Chapter 46: The Prey Rescued

The so-called special ward, or rather the high-end ward, was more like a heavily guarded sickroom. Four bodyguards stood watch outside the door, allowing entry only to medical staff. Even the meals were delivered by designated personnel. With such strict security, not even a fly could get in, let alone anyone trying to pry inside.

Shang Ran and A Fei stood at the corner of the corridor. She peeked out and looked toward the right front. The four muscular female bodyguards stood motionless on either side of the door, like gatekeepers, forbidding anyone unrelated from approaching even an inch.

"Damn! Even a head of state wouldn't be watched this closely, right? Luckily, I came prepared; otherwise, just getting in would be a problem." Shang Ran tugged at her ill-fitting white coat and cursed under her breath. Her bluntness made A Fei frown repeatedly. Coming from a cultured family, Shang Ran’s swearing was surprisingly fluent and unapologetic.

“Even heads of state might not get this treatment. You’d better back off now; otherwise, we’ll both get stuck here today,” A Fei warned. He had never seen such a grand setup for a single internal medicine ward and was already regretting coming along. Seeing Shang Ran hesitate, he decided to back out as well.

But Shang Ran glanced forward once more and let out a long sigh. She had come all this way; how could she retreat now? Besides, this was the person she had set her sights on—she couldn’t return empty-handed.

“They’re all here. We can’t come for nothing. Let’s go!” She put on her white mask and turned to A Fei.

The white coat fit A Fei well, and with his slender figure, he looked the part. Resigned, he pulled the mask hanging around his neck over his face. Holding the prepared ward inspection records, they steadied themselves and walked out from the corner with heads held high.

At the end of the long examination room corridor, there was only one ward, heavily guarded at the entrance.

Before they could approach, the female bodyguards blocked their way.

“This is the Dugou family’s private ward. Only the attending doctor may enter; others are prohibited,” one of the bodyguards said coldly. The Dugou family had anticipated potential intruders and barred all medical personnel except the attending doctor.

Shang Ran stared at the towering guard but couldn’t find a word to say.

“We are Dr. Fang’s assistants. She has surgery today and can’t make the ward rounds. She asked us to check on Young Master Dugou’s condition first. To avoid unnecessary trouble, we need to conduct some examinations to ensure tomorrow’s surgery goes smoothly,” A Fei smoothly delivered the rehearsed explanation.

The bodyguard eyed them suspiciously but didn’t voice her doubts. Everyone involved knew about Young Master Dugou’s situation and the unexpected circumstances. Though skeptical of these two in white coats, she seemed partially convinced.

“Wait here!” the lead guard said coldly, pulling out a communicator from her waist and dialing. Soon she connected to the hospital’s medical department.

After asking some questions and receiving affirmative replies, she said, “Understood. I will let them in,” then closed the device.

Shang Ran’s tightly clenched heart relaxed when she heard “I will let them in.” She exchanged a glance with A Fei, noticing a trace of contempt behind his smile; this man was no ordinary rogue.

“I have confirmed with Dr. Fang. You may enter, but don’t stay too long,” the guard warned, maintaining her stern expression.

Shang Ran smiled and replied, “Understood.”

A Fei shot her a look from the side, wondering why she was smiling. With her face half-covered by the mask, no one could see it. Besides, the guard was a woman, not a man—what was there to laugh about?

Shang Ran didn’t care. Under the guard’s sharp gaze, she pushed open the ward door and stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, the curtains half-drawn. Were it not for her keen eyesight, she might not have seen the exact location of the bed.

“Young Master Dugou?” Shang Ran whispered.

If not for Tang providing some information, she wouldn’t have known she was after the eldest son of the Dugou family, Dugou Yi, nor that he had been brought here for artificial insemination—a detail she had never suspected.

Collecting her fleeting thoughts, she called out again, but no response came. Only faint, even breathing filled the air, suggesting he was uninjured.

A Fei peered through the gap in the curtains and saw someone lying on the bed near the window. Following the light, he walked over and drew the curtain back further.

By the time he turned around, Shang Ran had already reached the bedside.

The person under the white sheet had eyes gently closed and was breathing evenly—he was asleep. Even in slumber, he was strikingly handsome and serene.

A Fei was captivated by the sleeping beauty and bent down to see if he was real.

Shang Ran placed a finger on Dugou Yi’s nose and felt his breath, allowing her some relief.

“He’s under Huyu Sleep—a drug harmless to the body but induces deep sleep,” A Fei said after observing Dugou Yi for a while. His brow furrowed. Though the drug didn’t harm the body, it damaged the brain. Such medication was generally banned in hospitals. How could it be here?

Shang Ran looked up, unfamiliar with Huyu Sleep but sensing something from A Fei’s expression.

“He’s the eldest son of the Dugou family, right? Why would they use such a drug on him?” Given his status, it was unlikely anyone would drug him willingly.

“I don’t know. Maybe someone doesn’t want him to know certain things. Or perhaps he wasn’t here by his own choice,” A Fei suggested. Those with brains could guess a bit. Only someone like Shang Ran—who had lived a comfortable life—might think so simplistically.

Shang Ran looked at the man on the bed. By her experience, beneath that thin sheet lay a completely naked body. What a predicament.

“Let’s take him with us. Though he was unfriendly when we first met, I remember his gentle wife vividly. She probably doesn’t know he’s here,” Shang Ran speculated. Despite her fondness for the handsome man, what left a deeper impression was his wife and her devoted love. No woman would cherish and protect her husband so fully unless there was more to this suffering. Something was amiss.

“How do you know his wife is unaware? He’s from a wealthy family. He must give back something for what he receives,” A Fei muttered behind his mask, his tone tinged with resentment. He believed his lowly origins justified his hardship and scorn.

“A Fei!” Shang Ran sighed, seeing no point in their debate. When he remained frozen, she took matters into her own hands.

She lifted the sheet. Beneath lay a body as white as jade. Halfway through, she realized her boldness—after all, she was a woman.

Lowering the sheet, she looked at A Fei.

“A Fei, take off one layer of your clothes. We can’t have him going out like this.” She wondered what the hospital’s doctors were thinking. Even before surgery, they should have put some clothes on him.

A Fei glared at her but relented after a moment, puffing his cheeks. “Turn around!”

Shang Ran was puzzled. Why did he want her to turn away?

“I’m changing his clothes. You want to see the husband’s private parts?” he teased.

Shang Ran opened her mouth but, knowing she liked beautiful men but wouldn’t touch a married one, she immediately turned and took a few steps toward the door to prove her innocence.

A Fei stared at her back for a moment, then removed his outer white coat. He wore two layers underneath; taking off one wasn’t a big deal.

He lifted the sheet and dressed Dugou Yi. The young man’s skin was flawless—smooth as a newborn’s.

The room wasn’t brightly lit, but the existing light was enough for A Fei to see clearly. Dugou Yi’s body was impeccable—hair was sparse, and even his private parts were clean and pristine. If not for Shang Ran mentioning his marriage, one might think he was still a virgin.

After dressing him and helping him sit up, Dugou Yi remained asleep.

“All done!”

Hearing this, Shang Ran turned around and saw Dugou Yi leaning against A Fei. She blinked but quickly remembered—they had no plan to get him out.

Their plan only covered getting inside, not carrying an unconscious person out.

“How do we get him out?” A Fei asked. Outside were bodyguards. Though this was only the second floor, carrying an unconscious man past guards was no easy feat.

Just then—knock, knock.

Their dilemma was interrupted by a knock on the window. Startled, they looked over. Shang Ran’s eyes widened.

Without hesitation, she went to the window. Though tightly sealed, it could be opened from inside. As she slid it open, someone climbed in through the window.

A Fei, with his back to the window, hadn’t seen the newcomer’s face.

“Why are you like this?” Shang Ran’s voice rose slightly, then quickly lowered.

“I was locked up by them. If not for Sister Qin—never mind that. Yi!” Before A Fei could understand, the weight in his arms shifted. The person he was holding was replaced.

He glared at the woman carefully cradling Dugou Yi. Disheveled and in wrinkled, torn clothes, who was she? How dare she hold such a perfect man so intimately?

He looked at Shang Ran, whose face was full of relief.

“She’s his wife,” Shang Ran explained, sensing A Fei’s intense gaze.

A Fei snorted and glanced outside, suddenly remembering something.

“Dr. Fang will be here soon. Hurry, figure out how to get out.” The sun was setting, and Tang could only buy so much time. No time for sentimentality, A Fei urged.

“We can’t use the front door. Through the window—help me,” Gu Xinyao said weakly. Her condition was poor after being locked up and drugged by Dugou Muqing. Only her strong will enabled her to hold out until Qin Rou rescued her.

Shang Ran nodded. Gu Xinyao went out first, then Shang Ran and A Fei lowered Dugou Yi down using a makeshift net made from bedsheets. Luckily, this was a private residence with no guards outside on the first floor—otherwise, their plan would have failed.

Just as Dugou Yi was about to reach Gu Xinyao’s hands, footsteps approached outside. Dr. Fang’s voice came from the door: “I’m here to do the ward rounds.”

Shang Ran cursed silently but didn’t stop. She quickly released the sheet and pushed the bed against the door to block it.

She pulled A Fei and pointed to the window.

A Fei understood and nimbly climbed down the exterior drainpipe to the ground. Shang Ran glanced back at the ward door, now hearing the door being pushed open. When it wouldn’t budge, those outside might start banging. For some reason, she didn’t feel fear—only excitement.

She didn’t jump down immediately but waited until the door burst open, then waved toward the doorway and swiftly leapt from the window.

Dr. Fang entered with the bodyguards, reaching the window only to find no one.

She slapped the windowsill, sending up a cloud of dust.

“Go search outside!” she ordered sharply, pointing to the dense woods beyond.

“Yes, ma’am!” The bodyguards, uneasy that their charge had escaped, hurried out to search.

“I won’t let you run away so easily.” Dr. Fang removed her mask, revealing the woman Dugou Muqing had shown Gu Xinyao as the one overseeing the artificial insemination. She stood by the window, a cold smile curling her lips.

Author’s note: I feel like something about this chapter isn’t quite right, but I haven’t quite caught it myself. o(n_n)o~