Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Based on the evidence gathered over these days, the police confirmed that the intentional hit-and-run case was a criminal scheme carried out jointly by Zhen Kechuan, Xiao Jianren, and the oil tanker driver. Only Zhen Kechuan was still at large.
Xiao Jianren never imagined that Ye Junwen would not only completely distance himself from the incident but also found a scapegoat. No matter how she tried to explain to the police that Ye Junwen was the mastermind behind the scenes, she was at a loss for words in the face of the evidence.
Moreover, regardless of whether the person who instructed her was Ye Junwen or not, she could not escape the fact that she had committed a crime.
Although the police could not determine if there was any grudge between Zhen Kechuan and Ye Jinchen or the Ye family, Zhen Kechuan had ruthlessly killed many innocent people in the past. With this incident pinned on him, any suspicion seemed reasonable.
On the other side, news of Ye's Group's heir being critically injured in a car accident had already spread far and wide. Some reporters even snuck into the intensive care unit with micro-cameras to take unauthorized photos, only to be caught red-handed by the guards stationed nearby.
To curry favor with Ye's Group, some businesspeople would often visit the hospital or the group's headquarters under the guise of paying a visit, bringing many gifts. However, they were all stopped directly by the guards or security staff.
Due to a cast on her right hand and the need for bed rest to recover from her rib injuries, Ye Jinmeng was unable to attend the school's final exams. Considering her situation, the school allowed her to return and take make-up exams after fully recovering.
Xu Wanwan had finished her exams and officially started her winter break. She did not plan to return to her hometown of Linyun City and instead stayed by Ye Jinmeng's side.
Shi Shuning, as both a student and a newly entrepreneurial boss, shuttled between school and company every day and then found time in the evening to accompany Ye Jinmeng, causing him to lose a significant amount of weight.
Ye Jinmeng felt terrible about it. "Shuning, you don't have to come here every day to keep me company. My mom and Wanwan are taking turns caring for me. Aren't you worried?"
Shi Shuning kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, my dear. I have to see you every day to feel at ease."
He was truly scared. In just two or three months, his Meng had been injured twice. If possible, he wished he could take all her pain upon himself.
Ye Jinmeng caressed his cheek, comforting him, "Don't worry, Shuning. The doctor said I'm recovering quite quickly. As long as I don't engage in strenuous exercise, it basically won't affect my recovery."
She lowered her head, her voice muffled, "I just don't know how my brother is doing. My parents won't let me go see him."
Shi Shuning felt a pang of sadness thinking about the person still lying unconscious in the intensive care unit.
"Meng, don't worry. Jinchen is doing well. I'll take you to see him in a few days, okay?"
Ye Jinmeng pursed her lips and could only nod.
"Good girl, it's getting late. You should rest now. I'll stay here with you tonight."
"Okay, you should rest well too, Shuning."
...
Ye Jinchen was surrounded by darkness.
He didn't know where he was or why he was there, or even how long he had been there. He just wanted to get out of the darkness as quickly as possible, not caring what lay ahead. He groped forward, running relentlessly.
When he grew tired from running, he walked slowly. When he couldn't walk anymore, he sat down to rest for a while, then continued running forward.
"Ye Jinchen."
Suddenly, a very familiar voice called out his name from the distance. Ye Jinchen thought he was hallucinating and ignored it, continuing forward.
"Ye Jinchen."
"Who is it?" Ye Jinchen abruptly stopped, looking around warily in the darkness.
The person chuckled lightly, "Don't be afraid. Like you, I am also Ye Jinchen."
"Oh, no, I should say, I am you, and you are me. We are the same person."
Ye Jinchen frowned, his voice solemn, "What do you mean? If you have the guts, come out. Don't hide there and act all mysterious!"
Suddenly, a small speck of light appeared in the distance, gradually growing larger and closer to Ye Jinchen.
After being in the darkness for so long, the sudden brightness was blinding. Ye Jinchen raised his arm to shield his eyes. After a moment, when his eyes adjusted to the brightness, he slowly lowered his arm.
Ye Jinchen saw the person clearly and his eyes widened in shock. The person looked exactly like him.
From physical appearance to voice, they were identical replicas of each other.
The only difference was that the other person was shrouded in black mist, with a fierce gaze in his eyes.
"Surprised?" The person sneered at Ye Jinchen.
"Who are you?" Ye Jinchen didn't believe there could be someone completely identical to him in this world.
"I already told you, I am you, and we are both Ye Jinchen."
Seeing Ye Jinchen's disbelieving expression, the person shook his head, "Tsk, don't tell me you're still unaware of your situation!"
"You have already left your physical body. Now you're just a wandering spirit, and I am the other soul that will take over your body."
Ye Jinchen was stunned by his words, stumbling back a few steps. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his head, and he bent over, clutching his seemingly exploding skull as images flooded his mind.
He remembered now. He went to pick up Meng and encountered a tanker truck running a red light. In the split second before the tanker hit, he shielded Meng.
Thinking of this, Ye Jinchen heaved a sigh of relief. Meng should not have been too seriously injured.
Then he... was dead?
No, that couldn't be possible. If he died, how devastated his grandparents, parents, and Meng would be.
"Remembered now?" The person observed Ye Jinchen's expression, realizing he had recalled everything.
"So, am I really dead?" Ye Jinchen stared at his palms, yet everything seemed so real.
"Not entirely dead yet. After all, I still need to be reborn in your... no, our body."
"What do you mean?" Ye Jinchen's head snapped up. Reborn? What did he mean by being reborn in his body?
The person sighed, "Let me tell you the truth. You and I are both Ye Jinchen, the exact same person."
"The only difference is that we exist in different dimensions. I am you, one year after your death."
Ye Jinchen was confused. "One year after I die? Why would I die again a year later?"
The person let out a cold laugh, "How else would I die, if not by Ye Jinmeng's own hands?"
At the mention of Ye Jinmeng's name, the black mist around the person grew thicker.
"You're talking nonsense!" Meng was so pure and innocent, always cherished by him. How could she possibly kill him?
"Nonsense? Ha ha!" The person laughed as if he had heard a joke, waving his hand to conjure an illusory world before Ye Jinchen's eyes.
"Open your eyes wide and see if I'm really talking nonsense!"
In an instant, numerous visions appeared before Ye Jinchen's eyes.
