After the sun rose, the hospital arranged for the transfer.

As expected, they were transferred to Ji’an Hospital. With the New Year approaching, all the public hospitals were fully booked, and transfers were difficult. The hospital in Yan Jiao could only help them transfer here.

However, Ji’an Hospital was the best in the entire capital in terms of medical conditions, equipped with the country’s top orthopedic experts and the most advanced equipment. Naturally, the corresponding medical fees were also the highest.

Once everything was settled, the doctor quickly arranged for surgery. Since Su Ailian was older, this kind of injury couldn’t be delayed. The hospital had given her special care by scheduling her operation for the morning.

“The surgery will be added to the schedule for this morning. Please go ahead and pay for the surgery fees,” the doctor said, nodding to Su Mo before turning to leave. Su Mo wanted to ask how much the surgery fees were, but since her grandma was not far away, she decided to hold off.

After the doctor left, Su Mo quickly told her grandma she would be right back, then left the ward and caught up with the doctor.

“Doctor, can I ask how much the surgery fees will be?”

The doctor stopped, frowning as he looked at Su Mo. People who came to this hospital usually weren’t short on money.

“At this point, don’t worry about how much it costs. Just focus on getting your grandma treated first. Do you know how hard it is to get a surgery scheduled at this hospital?”

“Besides, if you’re concerned about money now, will you be able to handle the rehab costs after the surgery? The rehab is much more expensive than the surgery, and the process is long. With a patient like your grandma, it will take at least a year to recover. If you’re not willing to do the rehab, then there’s really no point in going ahead with the surgery.”

The doctor looked Su Mo up and down. “If you still have a little conscience, you shouldn’t just care about yourself and ignore your elderly relative.”

Su Mo stood still, her hands tucked inside her coat sleeves, her nails digging into her skin where no one could see.

After a moment, she turned and walked to the payment desk, holding a card in her hand. It contained all of her savings. She knew it wouldn’t be enough, and that the surgery fees now wouldn’t cover future rehab costs either.

But she had to pay what she could for now and figure out the rest later.

The surgery cost was 150,000 yuan, but Su Mo only had 12,000 yuan on the card.

That was the only savings she had from running around with Old Ma and occasionally taking small roles in some films.

For the past five years abroad, she had worked part-time while studying, earning just enough to cover her tuition and living expenses. During that time, she had acted in a few films, but she had sent all the money back to her grandma.

Grandma had divorced her husband when she was young, and her only son had stayed with his father. Two years ago, her son divorced and remarried, having a child afterward. Su Mo knew her grandma needed money for many things, so she sent her all the money she earned.

Now, after finally graduating and returning, other than performing here and there to earn some living expenses, she had been waiting for an audition for Yuan Hongsheng’s new film.

The audition was this afternoon. She couldn’t say it was a 100% sure thing, but she had confidence. But unfortunately, Grandma couldn’t wait any longer.

“Hello, may I ask if the surgery fee can be paid in installments?”

“What?” The woman at the desk seemed to think it was a huge joke. “Installments? Do you think this is buying a house?”

“Quickly get the money for the surgery, the patient can’t wait. If you miss the morning surgery slot, you don’t know how long it’ll take to get another one.”

After saying this, the woman threw Su Mo’s bank card back at her, letting it fall to the ground.

Su Mo picked it up without caring about the people around her and leaned back over the counter.

“Can I pay a little later? I promise I’ll make sure to pay the full surgery fee. Could you please make an exception?”

“You can pay later, but whenever you pay the fee, that’s when the surgery will be scheduled. Is that okay?” The woman responded before turning away and ignoring her.

This hospital was the best private hospital in the capital, with better medical conditions than the public ones. Wealthy people came and went every day. Even the people working at the payment desk had a certain air about them. Seeing someone unable to afford the medical fees, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of superiority.

Su Mo stood still, frowning. She knew that answer didn’t require any further thinking—it was definitely not going to happen.

The people around her looked at Su Mo with various expressions, but she didn’t care about their stares.

All she could think about right now was how to gather the money for the surgery.

150,000 yuan. Right now, she only had 12,000 yuan. She was still short by 138,000.

She bit her lip hard, and her once-soft lips turned pale, though she didn’t realize it. After a moment, she seemed to make a firm decision and walked toward Su Ailian’s room.

“Grandma, you rest for a while. I have something to take care of. I’ll be back soon to accompany you for the surgery.”

“Alright, you go take care of things first.”

After leaving the hospital, Su Mo took a taxi to the Honglin Villa District.

Half an hour later, she stood outside the villa she once knew well, her face pale, her lips tightly pressed.

Coming here always brought back bad memories, but today, she had no time to think about that.

After standing at the gate for a while, she rang the doorbell.

A moment later, the door opened, and a woman who appeared to be a maid came out.

“May I ask who you’re looking for?” The maid likely didn’t recognize her since Su Mo had left the Liu family long ago.

“I’m looking for Liu Chengye and Jian Ruyun. Please tell them that Liu Xiaoxiao is back.”

“Oh, please wait a moment.”

The maid responded and went inside, but after entering, she never came back out.

Su Mo anxiously stood at the gate, her eyes never leaving the entrance of the villa. Her face was slightly pale, but it was unclear whether it was from the cold or something else.

The weather was freezing and gloomy, as if it were about to snow.

Standing there, it didn’t take long before the breath she exhaled turned into a thin layer of frost on her long, curled lashes—beautiful, yet pitiful.

Time passed by slowly, and no one came out of the villa. At this point, Su Mo, no matter how naïve she was, had already guessed that they were probably doing this on purpose.

She stepped forward again and rang the doorbell.

This time, not even the maid came out.