He was therefore certain that this matter must be very important to Hua Xiaomo. However, the news conference was still underway; if he also left after she did, it would be a significant breach of etiquette.

Therefore, Qi Longbing merely whispered some instructions to the person beside him, asking that person to follow Hua Xiaomo, while he himself remained in the hall to continue hosting the press conference, which Hua Xiaomo was supposed to host.

Qi Longbing smiled graciously and elegantly at everyone. "My apologies. If anyone has further questions, please feel free to ask. I’ll do my best to answer the questions I can. For any I cannot answer, I ask for your understanding."

"However, the cooperation between Qi Imperial Court and Purple Demon Immortal Inquiry Company will continue. In our future endeavors, we will count on your strong support and appreciate your help with positive publicity."

The conference continued for over two hours. Hua Xiaomo’s departure didn’t seem to draw much attention or cause displeasure. Instead, the reporters’ enthusiasm to interview Qi Longbing surged; the opportunity to interview this business prodigy was a momentous occasion. Consequently, the press conference went on for another two hours before concluding. Only then, after arranging everything, did Qi Longbing hurriedly leave the venue.

Qi Longbing called Hua Xiaomo.

When Hua Xiaomo saw it was his call, she hesitated, wanting to ignore it, but after a moment’s thought, she answered. "President Qi? How is the press conference going?"

"’Don’t worry. After you left, I kept the press conference going. But since I’ve done you such a huge favor, you absolutely have to treat me to a meal!’" Qi Longbing joked. Inside, however, he was worried about Hua Xiaomo. Was there something troubling her? For her to leave a press conference so abruptly, it clearly wasn’t a trivial matter. A seed of suspicion began to grow in Qi Longbing’s mind.

"No problem. I’ll definitely treat you to a meal after I’ve solved this issue," Hua Xiaomo said before hanging up.

"’That’s good.’" Qi Longbing also hung up. Although he didn’t ask her what the matter was, he still felt a deep concern for her.

He quickly made another call. "Where is Hua Xiaomo now?"

"President Qi, she is currently at the hospital," the other party replied.

This was the person he had earlier instructed to follow Hua Xiaomo.

"’Hospital? Why would she go to a hospital? Which hospital is it?’" Qi Longbing pressed, a thread of suspicion wove through the depths of his heart, his handsome face clouding with a touch of worry. Apart from her connection to Zi Yunsui, Hua Xiaomo didn’t seem to have any other relatives here. So, who could be the one admitted to the hospital? He’d heard Zi Yunsui had recently been in a car accident. Could she be visiting Zi Yunsui?

"’It’s Zhongshan Hospital,’" the other party replied.

This deepened Qi Longbing’s confusion. He had heard Zi Yunsui was at Tianhe Hospital, not Zhongshan Hospital.

"’Alright, I’ll head there immediately.’" Qi Longbing then hung up, quickly left the building, hopped into his luxury car, and drove to Zhongshan Hospital.

At the entrance of Zhongshan Hospital, Qi Longbing surveyed his surroundings. Besides a prestigious school nearby, the transportation links were excellent. This must be a rather expensive and bustling part of City B! However, it was a tranquil oasis amidst the city’s clamor; relatively speaking, the environment here was quite refined.

Qi Longbing entered the hospital and quickly inquired about the situation from a nurse, also asking which floor Hua Xiaomo was on.

"Oh, a young lady did come by. She’s on the 3rd floor, in the pediatric department," the nurse replied.

"’The pediatric department on the 3rd floor.’" Qi Longbing grew even more puzzled. What was Hua Xiaomo doing in the pediatric department on the 3rd floor? It was truly bizarre. Why? Could a child be sick? But if it were a child, wouldn’t that be very hard to understand? Qi Longbing didn’t speculate further and quickly went up to the 3rd floor. Around a bend in a corridor on the 3rd floor, he saw Hua Xiaomo leading a child out of a hospital room.

The child, about five years old, was adorable. Her eyes and eyebrows bore a subtle resemblance to Hua Xiaomo, and with her lips curved in a constant, beaming smile, she looked the picture of innocence and charm.

"’Candy, you’re so disobedient at school! Why did you have to climb so high? Look at you, falling this time! Thankfully, you’re alright. What would I do if something serious had happened to you?’" Hua Xiaomo said, her eyes glinting with sternness.

"’Mommy, I’m okay, really! I was just playing. It didn’t hurt when I fell, truly it didn’t! I only twisted my ankle a tiny bit, but it’s all better now. Didn’t the doctor just say I’m fine?’" Candy said coquettishly.

Qi Longbing, seeing this scene, was stunned. The little girl actually called her Mommy? He was utterly flabbergasted. What on earth was going on? Since when did Hua Xiaomo have a daughter? And one this old! This had to be some kind of joke! Shock reverberated through Qi Longbing’s mind.

Just as Hua Xiaomo was walking down the corridor with her daughter, they ran right into Qi Longbing, who was standing there, dumbstruck.

Hua Xiaomo was also stunned when she saw Qi Longbing, her eyes wide with astonishment. She had never, ever imagined Qi Longbing would actually come to the hospital! Heavens! What was she going to do? He’d seen Candy! How could he have seen Candy? This was mortifyingly awkward!

Qi Longbing stared at Hua Xiaomo, his gaze unwavering, then shifted to the child beside her. He couldn’t believe this was her daughter. When had she had this child? Why had he known nothing about it? And the child was already so big! What exactly had he missed? Qi Longbing desperately searched his memories for some unnoticed moment. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t make sense of it. What in the world was going on?

"’Mommy, there’s an uncle! That uncle is so handsome! Mommy, do you know him? Why is that uncle always looking at us? Mommy, is he looking at us? Mommy, can I go say hi to him?’"

Candy gazed at Qi Longbing, her large eyes sparkling. This uncle is so handsome, she mused, maybe even more handsome than Brother Zi Yunsui!

These words plunged Hua Xiaomo into awkwardness; she was at a complete loss for words. In her heart, she’d never fathomed they would meet under such circumstances. But now, what was she to do? Candy was his biological daughter. He had every right to acknowledge Candy, and Candy, in turn, had every right to know her biological father.