Chapter 2: Sixteen Hours

Ilveria, 08:30;

It had been four hours, and Rong Xinghe was still in the Operation Theater. The oppressive silence of the local hospital was unbearable, heightening every heartbeat and whispered prayer. Suddenly, the echo of heavy footsteps broke the stillness, reverberating down the empty corridor.

Business Tycoon Zhi Xi and Industrial Magnate Lu Wei strode in, followed by a team of twenty highly skilled surgeons. Concern was etched deeply into their features, a stark contrast to their typically solemn and composed demeanor. The sight of their sister in such a life-threatening state felt like a knife to the heart, each passing moment amplifying their anguish and dread.

"Save our sister." Zhi Xi commanded, his voice firm yet laced with anguish as the team of doctors swiftly entered the operating room. It was a plea that resonated through the sterile walls, tugging at the heartstrings of anyone who caught sight of the two men, stirring feelings of sympathy and sorrow in those who witnessed their distress.

Sixteen hours.

That's how long the surgery stretched on, each minute feeling like an eternity. Among all the battles these two men had fought throughout their lives, this was the most strenuous. They had faced down adversaries in boardrooms, navigated turbulent markets, and overcome insurmountable odds, but this—this was different. Their beloved sister, their lady luck, lay weak and motionless on what felt like a deathbed.

Every second dragged on, intensifying their distress. They were desperate to hear her laughter again, to see the mischievous spark in her eyes as she teased them, to wrap her in their arms and shield her from this fucked up world's viciousness. But now, they were left to endure sixteen excruciating hours, hoping against hope for any chance of her survival.

As they paced the dimly lit corridor, their minds raced with memories of her vibrant, lively spirit—the way she could brighten up a room with just a wink, the sincerity of her hugs, and the delight she brought into their lives. They clung to those memories like lifelines, praying for her to battle through this darkness and return to them.

"When are Bo and Al arriving?", Lu Wei asked, his voice laced with restlessness.

"Their chopper will land in approximately two hours.", Zhi Xi replied, his tone heavy with the weight of stress.

The Zhi family had three sons: Zhi Xi, Zhi Bo, and Zhi Al. Zhi Xi, the eldest brother, had taken over the family business at just twenty-one, navigating the cutthroat world of commerce with remarkable understanding. Zhi Bo, the middle brother, was a world-renowned artist, celebrated for his breathtaking paintings and intricate calligraphy that told stories of emotions and dreams. The youngest, Zhi Al, was a brilliant software developer and an ethical hacker, using his skills to protect and empower while fiercely opposing those who held corrupt and destructive intentions.

Meanwhile, Rong Xinghe's other two brothers, Mo Zixuan and Su Rogguang, were miles away in the USA, desperately trying to keep in touch with Zhi Xi and Lu Wei for updates on her condition. Legal formalities kept them from flying to Ilveria immediately, the distance separating them from their brothers and sister only deepening their frustrations.

Mo Zixuan was a journalist, immersed in a correspondence course focused on crime journalism in the United States. An orphan, he had found a family in Rong Xinghe, who had embraced him as her brother years ago. For him, she was his sole connection to the world—a bond developed in shared struggles and unconditional love.

Su Rogguang, a dedicated doctor, was pursuing his post-graduation in the States as well. Despite his medical training, he found it almost unendurable to think about his sister undergoing the multiple surgeries she was currently enduring.

He had spoken with the doctors arranged by Lu Wei and Zhi Xi, who'd sent him harrowing pictures of the soul-crushing injuries on her small body. The sight of those ghastly wounds had left his hands trembling uncontrollably for over an hour. Each time he closed his eyes, those gruesome wounds replayed in his mind, a haunting reminder of her present afflictions. The thought of her in pain twisted his gut; he struggled to even watch her receive a simple injection. But now...

As they all awaited news, it became painfully clear: for these Six brothers, the past sixteen hours had been a shared hell, each moment stretching into eternity. The reasons for their torment were simple yet profound—love and care for their little angel. Their bond was unbreakable, and it was this connection that drove them to stand vigil in the cold hospital corridors, wishing for the girl's survival.