SFTD -Chapter 233 The Fragrant Beauty Falls

Zhou Hai could no longer think. He rushed straight to Lu Xi and pulled her into his arms.

Only at this close distance did he see it clearly—a long, narrow dagger was stabbed into Lu Xi’s back, almost entirely buried up to its hilt. Blood had soaked through her entire wedding dress, staining it completely. It even touched her cold shoulders.

Zhou Hai quickly took off his coat and wrapped her in it. As he lifted her again, he realized the tip of the dagger had already pierced out from her chest, blood steadily gushing out.

He roared at the people behind him:

“Call an ambulance! Hurry up and call an ambulance!”

Everyone around immediately realized the severity of the situation and rushed to make the call.

“Xixi… Xixi, can you hear me? Don’t sleep. Please don’t sleep. Don’t leave me. What am I supposed to do without you?”

Zhou Hai held her tightly, pressing his hand against the wound in her chest as blood continued to pour out.

Lu Xi’s unfocused gaze slowly began to gather. It seemed she had heard his voice. She slightly turned her head, forcing out a faint smile at the corner of her lips. Her face was pale as paper.

She tried to raise her hand to wipe away the tears on Zhou Hai’s face, but her arm had no strength left.

“Don’t cry…I like seeing you smile the most…”

Zhou Hai shook his head repeatedly, holding her even tighter.

“Don’t say stupid things. I’m taking you to the hospital right now. I’ll definitely save you. Just hold on for me, okay?”

At that moment, two police officers rushed over after hearing the commotion. Seeing Zhou Hai and the woman in his arms, they were momentarily stunned—but quickly reacted. One of them immediately organized personnel to secure the scene and report the case, while the other opened the car door.

Zhou Hai carried Lu Xi into the back seat. The car sped off with sirens wailing toward the hospital.

Zhou Hai held her cold hand and pressed it against his chest.

“Xixi, be good. Don’t sleep. We’re almost at the hospital.”

At that moment, Lu Xi’s eyes were already losing focus. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

“Zhou Hai…Promise me… live well… for me…”

“Also… take care of my parents… and Luo Luo…”

Her pleading gaze made it impossible for Zhou Hai to refuse. He could only nod heavily.

Seeing this, Lu Xi’s expression relaxed slightly.

“I will protect you…Live well… for me…”

“And also… I… love you…”

Zhou Hai felt her fingers slip from his grasp. The couple’s jade pendant, now stained red with blood, fell onto the wedding dress—its color shockingly vivid.

In that instant, it felt as if the entire world had frozen.

He tried to hold onto her life, but he was utterly powerless. Holding her tightly, Zhou Hai gasped for breath and then screamed upward:

“Xixi, don’t die! Please don’t die! No—don’t!”

The two officers in front were also teary-eyed. They understood the beautiful woman was already gone.

But the car did not stop. It rushed all the way to the emergency department of Lu University Hospital. Medical staff were already waiting at the entrance, including Dr. He.

Seeing Zhou Hai step out of the back seat carrying Lu Xi in a blood-soaked wedding dress, Dr. He was shocked and rushed over immediately.

“Zhou Hai, let me see her! Let go!”

Only then did Zhou Hai release his grip.

Lu Xi was placed onto a gurney, and everyone pushed her toward the emergency room. Zhou Hai stared blankly at the chaotic scene, mechanically following behind, all the way to the operating room door—where he was stopped outside.

Blood continued to drip from Zhou Hai’s sleeves and arms. It was Lu Xi’s blood. He stared at the droplets on the ground, his heart aching unbearably.

After a long while, he took out his phone and called Xu Biao.

“Xu Biao, bring the other two to ‘Paris Time’ bridal studio. Lu Xi has been attacked. Come quickly.”

“Don’t panic. We’re on our way,” Xu Biao replied immediately before hanging up.

Not long after, Dr. He came out again and shook his head at Zhou Hai.

In fact, from Zhou Hai’s condition, Dr. He already knew the outcome. At this point, any words of comfort were meaningless.

He patted Zhou Hai’s shoulder.

“Transfixing cardiac injury. My condolences.”

Zhou Hai sat on a chair, staring blankly ahead.

In the open emergency room, Lu Xi lay quietly on the hospital bed.

The white wedding dress had already turned blood-red.

Dr. He asked everyone to leave the room so Zhou Hai could be alone for a moment. He sighed and walked out, while the two police officers outside continued reporting the situation.

After the door closed, all sound was cut off.

Zhou Hai stared at Lu Xi’s face and gently stroked her cheek. Just moments ago she had been clinging to him, acting spoiled and smiling—but now she was already cold.

He smoothed her disheveled hair.

“Xixi… tell me what happened. Who hurt you? Tell me, okay?”

Tears silently covered his face. He pulled a piece of white cloth and slowly covered her face.

“I will keep my promise to you. But now I need to go to the scene. Don’t worry. I will find the killer. Wait for me. Also… I love you too.”

He stood up and left the emergency room.

Dr. He was waiting outside. Zhou Hai glanced at him, then looked back at the room.

“I’ll temporarily borrow this emergency room. I’ll come back later to take her away.”

Dr. He nodded.

“Don’t worry. Go ahead.”

The two police officers stopped Zhou Hai.

“Dr. Zhou, please don’t get agitated. Director Liu and the others are on their way. He will personally handle this case.”

Zhou Hai looked at them and said in a low but firm voice:

“Move.”

After a brief hesitation, they stepped aside. But they followed him out.

They returned to the “Paris Story” bridal studio. Police cars were already parked everywhere.

As Zhou Hai got out of the car, Director Liu also rushed over. The officers had clearly already reported everything.

Director Liu said nothing. He simply placed a firm hand on Zhou Hai’s shoulder.

“Let’s go look at the scene. Can you handle it?”

Zhou Hai nodded heavily.

When they re-entered the bridal studio, staff had been gathered to one side. Xu Biao and the others were already conducting the investigation.

As Zhou Hai approached the dressing room, his eyes reddened again.

Xiao Liang, who was about to place a measurement scale, froze when he saw Zhou Hai.

“Brother Hai?”

Xu Biao glanced over. His eyes were already swollen from crying, but he shouted:

“Keep working! Take the photos first!”

Soon, Xu Biao walked over to Zhou Hai and Director Liu, avoiding Zhou Hai’s gaze as he showed them the photos.

“The dressing room wasn’t very messy. The killer was likely hiding inside in advance. We found overlapping footprints behind this clothes rack, and the suspect escaped through this door.”

“Director Huang and his team are checking the layout behind it.”

“We asked the staff—they only reopened last month after renovation. No one knew about this door or where it leads.”

Just then, Director Huang came back from behind the door.

“Behind this door is a three-meter corridor leading to a residential stairwell. There’s another security door there, directly opening into the building’s hallway.”

“But it seems the bridal studio’s operators didn’t know the purpose of this door. From the inside it’s completely invisible—no handle. Even the wallpaper edges were freshly cut.”

Director Liu nodded after hearing this.

This was clearly a meticulously planned scene. It didn’t look like a crime of passion.

He turned to Zhou Hai.

“Zhou Hai, when did you and Xixi decide to come here for wedding photos?”