Chapter 684: Spare Her Life

She lifted her head, looking endearingly delicate as she spoke in a suppressed voice, each word caressing his heart.

“Can you still sleep?”

Nan Jiaojiao glanced at the IV drip bag, “This thing makes you sleepy.”

“Alright, then I’ll wait for you to fall asleep before I leave.”

Nan Jiaojiao slowly closed her eyes, and without making it half an hour, she fell asleep in his arms around the twenty-minute mark.

When it was time to remove the needle, Bo Yanching didn’t call for a doctor; he did it himself, pressing a cotton swab against the injection site until it stopped bleeding before he let go, peeling off the adhesive tape that secured it to the back of her hand with care.

Bo Yanching pocketed the waste materials and, as he left, made sure to tuck in Qianqian who was in the neighboring bed.

He wanted to smoke, intending to discard the waste at the same time, but he saw Bo Shuxian in the smoking area.

“Third brother.”

Bo Shuxian stood up, his legs trembling after who knows how long sitting; he couldn’t bring himself to sit down again, stretching a long arm and leaning against the wall to steady himself.

Bo Yanching silently glanced at him, took out a cigarette pack, and pinched out a cigarette between two fingers, tapping the end with tobacco on the pack.

Those familiar with him knew that when he made this gesture, he was very irritable.

He covered it with his hand; when lighting the cigarette, the palm of his hand was illuminated red by the flickering flame.

“Qianqian and Jiaojiao are in the same ward.”

“I know,” Bo Shuxian’s voice was hoarse, before Bo Yanching arrived, the ashtray on the lid of the trash can was full of cigarette butts he had snuffed out, each smoked to the very end.

His eyes were hollow, fatigue written plainly on his face.

He asked with difficulty, “Has she woken up?”

“She woke up, but she’s not in good spirits, can’t eat anything.

If you want to see her, should I carry her to the next ward?”

“No…”

Bo Shuxian was a bit panicked, “I smell too much like smoke, I’ll come back tomorrow.

Can she drink porridge?

I’ll cook some and bring it over in the morning.”

As he looked up, he suddenly met a pair of dark, chillingly cold eyes.

Bo Yanching watched him unblinkingly, his face expressionless, yet his eyes bore an intimidating chill.

They locked eyes, and Bo Shuxian, unable to bear it, looked away first.

After a long while, he heard Bo Yanching’s cold voice ask, “Still care about her?”

“What?”

“Zhou Zining,” Bo Yanching directly stated, “you let her go under my watch.

I spared her for your sake, but she’s crossed my line this time, and it won’t be so easy to let off.”

Bo Shuxian’s eyes flickered slightly, lifting and then falling again, his lowered eyelids hiding the nearly shattered sorrow in his gaze.

He took a deep breath, mixing with the acrid smoke, and his eyes gradually reddened.

“If I plead for her again, isn’t that a bit too presumptuous?”

Bo Yanching’s expression grew colder, his lips pursed slightly, silently observing him.

Bo Shuxian didn’t dare raise his head, afraid of the look his third brother might be giving him at that moment.

He also knew he couldn’t protect Zhou Zining any longer, but she was the only woman by his side for years, he’d given her all his affection, how could he truly not care?

“Just consider this me being excessive one more time, third brother…”

Bo Shuxian’s fingers twitched, tapping a length of ash off his cigarette before suddenly looking up.

“Spare her life, let it be the last time I ask this of you.”

Bo Yanching’s brow furrowed slightly, he stubbed out his cigarette, and approached, placing a light hand on Bo Shuxian’s shoulder.

“Okay, you’ve done all that you could.”

Sitting here all night, aside from worrying about Qianqian, was to ask this favor from Bo Yanching.

“You head back first, bring the porridge over after you make it in the morning.”

Bo Shuxian stayed seated, not moving, “You go ahead, I drove here, I’ll sit for a bit longer before leaving.”

Bo Yanching touched his cheek with his tongue, “Fine.”