Ling Yunlong's expression darkened further. He abruptly interrupted the reporter's question, coldly uttering eight words: "Empty words, baseless rumors."

The main reason he brought Ling Mo back to the Ling residence was to clear his name of the Shijian Group's counterfeit goods scandal and rebuild a good and trustworthy personal image in the public eye.

At this critical juncture, he was eager to create a harmonious family atmosphere to solidify his social image, and naturally did not want to give the media any ammunition to criticize him.

"I heard that Miss Ling was expelled from several schools. Have you spoken with her about this privately?"

Determined to confirm the discord between Su Yu and Ling Mo, the entertainment reporter continued to push aside the bodyguards blocking their way and shoved the microphone in front of Su Yu once more.

Su Yu listened patiently to the reporter's questions and explained in an orderly manner, "As a qualified mother, I can never be negligent in my children's education. As things stand, I naturally hope to cultivate another outstanding talent for the Ling family who can become a pillar of the nation."

Hearing her say that, even the entertainment reporters who were keen on digging up the feuds of the wealthy couldn't find a single fault with her.

Although she did not directly deny the falling out with Ling Mo, her statement demonstrated how much she valued him.

After about twenty minutes, the reporters still hadn't gotten any answers and were about to pack up and head back when a flustered-looking female waitress suddenly appeared in the hotel lobby.

She jogged up to Ling Yunlong in her high heels, panting, and said:

"Mr. Ling, according to the surveillance footage on the 25th floor, hotel staff discovered that a guest who looks very much like your daughter and is dressed casually entered the men's restroom alone half an hour ago. After she entered the restroom, several kidnappers also broke into the men's restroom."

"What did you say?"

Ling Yunlong stared wide-eyed in surprise. He had assumed that Ling Mo had already left and had not considered that the Emperor Hotel was so prestigious that it was impossible to hail a taxi at the entrance.

The waitress quickly added:

"According to surveillance footage, the person who looks very much like your daughter has not yet left the men's restroom after the kidnapper left. Our staff has already gone to the 25th floor, Mr. Ling, please remain calm."

Standing next to Ling Yunlong, Su Yu, who had been calm and composed before, suddenly furrowed her brows into a deep frown.

"Yunlong, I remember that after Momo left, she did change into a casual hoodie and headed towards the restroom. Do you think Momo might really have been...?"

"What is she doing in the men's restroom?" Ling Yunlong asked, rubbing his forehead with one hand, utterly fed up with Ling Mo.

Why would someone go to the men's restroom for no reason?

Now, even if she gets out unscathed, these media outlets can still fabricate explosive news like "The eldest daughter of the Ling family was having an affair in the men's restroom."

Standing beside Ling Tian, ​​Liang Feifan felt terrible upon hearing that Ling Mo had most likely fallen victim to the kidnappers.

He originally planned to go to the 25th floor to find out for himself, but when he thought that Ling Mo had already gotten involved with some thugs three years ago, his anxious heart felt as if it had been doused with a bucket of ice water, and he felt extremely cold.

Ling Tian silently observed Liang Feifan's somber expression, then suddenly her eyes filled with tears. "Brother Feifan, what should we do now? My sister is no match for the kidnappers. Could she have already been..."

"Defiled? Her body has been tainted for a long time, this one more time won't make a difference."

Liang Feifan's tone was icy, and his words carried a hint of coldness.

"But I'm still very worried about her."

Ling Tian lowered her head slightly, letting her pearl-like tears fall clearly one by one.

Looking at the innocent and kind girl before him, Liang Feifan's heart stirred. He gently pulled her into his arms and comforted her in a low voice:

"Don't worry, everything will be fine."

"I hope so."

Ling Tian leaned lightly against Liang Feifan's chest, her voice still slightly choked, but her eyes narrowed with joy like crescent moons.

In the hotel lobby, almost everyone was still anxiously waiting for the final result, but Su Yu had already had snacks and bottled water distributed to the media reporters who were staking out the hotel.

She looked worried and greeted the entertainment reporters again and again:

"MoMo is still young and has a long way to go. I hope everyone will be lenient and not publish the news of her being violated by the kidnappers tonight."

"No problem."

The entertainment reporters outwardly agreed amicably, but in reality, their index fingers were already on the camera shutter button, waiting to be the first to capture Ling Mo's disheveled appearance when he was carried off the plane.

Su Yu saw these little actions and felt secretly pleased.

This time, she didn't believe Ling Mo could "come back to life." Even if he survived, he couldn't salvage her completely ruined reputation.

"Dad, Auntie, why didn't you tell me you were leaving?"

Just when everyone thought Ling Mo was in grave danger, she walked gracefully from the elevator entrance.

Upon seeing the person in question appear, various media outlets grabbed their cameras and microphones and rushed towards Ling Mo, who appeared calm and composed as if nothing had happened.

"Miss Ling, is it true that you encountered an armed robber in the men's restroom?"

Why did Miss Ling suddenly barge into the men's restroom?

Ling Mo glanced indifferently at Ling Yunlong, whose face was ashen and whose eyes held nothing but anger and no trace of pity, before calmly withdrawing his gaze and asking with a hint of puzzlement:

"I don't understand what you're saying."

At this moment, Su Yu had already squeezed into the surging crowd, holding Ling Mo's hand with concern, letting two lines of tears gush from her eyes.

"Mo Mo, this is all Auntie's fault. It was Auntie's negligence that made you suffer."

Ling Mo shook his head sensibly and whispered:

"Auntie, what happened? I accidentally fell asleep in the break room."

After hearing Ling Mo's explanation, Su Yu immediately felt something was very strange.

She clearly saw Ling Mo fall headfirst into the men's restroom, which is why she sent the kidnappers to the restroom to capture him.

Logically speaking, Ling Mo shouldn't have been standing unharmed in front of her at all.

But looking at her now, she is serene and composed, showing no signs of having been violated.

"Ms. Ling, you didn't go to the men's restroom on the 25th floor just now?" A reporter couldn't contain his curiosity and broke the eerie silence in the hotel lobby.

Ling Mo raised an eyebrow and asked in return with a bright smile:

"Who told you I went to the men's restroom? I was just feeling a little dizzy and rested in the break room for a while."

Upon hearing this, another reporter excitedly pressed Ling Mo, "Ms. Ling, are you sure you didn't go into the men's restroom? Mrs. Ling said she saw you go into the restroom with her own eyes."