Chapter 97
Chapter 97
Chen Mo's subordinate glanced at his boss.
The sky had completely darkened. Although Chen Mo, whose health was already poor, hadn't personally taken part in the action, he had been waiting for news all this time. The night was chilly, and after taking his temperature earlier, it was clear that his fever had worsened. He had vomited several times already.
Having not eaten all day, what he threw up was just clear liquid.
He was barely holding on, stubbornly waiting for news.
"She's fine, boss."
Chen Mo couldn't hear a word. His gaze was fixed intently on the figure in the distance.
Only when that figure was carried into a car and gradually disappeared into the distance did he finally let go of the breath he was holding and collapsed into unconsciousness.
His subordinate was frantic, quickly directing people to take Chen Mo back while summoning a doctor.
At the same time Chen Mo was being taken away, Ji Tingzhou, who had already changed into fresh clothes brought by a servant, listened to Zuo Yi's report in the car.
"That group has also withdrawn."
Zuo Yi was referring to the people who had suddenly appeared while they were rescuing Ji Nian.
At first, they had no idea who these people were, so they remained on high alert. However, the group didn't seem interested in confronting them. Instead, they landed and immediately started helping, silent but methodical.
The police were almost pushed aside, squeezed out by their efficiency.
"What's the Chen family's angle? After lying low for so long, their conclusion is to suddenly extend an olive branch to us?"
Zuo Yi had immediately looked into the identities of these people, but the other side didn't seem to be hiding anything.
Upon discovering they were from the Chen family, Zuo Yi was puzzled.
Their motives were strange—were they trying to get close to the Ji family, or had they learned something and wanted to connect with the Lu family?
Ji Tingzhou, now dressed in fresh clothes, rubbed his temples, which were aching from tension. "Don't worry about it."
The Chen family wasn't the priority right now.
What mattered was: Who had the audacity to kidnap his daughter right under his nose?
Zuo Yi nodded, indicating he understood.
But there was one more thing.
Handing Ji Tingzhou an accessory from a jewelry box, Zuo Yi asked, "The young lady seems very concerned about... that person. Should we tell her about their identity?"
He thought of Lu Jinghuai, who had been exposed.
Louis (the golden retriever), seeing the state of his young master at the time, was so furious his teeth nearly shattered, his eyes blazing with anger.
It was said that the child had stopped breathing not long after being rescued and was likely gone.
Thinking of his own child's temperament, Ji Tingzhou shook his head. "No need to tell her."
It would only make her sad.
Ji Nian sat in the back seat, now dressed in clean clothes, extending her arm for the doctor to tend to her wounds.
Zhi Le and Wei Yang had wanted to join her, but both were injured and, not wanting to worry the child, stayed in the car behind to have their wounds treated.
Although she had changed clothes, since she couldn't shower in the car, Ji Tingzhou himself felt nauseous and refrained from touching her face.
Watching the doctor disinfect Ji Nian's wounds with a cotton ball, he frowned.
Before he could say anything, Ji Nian spoke up. "Dad, it doesn't hurt. The doctor is being very gentle."
"Don't scare her," she added.
The doctor chuckled awkwardly.
Ji Tingzhou's gaze was indeed quite intimidating.
"You're overthinking it. Why would I scare her?"
Ji Tingzhou denied it, his eyes shifting to Ji Nian's stomach.
"What do you want to eat? I'll have someone prepare it in advance."
Ji Nian touched her stomach with her other hand, thinking she wasn't very hungry.
But ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????she still listed a few foods that Ji Tingzhou usually restricted her from eating.
Sure enough, as soon as he heard these dishes, Ji Tingzhou's expression darkened.
But faced with Ji Nian's pleading eyes, he ultimately gave in and gave the order.
Fine.
At such a young age, she had been kidnapped by bad people, all alone, and must have been terrified. Letting her have some good food wasn't a big deal.
Seeing his agreement, Ji Nian secretly gave a little victory sign.
"Dad, what about the little sister who was rescued with me?"
Little sister?
Hearing this term, Ji Tingzhou's expression shifted slightly, but only for a brief moment.
"I don't know. Maybe her family took her home."
Ji Nian keenly sensed that he didn't want to elaborate.
After living together for so long, Ji Tingzhou knew she would be upset by bad news, and Ji Nian, of course, understood that sometimes he would hide things to spare her feelings.
So... she didn't make it, did she?
Ji Nian was indeed saddened.
But she forced herself to stay cheerful, pretending she hadn't noticed anything.
"Dad, I'm out of my shrimp chips."
"Ask Wei Yang later. He brought some."
"Dad, why didn't you bring any? You know I love them."
"I know, it's because the shrimp chip bags are bulky and make your pockets look puffy, right?"
"Dad, you're so vain."
"...Shut up."
The summer rain continued to fall, and by midnight, it was pouring again.
Chen Mo's body burned with fever, as if he were lying in molten lava, being roasted over and over again. Every breath felt scorching.
In his half-asleep, half-awake state, he thought he saw Ji Nian.
Chen Mo instinctively reached out, but the child dodged him, covered in blood, accusing him, "Why did you kill me?"
Chen Mo shook his head. He wanted to speak, to defend himself, but his mouth felt glued shut, unable to open.
Her cold, jade-green eyes stared at him.
"You poisoned so many people. I hate you. You're not my uncle."
With that, she turned and leaped without hesitation, her body plummeting into the churning lava below.
"No!!!!!"
Chen Mo jolted awake, gasping for air, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead.
The subordinate guarding outside heard the noise and knocked on the door. "Boss, is everything alright?"
Chen Mo instinctively shook his head, then realized the other person couldn't see him. He spoke, his voice so hoarse it was almost unrecognizable.
"I'm fine..."
He touched his legs, which had gone numb at some point, and bent over. His frail frame made his pajamas hang loosely.
"I can't let her know..."
He couldn't let her know that he was the one behind those actions.
He couldn't let Ji Nian know she had an uncle like him.
Fortunately, the Chen family and Vengeance had always been kept separate for convenience.
He could still approach Ji Nian as Chen Mo.
As for not reuniting with Ji Nian...
Chen Mo hadn't even considered it.
Ever since he learned of Ji Nian's identity, he had thought of her constantly.
She was the only bloodline his sister had left in this world.
He longed for family, craved it desperately.
Tears streamed from his reddened eyes, falling drop by drop.
Chen Mo covered his face, his sobs raw and broken.
"...I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."