze looked extremely weak. “I remember now, I have a head injury. I need surgery, and it’ll cost a lot. My mom and sister-in-law went to raise money…”

Chu Xuan immediately pulled out all her bankbooks and cash from her pocket. “I have thirteen thousand yuan, plus the two bankbooks you left with me, that’s seventeen thousand in total. Is that enough for the surgery?”

Mu Chenze was deeply moved. He knew the money Chu Xuan had was meant for her own mother’s medical treatment, yet just because he mentioned needing money, she handed it over without hesitation.

Did this mean, in Chu Xuan’s heart, he was as important as her own mother?

“Chu Xuan, thank you! If you ever need money in the future, I’ll do everything I can to help.”

“Let’s not talk about the future now. I’ll go pay the surgery fee first…”

Before she could finish, Mu Chenze chuckled. “I was just messing with you! It’s not that serious, I don’t need surgery. Put your money and bankbooks away! I really don’t need them.”

Chu Xuan stared at Mu Chenze for a while. “But you look terrible, your eyes can barely open, you seem so weak.”

Mu Chenze rubbed his face and forced his eyes wide open. “Better now? I couldn’t open my eyes because I didn’t sleep all night. I was catching up on sleep when you woke me. I look bad because I’m tired.”

If anyone else had woken him up, he would’ve lost his temper. But when it was Chu Xuan, he felt no anger at all.

Chu Xuan didn’t put away the bankbooks and cash. “You must be hurt, otherwise you wouldn’t be lying in a hospital bed. Where exactly are you injured? Tell me.”

A trace of delight flashed in Mu Chenze’s eyes. “Are you really that worried about me?”

Chu Xuan stubbornly replied, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just worried you got dragged into my mess. You know, there are people who want my grilled fish workshop to fail, and they don’t want my partners to do well either. You getting hurt makes me feel really guilty.”

Mu Chenze was already used to Chu Xuan’s stubborn mouth and soft heart. “This time, it really wasn’t because of you. Let me put your mind at ease first. The payment for the goods is safe. Just in case, I had my mom deposit it in the bank. Today, it was my competitor. He couldn’t stand that my seafood was better quality and sold for a higher price, so he followed me by car to the county. When I got out for breakfast, he egged on his brother, who’s a bit crazy but knows martial arts, to ambush me and hit me on the head with a club.”

“What? You got clubbed? Doesn’t that mean you have a concussion?”

“It’s a mild concussion. I dodged in time and blocked with my arm, so most of the force was absorbed. Otherwise, my head would’ve split open. The doctor said I just need to stay in the hospital for observation for two or three days. I won’t be able to help you sell fish snacks for a while.”

“And you’re still worrying about that? Let me see your arm. The one that got hurt.”

“What’s there to see? Men and women shouldn’t touch. I’m not letting you!”

Chu Xuan was exasperated. Why didn’t he say that when she was teaching him to swim?

“If you won’t show me, I’ll just do it myself!”

She wouldn’t be at ease until she saw his injury for herself.

Before Mu Chenze could protest, she rolled up the sleeve of his hospital gown.

Chu Xuan immediately saw a large bruise on his left arm and felt a pang of distress. “It’s not broken, is it?”

“No.”

“What’s the name of the guy who hit you?”

“Why do you want to know? Are you planning to beat him up for me? He’s just an idiot, not worth the trouble. If anyone deserves a beating, it’s his brother!”

“What’s his brother’s name?”

“Feng Jun.”

Hearing that name, Chu Xuan suddenly remembered what happened in her previous life. Feng Jun was Mu Chenze’s competitor from the neighboring town. He often started price wars with Mu Chenze.

Because of that, Mu Chenze’s profits kept shrinking—from earning over a thousand yuan per truckload at first, to barely making a hundred or two later on.

Mu Chenze, out of stubbornness, kept competing even when profits were low.

In her past life, Chu Xuan hadn’t cared about any of this—as long as Mu Chenze gave her money to spend, she was happy.

In this life, Chu Xuan was determined to persuade Mu Chenze that price wars weren’t worth it.

But secretly giving Feng Jun a beating was definitely an option.

And she could use someone else’s hand to do it.

Chu Xuan knew a secret about Feng Jun.

“I know Feng Jun. He’s having an affair with a woman in the county. I’ll go call her husband right now and let him know.”

“No rush. Feng Jun is at the security team office right now. My mom and sister-in-law are there too, negotiating compensation. His brother may be mentally unstable, but he has no money. Feng Jun is his legal guardian, so he has to pay. I told my mom, if they don’t pay at least two thousand yuan, I’ll insist he put his brother up to hitting me. Once we get the compensation, then we’ll deal with him!”

Revenge is a dish best served cold. No need to wait ten years—just a few days will do.

Mu Chenze yawned several times in a row.

He shoved the bankbooks and cash back into Chu Xuan’s hands. “I appreciate the gesture, but you’d better put this away. If someone sees you carrying so much cash, they might get ideas.”

There were pickpockets around here.

Chu Xuan knew that, so she quickly put the cash and bankbooks away.

She stood up. “Get some more sleep. I’m going to the security office.”

She was worried that Auntie Qin and Sister-in-law Fu Qing wouldn’t be able to handle Feng Jun and get the full compensation.

Since Mu Chenze wanted at least two thousand yuan, she’d make sure they got it.

Mu Chenze didn’t stop her. There’s strength in numbers. “Go ahead! But you’d better deposit your money in the bank first.”

He was worried someone might steal Chu Xuan’s money.

Chu Xuan waved him off. “Don’t worry! I’m always on guard.”

With a wave, she left."