"Afraid you'd run off," Nan Xiao said, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Did Zi Xin run away from home?"
Lan Yu Xi smiled and nodded. "It infuriated my eldest brother; I could even hear him grinding his teeth."
Nan Xiao curved his lips slightly. "He's probably just too worried about Zi Xin. Is there any problem with Zi Xin's pregnancy?"
The smile on Lan Yu Xi's face faltered. "With my second brother and me here, she and the baby will be fine."
Nan Xiao's expression instantly turned solemn. "Could it be that Zi Xin's health has deteriorated?"
Lan Yu Xi shook her head. "No problems, but the situation isn't great either. This child might be her only one. However, this is all what my second brother told me; I haven't seen Zi Xin yet. Don't worry, I'm here, and I'll definitely help her keep this pregnancy."
The last sentence was spoken to Nan Xiao, but also to herself. Lan Zi Xin had suffered so much for her; she had to do her utmost to protect her pregnancy!
Nan Xiao's eyes darkened, but upon meeting her resolute gaze, his mood brightened considerably. If she could save him, then Zi Xin and the baby would surely be safe with her around.
After dinner, everyone chatted for a while longer before gradually departing for home.
The Huo family, a grandfather and his two grandchildren, had arrived with heavy hearts, but left with improved moods. This was mainly because Nan Xiao, Lan Yu Xi, and Norcas showed no intention of blaming them.
However, this served as a wake-up call. They had considered their hospital's security and defense systems to be impregnable, but this incident had taught them a valuable lesson.
From that day on, Huo Ding continuously improved the hospital's security. As for the defense system, with Lan Yu Xi present, he had no worries.
He had no worries, but that didn't mean Lan Yu Xi didn't. It wasn't exactly fear, but rather the sudden appearance of a skilled opponent who had caught her off guard left her somewhat uneasy.
Early the next morning, Lan Yu Xi was awakened by an urgent phone call.
The call was from Ruan Si Zhe. This young man had been coming and going mysteriously lately and hadn't visited the Hillside Villa for some time. Seeing his name on the caller ID, Lan Yu Xi was quite pleased.
"Did the sun rise from the west this morning?" Lan Yu Xi said, pulling open the curtains to look outside.
Nan Xiao slowly opened his eyes and asked playfully, "The sun is in the west?"
Lan Yu Xi playfully kicked him, then asked Ruan Si Zhe on the phone, "Calling me this early, are you abroad?"
"No, I'm outside the main gate."
Lan Yu Xi paused slightly. "What are you doing standing outside? Come in quickly!"
Just then, a knock came from the door.
Nan Xiao frowned slightly, got out of bed, and opened the door.
The butler bowed apologetically. "Sir, Young Master Ruan is kneeling outside the main gate with a half-dead person. No matter how I try to persuade him, he won't get up."
Nan Xiao's brow furrowed with displeasure. "If he won't get up, let him kneel!"
"Get up, you disgrace!"
This roar came from the bedroom. Nan Xiao turned to look and saw his beloved wife getting out of bed, looking like she was about to charge out with her hair still disheveled.
Nan Xiao grabbed her. "Let him kneel for now. Go get yourself presentable before going out."
Lan Yu Xi rubbed her messy hair and stomped into the bathroom. Even while brushing her teeth, she didn't forget to curse into the phone.
Nan Xiao shook his head helplessly, sent the butler away, and went to the walk-in closet.
Five minutes later, they appeared before Ruan Si Zhe, dressed in matching couple's loungewear.
Seeing them emerge, Ruan Si Zhe straightened his back and knelt even more properly.
Lan Yu Xi ignored him and looked at the other man beside him, who was beaten black and blue.
"Tuomi?"
Upon hearing her name, Tuomi's body trembled violently. He cowered there, his face almost buried in the dirt.
Lan Yu Xi frowned slightly. "No matter what happened, both of you get up. Let's go inside and talk."
Ruan Si Zhe pursed his lips tightly. "Master, I was wrong. I should have kept him at the base forever instead of bringing him back when his time was up."
Lan Yu Xi narrowed her eyes, a realization dawning on her. She curved her lips into a cold smile and looked at Tuomi.
The next second, she acted, grabbing both big men by one arm each and throwing them inside.
With a "bang," the door slammed shut instantly.
This sound seemed to ignite the fuse of Lan Yu Xi's anger. She kicked Tuomi, who was already half-dead, sending him high into the air before he fell heavily to the ground.
Tuomi spat out a mouthful of blood and lost consciousness.
Lan Yu Xi's eyes turned crimson as she walked up to Tuomi. A golden needle landed, and Tuomi slowly opened his eyes.
Lan Yu Xi stomped on his face, her voice chillingly cold. "If you wanted me to return Bing Yan to Xiao Zhe, you could have told me. Instead, you chose another path, trying to threaten me with my children. A person with such a venomous heart doesn't deserve to return to the base; they deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces!"
Tuomi's eyes trembled, and then terror spread throughout his body.
Lan Yu Xi glanced at Ruan Si Zhe, who had resumed kneeling on the ground. Seeing that he didn't even look at Tuomi, she said coldly, "You, repeat what I told you back then to him."
Ruan Si Zhe frowned, biting his lip fiercely.
Lan Yu Xi gave him an annoyed kick. "If you can't even manage your own subordinates, how can I trust you with Bing Yan, which your father spent so many years painstakingly building?"
Ruan Si Zhe was kicked to the side but quickly knelt upright again. "I told you, I don't want it!"
Lan Yu Xi let out a scoff. "You don't want it, so who does? I'm only managing it for you temporarily. Do you think I care about that broken Bing Yan? Think about it, have I ever truly used Bing Yan in any of my major operations? Bing Yan is different from Mei Xi; I took in Mei Xi to rescue them from hardship. Bing Yan has its owner, but its owner is still too young. For Tuomi to do something like this to Zhao Zhao and Mu Mu, he deserves to be cut into pieces in my eyes. However, to you, his loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon. And Bing Yan has more than just him loyal to you; you're fortunate to have so many people who are devoted to you."
Nan Xiao had remained silent, staring intently at Tuomi. If looks could kill, Tuomi would have died a thousand times over by now.
How dare this person collude with outsiders to harm his children? Damn him!
And Ruan Si Zhe and his father deserved to die even more!
If it weren't for his father's insistence on giving Bing Yan to Xi Bao, and his inability to control his subordinates, Zhao Zhao and Mu Mu wouldn't have been in danger.
Fortunately, his children were strong. If they were ordinary children, they would likely be gone by now. And at this moment, he wasn't staring at this villain; he was already on his way to slaughter Bing Yan.