Part 4

The ambulance ride was a blur of fluorescent lights and jostling movement. Chengyu clutched Souwei's cold hand, watching the paramedics work. Tubes snaked into Souwei's arm, oxygen hissed, and monitors beeped, uneven rhythm. Souwei's skin was pale, his lips tinged blue. Chengyu kept talking, nonsense mostly – office gossip, plans for next week's project deadline – anything to make Souwei stay conscious. He saw the flicker of recognition in Souwei's unfocused eyes, a weak squeeze of his fingers. "Chi Cheng..." Souwei whispered, the name barely audible over the ambulance's siren sound. "He saw me... he walked away..."

Pulling out his laptop while Souwei is in emergency room getting surgery, Chengyu accessed the company's security feed remotely. His fingers flew over the keyboard, navigating to Garage Level B, timestamped just minutes before his arrival. The grainy footage showed it all: Souwei's desperate cry, Mei-Lin's possessive grip, the knife glinting, Chi Cheng's brief hesitation... and his deliberate turn towards the elevator. Chengyu watched it twice, three times, each replay tightening the knot of rage in his chest.

He didn't wait. The drive back to the office was a red haze. Chengyu stormed past startled receptionist Wang Shua, ignoring males greeting, heading straight for Chi Cheng's office.Chengyu didn't knock. He crossed the plush carpet in three strides, grabbed Chi Cheng by his expensive silk tie, and hauled him out of his leather chair. Before Chi Cheng could register surprise, Chengyu's fist smashed into his face – a brutal, cracking sound. Chi Cheng stumbled back, clutching his bleeding nose, confusion and shock warring in his eyes. "What the hell, Chengyu?!" he sputtered. Chengyu grabbed his collar again, shaking him, his voice raw with fury and anger. "You filthy bastard! First you caused that car wreck that killed your ex boyfriend seven years ago, and now Souwei's fighting for his life because you walked away! You're a monster! If Souwei dies, I swear to god, I will *never* forgive you!"

Chi Cheng stared, blood trickling over his lips, genuine bewilderment replacing the initial shock. "What are you talking about?" His voice cracked, genuine confusion flickering beneath the pain. "Souwei? That girl said—" Chengyu shoved him hard against the desk, scattering papers. "She held a knife to him! He screamed for you! You saw him terrified, saw her holding him, and you walked away! I saw the footage, you spineless coward!" Chengyu spat the words, each syllable laced with venom. "You heard him scream 'help', Chi Cheng. You paused. You looked. And you chose to leave."

Chi Cheng's face went pale beneath the blood. His eyes widened, darting frantically as if replaying the scene. "No... no, she said... she was his girlfriend! He was shy! It looked... awkward, not..." His voice sounded like he was stuttering. He slumped against the desk, a tremor running through him.

Chengyu released him, stepping back, his fists still clenched. Disgust washed over him, colder and deeper than rage. "Miss Hae paid Mei-Lin," he stated flatly, watching the dawning horror spread across Chi Cheng's face. "To 'get rid' of Souwei. Because she thought he was sniffing around you. Chengyu turned towards the door, leaving Chi Cheng bleeding." Pray Souwei lives," he growled without looking back. "Because if he doesn't, forgiveness won't be on the table." The silence in the office was absolute, broken only by Chi Cheng's ragged, panicked breathing.

...***...

The sterile chill of the ICU waiting room seeped into Chengyu’s bones. Hours bled together marked only by the rhythmic beep of monitors drifting through the heavy doors. Nurses moved with quiet efficiency, their faces professionally neutral. Chengyu stared at his hands, still faintly stained rust-brown beneath his nails, Souwei’s desperate whisper echoing: *He saw… he walked…* The security footage played on a loop behind his eyes – Chi Cheng’s hesitation, the deliberate turn.

Week crawled by. Souwei stabilized, moved to a private room. Chi Cheng appeared like clockwork each afternoon, clutching extravagant bouquets that clashed with the room’s sterility. He’d stand awkwardly by the door, eyes fixed on Souwei.

Chengyu would rise without a word, walk past Chi Cheng without meeting his gaze, the air thickening with unspoken accusation. Chi Cheng never tried to speak.

...***...

The arrest made the evening news. Miss Hae's eyes wide with disbelief, not remorse. The anchor detailed the charges: conspiracy to commit murder, obstruction. Evidence included the forwarded security footage, bank transfers traced to Mei-Li. Chengyu watched it in Souwei’s room. Chengyu grunted, muting the TV. "Looks better in handcuffs."

Sunlight streamed through the hospital window weeks later, catching the dust motes dancing above Souwei’s physiotherapy session. He shuffled slowly, leaning heavily on a walker, determination etched on his gaunt face. The bandages were gone. Chi Cheng arrived, clutching a single white orchid this time. He paused beside Chengyu, staring at Souwei’s slow progress. "He looks… stronger," Chi Cheng ventured, voice tentative. Chengyu didn’t turn, didn’t reply. He simply watched Souwei take another shaky step, the silence between them a canyon deeper than any wound. Chi Cheng sighed, a sound thick with regret, and placed the orchid silently on the empty visitor’s chair before walking away. Chengyu’s gaze never left Souwei. Forgiveness wasn’t a word in his vocabulary yet. Watching Souwei heal was enough.

Verdict day dawned gray and heavy. Rain lashed the courthouse windows as the jury filed back in.

Chengyu gripped Souwei’s arm instinctively, a silent anchor. "Guilty." The word echoed through the hushed courtroom. Miss Hae crumpled, a choked sob escaping before guards hauled her upright. Mei-Lin shrieked triumphantly, a sound swallowed by the judge’s gavel. Outside, reporters swarmed, cameras flashing. Souwei ignored them, turning to Chengyu. "It’s done," he breathed, exhaustion warring with grim satisfaction. Chengyu nodded, steering him towards the exit. Behind them, Chi Cheng stood alone in the downpour, watching them go, his expensive suit soaked through.

Rehabilitation was slow. He moved back into his apartment.Chengyu arrived unannounced one Saturday, carrying two steaming bowls of bibimbap from Souwei’s favorite stall. They ate on the balcony, the city sprawled below them. "Chi Cheng transferred me," Souwei said abruptly, stirring his rice. "New York office. Effective next month." Chengyu paused, chopsticks hovering. An ocean away. He studied Souwei’s profile, the set of his jaw resolute, not broken. "Good," Chengyu finally grunted, shoveling spicy pork into his mouth. "Fresh start."

But souwei didn't want

ove to another country, he wanted to stay here, so he called Chi Cheng.

"We need to talk, asap.... it's about transferring me to another office" souwei sounded deadly serious.

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