Chapter 328: He Is My Partner

Every detail of what happened in Lin Shutong's hospital room reached Ke Zhongyu and Jiang Lai's ears.

They also knew about Shen Xun sending the evidence.

"Not enough," Jiang Lai said. "It's insufficient to convict Lin Shutong, even for attempted murder."

Ke Zhongyu, however, discerned something else: "Something's not right."

Jiang Lai looked at him: "What's not right?"

Ke Zhongyu: "Lin Shutong isn't this smart. There's someone else behind her."

In the living room, everyone's gaze turned in unison toward Ke Zhongyu.

Ke Zhongying was the first to voice the question: "Someone else? Her parents already went back to the northwest, and the Ji Family isn't looking after her anymore, are they? Shen Xun goes without saying—killing her would have been a mercy he only refrained from out of respect for the law. Gu Zhiyan wouldn't do this kind of thing either; even though he's had conflicts with his family, he still keeps the entire Gu Family in mind. If he did anything illegal or disciplinary, he'd truly become the Gu Family's sinner."

Chi Ce nodded in agreement.

He couldn't think of who else it could be either.

Jiang Lai, however, thought of someone: "Uncle Lu?"

Ke Zhongyu shook his head: "No. Lu Hongyuan values profit—whoever can bring him substantial profit, he helps, and once the profit is gone, he drops them without hesitation. With Ji Lao's incident, Lin Shutong is already useless to him."

"Besides, the one in trouble this time is me."

Yuan Shu Technology wouldn't dare provoke the Ke Clan.

Even if Lu Hongyuan had ten Yuan Shu Technologies under him, they couldn't shake the massive Ke Group.

A profit-driven person wouldn't throw an egg at a stone.

Jiang Lai couldn't think of anyone else.

Ke Zhongying and Chi Ce also shook their heads.

Ke Zhongying suddenly said: "Song Nvshi came to A City? Then wouldn't Mom and Dad have to host her? Wouldn't they call us along?"

The phone call came the next second.

Ke Zhongying: "..."

She tapped the speakerphone: "Hi, Mom, I'm at my brother's place."

Ms. Nian: "I know. Come back for a bit, we're going to take someone out to dinner."

Ke Zhongying: "Song Nvshi?"

Ms. Nian: "Mm, she and Yin Xue arrived in A City today."

Ke Zhongying glanced at her brother and Sister Jiang Lai: "Then, what about my brother?"

"Why would someone with a girlfriend go?" Ms. Nian knew what everyone was worried about—what were they afraid of? Her children would always have her standing over them. "Your brother should go to the hospital for a follow-up today too."

Ke Zhongying was about to say the follow-up was tomorrow, but quickly caught on and nodded repeatedly: "Right, right, right—Brother, you need to go to the hospital for a follow-up today. Go check if your concussion has healed. Your brain isn't just your brain—it's the brain of the entire Ke Clan. Nothing can happen to it."

Ke Zhongyu seized the moment: "I'll go today."

Jiang Lai immediately said: "Okay."

Ke Zhongyu gave a sudden smile, and everyone was baffled.

It wasn't until they were in the car heading to the hospital that Ke Zhongyu gently hooked Jiang Lai's fingers and asked her in a low voice: "Were you worried I'd be called to the dinner too?"

Saying she wasn't worried would be a lie.

Even though Jiang Lai hadn't lost any ground in front of Gu Zhiyan, his words still affected her.

The Nian Family and the Gu Family had a marriage agreement.

Mentioning marriage agreements in the new era seems laughable, but the truth is, marriage alliances are the most direct and effective way for wealthy and powerful families to consolidate their interests.

Ke Zhongyu's father was once a generation's head of the Ke Family, and Ms. Nian was even more progressive in her thinking—yet they too were a family marriage alliance.

"What are you thinking about?" Ke Zhongyu squeezed her fingers a little harder, naturally interlacing their fingers together.

Jiang Lai noticed that Ke Zhongyu always took the initiative to hold her hand tightly; she curled her fingers and gripped back, saying just one word: "You."

What was she thinking about?

You.

Ke Zhongyu's Adam's apple bobbed. Silently, he drew her hand onto his lap and left it there.

Jiang Lai's lips curved slightly.

After the follow-up, Ke Zhongyu had no major issues. The injuries on his forehead and hand hadn't fully healed yet, but he no longer needed gauze or bandages; he still had to keep applying medicine.

Jiang Lai thanked President Chi.

President Chi smiled and nodded, then asked the two an unrelated question: "Does President Ke and Dr. Jiang know what's been happening with Chi Ce lately?"

Jiang Lai: "Hmm?"

President Chi: "He's suddenly become driven. He's preparing to work on a research project in pharmaceutical development. Five years ago, his mother and I intended to send him to D Country to study at a top-tier biomedical school, but during his layover he suddenly came back, saying he didn't want to go anymore. Recently he's taken an interest again and become hardworking and ambitious."

Ke Zhongyu's eyes shifted slightly as he replied: "The person who made him turn back midway is the same one making him driven now."

President Chi understood instantly: "So that's it."

Walking out of the hospital with the examination report in hand, Jiang Lai asked Ke Zhongyu: "The person Doctor Chi likes?"

Ke Zhongyu nodded and directly answered her question: "Fu Youqing."

Jiang Lai's footsteps paused.

She quickly realized—on the cruise, Chi Ce had followed closely behind Fu Youqing; at the Medical Hall, Chi Ce knew Fu Youqing's habits perfectly and looked after her with obvious care; and then there was the strange atmosphere between Chi Ce and Fu Daxiaojie these past few days.

So that's it.

Then what happened five years ago?

"Five years ago, Fu Youqing fell seriously ill. Chi Ce couldn't stop worrying, and the moment his plane landed at the layover airport, he immediately came back."

Ke Zhongyu seemed to always know what she was thinking. Jiang Lai looked up at him, gazing at the man's handsome profile.

Noticing Jiang Lai watching him, Ke Zhongyu spoke with even more animation.

"There's a saying circulating among the D Country international student circle: the three years studying abroad in D Country are the most unforgettable seven years of the five years of your life. Chi Ce went there—who knows when he'll be able to graduate and come back."

Jiang Lai nodded slightly: "Doctor Chi, aren't you supposed to continue?"

Ke Zhongyu: "He will definitely avoid D Country."

Jiang Lai thought it made sense.

After getting in the car, she told Ke Zhongyu: "I need to go home; Ping'an has already returned today."

Although Ke Zhongyu was reluctant, he still respected her.

After all, he hadn't yet brought her into his family as his wife, so it was only natural for Jiang Lai to return to her own home.

This time they didn't take the Hongqi Car Car Car Car; it was a silver‑black Cullinan, and the vehicle was stopped outside the guard booth.

Ke Zhongyu and Jiang Lai got out of the car, preparing to go on foot.

Suddenly, Jiang Lai stopped and told the guard: "I'd like to register another person and a vehicle's information."

Ke Zhongyu's expression paused slightly, as if he realized something.

The guard let them in and asked: "Are you registering this vehicle?"

Jiang Lai nodded: "Yes."

She looked at Ke Zhongyu: "I need you to enter the information—the car's model and color, as well as your personal details."

Ke Zhongyu paused briefly, then quickly reported all the information; his speech was so fast that the guard couldn't keep up with the typing.

The guard said: "Sir, don't rush."

Ke Zhongyu, whose thoughts had been seen through: "……"

Jiang Lai lowered her eyes, pressed her lips together, and gave a silent smile.

After Ke Zhongyu repeated everything and the registration was complete, the guard asked Jiang Lai: "May I ask what your relationship is?"

Ke Zhongyu's breath hitched slightly.

Jiang Lai: "Partner."

When Jiang Lai lightly uttered the two words "partner" instead of the commonly used "lover," the air suddenly fell silent.

The man's body stiffened slightly, his heart feeling as if it had been struck heavily, stirring up a storm of shock.

"Lover" is a shallow, superficial title, while "partner" is a weighty, soul‑deep commitment.

Ke Zhongyu had never imagined Jiang Lai would use that word to define their relationship.

Surprise, shock, and an involuntary stirring surged in his heart, and Ke Zhongyu's eyes welled with an uncontainable flutter and desire.