Chapter 119: Hoping for a Good Destination

"Danger? What kind of danger?" Ning Wenyan grew even more anxious.

"..." Qian Xiangxiang shut her mouth just in time; she had nearly let slip some classified work information.

Working in the Research Department, the most fundamental requirement was to maintain strict confidentiality regarding research projects and the condition of the patients being studied. Otherwise, it would not be a mere matter of being fired.

Seeing that Qian Xiangxiang would not answer, Ning Wenyan pressed further, "What exactly is the danger?"

Qingqing was still in there!

Yuan Man smiled soothingly, "Don't be nervous, Auntie. We just don't want the patient to be agitated, which could lead to loss of control or self-harm."

"Uh, yes! Exactly!" Qian Xiangxiang echoed with a nod.

Ning Wenyan remained skeptical. That bodyguard was only injured; why would he resort to self-harm?

She peered into the patient's room. By now, Jiang Mohe had gradually calmed down. Dr. Qiao and the others were talking to Xianyu Qing, and the situation seemed normal.

A moment later, Dr. Qiao and Gao Zhi walked out.

Yuan Man asked, "Is the patient alright?"

Dr. Qiao replied, "He has been able to regain self-control and cool down. There shouldn't be any major issues."

Ning Wenyan entered the room and saw Xianyu Qing focused intently on Jiang Mohe's bedside, so absorbed that she didn't even notice her mother entering. A complicated feeling stirred in her heart.

When she had first adopted Xianyu Qing, the girl was only six years old. In the blink of an eye, her daughter had reached the age of budding romance. Ning Wenyan’s greatest wish was for her to find a good place to settle down.

Was the eldest young master of the Ao family a good match? Perhaps. But Ning Wenyan did not want Xianyu Qing dragged into the feuds and conflicts of the Nangong family.

And this person her daughter seemed to treasure so deeply before her eyes appeared to be very dangerous as well...

Ning Wenyan’s mind was in total disarray.

Only after Jiang Mohe’s breathing became steady did Xianyu Qing notice Ning Wenyan’s presence. Seeing her mother staring at her while lost in thought, she called out, "Mom."

Ning Wenyan snapped back to reality and forced a faint smile: "Qingqing, is Mr. Jiang alright now? Should we head back?"

Xianyu Qing hesitated. She wanted to stay and look after Jiang Mohe, but she had no standing to do so. She could only return to the inpatient department with Ning Wenyan.

-------

Early the next morning, Xianyu Qing was heading back to the Research Department again.

Ning Wenyan couldn't help but ask, "Qingqing, you and that Mr. Jiang... are you very close?"

Xianyu Qing didn't know how to explain it to her mother, so she only replied, "Mr. Jiang has always been very attentive to me."

"He is your bodyguard; isn't it his duty to be attentive to you?" Ning Wenyan asked, probing.

Xianyu Qing looked hesitant. She couldn't tell her mother about what had happened previously. Besides, she wasn't even sure of her own feelings yet—whether what she felt for Jiang Mohe was gratitude or something more.

"Qingqing, the eldest young master is also very attentive to you," Ning Wenyan said, changing the subject to test her. "If it weren't for him sending people to search for you incessantly when you went missing, you wouldn't have made it back."

Xianyu Qing nodded. It was indeed thanks to Nangong Ao that she and Jiang Mohe were saved.

Ning Wenyan continued, "Since the eldest young master treats you so well, are you and him..."

Xianyu Qing realized what she meant: "Mom, don't believe those rumors outside. Big Brother treats me like a younger sister, nothing more!"

"What about the young master of the Xi family? He also..."

"Mom," Xianyu Qing interrupted, "I have never thought about marrying into a wealthy, powerful family!"

Hearing this answer, Ning Wenyan didn't know whether to feel relieved or even more worried.

"Qingqing," she said earnestly, "Mom doesn't want to interfere in your love life; I just hope you can live a stable and peaceful life in the future."

Xianyu Qing also longed for a peaceful life, but with the blood of the Nangong family flowing in her veins, she was destined to face dangerous situations at any moment.

However, she didn't want Ning Wenyan to worry for her. She hugged her mother gently and said obediently, "Mom, don't worry, I will take good care of myself."

She would never be as helpless and passive as she was before! With so many extraordinary beings existing in this world, if she possessed no abilities of her own and failed to find a way to protect herself, she would only be at the mercy of others.

"Sigh, if only your brother were back," Ning Wenyan lamented.

Xianyu Qing also missed the times when her brother was home. She consoled her mother: "Mom, Mr. Jiang has promised to help me look for news about my brother."

"He can find information?" Ning Wenyan was surprised.

She had originally wanted to ask Nangong Ao for help, but she didn't want to owe the Nangong family any favors or put Xianyu Qing in an awkward position. But Jiang Mohe was just a bodyguard; could he really be of help?

"Yes. Mr. Jiang’s family works in credit investigation, so they are good at finding information."

Xianyu Qing used "credit investigation" to describe his work, avoiding the possibility that Ning Wenyan might think Jiang Mohe was involved in the underworld.

"Will it cost a lot of money to ask Mr. Jiang for help?" Ning Wenyan asked.

Xianyu Qing replied, "I might have to use the money Brother sent home."

"That's fine, that's fine. Finding your brother is what matters most!"

Ning Wenyan usually didn't dare to bring it up to Xianyu Qing, but in truth, she had been thinking about her son constantly.

Xianyu Qing comforted her mother a little more before Bai Liyao came to visit.

Bai Liyao had wanted to come for a long time, but given that Xianyu Qing’s identity had just been exposed on the internet, he waited for the storm to subside before daring to appear.

The two sat and talked about school, and how Bai Liyao’s research project had been selected by the National Astronomical Department, with funding approved.

Xianyu Qing congratulated him: "Now you can do your research however you like, without worrying about those with bad intentions looking for trouble!"

Bai Liyao, however, had some concerns: "I had applied for this project several times before, but it never passed. Now that the web forums have been shut down, I still don't understand why it was selected."

"Maybe they finally discovered that you are a shining piece of gold," Xianyu Qing said, mimicking Mao Wandou’s tone to encourage him. "Work hard, and one day you'll take us all to the universe."

"Hahaha..." Bai Liyao laughed.

He assumed that after experiencing such a terrifying event, Xianyu Qing would surely be left with some psychological trauma. How could she still be in the mood to joke?

In truth, he didn't realize that Xianyu Qing was joking with him because she didn't want him to feel down.

However, he likely didn't know about the disappearance of Bai Luomei. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to laugh right now.

Bai Liyao didn't stay long. Just after he left, Nangong Ao arrived.

"Liyao was here?" The security personnel on the floor had reported to him before he came up.

"Yes," Xianyu Qing nodded, then asked, "He doesn't know about Sister Bai, does he?"

"The fewer people who know, the less danger Luomei is in."

To this day, Nangong Ao was unwilling to believe that Bai Luomei would betray him. After all, she had been by his side the longest! Moreover, he felt that with Bai Luomei's wit, she would have anticipated the situation with the Mu family.

"Qingqing, stay in the hospital for recovery during this time. Don't be discharged until this matter is resolved," Nangong Ao instructed.

"Alright, I will follow your arrangements, Big Brother."

Nangong Ao looked into Xianyu Qing's clear eyes, feeling a sense of guilt.

She trusted him so completely, yet he was planning how to use her to achieve his own ends!

"Qingqing, I've wronged you..."

Xi Junle had just reached the door of the room when he heard this sentence.