34. Sorrow

◎Kidnapping◎

The emergency room was brightly lit, and medical staff hurried about, their various sounds weaving together into a symphony of life.

Liang Chuling's spirit, devoid of its soul, remained by the mobile hospital bed until Ms. Ma was wheeled into the emergency room. Two doors completely isolated her from the world inside.

The doctor came out once during the consultation, speaking very quickly. Based on Ms. Ma's previous medical records and the current situation, the preliminary diagnosis was a sudden heart attack.

"The patient is in the transitional stage from perimenopause to menopause. During this period, the level of estrogen in a woman's body will change dramatically. This change not only affects mood and bones, but also directly affects the cardiovascular system. Estrogen has a protective effect on blood vessels. Once it drops sharply, blood vessels are more prone to spasms, lipid metabolism may also be abnormal, and the burden on the heart will increase significantly."

"Many people underestimate the dangers of menopause, thinking it's just hot flashes, insomnia, and mood swings. In fact, it significantly increases women's risk of cardiovascular disease, and in severe cases, like now, it can even lead to myocardial infarction. This is not a trivial matter and requires serious attention and long-term health management."

Liang Chuling had only known that her mother was unwell and had mood swings, but it turned out that this was a life-threatening crisis.

Another period of waiting.

Outside the emergency room, she could do nothing but wait. This familiar sense of passivity was suffocating her.

After some time, Liang's father's secretary rushed over, clearly already aware of the situation.

“Ms. Liang, Mr. Liang has some urgent matters to attend to and cannot come at the moment. Regarding the follow-up arrangements, including the property, we will discuss them in detail after Madam’s condition stabilizes. Right now, Madam’s health is the priority.”

Another period of waiting.

Liang Chuling neither looked at the secretary nor responded.

She just stared at the red light above the emergency room door, a word she rarely contemplated, which surfaced in her mind without carrying a chilling aura—

That word represents the end, represents eternal loss, represents the cessation of everything.

That word was eyeing the most important person in her life with predatory intent.

Her throat was dry; she needed some water.

She wandered downstairs as if sleepwalking and found the vending machine in the corner. Hearing the sound of beverage cans falling, she bent down to take one.

"Liang Chuling?"

Zhou Xu stood not far away, looking at her with a puzzled expression, trying to confirm.

He seemed to be in better spirits than last time. He walked over in a few steps, and in the bright light of the hall, he could clearly see Liang Chuling's appearance—

Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were red and swollen.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

Liang Chuling looked at him, and also at the word that surrounded them. The word was laughing with its mouth wide open, but Liang Chuling suddenly started crying.

She lowered her head and recounted the general events in fits and starts.

Zhou Xu's surprise was replaced by anger: "Is your father even human?! Even tigers don't eat their cubs!"

Liang Chuling couldn't hear what he cursed afterward; she just let her tears flow.

--

The door to the emergency room finally opened again.

The doctor came out, his expression more relaxed than before: "The patient is out of danger for now. Fortunately, he was brought in in time. He now needs to be transferred to the CCU for close observation and must not be subjected to any further stimulation."

When Ms. Ma was wheeled out, she had tubes inserted into her body, connected to monitoring equipment.

Liang Chuling rushed to the mobile hospital bed, grabbed Ms. Ma's cold hand, and followed the nurse to send Ms. Ma into the intensive care unit.

The ward was quiet. Zhou Xu had been asked to leave, and now only the mother and daughter were there.

Liang Chuling sat motionless on the chair beside the hospital bed, simply holding Madam Ma's hand as if she would disappear if she let go.

She stopped crying.

--

Ms. Ma's condition stabilized, and she was transferred to a regular ward in the cardiology department. The doctor advised that she need to be hospitalized for observation for at least one month.

Illness comes like a landslide, but recovery is slow and gradual, especially heart problems, which become more difficult to treat the more anxious and stressed you are.

Liang Chuling took a taxi home that night to pick up some things for her mother. Looking out the car window, she thought to herself, "Actually, being divorced isn't so bad."

This idea would not have come up six months ago.

Fortunately, in the past six months, she has managed to grow a seedling.

The car passed by the classroom where she used to attend classes a long time ago. She hadn't been there since she joined Li Chi's school.

There used to be a strangely shaped tree outside the classroom. It bore very sweet fruit, but the tree itself attracted a lot of insects. In the summer, it would be covered with a kind of caterpillar called "yanglazi," which everyone was afraid of.

Why was it mentioned before?

Because this tree was cut down.

Liang Chuling only saw a piece of wood that had been left behind.

Those who wanted to eat fruit were defeated by those who hated insects.

As the car drove into the congested neighborhood, stopping and starting frequently, Liang Chuling felt a tightness in her chest, so she got out of the car early.

She wandered aimlessly, not knowing where she wanted to go, until her feet led her to a riverbank.

The river was calm, almost still, reflecting the streetlights on the bank, casting a warm, yellow glow on the still water, like countless moons rising from the water.

The wind was unusually clear, blowing gently, like a spring day in the south.

This tenderness came at an inopportune time, making Liang Chuling clearly see her own disheveled state.

She thought of Li Xun because of this embarrassing situation, but the source of her thought was: In such a miserable moment, I didn't even think of you.

Because I remembered forgetting, I remembered forgetting.

I recalled how eagerly I confessed my feelings back then.

At that time, the family relationship was on the verge of collapse, and Liang Chuling thought she was standing on the edge of a cliff in her life. But Li Xun reached out his hand, which was stable, warm, and full of strength.

But now, sitting here, she realizes that the moon in the water is a light bulb.

After returning with her belongings, Ms. Ma leaned against the hospital bed, her face still pale. After the initial confusion faded, her eyes gradually regained their clarity. Holding Liang Chuling's hand, she pondered how to turn this serious illness and the mistake of Liang's father pushing her into bargaining chips in the division of property in their divorce.

"If we can't reach an agreement, we can certainly wage a media war, and naturally, people will speak up for us..."

Ms. Ma even felt that she could use Liang Chuling's identity and recent popularity to make her private affairs public to some extent and put pressure on her.

Liang Chuling sat on the edge of the bed, peeling an apple. She still didn't know how to peel a fruit knife, so she peeled very slowly and broke the peel three times.

She felt heartbroken that her mother, who had just escaped death, would have to worry so much again, and she felt an invisible rope binding her once more. She put down the fruit knife and handed the unevenly cut apple to her mother: "I can support you. I really can."

"Commercial performances, shows, endorsements, and collaborations with celebrities—my income is enough for you to splurge."

"We don't need to keep getting entangled with him, and we don't need to waste any more time and energy waiting."

Ms. Ma took a bite of the apple, chewing slowly, savoring the taste and organizing her thoughts. "Honey, you're still young and thinking too simply. What you earn is what you earn, but why shouldn't we take his family's wealth? Now is the time when he's in the wrong, the best opportunity for us to negotiate."

She reached out to pat her daughter's hand, but her movements were cumbersome due to her weakness: "Wait a little longer, be patient. Once he loses his temper first, we'll get much more."

Another round of waiting.

Arguing is pointless and will only aggravate her fragile body.

Liang Chuling chose to remain silent, suppressing her surging anxiety.

Ms. Ma was asleep, her brow furrowed even in her sleep. Liang Chuling stood by the window; the Beijing night was still a constant flow of life, like a river, a cold river.

When Li Xun called, the background noise suggested he was busy with Li Chi.

"Have you eaten? How have you been lately?"

Instead of answering his question, Liang Chuling asked, "How are things between you and Teacher Li Chi lately? Has anything progressed with the orchestra?"

Li Xun hadn't expected her to ask this first. He sighed softly and told her the truth: "It's not going well. The key sponsor ultimately declined, giving a very official reason. My mother has been working on it for months, so it's like starting all over again. The venue lease is also about to expire, and there's a lot of trouble."

"How is Professor Li Chi's health?" Liang Chuling asked.

"I'm doing alright, no new problems. It's just the old issue, my periods are still irregular. I'm taking the medicine the doctor prescribed, but I'm mainly worried about the orchestra, so I'm not sleeping well." Li Xun tried to downplay the situation, not wanting to add to her burden.

"Oh," Liang Chuling responded, then began to answer Li Xun's initial question, "I've been doing quite well lately."

"My parents are getting a divorce. But I don't think it's a bad thing. It's better that they're getting a divorce."

Li Xun listened quietly on the other end of the phone. He had heard about Liang's father's ways before, and from his past interactions with Liang Chuling, he had pieced together the undercurrents in her family.

He didn't hear sadness in Liang Chuling's tone at this moment, which reassured him.

His parents divorced when he was young, but he was not traumatized by it. On the contrary, he felt that if the feelings were gone and they were torturing each other, separating was a more rational choice.

Li Xun agreed, "Yes, if being together isn't happy, breaking up is definitely a better choice. Don't be too sad, and be sure to tell me if anything happens." His voice was steady, carrying a sense of certainty that he wanted to convey strength.

"Yes, I know." Liang Chuling scratched the glass window with her fingers. "You have a lot of things to do too, so take care of Teacher Li Chi first. I'm fine."

After a few more brief words, mostly Li Xun telling her to rest and not to overwork herself, Liang Chuling agreed to each one, her tone remaining calm until she hung up the phone.

Her own shadow was vaguely reflected in the windowpane, and she reached out and touched the shadow's face.

A few days later, Liang's father reappeared in the hospital room.

Ms. Ma was in the inner room, while Mr. Liang and Liang Chuling were in the reception room.

"I found the doctor through connections, and I arranged the expert consultation. The best medicine, the most expensive ward—I haven't treated you badly, have I?" Mr. Liang said, his tone carrying a condescending sense of superiority. He now felt both apprehensive and impatient with Liang Chuling. "Chuling, you're all grown up now. Your mother's condition is most vulnerable to stress. Let's talk this out. For your mother's sake, stop being so immature."

He was certain that Liang Chuling was now hesitant to act recklessly and provoke Madam Ma, so he was not giving an inch.

Liang Chuling watched his performance quietly; she was unusually silent today.

Seeing that she didn't lash out, Liang's father became even more confident, and his words grew increasingly harsh: "A wise person knows when to yield. Living a good life and taking care of your health is more important than anything else. You'll still have to rely on me in the future..."

"Shut up first," Liang Chuling finally spoke.

Mr. Liang was taken aback, his face darkening: "How could you..."

"Let's wait a bit," Liang Chuling interrupted again without even looking at him.

"Wait? Wait for what?" Liang's father was puzzled and even more dissatisfied with her attitude. "My time is precious, I don't have time to waste here with you."

Liang Chuling finally looked at her father's face, and a voice in her heart sneered: "Wait for your death!"

But all he said was, "You'll find out soon enough."

As if to confirm her words, Liang's father's phone rang. He turned around and answered it after seeing the caller ID.

Before they could exchange more than a few words, Mr. Liang yelled into the phone, "What do you mean 'missing'? Where's the caregiver? Where's the nanny? What are they doing?!"

He listened for a few more minutes, his face drained of color, and he suddenly turned around, hung up the phone, rushed to Liang Chuling, raised his arm, but froze in mid-air.

"It's you! Was it you! Liang Chuling! Give me back my son! If you dare lay a finger on him, I'll make sure you and your mother suffer a terrible death! I'll call the police and send you both to jail!"

Startled by the loud noise, Ms. Ma opened her eyes and tried to go out to see what was happening, but Liang Chuling called out to her, "Mom, don't come out."

--

Two days ago, after Ms. Ma fell asleep, Liang Chuling went out and dialed Zhou Xu's number.

She knew what she was going to do, and naturally, she knew what it meant.

"Liang Chuling?"

"Zhou Xu, I need you to do something for me."

"Go ahead and say it," Zhou Xu replied crisply.

"Could you help me bring my dad's illegitimate child out?"

"Kidnapping?" Zhou Xu's voice was excited. "You want to use him as leverage to negotiate with your dad?"

Liang Chuling knew the child was innocent, and using an infant as a bargaining chip was a sinful act. No matter how justified her reasons, no matter how righteous her anger towards her father and that woman, the harm she inflicted on the infant would become a burden.

She accepted the burden and decided to accept the guilt she felt towards Zhou Xu, which Liang Chuling considered a necessary price to pay to achieve her goal.

I know I'm taking advantage of your feelings, I know it's dangerous, I know there will be trouble in the future, but I'm also prepared to bear all the consequences—including the emotional blackmail that your sacrifice might bring, the debt to my conscience, and the potential legal risks.

Therefore, she wouldn't tell Li Xun about this plan.

"Yes. I want my mother to get a divorce smoothly." Liang Chuling admitted, "You can do it, right? You have to ensure the child's safety and absolutely cannot harm him."

“Of course,” Zhou Xu said quickly, “Let me think… the location can’t be Beijing. Let’s take him somewhere else for a few days. We also need a few people to scare your dad and teach him a lesson. Maybe that will work…”

“Zhou Xu,” Liang Chuling interrupted his increasingly excited planning, “Just do as I say. Take him away, hide him, and make sure he’s safe. Once I’ve settled things on my end, I’ll release him.”

Zhou Xu smiled regretfully. "Liang Chuling, I've noticed that you always seem to misplace your affections."

Liang Chuling didn't understand why he said that.

"It's the same with Li Xun, and it's the same with this child now. We always show our affection unnecessarily."

"What do you mean?"

“What I mean is, this child is evidence of your father’s betrayal of your mother. He’s the one who put your mother in the hospital. He’s the one who became your father’s excuse for wanting to get rid of you. His very existence means your interests are being harmed. What does this child’s life or death have to do with you?”

Liang Chuling's breath hitched. Yes, why did she fall in love with this child?

The birth of this child was accompanied by the father's betrayal, the mother's pain, and the breakdown of the family.

Why should she have to worry about the child's safety?

What does the life or death of this child have to do with her?

Zhou Xu was right. Rationally, she should hate this child, and everything he represented. But…

“He’s just a baby. Just do as I say. Kidnap him, but his safety must be guaranteed.” She repeated her request, as if trying to persuade Zhou Xu, but more like trying to persuade herself.

"Fine, I'll do as you say," Zhou Xu finally relented.

[Author's Note]

Please, readers, do not judge the First Spirit.

(The trial of Zhou Xu and Liang's father is acceptable. I always feel that humans are social animals. Being with kind people inspires kindness, while being with unstable people encourages instability.)

The pride that her talent brought Chu Ling made her unable to tolerate her life being trampled on like this.

And because she wanted to protect the possibility of the good relationship she believed in (Li Xun), she chose Zhou Xu instead of Li Xun for help.

Zhou Xu is a weapon she can use in her understanding. Although she does not agree with his emotional patterns, she understands how they work and can predict the consequences.

Li Xun was her blueprint for a good relationship, so she didn't dare to talk to him in this situation.