Chapter 030: Wishing You Well

Hearing Lin Yu’s anxious question, Hu Rongqiang pondered for a moment before replying, “Don’t worry. In my experience, you and your friends will be just fine. Who knows, you might even end up getting a bravery award for your actions. Hahaha.”

“I don’t really care about awards,” Lin Yu replied with a faint smile. “As long as everyone is safe, that’s enough for me. I never imagined we’d be struck by such misfortune today.” He sighed softly.

“People need food to keep going. Judging by the time, Lin Yu, you haven’t eaten all day. Director Hu, shouldn’t you take him to get something to eat?” Han Kezhen suddenly interjected.

“Oh, right! Silly me!” Hu Rongqiang exclaimed, slapping his forehead in exaggerated fashion. “Come on, Uncle Hu is taking you to the Glorious Hotel tonight.”

“No need to go anywhere that fancy, that’s too much trouble,” Lin Yu said with a smile. “Could Dai Peng come along too?”

“That might not be possible. He’s a key suspect, and according to regulations, he can’t leave the station,” Han Kezhen explained.

“What nonsense. I’ll bring him back myself, won’t I? Besides, aren’t we doing this to better understand the case? Kezhen, go get that kid for me!” Hu Rongqiang barked.

Only then did he turn to the girl following behind them. “You’re the new recruit at our station, aren’t you? Why don’t you join us for a meal?”

“No, thank you, Director Hu. I already ate this afternoon, and I’ve got something to do, so I’ll be going now,” Lin Huiyin replied, quickly walking away and vanishing at the end of the hallway.

“That little lass, so full of herself—doesn’t even want a free meal,” Hu Rongqiang grumbled under his breath.

With no outsiders present, Lin Tiancheng turned to his son. “Son, what really happened today?”

Hearing his father’s question, Lin Yu recounted the entire incident in detail, not leaving out a single fact.

Before long, Han Kezhen returned, bringing the still somewhat bewildered Dai Peng to the first-floor lobby to join the group.

As soon as he saw Lin Yu, Dai Peng seemed instantly revived, shouting from afar, “Third Brother!”

Lin Yu hurried over and gave Dai Peng a big hug.

Watching the two brothers embrace, Hu Rongqiang and Lin Tiancheng exchanged a glance, as if they were seeing their younger selves.

As men who had been through it all, they knew that youth was a rainbow woven from undying hope and boundless dreams. It was meant to be brilliant and dazzling, full of vitality and courage. As long as young people didn’t make any grave mistakes, a bit of mischief was nothing to worry about. On the contrary, they would gain experiences no book could ever teach.

After chatting with Dai Peng for a while and confirming that he was well and in good spirits, Lin Yu took out his phone and turned it on. He wanted to let his mother and Qi Yue know that he was safe.

As soon as he powered up, he was stunned by dozens of unread messages.

Looking carefully, Lin Yu found that over half were from Qi Yue.

“Honey, are you alright?”
“Honey, how are you?”
“Honey, I’m so worried about you…”
“Sob, honey, you’re okay, aren’t you…”

“Looks like the word ‘husband’ really gets thrown around,” Lin Yu muttered with a wry smile.

“I should reply to this little troublemaker first,” he decided, dialing Qi Yue’s number. He knew she must be worried sick.

As soon as the call connected, he heard Qi Yue’s muffled sobs and a trembling question, “You’re… you’re alright?”

“What could happen to me? It was Zhang Chao who got hurt, you know that. Where are you now?” Lin Yu replied, his casual tone covering the small pang in his heart at her quiet tears.

“I’m at the hospital, in Zhang Chao’s room. We’re not supposed to be loud here. He’s still unconscious, but the doctor said he’s out of danger and should wake up around midnight,” Qi Yue whispered.

She added, “Auntie is here too. Do you want to talk to her?”

“Yes, please hand the phone to my mom,” Lin Yu said. Now he understood why Qi Yue had sounded the way she did—she was in the hospital, surrounded by people. Though she had a brash side, she was still reserved at heart.

Lin Yu reassured his mother and asked her to send his regards to Zhang Chao’s parents. Then, he resumed chatting with Qi Yue.

In the end, Lin Yu asked Qi Yue to gather everyone in the hospital who could step away and come out for dinner together. After such a long, exhausting day, everyone was surely hungry and tired.

It was also a good opportunity for his parents to get to know Dai Peng and Zhang Chao’s families. After all, there’s a saying: if you think your luck is bad, the best way to change your fate is to befriend someone with better fortune. You never know when you might meet someone who will become an important friend.

After hanging up, Lin Yu began checking his other messages.

“Lin Yu, are you alright?” — from his homeroom teacher, He Jing.
“Third, are you there?” — from his oldest friend, Wang Yan.
There were a dozen or so messages like these, full of concern. Lin Yu was deeply moved; he had never realized so many people cared about him.

Just then, Lin Yu noticed one message with no signature, only four simple words: “Wishing you well.”

“Wishing you well?” Lin Yu murmured, feeling a strange emotion stir within him. He couldn’t imagine who would send such a message.

After a moment, he held his phone out to Dai Peng. “Do you recognize this number?”

“No idea, never seen it. Maybe it’s some girl who secretly likes you?” Dai Peng grinned.

It was the first time he’d smiled since the whole incident. Though a little awkward, it was a smile nonetheless.

“Ha, you’re teasing me now? If someone had a crush on you, everyone on earth would believe it, but me? That’s a joke,” Lin Yu replied self-deprecatingly.

Though he wasn’t as handsome as Xiao Liu, he wasn’t bad either, something Qi Yue’s affection proved.

Seeing Dai Peng recovering, Lin Yu gradually felt at ease. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Sixth, what do you think we can do in the future?”

“The future? Third Brother, your sixth brother here has always just coasted along, never thought that far ahead,” Dai Peng replied, shaking his head, looking lost.

“I think we’re not kids anymore; it’s time to do something meaningful. Our families are just average—do we really want to remain nobodies forever?” Lin Yu’s dark eyes fixed on him.

“Third Brother, apart from eating, drinking, fighting, and chasing girls, what else could we possibly do?” Dai Peng replied, shrugging helplessly.