Tong Muqing had initially thought this was a small request and that the other party wouldn't refuse. She hadn't expected him to suddenly fall silent.
"What's wrong? Is it... inconvenient?"
Could she not call her daughter?
She would reunite with her younger brother and parents after she died, but she still had Qianqian as family in this world, and she was most worried about her alone!
In her memory, Qianqian was still that kind and sensible child, so she was afraid she would be bullied. But... it was useless to be afraid anymore; she would never be able to accompany her again...
Seeing her suddenly gloomy expression, Qi Jiayou's heart tightened. He lightly tapped his wrist; he knew Hao was watching and needed him to inform Mo.
This matter... he couldn't make the decision!
Meanwhile, Lu Haoran had indeed received Qi Jiayou's reminder, but...
"Mo, make a decision quickly. She's not doing well."
Mo had been acting strangely ever since he saw Tong Muqing in trouble, and now his emotions were fluctuating intensely. But... Tong Muqing couldn't wait; this was their last chance to say goodbye. If they missed it, it would be a regret for both of them.
Xuan Mohan understood this point, but he cared more about Lan Qianqian.
Without agonizing for too long, Xuan Mohan strode forward and pressed a spot above the control panel. A lifetime was still long, and he couldn't selfishly make the decision for Lan Qianqian!
On the other side, Qi Jiayou breathed a sigh of relief and immediately pressed the button in the center of his wrist.
"Aunt Tong, I'm Xuan Mohan. If you want to talk to Qianqian, you can, but... can you conceal your... situation?"
Xuan Mohan spoke directly as soon as the call connected, which was his only request.
Qi Jiayou hadn't expected Mo to be there. That was good. From now on, he would handle it. He hadn't left H City yet and needed to remain vigilant at all times!
Tong Muqing let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Xuan Mohan's familiar voice in the air. She also had something she wanted to say to him.
With a trace of pleading on her blood-and-tear-streaked face:
"Mo Han, please allow me to call you this one last time. My... Qianqian, she had a difficult birth and a rough life. So, besides me, she has always... had no one to rely on. And I... as you can see... am also useless."
After saying these words, Tong Muqing was already having trouble breathing. After a pause, she continued:
"Qianqian's life for the first twenty years... was truly bitter. Although she may... not be worthy of you, Aunt Tong implores you... to take good care of her for a lifetime. Even if you... no longer love her, give her a home. The Yun Corporation, if you don't dislike it, you can have it. I only beg you... to treat Qianqian well!"
She didn't care about anything else as long as Qianqian's later life could be happy. As for the Yun Corporation, she would rather it be in Xuan Mohan's hands than in Yun Jianzhong's.
However... acquiring the Yun Corporation wouldn't be that easy. Let them handle it.
Xuan Mohan listened patiently to Tong Muqing's heartfelt words and finally made a solemn promise:
"Aunt Tong, don't worry. Unless I'm dead, I will protect her for a lifetime!"
Tong Muqing finally revealed the only genuine smile she had managed in so many days. Even when she was with Yun Zhihuan before, her heart had been filled with unease and sadness. Now, she finally felt... truly at ease.
"Don't... go seek revenge for me, and don't let... Qianqian know that I'm dead."
She was afraid Qianqian would act recklessly, which would be like hitting a rock with an egg. If she lived well, she could rest in peace.
These words made the few grown men watching the scene feel a bit sad. Before they could speak, Tong Muqing spoke again:
"Call Qianqian."
Although she regretted not being able to see her one last time, she was content just to hear her voice.
"Also... after I die, please... bury me with my brother, in S City."
...
The moon, which had been hiding earlier, was now hanging in the night sky. The same starry sky carried whose longing.
At three in the morning, Lan Qianqian, who should have been sleeping in bed, stood by the window. Her eyes no longer held their usual gloom.
She was very agitated now! Her heart was also beating fast, and she hated this feeling!
She wanted to go out for some fresh air, to run wildly, to... shout loudly!
As she walked to the door of her room, her phone on the bedside table rang...
With her heart in turmoil, Lan Qianqian ignored everything and opened the door, stepping out.
After taking just two steps, a voice in her mind suddenly told her that at this hour, no one would call unless it was something important. However... her steps didn't falter at all!
Struggling, Lan Qianqian clenched her fists, slightly restraining the restless elements within her body.
She quickly walked to the bedside, her tone quite harsh, "Who is this?!"
Hearing this agitated voice, Xuan Mohan's heart tightened slightly.
Qi Jiayou extended his angular hand and handed the phone to the emaciated woman lying in the back seat.
Even Xuan would be unable to save her in this state. Moreover, she had said... they had both been drugged, so there was no need to waste time.
She was truly a woman worthy of respect...
However, Tong Muqing paused for a moment because this voice... sounded a little unfamiliar. But she quickly reached out with her still-movable left hand to take the phone.
She must be a little sleepy...
"Qianqian... it's Mom."
As soon as she called out, Tong Muqing's voice choked. How long had it been since she heard her daughter's voice? It felt like a century.
She only then realized... how much she missed her!
On the other end, Lan Qianqian was stunned. She numbly took the phone. It didn't display "Mom." Was she using someone else's phone, or had she misheard? Or had this person dialed the wrong number?
"Who are you looking for?"
Lan Qianqian murmured the question, her voice so soft that only Tong Muqing on the other end could hear it.
"Qianqian!"
After saying that, Tong Muqing could no longer hold back. She covered the receiver and sobbed softly.
She didn't know why she wanted to cry; she couldn't control it at all. But she had cried too many times recently and couldn't shed another tear.
Lan Qianqian on the other end of the phone finally confirmed that the person was... the one who had been gone for a long time...
"Mom~"
Lan Qianqian numbly uttered the long-lost, affectionate title. These two words, which she had called so many times and were etched into her bones, had appeared in her dreams every night during this period.
However... she had never appeared before her!
This one word, "Mom," echoing in the empty car, sounded so heartbreaking.
Xuan Mohan's eyes were already slightly red. She hadn't been this close to anyone recently, so such an affectionate term was incredibly precious and demonstrated Tong Muqing's importance in her heart!
At this moment, Xuan Mohan didn't know whether to be envious or to feel sorry for her, only hoping that Aunt Tong's words wouldn't make Qianqian suspicious, which was what he had been worried about before...