EMERGENCY CONTACT

"No need, Lady Mo's health is frail. Best not to trouble her, or she'll just worry about me," Bai Qing explained.

"Have you been alone all these years?" Yu Qi sat beside her, her head lowered.

"In a way, yes," Bai Qing replied.

"What do you mean by that?" Yu Qi was puzzled.

Bai Qing smiled bitterly.

In truth, after marrying Mo Xiao, it seemed like they lived together. 

But in reality, it was mostly still just Bai Qing by herself.

"Bai Qing, you're lucky. At least you still have Lady Mo," Yu Qi's tone grew somber. "My brother and I weren't as fortunate. We were both underage, and no one wanted to adopt us. We were forced to part ways, taken in by different families."

Bai Qing pursed her lips. "I see."

"Sigh, why am I telling you all this?" Yu Qi's expression shifted back to normal. "I have a night shift at the hospital later. Take care of yourself."

"It's alright, I'll leave after resting for a bit," Bai Qing knew they shouldn't be meeting like this.

Both of them suffered from varying degrees of PTSD.

The death of their parents had left deep scars on their young hearts.

Some wounds could never heal.

That's why they had a tacit understanding.

They simply didn't meet.

If they didn't see each other, they wouldn't be reminded of the painful memories.

"Bai Qing!" Yu Qi's voice suddenly grew tense.

Bai Qing stopped in her tracks.

Realizing she had spoken too harshly, Yu Qi softened her tone. "It's fine, this is your home too. There are clean clothes in my room, change after you shower. I made some porridge earlier, heat it up if you're hungry."

With that, Yu Qi went to change.

She put on her coat, ready to leave.

"Yu Qi, you work at the hospital?" Bai Qing asked.

"I'm a nurse now," Yu Qi replied without looking back. "Bai Qing, I've moved on, so it doesn't matter anymore. Whatever you're struggling with, it's okay. Stay here, make yourself at home."

And with that, she left.

Bai Qing let out a long sigh.

She knew that of everyone involved, she and Yu Qi had suffered the most.

Because they had both witnessed the horrific deaths of their parents.

Bai Qing's eyes reddened slightly. She glanced down at the blood on her own body, forcing back the tears.

She walked into Yu Qi's room, picked out a set of clothes, and headed for the bathroom.

After the shower, she gazed at her abdomen in the mirror, gently stroking her pale belly with delicate hands. "Don't worry, baby. Mommy will protect you."

But as she thought about the danger Mo Xiao had brought upon her, the tears she had tried so hard to suppress began to fall.

Mo Xiao would never care whether she lived or died.

Right now, he was probably at the hospital, holding Yun Qiqi close, whispering sweet nothings to her.

——

On the street.

Mo Xiao leaned against his Maybach, cigarette in hand.

One cigarette after another, his feet surrounded by butts.

Dawn was approaching.

But there was still no sign of Bai Qing.

His hand gripped Bai Qing's phone tightly, trembling with fear.

Would she die?

Would she vanish completely?

No! He wouldn't allow it!

"Mr. Mo!" Zhao Teng came running. "We found the drunkard who took the young madam."

"Bring him here," Mo Xiao's voice was cold as ice.

Two bodyguards dragged over a bruised and battered drunkard.

"What did you do to her?" Mo Xiao's gaze was sharp and chilling as he raised his eyes.

The drunkard, now sober, recognized the powerful figure in front of him and explained nervously, "I didn't do anything."

"Cut off his hand," Mo Xiao ordered without blinking.

One of the bodyguards pulled out a knife.

Terrified, the drunkard dropped to his knees, pleading, "Please, don't! I'll tell you everything!"

"Speak," Mo Xiao's eyes were dark and foreboding.

"I had just divorced, was feeling down, and drank too much. When I saw such a beautiful woman on the street, I had indecent thoughts. But I swear I didn't do anything! I dragged her into the alley, but another man came and saved her, then took her away," the drunkard stammered.

"Did you touch her with that hand?" Mo Xiao asked coldly.

The drunkard hesitated.

"If you can't answer, cut off both hands," Mo Xiao's jaw tightened, his expression cold and refined.

"No, no, it was this hand!" The drunkard raised his left hand.

Mo Xiao, still smoking, said, "You're lying. You touched her with both hands. Cut them off."

The drunkard nearly fainted from fear.

He realized that no matter what he said, it wouldn't change his fate.

"Ah!" As the drunkard lost focus, the bodyguard swiftly chopped off one hand.

His screams filled the air.

Another bodyguard clamped his mouth shut.

Then, the other hand was cut off as well.

"Dump this trash where no one will find him," Mo Xiao commanded coldly.

"Yes, sir!"

The bodyguards dragged the drunkard away.

Others moved in to clean up the scene.

"Get the surveillance footage from the alley. I want to know who saved Bai Qing," Mo Xiao ordered.

Zhao Teng was about to make a call when an unknown number rang through.

"Hello?" Zhao Teng answered. "Who is this?"

"Are you a relative of Bai Qing?" a cold voice asked.

"Is Bai Qing with you?" Zhao Teng frowned.

Mo Xiao narrowed his eyes and grabbed the phone. "Where is Bai Qing?"

The voice hesitated. "Who are you to Bai Qing?"

"I'm her brother," Mo Xiao responded gravely.

"Her family is all dead. She has no relatives," the voice replied skeptically. "Who are you, really?"

"How did you get Zhao Teng's number?" Mo Xiao asked, displeased.

Why was the call going to Zhao Teng and not him, the person closest to Bai Qing?

"I found it from the emergency contact she listed in recent years," the voice replied. "Now, can you give the phone back to Mr. Zhao?"

He wasn't her emergency contact? Zhao Teng was?

Mo Xiao felt a deep discomfort in his chest.

He handed the phone back to Zhao Teng, his voice icy. "Ask where Bai Qing is."

"Yes, sir." Zhao Teng took the phone and asked where Bai Qing was.

"She's safe, but I need to confirm with her before sharing her location. I'll be in touch." With that, the voice hung up.

Zhao Teng sighed and looked at Mo Xiao. "Sir, the caller said they need to verify with the young madam before telling us her whereabouts."

"Investigate the person who called," Mo Xiao's tone was frigid. "Before sunrise, I want to know everything."

"Yes, sir." Zhao Teng immediately ordered an investigation.

Mo Xiao continued to smoke, the unease in his heart lingering.

They had found Bai Qing, but he still didn't know her condition.

If she was alright, why hadn't she contacted him?

Why hadn't she come to him after such a dangerous incident?