Chapter 4 : Sent to the Health Center

“Speaking of which, our own children don’t necessarily look like us either! They confirmed that girl’s identity just based on appearance, don’t you think that’s a bit rushed? After all, there are people in the world who look alike without being related,” Li Yue’e said, still puzzled.

“I heard that Tang Lingxue had someone investigate it and said both children were born in the same hospital and same delivery room that year. The nurse reported the wrong number by accident, and now they’ve confirmed both girls’ identities,” Jiang Xianmin replied, sounding somewhat upset.

While they were talking, the group quickly brought Yun Siying into the health center. Qiao Minghong called out, “Doctor Hu, please take a look at Siying quickly, she’s fainted!”

“Take her to the examination room right away. I’ll be there in a moment,” Doctor Hu, a woman in her forties wearing a white coat, with a very gentle expression.

After the examination, Doctor Hu wrote a prescription and walked out of the room. She said to the others, “Go inside first and help her lie down on the bed. I’ll give her an IV.”

“What’s wrong with this child?” Jiang Xianmin asked as she helped settle Yun Siying.

“She has whip marks and pinch bruises all over her body. She must have been beaten badly last night. Since the wounds weren’t treated, they’ve become a bit infected, causing the fever. Her temperature is 40 degrees Celsius. I’ll cool her down immediately,” Doctor Hu explained.

“My God, who beat this child? Look at the scars on her arms such severe injuries,” Jiang Xianmin said with distress as she looked at Yun Siying.

Li Yue’e and Qiao Minghong also saw the whip marks and bruises on her arms. Against her pale skin, they looked even more horrifying.

“That wicked Tang Lingxue is too cruel. Even if she doesn’t like Siying anymore, the child lived with her for eighteen years. How could she be so heartless?” Jiang Xianmin couldn’t help but complain.

When Yun Siying woke up, she saw Jiang Xianmin, Qiao Minghong, and Li Yue’e sitting beside her bed, their eyes full of concern. It was the first time she felt genuine care from strangers, and she was deeply moved.

“Brother Minghong, Aunt Jiang, Aunt Li, thank you for bringing me to the health center. Otherwise, I might have gone to see the King of Hell by now,” Yun Siying said gratefully, her voice still weak.

“Siying, are you still in pain?” Jiang Xianmin asked with worry. They had already heard from the doctor that she had been badly beaten but fortunately had no broken bones or torn muscles.

“Thank you, Aunties, for your concern. I’m feeling much better now,” Yun Siying replied. Of course, she could still feel the pain, but having survived the apocalypse, this kind of pain was nothing to her.

“Siying, who did this to you?” Li Yue’e asked.

“Yesterday, Shu Ruxue deliberately fell down the stairs and falsely accused me of pushing her. Mom got angry and… Since Ruxue returned, things like this have been happening more and more. I’ve gotten used to it,” Yun Siying said, her eyes misting over. She tilted her head back slightly to keep her tears from falling, her tone lonely and resigned.

“Are you telling the truth?” Jiang Xianmin asked with a complex look. Over the past six months, everyone in the compound had heard stories about the Shu family. They’d also heard that Siying had changed, rumors said she often bullied the Shu family’s biological daughter to keep her place in the family.

“Yes, but no one in the family believes me. They don’t even give me a chance to explain.” Yun Siying gave a bitter smile.

“I was clinging to the family affection I once had and couldn’t bear to leave the Shu family, who raised me for 18 years. Plus, I finally got a job, so I chose to stay. But now it’s impossible. Just this morning, when I woke up, I overheard my mother saying she wanted me to give my job to Ruxue and register to go to the countryside.” Yun Siying’s eyes were filled with pain, she no longer cared about saving face for the Shu family.

“Then you can actually move out of the Shu family’s home, apply for housing at the machinery factory, and keep living in the city,” Qiao Minghong suggested.

“Thank you for your kindness, Brother Qiao, but I don’t want to stay in this place full of sorrow any longer.” Yun Siying was not the original owner of the body, she didn’t have any emotional attachment to this family, nor did she hold any hope for it.

“Then you’re just going to go along with what they want?” Li Yue’e asked, knowing how hard life was in the countryside, especially for a delicate and beautiful girl like Yun Siying.

“Aunt Li, I don’t want to live my whole life carrying the debt of the Shu family’s kindness. If going to the countryside can repay the grace of being raised by them, then I’ll choose to go.” When Yun Siying said this, her eyes were filled with unwavering determination.

“Your main task now is to rest and get better,” Qiao Minghong said, a little helplessly, clearly feeling sorry for her.

“Thank you, Brother Minghong,” Yun Siying said sincerely.

At that moment, Tang Lingxue and Shu Ruxue mother and daughter entered the room. The moment their eyes landed on Yun Siying, they were full of disdain and dislike.

As soon as Yun Siying saw Tang Lingxue and Shu Ruxue, she trembled and instinctively curled up, looking at Tang Lingxue with visible fear.

Tang Lingxue noticed Jiang Xianmin and the others and stepped forward, saying, “Xianmin, Yue’e, I’m sorry this child caused you trouble.”

“This is what neighbors do for each other, but you’ve really gone too far this time. If the child did something wrong, a few words of scolding would’ve been enough. Why use such a heavy hand? These injuries are serious they’ve nearly cost her half her life,” Jiang Xianmin responded, clearly disapproving and with a firm tone.

“Siying, you’ve gone too far this time. Mom was very disappointed, which is why I acted so harshly. You didn’t even tell your family you were sick, and you troubled the two aunties and Minghong too,” Tang Lingxue approached the bed and reached out to touch Yun Siying’s forehead.

Yun Siying dodged her touch and replied coldly, “Mom, I really haven’t harmed or bullied Ruxue at all in the six months since she came home. Why don’t you believe me? Why would you beat me so badly?”

The others in the clinic turned to Tang Lingxue with reproachful eyes, muttering their disapproval and urging her, “Comrade, you were really too cruel to hit a child like that.”

“Siying, I shouldn’t have told Mom you pushed me down the stairs. It’s my fault she beat you. Don’t blame her, okay? Even though you’re not her biological child, she raised you for eighteen years. You can’t repay kindness with resentment by slandering her,” Shu Ruxue said with a look of guilt.

After hearing Shu Ruxue’s words, the others in the room shifted their gaze to Yun Siying again, their expressions now mixed with doubt and scrutiny.

“Mom, I know you’ve disliked me ever since you found out I wasn’t your real daughter. Even though Shu Ruxue keeps framing me, you just stood by and watched. That’s something I’ve had to endure because I was greedy for the family affection I once had from the Shu family for eighteen years. If I hadn’t overheard your conversation with Shu Ruxue today, I never would’ve known that you didn’t keep me out of love, but because you thought I still had some value.” Yun Siying looked weakly at Tang Lingxue, but her deep, penetrating gaze seemed to see right through her thoughts and actions.