Distraught

The Emergency Room fell into a panic when they saw a bloody Hou Wei Yan entering Yi Lan Hospital. She was obviously hurt and was in need of treatment but because of the many patients getting rushed in from a car crash, Hou Wei Yan was left with no choice but to be Ashraf's assistant in the surgery.

In the middle of the chaotic emergency room, a disheveled looking man arrived. He was instantly direct to the operating room where he saw a crying red hair. He approached her worriedly, unaware of the tormenting emotions swirling within her. "How's it going?"

"What are you doing here?!" Cao Xiaolian yelled out when she saw Makio walking towards her.

"I---"

Before he could say anything more, Cao Xiaolian already rushed at him and collared him. Anger was evident in her eyes making Makio flinch in guilt. "You've been monitoring us for the whole day! But why did you allow this to happen?! You could have already suspected those two men who entered with guns but why didn't you stop them before they could make it to the restaurant?!"

Ashamed, Makio lowered his head. He was unable to predict the attack because was shamefully ogling at Cao Xiaolian on the screen. The men entered the facility like normal people so he was late to notice that they were carrying guns. The bearded man was apparently a guard in the mall so he easily concealed their guns. "I was watching you…I didn't notice,"

"Stop using me as an excuse all the time! Yingjie is in critical condition, the siblings are traumatized, and Wei Wei is wounded!" Cao Xiaolian angrily muttered as she shook him repeatedly. She was placing all the blame on him and Makio was silently accepting all of it.

"I'm sorry," he muttered as he allowed his tears to flow. As the guilt accumulated, his emotions went haywire and his control over his tears became loose. "I'm really sorry, Shino,"

Instead of pitying him, Cao Xiaolian's anger surged instead and her emotional state became even more complex. She was thinking that he doesn't have the right to cry when he caused all of this in the first place…because, by crying, he was asking her for pity. So instead of comforting him, she released punches in his chest which he accepted without hesitation.

"He's the reason I'm still living despite my bloody past, Makio. If I lose him…I will lose myself too!" she muttered in between her cries. The thought of losing Cao Yingjie caused her legs to give out. "I'll die if my child dies!"

Cao Xiaolian was known as a strong woman, but right now, she was nothing but a mother in a crying mess as she continuously mumbled her child's name. Her voice was small but desperate, as though praying to whoever Gods out there could hear her.

Her pitiful state made Makio's heart clench in guilt. He slowly stretched out his hands and was ready to pull her in his arms to comfort her…but her angry face and desperate cries flashed in his mind. [ Ah, I'm really a jerk, aren't I? ]

He slowly retracted his hands with a sad smile on his face. His child is on the verge of death and here he is thinking of taking this as an opportunity to rebuild his broken relationship with Cao Xiaolian. He feels like a total jerk for thinking of comforting her when he caused all of this to happen.

Angered at himself, he turned towards the closed door of the operating room and in a low inaudible voice, muttered his current prayer. "If you can hear me…please save my child,"

It took a couple more hours before the operating room finally opened up, revealing Hou Wei Yan, Ashraf, and Qiu Meixiu who was already assisting her in taking off her surgical coat.

"Wei Wei!" Cao Xiaolian desperately cried out as she rushed towards her. "How is he?"

"He's in stable condition. Luckily, the bullet didn't penetrate too deeply and damaged any nerves. He lost quite a lot of blood so he will be unconscious for a few days," she calmly explained as she breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't that much help inside because of her wound, luckily Ashraf was able to cope with what she was lacking. "We're transferring him to the private room,"

"Thank you, Wei Wei!" Cao Xiaolian happily muttered as tears of joy welled up in her eyes. Ecstatic that her son was now out of grave danger, she pounced at Hou Wei Yan and hugged her tightly. The sudden contraction of the hug caused her to flinch in pain.

Noticing this, Cao Xiaolian immediately released her and worriedly looked at her wounded shoulders. "You're hurt! Why didn't you get that treated?!"

"I have a job to do," she mumbled with a smile on her face. After saying this, she tapped her shoulders and redirected her gaze towards Sheng Mingzu who will guide them towards the Private room. "I'm going home. Fang Tao is fuming and I need to face my husband's scolding,"

"Wei Wei," Cao Xiaolian called out but Hou Wei Yan already waved her hands at her and hurriedly strode out of the emergency room. She thought she was already free from everyone worrying over her when someone called her out again.

"Madame!"

She was quite surprised when Makio approached her. She thought he would stay behind and remain by Cao Yingjie's side, but here he is following behind her. Does he need something from her?

"I'm sorry…and thank you for saving my son," he suddenly muttered while giving Wei Yan a polite bow. Hearing him refer to Cao Yingjie as his son made her smile. She's still unaware of the full story behind their separation but with these earnest words, she doubts he cheated on Cao Xiaolian. The man in front of her is an earnest father thanking a doctor for saving his child.

If he shows this to Xiaolian, then their family could still be saved. She slowly reached out her hands and patted his shoulders. "Don't let go of your family. They're precious to me so take care of them from here on."

"Thank you." Makio earnestly answered as tears welled up in his eyes. He was glad that Cao Yingjie was out of danger…and from here on out, he will begin rebuilding his relationship with Cao Xiaolian. He will give Yingjie the family he deserves.

…..

It was already late in the evening when Hou Wei Yan arrived at Li Wei Mansion. She was immediately greeted by Gu Man who was worried about her wounds. They wanted to take a look at her but she refused them and immediately retreated to her room using her tiredness as an excuse.

Once she escaped their clutches and entered the room, her body immediately gave out. She knew she was falling but she doesn't have enough strength to stop it from happening. She was terrified of falling to the ground and making a noise that may alert the others…lucky for her, a strong pair of arms caught her delicate body.

Ji Li Zhao who was patiently waiting for his wife who recklessly placed herself in trouble again wrapped his arms around her torso the moment he saw her falling down. "You went and placed yourself in trouble again,"

"Honey," Hou Wei Yan weakly called out as she looked at her husband. She felt guilty when she saw the sad smile on his lips. "I'm sorry. Did I make you worry?"

"You always make me worry," he mumbled with a sigh before he placed his hands on her legs and carried her towards their bed, bridal style. "Why didn't you get treatment after you finished the surgery? You could have asked Fang Tao or even told Uncle Gu the truth when he asked you if you're doing fine,"

Hou Wei Yan shifted on the bed and tried to look for a comfortable position as she sat on the soft futon. When she finally settled in, she looked directly at her masked husband and smiled sadly at him. "I wanted to see you…and I don't want to reveal my fragile state because I brought this to myself,"

Her words made Ji Li Zhao sigh. [ When will she start prioritizing herself instead of others? This selflessness of hers is making me worry. ]

After a few seconds of worrying about her future endeavors, Ji Li Zhao sighed one last time before he placed a tender kiss on her forehead and stood up. "I'll get the medicine kit. Wait here,"

Once her husband was gone, Hou Wei Yan immediately went towards her bad and brought out the gift she was preparing earlier. She returned to the bed and placed it gently on the side table beside their bed with a smile adorning her face. When she noticed the bedroom door opening, she immediately sat back down on the bed like an obedient child.

"Show me your shoulders," Ji Li Zhao ordered as he opened up the medical kit.

Hou Wei Yan who saw his diligence immediately did as she was told. She was now wearing a simple white button-up shirt and loose jeans. She managed to change into it before coming home which made undressing easy.

She slowly fumbled on the buttons of her shirt and unbuttoned it which Ji Li Zhao saw as he was checking on her. He immediately looked away which Hou Wei Yan noticed. His cute and swift reaction made her chuckle because her husband who seems addicted to kissing is surprisingly shy when it comes to her body.

"What's wrong with you? How are you going to help me if you get flustered like this?" she asked in a teasing manner which made Ji Li Zhao flinch.

With the will to remain composed at all costs, Ji Li Zhao coughed and helped his wife take off her shirt. It was tormenting for him, but nonetheless, he persevered and managed to hold himself back. As soon as she was done, her bloodied shoulders came into view and it pained him greatly.

"Honey, take care of yourself more. You don't have to get hurt to save someone," he whispered as he dabbed some antiseptic on it. It was already stitched so he guessed that Ashraf did treat her after the surgery.

While he was dabbing the antiseptic on it, Hou Wei Yan suddenly winced which instantly sent him into a panic. He placed the forceps down and looked at her worriedly. "Does it hurt?"

When she answered with a nod, he immediately drew his face close to the wound and gently blew on it to soothe the pain. Hou Wei Yan was taken by surprise and a blush slowly creeped out of her face. Ji Li Zhao who was focused on minimizing the pain by blowing didn't notice this which made his wife chuckle.

"Blowing doesn't actually help you know?" Hou Wei Yan remarked as he cupped his face. She looked him directly in the eye before she flashed him a smile and leaned close to him. His eyes went wide when he felt her lips against his. He was in a daze because of this and before he could react, she was already chuckling at him. "Or maybe it does,"

Her smiling face was beautiful but he cannot help but frown at this. How could she still smile after receiving such a painful wound? She's very brave…but he worries because of this.

Despite her obvious flirting, Ji Li Zhao's mood remained damped. He drew close to her and buried his face in her shoulders as he desperately begged her to remain safe. "Don't do something reckless again. You don't know how much influence you have in my life,"

"I'm really sorry," she earnestly answered as she hugged her husband. She stretched out her hands and repeatedly stroke his hair while her other hands continued hugging him. He was a bulky man and their size had quite a difference. She felt like she was hugging a huge bear as she savored the warmth he was emitting. "You're like a big teddy bear…you're so warm"

"Why are you so good at flattering me?" Ji Li Zhao replied before chuckling.

"But you're really warm. I'm not joking" Hou Wei Yan suddenly said when she noticed that his warmth isn't normal anymore. She slowly released him from her embrace and placed his forehead against hers to check his temperature. "You have a slight fever. Why didn't you tell me?"

Ji Li Zhao immediately touched his forehead before he turned back to her. "I'm feeling fine though?"

When he said this, a frown was instantly drawn on her face. She swiftly took medicine from the kit and made her husband drink it. Because of the scary look, she was making, Ji Li Zhao was forced to drink it in front of her. Once he was done, Hou Wei Yan immediately tackled him in their bed and buried her face in his chest.

"Wait---Hun"

"Let's just go to bed. We're both sick after all," she grumbled as she hugged him closer to her. She sniffed and was amazed by his manly scent.

Ji Li Zhao looked at her worriedly, his hands still raised in a surrendering position. He feared that if he hugged her, he would touch her wound and bring her pain. "But your wounds,"

"It will heal better if I sleep early," Hou Wei Yan argued with a smile on her face. Because her face was buried in his chest, Ji Li Zhao felt her lips curve into a smile.

Although he was still worried, he ended up giving to her urges. He slowly placed his hands on her delicate body and secured her in his arms. "I really can't say no to you,"

He slowly stroked her hair and placed a tender kiss on it before he started closing his eyes. "Good night,"

"Awwww, my teddy bear is so warm," Hou Wei Yan mumbled as she snuggled even closer to him. A wide smile was drawn on her face as she slowly succumbed to sleep. "Goodnight,"

…..

It was already 5 in the morning when Ji Li Zhao woke up. He looked down and saw his adorable wife still clinging on to him. His lips immediately curved upward when he saw this scene.

Before he got out of bed, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead. Once he was up, he did a little stretching and as he did so, a cute box caught his attention. Ji Li Zhao slowly approached it and not too long, he was already chuckling.

It was Hou Wei Yan's handwriting on the note which brought out sudden laughter in him. It was a simple one-sentence note but it had a great impact. "To my husband,"

He slowly opened the gift and saw a black watch with intricate golden details. He drew it close to him and read the tiny words written by his wife. "Manus in Mano,"

Hand in Hand…or Manus in Mano in Latin.

Ji Li Zhao smiled at this cute detail before he walked back to his wife. Gently, he took hold of her hands and placed a tender kiss on them. He promised her in the past that he won't let go…but he ended up breaking it. Now that he was once more given a chance to hold her hands, he will never let it go again. "Yeah…I'll hold your hand forever,"

Drawn by her sleeping face, he leaned closer to her and placed a kiss on her sweet cherry lips. "Let's walk hand in hand in this life,"

…..

It was another day in Yi Lan and another chaos was ensuing inside Room 301. Shun Makio had shown himself once more which sent Cao Xiaolian in another angry fit. "Leave!"

"But Shino. I want to see him," he begged as he tried to take a step inside the room. His son was still peacefully sleeping and was unaware of the quarrel breaking out on his doorstep. "Let me be there when he wakes up,"

Cao Xiaolian immediately raised her brows when she heard what he said. "What right do you have to do that? After everything you did? After how you failed to protect him yesterday?!"

"I told you repeatedly. I didn't cheat on you," he remarked as tears welled up in his eyes once more. How many times did he try to reach out? He lost count and each time that he did, he was repeatedly rejected. He could have swallowed it all in as before, but now that his son is lying unconscious and waiting for him, he can't help but cry out in desperation.

He slowly extended his hands and reached out for hers. "Shino, please…please listen to me,"

Still angry by his past and current mistake, she swiftly evaded his hands and angrily looked at him. "Just leave, Makio,"

"Shino!" he called out when she started to walk inside the room. Even though he knew that it would anger her, he followed her inside and grabbed hold of her hands. He can't leave without resolving this issue. He wants to be there when Cao Yingjie wakes up and finally be able to introduce himself as his father. "Please…at least give me a chance to be a father to Yingjie,"

"Why wo---"

"Hmmm" noise was heard from Cao Yingjie. Cao Xiaolian's eyes instantly bulged big as she slowly turned towards her son.

She immediately approached him and was brought to tears when she saw him slowly fluttering his eyes open. "Yingjie?"

When she saw him fully open her eyes, she turned towards the door to call for a nurse. Before she could do so, Makio had already run outside to call for the stationed nurse. "Nurse! Nurse! He's regaining consciousness!"

The nurse who was assigned to their room immediately entered and checked Cao Yingjie before she contacted his doctor. While the little nurse was busy, Cao Xiaolian walked close to Makio and pushed him out of the room without any hint of mercy. "Makio, leave already!"

He was about to argue again when he felt a presence behind him. There stood Hou Wei Yan and behind her is Qiu Meixiu and Fang Tao. She looked at him seriously before she urged Cao Xiaolian to walk inside.

Once she was gone, she drew close to Makio and whispered a piece of advice. "Xiaolian is not in the mood right now. I'll try to contact you when Yingjie is okay and can already receive a visitor,"

"But---"

"Your only chance of fixing your family is Yingjie. Don't push yourself too much especially when Xiaolian's emotions are still unstable from fright," she added sternly. Right now, Cao Xiaolian is not in the best state to listen and understand. She's still hung up from the event that transpired yesterday. If he continues to linger, he might only worsen the situation.

"Okay," Makio lowly replied in dejection. He slowly turned around to leave but before he could fully leave their sight, he halted and mumbled a request. "Please take care of them both,"

"I will," she stated with a smile on her face before she entered the room. Her eyes immediately landed on Cao Yingjie's and she was surprised when she noticed where he was staring. His stern gaze was directed at Makio who was slowly retreating. She slowly closed the door and gently called out his name.

"Baozi~"

…..

"Mama, I want to eat something sweet," Cao Yingjie grumbled when nighttime came. Hou Wei Yan's swift was over and now she was just spending a few hours with him before she returns home. She was peeling the apples that Han Yu Shou gave when she heard this request.

Cao Xiaolian was fawning over him since earlier. He refuses to leave the room no matter what and made Rai their errand boy. She was set on remaining by his side. "I'll ask your Uncle to buy some for you,"

"But I want it now," he begged with a pout on his face. Xiaolian looked at him seriously and was about to refuse when her eyes landed on his shoulders. He just escaped death so perhaps she should give in to his request once in a while.

With this in mind, she heaved out a heavy sigh and turned towards Hou Wei Yan who was silently peeling the apples. "Can I leave him with you? I'll be back in an instant,"

She looked at Cao Yingjie for a moment before she nodded her head with a smile. Knowing that Hou Wei Yan was with him, Cao Xiaolian immediately left to buy her son's request. A few seconds after she left, Cao Yingjie who was silent since earlier suddenly spoke up. "Big Sister…Mama isn't here anymore,"

"Yeah…so?" she replied with suspicion. She had noticed earlier that he was trying to make Cao Xiaolian leave the room but failed miserably at it.

"Can I call my father?" he suddenly blurted out which made Hou Wei Yan halt whatever she was doing. She slowly placed the knife in her hands and looked at him curiously.

"What?"

Cao Yingjie heaved a sigh before he repeated his words, this time much louder and clearer so Hou Wei Yan couldn't act naïve about it. "Can I call my father…Makio? That man who works for you,"

"How did you know that it was him?" she asked with a smile on her face. Cao Xiaolian surely kept it a secret from him and he wasn't even fully conscious when he laid his eyes on Makio earlier so she doubts he remembers the conversation that played out before he opened his eyes.

He tilted his head before smiling at her. "I had my hunch…and I confirmed it when I saw his worried gaze earlier,"

"I knew you're a bright child," Hou Wei Yan blurted out with a sigh. After a few seconds of deliberation, she fished out her phone and handed it to him. She did promise Makio that she would contact him once Cao Yingjie is okay and could receive visitors. "You better hurry before your mother arrives,"

"I understand," he excitedly answered with a huge smile on his face. He immediately dialed Makio's number as Hou Wei Yan went back to her spot.

Shun Makio who was reprimanded for not noticing the armed men was busy receiving his punishment in his own lair. His working hours were extended and he was asked to refrain from taking in snacks in between his work. The punishment sounded light but to Makio who was addicted to eating sweets, it was tormenting.

While typing codes and planning some upgrades for their weaponry, he suddenly received a call from Hou Wei Yan. Thinking that it was an emergency call, he placed it on their priority and made his men take standby in case something happened to her. "Madame?"

"You're my father, aren't you?" a little voice suddenly said causing a deep and awkward silence to envelop Makio's Nest. His men who were listening, thinking that it was an emergency call, all looked at one another before they turned towards the stupefied Makio.

It took him a few seconds before he could regain his composure and answer the little boy's question. "Yingjie?"

"Yes, it's me," he calmly replied which made Makio nervous even more. [ This is all too sudden…did Shino finally decide to hear me out? ]

"How did you…is your mother there?" he nervously asked, afraid that Cao Yingjie went out without his mother's permission. With this in mind, he immediately checked Yi Lan's monitoring system and looked through his room. Surprisingly, Yingjie was alone with their Lady Boss.

"I begged Big Sister Wei Wei to let me call you," her responded as he flashed Hou Wei Yan a smile. Hou Wei Yan who was now an accomplice waved her hands at the camera before she redirected her gaze at the bunny apples she finished making. "So you're indeed my father?"

Makio gulped down when he heard this question. Cao Yingjie now obviously knows that he is so there's no point denying it. Instead, he was worried that he detested him for being his father. "Do you hate the fact that I am?"

"No," he replied seriously while shaking his head. He was longing for this moment and he dreamed this moment many times that he lost count. For the man he considers to be an idol becoming his father, he could only be ecstatic about it. "I don't hate you or Mama…what I hate is our situation,"

"I want a real family…a complete family," he added, his voice now slightly strained and melancholic. Hou Wei Yan who was silently listening to their conversation couldn't help but sigh as she heard this. This is why she told Cao Xiaolian to find him a father figure. Cao Yingjie refuses to say it in consideration of his mother's situation but he does long for a family and Hou Wei Yan noticed it a long time ago.

Makio who heard such sad words coming from his son suddenly felt his heart clench. Of course, his team members who heard it also shared his sympathy. "I'm sorry,"

"Can you fix it?" Cao Yingjie asked seriously. He knows that his family is currently broken but he believes that it could still be repaired…that a complete family was still within his reach.

"I'm doing my best to fix it. No matter how many rejections I receive, I will keep going on until your mother finally hear me out…until I'm forgiven for not finding you in these eight years," Makio muttered seriously. He missed out 8 years of his son's life and now he's ready to spend his remaining life to compensate for it. "So, wait for me…son,"

"Come here tomorrow…I want to see you," his son muttered with a smile on his face. Perhaps he was too deprived of a complete family for too long…because now that he found his father, he wants to immediately fix everything. "Come and talk with her tomorrow…please?"

"Okay…I'll be there," Makio answered without hesitation. He shares the same sentiment as his son because as selfish as it may sound, he wants his family to be finally complete. He wants to hold both Shino and his son in his arms.

Cao Yingjie who finally received the words he wanted, hung up the phone and handed it to Hou Wei Yan with a huge smile on his face. Hou Wei Yan could only shake her head as she offered him the bunny apples that she made.

Meanwhile, inside Makio's Nest, everyone who was listening whistled and cheered once the call ended. They had watched Makio getting repeatedly rejected by Cao Xiaolian so this sudden development is a delight to them…because it means that they don't need to face an angry and short-tempered Makio anymore. "Good luck, Boss. We'll be rooting for you!"

"Wait, he should get a make-over. Call Darlene!" Ye Zhe calmly instructed in the middle of their cheers. Everyone looked at him weirdly before they turned towards Makio and nodded their heads.

He does need a make-over. His jet-black hair was already long and because he doesn't care much about his looks, it's now a curly mess, and to make matters worse, he keeps on wearing glasses that it's hiding his beautiful hazel-colored eyes. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Xiaolian repeatedly rejected him.

"Why would I need a makeover?" he asked making Ye Zhe sigh.

"I don't know if you're confident about your looks or just dumb," Ye Zhe harshly criticized alongside the others. "Look, you're no longer young, Makio. You need to bring back your youthfulness to captivate Shino again…aside from that you need to look formal and decent because you'll be introducing yourself as Yingjie's father. Your sweatpants and plain shirt won't be able to leave a good impression. Do you get me?"

"I understand," he answered without hesitation after hearing Ye Zhe's critique of his looks. If changing his appearance will win over Xiaolian, then he will do it in a heartbeat. "Contact Darlene,"

Konako Reizo immediately saluted Ye Zhe and proceeded to contact Shin Wolter who was currently on leave with Amine. "Yes, sir!"

"Let's have him cut off your hair, yes?" Ye Zhe suggested as he walked closer to him and checked out his awfully long and disheveled hair. If this continues, a bird will most likely lay an egg in it.

Makio suddenly stood up and glared at Ye Zhe and his awful suggestion. He liked his hair long and refuses to let go of it. "What? No!"

"Oh yes, you will," Palisades devil answered with a huge smirk on his face. "Don't you want to leave a good impression? Your long and messy hair makes you look like a caveman so we need to lose it,"

"You're enjoying this too much, Ye Zhe," Makio grumbled in anger but the man only chuckled at him.

He had always loved playing with others and Makio is often his target when Laurens or Fang is nowhere to be found. He was bored lately because Laurens was sent out on a mission in the South so he found teasing Makio…enjoyable. "I'm not yet satisfied though,"

"You fucking devil!" Makio muttered as he walked out of his office. Ye Zhe merely laughed it off because he knew, he would eventually give in once Darlene arrives. He was proud of his persuasions and once he set his sight on something, he will see it through the end. So now, he was already bidding goodbye to Makio's long hair that he nurtured for many years because he was set on chopping it off by the end of the day.