Cecilia Gu and Sophie Mo sprang into action quickly.
Because both were women, it was easy for others to let down their guard. With their mature social skills, all the distinguished guests—whether previously acquainted or not—were now familiar with them, and were settled in the estates of their two families.
Seeing the 24-hour patrols and armed guards in the estate, everyone finally felt safe.
At this moment, everyone was truly frightened—and starving.
No one had rested all night, and they hadn’t eaten much.
They were both scared and hungry.
They had long abandoned any sense of decorum or dignity—now, all they wanted was a full meal and a safe haven.
Cecilia Gu called for the family chef to bring out the prepared rice porridge and bread, making it easy for everyone to eat.
The guests who had escaped didn’t care about how simple the breakfast was, nor did they mind the food combinations—they just grabbed the food and ate hungrily.
After eating, they realized they should thank the estate’s owners and ask them to contact their families, requesting protection until their loved ones arrived.
Cecilia Gu agreed to everything, but explained that all internet cables within a hundred miles had been cut, and all cell towers destroyed. Unless they had a satellite phone, it was nearly impossible to contact the outside world.
But Cecilia Gu reassured them that her people were already working to set up their own network and gradually reconnect with the outside world.
The armed security here was sufficient, and the food would last until their families arrived.
On hearing this, everyone was moved to tears, wishing they could worship Cecilia Gu and Sophie Mo as gods.
In this way, Cecilia Gu and Sophie Mo gained a great deal of goodwill.
Cecilia Gu was already well-liked, but Sophie Mo benefited the most.
The King Family in England was facing similar turmoil, though their situation wasn't as dire as the Quinn Family’s. Even so, tension ran high in the King Family.
Because Sophie Mo had rescued several heirs from British noble families, they praised her upon returning home. Many families who were previously neutral now sided with Julian King.
As a result, Sophie Mo and Julian King received generous shares of stock and family assets.
That’s a story for another time.
Cecilia Gu was the reserved type, rarely uttering inspirational words. But Sophie Mo was different!
Sophie Mo moved tirelessly among the crowd, spreading hope and chatting happily with the heirs of hidden elites.
If friendship were a thread, Sophie Mo’s would be a tangled ball of yarn—enough to knit a sweater.
The guests locked up in the Qu Family Estate were gradually released, but a few remained behind.
Those who escaped kept discussing the event, repeatedly expressing relief at having survived.
Mr. Ford was one of them.
Mr. Ford hid out in Cecilia Gu’s estate, watching her from afar and remarking to his daughter: “I never used to believe there was such a thing as luck among people, but after this, I have to admit some are truly blessed. Miss Cecilia Grant is one of them. In this situation, she managed to escape unharmed—not just because the Yin Family was prepared, but because she’s truly lucky and has many protectors.”
Miss Ford, now dressed in gray athletic wear, looked thoughtful. “Dad, are you saying someone was protecting her at the estate?”
Mr. Ford glanced around, then whispered to his daughter: “I saw someone quietly protecting her last night. That person didn’t leave with Mrs. Charles Yin, so clearly, he wasn’t from the Yin Family or the Mo Family. Who do you think he belongs to?”
Miss Ford’s eyes widened. “You mean one of the Qu Family’s young masters was protecting her?”
“That, I really can’t say.” Mr. Ford straightened up. “Anyway, if you get the chance, be sure to stay on good terms with Mrs. Charles Yin. You must never offend her. In this world, you can offend anyone except her!”
Miss Ford nodded knowingly. “I understand.”
“Go rest in your room. I’ll wait here,” Mr. Ford told his daughter. “You can sleep soundly here.”
Miss Ford obediently left.
After she left, Mr. Ford turned to chat with the other guests. “So, who were the ones left behind?”
The others glanced at Mr. Ford, connecting the dusty, chubby man before them with the confident Mr. Ford from last night. They answered, “I heard it was some local tycoons. Unlike us, we’re all out-of-towners, just here as guests. Those locals have complicated ties. That’s why the young masters are pressuring them to pick sides.”
Mr. Ford felt lucky again—he was just here for fun. Otherwise, he might not have been able to leave either.
“When I left, the second and eldest Qu Family young masters’ men were already fighting,” a thin man said. “They didn’t use weapons, but there was physical contact. Clearly, they didn’t want things to get out of hand.”
“This place is so remote,” another man said. “Even if things get out of hand, it’d take outsiders at least two days to notice.”
Everyone fell silent.
Wasn’t the Qu Family’s banquet here for this very reason?
By the time outsiders notice, everything will already be settled.
Once again, we’re grateful to the Yin and Mo Families for their foresight in setting up a base here.
Otherwise, we might all have died here.
Cecilia Gu had just returned to her room when Yu Jie knocked and entered. “Mrs. Charles Yin, all the guests have been settled. There are 130 men and 65 women, and since rooms are limited, we’ve added extra beds to each. The warehouse provided a batch of camp beds, so every guest room is now full. For meals, we’ve set up a temporary cafeteria in the courtyard, serving two dishes and a soup daily. Breakfast includes eggs, bread, sandwiches, buns, and vegetable pancakes. There are temporary water stations for drinking water, and hot water is available at the cafeteria. Clothing is mostly sportswear, as it was allocated on short notice, but guests don’t mind. For medicine, we’re not fully stocked, but I’ve contacted Mr. Mo, and Miss Mo said she’s sending emergency supplies. Also, Mr. Mo’s side is short on water purification devices and requests our support.”
Cecilia Gu appreciated Yu Jie’s efficiency and smiled. “Thank you for your arrangements. Please discuss with Xiao Wang about providing enough equipment for them. Oh, and Dou Miao reported that we still have extra bedding in the warehouse—send those over too. Zixin has more guests than we do, so she’ll likely need more supplies. It’s always good to be well-prepared.”
“Alright, I’ll arrange it right away,” Yu Jie replied, her eyes ringed with bruises but still working steadily.
The whole night, Yu Jie, Xiao Wang, Dou Miao, and Shen Keke were all run ragged.
Thank goodness for Yu Jie—otherwise, Xiao Wang and the others would never have managed.
Meanwhile, Zixin Mo and Sophie Mo were also run off their feet.
Their assistants were just as busy.
Cecilia Gu only had 200 people on her side, while over here there were nearly 400—double the pressure.
So, as Mo Family members, Zixin Mo and Sophie Mo naturally worked on the front lines.
Li Si wanted to talk to Zixin Mo, but couldn’t find her, so she sulked alone in her room.
Li Si waited and waited, until finally she spotted Zixin Mo’s assistant hurrying by. She rushed over. “I can help out!”
The assistant saw Li Si and politely kept some distance. “Miss Li, the CEO and Miss Mo are extremely busy right now, so please don’t cause any trouble.”
“How am I causing trouble?” Li Si protested. “I can help too!”
The assistant sighed and asked, “How many languages do you speak? Can you arrange accommodations, medical care, meals, or psychological counseling? After last night, many people are traumatized and need psychological support to build future cooperation. Miss Li, which of these can you do?”
Li Si was speechless.
How could she know how to do those things?
But Li Si refused to accept it. “Does Cecilia Gu know how to do all that?”
“Of course she does,” the assistant said, looking at Li Si as if she were crazy. “Miss Cecilia Grant speaks several languages, comes from the Yun Family—whose medicines are world-renowned—and has expert knowledge in pharmaceuticals. She’s also a company vice president, with strong management experience. Many guests are Yin Family clients, and Miss Cecilia Grant is close to them. Now, she can deepen those relationships even further. So, Miss Li, do you misunderstand Miss Cecilia Grant’s abilities?”
Li Si was speechless again.