The walls were sterile white, the lighting soft but tense. The low hum of machines beyond the door faded as the heavy panel shut behind Lu Zhenwei, leaving only Leng Xuanmo and Mo Tiany inside.
Lu Zhenwei's expression was calm—but distant. He didn't sit.
Mo Tianyi gave a short nod. "Uncle."
Zhenwei looked between them for a moment, eyes unreadable. Then he turned to Leng Xuanmo.
"You said she would be safe."
Leng Xuanmo straightened. "She should have been. I was nearby—"
"But not close enough," Zhenwei interrupted quietly. "Not close enough to stop three girls from cornering her in a bathroom and sending her into surgery."
Mo Tianyi tried to interject, "They planned it—this wasn't some spontaneous fight."
"I know," Zhenwei said flatly. "I also know it happened under your watch."
Xuanmo's jaw tightened.
"Jingyan is stubborn. She wouldn't have wanted you to hover. I know that," Zhenwei continued. "But it's still your world she walked into. Your name she stood beside."
He took a step closer, but his tone never rose. "Tell me honestly, Xuanmo. Did you underestimate how vicious they could be?"
"Yes," Xuanmo said without hesitation. "I knew they disliked her—but I didn't think they'd go that far."
Mo Tianyi crossed his arms. "They didn't just dislike her. They saw her as a threat. Socialites like Cheng Ciao and Li Man feed on weakness."
"They saw her sincerity and mistook it for vulnerability," Lu Zhenwei muttered. "That's always been the danger with Jingyan. She's not fragile, but people mistake kindness for weakness."
He paused, then looked at Leng Xuanmo again.
"I don't need apologies. I need answers. What are you going to do about this?"
Leng Xuanmo raised his head. "We've identified the girls responsible. The Leng family has already begun formal legal proceedings. Their families will be held accountable."
"Publicly?"
"Yes."
"Good," Zhenwei said coldly. "I don't care what name they carry or what power they think they have. I want everyone to know what they did to my daughter."
Mo Tianyi added, "There's another layer to this. The smear campaign is still brewing online. Some accounts are pushing narratives that she provoked them—"
"She didn't," Leng Xuanmo snapped. "She never even raised her voice."
"I know that," Zhenwei said. "But I'm not worried about strangers behind screens. I'm worried about her. She hasn't even opened her eyes, and the world outside is already roaring."
He finally sat, folding his hands. "I'm not asking you to be perfect, Xuanmo. I'm asking you to be present. And if you can't be one step ahead of the danger—don't ask her to walk beside you."
Leng Xuanmo's voice was low. "I failed this time. But I'll never let it happen again."
"You'd better not," Zhenwei said quietly. "Because the next time, she might not come back."
There was a heavy silence. Then, surprisingly, Zhenwei sighed and leaned back.
"I'm not your enemy, boy. I've seen how you look at her. I've seen how she softens when you're near. But love—real love—requires responsibility."
"I know," Xuanmo said.
Zhenwei looked over at Mo Tianyi. "And you?"
"I'll handle the media. Hua Shu and I are already coordinating with PR. We'll shift the narrative, leak what's necessary, and clear her name. She doesn't need to fight this battle when she wakes up."
Lu Zhenwei nodded slowly.
"I'll stay in Country F for the next few weeks," he said. "If she wakes up frightened, I'll be the first face she sees. But if she wakes up and calls for either of you—you better be there before her voice fades."
Without waiting for another word, he stood and left the room, his footsteps quiet but firm.
Leng Xuanmo stared at the door long after he was gone.
"I will be," he whispered.
Mo Tianyi placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She'll know."