Wang Xiaoke slept until sunset. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, momentarily dazed. Suddenly recalling something, she turned and rushed to Wang Chengyao’s bedside. Only after confirming that he was still breathing did she finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Relax, he’s not going anywhere,” Su Man said, watching Xiaoke’s childish actions with a faint ache in her heart. “I made you some porridge. Eat a little, okay? If Uncle hasn’t woken up yet and you collapse too, that’ll only make things worse.”

Though Xiaoke didn’t have much of an appetite, Su Man’s words made sense. She reluctantly picked up the meal box and forced herself to eat everything inside. Only then did Su Man seem satisfied.

“Alright, you’ve cried enough for now. It’s time to pull yourself together,” Su Man said, feigning a casual tone.

“I know,” Xiaoke replied, “but my dad’s condition isn’t good. I just want to stay here with him. Even if it’s just talking to him, it makes me feel better.”

“I understand what you’re feeling, Xiaoke, but there are more important things you need to handle right now. Do you realize that?”

Xiaoke looked at her, puzzled. “Su Man, what do you mean? Am I wrong to stay here with my dad?”

“You’re not wrong,” Su Man hesitated for a moment before continuing. “But what about Wang Corporation? What’s going to happen to it now? It might be hard to hear, but Xiaoke, if you can’t protect Wang Corporation, how will you afford your dad’s future medical expenses after he recovers?”

“Don’t forget, you still have a stepmother and a stepsister watching Wang Corporation like hawks. On top of that, I’ve heard that Lu Corporation is already targeting Wang Corporation in the market. Do you plan to keep burying your head in the sand and wallowing in self-pity? For how long?”

“And remember, your dad is the head of Wang Corporation. If news of his accident leaks out and someone with bad intentions spreads it, it will inevitably cause panic in the market. A drop in Wang Corporation’s stock price will be unavoidable.”

“Xiaoke, if Wang Corporation falls, what will you have left? Is this the outcome you want to see?” Su Man’s words hit Wang Xiaoke like a bucket of cold water, jolting her awake from her self-deceptive dream.

She was right. If her father was to recover as soon as possible, significant medical expenses and advanced technology would be crucial. And now, the only card Xiaoke had to play was Wang Corporation.

How could she have forgotten? Wang Corporation was already entangled in a crisis, and her father’s current condition was like a fresh wound added to an already struggling entity.

Looking at her father lying motionless on the hospital bed, Xiaoke clenched her fists tightly. She couldn’t imagine what Wang Corporation would become without Wang Chengyao. The future seemed filled with uncertainty.

But one thing was certain—she couldn’t let Wang Corporation slip away, nor could she allow it to collapse under her watch. This colossal empire that her father had painstakingly built now depended on her to carry it forward.

“I know what I need to do now. Thank you, Su Man,” Xiaoke said, her eyes radiating an unprecedented determination. Though she still appeared fatigued, her demeanor had transformed entirely.

Seeing that Xiaoke had finally regained her spirit, Su Man felt a weight lift from her chest. “I’m just doing what a friend should. The key is that you’ve come to your senses.”