117: Chapter 218 Successful Surgery and the Shadow Under the Celebration

At five in the morning, the city still hovered on the edge of slumber. The indicator lights of the Children's Hospital operating rooms, in the quiet corridor, were like silent and steadfast hearts, flickering rhythmically.

Ten operating rooms, ten top cleft lip and palate repair experts, under the shadowless lamps, were performing "reshaping" procedures precise to the micrometer level. This was no ordinary surgery; it was a repair of imperfection, and even more so, a redrawing of the future.

Yu Bo stood in the family waiting area outside the surgical zone, without sitting down. His back was straight, hands tucked into his trouser pockets, and his gaze fell calmly on the row of closed operating room doors. His well-pressed dark suit made his figure appear even taller and more upright, enveloping him in an aura of stability and reliability.

The family members either sat or stood, their faces a mix of anxiety, anticipation, and fear. Wang Cuihua clasped her hands together, murmuring prayers; Li Juan tightly held Le Le's jacket, her eyes red and swollen; Director Chen accompanied another staff member from the welfare home, her expression solemn. The air was thick with the smell of disinfectant, coffee, and a tension so dense it wouldn't dissipate.

No one spoke. Only the occasional light footsteps of a nurse and the rhythmic beeping of instruments could be faintly heard through the heavy doors.

Yu Bo's presence was like an invisible pillar of support. He didn't offer much verbal comfort, only occasionally scanning the crowd with a steady gaze and nodding slightly. That look seemed to say, "Rest assured, leave it to the best doctors."

Tang Guo was also there, as a staff member of the Foundation. She wore a tasteful suit skirt and light makeup to mask her slight exhaustion, holding a tablet and ready to handle any emergencies at any time. Her gaze, however, involuntarily drifted toward Yu Bo. She watched his calm profile, his occasional movement of checking his watch, and his slightly furrowed brow as he spoke in low tones with the passing chief physicians.

Her heart, like those of the family members, hung in mid-air. She worried for those unfamiliar children and was also faintly moved by the man outside the operating room. She knew this surgery was crucial for the "Yin Angel" project and for the professional images of Yu Bo and Yin Tianxue. There could be no mistakes.

Time passed minute by minute in silence and trepidation. The sky outside turned from ink black to deep blue, then gradually began to show the pale white of dawn.

The door to the first operating room opened.

The lead surgeon walked out, took off his mask, his face showing obvious fatigue, but his eyes were relaxed. He walked straight toward Yu Bo and the family members waiting at the front.

"The surgery was very successful, even smoother than expected. The child's cleft wasn't the deepest, and the repair results will be excellent." The doctor's voice wasn't loud, but it was crystal clear in the waiting area where a pin drop could be heard.

Suppressed sobs instantly erupted, a release of joy. That father, a dark-skinned man, suddenly covered his face, his shoulders shaking violently. Wang Cuihua's legs went weak, and she almost knelt down, but was supported by a nearby nurse.

Yu Bo took a step forward and shook hands firmly with the doctor. "Thank you for your hard work, Chief Chen. The follow-up..."

"Don't worry, the observation room and special care have all been arranged. We will follow up throughout the process." Chief Chen patted his arm.

As if it were a signal, the doors of the operating rooms opened one after another. Good news kept coming.

"Operating Room Three, complete."

"Number Five, smooth."

"Number Seven, the child is very strong, everything is normal."

...

Every door opening was accompanied by a release of emotion. Tears, hugs, and incoherent thanks. The waiting area gradually shifted from deathly tension to being enveloped in a survival-like joy, tinged with tears.

Niu Niu was the last one to be wheeled out. Her surgery was relatively more complex and took the longest. When Director Chen heard "The surgery was very successful; with good follow-up recovery, there will be almost no trace," this middle-aged woman, who had seen many storms, couldn't help but get teary-eyed and gripped the doctor's hand tightly.

At ten in the morning, all surgeries were completed, and all ten pediatric patients were safely moved to the observation room. Preliminary results showed that all surgeries were successful, with no unexpected complications.

The string that had been taut all night suddenly snapped loose. Immense joy and a sense of accomplishment washed away all fatigue.

Yu Bo stood in the center of the slightly cluttered but life-filled and hopeful waiting area, surrounded by the ecstatic family members. They held his hands, patted his shoulders, and expressed their gratitude in the simplest language; some even tried to kneel again. Yu Bo supported them one by one, his tone gentle yet firm. "Alright, alright, it's good that the surgeries were successful. The children still need observation, and everyone is tired. Go back and rest first, then come see the children in the afternoon. There are the best doctors and nurses here, so rest assured."

His composure and methodical arrangements gradually calmed the excited family members, and they dispersed as instructed.

The bustle temporarily subsided. Yu Bo rubbed the space between his eyebrows. Having not slept all night, there were faint dark circles under his eyes, but his spirit remained vigorous. He walked to the window, looking at the sky outside which had fully brightened. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the hospital's glass curtain wall and reflecting a brilliant light.

Tang Guo quietly walked up behind him, holding a cup of freshly brewed hot coffee. "CEO Yu, have something to drink."

Yu Bo turned around and took the coffee, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against hers. He looked at her; she also had faint shadows under her eyes. "You didn't sleep all night either. Thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard, it's what I should do." Tang Guo shook her head. Watching his Adam's apple move as he drank the coffee, a trace of heartache welled up in her heart, along with a sense of pride as if sharing in his glory. This was her man, and he had done it.

"Notify the media that they can release the press release. Focus on the professionalism of the medical team and the strength of the children; the Foundation is just a bridge." Yu Bo sipped his coffee, his tone returning to its usual calm deployment. "The victory banquet is scheduled for tomorrow night at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, according to the highest specifications. Check the invitation list: family members, the medical team, partners, and major media—not one can be missing."

"Yes, I'll go arrange it immediately." Tang Guo complied but didn't leave right away.

Yu Bo looked at her, seemingly seeing through her hesitation. "Is there something else?"

Tang Guo bit her lip and asked in a low voice, "Hubby, are you... tired? Do you want to go back and rest for a bit first?"

The word "Hubby" rang out softly in this hospital corridor that had just experienced a test of life and death and was filled with the smell of disinfectant, carrying a distinct intimacy and concern.

Yu Bo's gaze softened for an imperceptible moment. He reached out and quickly pinched Tang Guo's cheek. The force was very light, carrying a trace of subtle tenderness. "I'm okay. You go get busy first. Tonight..." He paused. "We'll talk after the victory banquet tonight."

Tang Guo's face flushed instantly, her heart racing. She nodded vigorously and walked away quickly clutching her tablet, her steps light with joy.

Yu Bo watched her figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, his gaze deepening. He took out his phone and sent a message to Yin Tianxue: "All surgeries were successful; all ten little angels are safe. Miss you."

Almost immediately, Yin Tianxue's call came through, her voice carrying a sob and immense joy. "Hubby! That's wonderful! I knew it! I knew you could do it! Are you at the hospital? I'm coming over right away!"

"Don't rush, it just finished, and they're still under observation. It's messy here. Go to the Foundation first and prepare the press release and victory banquet arrangements for tonight. I'll come pick you up later." Yu Bo's voice was so gentle it could practically drip water.

"Okay! I'll do as you say! Hubby, you're the best!" Yin Tianxue was both crying and laughing on the other end of the phone.

After hanging up, the tenderness on Yu Bo's face hadn't fully faded when his phone vibrated again. It was a message from Shen Nian, containing only an ambiguous selfie with her red lips slightly parted, and the caption: "Congratulations to my great philanthropist~ Since the surgeries were successful, shouldn't we 'celebrate' properly? Tonight, at the usual place? I miss you so much I can't sleep~"

Yu Bo looked at that carefully touched-up face and the provocative text. His eyes showed no emotion, and even a trace of annoyance flickered through them. He directly turned off the screen without replying.

The "celebration" he needed wasn't the kind Shen Nian offered. Shen Nian's usefulness was sufficient for now. He currently had the "fresher" and also "more useful" Tang Guo. Moreover, tonight's victory banquet was a highlight moment for him and Yin Tianxue; he needed to conserve his energy to play the roles of the perfect boyfriend and successful philanthropist.

As for Tang Guo... Yu Bo thought of her concerned "Hubby" and her flushing cheeks just now, and the corners of his mouth curled into a faint, controlling arc. After the victory banquet tonight, perhaps he could give her a little "extra reward." It would both appease her recent "good behavior" and satisfy a certain dark psychological need of his to confirm absolute possession.

He put away his phone and took one last look toward the observation room, where the ten children lying there were about to welcome a brand-new life. And he himself had just successfully completed the most crucial and symbolic step of the "Yin Angel" project.

The sunlight grew stronger, lengthening his tall figure and casting it onto the polished floor. The shadow was dense, creating a strange sense of fragmentation with the light that seemed to bathe his body.