Chapter 137: Cough, cough, cough...

Knowing that Shangguan Renran had woken up, Jieliya immediately rushed to the hospital with his grandson, Pigri, to visit her.

The two parties missed each other by pure chance.

That morning, after taking one last look at the young woman, Huangpu Shenqing had departed for Country G with Lin Yan via private jet. He did not want to be arrested at the hospital, as he feared it would cause her distress, so he went to great lengths to conceal his whereabouts for the coming month.

Yet, he could not have foreseen that events would take such an unfortunate turn. Life is full of accidents and unpredictable changes, and no one can truly anticipate everything.

At one o’clock in the afternoon, agents from the Allied Forces appeared at the mansion of the General in Country G. Lin Yan looked at him solemnly. Huangpu, however, only repeated the same words he had said to Ouyang Mufeng and the others that morning: "Take good care of Ranran for me."

At four o’clock in the afternoon, Jieliya’s elderly frame moved quickly toward Shangguan Renran’s hospital room, with Pigri supporting him at every step for fear that he might stumble. Behind them, a group of bodyguards followed, carrying large bags filled with expensive nutritional supplements.

Gong Yi, who brushed past them at the door, thought to himself, "This is bad," and promptly returned to the room. Ouyang Mufeng, sitting on the sofa, was puzzled by his sudden return. When he looked up and saw the group entering, his expression turned grave.

"Grandpa Jieliya, Senior, why are you here?"

"My child, let Grandpa take a good look at you. How are you feeling? Is there any discomfort? Wait, your eyes, they are actually..."

Shangguan Renran offered a faint smile. "I’m fine, Grandpa Jieliya. Blue is my natural eye color. If anything, I am the one who feels sorry; I didn't fulfill the promise I made to you."

Jieliya put on a stern face. "What kind of talk is that? There’s no need for such formalities between us."

Shangguan Renran grinned and tugged at his arm, acting coy. "Yes, yes, I misspoke. But Grandpa Jieliya, have you seen Mo Jiu? He went to the castle to retrieve some things for me."

As expected, the thing they feared most had happened. Gong Yi, Ouyang Mufeng, Ye Xin, Mo Shi, and the others felt their hearts pounding with anxiety.

Pigri gazed at her with gentle, watery eyes. So, blue was her natural eye color. Every slight movement of them possessed an exotic charm, absolutely stunning.

"Junior sister, are you referring to the Mo Jiu who appeared at the castle with you? We didn't see him; we must have missed him. Besides, haven't your belongings already been retrieved?"

Shangguan Renran opened her eyes wide. "What? Retrieved?" She turned her questioning gaze toward Ouyang Mufeng and the others. Ouyang Mufeng’s body instantly went rigid, his mind blank, not knowing what to say.

Gong Yi smiled broadly. "Is that so? Then it must have been Huangpu who sent someone to get them. We weren't aware of it." Ouyang Mufeng, Mo Shi, and the others breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Pigri looked at the strange atmosphere between them with confusion, but soon shifted his attention back. "Speaking of which, junior sister, I’ve been wanting to ask why he would..."

"Cough, cough, cough..." Gong Yi could not help but cough, using it to interrupt him.

Ouyang Mufeng immediately stepped in and pulled him outside. "Say, I’m curious if there are any fun places in Country M? I’d like to stay a few more days. Are there any good places you recommend, or perhaps—"

Sure enough, Pigri’s train of thought was momentarily broken, and he began to answer the questions posed to him in a gentle manner.

Shangguan Renran’s beautiful blue eyes shifted slightly. If she couldn't see that something was wrong now, she would have to be a fool. She scanned the unnatural expressions of everyone in the room with a cold gaze, then turned to Jieliya with a smile. "Grandpa Jieliya, could you tell me what happened while I was in a coma?"

"Of course I can, child. You don't even know, these past few days that Mo of yours..."

"Cough, cough, cough..." Gong Yi coughed incessantly. What to do? What was to be done in this situation? Renran seemed to have figured it out. If Huangpu found out that she had learned the truth the moment he left, this...

Jieliya looked at the young man coughing before him with concern. "Do you have a cold? Should we call a doctor to examine you?"

Gong Yi waved his hand. "No, it’s not a cold. No need for a doctor. I just wanted to ask Professor Jieliya some questions. I wanted to know..."

Shangguan Renran looked at him coldly. "Gong Yi, what are you afraid of me knowing?"

Gong Yi lowered his head and remained silent. She then turned her icy gaze to Ye Xin. "Ye Xin, you tell me. What happened outside?"

Ye Xin’s eyes flickered with unease. She didn't want to lie to her mistress, but she didn't want her to worry either. So, what now? She could only remain silent.

Shangguan Renran’s cold voice rang out again. "Ye Xin, can I no longer command you? If so, you can return to the Dark Night tomorrow."

"No, mistress, I—"

Everyone’s eyes turned toward her. Even Ouyang Mufeng, standing at the doorway, helplessly stopped his questioning. Pigri and Jieliya finally realized the problem. The two exchanged glances, realizing that the girl hadn't known, and it was their reckless mention of the topic that had caused this...

Ye Xin couldn't bear it and continued, "Mr. Huangpu, he... in order to get the antidote, he sent people to bomb Ninth Master's castle that very night. He used... he used his private weapons, weapons that are banned by the Allied Council."

"He also openly shot and wounded the Ninth Master."

"He then dispatched tens of thousands of planes to bring in medical experts and professors from all over the world for you, mistress."

"He captured the Ninth Master to... to research an antidote for you."

"On the 8th, the news came in, and on the 9th, there was a formal verdict. He was sentenced..."

"Sentenced to one month in prison."

"What... did you say?" Shangguan Renran’s blue eyes were filled with a piercing, bone-chilling cold, and the very atmosphere around her shifted involuntarily.

"So, is this why you all kept it from me?"

"Even..." Even Mr. Huangpu had kept it from her. Yes, it was for her own good. He was afraid she would worry. But had he ever thought about how her heart would ache when she heard these things?

She hated herself for falling into others' traps time and time again. She also hated herself for always being a burden to Mr. Huangpu.

Gong Yi, Mo Shi, and the others were all silent. The air felt as if ice were being dropped into their hearts, freezing them into silence.

Shangguan Renran steadied her emotions and said coldly, "Has he already been taken into the Allied Council?"

Gong Yi squeezed a word out through his teeth: "Yes."

As soon as the words were spoken, Shangguan Renran stood up and started to walk away. Ouyang Mufeng blocked the door with both hands. "Second Sister-in-law!"

Everyone behind her shouted in haste: "Mistress!" "Child!" "Renran!" "Ms. Shangguan!"

The jumble of different voices made Shangguan Renran’s heart feel chaotic and restless. She stopped and said, "Ye Xin, get my phone."

Ye Xin hesitated.

She urged her again, her tone cold and authoritative. "Ye Xin, hurry. Now, bring me my phone immediately."

"Oh... yes."

Ye Xin ran to the adjacent hospital room to search for her mistress's personal belongings.