Yi Luowa cast a disdainful glance at him and wheeled herself out the door.
"This little girl has quite the temper!" Ai Ni shot a sideways glance at Tong Airui. "I'm warning you, don't stir up trouble!"
"What trouble am I stirring up?" Tong Airui looked at his sister with amusement.
"If you're not stirring trouble, why on earth would you make her your servant? Based on my professional judgment, you, you, you…" Ai Ni pointed at Tong Airui, Tong Aino, and Mi Chenxuan in turn, "don't stand a chance!"
"Don't stand a chance at what?" Mi Chenxuan leaned in, tilting his head curiously.
Ai Ni pushed him away. "I don't see even a hint of interest from that little girl towards any of you."
"Like I need her interest!" Tong Aino sneered.
Tong Airui also let out a cold laugh.
Mi Chenxuan scratched his head. "How could she possibly not be interested in someone as outstanding as me?"
"Silly Chen, did you forget what I said earlier?" Ai Ni tugged at Mi Chenxuan's ear.
Mi Chenxuan winced in pain and gritted his teeth. "Sixth Sis, you were talking about Fourth Bro, why are you shifting the focus to me now?"
"As for my brother, I'll deal with him later!" Ai Ni loosened her grip on Mi Chenxuan and turned to Tong Airui. "It's your turn to answer my question! If I don't get a satisfactory answer from you, I'll tell Mom about your situation right now."
"Is tattling the only thing you know how to do?" Tong Airui frowned slightly. "That girl broke one of my ribs. If I don't torment her for a few days, wouldn't I be at a massive loss?"
"That's your answer?"
Tong Airui had no intention of responding to his sister's question and instead turned to Tong Aino. "Take Uncle and the others outside to have lunch, then go with Ai Ni to visit Uncle Lu and Aunt Xixi."
"Got it." Tong Aino nodded and dragged his sister out the door.
"Fifth Bro, what are you doing! I haven't finished talking yet." Ai Ni protested unhappily.
Tong Aino glanced back at Tong Yehua, who was still standing in the hospital room. "Uncle, let's go eat."
Tong Yehua gave Tong Airui a quick nod of acknowledgment and left.
Mi Chenxuan watched them longingly. "Fifth Bro, could you pack some lobster for me?"
"Want abalone too?" Tong Aino glared at him. "Stop fussing about packing food, just come eat with us!"
"No can do. My brother said I have to stick by Fourth Bro's side," Mi Chenxuan pouted. "Fourth Bro, what do you want to eat? I'll ask Sansi to bring it back later."
"Whatever." Tong Airui glanced at him. "Go eat with Fifth Bro. I'll deal with your brother for you."
Mi Chenxuan shook his head.
"Just go! Yuan Hang is here with Fourth Bro." Tong Aino said impatiently from outside.
Mi Chenxuan looked at Tong Airui.
Tong Airui gave him a slight nod.
"Fourth Bro, I'm going to order food for you. I'll be back soon." Mi Chenxuan darted out the door. Seeing Tong Aino and the others head towards Mai Zekai's office, he hurried into Yi Luowa's room. "Little girl, what do you want for lunch? I'll go buy it for you."
Yi Luowa, sitting in her wheelchair and stewing in anger, responded through lip-reading, "I want to eat Tong Airui's heart!"
"What did you say?" Mi Chenxuan crouched in front of the wheelchair, raising his eyes to look at her.
Uncle Li hurried over to mediate. "Second Young Master Mi, I've already prepared food for Luowa, no need to trouble yourself."
Mi Chenxuan hesitated for a moment, then heard Fifth Bro calling him from outside, so he quickly stood up. "Write down what you like to eat in a notebook. I'll help you buy it next time. I'll be heading out now."
Uncle Li watched him leave and then pushed Yi Luowa to the coffee table. "Eat up. Second Young Master will be undergoing surgery soon, and you need to keep your strength up. Don't faint from hunger."
Yi Luowa nodded silently and forced herself to eat a few bites before putting the chopsticks down. "Uncle Li, I'm full. You should go eat, too. I'm going to check on Second Uncle."
Yi Luowa said this as she maneuvered her wheelchair towards the ICU.
Second Uncle lay motionless on the hospital bed. If not for the machines still operating normally, Yi Luowa might have questioned whether he was still alive.
Tears dampened her curled lashes as she silently prayed, willing to trade ten years of her life to bring Second Uncle back.
While Yi Luowa was consumed with anguish, Xi Meichen was faring no better. After leaving the hospital, she drifted aimlessly to the mountain villa, unable to comprehend how her seemingly perfect plan had suffered such a severe setback.
Xi Meichen had barely stepped into the hall when a large hand gripped her neck tightly. She stared in horror at the furious man before her.
"You dare show up here at a time like this! Have you lost your mind?" The man, seeing her face flush red and struggling to breathe, shoved her away.
Xi Meichen staggered, nearly falling, and clutched the wall as she coughed violently. "Bai Bowen, how dare you treat me like this!"
Bai Bowen's forehead veins throbbed furiously. "You stupid woman! Why didn't you listen to me?"
"I did exactly as you told me! How have I not listened to you?"
Xi Meichen reached out towards him, but before her hand could touch his collar, Bai Bowen pushed her away again.
"Did I ever say you should confront that girl today?"
Xi Meichen looked at him tearfully. "You told me to seize the perfect moment to strike, and today was the perfect moment. With Yi Weiyang dead, that girl is on the verge of collapse. If I provoked her a little more, she would have completely crumbled. Everything was going according to my plan—the statement was already in hand, just shy of taking control of PCW. Who could've predicted Mi Xiaotian would appear at this moment?"
Bai Bowen stared coldly at her. "Who could've predicted Mi Xiaotian's sudden appearance? Over the years, Long Che returned to Xiawu, and only Mi Xiaotian remained here. Did you actually think you could sit back and relax because of that?"
Xi Meichen froze, dumbfounded. "What do we do now?"
"Go back and give Yi Weibang a proper burial."
"That's it?" Xi Meichen was bewildered.
"What else do you want?" Bai Bowen advanced towards her step by step. "Remember, a knight never enters the battlefield on his own steed!"
Xi Meichen stood rigid, her neck stiffened as she stared at him, hearing the sound of her heart shattering. "Yi Weiyang isn't dead. Do you know that?"
Bai Bowen frowned briefly and pulled her into his arms. "Yes, the people we sent have already dealt with it. Go back. I'll handle everything else. I was reckless today because I'm worried for you. The thought of my woman being bullied, being laughed at—it makes me feel like less of a man. Meichen, listen to me, don't act impulsively anymore, alright?"
Xi Meichen sobbed as she looked at Bai Bowen. "Bo Wen, I didn't get PCW. Aren't you mad?"
"Money is just worldly possessions. In this lifetime, having you is enough." Bai Bowen gently patted her shoulder. "Go back now. Don't call me or come over. Once I've handled this, I'll come find you."
Xi Meichen nodded and quickly walked out.
Bai Bowen furrowed his brows and glanced upstairs. A pink silhouette darted back into her room.