The moment Eliza received the jade pendant, her whole body swayed dizzily.
Fyren caught her and glared at Sabrina. "What did you do?"
Sabrina looked panicked. "I didn't do anything!"
Fyren angrily snatched the jade pendant from Eliza's hand and shoved it back at Sabrina. "Stay away from us!"
Sabrina dropped her umbrella. "Brother, let's help sister rest over there."
"Keep your hands to yourself!"
"Don't touch her!"
"Back off!"
Sabrina looked like a scolded child as she retreated several steps. "I'm sorry... I didn't know this would happen. I don't understand what's going on. I just wanted to help..."
Chloe came running over. "What's wrong?"
Fyren said anxiously, "I don't know! It must be something she did!"
Sabrina wrung her hands. "I really didn't! I didn't do anything!"
Fyren advanced on her. "Don't play innocent with me! Tell me what you did!"
The commotion drew attention from people nearby who began gathering around.
At a glance - goodness - several stunning beauties.
One beautiful woman had fainted, another was frantically tending to her, while the most alluring one stood there being berated to tears by a man.
"Hey! What kind of man yells at a woman like that?"
"Exactly, where are your manners?"
"The heavens aren't fair, letting scum like you exist in this world!"
Fyren shot Sabrina a hateful look before scooping Eliza up and striding toward the exit.
As soon as they were in the car, Fyren called Xena, who answered coldly: "Hello."
"Xena, where are you?"
"What's it to you?"
"No, I've got an emergency and need your help!"
"Fyren needs help? So I'm supposed to come running, only to get yelled at by you afterward?"
Fyren pleaded, "I genuinely need your help! I was wrong before - my attitude was terrible. This is life or death!"
"Life or death? You've got someone's life in your hands? If you need an abortion, go to the hospital."
Fyren snapped, "Are you going to help or not?!"
Xena fired back: "Stop shouting! Why should I help you?"
"It's Eliza. She took a jade pendant from some woman and passed out mysteriously."
"Then it's even less my business. You two are a couple - what does this have to do with me."
Fyren hung up abruptly.
Twenty minutes later, at the hospital.
Xena showed up anyway.
Fyren looked at her. "I thought this was none of your business?"
Xena rolled her eyes before checking Eliza's pulse.
"Well?"
"Is she okay?"
"Will she be alright?"
Xena glared at Fyren. "You're loud."
Fyren immediately shut up and took two steps back.
Xena finished taking the pulse, then examined Eliza's pupils and listened to her heartbeat.
"She's fine. Just fainted."
Fyren looked at Xena. "Oh... thank you, Doctor."
Then he frowned. Wait - what did she mean "she's fine, just fainted"?
Wasn't that exactly why I called her - because Eliza fainted?
How can she be fine if she's unconscious?
How does someone faint if they're perfectly fine?
"No, there has to be a reason she passed out."
Xena said, "Run more tests. Western medicine examines some things more thoroughly."
Fyren said, "That can't be right. You're a miracle doctor - if there were any problems, you'd definitely find clues just by checking her pulse!"
Xena looked at Fyren. "You're so concerned about her. If I say she's fine, do you actually believe me? Or do you think I'm harming her?"
Fyren realized Xena was still making a scene.
[This damn girl. She's clearly been giving me trouble, and now she pulls this.]
[She seems genuinely angry.]
[Fine, let it be. If she really hates me, at least she won't get dragged into my mess in the future.]
Having thought this, Fyren didn't try to placate Xena. He simply said politely, "Thank you then. Sorry for making you come all this way."
Xena stared at Fyren. "Is it true you wouldn't seek me out unless something happened to Eliza?"
Fyren met her gaze. "Yes."
Xena grew angrier. "So you just want me to stay away unless you need me?"
"I was wrong," Fyren said. "I promise that from now on, even if I need help, I won't call you again. If I'm shameless enough to call, just hang up."
After speaking, Fyren turned and walked out.
When he called EltonLeng, surprisingly, EltonLeng told him to handle it himself, claiming to be too busy.
Fyren felt the call had been pointless.
Sabrina - it had to be her.
Wasn't she targeting me? Why go after Eliza?
Standing at the corridor's end, gazing at the skyscrapers, Fyren remained silent.
Soon after, Xena walked by.
Both were in low spirits.
Fyren was depressed about Eliza's condition, while Xena seemed drained from their cold war.
Normally, Xena dressed youthfully and vibrantly.
But today she wore a white lab coat with black slim pants, her hair tied back in a simple ponytail, hands in pockets, expression blank.
Fyren observed her - she seemed completely different from before.
Today's Xena appeared mature, professional, and far more composed.
She carried the reassuring presence of a medical professional.
Xena studied Fyren for a long moment before speaking slowly. "There's a pinprick on her fingertip. I secretly drew a blood sample, hoping to detect something. We'll need to wait for results."
Fyren shook his head. "It probably won't show anything."
"Personally, I suspect it's a special jungle-concocted narcotic - the kind that instantly clouds the mind and induces coma. Who did this?"
"A woman."
Xena said, "Besides Otto, you've managed to offend a jungle woman too?"
Fyren nodded. "She works for Otto."
"Why target Eliza?"
Yes, why?
Fyren didn't understand.
Eliza had already resigned and was no threat to Otto or EltonLeng. Why go after her?
"Is there a cure?" Fyren asked.
"There is, but it takes time," Xena said. "But don't worry - I've checked her pulse. The drug is very mild and won't harm her body. Their goal isn't to hurt her, just keep her unconscious."
Fyren looked at Xena sincerely. "Thank you."
"I'm a doctor. Saving lives is my duty. No thanks needed."
"Thank you anyway."
Xena grew slightly agitated. "Do you like her more? Or me more?"
Fyren sighed. "You're both my friends. I made that clear to Eliza today. If either of you ever need help, I'll spare no effort to be there - to fulfill my duty as a friend, even through fire. But we can only ever be friends. I don't want us to have too much contact."
"Because of Otto?"
"It's not just him."
Fyren said, "I'm in deep trouble - serious trouble. Anyone who gets involved with me might end up unlucky. I don't want to drag you all into this."
"What if I'm not afraid of trouble?"
"I am." Fyren changed the subject, looking at Xena with admiration. "You look good in professional attire."
"Do I?"
"Mhm. Mature, composed, and professional enough to inspire trust."
Xena tilted her head, studying Fyren. "Want to get up close with a professional female doctor? I'm the real deal."
Fyren laughed.
[This crazy girl - starts talking nonsense the moment I compliment her maturity. Now she's fooling around again.]
"Forget it. I'm afraid your dad will come after me with a knife."
"You're scared of him?"
"Of course I am. He's your father."
"But I heard you gave him quite the scolding this morning."
Fyren froze. "You know about that?"
"You berated my dad so badly in our living room he couldn't get a word in edgewise. The whole mansion's talking about it - how could I not know?"
"I'm sorry. I really couldn't help it. He wouldn't listen to me at all. I was trying to make him—"
"I know already." Xena smiled slightly. "So... starting today, we're friends?"
Fyren sighed in relief and nodded with a smile. "Good friends."
"Supporting each other forever?"
"Of course."
"If I need your help, you'll step up?"
"Absolutely."
Xena seemed to have let go of her resentment as she smiled faintly and extended her hand. "Thank you, good friend."
Fyren shook her hand with great relief. "Thank you too, good friend."
Suddenly, Xena pulled Fyren close and jumped into his arms before screaming, "What are you doing? Let go of me! You pervert!"
Fyren instantly knew he'd been tricked!
Doctors, nurses, patients, and family members in the hallway - all turned to look.
Fyren quickly pushed her away. Xena stumbled back several steps, leaning against the wall unsteadily as if about to burst into tears. "What are you doing? This is a hospital! Even if you want to harass me, you can't act like this here!"
Fyren was speechless.
[This little vixen is too good at acting!
That calm expression mixed with loss, heartbreak and despair - making it look like some breakup scene! Even made me feel guilty for a second!
And then she pulls this on me! Great, now I couldn't clear my name even if I jumped into the Yellow River.]
Several nurses rushed over, shielding Xena while angrily scolding Fyren:
"How could you do this? This is a hospital!"
"I don't care what family you're from or what young master you are - this is the Xu family's private hospital! You can't throw your weight around here! Show some respect!"
Fyren could only awkwardly explain, "Misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding—"
"What misunderstanding? We saw everything clearly! Get out! Leave now or we're calling the police!"
As Fyren kept trying to explain, he saw Xena - hidden behind the crowd - shaking her head at him, sticking out her tongue and rolling her eyes. He itched to charge through and give her a good spanking.
Just then, his phone rang. It showed Eliza's name.
When Fyren answered, Sabrina's voice came through:
"Big brother, want to save Eliza?"
Fyren's face turned stony. "What the hell do you want?"
"Come to the presidential suite at Junli Hotel. Oh, and you're paying for the room."
Sabrina hung up.