Zhao Min's announcement confirming Chen Mo's safety quickly spread across the globe via livestreams and news headlines. The news that he was safe brought mixed emotions.
To Chen Mo's enemies, his death would've meant the collapse of the Marching Ant Company—its core lost, the company scattered and weakened, ripe for the taking.
To friends and partners, any harm to Chen Mo would have been devastating. Fortunately, Zhao Min publicly confirmed that he had returned safely, which helped ease global tensions.
Still, Zhao Min hadn't shared any specific details. Chen Mo hadn't appeared publicly, either. That left room for all kinds of speculation about his actual condition.
Within a few hours, rumors flooded the internet.
Some claimed that Chen Mo had been seriously injured and was now recovering in the hospital, unable to appear.
Others speculated that he had been kidnapped and had only returned after agreeing to the attackers' demands—how else could one explain his sudden disappearance and return?
Despite the swirling rumors, the Marching Ant Company remained silent. From top to bottom, no one dared reveal any details about Chen Mo.
At the center of the storm, Chen Mo sat quietly at Xiao Yu's bedside. His face was drawn and tense.
Xiao Yu still hadn't woken up, and the rage inside him simmered with nowhere to go.
He had been sitting there for hours. Only now did he truly understand the helplessness Xiao Yu must have felt waiting at his bedside when he was unconscious.
It was half past one in the afternoon. Earlier, he had spoken with Zhao Min and the security team.
Four of his men had died. Three others were injured.
White Pearl was in critical condition, still in the ICU. Anan had taken two bullets, but thankfully none had struck vital organs. Another team member had suffered minor injuries in the vehicle collision. Wang Hai and Black Hawk were at the police station, assisting with the investigation.
Chen Mo didn't expect the police to uncover anything. The attackers weren't ordinary criminals, and with all of them now dead, there were no leads to follow. He could only rely on himself.
He had already instructed Mo Nu to begin tracking down the identities of the attackers and uncover the organization behind them. Once he found out who was responsible, he wouldn't show mercy.
"Husband…"
A soft voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Chen Mo turned quickly. Xiao Yu had opened her eyes, her pale, bloodless face stirring emotions he couldn't suppress.
"You're awake… that's great."
Chen Mo forced down his emotions and put on a gentle smile. He didn't want her to see the storm raging inside him.
"I'm not dreaming, am I?" Xiao Yu weakly reached out and touched his face.
"Nope. You can feel me, can't you? Definitely not a dream." Chen Mo gently rubbed his arm and held her hand.
"I dreamed you were taken away by bad people…"
"It was just a dream. The opposite of reality. Your husband's not so easy to catch," he joked softly, cradling her hand. The wave of relief—losing her and then getting her back—made his eyes sting.
"I knew you'd be okay."
Chen Mo leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I still have you to take care of. How could I let anything happen to me?"
"Mm." Xiao Yu smiled faintly, bringing a touch of life to her pale features. "I'm thirsty."
"I'll get you some water."
Chen Mo stood up, legs numb from sitting too long, nearly stumbling as he rushed to pour a glass. "It's a bit warm—careful."
He helped prop her up and gently held the cup to her lips.
Xiao Yu took a few sips, then looked at him quietly.
"What is it? Does it still hurt?"
Xiao Yu shook her head slightly. "No. I just wanted to see you."
"You'll be seeing me every day."
Chen Mo reached out and brushed the stray hair from her face, gently stroking her cheek. Suddenly remembering something, he pressed the call button on the bed. "Let's have the doctor come check on you."
Not long after, Dr. Liu Xueqin entered with a nurse. Zhao Min and Xiao Yu's best friend, Li Ruoxi, followed close behind.
Both women broke into relieved smiles upon seeing Xiao Yu awake, but they kept quiet while Dr. Liu began her checkup.
A few minutes later, she removed her stethoscope.
"She's stable now. With rest and proper care, she'll recover well. Just be sure not to use her left arm too much—avoid reopening the wound. Also, keep it dry."
"Understood." Chen Mo nodded gratefully.
After sharing the necessary precautions, Dr. Liu and the nurse left the room, leaving only Chen Mo, Zhao Min, Li Ruoxi, and Xiao Yu.
"Xiao Yu, you really scared us." Zhao Min and Li Ruoxi sat by her side.
Li Ruoxi, her best friend, knew everything about her. Zhao Min, more like a sister than a friend, was equally shaken.
Xiao Yu smiled faintly. "Sorry for making you worry."
"Weren't you wearing a bulletproof vest? How did you get hurt?"
"Bad luck. The shot hit my exposed arm," Xiao Yu replied weakly. "But I was lucky it didn't hit anything vital. Honestly, I thought I was going to die."
"Don't say that…" Zhao Min whispered.
Chen Mo didn't join the conversation—he just sat nearby, watching quietly.
Suddenly, the door opened again.
Chen Mo's parents entered, followed by Zhen Zhen's family, Xiao Yu's parents, and her sister, Xiao Man. Behind them was a familiar figure: Li Chengzhi.
Thankfully, the intensive care room was spacious enough to accommodate the group. Zhao Min and Li Ruoxi moved aside to make space.
"Sis!"
"Xiao Yu!"
Her mother, Wang Lan, and sister Xiao Man hurried over. Wang Lan's eyes welled with tears. He Zhenhua's eyes were red too, but he held back.
"Dad, Mom, Xiao Man—you're all here." Xiao Yu smiled faintly at her family.
"Xiao Yu's injuries aren't serious, right?" Chen Mo's mother, Shao Xuemei, approached the bed anxiously.
"Don't worry, Mom. She's going to be okay," Chen Mo reassured her.
"You still have the nerve to talk? Are your wings grown so hard you don't even call home anymore? You sent a message—your phone was off—and if we hadn't seen the news, we'd still be in the dark! Do you know how scared we and Xiao Yu's parents were?"
Chen Mo could only stand there and take the scolding.
He'd lost his phone, and with all the chaos and worry about Xiao Yu, he had completely forgotten to contact his family. He had no excuse.
"Alright, alright. Xiao Yu's still recovering—don't stress her," said Chen Shanhe, stepping in to mediate.
"Xiao Mo, your mother cried the entire way here," Zhang Yang said softly, coming up beside him. "Next time, at least call home, or everyone'll go crazy with worry."
"…Understood," Chen Mo said sincerely.
Shao Xuemei didn't continue scolding. Instead, she brought out the soup she had prepared and fed a bowl to Xiao Yu.
Surrounded by so many loved ones, Chen Mo quietly stepped back, letting them dote on her while he stood by.
Then, Li Chengzhi approached him. "Step outside for a chat?"
"Sure."
After comforting Xiao Yu and saying a few words to the family, Chen Mo left the ward with Li Chengzhi. Everyone understood that Li Chengzhi's identity was special, so no one stopped them.