When she finally managed to reach the hospital entrance with difficulty, the Tang family members had already gotten into their cars.
The car doors closed, and the vehicles sped away, kicking up dust that scattered across the desolate ground like scattered sorrow.
"They're gone."
"Everyone's gone."
Tears welled in Tang Yiyi's eyes as she whispered in despair.
She felt like a child abandoned by the entire world.
All that accompanied her was loneliness.
She feared loneliness.
But what could she do?
What else could she do now?
Nothing.
Leaning on her crutches, she turned and began to walk slowly in the opposite direction.
Tang Xu had rented her a small apartment and paid the rent for a year.
That small apartment was now the only place Tang Yiyi could go.
She didn't have much money left.
She took off the necklace Tang Xu had bought for her.
It was the last valuable thing she owned.
Tang Xu had given it to her, so it must have been expensive.
To survive, Tang Yiyi, leaning on her crutches, found a jewelry store.
As long as she sold the necklace, she would have money again.
...
Tang Yu returned home.
Looking at his disfigured face in the mirror.
Then looking at his aging parents and this villa that couldn't even gather the whole family.
Tang Yu felt a pang in his heart.
But no matter what he said, not a single person in his family believed him.
He was tired of trying to prove himself.
What would it take to make his family believe him?
With Tang Xiaomin, that kind of ghost, targeting them, this family would never have peace.
Tang Yu, using work as an excuse, personally visited the Ye family.
Compared to his previous visit, Tang Yu's mood was completely different.
It was still the same wooden house, still the same old Daoists meditating on futons.
Among them, an old Daoist named Yuan Heng was the most senior and had the deepest cultivation.
They were all reclusive cultivators, uninvolved in worldly affairs.
Upon learning of the rampant hauntings in the city, they decided to come out of seclusion, adhering to the principle of "with great ability comes great responsibility," to subdue the evil spirits.
"Young man, now you should believe that your family is being haunted by malevolent spirits, shouldn't you?" said the old Daoist Yuan Heng.
Tang Yu's presence here already indicated his firm belief.
"Since the Daoist master already knows, why have you delayed in subduing her, allowing her to wreak havoc?"
Tang Yu had considered this question before.
Daoist Master Yuan Heng had also thought about it.
However, the lessons from the past were too numerous; a rash move would only lead to a futile death.
Daoist Master Yuan Heng said, "Tang Xiaomin is far more formidable than any vengeful spirit I have ever encountered. Her power is immense, and she cannot be easily eliminated."
"If you are willing to cooperate with us, our chances of subduing her will greatly increase."
"Daoist master, please tell me how I can cooperate."
...
Tang Yu left the Ye family.
Housekeeper Ye watched Tang Yu's retreating back, a worried expression on his face.
"Will this Tang Yu really lure Tang Xiaomin into our trap?"
Old Master Ye said with a grave expression, "He will, he definitely will. Didn't you see he was disfigured?"
"We have invited so many experts this time; we will surely eliminate both Tang Xiaomin and Yan Jue."
"It's just that the young master has been busy with work lately and probably won't have time to participate in this matter," said Housekeeper Ye.
Old Master Ye shook his head. "I will handle this matter. Let Feng Xing focus on his work."
...
Housekeeper Wang presented a photo album to Zhang Meiyu.
"Madam, the album is ready. Please take a look."
Zhang Meiyu flipped through the album.
These were photos taken at her previous birthday banquet.
The photos featured her, Tang Xiaomin, and Tang Xu and Tang Ye.
At that time, it was one of the few happy memories she had.
Tang Yu returned and sat beside Zhang Meiyu.
Zhang Meiyu pointed to the photos, sharing them with Tang Yu.
"Tang Yu, look, this is a photo taken on my birthday. You hadn't rushed back then."
"Later I learned that Xiaomin personally went to the university to invite her classmates, and she invited many people to my birthday banquet. Xiaomin is such a thoughtful child."
"It's a shame, though, that my banquet was still ruined by that wretched Li Xue. If Xiaomin hadn't pulled me aside then, and your father hadn't suddenly run back, I probably wouldn't have seen you."
"Tang Yu, don't you think Li Xue and Tang Yiyi are harbingers of misfortune? They have ruined our good family to this extent."
Her mother felt deeply guilty towards Tang Xiaomin.
Now, she trusted her unconditionally.
Tang Yu, however, couldn't agree with this.
"Mom, have you forgotten that she left me alone to die in the inferno?"
Zhang Meiyu shook her head.
"Xiaomin was also injured at the time and was rescued by someone. The surveillance footage showed it. I forbid you from blaming Xiaomin for this anymore."
"Heh..."
Tang Yu let out a bitter laugh.
"Mom, can't you look at my face, my injuries?"
"Why is your gaze only on Tang Xiaomin?"
"Tang Xiaomin is not a normal person. You've been bewitched by her, Mom, wake up."
After Tang Yu's car accident, he started talking nonsense.
Zhang Meiyu was also helpless about this.
"Housekeeper Wang, please get Tang Yu's medicine. It's time for him to take it."
"Yes."
Tang Yu was completely demoralized by his mother's lack of trust.
After taking his medicine, he returned to his room in a rage.
He was determined to expose Tang Xiaomin's true face.
...
The next evening.
When Tang Xiaomin left work, she unexpectedly found her adoptive father, Li Changchun, absent from the guardhouse as she passed by.
That was strange. He usually got off work at six, later than Tang Xiaomin, and she saw him every day.
Tang Xiaomin walked home and searched everywhere but couldn't find him.
"Mom, where's Dad?"
Zhou Xiaolan was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. Ordinary people were like this, endlessly toiling for their three meals a day.
"You forgot, your dad gets off work at six."
Tang Xiaomin immediately had a bad feeling.
"Xiaomin, when you came back, didn't you see your dad?" Zhou Xiaolan said.
"Oh... Dad might be helping someone out; he often does that. I'll go out for a bit. Don't wait for me for dinner."
Tang Xiaomin wasn't sure, so she could only offer a perfunctory reply.
Afterward, she rushed back to the Xianfu Group. When her calls went unanswered, she checked the surveillance footage.
But for some reason, the surveillance footage had a problem today, and she couldn't see anything.
She knew the surveillance had been hacked.
Who would go to such lengths to do this?
Just as Tang Xiaomin was becoming anxious, her phone rang.
It was Tang Yu calling.
"Hello."
"Tang Xiaomin, if you want your adoptive father, come find me alone."
"Why should I believe you?"
At this moment, Li Changchun's voice came through the phone.
"Xiaomin, hurry and save Dad, Xiaomin..."
"Dad, what happened to you?"
"I'll give you half an hour. If you don't come, I'll burn your adoptive father."
Tang Yu's cold threat was clearly a trap, waiting for Tang Xiaomin to fall into it.
Her adoptive father had been kidnapped, and Tang Xiaomin didn't hesitate for a moment.
"Alright, don't hurt my adoptive father. I'm coming right away."