Chapter 4: The Governor's Arrival

After completing the examination, a group of doctors spoke to Li Mo:

"You were unconscious for a full day and night. Your throat will feel a bit uncomfortable for now. The nurse has administered anti-inflammatory medication and glucose. You can drink a little water to soothe your throat, but only in moderation. If you feel unwell at any time, just call us."

Li Mo nodded silently, his dry and sore throat still robbing him of his voice.

After the doctors left, Chen Xi approached his bedside. She looked at Li Mo with a face full of joy. "My name is Chen Xi. Thank you for saving me!"

As she spoke, she picked up a cup of water from a nearby table. "Before you woke up, I asked the doctor, and he said you could drink some water in moderation. I prepared this cup in advance; the temperature is just right. Would you like some?"

Li Mo nodded, trying to reach for the cup with the hand that wasn’t hooked up to an IV.

“Just lie still. I’ll help you drink,” Chen Xi said softly, noticing his movement. She gently tapped his hand and brought the cup to his lips.

Li Mo felt a pang of helplessness but did not refuse. Every movement sent a faint ache through his back.

“How long was I unconscious?”

After sipping some water, Li Mo’s voice remained hoarse but at least he could speak.

“A full day and night. The doctor said the bullet almost hit your lung, but the surgery was very successful. With proper care, there won’t be any lasting effects,” Chen Xi said, setting the cup down, her expression still haunted by the close call.

What she didn’t mention was the frantic effort she undertook to find a surgeon skilled in gunshot wounds—contacting her father, the provincial governor, and even calling her workplace before finally securing a military doctor from a nearby hospital with experience in such surgeries.

“Did they catch the sniper?” Li Mo asked abruptly.

Chen Xi looked momentarily puzzled. Since Li Mo’s arrival at the hospital and throughout the surgery, she had been entirely focused on him, paying little attention to anything else.

Seeing her expression and her obvious fatigue, Li Mo quickly realized his question was premature. He apologized, “Sorry, I should wait until I return and ask my colleagues. I was just anxious.”

Chen Xi’s initial awkwardness melted into a smile at his embarrassed demeanor. “It’s okay, no problem.”

After chatting casually for a while longer, Li Mo told her to rest and assured her that nurses would take good care of him.

Though reluctant, Chen Xi nodded obediently, seeing the resolute look on his face. She left the room, promising to bring him some food later.

Watching her figure fade away, Li Mo’s thoughts churned.

In his previous life, after Wang Ze wounded the three of them and escaped, the police department knew nothing about whether he had accomplices.

This time, however, Wang Ze was killed immediately after being captured, which revealed that he had partners watching his every move, and failure meant death.

“Such a pity,” Li Mo sighed. If only they could have caught Wang Ze alive, perhaps more information could have been extracted from him.

Just then, the door to his hospital room opened. A middle-aged couple entered.

The man appeared to be in his early fifties, dressed in a tailored jacket. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and sharp eyes that seemed to see through everything. His presence alone commanded respect without anger.

Beside him, the woman wore a smart business suit, probably in her forties, with delicate features and an air of a strong, capable woman. Yet, a faint exhaustion lingered in her expression, unnoticed by most.

The man briskly approached the bedside with a kind smile. “Young man, you’re awake! How do you feel? Any discomfort?”

Li Mo immediately recognized the man as Chen Teng, the Governor of Fu Province.

“I’m fine, Governor Chen,” Li Mo replied hoarsely, instinctively trying to sit up.

“No need to get up. The doctors say you need rest,” Chen Teng said, gently placing a hand on Li Mo’s shoulder, signaling him to stay lying down.

He was not surprised that Li Mo recognized him; as the head of the provincial government, his directives were frequently studied by various agencies. Though Li Mo was just a junior officer, he was still part of the system—knowing the governor was only natural.

“Besides being the Governor of Fu Province, I’m also here as a father to thank the man who saved my daughter!” Chen Teng said to Li Mo, his voice full of gratitude.

When he first heard over the phone that his daughter had been taken hostage by criminals, he nearly fainted. She was his only beloved child. Without hesitation, he dropped all his work and rushed to Pu County.

Upon arrival, the police chief immediately briefed him on the case. After analyzing the ballistics, experts concluded that if Li Mo hadn’t shielded Chen Xi from the bullet, her fate would have been the same as Wang Ze’s.

“Young man, don’t be so formal. You not only saved our precious daughter but also saved our entire family!” he said warmly.

“I am Mu Jinyi, Xi’s mother. We owe you so much. Without Xi, I honestly don’t know how I’d go on...” Mu Jinyi’s eyes reddened as she spoke beside Chen Teng.

“Governor Chen, Madam, you’re too kind. Saving lives is the duty of a people's police officer,” Li Mo said with righteous sincerity. “In that situation, anyone would have acted to save her.”

“Li Mo, huh? I’ll just call you Xiao Mo. And you don’t need to call me Governor Chen—just call me Uncle Chen,” Chen Teng said, setting a friendly tone. “It’s true that saving lives is a police officer’s duty, but that doesn’t lessen our gratitude to you!”

At that moment, Chen Teng’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and then gave Li Mo an apologetic look. “Xiao Mo, I have a meeting soon...”

“Governor Chen... Uncle Chen, you go ahead. I’m fine here,” Li Mo quickly responded.

“All right, then take good care of yourself. After you’re discharged, your aunt and I will treat you to a meal!” Chen Teng said.

He then looked at Mu Jinyi. “Wan Ning, are you staying here or coming back with me?”

“You go to your meeting. I’ll stay here and take care of Xiao Mo,” she waved him off, signaling him to attend to his matters.

“Okay!” Chen Teng said before hurrying out. As he left the room, footsteps quickly followed him down the hallway, and after a while, quiet returned outside the hospital room.

After Chen Teng’s departure, Mu Jinyi looked at Li Mo with a mixture of apology and gratitude. “Xiao Mo, he’s always like that. He rarely has free time. Please don’t take it personally.”