1144 Hang White Lanterns
Even after Li Gui helped Qiao Qiang into a chair, he still stared straight at the light as if the light represented Qiao Mei. As long as it remained lit, it meant Qiao Mei was still there.

“Where’s Qiao Mei! How’s Qiao Mei!” Xu Lan stumbled towards the operating theater with Xia Mao and Liu Fen behind her. Xia Jun had also received the news but he would reach later because he was still some distance away. However, he was already on his way and would probably reach the hospital soon.

“She’s still inside, not out yet…” Li Gui looked down and said in a low voice.

“How can this happen…” Xu Lan did not manage to catch her breath and fell to the floor. Fortunately, Xia Mao caught her in time and they all sat on the benches on both sides of the operating theater door as they waited.

“Don’t be anxious. Xia Fang is personally doing the surgery for Qiao Mei. She’ll be fine,” Li Gui comforted her.

Many doctors and nurses kept walking in and out of the operating theater. Every time someone walked in or out, the Xia family members, Qiao Qiang and Li Gui would stand up and look at the doctors and nurses expectantly before sitting down dejectedly again.

This went on until Xia Fang walked out.

“Xiao Fang! Xiao Fang! How’s Qiao Mei!” Xu Lan rushed forward and held Xia Fang’s hand tightly as she asked.

“Don’t worry. Although Qiao Mei suffered from an impact, it’s a good thing that she was sent here in time. There’s no danger now. She has given birth to a boy and a girl,” Xia Fang said with a smile.

Xu Lan was still worried. Xia Fang’s words were ambiguous and Xu Lan only wanted to hear the phrase “Qiao Mei is fine”. She asked repeatedly, “Really? Is Qiao Mei really fine? Are you lying to me? Is she really fine? Are her… vital signs good? Is she well?”

“All fine, all fine. You’ll be able to see her in a while. Don’t worry, Qiao Mei is fine!” Xia Fang held Xu Lan’s hand and comforted her.

As soon as Xia Fang finished speaking, Qiao Qiang fainted. As he had been very highly strung earlier, the moment he relaxed, his body could not take it.
“Father! Father, wake up!” Li Gui held onto Qiao Qiang as she said anxiously.

This was the first time she addressed Qiao Qiang as “Father” after her divorce. She had been feeling too ashamed all this while and felt that she had no right to address Qiao Qiang in that manner again. However, it was an emergency situation now and she could not care less.

Qiao Mei had only just gotten better but Qiao Qiang had collapsed from exhaustion. Xia Mao made arrangements for two adjacent VIP wards so that it would be easier for them to take care of both of them.

No one thought about carrying the two babies after they were born. They were all more concerned about Qiao Mei’s safety. Xia Fang called for a nurse to send the babies to the nursery and also arranged for the best hospital nurse to look after Qiao Mei.

When Xia Jun arrived, Qiao Mei was already lying on the hospital bed. He had gone out of town today to attend the wedding banquet of an old comrade-in-arms’ son. His original plan was to return tomorrow, but no one would have expected things to turn out like this today.

The Xia family was one of the sponsors for the construction of the VIP wards in the hospital. Otherwise, based on the rules, each family could only occupy one VIP ward. In the VIP ward, the moment one entered, one would see a small living room first and the actual ward was further in. This way, it was easier for the patient’s visitors to take a rest.

Li Gui stayed next door to take care of Qiao Qiang. It was not that appropriate for the Xia family to take care of Qiao Qiang. Li Gui knew that Xu Lan would treat Qiao Mei well. Even if she really wanted to be by Qiao Mei’s side, she could not simply ignore everything else.

“What’s going on? I’ve only been away for a day and this happened!” Xia Jun stood in the small living room and asked with a dark expression.

Xia Mao stood up in fear and said, “We also only just arrived. We don’t know what exactly happened to cause Qiao Mei to go into premature labor, but Xiao Fang said that it was due to an impact on Qiao Mei’s abdomen.”

“Have we ensured that there is an information blackout?” Xia Jun asked calmly.

“Yes, it’s done. Other than the few of us here, no one else will know if Qiao Mei is dead or alive. However, the news of Qiao Mei’s accident is already spreading like wildfire. I reckon there will be many people asking about this matter tomorrow,” Xia Mao said.

“We’ll make an announcement that Qiao Mei has died. Arrange for someone to go back and hang white lanterns at the house now. As for the two babies, just say that they are very weak because they are born prematurely and it looks like they might not make it,” Xia Jun said as he slowly sat on the sofa at the side.