Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him-Chapter 653 Cheng Han Might Be Dead

Qiao Xi immediately rushed forward anxiously.

The doors of the operating room slowly opened, and she saw nurses wheeling out the movable hospital bed.

Huo Xingzhou lay there, his eyes tightly shut, his face pale as a sheet.

That cold, unyielding face hadn’t shown such a vulnerable expression in ages.

Qiao Xi couldn’t help but step forward and call out, "Xingzhou, you..."

"Family members, please step aside for now. The anesthesia hasn’t worn off yet. We’ll transfer him to the ward for observation for two days first..."

Qiao Xi was forced to step aside, trailing after the hospital bed.

Old Chen and Sun Weimeng exchanged a glance and followed along as well.

Huo Xingzhou was transferred to the ward for observation, and after the nurses explained some precautions, they departed.

Qiao Xi stood by his bedside, her eyes fixed on Huo Xingzhou, unblinking, afraid that if she even closed her eyes, this man might disappear.

Tears rolled down the corners of her eyes, and her heart ached with sorrow.

Sun Weimeng, seeing this, felt a pang of sympathy.

He approached and said softly, "The doctor already said he’s not in critical condition. He’s young and resilient. The blade didn’t damage any of his vital organs—it’s a stroke of luck. With some rest, he’ll recover. Don’t be too upset."

Qiao Xi’s voice was hoarse as she replied, "Young Master Sun, I’m angry with myself for not realizing earlier that he didn’t have any bodyguards around him. He had Old Chen arranged to protect me, and that’s why this accident happened. And I’m angry that he does things without telling me..."

Where had all those bodyguards gone?

Her chest felt tight with anxiety.

Sun Weimeng didn’t know what to say either, as he too wanted to know just what Huo Xingzhou was up to in secret. With that thought, he turned and glared fiercely at Old Chen.

Old Chen felt a little guilty.

He had to abide by professional ethics. The Young Master had said not to let any information leak out, so not a single word could be revealed.

"Cough, cough."

Old Chen cleared his throat a few times and said, "I’ll head to the police station to investigate the situation, to see what happened today in full detail. Young Madam, Young Master Sun, you both just wait here. Once the anesthesia wears off, the Young Master will wake up."

After saying this, he left.

Sun Weimeng scoffed and pulled over a chair, placing it beside Qiao Xi. He said, "Why don’t you sit for now? You’ve been running around outside all day without even having lunch. I’ll go get you something to eat—anything you’re craving?"

Qiao Xi shook her head.

"Alright, I’ll just grab whatever for you then."

Sun Weimeng could tell she wasn’t in the mood for food either, so he could only leave with a helpless sigh.

He gently closed the door as he left.

Qiao Xi sat beside the bed, wrapped in a strong sense of fear and helplessness.

Her grandmother had once left her, quietly and without warning. Now she was like a bird startled by the slightest sound, unable to bear any sudden accidents.

She reached out her trembling hand to touch Huo Xingzhou’s hand.

Soft.

Warm to the touch.

He wouldn’t leave her like her grandmother had.

A pang of dread washed over Qiao Xi. She sniffled and picked up a cotton swab, dipping it in warm water to gently moisten his dry lips.

Then she set the swab aside.

She lifted the blanket slightly to check the wound on his abdomen, which had already been wrapped in gauze.

However, faint traces of blood could still be seen seeping through the gauze.

She had no idea how much blood he had lost.

Qiao Xi gently pulled the blanket back over him, only to have her hand suddenly held tightly.

She turned her head and saw that Huo Xingzhou had already woken up, his deep, dark eyes less threatening than usual. His hand tightened around hers as his voice, slightly hoarse, called out: "Qiao Xi."

"I’m here."

He struggled to sit up, but Qiao Xi pressed down on his shoulder, stopping him: "You need to lie down—not move around. The doctor said you have to stay still and rest. From now on, you have to listen to me."

Huo Xingzhou looked at her serious expression and nodded, "Alright, I’ll listen to you."

If he didn’t listen to her, she would be upset again.

"Stay put."

Qiao Xi demanded with a stern face.

Though moments ago, she had been frantic with worry while he was unconscious, she now showed no trace of a good mood. Her beautiful face held no smile.

Huo Xingzhou complied, lying back in the bed as she instructed.

But his eyes remained fixed on her, following her every movement.

Qiao Xi busied herself tidying up the room, her heart laden with a storm of unspoken words. Finally, she approached him and asked, "Don’t you have anything to say to me?"

She had been restlessly occupied for so long, all in the hope that he would voluntarily come clean.

But.

He remained utterly silent, saying nothing at all.

Huo Xingzhou looked at her and asked, "What do you want me to say?"

"So much. For example, where did your bodyguards go? Who is targeting you? What secrets are you hiding from me? Huo Xingzhou, it’s fine for us to have secrets—even separate spaces. But when something threatens your life, you can’t keep it from me. You assigned Old Chen to protect me—what about yourself?

Did you ever stop to think about what would happen if you had... died today?"

Death—that word.

To Qiao Xi, it carried unbearable weight.

If that person had succeeded today...

Huo Xingzhou dead—that would leave the Imperial Capital’s schemers free to ridicule the situation.

"That won’t happen. I’m careful."

"Careful enough, Huo Xingzhou? Not so careful that you’d end up alone without even one bodyguard by your side! What could possibly be so urgent that you’d ignore your own safety?"

Qiao Xi’s heart was in turmoil—equal parts worry and anger.

She feared being too harsh and hurting the feelings of an injured man.

But being too lenient might mean Huo Xingzhou wouldn’t learn his lesson.

He was always taking risks alone.

"Qiao Xi."

Huo Xingzhou extended his hand, gesturing for her to come closer. "Sit down first."

Qiao Xi exhaled slowly and sat in front of him, waiting for an explanation.

With a gentle tone and a solemn gaze, Huo Xingzhou said, "I sent all the bodyguards to handle something very important."

"All of them?"

"Yes."

Qiao Xi frowned slightly.

Huo Xingzhou never acted without purpose; something serious must have happened.

She pressed her lips together and asked, "What happened? Can you tell me?"

Huo Xingzhou’s gaze lowered slightly, his tone muted: "Mr. Cheng has been missing for a long time. We’re sure it’s a disappearance, not just him wandering off into the mountains to gather herbs. My people found some traces. But don’t worry, I’ll find him."

Qiao Xi felt as though her heart had been dealt a heavy blow.

How could this be!

"The safety markers Grandpa Cheng left behind were clearly intact. Are you certain you’re not mistaken?"

"Perhaps I am. I just want to find him as quickly as possible. He’s your mentor, and in a way, he’s half a mentor to me too."

Huo Xingzhou’s deep eyes flickered faintly.

He had dispatched numerous people to search for Cheng Han, including Zhong Yi.

But they hadn’t found any traces of Cheng Han.

A living person leaves behind movements, traces of survival. But a dead person—there was no movement. With the resources he and Zhong Yi had, it made no sense that someone alive couldn’t be found for so long.

Huo Xingzhou had prepared for the worst.

Cheng Han might already be dead.

But this possibility—he wouldn’t share with Qiao Xi.