Chapter 16 Just Be Straight with Me

The first thing I did upon opening my eyes was scan the onlookers for Shen Jibai's figure. My heart sank when I didn't see him. Instead, Ji Xunran was seated closest to me, his face a mixture of worry and anger. His usually neat appearance was slightly disheveled, and there was a faint smear of blood on his sleeve—likely mine. He leaned forward as soon as he noticed I was awake, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made me feel both comforted and guilty.

"You're awake! Finally," he said, his voice low but filled with relief. "Do you have any idea how much you scared everyone? What were you thinking, stepping into your shoe without checking it first? Who even does that?"

I blinked, my mind still foggy from the pain and the overwhelming events of the day. "I… I didn't think anything like this would happen," I murmured, my voice barely audible. The sharp throb in my foot reminded me of the glass shards, and I winced at the memory. "Who would put glass in someone's shoe anyway? That's just… insane."

Ji Xunran's frown deepened, and he crossed his arms tightly over his chest. "Exactly. It's insane. And dangerous. Whoever did this wasn't just being childish—they wanted to hurt you. Badly. Do you have any idea who it could be?"

I hesitated, my mind racing through the possibilities. I didn't have any enemies—at least, none that I was aware of. Sure, there were a few people who didn't particularly like me, but no one who seemed capable of something this malicious. And yet, the nagging thought that this wasn't a random act of cruelty lingered in the back of my mind. Someone had targeted me specifically.

"I don't know," I finally admitted, shaking my head. "I really don't know."

Ji Xunran's expression softened slightly, but his frustration was still evident. "Well, whoever it is, they're going to regret it. I promise you that." His tone was firm, almost protective, and I couldn't help but feel a small sense of gratitude for his unwavering support.

The crowd around my bed began to thin as the other performers and staff realized I was awake and relatively okay. Some murmured words of concern or offered to help, but most eventually left, leaving only Ji Xunran and a few others behind. I glanced around the room again, hoping—foolishly, perhaps—that Shen Jibai might appear. But there was still no sign of him.

"Shen Jibai…" I whispered under my breath, almost involuntarily.

Ji Xunran's ears perked up immediately. "What about him? Did you want me to call him? I think he left with the school board director earlier, but I can track him down if you need him."

"No!" I said quickly, a little too quickly. Ji Xunran raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by my sudden outburst. I sighed, leaning back against the pillow. "It's fine. He doesn't need to know about this. It's not important."

Ji Xunran looked like he wanted to argue, but he held his tongue, instead opting to change the subject. "Alright, if you say so. But seriously, you need to be more careful from now on. And if you notice anything—or anyone—suspicious, you tell me immediately. Got it?"

I nodded, though I wasn't entirely sure what I'd be looking for. The whole situation felt surreal, like something out of a bad drama. Who would go to such lengths just to hurt me? And why?

As the school doctor returned to check on my bandages, Ji Xunran excused himself to make a phone call, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The room was quiet now, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional rustle of papers on the doctor's desk. I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying the events of the day over and over again.

And then, as if summoned by my thoughts, the door creaked open, and Shen Jibai stepped inside.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him. He was as impeccably dressed as always, his tailored suit and polished shoes a stark contrast to the casual chaos of the medical room. His expression was unreadable, as it so often was, but his eyes… his eyes seemed to hold a hint of something I couldn't quite place. Concern? Guilt? Anger? I couldn't tell.

"You're awake," he said simply, his deep voice cutting through the silence like a knife. He stepped closer, his movements deliberate and measured, until he was standing at the foot of my bed. "How are you feeling?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. Part of me wanted to lash out at him for leaving earlier, for not being there when I needed him. Another part of me wanted to pull him closer, to demand answers to the questions that had been plaguing me since the night before. But all I could manage was a weak, "I'm fine."

His eyes flicked to my bandaged foot, and his jaw tightened ever so slightly. "Fine? You don't look fine."

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant despite the throbbing pain in my foot and the turmoil in my chest. "It's just a little cut. Nothing to worry about."

"A little cut?" His tone was sharp now, almost scolding. "You were unconscious when they brought you here. That's not 'nothing.' Who did this to you?"

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know who would do something like this."

For a moment, he didn't say anything. He just stood there, staring at me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. And then, without warning, he turned on his heel and strode toward the door.

"Wait!" I called after him, my voice more desperate than I intended. "Where are you going?"

He paused, his hand on the doorknob. "To find out who's responsible," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "And to make sure they never try something like this again."

Before I could respond, he was gone, leaving me alone once more. I stared at the door for what felt like an eternity, my mind racing with questions and emotions I couldn't begin to untangle.

Whoever had done this to me had made a grave mistake. Because now, it wasn't just Ji Xunran who was determined to protect me. It was Shen Jibai too.