"Will rushing help? What, am I supposed to fly there?" Huo Muchen joked for once, and Bai Nuanxi, biting her lip, couldn't help but smile slightly in response.
"Let me guess—you knew Yun Qianling was still treating Fanxi, so no matter how quickly we got there, it wouldn't make a difference. He wouldn't have let you in anyway, right?" Bai Nuanxi speculated, earning a rare nod of approval from Huo Muchen. "Finally, you're using that brain of yours."
Bai Nuanxi: "..."
Please stop complimenting me. It's really not helping.
As expected, when they arrived at Yun Qianling's place, he was still in the operating room. After waiting for about half an hour, Yun Qianling finally emerged, hands in his pockets, his expression as calm as ever. "I realized I forgot to perform a small procedure on him, so I rushed back to handle it. If you have questions, ask now."
"Forgot a procedure and rushed back?" Bai Nuanxi frowned. She understood each word individually, but when put together, they made no sense.
Suddenly, an audacious thought struck her. "You mean, after treating Muchen, you remembered you hadn't finished with Fanxi, so you hurried back to complete the surgery?"
"Yes, that's correct," Yun Qianling acknowledged with a nod, leading them into the room.
Fanxi lay on the bed, his face pale and weak, but his eyes were alert as they entered. Yun Qianling checked the thermometer under his arm, found his temperature normal, and casually tossed it aside. "He can speak now, but his wounds are still healing. Try not to make him move too much—just ask whatever you need to."
Bai Nuanxi glanced at Huo Muchen, seeing the worry etched into his features. Understandably, Huo Muchen hadn't spoken. Watching a close friend in such a state and being powerless to help must have been weighing heavily on him. So Bai Nuanxi took the initiative. "Fanxi, when you were attacked, why didn't you run into the office building? Why did you come to Yun Qianling instead?"
"Yun Qianling?" Fanxi blinked before bursting into laughter. "Haha, oh no, my wounds! That's too funny!"
"Stop laughing! This is serious." Bai Nuanxi glanced at Yun Qianling, relieved to see no hint of displeasure on his face. "Did you hear my question, or did you only catch the 'Yun Qianling' part?"
"Of course, I heard it. I've already figured out what you want to know, so let me tell you." Fanxi teased them for a moment, glancing around before continuing. "I suspect we've got a mole in our midst."
"What?" Even Yun Qianling's calm expression shifted slightly. The idea of a traitor was no trivial matter—one mistake could bring down the entire operation. Their carefully built empire could crumble from within.
"As I thought," Huo Muchen responded with unsettling composure. "When I began investigating, my movements were completely confidential. Yet somehow, someone managed to drug me without my noticing. It couldn't have happened without inside help."
"That night, I suspected something was wrong, so I forced myself to drive back. I had a hunch that one of the people I brought with me was the mole." As Fanxi spoke, the memories of that night became clearer to Huo Muchen, as if playing back in his mind.
"So, when you were attacked and badly injured, you avoided returning to the office because the mole might have seized the opportunity to finish you off? That way, you wouldn't have been able to warn Muchen?" Bai Nuanxi pieced together the details, hoping to assist Huo Muchen.
Fanxi nodded, giving her a thumbs-up. "Exactly. Well done! No wonder Muchen picked you."
"Proximity to brilliance sharpens the mind. It's clear Muchen's intelligence has rubbed off on you." Fanxi clapped dramatically, adding, "Muchen must be quite the genius for even someone like you to improve this much!"
Bai Nuanxi: "..."
Did he really need to praise Huo Muchen while throwing shade at her? If he weren't already bedridden, she might have kicked him hard enough to keep him there longer. Lucky for you, Fanxi.
"Why is it that, despite all these years around Muchen, your intelligence hasn't increased at all?" Bai Nuanxi quipped. "At least I've proven I'm teachable, but you? You're spinning in circles, going nowhere!"
Fanxi, realizing he'd been outmatched, lay back and feigned defeat. It was too tiring to argue.
Huo Muchen's gaze darkened. "This mole cannot be allowed to remain. I'll head back and start investigating. You stay here—it's safer than anywhere else."
"Can I go back to the estate instead?" Bai Nuanxi suggested. Hospitals, or places resembling them, made her uncomfortable, even if it wasn't technically a hospital.
"I'll have the bodyguards pick you up. Wait here for a bit." Huo Muchen offered a compromise, but Bai Nuanxi shook her head.
"No need for that. I can wait here. It's not like I'm in a rush." Bai Nuanxi smiled, trying to reassure him.
Reluctant to leave her alone, Huo Muchen hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Go do what you need to do. I'll be fine here chatting with Yun Qianling." She waved him off playfully.
At her words, Huo Muchen froze, his steps halting. "Alright, I'm taking you home."
Bai Nuanxi: "..."
Yun Qianling: "..."
Fanxi, from the bed: "???" What just happened? Did I miss something?
"Stop being difficult and go!" Bai Nuanxi practically shoved Huo Muchen out the door. Was this man really going to let such a critical situation go to waste?
"I..." Huo Muchen still didn't want to leave.
"You said it yourself, time is of the essence! Go! I'll be waiting for your triumphant return." After much coaxing, she finally managed to get him out the door, wiping her brow in relief. That man sure was hard to convince.
"What was that all about? Why did Muchen act like that when I mentioned talking to Yun Qianling?" Bai Nuanxi was still confused, feeling like she'd missed some crucial detail.
Fanxi, though weak, couldn't resist adding a cheeky comment. "Maybe he's worried you'll steal Yun Qianling away. After all, Yun's heart is fragile. If you comfort him too well, he might just fall for you."
"...You're on the verge of death, barely breathing, and yet you still have the energy to joke around? Aren't you afraid I'll shut you up for good?" Bai Nuanxi cracked her knuckles threateningly.
Yun Qianling cast a cold glance at Fanxi and affixed a small device to his arm. "You dare call me 'Yun Qianling'?"
"...I was wrong, brother! Please, take this thing off!" Fanxi panicked upon realizing what it was. "I'm seriously injured! You can't mess with me like this!"
Bai Nuanxi leaned in curiously, tapping the device. "What is this?"
Yun Qianling raised an eyebrow, his tone almost playful. "Care to find out?"
Fanxi: "..."
Can I get some respect here? Am I just a test subject to you now?
A small electric current surged through Fanxi's body, causing his fingers to twitch. "Ah, come on! You really activated it? You've forsaken brotherhood for a pretty face!"
Yun Qianling pushed his glasses up, looking unfazed. "Would you like me to increase the current?"
Fanxi: "..."
Is it too late to apologize?
"Relax. This will actually help your recovery." Yun Qianling reassured him, much to Fanxi's silent dismay.