Chapter 11
Edward Quan ·
I paused.
He continued:
“And you may be in danger.”
I thought about it.
Then asked seriously:
“Will the company cover the taxi fare?”
Gu Mingzhe: “…”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
I nodded immediately.
“Then let’s go!”
An hour later.
We arrived at my parents’ home.
It was an ordinary apartment in an old residential complex.
The moment I opened the door, I saw my father sitting on a chair.
His expression was extremely grave.
My mother stood beside him.
Her eyes were red.
I hurried over.
“Mom!”
She hugged me tightly.
For a long time, she wouldn’t let go.
I started to panic.
“Mom, what on earth is going on?”
She looked at me.
Then at the man standing behind me.
“Are you Gu Mingzhe?”
He nodded.
“Hello, Auntie.”
My mother didn’t answer.
She only said coldly:
“Please wait outside.”
I was startled.
“Mom!”
Gu Mingzhe looked at me.
Then calmly answered:
“All right.”
He stepped outside.
The door closed.
My mother immediately took my hand.
“Ruoxi, there’s something I have to tell you.”
I swallowed.
“Yes?”
She took an old wooden box from a drawer.
Inside was a photograph.
Two young women stood beside each other.
One was my mother.
The other had a face very much like Xia Siyu’s.
I was stunned.
“Mom, who is this?”
My mother answered slowly:
“This is Xia Qinglan.”
“Your friend?”
She shook her head.
“My biological older sister.”
I was dumbfounded.
My mother continued:
“And Xia Siyu’s biological mother.”
Me: “…”
I looked at the photograph.
Then at my mother.
After a long while, I asked:
“So… Siyu is my cousin?”
My mother nodded.
My head was spinning.
But she wasn’t finished.
“Twenty-three years ago, something happened to the Xia family.”
“Your maternal grandfather once owned a large corporation.”
“But after he died, control of the assets fell into the hands of several people in the family.”
“My sister discovered that someone had forged documents to steal shares.”
I held my breath.
“And then?”
My mother looked at the photograph.
“She planned to report it.”
“But before she could do anything, she had an accident.”
I went cold all over.
Another accident.
Why did someone in this family have an accident every time they were about to expose a secret?
My mother continued:
“Before it happened, she gave me a silver bracelet.”
I immediately remembered the picture in the text message.
“The bracelet?”
Mom nodded.
She opened a secret compartment at the bottom of the box.
And took out a bracelet.
I looked at it.
It was exactly like the one in the picture.
My mother said hoarsely:
“She told me that if anything ever happened to the Xia family, I should use this bracelet to reclaim what belonged to the descendants.”
I asked, trembling:
“Then why didn’t you ever tell me?”
She looked at me.
Her eyes were full of pain.
“Because I didn’t want you dragged into it.”
I fell silent.
My mother continued:
“But now…”
She clutched the bracelet tightly.
“Maybe they’ve found you.”
Just then—
The doorbell rang.
My father stood up.
“Who is it?”
A man’s low voice came from outside.
“Gu Mingzhe.”
“Something urgent has happened.”
Dad opened the door.
Gu Mingzhe stood outside.
His face was pale.
He looked at me.
Then said:
“Ms. Song.”
“Yes?”
“The hospital just called.”
My heart suddenly tightened.
“How is Xia Siyu?”
He looked at me.
His eyes were red.
“She’s awake.”
Chapter 14: The Woman Wakes Up and Her First Words
I never thought I would be happy enough to cry over someone I had only known through a photograph.
But when I heard that Xia Siyu had woken up, I truly couldn’t hold it in.
My mother stood up abruptly too.
“She’s awake?”
Gu Mingzhe nodded.
“The doctor says she’s conscious, but still very weak.”
My mother clutched her chest.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
I hurried to support her.
“Mom!”
She took my hand.
“Ruoxi, I want to see her.”
I looked at Gu Mingzhe.
He nodded.
“I’ll arrange it.”
An hour later.
We arrived at the hospital.
Baozi was standing outside the room.
The moment he saw me, he ran over.
“Big Sis!”
I hugged him.
“Your mom’s awake!”
He nodded over and over.
His eyes were red.
“I know!”
“I just heard Mom call my name!”
I patted his head.
“Good for you.”
Baozi took my hand.
“Big Sis, Mom wants to see you.”
I was stunned.
“See me?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Gu Mingzhe.
He also seemed surprised.
But he still led me into the hospital room.
Xia Siyu lay on the bed.
She had grown much thinner.
Her lips were pale.
But her eyes were open.
When she saw me, she immediately grew agitated.
She raised a trembling hand.
I hurried over.
“Cousin Siyu…”
She looked at me.
Tears ran down her face.
After a long time, she managed to speak with difficulty:
“Ruo…”
I leaned closer.
“What did you say?”
She gripped my hand tightly.
“Ruoxi…”
I was completely stunned.
“You know me?”
Xia Siyu nodded.
Gu Mingzhe immediately stepped forward.
“Siyu, don’t get upset.”
But she didn’t look at her husband.
She only looked at me.
Then, with all her strength, she said:
“Don’t… give… the bracelet… to him…”
I went cold all over.
“Who is ‘him’?”
Xia Siyu trembled.
Tears kept falling.
I leaned closer.
“Tell me!”
She looked toward the door.
Her eyes filled with fear.
Then she rasped:
“Gu…”
The hospital room door suddenly opened.
An elderly voice sounded.
“Is Siyu awake?”
I whipped around.
Old Master Gu stood in the doorway.
He was holding a bouquet of white flowers.
His smile was kind.
His gaze gentle.
But the moment Xia Siyu saw him, she began trembling violently.
Her hand clutched mine.
I could feel her fear.
Gu Mingzhe stepped forward.
“Dad, the doctor said Siyu needs to rest.”
The old man nodded.
“I only want to see her for a moment.”
I looked at Xia Siyu.
She was trying to shake her head.
Very slightly.
But with absolute determination.
I immediately stood up.
“Mr. Gu.”
He looked at me.
“Yes?”
I smiled.
“Cousin Siyu just woke up. The doctor said the patient mustn’t get upset.”
He nodded.
“That’s right.”
I continued:
“Then would you mind waiting outside for now?”
The atmosphere froze at once.
Gu Mingzhe looked at me.
The old man looked at me too.
After a long while, he asked slowly: