Chapter 18: Fubao! Are You Alright?

He Ling was currently feeling both hopeless and helpless.

Last night, their whole family hid in the basement, each of them suffering various wounds.

Although the injuries weren’t deep, they kept bleeding. Eventually, they had to tear up clothing to bind the wounds and stop the bleeding.

Their son, Fubao, seemed to have been frightened and had been burning with a high fever the entire night, with no sign of improvement.

She and her husband were burning with anxiety, wanting to take their son to the hospital, only to find the roads completely blocked.

Their own injuries hadn’t healed, and with the blood loss, their bodies were extremely weak.

They couldn’t even walk properly—how could they possibly carry someone to the hospital?

After a torturous night, the couple finally decided to seek help from Song Kexing.

Song’s father couldn’t swallow his pride to beg, but He Ling, driven by maternal instinct, humbled herself.

She knelt down on the ground, eyes full of pleading, and continued:

“Kexing, it was our fault last night. If you had hacked us with a knife, we would’ve deserved it. I’m not asking for forgiveness.

But for the sake of Fubao being your younger brother, I beg you to save him!

He’s seriously ill, with a fever that won’t go down. If we don’t take him to the hospital, he’ll really die!”

Song Kexing replied expressionlessly, “Then let him die.”

He Ling immediately panicked. “Kexing… you can’t just watch him die! He’s your flesh-and-blood brother. Please save him!”

Song Kexing sneered, “When he tried to kill me, he sure didn’t see me as his sister.”

“That was a moment of foolishness, and it was our fault as adults. I’ll kneel and beg for your forgiveness. Please, I’m begging you!”

Saying that, He Ling began to kowtow furiously.

In no time, her forehead was swollen and bruised.

Song Kexing said, “Enough with the act. If you want me to save him, it comes with conditions.”

A flash of hope appeared in He Ling’s eyes as she raised her head and said, “Just tell me—whatever you want, as long as you save him, I’ll agree!”

Song Kexing looked at her. “I want all of the Song family’s assets, including the ancestral inheritance and my mother’s dowry.”

The Song family had once been a wealthy business clan. Even though much of the fortune had been used up over the years, there should still be something left.

Besides, when the original host had eloped overseas, she left behind much of the dowry and valuables from her mother.

But Maruko had searched the house and even the basement several times over the past two days and found nothing.

That wasn’t normal.

It was highly likely… Song Jianye had hidden it elsewhere.

Upon hearing her demand, the joy in He Ling’s eyes froze.

There was more wealth than that in the house, and it was supposed to be their capital for rebuilding life abroad. How could they give it to her?

But if they didn’t… their son might die.

He Ling said, “This isn’t something I can decide. I need to discuss it with your father.”

“No need to discuss. I agree!”

Just then, Song Jianye’s voice came from behind.

Still uneasy, he had followed them over.

“If you want the money, fine. Just take Fubao to the hospital and cure him—I’ll give it all to you.”

Song Kexing replied, “That won’t do. Money first, then the treatment.”

“Song Kexing, are you really this heartless?!”

Father Song gritted his teeth, eyes wide with rage.

Song Kexing laughed. “As heartless as a father who tried to kill his own daughter.”

Song Jianye’s face turned pale. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Fine! I agree.”

…

In the basement, Father Song pulled a wooden box out of a hidden space in the wall and opened it.

“This is all of the Song family’s savings—just over 7,000 yuan and more than 30 ration coupons. It’s all here.”

A flicker of surprise flashed in He Ling’s eyes.

She remembered that there was more money than this in the house.

Could it be that her husband had transferred the rest somewhere else?

Father Song continued, “As for the family heirlooms and your mother’s dowry, they were all depleted during those turbulent years.”

Song Kexing didn’t believe a single word.

The only reason she made that demand was to test them.

Sure enough, she noticed the flicker of emotion on He Ling’s face, confirming her suspicion.

“Alright.” Song Kexing immediately stashed the box away. “I’m going outside to get a doctor. Wait here.”

Father Song panicked. “Song Kexing! You’re going back on your word! You need to take your brother to the hospital!”

“You think you’re in a position to negotiate with me?” Song Kexing sneered.

“Or do you want the world to find out that you, who supposedly left to visit relatives, suddenly came crawling back?”

“You—!” Song Jianye wanted to say more, but He Ling stopped him.

“Kexing, Auntie believes in you. Please go quickly.

I hope you can come back before noon. Your brother’s condition can’t wait. If anything happens to him, I’ll crawl out and beg someone else for help, even if it kills me.

And if people find out that we were all hacked up like this by you, your reputation will be destroyed…”

A threat.

“Hah.” Song Kexing let out a cold snort and strode away.

After leaving the basement, Maruko curiously asked:

【Boss, are you really going to save them?】

Song Kexing: 【Yeah, I’ll just treat him casually. He can’t die yet. Otherwise, it won’t be fun.】

They hadn’t found the treasure Song Jianye hid, and she needed more time.

Song Kexing walked around the neighborhood for a while.

Close to noon, she found a secluded spot and entered her space.

Rather than risking it by bringing in an outsider, she’d treat Song Fubao herself.

Back in the modern convalescent home, she had grown familiar with several nurses and learned basic medical and nursing skills.

Fortunately, her space had a variety of tools, including all kinds of human-skin masks.

She picked a middle-aged man’s mask and put it on.

Then she put on a black cap to cover her messy hair, added a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and wore clothing typical of middle-aged men of this era.

Once in disguise, she quickly returned to the Song residence.

As she approached the basement, she heard an argument from inside.

Turns out, after she left, Father Song and He Ling had crawled to her room to search for food, only to find nothing.

After two days of hunger and all the torment they’d endured, Father Song finally exploded and vented his anger on He Ling:

“He Ling! You stupid pig-brained woman! You clearly knew Song Kexing was a damn scoundrel, yet you insisted on letting her go! You’re trying to piss me off to death!”

He Ling cried in grievance. “Wuuu… how was I supposed to know she really wouldn’t care about her reputation? I was wrong! I only did it for our son…”

Smack!

Father Song slapped her. “Cry cry cry! That’s all you ever do! What’s the use of marrying a brainless woman like you?!”

“Cough, cough… Dad, don’t hit Mom… cough, cough, cough!”

Song Fubao choked on his own phlegm and passed out on the spot.

He Ling screamed, “Fubao! Are you alright?! Fubao!”

…