ECG -Chapter 103 Stop Hitting Yourself, I Forgive You

At nine o’clock the next morning, when Zhou Dongbing and Cao Yitui arrived, the only people in the hospital room were Wu Xiaozhou, Lin Hao, and Bai Zhitao. The other patient sharing the room had gone for a checkup.

Seeing them enter, Lin Hao immediately stood up and went over to greet them. “Brother Zhou!”

Today, Zhou Dongbing was wearing a dark blue, long wool coat. His suit pants were crisp, and his leather shoes shone brightly.

Cao Yitui was still wearing the same black fur coat from yesterday. His thick gold chain was discreetly tucked inside his sweater, and he was carrying a large fruit basket in his hand. He followed behind Zhou Dongbing with his back slightly bent, looking like a wronged little wife.

“Xiaowu, how are you feeling?” Zhou Dongbing quickened his steps and came to Wu Xiaozhou’s bedside.

Wu Xiaozhou’s face had been kicked countless times. The fact that his nose bridge hadn’t been broken was already lucky. The swelling on his face had yet to go down, and he was almost unrecognizable.

Looking at Zhou Dongbing, he forced a grin through his pain. “Brother Zhou, I’m fine. I’ve got thick skin and tough flesh!”

Looking at his face, Zhou Dongbing’s anger rose again. He turned his head and harshly scolded Cao Yitui.

“Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and apologize to Xiaowu!”

Cao Yitui quickly placed the fruit basket on the bedside table. He bent forward toward Wu Xiaozhou, putting on a pained expression as if he were paying respects at someone’s funeral.

“Brother, I really didn’t know about this relationship. Who would have thought that this would be like water flooding the Dragon King’s Temple—our own people ended up fighting each other without realizing it!”

“Today, right here, I sincerely apologize to little brother. This matter was my fault. Your elder brother here didn’t handle things properly. I was wrong. I’m sorry!”

After saying that, Cao Yitui respectfully bowed. Then he took out five stacks of hundred-yuan bills from his bag and gently placed the thick pile of money on Wu Xiaozhou’s bedside.

“It’s not much money. Just a little expression of my guilt. You must accept it!”

Wu Xiaozhou hadn’t expected him to bring out so much money.

Last night, after Lin Hao sent Xia Yumeng and Bai Zhitao home, he came back and analyzed the whole situation with Wu Xiaozhou.

But no matter what Lin Hao said, Wu Xiaozhou still felt that he didn’t want to let Cao Yitui off this easily. Getting beaten himself wasn’t a big deal. Just like Lin Hao had said, if everyone kept seeking revenge, when would it ever end? Fighting back and forth would only make both sides unable to live peacefully. He understood that logic.

But this guy had also slapped Bai Zhitao.

That was something he couldn’t forgive.

If he could even tolerate that, then he wouldn’t be a man.

Lin Hao understood Wu Xiaozhou’s temper. If it were him, he wouldn’t be able to endure it either. So he had said:

“How about this? Tomorrow, when they come over, if you feel Cao Yitui isn’t sincere enough, I’ll hold him down and let you slap him back. We’ll get this anger out of your system. How about that?”

Only then did Wu Xiaozhou nod.

Lin Hao had no other choice. He had to give Zhou Dongbing face, but Wu Xiaozhou also needed to vent his anger.

The difficult part was figuring out how to let his friend release his anger without offending another friend on the other side.

That balance had to be handled carefully.

……

After Cao Yitui finished speaking, he looked toward Bai Zhitao.

Bai Zhitao glanced at his greasy middle-parted hairstyle, then remembered that slap from yesterday. A wave of disgust rose in her heart, and she turned her head away.

“Miss, yesterday was my fault. I was blinded by my own thoughts! I was shameless! Please forgive me! Right now, I’ll repay you for my mistake!”

After saying that, Cao Yitui raised his hand and began slapping himself.

“Pa! Pa! Pa!”

The sound continued without stopping.

Seeing that he was really hitting himself, Lin Hao waited until he had slapped himself several times. The large pancake-like face already had bright red fingerprints on it.

He couldn’t help thinking to himself: this man really knows how to bend and stretch. No wonder he was able to build such a huge business empire in Chunhe.

Of course, he understood very clearly that Cao Yitui wasn’t acting this way today merely because Zhou Dongbing had stepped in.

The biggest reason was that phone call from Xia Yumeng.

Zhou Dongbing glanced at Wu Xiaozhou but didn’t say anything. At this point, the decision could only be made by Wu Xiaozhou or Bai Zhitao.

Seeing that Cao Yitui had already slapped himself more than ten times, Wu Xiaozhou felt that if he still didn’t say anything, it would be unreasonable.

Just like Lin Hao had said, even if someone committed murder, their head would still hit the ground eventually. Today, Cao Yitui had already shown enough sincerity, and Zhou Dage’s face was also involved.

One slap from Bai Zhitao had been exchanged for this many slaps.

That was enough.

“Taozi!” he called out.

Hearing him, Bai Zhitao was a little shocked. She hadn’t expected this person to be so ruthless toward himself.

She also felt a little reluctant to see it continue. Then, hearing Wu Xiaozhou call her, she turned her head toward Cao Yitui.

At this moment, Cao Yitui’s two big cheeks were already visibly swollen and red, but his hands still hadn’t stopped. He continued slapping himself from left to right. His movements weren’t fast, but every slap carried plenty of force.

“Enough!” Bai Zhitao couldn’t stand watching anymore and quickly shouted.

Both Lin Hao and Zhou Dongbing let out a sigh of relief.

Cao Yitui’s face had gone numb by then, but he knew that if he didn’t do this today, there was a very good chance his businesses would remain sealed. The daily rent and staff expenses wouldn’t take long to bankrupt him.

He didn’t hate Bai Zhitao or Wu Xiaozhou. Things like what happened today had happened before. Slapping himself a few times was nothing. Back then, he had even stabbed himself in the thigh more than once.

His lustful nature and his habit of speaking without thinking had caused him far too many troubles over the years.

Today, he wasn’t hitting himself to apologize to anyone. He was only doing it to teach himself a lesson, and to clear his head a little.

Forget other cities—even in Chunhe, there were still many people he couldn’t afford to offend!

“Alright, I forgive you!” Bai Zhitao bit her lower lip and said softly.

Cao Yitui quickly stopped. No matter how thick-skinned he was, it still hurt.

“Thank you, little sister. If you ever run into any trouble in Chunhe, just call your Brother Cao. I guarantee—”

“Shut up!” Zhou Dongbing frowned. This old Cao… sigh!

Cao Yitui immediately closed his mouth. He really wanted to raise his hand and slap himself again.

Zhou Dongbing chatted with Lin Hao and the others for a few more minutes before getting up to leave. Then he took out a thick envelope from his handbag and stuffed it into Wu Xiaozhou’s hands.

Wu Xiaozhou hurriedly refused, but Zhou Dongbing’s expression darkened. Wu Xiaozhou could only give an awkward, honest laugh and say thanks.

Wu Xiaozhou tried to get up to see him off, but Zhou Dongbing pressed him back down.

“Rest properly. Your Sister Chu has some events at the TV station these next few days. Once she’s finished, she’ll come visit you.”

Lin Hao saw them out.

In the hallway, Zhou Dongbing asked Lin Hao quietly, “You’ve gotten a girlfriend?”

Lin Hao smiled and nodded.

Zhou Dongbing patted him on the shoulder, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Lin Hao understood what he was worried about and said softly, “Brother Zhou, don’t worry. I understand.”

Zhou Dongbing was secretly shocked and couldn’t help but think even more highly of Lin Hao.

The father of Lin Hao’s girlfriend had an extraordinary identity. Back then, Zhou himself had only reached where he was today and gotten onto the right path because of a series of coincidences.

He originally wanted to tell Lin Hao, but after thinking about it, he decided against it. Everyone had their own destiny, and if outsiders forced their way in to interfere, it might not necessarily be a good thing.

Besides, Lin Hao was only twenty years old this year. No one could say how far he would go in the future.

But he never expected that before he even said anything, Lin Hao already knew what he wanted to say. And judging by Lin Hao’s expression, he seemed completely confident.

Well then. As long as he hadn’t misjudged him, Lin Hao would sooner or later rise to great heights. Perhaps this matter really wasn’t impossible after all.

Thinking this, Zhou Dongbing finally relaxed.

Lin Hao accompanied them all the way downstairs to the parking lot. He watched their car leave the hospital entrance before turning back.

He had never cared about politics, but in Chunhe City, there was only one high-ranking official with the surname Xia.

There was no need to think about it—he already knew who it was.