13 The Only Target

"Breathe. Stay focused."

"The most important weapon in defending yourself is your presence of mind. Keep your mind in control!"

"Time is running out."

Rushi tried to gasp some air. The voice of Grandpa Lihong playing in her head. Take charge! Counter attack!

She gathered her strength and slammed her fist into the man's Adam's apple. The man's iron grip broke. Rushi gasped for air painfully, a few times. She slid her feet near her butt, and drove her hips upwards, making her captor lose his balance. She hooked her arm to the man's arm, trapped his foot and immediately flipped him on the ground. She clenched her fist tightly and punched the man's face as hard as she can. She felt her stomach clenched at the feel of the bones crunching. She repeated her assault thrice and stopped when the guy went limp, moaning and bleeding. Her hands trembling, Rushi inspected the body for weapon, she found a handgun and took it. She ran towards Qingshan and Han. The gunshots and screaming drew closer. She came right in time as Qingshan aim to the man in front of him, before she could see the shot, a hand covered her eyes and turned her around. "Miss Rushi, are you hurt?" Secretary Han's voice floated through her ears.

She stood absolutely still. The bloody faces from her dreams keep flashing in her mind. She heard a cry in a voice raw with terror. Warm hands cupped her cheeks and she was brought back to the present. Qingshan's worried face greeted her. His face had few cuts and fresh blood trickled at the side, his clothes were in disarray, stark red painted parts of his shirt. She blinked rapidly, she felt tears flooded her eyes.

"They hurt you." Qingshan stated while examining her injuries. He lifted her chin slightly and his face darken when he saw bruises forming on her neck. Adrenaline running out, Rushi felt the pain, fear and exhaustion all over her body. An anguished sob came out her lips. Qingshan gently wrapped her in his arms. "Shh. You're okay. I've got you."

Rushi burrowed her face against his chest, clinging tightly with the last strength she got. Her entire body racked with the force of her sobs.

"Qingshan, I called our team, they are coming. They said that someone messed up the GPS in our phone and car." Secretary Han said hoarsely.

"I'll find out who did this and make sure that they will pay tenfold of what they did." Qingshan gritted through his teeth, his tone as cold as ice.

Qingshan felt Rushi's body sagged and felt her full weight. He checked her pulse and sighed with relief when he felt the strong thrumming. Qingshan lifted her carefully and settled themselves inside their wrecked SUV. He put her head on his lap and brushed his thumb in her cheeks erasing the trace of tears. When he regained his consciousness a while ago and saw Han but didn't see Rushi anywhere, he felt scared for the first time after two years. The only thing he could think is: Where is she? Is she hurt? Is she still alive? He saw the men walking away from them laughing and he saw red. He jumped the man near him, adrenaline pumping his veins he didn't care how many of them he fought. Fortunately Han became conscious and helped him. He didn't know how Rushi came back safely but he's grateful. Thinking about the information he got from Han, Qingshan clenched his jaw. His lunch with Rushi was not planned. Someone must be watching them from the start. They knew about his guards and made sure they were separated from them. Attacking in the middle of the day, not afraid of being caught by the police. Someone's giving a warning. They didn't care if their plan work or not. They were sending a message. Qingshan froze, the men from before were trying to leave him and Han. They are not the target. Qingshan looked to the woman in his arms. They only had one target: Ying Rushi.

When Rushi regained her consciousness, she didn't know where she is. She tried to move but her body was not cooperating. Her mind was hazy, she felt like she was trapped. She opened her eyes but the lights were blinding her vision. She struggled to get up but hands hold her down. Low voices speaking over her, she remembered the man who attacked her. They caught me! Feeling her throat closing in, she keep trashing her body to escape. The voices around her got louder.

"Monitor her vital signs."

"Check her pupils..."

"Haloperidol 10mg IV stat."

Rushi's body became weak and her eyelids felt heavy.

Tut-tut-tut

Why is her alarm clock beeping? She still want to sleep for another five minutes. Rushi's eyes snapped open. A cry out sounded on her left side and she saw Huifang and Lijie sitting on a couch near her bed.

"Rushi! Oh my gosh! Lijie call the nurse!" Huifang strode towards her bedside. "Hey! How are you feeling?"

"Where am I?" Rushi croaked, her throat felt so dry.

"You're in the hospital. You've been here for almost 2 days. You woke up three times but still disoriented. Your doctors said that the results of your CT scan and X-rays were good. They want you to stay here for observation to make sure that you don't have a concussion." Huifang put her hand in her left arm careful not to touch the intravenous line.

"Where's Father?"

"He went out a while ago, he said he's going to meet someone and will comeback immediately."

Rushi sighed, both she and her father hate hospital. A lot of awful memories resurfaced everytime she comes here.

A knock on the door caught her attention, a nurse came in with Lijie trailing behind her.

"Miss Ying, how are you? I'm Leilan your nurse for today."

"The left part of my head and body hurts but tolerable."

"From the scale of 1-10, how would you rate your pain?"

"6 to 7"

"Okay, I'll give your pain medication later so that you'll feel comfortable. Can you give me your full name? And age?"

"Ying Rushi. 23 y/o."

The nurse continued to assessed her and checked her vital signs. She put Rushi into sitting position and offered her a glass of water. She adjusted the drips of her IV fluid and gave her pain medication.

"It's good that you are fully awake now. I'll update your Doctor and your Neurologist so that they can check you. Just press the white button at your bedside table if you need anything. Okay?" Leilan smiled.

"Okay. Thank you Nurse Leilan," Rushi winced as she tried to move.

"Don't overdo it," Leilan reminded her as she help her and exited the room after.

"How did this happen?"

Rushi looked at Lijie, his face clouded with worry. "I don't know. If I'm not in pain right now I'll think that it is all just a dream."

Lijie scowled. "It's because of that Jian Qingshan!"

A horrified expression crossed Rushi's face. She grabbed Lijie's arm tightly. "How's Qingshan and Secretary Han? Are they okay?"

Lijie scowled deepened. "They are both okay. Worry about yourself. You're not supposed to get hurt, if only you didn't go with them."

"Stop it, Lijie!" Huifang glared at their friend and resumed her seat beside Rushi's bed. "They are all victims."

"That man is dangerous! He has a lot of enemies! Of course, it's not surprising that someone wants him dead!" Lijie snapped.

Rushi worried her dry lip, a scenario kept playing in her mind.

"I am their target," Rushi said evenly, surprised of how calm her voice is.

Both of her friends stared at her with troubled look.

"Rushi, what are you saying?" Huifang asked.

"I heard them. They said that they need me"

"Is that why your father assigned you bodyguards? I thought it's because you got hurt and he doesn't want that to happen again. Are you really in danger now?" Huifang voice rose with anxiety.

Thoroughly confused, Rushi gave her friends a questioning look. "Bodyguards?"

"Yes. Your father brought them in, the day you were attacked. They are here now, guarding outside your room," Lijie stated.

"They said you already know them. They are En and Jun," Huifang added.