Chapter 16: The War of Women

  The next morning, not only did Yan Tong and Wang Xijun bring a pot of carp soup to the hospital to visit Zhou Hao, but also reporters from Xiangcheng TV Station came to interview Zhou Hao about his bravery in fighting against drug dealers. Moreover, the principal of Yuning Middle School also came to visit Zhou Hao and took the opportunity to promote the school's good reputation to the reporters. What made Zhou Hao happiest was that his class teacher Li Ruoshan and his best friend Liu Shichao also came.

  "Zhou Hao, I heard you got shot. Are you okay?" Li Ruolan's concern for Zhou Hao was not like the principal's, which was tinged with vanity. A simple and sincere look of concern from her made Zhou Hao feel deeply moved.

  "I'm fine, teacher, don't worry about me. It's just that I won't be able to go to school for a while." Zhou Hao said, but in fact whether or not he went to school wasn't important, the key was that he wouldn't be able to see Li Ruolan again.

  Li Ruolan shook her head calmly, "Don't worry about school, focus on recovering from your injury. I'll help you catch up on the lessons you've missed when I have time."

  Liu Shichao also said: "Zhou Hao, you are now our school's big hero, everyone thinks you're as cool as Chen Haonan." He looked at Zhou Hao with envy, as if being shot was a very glorious thing. In his words, it's like I've even eaten bullets, what's there to be afraid of!

  After the most enthusiastic and warm inquiry, the visitors left one after another. Yan Tong and Wang Xijun also returned home under Zhou Hao's persuasion, leaving only Zhou Hao in the intensive care unit. Zhou Hao let out a light sigh, moved his left arm, and felt that his body had recovered a lot compared to yesterday. His left arm was also full of strength again, and he believed that he would be fully recovered within a week. Liu Shichao had said so earlier, with a ruddy complexion and full of energy, he didn't look like someone who had been shot at all.

  Suddenly, the door of the ward was knocked again, and then a long-haired beauty walked in. It was Zhao Yuqin, holding a delicate fruit basket and a box of chicken essence oral liquid.

  "Zhang's sister, how did you come too?"

  Zhao Yuqin walked straight to the bedside, "Yesterday, Xiangcheng Public Security Bureau cracked a drug case. I heard from others that a male student from Yuning Middle School bravely shot and killed a drug dealer. Later, I heard that it was a boy named Zhou Hao. I asked him about it, and unexpectedly, it was really you." She reached out and pinched Zhou Hao's nose, "How are you? No major injuries, right? The old military doctor who helped you remove the bullet yesterday is a national-level expert. He used to participate in self-defense counterattack wars. Haha, your body is really strong, that caliber of bullet couldn't even penetrate your shoulder bone."

  As Zhao Yuqin spoke, Zhou Hao was truly surprised by the breadth of her connections, from Si Tu Li to that old military doctor, she actually knew them all. Zhou Hao shook his head, "Sister Zhao, why do you like pinching my nose every time?"

  Zhao Yuqin sat down and handed him a bottle of chicken essence, "Take it, you lost a lot of blood yesterday, drink some chicken essence to supplement it." Seeing Zhou Hao finish the whole bottle in one gulp, she said: "You really are, how did you run into those drug dealers? They're ruthless people who kill without batting an eye." As she spoke, her expression was not without blame, but it came from concern for Zhou Hao.

  "No kidding, I almost got silenced last night." Zhou Hao told Zhao Yuqin about the thrilling situation yesterday, and saw Zhao Yuqin sit on the edge of the bed, embracing Zhou Hao into her arms, with her chin resting on his head. "Don't be so reckless in the future, do you think bullets are that easy to withstand? What if something happens to you?"

  Zhou Hao's face was pressed against Zhao Yuqin's chest, and a seductive fragrance wafted up to his nostrils. As he felt Zhao Yuqin's impressive bust, Zhou Hao thought to himself, "Wow, it's even bigger than Situ Xianying's!"

  However, he absolutely dare not treat Zhao Yuqin like Situ Jianying did.

  "Zhou sister, why are you so good to me?" Zhou Hao asked, leaning in her arms. The two had only met a few times, although Zhou Hao owed her his life, he always felt that Zhao Yuke treated him differently.

  "I don't know either." Zhao Yuqin gently stroked Zhou Hao's hair, "Maybe it's like those girls who like cats and dogs, I couldn't help but feel happy from the bottom of my heart when I see you."

  Zhou Hao smiled wryly, "Zhao Jie, you wouldn't be treating me like a cat or dog, would you?"

  "You stinky little boy." Zhao Yuqin pinched his cheeks again, "How many men want to be my cat or dog, I don't even bother with them."

  Zhou Hao knew that with her background, this was indeed the case, "Just like Fan Lize?"

  "What's that guy doing, anyway?" Zhao Yuqin pinched Zhou Hao's ear, "That guy is really annoying, sometimes I want my brother to send a few special forces soldiers to teach him a lesson."

  When he heard this, Zhou Hao secretly cursed, then remembered that he wanted to invest the tens of millions of US dollars from yesterday in the stock market. He couldn't do without Zhao Yuqin's help, and if he exchanged those US dollars himself, it was likely to arouse other people's suspicion. Zhao Yuqin's securities company had channels for exchanging foreign currency, so Zhou Hao said to her: "Sister Zhao, I want you to help me with something."

  "Hmm? What's up?"

  "I want you to help me buy a few more stocks, just use my mom's account."

  "Do you have money?" Zhao Yuqin asked him: "How much do you want to invest? Or sister can lend it to you."

  Zhou Hao shook his head, "I have a lot of money myself, probably over a million US dollars."

  Zhao Yuqin exclaimed: "How did you suddenly have so much money?"

  Zhou Hao wanted to tell her about last night's events, but for some reason, he didn't want to hide anything from her and instinctively felt that Zhao Yuqin wouldn't expose him. But before he could speak, Zhao Yuqin looked at him and said: "Is that money from those drug dealers? Did you take that money?"

  Zhou Hao was surprised by Zhao Yuqin's quick thinking, and nodded in agreement. He had originally thought that even if Zhao Yuqin didn't expose him, she would still scold him severely. But unexpectedly, Zhao Yuqin calmly said: "Those money you took doesn't matter, anyway, even if you didn't take it, the money wouldn't have ended up in the national treasury."

  Zhou Hao didn't expect Zhao Yuqin to be so "open-minded", "So I thought of investing that money in the stock market."

  "Little guy, that money is like you gambled your life for it, can't you be more frugal with it? Do you have to put all of it into the stock market?" Zhao Yuqin tapped Zhou Hao's forehead, "I really don't know where your confidence comes from, how do you know those stocks will definitely go up?"

  Zhou Hao tapped his forehead with his hand and smiled, saying "Intuition." In fact, Zhou Hao also felt that his intuition had become stronger and more accurate recently. Just like yesterday, he suddenly felt a sense of danger approaching, and then the two drug dealers appeared one after another.

  Zhao Yuqin chuckled and said: "You're so young yet you know how to bluff. Alright, which stocks do you want to buy?"

  Zhou Hao immediately took out paper and pen to write down the names of several stocks, while picking up the fixed phone on the bedside table and dialing Su Jianying's home number.

  "Hello, who is it?" It was the voice of Situ Jianying, clear and crisp like an oriole.

  "It's me."

  "Zhou Hao!" As soon as Zhou Hao's voice was heard, Situ Jianying felt extremely delighted. "I was just about to go over and see you."

  "What about the money?"

  "I secretly went and got them back yesterday, without letting my dad or anyone else know." Siu Gim Ying said on the other end: "I counted it, there's $150,000 there."

  "Alright, come over now and bring the money with you." With that, Zhou Hao hung up the phone.

  But then Zhao Yuqin looked at Zhou Hao with a sly gaze, "Is that the girl who made you willing to take a bullet for her?"

  Seeing Zhao Yuqin like this, Zhou Hao really had a feeling of being frightened and trembling with fear, but he also nodded slightly.

  "Hmph! I don't know when I'll have a man to help me block bullets." She glanced at Zhou Hao, and her tone was surprisingly flirtatious. A beautiful mature woman like her, being coy was more lethal than those young girls, Zhou Hao felt his bones melting at this moment, and he couldn't help but say: "If it were you, I would really risk my life to block bullets for you."

  Upon hearing Zhou Hao's words, Zhao Yuqin was overjoyed and hugged him tightly, giving his face a big kiss. "Sister hasn't spoiled you for nothing, you're really a lovable little scamp."

  Soon, Situ Jianying happily rushed over. But as soon as she pushed open the door, she saw Zhao Yiqin sitting on the edge of the bed peeling an apple for Zhou Hao. At first glance at this beautiful and mature woman, Situ Jianying felt a huge sense of threat, even more so than Wang Xijun.

  "You've arrived so quickly." Zhou Hao said with a smile to Situ Jianying.

  Xī Tū Jiàn Yīng had deliberately dressed up today, wearing a pink halter top that fully showcased her ample bust, paired with a denim mini skirt that revealed a pair of snow-white and slender beautiful legs. Moreover, she had applied a light layer of makeup on her face, making her look more mature than her actual age.

  When he saw her, Zhou Hao thought that although this girl had a bad temper, she was quite good at dressing herself up.

  Situ Jianying came over to Zhou Hao's side and handed him a small black backpack, inside which was the US dollars.

  "Xiao Hao, is this the Si Tu Jian Ying you mentioned? Zhao Yuqin sensed that Si Tu Jian Ying had a hint of hostility towards her, and his gaze at her was no longer so friendly. Originally, if it weren't for you, Xiao Hao wouldn't have to suffer so much."

  Zhou Hao didn't notice that the two women beside him had already secretly sized each other up. As he opened his small backpack, he said, "Mm, she's the one. Jian Ying, this is my friend, just call her Zhao Jie."

  "Hello, Zhao." Xīu Jiàn Yīng politely asked Zhāo Yù Qín how she was doing, although she didn't like the woman at all. However, she also knew that she couldn't afford to be rude in front of Zhōu Hào, lest he dislike her.

  Zhao Yaqin naturally knew that Situ Jianying was hiding a knife in her smile, so she also smiled elegantly and said: "Then I'll just call you Jianying. Jianying, Xiao Hao told me that your performance at school isn't very good, this won't do, as a girl you should be gentle and quiet, otherwise the boys will all be afraid of you." With a smile on her face, she thought to herself: "Little brat, thinking of competing with me at such a young age? Don't even think about it!"