Ji Xiaoxiao paused for a moment, then neither confirmed nor denied.

Lin Mu continued to use sweet words to deceive the naive girl, "Xiao Qing, it's rare for Xiao Xiu to come out and have fun, so just let him have his fill. I guarantee Xiao Xiu will come back safe and sound."

Ji Xiaoxiao cleared her throat and said, "Lin Mu, I had a dream."

On the other end of the phone, Lin Mu looked bewildered; so that's how it is.

“I dreamt that Xiao Xiu had an accident. His heart, liver, and lungs were ripped out, and then his body was sewn up with needle and thread and dumped in the middle of a large lake.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Mu's hand trembled involuntarily. How did Xia Qing know? How did she know my plans after the surgery? He had originally planned to abandon the body in the middle of the lake.

"Xiao Qing, don't worry unnecessarily, it's just a dream."

While Lin Mu was advising Ji Xiaoxiao, he was also hypnotizing himself, believing that his cautious and meticulous actions would prevent anyone from knowing what he was doing.

"I'm just afraid of the worst, Lin Mu, I need to see Xiao Xiu tomorrow," Ji Xiaoxiao shouted hoarsely.

Lin Mu frowned in displeasure. "Xiao Qing, everything should be done in moderation."

"Enough is enough? I am Xiaoxiu's sister, his legal guardian, his closest relative. I'm worried about Xiaoxiu and want him back. What's wrong with that? Am I worried that Xiaoxiu has gone astray? That he's unforgivable?"

Ji Xiaoxiao clutched her phone. If Xia Xiu weren't still in Lin Mu's hands, why would she have to pretend to be a snake with Lin Mu and swallow her anger?

With the mission now accomplished, Lin Mu was reluctant to let it fall short of his goal. He said earnestly, "Xiao Qing, Xiao Xiu has grown up. You can't keep him locked up by your side forever. You need to let him experience the outside world. Sooner or later, he will have to live alone."

Ji Xiaoxiao scoffed, "Lin Mu, are you stupid? I told you everything about Xiao Xiu's situation before I married you. Now you're telling me that Xiao Xiu has grown up and wants to live alone? Are you trying to kill Xiao Xiu?"

Ji Xiaoxiao was furious. If it were an ordinary boy, Lin Mu's words would have touched the hearts of parents. But Xia Xiu's situation was different. He was mentally immature, not even five years old. Letting him live alone was tantamount to indirectly killing him.

Lin Mu suddenly realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly said, "Xiao Qing, that's not what I meant, I just... it's just..."

"But, but what? It's just that you've forgotten the vow you made."

Lin Mu couldn't explain it clearly, so Ji Xiaoxiao kindly helped him finish the sentence.

Ji Xiaoxiao glanced at the time on her phone and said, "I'll give you five hours. If I don't see Xiaoxiu by 7 a.m., I'll call the police and say you've abducted Xiaoxiu."

"Xia Qing, are you crazy?"

Lin Mu was furious and called the police. How could she even say something like that?

"I'm not kidding you. You know that Xiao Xiu is my lifeblood. I, Xia Qing, would do anything for Xiao Xiu, even kill someone."

Ji Xiaoxiao spoke, each word like the venomous serpent's whisper.

Lin Mu paced back and forth inside the house, gritting his teeth as he said, word by word, "Okay, I'll go back right away." Lin Mu knew how much Xia Qing doted on Xia Xiu. If he didn't do as Xia Qing said, she wouldn't be lying about calling the police. If the police got involved, the consequences would be unimaginable.

With a beep, Ji Xiaoxiao hung up the phone.

"Crazy woman."

Lin Mu angrily smashed his phone, causing the wooden wall to dent.

After going out for a walk to clear his head, Lin Mu's anger subsided considerably when he returned. He took out another phone from his bag and dialed a number.

My phone beeped; the call was connected.

"Hello, it's me. The surgery is paused."

"knew."

His hand holding the phone fell limply to his side. Lin Mu's eyes were bloodshot, and his stubble was long and uneven, making him look extremely dejected.

Meanwhile, on Ji Xiaoxiao's side...

Ji Xiaoxiao hung up the phone, took the child to her room, and the two of them, one big and one small, fell asleep in each other's arms.

At six o'clock in the morning, before the phone alarm went off, my two-year-old woke up first.

"Mommy, Mommy, I need to pee!" the child cried urgently, tugging at Ji Xiaoxiao's clothes.

Ji Xiaoxiao opened her eyes, picked up the child, and walked into the bathroom.

The child got up, brushed their teeth, washed their face, and it was time for breakfast.

Ji Xiaoxiao wasn't in the mood to cook, so she took the child out to eat.

After finishing her meal, Ji Xiaoxiao checked her phone; it was 7:15.