Two hours later, Madam Nan was sent to the ICU.
Huo Ding was immediately surrounded by the Nan family as soon as he came out.
Third Uncle, with feigned concern, asked, "Xiao Ding, how is your Aunt Nan?"
Huo Ding, seeing his overly theatrical expression, furrowed his brow slightly. "Thanks to Dr. Lan Mu Lun, Aunt Nan's surgery was very successful."
A fleeting hint of disappointment flickered in Third Uncle's eyes. "Then, how long until she wakes up?"
"Craniotomy surgery typically requires about one to two weeks to regain consciousness, but the exact time depends on the severity of the individual's condition." Huo Ding glanced back and then said to everyone, "You should all go back. I will notify Nan Xiao immediately after Aunt Nan wakes up."
Everyone looked at Third Uncle. Seeing his nod, they began to leave one by one.
As the Nan family departed, the hallway instantly became quiet. Lan Xiao Liu, frowning, emerged from the operating room. "The Nan family members are all drama queens!"
Huo Ding chuckled helplessly. "Just ignore them. Mr. Lun, I must thank you. You showed me a craniotomy surgery that was textbook-perfect. If there's an opportunity, I'd love to learn more from you."
"Learning is a bit much, but if you encounter difficult cases, feel free to contact me anytime. As long as I have time, I'll come to help."
"That would be wonderful!" Huo Ding excitedly shook Lan Xiao Liu's hand.
Lan Xiao Liu smiled faintly. "No need to thank me. I'm doing this to repay a favor for my Xi'er. Elder Huo and Minister Huo have been very helpful in Xi'er establishing her academy this time, and this is all I can do for you."
"We're all friends. Talking about repayment makes things too formal. Mr. Lun, please follow me."
Huo Ding gestured for him to follow and led Lan Xiao Liu to the lounge.
Lan Xiao Qi was idly playing on his phone. Seeing his sixth brother return, he quickly pointed to Lan Yu Xi, who was still fast asleep on the sofa.
Lan Xiao Liu frowned with concern and lowered his voice. "She must be exhausted to be sleeping so soundly here."
Lan Xiao Qi sighed. "If our sister had grown up with us all along, she wouldn't be this tired."
Lan Xiao Liu gazed at his sister's slightly weary sleeping face for a moment before shifting his gaze to Lan Xiao Qi. "I've decided. I'm not going back to Norkas. I'll stay here to look after our sister."
Lan Xiao Qi was slightly taken aback. "Then I'm not leaving either."
Huo Ding's heart leaped. If these two powerful figures were to stay in China, how many patients could they help.
"Mr. Lun, Mr. Tai, China welcomes you!"
Huo Ding's exclamation was quite loud, and Lan Yu Xi was startled awake.
Lan Xiao Liu and Lan Xiao Qi simultaneously shot dagger-like glances at Huo Ding.
Huo Ding, startled, quickly covered his mouth.
Lan Yu Xi yawned, covering her mouth. "What time is it?"
Lan Xiao Qi checked his phone. "Almost seven o'clock."
Lan Yu Xi slowly came to her senses and sat up. "Let's go home. Otherwise, Mom, Dad, and the two children will worry."
Lan Xiao Liu smiled at her. "Aren't you going to ask if the surgery was successful?"
"With you here, why would I need to ask?" Lan Yu Xi looked around. "Did Nan Xiao go to the ward?"
"Yes." Lan Xiao Qi smoothed her messy hair. "He needs to make some arrangements before returning. He asked me to accompany you back when you woke up, and not to worry about him."
Lan Yu Xi blinked her innocent eyes, taking a while to remember what she wanted to say.
"Huo Ding, did you deliver Nan Xiao's medicine to him?"
"I did. I sent it to your place."
Lan Yu Xi tilted her head, asking, "Why send it to me?"
Huo Ding was amused by her innocent demeanor. "The Boss said wherever you are, that's his home. If not to you, then where else should I send it?"
"It's no use sending it to me. He probably won't have time to eat lately." Lan Yu Xi sighed softly and stood up, taking the hand her seventh brother extended.
Huo Ding entered the elevator with the three siblings. As they neared Madam Nan's floor, he casually asked, "Little Tail, do you want to come along and see?"
Lan Yu Xi shook her head. "I've done all I can for her. If I go now, she won't wake up just because I looked at her... Please tell Nan Xiao not to worry about me and to do what he needs to do."
Huo Ding acknowledged this and bid farewell to Lan Xiao Liu and Lan Xiao Qi before exiting the elevator.
Lan Xiao Qi asked curiously, "Xi'er, why does he always call you Little Tail?"
Lan Yu Xi smiled wryly. "When I was little, wherever Nan Xiao went, I had to follow. So, they started calling me that."
Lan Xiao Liu turned his head. "Even if he just went out to play, he took you along?"
"Yes, at first I wanted to follow. Later, it became a habit for him. If he didn't bring me, he felt uneasy." Lan Yu Xi let out a long sigh. "Actually, he was afraid that if he left, his mother, his sister-in-law, and that Aunt Xia would gang up on me."
Lan Xiao Liu clenched his fist. "To be honest, today on the operating table, I wanted to finish her right then and there. But I am a doctor, and more importantly, I am a descendant of the Lan family. Our ancestors' teachings forbid me from doing such a thing."
Lan Yu Xi smiled and linked her arm with his. "Now you're my real brother!"
Lan Xiao Qi, feeling left out, nudged his arm over.
Lan Xiao Liu glared at him as if he were annoyed. "What are you doing?"
"You know what I'm doing?" Lan Xiao Qi nudged his arm even closer to Lan Yu Xi.
"Childish!" Lan Yu Xi said dismissively, but her hand had already linked with her seventh brother's arm.
"Ding—" The elevator doors slowly opened.
As Lan Yu Xi and her two brothers stepped out of the elevator, they saw a familiar face – her nominal adoptive mother, Qiu Shuying!
Qiu Shuying was also surprised to see Lan Yu Xi there. She opened her mouth, seemingly about to speak excitedly, but no sound came out.
Lan Yu Xi blinked in surprise. Recalling what Nan Xiao had told her, she quickly regained her composure. "You're here."
Qiu Shuying hadn't expected Lan Yu Xi to greet her first. She nodded apologetically. "Yu Xi, I'm sorry for what happened in the past... I knew you were back long ago, but I was too ashamed to see you, so I've been hiding."
"The past is in the past. Please go up. I'm leaving now." Lan Yu Xi bypassed her, intending to leave.
"Yu Xi..." Qiu Shuying called out to her. "Can we have dinner together sometime?"
"Okay." Lan Yu Xi glanced at her and then quickly walked away, her arms linked with her brothers'.
Qiu Shuying stood in place, watching her until she disappeared outside the main door, then she entered the elevator.
The three siblings got into the car. Lan Xiao Qi asked, "Is that woman your so-called adoptive mother?"
"Yes."
"She almost drove you to your death, and you're still acknowledging her?"
"She's quite pitiful too..." Lan Yu Xi recounted what Nan Xiao had told her to her two brothers.