Chapter 1294 - 1266: A Narrow Escape (Fourth Update)

Chapter 1294: Chapter 1266: A Narrow Escape (Fourth Update)

"I—" Nong Yao steeled himself to confess, only to be cut off by Chen Xiaoqian.

"He didn’t say anything, I was just guessing wildly on my own."

Nong Yao looked at Chen Xiaoqian in surprise. He thought this sly girl would seize the opportunity to exaggerate, but unexpectedly, she chose to cover for him. What exactly was she up to?

The two of them had been at each other’s throats before, always bickering whenever they met, yet she didn’t take this chance to accuse him!

After understanding the situation, Chen Xiaoqian didn’t rush to talk about the tampered hard drive. She had a twofold intention.

Though Chen Xiaoqian hadn’t fully recovered after giving birth, her mind was more active, even sharper than before the pregnancy.

She stopped prodding as soon as she got the information she wanted and didn’t delve further, leaving Nong Yao uneasy, constantly wondering about her intentions.

The group chatted idly for a few more sentences when the door swung open, and Xiaoqian’s mother rushed in, panic-stricken.

"Oh no! Our child has been snatched!"

"What?!" Xiaoqian quickly inquired, feeling a wave of darkness overcome her sight.

"What happened?"

Qio Yu Xuan and the others turned pale.

"Didn’t I take the child swimming downstairs just now? I was watching her from behind the glass..."

Xiaoqian’s mother briefly summarized the incident, still in shock.

The maternity ward was on the fourth floor, while the swimming was on the second floor. Xiaoqian’s mother took the baby swimming and watched through the glass. The pool was quite large and could accommodate several babies swimming together. There was another family watching as well.

Though Xiaoqian’s mother always had reservations about infant swimming, she was always afraid her granddaughter’s float would slip off. If not for the insistence of Xiaoqian and the others, she wouldn’t have wanted to take the child down. Her eyes remained glued to the scene, fearing anything could go wrong.

Once the child finished swimming, Xiaoqian’s mother held her, ready to go upstairs.

She pushed the hospital-provided stroller and waited for the elevator. For some reason, a crowd of people came in, forcing Xiaoqian’s mother to step back a couple of paces. Before she could process what was happening, she saw a woman holding Xiaowei and quickly running towards the stairs. Xiaoqian’s mother was dumbfounded.

People often experience a few moments of mental blankness in emergencies. By the time she sprung into action, the person had already reached the stairwell, heading downstairs. Xiaoqian’s mother chased in frenzy, but it was too late. The kidnapper escaped with the child into a waiting car outside and sped away.

While chasing, Xiaoqian’s mother yelled that the child was being taken. However, others in the hospital were either too slow to react or didn’t want to get involved. Only two or three people joined the chase. When Xiaoqian’s mother saw them get into the car and take off, she was so distraught she was on the verge of tears. Just then, a young man stepped up, offering to pursue them by car and urged Xiaoqian’s mother to report it to the police immediately.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoqian nearly fainted—her daughter!

Mrs. Yu also entered at this point, seeing Xiaoqian’s mother and inquiring.

"In-law, where’s Xiaowei? I went downstairs but didn’t see you. When did you get back?"

"Xiaowei..." Xiaoqian’s mother broke down in tears, collapsing to her knees.

She felt she had failed, allowing the child to be taken right before her eyes.

Mrs. Yu, not comprehending, helped her up and asked further. Learning this terrible news left her stunned.

Right then, Xiaoqian urgently called Yu Minglang. In these situations, contacting him was more effective than calling the police. Yu Minglang was furious upon hearing the news, asking for the license plate number and immediately initiating a capture plan, wasting no time.

In broad daylight, the audacity to attempt something like this in a hospital—it was outrageous!

Qio Yu Xuan glanced at Aka, who nodded and turned to leave, ready to help find the child.

"Xiaoqian, don’t worry. We’ll find the child," Qio Yu Xuan consoled her, never having seen her so anxious before.

"I want to find my child," Xiaoqian insisted, getting up to leave. The others quickly stopped her, reminding her she was too weak after childbirth to help.

Amidst the chaos, Qio Yu Xuan’s phone rang.

"Old Three, I’m dealing with an emergency here, can we talk later?" Qio Yu Xuan saw it was his third disciple calling and didn’t have time for other matters.

From the other end, besides Tang Shao’s voice, there was an inconsolable cry of a baby.

"Wait, don’t hang up. Master, I wanted to ask, if a baby won’t stop crying, can I give her some medicine?"

"Medicine, my foot! The baby cries because she misses her mother—wait, a baby?!"

"Yes, I just saw someone snatching a child outside the hospital and helped chase them. Now the child is with me, and I’ve subdued the kidnappers with some medicine. I’m debating whether to take them to the police or bring them back for some herbal experiments..."

"Hurry and bring the child over!"

Minutes later, Tang Shao entered carrying a small swaddle, and everyone gathered around. Xiaoqian recognized her poor Xiaowei immediately!

The baby was wailing, extremely aggrieved. Xiaoqian hurriedly took her, cradling her gently, and the little one ceased crying upon sensing her mother’s scent, though she still sobbed on reflex, her small shoulders quivering, looking so pitiful.

Seeing her daughter like this brought tears to Xiaoqian’s eyes. She gently patted her, soothing the baby’s mood, holding back her tears yet pretending to be strong.

"Don’t be afraid, baby. Mommy’s here, don’t be scared."

Xiaowei’s tears still brimmed in her big eyes, her adorable appearance melting Xiaoqian’s heart.

"I won’t leave you again. Mommy will never be out of your sight."

With mommy’s embrace, the baby quickly fell asleep.

To this little baby, she couldn’t understand the fear of nearly being abducted. Her cries were simply because of being forcibly held by someone she didn’t like, making her uneasy. But now, content in her mother’s arms, the baby dozed off.

She had no idea the terror her brief absence had caused the adults.

Xiaoqian continually soothed her baby, while Xiaoqian’s mother and Mrs. Yu showered Tang Shao with gratitude, especially Xiaoqian’s mother, who was so thankful she nearly fell to her knees.

Even though Xiaoqian’s mother was a victim of unforeseen circumstances, it wasn’t certain that anyone else holding the baby could have avoided being robbed. Regardless, if the child had been lost under her watch, Xiaoqian’s mother felt her life would be over; she would never be able to face her daughter and son-in-law again in her lifetime.

Luckily, the child was found safe and sound, with a scare but no harm done.

"Tang, we owe so much to you this time. I can’t thank you enough!" Xiaoqian’s mother repeatedly expressed her gratitude, at a loss for how else to thank him.

"No need to thank me. I’ve taught them since they were young to act when encountering situations like this. Besides, this concerns their fellow disciple’s family, and we’re all family," Qio Yu Xuan comforted Xiaoqian’s mother.

Meanwhile, the third brother Tang Shao, treated as a hero, couldn’t take his eyes off Xiaoqian.

At this moment, she was radiating with maternal grace, lovingly gazing at the child in her arms. Tang Shao, observing Xiaoqian, felt puzzled and glanced at Nong Yao.

He seemed to ask with his eyes, Senior Brother, didn’t you say she was a once-in-a-century shrew?

Wasn’t she supposed to be bossy, throwing her weight around as the young master’s favorite?

Wasn’t she supposed to be sharp-tongued, annoying everyone?

Wasn’t Chen Xiaoqian said to be the culprit who nearly cost the teacher his life?