Chapter 480: Chapter 480

After the shocking news of Shi Che and Ling Yunshu’s engagement broke on the first day, no one expected an even more shocking piece of news the next day—Mrs. Shi was critically ill!

Mrs. Shi, in her days, was also a dominant businesswoman. However, since she had handed over the Shi Group to her son, Shi Che, she had retired behind the scenes and no longer dealt with the internal affairs of the group. Yet, she still attended many grand banquets and charity events, always carrying herself with a dignified and elegant demeanor as a lady of high society. No one expected that she would suddenly fall ill, her life hanging by a thread.

Ling Chuxia’s foot was scalded, and yesterday Bai Yixuan helped her rinse it with cold water and insisted on taking her to the hospital.

After coming back, as Ling Chuxia was low in spirits, Bai Yixuan just instructed her to rest well before he left.

Throughout the night, Ling Chuxia tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep—she didn’t know if it was due to the pain in her foot or for some other reason; her heart was fraught with anxiety.

Finally, when she was about to fall asleep in her groggy state, dawn was almost breaking.

Ling Chuxia, still groggy, didn’t know how long she had slept. When she opened her eyes, the sun had already risen high in the sky, its rays almost blinding.

Ling Chuxia sat up in bed for a while, reaching over to her bedside table and touched her cell phone, powering it on. Upon checking the time, it was nearly eleven o’clock.

Ling Chuxia frowned slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. These days, Bai Yixuan always arrived at precisely eight o’clock each morning for updates and hadn’t missed a single day. Why hadn’t he come today?

She threw off the covers, got out of bed, and gingerly walked into the bathroom to wash up. After leaving her room, she instantly saw the dining table laid out with breakfast.

Unconsciously, she smiled, glancing around, but Bai Yixuan was nowhere to be seen. She slowly approached the table and noticed a small note pressed under a plate.

Ling Chuxia pulled it out and saw it was a note left by Bai Yixuan.

"Seeing you sleep so soundly, I didn’t want to disturb you. I’ve left breakfast here, remember to eat, change the dressing on your foot, and call me when you wake up."

Ling Chuxia read through the note, feeling warmth in her heart. She folded the note and tucked it into her pocket, then sat down, planning to see what breakfast Bai Yixuan had bought her today. Her gaze inadvertently swept past the newspaper beside her—this wasn’t yesterday’s paper.

Because someone delivered the newspaper daily, Bai Yixuan would bring it in whenever he entered.

Printed in bold, black fonts, the newspaper bore a terrifying headline: Old Madam Shi’s Life in Dire Peril!

When Ling Chuxia’s eyes caught sight of these words, her heart throbbed violently. Trembling, she grabbed the newspaper and quickly read through the content.

Admitted to the operating room yesterday... life expectancy left only twenty-four hours... These horrible phrases harshly assaulted Ling Chuxia’s eyes.

Despite her leaving when Madam’s condition was stable, how could this have suddenly happened?

If Madam really... What will Shi Che do?

Almost without thinking, Ling Chuxia abruptly stood up, ignoring the pain in her foot, grabbed her purse, and rushed out.

In this moment, she could think of nothing else; her mind was a blank. She couldn’t lie to herself—she was worried about Shi Che and wanted only to be by his side.