Chen Ke's breath hitched, and his fingers tightened involuntarily around the phone. Li Chenglin's words hit the nail on the head, exposing his carefully concealed thoughts. He tried to remain calm, but his voice trembled slightly: "I... I was only thinking about the future of CN Group."

“Chenglin, you and I both know how important Susu is to CN Group. Although Yulin is outstanding, he is still relatively inexperienced, and the old shareholders in Z country may not be convinced by him. CN Group is currently in dire straits, and only Susu can turn the tide.”

Li Chenglin's tone remained calm, yet carried a subtle hint of coldness: "So, you want Su Su to forgo surgery, disregard her own health, and try to turn the tide? Chen Ke, have you really considered her feelings?"

"I..." Chen Ke stammered, overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions. He took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and roared with an almost desperate intensity, "Cheng Lin, you don't understand! Su Su's life... is mine! I saved it!"

"If it weren't for me back then, she would have..." Chen Ke's voice choked with sobs as painful memories flooded back, making it hard for him to breathe.

Li Chenglin was silent for a moment, then his tone became somewhat helpless: "Chen Ke, the past is the past. Su Su is doing well now, and that's enough. You can't live in the past forever, and you can't use it to hold her hostage."

"Kidnapping?" Chen Ke said as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, her tone full of sarcasm. "You brothers from the Li family are all on Fu Xingzhou's side. Is that fair? Why can you openly pursue her while I can only hide in the shadows and watch her fall into someone else's arms?"

“I don’t have a team.” Li Chenglin’s tone was tinged with weariness. “It’s my sister’s freedom to choose whoever she wants, and you can compete fairly. But what you’re doing now isn’t competition, it’s selfishness, it’s possessiveness. You’re trapping her in your own cage, making it impossible for her to breathe.”

“Fair competition?” Chen Ke sneered. “What qualifications do I have to compete with her now? Fu Xingzhou is young and promising, deeply devoted and loyal, while I…” He paused, his tone full of self-mockery, “I am nothing.”

“Chen Ke,” Li Chenglin’s tone softened, “let her go. Let her pursue her own happiness; that’s what you should really do.”

"No!" Chen Ke clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, her tone resolute. "I will never let go! I've waited so many years, and it wasn't easy for her to come back. I will never lose her again!"

“At least…” Chen Ke’s voice lowered, with a hint of pleading, “After the surgery, I want to see her first. That’s fair.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before Li Chenglin let out a helpless sigh: "Okay."

Li Chenglin hung up the phone and wearily rubbed his temples. Chen Ke's obsession ran too deep, so deep that it frightened him. He wanted Su Su to be happy, but that happiness shouldn't be built on someone else's suffering.

In Country Z, Li Yulin, through his abilities and connections, temporarily stabilized the situation at CN Group. He spoke with Li Susu daily to report on the situation and reassure her about her surgery.

"Sister, don't worry, I've got this under control. Those old guys don't dare to make any rash moves now. Focus on your surgery, I'll take care of everything." Li Yulin's voice carried a reassuring strength.

Li Susu smiled slightly: "Thank you, Yulin."

With everything prepared, Li Susu entered the operating room. In the corridor outside the operating room, Fu Xingzhou and Chen Ke stood side by side, but the atmosphere was as cold as an ice cellar.

“She’s changed.” Chen Ke suddenly spoke, her tone tinged with a barely perceptible bitterness. “Even if she remembers what happened before, she won’t be with you.”

Fu Xingzhou's gaze was fixed on the operating room door, his thin lips pressed into a straight line: "I just want her to be free and safe."

Chen Ke sneered: "Hypocritical! If you really want her to be free, you should disappear from her world completely. Let her choose for herself, instead of being held hostage by your so-called 'deep affection'!"

Fu Xingzhou turned his head sharply, his eyes as sharp as knives: "What right do you have to talk to me like that? Your so-called love is nothing more than wanting to imprison her in your cage! If you're so capable, let me leave for now and see who she chooses after the surgery!"

A glint of madness flashed in Chen Ke's eyes: "Fine! I promise you! If you lose, you'll disappear from her sight forever!"

Fu Xingzhou sneered: "You? You don't deserve love! A man who only thinks about winning when the life or death of the woman he loves is uncertain is utterly ridiculous!"

Halfway through the surgery, Fu Xingzhou's assistant rushed in, pale-faced: "Mr. Fu, something's happened! The company...something's happened at the company!"