Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Hooligan

As Li Gongming spoke, a lecherous glint filled his eyes, as if his gaze could pierce through Zhao Nuanyue’s thick clothing and see the exquisite figure beneath.

Li Gongming was extremely interested in Zhao Nuanyue.

’A woman like this is a true prize,’ he thought. ’She’s the kind who can bring a man unparalleled pleasure, completely unlike those women I’m saddled with for the sake of family interests.’

Zhao Nuanyue couldn’t believe her ears. She knew Li Gongming was shameless, but she never imagined he could be *this* shameless.

"Pervert! Pervert!" Zhao Nuanyue screamed. She grabbed a handful of snow and smashed it into Li Gongming’s face.

Li Gongming was stunned. He hadn’t expected Zhao Nuanyue to attack him instead of being captivated by his charm. He simply stared, dumbfounded, at her retreating figure.

His bodyguard got out of the car, ready to give chase.

"Don’t bother," Li Gongming said with a laugh. Once he recovered from his shock, he wasn’t angry at all. On the contrary, he found it amusing. ’Zhao Nuanyue is like a startled little rabbit right now. You have to play with your food a bit before you eat it. It makes it taste so much better!’

Zhao Nuanyue ran all the way to the hospital without stopping. Only when she was surrounded by the bustling crowds did she finally lean against a large tree, gasping for breath.

The cold air she gulped down burned her lungs, but that pain was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.

’When can I get engaged to Hua Yusen? When will he finally wake up?’

’I can’t wait to talk to him!’

’I miss him.’

It made her miserable that her only defense against Li Gongming’s harassment and bullying was to make a scene like a common shrew.

Without realizing it, two streams of tears traced paths down her cheeks.

A gust of wind made Zhao Nuanyue shiver. It cut like a knife against her skin, and she quickly wiped the tears from her face.

’According to the Little Red Carp, I just have to hold on a little longer. Soon, Hua Yusen will finish absorbing the Spiritual Power and wake up.’

’And when that time comes, Hua Yusen will be here to deal with Li Gongming!’

Zhao Nuanyue clutched the bag containing Hua Yusen’s clothes and hurried to his hospital room.

The two bodyguards at the door already recognized Zhao Nuanyue, so they didn’t stop her. When she pushed the door open, she was surprised to find four people inside. Not only were Hua Zhiqiang and Feng Wanru there, but also two other young people—a man and a woman.

Feng Wanru had thought the heavy snow would keep Zhao Nuanyue away, so she was surprised to see her.

Seeing that Zhao Nuanyue’s cotton-padded shoes were soaked through, she guessed she must have walked. ’To arrive at this time,’ Feng Wanru mused, ’she must have set out from Immortal Grass Hall at seven-thirty.’ She could find no fault with a young woman this dedicated.

Zhao Nuanyue recognized them: Hua Yusen’s younger brother, Hua Yulin, and his younger sister, Hua Yufen.

’Then again,’ she thought, ’I’m not supposed to know them, am I?’

Being scrutinized by Hua Yulin and Hua Yufen now, Zhao Nuanyue grew flustered, not knowing what to do with her hands and feet.

Seeing Zhao Nuanyue’s discomfort, Feng Wanru made the introduction. "This is Zhao Nuanyue. She’s been taking care of your older brother."

Hua Yulin looked Zhao Nuanyue up and down as if searching for some hidden clue. Then, he narrowed his eyes and said, "I just saw her on the road, getting into a tussle with Li Gongming."

"No, it’s not like that! You’ve misunderstood," Zhao Nuanyue explained hastily. "I don’t know that Li Gongming. The last time I saw him was at the hospital when I argued with Guo Dongmei. He was standing right next to her, so I assume he’s the one she’s interested in. I don’t know why, but ever since then, he’s been ambushing me on the road near here. He may look sharp, but he’s not a good person."

"Haha!" Hua Yufen, who had been standing to the side, suddenly laughed. "That’s a good way to put it. Li Gongming is exactly that—all swagger and sharp clothes, thinking he’s God’s gift to women and hitting on them everywhere he goes."

Feng Wanru looked at Zhao Nuanyue, then back at her son. "Yulin, stop interrogating her like she’s a criminal. Nuanyue is the woman your brother loves. Ever since she returned to the city, she has come here every single day to care for him, read to him, and has taken excellent care of him. It’s unfair of you to question her like this without knowing the first thing about the situation."

"She’s right, brother," Hua Yufen added, her eyes falling on the bag Zhao Nuanyue had brought, which was filled with a change of clothes for their eldest brother.

’Before, when we came to see him, even though the doctors said it was like he was asleep, he just lay there so still... it felt dispiriting, like he was wasting away. But this time, he truly does just look like he’s sleeping. His beard, hair, fingernails, and even his toenails have all been neatly trimmed.’

’I could never be as meticulous as Zhao Nuanyue,’ she admitted to herself. ’I’m so busy with work that by the end of the day, I don’t want to move a muscle, let alone come to the hospital every day to sit with him.’

’The initial grief kept me up at night, my heart aching for him, but over time, I’ve slowly come to accept the reality of his situation.’

Hua Yulin, however, remained suspicious of Zhao Nuanyue. His brother was in this state because of the Li family’s schemes. He felt he had to carefully scrutinize anyone with any connection to them.

Seeing his second son’s reaction, Hua Zhiqiang felt a mix of pride and concern. The Hua family would one day depend on Hua Yulin, so it was good that he was cautious.

’Still,’ he reasoned, ’if the Li family wanted to use Zhao Nuanyue against my eldest son, they would have made their move long ago.’

’Besides, I remember my eldest son telling me that Zhao Nuanyue is a member of that organization. She distinguished herself during the mission to rescue Elder Gu, which proves she’s not as simple as she appears.’

"Yulin, your mother, Doctor Sun, and I have already discussed it. We’re going to find a suitable date for your brother and Nuanyue to get engaged. She will be your sister-in-law, so you cannot be so rude," Hua Zhiqiang said firmly. "We are all heartbroken over your brother’s condition. But before the accident, he was determined to break off his engagement with Guo Dongmei and marry Nuanyue instead. This is his wish."

Hua Yulin was stunned. He hadn’t realized his parents had already decided to arrange the engagement between his brother and Zhao Nuanyue.

’Are there really women in this world foolish enough to tie themselves to a man in a vegetative state?’ he thought. ’Especially a woman as beautiful as Zhao Nuanyue. How could she possibly remain faithful?’

’Maybe she’s just young now. What happens in a few years when she regrets it?’

’Will my brother become a laughingstock all over again?’

’My brother is a hero who served his country. I absolutely will not allow anyone to dishonor his name like this.’

"Zhao Nuanyue, I have one question for you," Hua Yulin said, his gaze fixed on her. He enunciated each word with deliberate slowness. "Are you truly sincere about getting engaged to my brother? Will you have no regrets?"

’This is a crucial moment,’ she thought. ’If I want the Hua family to accept me willingly, I have to handle this perfectly.’

Zhao Nuanyue glanced at Feng Wanru, Hua Zhiqiang, and Hua Yufen, before letting her gaze fall firmly on Hua Yulin. She spoke with earnest conviction, "Yes. I am truly and willingly ready to be engaged to Hua Yusen. I don’t regret it now, and I won’t regret it in the future."

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