C3 Whether You're Alive or Dead!

Soong Ruanruan was wheeled out of the operating room to find Ji Yu waiting anxiously outside. Her lips quivered as she fought through the pain, propping herself up to a sitting position.

"Mr. Yu, you must, at all costs, prevent Fu Jingchuan from finding me!" she pleaded, clutching at Ji Yu's arm, her eyes reflecting a mix of agony and resolve.

She knew that if Fu Jingchuan found her, he would surely take her two children away.

"I understand, don't worry," Ji Yu reassured her, signaling the nurse holding the children to follow. He then gently lifted Soong Ruanruan, "We need to find a place to hide for now."

Soong Ruanruan's gaze shifted to the two children behind her, and her eyes immediately welled up with tears. She extricated herself from Ji Yu's hold and approached the children. With a pained expression, she took one of them into her arms.

"I'm sorry, my dear. Mommy is so sorry..." she whispered, her forehead resting tenderly against Dear Sui's, as tears cascaded down her cheeks and onto the child's face.

After a moment, she returned Dear Sui to the nurse's care, her voice cracking with sorrow, "Please take him back to the delivery room. If anyone asks, tell them I've died."

She knew the consequences of both she and the children disappearing would be dire, not just for Fu Jingchuan, but for Ji Yu and the hospital as well. She couldn't allow her selfishness to cause them harm.

This sacrifice might be the only way to ensure Fu Jingchuan would leave her alone.

Pale and visibly in pain, Soong Ruanruan turned to Ji Yu, her voice barely above a whisper, "Mr. Yu, I truly can't thank you enough."

Despite her extreme weakness and shaky legs, she refused Ji Yu's offer of help and instead picked up the other child. "Please take care of that child. I must go now." With those final words, Soong Ruanruan, still trembling, bravely stepped into the stairwell.

Seconds later, a group of men in black burst into the delivery room. The sight of blood everywhere and the heavy scent of iron in the air were enough to make even these hardened men recoil and cover their noses.

"Where's Soong Ruanruan?" Zhou Chi, the leader, swept his gaze around the room but didn't spot anyone.

"Who are you? Get out!" Ji Yu, who had hurried in from outside, furrowed his brow and barked.

Zhou Chi's brow furrowed as well, "I am the assistant to Fu Jingchuan, the CEO of Fu's Group. I've been sent to find Miss Soong Ruanruan."

"The woman who just gave birth, she didn't make it through the delivery."

"Died?" Before Zhou Chi could fully grasp the situation, the nurse holding the baby handed the child to him. "This..."

"It's Miss Soong's child. Since you're here, it's best to give the baby to his father."

Holding the infant in his arms, Zhou Chi was momentarily overwhelmed.

Sometime later, Zhou Chi found himself in Fu Jingchuan's office.

Fu Jingchuan glanced up at him, his frown betraying no emotion. Not seeing Soong Ruanruan, he asked coldly, "Where is she?"

"Miss Soong... she passed away during childbirth," Zhou Chi said, his head bowed, avoiding Fu Jingchuan's gaze. "Sir, this is her child. Please..."

Fu Jingchuan's dark pupils tightened, and the pen in his hand dropped onto the desk with a clatter, leaving a small blot of ink.

The baby in Zhou Chi's arms wouldn't stop crying, as though he understood the words just spoken.

After trying unsuccessfully to soothe the baby, Zhou Chi spoke up, clearly distressed, "The Little Young Master won't stop crying, no matter how I try to comfort him..."

Fu Jingchuan's eyes settled on the child, and after a few seconds, he extended his arms and gently took the baby. As soon as he held him, the baby blinked his large, tear-filled eyes and gradually ceased crying, curiously examining the face before him, his little nose twitching adorably.

Fu Jingchuan's mouth twitched slightly, his voice carrying a deep chill, "Bring Soong Ruanruan back to me."

Dead or alive.

However, Zhou Chi soon returned, looking troubled.

"President, Miss Soong... has been cremated and laid to rest at the cemetery. Miss Soong had no family. It was her childhood friend, with whom she grew up, who made the arrangements."

Fu Jingchuan had just lulled the child to sleep when he heard the news. His eyes narrowed slightly as he murmured, "Hmm?"

Zhou Chi also found it odd. Normally, one wouldn't be cremated so quickly.

But if there were no relatives, it wasn't entirely implausible.

Fu Jingchuan's gaze was inscrutable, revealing no emotion. He glanced at the slumbering infant and spoke softly, "Let's go to the cemetery."

...

At the cemetery —

The site where Miss Soong Ruanruan was laid to rest offered a sweeping view, nestled against the mountain with a gentle cool breeze wafting through the air.

Fu Jingchuan stood erect before the gravestone, his gaze fixed coldly ahead.

After a moment, he turned his head slightly and commanded, "Dig!"