At the city hospital, inside a VIP single-patient room.
A pale-faced woman lay on the hospital bed, yet even in this state, her beauty remained undeniable.
Beside her, a tall and handsome man kept watch. On the table stood a thermal container filled with porridge—prepared for Lin Yao.
The doctor said the surgery had been successful; the bullet had been removed. Lin Yao was not yet out of danger, but her exact condition would only be clear once she woke up.
However, the doctor mentioned that Lin Yao seemed to lack any will to survive.
Huo Boyan froze.
Why did she lack the will to survive?
It was only in that moment that he realized how little he truly knew about her.
Yet now, on the second day, there was still no sign of Lin Yao waking up.
When Qin Hao arrived at the hospital, Huo Boyan had already been keeping vigil for a full day and night.
“Mr. Huo, please go back and rest. I’ll stay here and watch over Mrs. Huo. If she wakes up, I’ll call you immediately.”
Seeing his bloodshot eyes and exhausted expression, Qin Hao hurriedly urged him.
Qin Hao had been by his side for many years, and Huo Boyan trusted no one else to take over.
“Yao Yao.”
Who’s calling me?
“Yao Yao.”
The voice sounds so familiar.
Lin Yao gazed at the vast expanse of white before her. Didn’t I get shot? Why am I here?
Have I already died?
Is this the underworld?
Suddenly, the scene shifted. Lin Yao looked around at her surroundings—a place she knew all too well, so familiar it left her speechless.
This was her home.
The home where her mother was still by her side, and her father hadn’t yet started his company.
This was Lin Yao’s only true home.
“Yao Yao, what are you thinking about? Hurry up and eat.”
A familiar voice came from the kitchen, and someone walked out.
Lin Yao watched as her mother brought braised pork belly from the kitchen and placed it on the table.
It was her mother’s braised pork belly.
She hadn’t been able to eat it since her mother passed away.
Come to think of it, she had learned to make braised pork belly from her mother.
I must be dead. Otherwise, how could I see Mother here?
Looking at her mother before her, Lin Yao’s voice choked up, tears streaming uncontrollably. “Mom, I’ve missed you so much.”
Seeing her mother, all the grievances Lin Yao had endured over the years could no longer be suppressed in front of the one who loved her most. She broke down in loud sobs.
Grievances can only be released in front of those who truly care for you.
“My dear Yao Yao, don’t cry. Mom knows you’ve suffered.”
Her mother gently held her in her arms, softly comforting her, just like when she was a child.
“They all bullied me.”
“Mom, after you left, Father married Stepmother.”
“She was never kind to me.”
“Stepmother even gave birth to a younger brother.”
“They all told me to listen to Stepmother, or else Father would abandon me.”
“Father said Stepmother was my mother now, but you’re the only mother I have.”
“Mom, why haven’t you come to see me all these years?”
“Mom…”
Lin Yao poured out her grievances from over the years, one after another.
Her mother remained silent, her head bowed in heartache as tears fell.
“It’s okay, Mom.”
Seeing her mother grieving for her, Lin Yao comforted her.
“Now that I’m here with you, as long as I have Mom, no one can bully me anymore.”
Her mother gently stroked Lin Yao’s head and smiled tenderly. “My Yao Yao has suffered so much all these years.”
“But you can’t stay here.”
Lin Yao froze. “Why?”
“Because Yao Yao’s life has not yet ended.”
“There are still many beautiful things waiting for Yao Yao to experience.”
Mother looked lovingly at Lin Yao, and after speaking, she pushed forcefully with her hands, causing Lin Yao’s body to uncontrollably fall backward.
“No!”
“Mom!”
“Mom, do you not want me either?”
“Mom!”
“Madam!”
“Madam!”
It seemed like someone was shouting in her ears.
Opening her eyes, the light on the wall was so bright that it took several attempts before she could fully open them.
“Madam! You’re finally awake!”
“I’ll call the doctor right away.”
It turned out to be Qin Hao, Huo Boyan’s assistant.
Lin Yao opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but found her throat was in so much pain that she couldn’t utter a word.
She was in the hospital.
Soon, the doctor arrived. The doctor simply asked about her condition, confirmed she was fine, and said she just needed time to recover.
A sense of weakness washed over her again, her vision went dark, and she knew nothing more.
When Lin Yao regained consciousness again, it was already evening, and the person by her side had changed.
It was Huo Boyan keeping watch. He was sitting on the sofa, handling work on his laptop.
Lin Yao wanted to call out to him, but she was too weak to make a sound. Her hand barely lifted before falling back onto the bed, making a faint noise.
But it was enough for Huo Boyan to notice.
“You’re awake! Are you feeling any discomfort?”
Hearing the sound, Huo Boyan immediately came to her bedside and asked excitedly.
Lin Yao shook her head, indicating no.
Earlier that morning, Qin Hao had told Huo Boyan that Lin Yao had woken up not long after he left.
Huo Boyan felt some regret; he wished he hadn’t gone back. “Are you hungry?”
“Let me help you sit up and eat something.”
At his question, Lin Yao realized she was indeed hungry.
The porridge in the thermal container had been prepared daily, and now it finally served its purpose.
“The doctor said you just woke up, so you can only have some porridge. Once you recover a bit more, you can eat whatever you want.”
Huo Boyan poured the porridge into a bowl. Lin Yao reached for it, but he refused.
“You’re still injured. I’ll feed you.”
Without allowing any objection, he picked up a spoon, scooped some porridge, and brought it to Lin Yao’s lips. She had no choice but to open her mouth and eat.
But she felt uncomfortable, as if this kind of servitude wasn’t something he should be doing.
The bowl of porridge was soon empty. Huo Boyan asked if she wanted more, but Lin Yao shook her head in refusal.
She didn’t want to eat anything tasteless.
After cleaning up, Huo Boyan sat by her bedside. He seemed to have something to say.
Lin Yao waited for him to speak, but after a while, he still hadn’t said anything.
Looking up, she found him gazing at her.
Their eyes met, and Lin Yao felt uneasy, averting her gaze.
Huo Boyan coughed and finally spoke. “Thank you for saving me! Is there anything you want?”
All that time just to say this?
Lin Yao felt an indescribable sense of disappointment. “It’s nothing. Even if it weren’t you, I would have saved anyone.”
“But it’s because of me that you ended up in this situation.”
Huo Boyan felt guilty. If he hadn’t pushed too hard, Li Jiahao wouldn’t have been driven to kidnap her. In the end, it was because of him.
Lin Yao smiled faintly. “It’s all in the past now. What happened to that person?”
Huo Boyan knew exactly who she was referring to. “He’s been caught by the police. Don’t worry, I won’t let him off.”
“That’s good.” Lin Yao finally felt relieved.
Huo Boyan: “By the way, Grandfather also knows about your injury. He’ll come to see you tomorrow.”
“Grandfather knows too? And he’s coming to see me? Please tell him not to come!”
The thought of Old Master Huo visiting her immediately made Lin Yao feel immense pressure.
Seeing her so nervous, Huo Boyan found it amusing—she hadn’t been this tense even after being shot. He reassured her, “Don’t be nervous. Grandfather likes you a lot. He just wants to check on you.”
Even so, the idea of putting on an act in front of such a kind old man still weighed heavily on her.