Chapter Eight: Foolish Zhu's Plans Thwarted, He Da Qing Flees the Scene

Wang Lin smiled faintly as he looked at the foolish Shazhu, an idea to tease him forming in his mind.

“I wonder, are you here to rob me of my money or my charm?”

Qin Huairu had known since yesterday that Wang Lin was a transcendent being; in fact, they had even spent the night together in the Shadow Realm last night.

Now, watching Shazhu attempt a robbery, she was not afraid at all. Instead, she felt that this would-be robber was incredibly unlucky, almost pitiable.

Originally, Shazhu had only intended to rough Wang Lin up under the pretense of a robbery. But upon hearing Wang Lin’s words, his mind suddenly sparked with new thoughts.

“Heh heh heh, what do you think? At the time, I wanted it all.”

Wang Lin rolled his eyes, then vanished from Qin Huairu’s side and reappeared right in front of Shazhu, who was still wearing his hood.

Shazhu’s vision blurred for a moment, and a sharp pain struck his lower body. He collapsed onto the ground like a shrimp.

At the same time, a yellowish fluid began to seep from his lower body, accompanied by a foul odor.

“This won’t do! With only this little skill, you think you can rob me?”

Shazhu was in too much pain to heed Wang Lin’s words; clutching the injured area, he writhed on the ground.

“Ah! It hurts! Help! Help me!”

Wang Lin ignored Shazhu’s cries and returned to Qin Huairu’s side, gently wrapping an arm around her slender waist, leading her toward the courtyard.

Seeing Shazhu writhing in agony, Qin Huairu felt a twinge of fear.

“Husband, are you sure it’s okay to just leave him here like this?”

“Don’t worry. He’s just a robber. Even if he dies, it won’t affect us.”

Qin Huairu relaxed upon hearing Wang Lin’s assurance.

Not long after Wang Lin and Qin Huairu left, Elder Yi Zhonghai quietly emerged from a hidden spot.

He hurried over to Shazhu, yanked off his hood, and upon confirming it was indeed Shazhu, he scolded him.

“Shazhu, what am I supposed to say to you? Why did you go and provoke Wang Lin for no reason?”

Seeing Elder Yi, Shazhu immediately pleaded for help.

“Elder, please, hurry and take me to the hospital. I—I’m in terrible pain.”

Without hesitation, Yi Zhonghai took Shazhu to the hospital.

Yi’s decision to help Shazhu was calculated: he knew that He Daqing would be leaving Forty-Nine City today.

The reason? He was holding leverage over He Daqing, and a certain ‘White Widow’ whispered in He’s ear, enabling Yi Zhonghai to achieve his goal by helping He escape the city.

With He Daqing gone, Shazhu could become Yi’s secondary ‘elder’ to care for.

In the past, Yi would never have entertained such a thought, but now that Jia Dongxu was imprisoned and the Deaf Old Lady disapproved of Jia, refusing to help him, Yi had turned his sights to Shazhu.

Shazhu remained unaware of this and was instead deeply grateful to Yi Zhonghai.

At Red Star Affiliate Hospital, Shazhu lay pale and bloodless on the bed.

“Elder, thank you so much today. Without you, I might have died there.”

“It’s nothing. We’re all from the same courtyard; helping you is only right.”

Yi Zhonghai was pleased with Shazhu’s gratitude. Unlike Jia Dongxu, who took everything for granted and never knew how to be thankful, Shazhu’s sincerity was refreshing.

“You rest well here. I’ll help you take leave from the factory, and as for your hospitalization fees, you can repay me when you’re better off.”

Hearing this, Shazhu was even more moved, nearly brought to tears. At this moment, he felt that Yi Zhonghai cared for him more than his own father, He Daqing.

“Elder, you’ve been too kind to me. Thank you, thank you.”

“All right, you rest well. I’ll head back now. I’ll have Auntie bring you some food later.”

“All right, Elder.”

After Yi Zhonghai left, Shazhu’s face darkened.

“That damned Wang Lin—I will kill you. I will definitely kill you.”

Hatred filled Shazhu’s voice, which sharpened with venom as he spoke.

It was no surprise he hated Wang Lin so fiercely; that one kick had crippled him completely. Shazhu was effectively castrated—meaning the He family line would end with him.

This outcome was exactly what Yi Zhonghai wanted. With Shazhu unable to have heirs, he could better secure his own future care.

Shazhu was oblivious to Yi’s true intentions, unaware that this was all part of a scheme that had cost Yi much money.

Wang Lin himself had no idea. His kick had been controlled carefully; if treated promptly, Shazhu would have recovered. Yet Yi’s selfish desires ensured that Shazhu was left barren.

The main reason was that Wang Lin hadn’t expected Yi Zhonghai to be so ruthless. Knowing Yi was watching, he had kicked harder than usual.

Back at the courtyard, Wang Lin found the He family’s door wide open. He Yushui sat on the steps, weeping bitterly.

The cause of her distress was none other than Liu Guangqi’s cruel words.

He Yushui had just come home from school when Liu Guangqi mocked her, saying her father, He Daqing, had run off with the White Widow and abandoned her.

Upon entering, she found the house trashed and all the money gone, confirming Liu Guangqi’s taunts were true.

If that were all, He Yushui might not have cried so bitterly—after all, she still had her brother, He Yuzhu.

But Liu Guangqi, accompanied by a gang of followers, continued to mock her mercilessly, leading to the current heartbreaking scene.

Wang Lin couldn’t stand to see the girl cry, especially as a group of women pointed fingers at her. Meanwhile, Second Elder Liu Haizhong and Third Elder Yan Bugui merely watched, doing nothing.

“Is this how you elders run the courtyard? Standing by while a girl is bullied like this? What were you elected for? Have you forgotten your duties?”

Wang Lin’s voice was low but seething with anger.

At that moment, Elder Yi Zhonghai had yet to return. Second Elder Liu Haizhong stood up to argue.

“Deputy Director Wang, you’re mistaken. What the courtyard people say is all true. How is this bullying a young girl?”

Third Elder Yan Bugui remained silent, unwilling to provoke Wang Lin. He knew that if this went further up the chain, they’d be the ones in trouble—even if their claims were true.

“Hmph.”

Wang Lin snorted coldly.

“Well then, I never imagined that such a large courtyard would be named a civilized one.”

Liu Haizhong, lacking education, failed to catch the sarcasm in Wang Lin’s words, but Yan Bugui did.

Still, Yan chose to keep quiet, avoiding unnecessary trouble.

Another person who caught the meaning was the just-returned Yi Zhonghai.