Bai Zhirou's eyes reddened, and tears welled up like a spring.
Lan Xiaoqi quickly looked at the monitor.
Lan Yuxi raised her hand and placed it on Bai Zhirou's wrist, feeling her pulse while comforting her, "Shiniang, you must control your emotions, otherwise, this surgery will be in vain. Saizi and the two children are waiting for you in China. And my Shifu, he's been searching for you alone for forty years. Can you bear to leave him again?"
Bai Zhirou closed her eyes to compose herself, "Did he come too?"
"Yes, he stayed by your side all night yesterday and is waiting for you outside now. If you can control your emotions, I can let him in. But if you can't, you'll have to recover before you can see each other."
Bai Zhirou turned her head to look at Hong Yinan, "Did you see him?"
Hong Yinan, with red-rimmed eyes, nodded, "Yes, I did. I misunderstood my father. All these years, he's been looking for us."
Bai Zhirou's tears streamed down her cheeks, "Go and help them up."
Hong Yinan responded and quickly helped San Wan and the others to their feet.
Lan Yuxi saw that Bai Zhirou's pulse was stable enough. She took a tissue and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Bai Zhirou reached out and clasped her hand, "Yuxi, let your Shifu come in. I will control my emotions."
Lan Yuxi turned to San Wan, "San Wan, go and invite Shifu in."
As San Wan agreed, Elder Hong hurried in.
Bai Zhirou heard the sound and immediately looked over. Their eyes met, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.
Lan Yuxi glanced at the monitor. Seeing that Bai Zhirou's pulse was a bit fast but other data was acceptable, she signaled to the others. They understood and followed her out.
Elder Hong came to the bedside and took Bai Zhirou's hand, "Zhirou, I'm sorry. I've made you suffer."
Bai Zhirou hesitated for a moment, then resolutely pulled her hand away.
Elder Hong was slightly taken aback, "Zhirou, are you still blaming me?"
"No. I stopped blaming you long ago."
"You stopped blaming me long ago, so why didn't you look for me?"
Bai Zhirou closed her eyes, "I didn't look for you because in order to save Yinan, I did things I should and shouldn't have done. How could a person like me, who is no longer pure, have the face to find you?"
Elder Hong knelt down with a thud, "Zhirou, I owe you too much. Please give me a chance to atone."
Bai Zhirou cried and pushed his shoulders, "Get up quickly! You're almost seventy, what would the children think if they saw this?"
"I won't get up. If you refuse to go back with us, I'll make them kneel with me." Elder Hong tightly held Bai Zhirou's hand and shouted towards the door, "All of you, come in and kneel. Keep kneeling until your Shiniang agrees to come back with us."
Lan Yuxi heard her Shifu's voice and led her junior disciples in one by one.
Seeing Lan Yuxi about to kneel, Bai Zhirou quickly said, "No one is allowed to kneel. I'll go back with you."
Elder Hong asked joyfully, "You're not lying to me, are you?"
Bai Zhirou glared at him, "If you keep kneeling, I'll take back my words!"
Elder Hong quickly stood up, "I'm getting up, I'm getting up now. Yuxi, given your Shiniang's current condition, when can she fly?"
"Let's stabilize for three more days, then I'll arrange a medical plane to pick you up. When you return, I'll also return to the capital. I'll properly manage your Shiniang's health there."
Elder Hong nodded, "San Wan, since your Shiniang can only leave in three days, you all should go back first."
San Wan smiled and shook his head, "We've already arranged our affairs when we came. We'll stay here to accompany you and Shiniang, and we'll all go back together then."
Luo Shi Yi chimed in with a smile, "Shiniang, my Shijie rarely gives me a few days off, so I'll stay here to serve you."
Lan Yuxi glared at him playfully, "You make it sound like I'm some kind of Scrooge! Alright, when Shiniang returns, I'll give you a long holiday, and you'll be responsible for taking care of her."
Luo Shi Yi smiled and gave an OK gesture.
As Lan Yuxi was speaking, she subtly flicked her wrist and sent a golden needle flying while Bai Zhirou wasn't paying attention.
Elder Hong was slightly stunned, "Yuxi, what are you doing?"
"My Shiniang can't handle too much emotional fluctuation. Let her sleep," Lan Yuxi said, then helped Elder Hong out. "San Wan, you guys are free to move around. I need to talk to Shifu."
San Wan stopped in his tracks, acknowledging her.
Lan Yuxi escorted Elder Hong back to his temporary residence.
"Shifu, I was listening outside just now, worried about Shiniang, so I heard everything Shiniang said."
Elder Hong's tears flowed, "I've wronged your Shiniang."
Lan Yuxi quickly wiped away his tears, "Shifu, you're not solely to blame. The one who wronged Shiniang the most is her beastly brother... What I need to tell you now is something else. Shiniang agreed too readily. I'm afraid it's a delaying tactic. You must keep an eye on her during this period. If Shiniang leaves again, no one will be able to find her."
Elder Hong's expression turned serious, "You mean, your Shiniang might choose to commit suicide to avoid being with me?"
Lan Yuxi pursed her lips, "It's highly possible. Because if it were me, after going through so much, I wouldn't be with Nan Xiao either, as I would feel guilty."
"I'll go tell her now that I not only don't mind, but I'll thank her!"
Elder Hong started to go out.
Lan Yuxi grabbed Elder Hong's arm, "Shifu, if you say that, it might backfire. You need to take it slowly, and show her through your actions that you will never leave her."
Elder Hong pondered Lan Yuxi's words and nodded firmly, "I know what to do."
"I'm relieved that you understand. My Shiniang is in good condition. I'll leave my seventh brother here, and I'll head back first."
Elder Hong nodded, "Then hurry back and don't delay important matters. When you get back, tell your parents, your maternal grandmother, and Old Nan that when your Shiniang is better, I'll bring her to see them."
"Okay. You also need to take care of yourself. Don't wear yourself out."
Seeing her Shifu nod in agreement, Lan Yuxi then boarded the plane with Nan Yi and Ying.
It was three in the afternoon in Nuokas. The plane Lan Yuxi was on landed safely at the Lan family manor.
Chao Chao and Mu Mu, seeing their mother return, ran over hand in hand.
Lan Yuxi smiled and caught them.
Mu Mu kissed her mother's cheek, "Mama, you're finally back. Brother and I missed you!"
Lan Yuxi asked with a smile, "Is that so?"
Chao Chao nodded his little head vigorously.
Lan Yuxi smiled and kissed the two little ones, then looked up at her mother who was walking over, "Mom, are you home alone?"