Volume 1 Chapter 9 Where Is She

On the fifth floor, as Jiang Qin stepped out from the stairwell, she saw He Xu anxiously pacing near the elevator. “Assistant He!”

He Xu looked over, visibly relieved, and hurried to her side.

A few minutes later, Jiang Qin signed the informed consent form, and the unconscious Huo Silai was wheeled away on a stretcher for examination.

According to the doctor’s instructions, a family member should accompany him at this time. Instinctively, Jiang Qin wanted to follow, but He Xu had already arranged for two medical staff to go ahead.

At that moment, Jiang Qin, still a bit disoriented from the rush, suddenly recalled what the doctor had said last night during her pregnancy test. She stopped abruptly.

Huo Silai was going for a head CT scan, which could pose significant risks to pregnant women and their fetuses.

Since she could not be absolutely certain she wasn’t pregnant, going in like this would be playing with life itself.

“I’m feeling unwell. I’ll go to the restroom. Assistant He, please watch over Mr. Huo for now.”

As the stretcher was pushed into the elevator, Jiang Qin turned to He Xu and spoke.

He lowered his head, meeting Jiang Qin’s pale face and lips, and without hesitation nodded, following her into the elevator.

Jiang Qin turned and headed toward the restroom.

It was just an excuse, but once inside, she noticed a slight discomfort in her lower abdomen again.

She closed the door, checked herself, found no signs, and relaxed a little. Washing her hands, she caught her reflection in the mirror and was startled.

The woman in the mirror was young and beautiful, but her face and lips were ghostly pale, especially her face, which was deathly white. A thin sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead, her earlobes were unnaturally flushed, and strands of hair clung damply to her cheeks. All this revealed just how anxious and worried she had been.

Looking at herself, Jiang Qin couldn’t help but be reminded of another face strikingly similar to hers.

Frowning slightly, she dried her hands, tidied her hair, washed her hands again, and stepped out.

Huo Silai was taken to a ward. The situation was urgent, and given his status, the report came back quickly.

More than half an hour later, she held the report in her hand. The doctor said it was a concussion, not severe, so there was no need to worry too much, but he needed ample rest.

“When will he likely wake up?” Jiang Qin asked.

In the consultation room, the doctor’s eyes widened in surprise but quickly replied, “For a case like this, he should wake up in about thirty minutes. However, everyone’s constitution differs, so some variation is normal. Don’t worry too much; just wait a little longer, and if you have any concerns, feel free to ask me.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

Back in the private ward, a nurse was treating the superficial wounds on Huo Silai’s arm.

The man remained unconscious, and the sharp scent of iodine in the room overwhelmed the faint woody fragrance he normally wore.

Jiang Qin pursed her lips, standing not far from the door, looking at the pale and haggard Huo Silai lying on the bed.

Just then, He Xu returned after briefly handling some work and picking up ointment for the abrasions at the pharmacy.

Jiang Qin diverted her gaze and looked at He Xu. “What happened just now? How did he get into a car accident?”

“Well…” He Xu glanced at her, his expression complicated, then recounted the events.

Jiang Qin frowned lightly as she listened. It turned out Huo Silai had been trying to save a little boy who was nearly hit by a car in the middle of the road.

But something happened between them — perhaps the child was going through a rebellious phase. After reaching safety, the boy looked up at Huo Silai and suddenly pushed him hard.

Caught off guard, Huo Silai was pushed out of the safe zone just as a car came speeding by.

Fortunately, the driver braked in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been disastrous.

“It’s a sign of the times,” He Xu said angrily. “The traffic light was green, and that kid just turned and ran away!”

Jiang Qin glanced at him but said nothing, knowing this was truly a tale of the farmer and the snake.

Huo Silai still hadn’t awakened. Glancing at the time, it was already the afternoon work hours.

Thinking of the company’s affairs, she worried that Lin Xiaoyu would be unsafe alone.

Jiang Qin looked at He Xu, about to say she would return to the office first.

Before she could speak, the man on the bed stirred noticeably.

Jiang Qin saw it first and instinctively moved closer, but before she reached the bedside, the man’s voice came out.

It was hoarse and indistinct, sounding like he was calling “Qin Qin,” or perhaps “Qian Qian.”

Her steps slowed as a sudden realization struck her.

The shattered glass from earlier this morning flashed in her mind, along with how Huo Silai had asked if Li Xueqian was injured.

Her heart stabbed painfully, and Jiang Qin stopped dead, turning to look at He Xu.

“Assistant He, I’ll leave this to you. I have other matters to attend to and will head back to the office first.”

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and left.

He Xu opened his mouth and turned around, but Jiang Qin was already out of sight.

...

“Mr. Huo, you’re awake.”

In a brightly lit room suffused with the sharp scent of iodine, Huo Silai frowned slightly and pushed himself up. He Xu reached out to support him but missed the moment.

He Xu reported on Huo Silai’s condition and mentioned the concussion diagnosis.

Huo Silai showed little reaction, only a faint “hmm,” before asking after a moment, “Has Jiang Qin been here?”

“Yes,” He Xu replied. “She…”

Suddenly, Huo Silai furrowed his brows, his dark eyes clouded and unreadable as they glanced at He Xu.

He Xu’s expression shifted slightly, quickly correcting himself, “It’s Secretary Jiang. Secretary Jiang came to sign the informed consent form, so Mr. Huo, you were able to have the examination.”

Huo Silai scanned the room, his voice calm and distant. “Where is she?”

She...

Watching Huo Silai’s expression, He Xu said, “Secretary Jiang just left not long ago. She left because you seemed close to waking up.”

Whether Huo Silai found this answer satisfactory was unclear; his face didn’t show happiness, but it wasn’t displeasure either.

The atmosphere grew tense. He Xu hesitated, unsure if he should say more — for instance, that Secretary Jiang had been very worried when she arrived, her face pale with anxiety.

Huo Silai suddenly interrupted his thoughts. “What time is it?”

“Oh,” He Xu quickly checked his phone and gave the time.

Huo Silai rubbed his temples. “Handle the formalities. Return to the office.”

He Xu twitched his eyelids. “The doctor said you should—”

Huo Silai gave him a look, and He Xu fell silent. “Understood.”

At Huo Corporation’s headquarters, Jiang Qin, having composed herself, threw herself wholeheartedly back into work. Lin Xiaoyu was inside organizing files, her mood noticeably calmer.

At that moment, the elevator doors opened. Huo Silai emerged with He Xu following, both heading toward the president’s office.

A woman with voluminous curly hair strode up quickly, wearing high heels, her voice loud and trembling with sobs.

“Mr. Huo, you’ve finally come! The intern Secretary Jiang brought hit someone! They made the person’s nose bleed! It’s just outright bullying!”

Huo Silai paused, turned around, his brows furrowing.