Back in the car, Ou Yunchen slammed the steering wheel. He regretted losing his patience in front of Mo Qingyun, but he knew the reason for his anger was his inner fear and guilt. The more pathetic Mo Qingyun seemed, the more Ou Yunchen felt responsible.
The materials Ou Yunchen had stolen, and the fact that he knew Axe was her brother, felt like a knife, slicing at his heart. He had destroyed this girl's hope and was hindering her path to a happy life.
But if this girl had lived a good life, would Ou Yunchen have felt so guilty? Was Ou Yunchen the only one with a fractured heart?
Just as Ou Yunchen started the car, ready to escape the area where Mo Qingyun was, a new message arrived on his phone.
— WeChat from Mo Qingyun —
"Mr. Grumpy Dinosaur, if it were before, I would have been very angry if you yelled at me like that, but just now, I didn't feel angry at all.
I know you're worried about me, and I know this dilapidated basement isn't a good place to live, but where I live doesn't matter to me right now.
I told you, I grew up in a welfare home, that was my home. After leaving the welfare home, finding my brother became my life's goal, but I've been searching for a long time, only to receive a pile of useless information.
You wouldn't understand. Maybe I'll never find my brother. I long for the feeling of home, and I envy people who have someone waiting for them, but I have nothing. What difference does it make where I live?
I didn't spend the money carelessly; I donated it all to the welfare home. If the children there ever wanted to find their relatives like I did, they deserve that money more than I do.
Lastly, please don't be angry with me anymore, because I was overjoyed when I saw you.
Mr. Dinosaur, you are a good person. You always appear when I need you, and you've saved me many times. I can't even imagine how to repay your kindness. Even though you're not my brother, I already consider you a very important person in my life."
— End of WeChat —
Ou Yunchen read the message again and again.
Each time he saw Mo Qingyun calling him a good person, his guilt deepened. He realized he no longer saw this girl as someone like Axe.
She and her brother were completely different. In Ou Yunchen's mind, Axe was a selfish and cruel heir to Tang Wei, but the little mute girl was not. She was originally a kind and brave girl, and Ou Yunchen was destroying her hope of living a fulfilling life.
***
At three in the morning, an ambulance arrived at the Xie family's residence to take Mrs. Xie to the hospital for emergency treatment. Even though Mrs. Xie was disoriented, she tightly gripped Xie Youlin's wrist. Since a family member was required to accompany her, Xie Hongtian had to be replaced by Xie Youlin.
Looking back, Mrs. Xie's condition seemed to have worsened lately. Normally, as long as she took her medication on time, she wouldn't have such acute episodes more than once a year. Xie Hongtian asked the doctor if she had developed antibodies due to taking too much medication, but the doctor's answer shocked him.
The doctor looked at the report and said, "Mrs. Xie's medication contains sleeping aids. Long-term use should only result in dependence, not antibodies."
Xie Hongtian was confused. "Then why has my wife had seven or eight minor and major episodes in less than a month?"
The doctor adjusted his glasses. "Did the family diligently supervise the patient to take her medicine on time?"
This question seemed to make Xie Hongtian unsure how to answer.
Mrs. Xie's medication schedule was fixed, and the medicine was delivered by a trusted elderly nanny who had been with Mrs. Xie longer than he had. The nanny also reported Mrs. Xie's medication status to Xie Hongtian daily, so logically, the nanny wouldn't lie.
The doctor asked again, "Has Mrs. Xie had any other unusual reactions recently?"
Xie Hongtian thought carefully. Besides the episodes, he hadn't paid much attention to any other abnormal reactions.
Xie Hongtian countered, "Such as?"
The doctor looked up and said, "This medication has a characteristic of worsening the patient's memory. Once discontinued, memory gradually recovers. This could also lead Mrs. Xie to recall past events in a daze, which might stimulate her and trigger epilepsy."
Xie Hongtian suddenly understood. "Memory?"
Xie Hongtian turned to look at Xie Youlin. It dawned on him, and he realized why Mrs. Xie had been incessantly asking about matchmaking for her son lately. It seemed Mrs. Xie's memory had actually improved recently.
At this moment, a nurse wheeled Mrs. Xie into the ward. After receiving intravenous medication, Mrs. Xie had stabilized. She lay on the hospital bed, looking tired and drowsy, her body feeling so heavy that she couldn't even lift her arm.
The doctor approached Mrs. Xie. "Mrs. Xie, you need to take your medicine on time, reduce going out, and get plenty of rest. That's most important."
But Mrs. Xie's gaze was somewhat vacant. She heard the words repeated over and over, but her brain seemed unable to respond. She just stared blankly at the people by the bedside.
Xie Youlin, after completing the hospitalization procedures, hurried into the ward. His appearance brought a slight change in Mrs. Xie's emotions.
Mrs. Xie rasped and weakly raised a hand. Xie Hongtian quickly stepped forward to hold his wife's hand, but Mrs. Xie consciously shifted inward and whispered, "Son."
Xie Youlin cooperated, walked to the bedside, sat in the chair Xie Hongtian had just vacated, and gently took Mrs. Xie's hand.
Xie Youlin looked at Mrs. Xie with concern. "Mom, I'm here."
Xie Hongtian quickly said, "Wife, is there anything else you're uncomfortable with?"
Mrs. Xie not only didn't respond to Xie Hongtian but didn't even look at him.
Xie Youlin placed Mrs. Xie's hand on his face. "Mom, listen to the doctor. You need to rest more so you can be discharged soon."
Mrs. Xie said with difficulty, "Don't go, son, you can't leave."
Mrs. Xie used all her strength to try and sit up to hold Xie Youlin tightly. This action startled Xie Hongtian, who quickly restrained Xie Youlin, who was about to stand up to see the doctor out, and made him sit obediently in the chair.
Xie Hongtian comforted her. "He's not leaving. Son isn't leaving. I'll go see the doctor out."
Seeing Xie Hongtian and the doctor leave the ward, Mrs. Xie slowly spoke again.
"Child, don't blame me. I've always wanted to be a good mother..."
"Mom, you are my good mother. Don't think too much about it," Xie Youlin quickly interjected.
"I've been a burden to you... You are a good child. Don't blame your father either. He's doing it all for this family."
Xie Youlin nodded. "I know. As long as Mom is happy, I'm happy."
As long as her son was by her side, Mrs. Xie could fall asleep peacefully. Combined with the medication quickly taking effect, Mrs. Xie soon fell into a deep sleep.
Xie Youlin looked at Xie Hongtian. "Dad, I'll stay here and watch over her. You should go home and rest."
Xie Hongtian stared at Xie Youlin. Just as everyone saw, he was a good son. He was filial and obedient, following his father's every word and being attentive and caring towards his sick mother. He had initially thought this was a good thing, but Mrs. Xie's recent episode had shown him the scene he feared most.
Mrs. Xie was overly dependent on this son, but if she secretly stopped taking her medicine, she would remember that her biological son had died long ago. Once she remembered that the man before her was not her son, would all these years of deception lead to the complete destruction of their family?
Simultaneously, if Mrs. Xie remained oblivious, she would pour all her affection onto an outsider. In the future, she might do something outrageous, such as, concerning the Xie family's inheritance...
Xie Youlin looked at the dazed Xie Hongtian. "Dad?"
Xie Hongtian snapped back to reality. He patted Xie Youlin's shoulder and said, "No need. I'll stay here. You go home and pack some clean clothes, and bring them tomorrow morning."