About an hour had passed. The effect of the anesthetic on He Zhenhua gradually wore off, and he slowly woke up from the coma.
Ye Yanxi and Jiang Pinzhen tried hard to contain their excitement. They stared intently at the hospital bed on either side. He Zhenhua's eyelashes fluttered, and then he opened his eyes. He glanced at the two beside him. Jiang Pinzhen's eyes were slightly red, and her lips quivered. "You're awake?"
A glint flashed in He Zhenhua's eyes, and he responded weakly, "Yes."
"Do you feel uncomfortable? I'll call the doctor to examine you again," Jiang Pinzhen said gently, suppressing the joy in her eyes.
"I'm fine. I'm just weak all over."
Jiang Pinzhen stared at him tenderly. "The effect of the medicine in your body has just worn off, and you've just had the surgery, so you're very weak."
"The surgery was successful. I'm okay," He Zhenhua said with a smile on his face.
"You're okay. The surgery was a great success." After so many days, Jiang Pinzhen could finally relax.
Then, He Zhenhua turned to look at Ye Yanxi. There was a hint of expectation and joy in his eyes. He called her softly, "Xiaoxi!"
Ye Yanxi looked at him with a smile and answered, "Yes."
"You once said that if... the surgery was successful, you would..." He Zhenhua seemed a bit impatient. There was a glint in his eyes, and some color returned to his face.
But he was still worried that Ye Yanxi wouldn't accept him, so he only said half of what he wanted to say and didn't have the courage to continue.
Jiang Pinzhen smiled at Ye Yanxi. The latter took a deep breath, as if to calm her emotions. After a while, she sweetly called out, "Dad!"
This "Dad" made He Zhenhua's lips tremble with excitement. His eyes widened in disbelief that Ye Yanxi would really call him that. He asked nervously and uncertainly, "What... what did you just call me? Xiaoxi, you called me Dad..."
Ye Yanxi looked at his reaction amusingly. There was tenderness and helplessness in her eyes. She gently called out a few more times, "Dad. I said I'm calling you Dad."
This time, He Zhenhua was finally sure. He was overjoyed. He tightly held Ye Yanxi's hand. "Xiaoxi, call me a few more times, okay?"
"Dad, Dad!" Ye Yanxi laughed. "Don't worry. I'll call you Dad every day after you recover."
"Good, good." He Zhenhua looked at Ye Yanxi gratefully. His eyes were slightly red. Such a strong and resolute middle - aged man shed happy tears at this moment.
Looking at Ye Yanxi and Jiang Pinzhen, He Zhenhua felt as if he had been reborn.
Once he had almost lost all this. Fortunately, God was kind to him. His wife and daughter had both returned to his side.
Huo Lin had passed away.
The Xiao family didn't hold a grand funeral for her. It was a very simple ceremony.
But Huo Lin's death hit Xiao Zhenwei the hardest among the Xiao family members.
In the first few days, Xiao Zhenwei was almost like a lifeless tree. He neither ate nor drank. He seemed to have aged more than a decade overnight. The white hair on his temples was even more obvious. Not long after, Xiao Zhenwei often went to the mountain temple and no longer had the energy to participate in any of the Xiao family's affairs.
Except for Liang Sheng, Xiao Yu had uncovered all the other spies sent by the Italian group.
Those people were suspected of stealing commercial secrets and were also involved in kidnapping and murder. Not long after, they were escorted back to their country and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, it was later heard that one of them escaped from prison and was shot dead on the spot. This happened a long time later.
As for the real mastermind behind the scenes, the Italian company stationed in City S also announced bankruptcy, and its local industries in Italy were also affected.
Half a month later, there was a result in Xiao Shuran's case in court. Chu Yan was sentenced to death for the suspected murder, and his mistress was also sentenced for being an accomplice.
After that, Jin Yan voluntarily surrendered and admitted her crime of assisting Liang Sheng in the kidnapping.
However, because of her good attitude of confessing her crime, her relationship with Xiao Yu, and her participation in rescuing Ye Yanxi and He Chuyan, she was able to atone for her crime. She was released after being imprisoned for two months.
All things came to a quiet end, and everything seemed to be back on track.
On the eve of New Year's Day, there was another big news in City S.
He Yanxi, the daughter of the He Group, and Xiao Yu, the president of the Xiao Group, would get married on January 3rd. This was the most anticipated wedding in City S at present.
Almost everyone knew the news of their upcoming wedding. Jin Yan, who had just been released from prison, soon learned about it too.
In the most luxurious wedding dress shop in City S, He Yanxi was trying on wedding dresses.
After a few months, He Yanxi's belly was getting bigger. Naturally, the wedding dress couldn't be too tight. So the staff kept making adjustments. They had to pursue perfection and comfort at the same time, and everyone was in a bit of a rush.
When He Yanxi came out of the fitting room, under the illumination of the crystal lamps, her white wedding dress made her skin look even more fair and crystal - clear. Coupled with her already delicate and beautiful features, she looked like a fairy.
To cover her belly, the waist of the wedding dress was designed with a tutu, and the waistline was raised a bit, which made her figure look even more slender and graceful.
When He Yanxi came out of the fitting room, she was a bit nervous. The first person she looked at wasn't herself in the mirror but Xiao Yu. There seemed to be both expectation and sweetness in her eyes.
"Isn't the train of this dress too big? It's so exaggerated. And isn't this necklace too flashy?" He Yanxi nervously grabbed the hem of the dress, feeling very anxious.
Xiao Yu was wearing a black suit and a white shirt. He strode over to her, bent down, and looked at her carefully. There was admiration in his eyes. "You look beautiful."
He Yanxi looked up, smiling sweetly. "Really?"
"Would I lie to you?" Xiao Yu playfully scraped the tip of her nose, looking doting.
He Chuyan, who came with He Yanxi to try on the wedding dress, ran over shouting exaggeratedly at this time. Her praise was extremely exaggerated. "Xixi, this wedding dress is just made for you. It's so suitable for you. You're so beautiful and perfect."
"Thank you, Yanyan," He Yanxi said sincerely with a beaming smile.
At this time, Chen Moshu, who had been standing silently on the side, came over. He looked at He Chuyan playfully. "I believe that Yanyan would also look very beautiful if she wore a wedding dress. Do you want to try it now?"
"I don't want to!" He Chuyan pouted and proudly raised her chin, rejecting Chen Moshu.
"It's time for us to get married, too," Chen Moshu whispered his dissatisfaction.
"No, I'm not ready yet."
Chen Moshu tried to persuade her patiently. "But our baby is already three months old. As your belly gets bigger in the future, how can you wear a wedding dress?"
He Chuyan was indeed pregnant.
After the explosion, He Chuyan was found to be pregnant. Now it was almost a month.
At that time, Mrs. Chen was extremely happy. She cooked all kinds of soups every day and sent them to He Chuyan's company, while Chen Moshu followed her every day, urging her to get married.
But He Chuyan just refused.
This time, even He Yanxi couldn't stand it anymore and stood on Chen Moshu's side.
"Yanyan," He Yanxi also tried to persuade her. "You and Brother Chen are in love with each other, and you already have a baby. Why are you still not willing to agree?"
"Who says you have to get married just because you have a baby?" He Chuyan glanced at Chen Moshu disdainfully. "I never said I fancied him."
Chen Moshu was silent. He Yanxi couldn't help but laugh at his expression.
While they were chatting happily, someone walked up to He Yanxi.
"Miss He, hello. There's a Miss Jin outside who wants to see you."
Miss Jin?
He Yanxi went back to the fitting room to change into her own clothes. When she went out, she indeed saw Jin Yan waiting in the hall.
"Long time no see, Ye Yanxi," Jin Yan smiled.
He Yanxi also returned a smile. "Long time no see. But... I'm surnamed He now."
After He Zhenhua was discharged from the hospital, he came to find He Yanxi. The two of them finally resolved their misunderstandings. Then He Zhenhua asked her to change her surname back. After all, she was his only precious daughter, and she shouldn't have the surname Ye anymore.
Although He Yanxi was a bit hesitant because she had had the surname Ye for so long, now that she had returned to the He family, there was no reason not to change it.
"Oh, then I'll have to call you Miss He from now on," Jin Yan said with a smile. There was a hint of tiredness in her expression.
He Yanxi also thought that she didn't look well. She seemed very haggard. So she felt a bit heart - ache. "Miss Jin, you've lost a lot of weight. You must have suffered a lot, right?"
Jin Yan just smiled indifferently and changed the topic. "It's okay. Your baby is six months old now, right?"
"Yes. I just had a prenatal check - up. It's 24 weeks," He Yanxi said gently, stroking her belly.
Looking at He Yanxi's gentle expression, Jin Yan felt very emotional and happy for her. After going through so many hardships, she had finally achieved a happy ending with Xiao Yu.
"That's great," Jin Yan said sincerely.
"What about you? Are you okay?" He Yanxi asked with concern.
"I have a good job now, which is what I've always wanted. You don't have to worry about me," Jin Yan hesitated for a moment. Then she looked at He Yanxi seriously. "I came here this time mainly to apologize to you."
He Yanxi smiled back at her. "The past is over. Everything is fine now, so there's no need to bring it up again."
But Jin Yan stubbornly looked at her. Her eyes were full of sincerity. "I'm sorry. I was narrow - minded before. I misunderstood you a lot and did those things that hurt you. I know it doesn't make much sense for me to apologize now, and I'm not even worthy of your forgiveness. But I still have to say, I'm sorry."
Although for a moment, He Yanxi really hated what Jin Yan had done, now that she had received the punishment she deserved, everything was even. Moreover, she also hoped that Jin Yan could live a good life in the future.
"I accept your apology."
Jin Yan looked up. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me," He Yanxi said brightly, just like when Jin Yan was her idol in the past. "Actually, I should thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am today. You were always my unparalleled idol when I was in school, giving me the motivation to study hard. I'm really grateful to you."
The two looked at each other and smiled, finally letting go of the past.
All the old grudges had disappeared.
Jin Yan looked back and saw that Xiao Yu was still waiting there. So she waved with a smile. "Okay, go back. I should go. I wish you a happy wedding!"
"Thank you."
Xiao Yu and Ye Yanxi's wedding was naturally held in the most top - class and luxurious hotel in City S.
On that day, all the major media reporters rushed to the hotel. They were waiting for an opportunity. The outside of the hotel was completely surrounded.
The whole hotel hall was carefully decorated, just like a dreamy castle.
It was almost time for the wedding. The venue was already full of guests.
Grandpa Xiao and the Jiang family were sitting at the same table. Everyone was smiling and looking contentedly at the crowded scene in front of them.
He Yanxi had already finished her makeup in the room. She was waiting anxiously and sweetly at the moment. He Chuyan, as the bridesmaid, was also waiting beside her. She couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
It was almost time. Xiao Yu led a group of groomsmen to the door of the bride's guest room.
There was only He Chuyan in the room. How could she resist Chen Moshu and the other big and strong men? As soon as the door opened a crack, the groomsmen rushed in.
He Chuyan glared angrily at the groomsmen who had barged in rudely.
But Chen Moshu quickly stepped forward to comfort her so as not to make her too angry.
In the hall, under the bright crystal lamps, Xiao Yu was standing at the other end of the red carpet. With his handsome and charming appearance and his tall and straight figure, he was staring intently at He Yanxi.
As the music started, He Yanxi slowly stepped onto the red carpet in her white wedding dress. He Zhenhua held her hand, and the two of them slowly walked towards Xiao Yu.
Before the wedding, He Zhenhua originally planned to let Ye Junze hold He Yanxi's hand, but Ye Junze refused. Moreover, He Zhenhua was He Yanxi's biological father. How could someone else replace him?
Xiao Yu stared intently at He Yanxi, watching her walk towards him step by step. The distance between them was getting shorter and shorter.
He Zhenhua solemnly placed He Yanxi's hand in Xiao Yu's. There was tenderness in Xiao Yu's eyes as he looked at his bride.
"Xiaoxi is in your hands now," He Zhenhua said softly.
Xiao Yu tightly held He Yanxi's hand and promised, "I'll take good care of her for the rest of my life."
After saying that, Xiao Yu and He Yanxi looked at each other and smiled.
"From today on, the whole world will know that you're my Xiao Yu's wife. Are you scared?" Xiao Yu lowered his head and looked at He Yanxi affectionately.
He Yanxi proudly raised her chin. "No matter what the future holds, as long as you're with me, I won't be afraid."
They had gone through so many difficulties together, and in the future, they would still support each other, because they loved each other deeply.