Chapter 161 Forgive Dad, please? Forgive Dad, please? Dad…

Fu Ze was very anxious because he couldn't get through to Qiu Xiaoman on the phone, but he could only keep his composure and wait for his master to return.

As soon as the strange old man returned, he went into the bedroom and fell asleep immediately. Fu Ze tolerated it. Two hours later, the strange old man got up and prepared to go out again. Fu Ze could no longer tolerate it.

He blocked the doorway: "There's been no news from my junior sister. You should quickly perform a divination for her."

“Disciple, didn’t I tell you? She’ll be fine. The worst that can happen is that Shen Qinghuai dies, her inner demons break, and she completely forgives him. Once her inner demons are broken, we can go back. Just don’t worry about it. Protect yourself and the child.” The eccentric old man had his own ideas and didn’t want to interfere.

Fu Ze, fearing she would be upset, asked, "Is this really the only way?"

Actually, Master had already foreseen that Shen Qinghuai was going to get into trouble, but he only told him this morning. He's really shrewd.

The eccentric old man sneered, "What else can you do? She cried her eyes out when her great-aunt died. Are you willing to let her face the death of more relatives? You can only help her overcome her inner demons and go back as soon as possible."

Fu Ze understood that his junior sister was a sentimental person; once she made up her mind, it was for life.

Even though that aunt only spent nine months with her.

But he was still a little worried: "Even if she breaks through her inner demons, she will be severely weakened. She actually cares a lot about Shen Qinghuai."

"Do I need you to teach me?" The eccentric old man rolled his eyes in annoyance. "It would be better if he really died; I'd have gained a daughter for free. But I'm afraid he'll be half-dead, and I'll have to watch your junior sister shed tears for him. That would be truly torturous."

Fu Ze was speechless: "Please be kind with your words, Master. Shen Qinghuai is, after all, my father-in-law."

"So what? Who told him to give birth but not raise the child? Who told him to abandon your junior sister? Hey, disciple, that's your wife. Think about it, don't you hate her? You hate Shen Qinghuai to death, right? Then hate her as much as you want, your master is going out." The strange old man was busy and didn't want to waste time.

Fu Ze was very stubborn today, insisting that he do another divination.

Helpless, the eccentric old man had no choice but to perform a divination for Fu Ze in person: "See? Very auspicious. Just stay calm, don't go out, and don't cause trouble for your junior sister. Alright, I'm leaving now."

As soon as the person left, the little flower fairy Jiexiang flew out: "I know where Shen Qinghuai is, I'm going to find him."

"Really?" Fu Ze breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that raising this little flower fairy hadn't been a waste of time.

The little flower fairy nodded: "He has always helped me water and fertilize. I secretly stuck a flower petal in his palm. He can't see it and it can't be washed off. If something happens, I can sense his location. I'll go find him—" As she spoke, the little flower fairy plucked another petal from her head. "Take this. If the petal catches fire, it means something terrible has happened. The petal will turn to ashes and fly into the air to guide you."

Fu Ze quickly accepted it and watched the little flower fairy fly off the balcony.

Fortunately, it's early summer now, so even if I can't come back for a while, it won't be too cold at night. I hope my junior sister won't catch a cold.

He returned to his room, drew all the curtains, and patiently waited while watching his daughter scribble on the walls.

*

As soon as the car stopped, Qiu Xiaoman knew they had arrived in the mountains, because the car had been bumping around for most of the day.

Based on distance and logical deduction, the body should have been disposed of in the countryside north of Beidu, near a reservoir, which would have been convenient.

The car door opened, and a man with a Hong Kong accent politely asked her to get out. After all, she had connections with the triads, so the man didn't dare to go too far.

Once Qiu Xiaoman had regained her footing, the man had his bodyguard remove the sack from her head and untie her hands.

The man was a bit short, and his face resembled Liang Yuting's. He had some freckles on his face and was the kind of person who wasn't particularly good-looking, but was still passable.

Qiu Xiaoman looked to the side and saw several instruments of torture set up in the hill, as well as a pile of firewood, wild dogs, a cage of poisonous snakes, pesticides, and other things that could kill a person.

Further away, there was a small tent, from which came a groan, very restrained, the kind of instinctive moan that escaped through clenched teeth, completely out of control.

There was a camera set up outside the tent, which was currently on, capturing her every move.

Qiu Xiaoman was impressed. This man was quite shrewd and knew how to preserve evidence in case she tried to use any tricks.

She argued, "Isn't all you want money? I can declare that I'm giving up all my inheritance from Shen Qinghuai, please release him."

“Little sister, that’s not enough, is it? Don’t you think about it? My beautiful older sister was with him for more than ten years, had four children, and had two abortions. He just abandoned her like that. How do you settle this score?” Liang Yufeng was essentially introducing herself.

Qiu Xiaoman sneered, "Then tell me, how do you settle the score if your sister tries to kill me?"

"Don't try that on me. Did she succeed? No, the court has already ruled. What more do you want?" Liang Yufeng inherited the Liang family's excellent tradition of double standards and didn't blush at all.

Qiu Xiaoman didn't want to dwell on the issue and asked, "Where are President Shen's bodyguards? Did you kill them?"

"I really wouldn't dare. The mainland is cracking down hard. I can only bribe them with money." Liang Yufeng had someone backing him up, so he wasn't afraid. He looked at Qiu Xiaoman with a crooked eye and a smirk. "I didn't understand why that devil was protecting you before, but now I do. You are indeed extraordinary. You are beautiful and bold. I was all prepared to film you crying and begging for mercy, but you didn't cry at all. I miscalculated."

Qiu Xiaoman, losing patience, urged, "Alright, stop beating around the bush. Just say what you want. I can publish a statement in the newspaper to sever ties with him. I don't want a single penny of his money, as long as you let him go."

"You think I'd believe you? Don't think I don't know that a few years ago, he booked out a private hospital here. Two obstetricians and gynecologists happened to be visiting from Hong Kong those days. What were they doing? Do you think I'm stupid? Tell me, does he have any illegitimate children? Where are they? With which woman did he have them?" Although Liang Yufeng had gathered the clues, he didn't realize that he had guessed wrong.

Qiu Xiaoman was quite surprised: "You think he betrayed your sister?"

"What else could it be? He's in such a hurry to regain his freedom, what else could it be but to fool around with some wild woman?" Liang Yufeng was furious, roaring at Qiu Xiaoman.

Qiu Xiaoman was speechless: "You guessed wrong, it's not—"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Shen Qinghuai's anguished cries echoed from inside the tent: "Xiaoman! Shut up! Think about your identity, think about your responsibilities! From now on, you are not allowed to say anything! Don't betray your Aunt Wang and the child!"

Qiu Xiaoman was quite surprised. Where did Aunt Wang come from? Where did the child come from?

This is clearly to protect her child. Isn't he afraid of dying?

Her eyes welled up with tears: "Do you and Aunt Wang have any other children?"

"Yes, I have a son and a daughter. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would fight them for the inheritance. I know you hate me. Are you going to go after my innocent younger brother and sister? Please, Xiaoman, don't let them succeed!" Shen Qinghuai was already tortured beyond recognition, but he just wanted to continue the charade and keep up the act.

He has made mistakes in two lifetimes. In his previous life, Xiaoman died. In this life, although she is alive, it is the result of her own efforts. He did not lend a helping hand immediately. He is not a good father. He is willing to atone for his sins. As long as Xiaoxingran is not involved, even if he dies, it will be worth it.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Liang Yufeng ordered the tents to be taken down. He picked up a fire poker, heated it over the fire, and then threatened Qiu Xiaoman: "I'll count to three. Tell me the whereabouts of that wild woman and her child, or I'll burn him alive! It's fine if you don't tell me, I'm watching. Then the whole of China will know that you, Qiu Xiaoman, are a ruthless woman who would rather your own father die than reveal the whereabouts of that wild woman! Then you'll be condemned by everyone, and your spittle will drown you. Let's see how glorious and smug you are then!"

Qiu Xiaoman finally noticed that Shen Qinghuai's hands were tied behind his back, his legs were covered in blood and he couldn't even stand up, and his face was covered in bruises. It seemed that he had been beaten badly.

Her mind raced, and she shouted to Liang Yufeng, "Stop! I'll take you to find Aunt Wang and her child."

"Xiaoman!" Shen Qinghuai, unaware that this was a delaying tactic, grew impatient and shouted, "Do you want me to die with my eyes wide open?! You stop right there!"

Qiu Xiaoman actually wanted to lure Liang Yufeng away so she could make her move off-camera. Shen Qinghuai was too worried to think of this, and she didn't blame him. She said calmly, "President Shen, I have my own judgment. You rest well, and I'll come to rescue you later."

Shen Qinghuai panicked. Despite his injuries, he staggered to his feet and cried out, "Xiaoman! Please forgive your father, okay?"

What? Qiu Xiaoman turned around subconsciously. She didn't know why he suddenly said this. Did he want to...?

Shen Qinghuai, his eyes red and his breath coming in gasps, gave a bitter smile: "Don't worry, I've already made a will. If something happens to me, those children will be raised by your grandfather. If he passes away, they will be raised by your uncle's family. They will never hold you back."

Having said that, before Liang Yufeng's bodyguards could come over and beat him up, he mustered his last breath, aimed at the rocks behind him, let out a shout, and burst forth with boundless courage, charging forward with all his might.

With a thud, Shen Qinghuai crashed into the rock, his head bleeding profusely, and collapsed limply beneath it. On the rock, a crimson flower bloomed.

Qiu Xiaoman didn't care anymore and rushed forward, kicking the camera and releasing the venomous snake from her sleeve.

All around were the sounds of wailing, one or two people at a time, all shouting "Snake! Snake!"

But Qiu Xiaoman couldn't care less about anything else. She rushed to Shen Qinghuai, knelt down, hugged him tightly, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Shen Qinghuai, barely clinging to life, slowly opened his eyes. He shakily reached out and touched Qiu Xiaoman's cheek: "Forgive Daddy, okay? Child. Daddy... Daddy is so sorry..."

Qiu Xiaoman couldn't say a word. Although she hated him, she didn't want him to die.

Why couldn't he wait? She had a way to save him; she just needed to get around the cameras.

Why was he so foolish? Xingran is her daughter; she certainly wouldn't let the Liang family know. If he had just thought about it a little more, he would have realized it was just a delaying tactic, a feint. Was he afraid she couldn't beat them? Was he afraid she couldn't protect her daughter? How could he be so stupid?

She's not stupid; she won't allow him to die like that, she won't allow it!

The heart-wrenching cries quickly attracted the attention of a little flower fairy who flew over from afar. Seeing that Shen Qinghuai was about to die, she quickly plucked the flower stamen from the top of her head and put it in Shen Qinghuai's mouth so that he could hold it in his mouth. Then, wilting, she fell from the sky and landed in front of Qiu Xiaoman.

She weakly comforted him, "It's alright...it's alright, I gave him a second chance at life. Hurry up and call 1-2-0."

After saying this, the little flower fairy weakened and turned into a small flower bud, unable to utter another word.

Qiu Xiaoman quickly held her in her palm, turned around and broke the camera, took the film, then went to the car to find her backpack and put the little flower bud inside.

He then took out his mobile phone, found the battery that Liang Yufeng's men had removed, put it back in, and quickly dialed 110 and 120.

After finishing the call, she called Fu Ze again: "I'm fine. My dad is dying, so I have to go to the hospital to be with him. I'm leaving the house to you."

Fu Ze breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her voice, but then froze. Her father? She was willing to call Shen Qinghuai "Dad"? And Shen Qinghuai was about to die?

That's it, she's going to be sad again.

Fu Ze quickly comforted her, "Okay, I'm here for you. Don't worry, believe in miracles. Don't rush!"

"Hmm!" Qiu Xiaoman didn't dare to say too much, in case there were still some of these people who weren't completely dead, it would easily expose the existence of Fu Ze and Xiao Xingran.

After checking her belongings, she let the two snakes hide back in her sleeves, found a lighter in the car, burned the film to ashes, and then returned to Shen Qinghuai's side, silently holding him and waiting for a miracle to happen.

Soon, the police car arrived, and the ambulance also arrived.

The crowd hurriedly lifted Shen Qinghuai into the ambulance, and Qiu Xiaoman followed. As for the scene...

Chen Jianjun, who was leading the team, was already numb. After the investigation, he could only file a case against Liang Yufeng for intentionally injuring Shen Qinghuai. As for the cause of death of the dozen or so people at the scene, it could only be poisonous snakes.

What exactly happened? He didn't know; he'd ask Qiu Xiaoman at the hospital first.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Qiu Xiaoman was seen leaning calmly against the wall outside the emergency room, her eyes red and swollen.

Chen Jianjun couldn't get a single question out, so he could only pat her on the shoulder and say, "Cheer up, you still have to go to school."

Yes, she still has to go to school.

"Go to hell! Her dad's about to die!" The tears she had just stopped streaming down her face again.

The heartbreak crashed and shattered, scattering across the ground.

Soon, her former colleagues received the news and rushed over to see her. Wu Shirong stood at the back of the crowd, watching silently, not daring to go forward.

His mother cut her wrists and threatened suicide to force him to marry her. He agreed, and from then on, he would stay far away from her, not even having the courage to offer her words of comfort.

After the crowd dispersed, there was still no movement in the emergency room, but Wu Shirong stood at the corner, waiting silently.

At three in the morning, the door to the emergency room finally opened. Qiu Xiaoman looked at the operating table that was pushed out and rushed over to ask, "Doctor, please tell me quickly, how is my dad?"

"Are you a family member of the patient?" The doctor took off his mask. "The surgery was successful, but the patient is still in critical condition. Please be prepared for the worst."