Because he’d only hurt his legs, Xiao Baicong’s operation ended very quickly. It took less than two hours, and during this period, the doctor came out to ask Madame Xiao’s opinion on whether or not Xiao Baicong should have an amputated. However, she didn’t get any answer––because her mouth fell open, and she fainted.

Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu stayed in the hospital ward until Yang Jie told them that Xiao Baicong’s operation was over. At that time, Madame Xiao had also woken up.

She was in a stunned daze as she sat in a chair in the ward, with her housekeeper keeping guard quietly by her side. The atmosphere around them was very solemn.

“Madame.”

Seeing that Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu were heading over, the housekeeper called out gently, reminding the stunned Madame Xiao to raise her head.

When she saw Xiao Yuanmu, who was standing nearby with Song Xuanhe, Madame Xiao suddenly covered her mouth, got up, and walked over to them quickly. She hugged Xiao Yuanmu and wept bitterly.

After crying for a long time, she finally managed to choke out, “Your little brother… what will he do?”

“He’s still so young, he’s only reached adulthood and it’s the best time for him to move around. He’s lost his legs just like this, what can he do?” Madame Xiao held tightly to Xiao Yuanmu’s arms, her eyes red. She no longer had her usual elegance and indifference, and she showed a mother’s vulnerability without any concealment, “Congcong is still so young, why were the kidnappers so cruel?”

Xiao Yuanmu looked down at this woman whose make-up was still exquisite, but who no longer had any composure. His eyes were calm and indifferent, showing no ripples.

“Why aren’t you sad?” Madame Xiao shook her head, then frowned at Xiao Yuanmu and asked, “Your younger brother has become like this? Why aren’t you sad?”

Song Xuanhe frowned and raised his hand to move Madame Xiao away, but while she looked thin and weak, in fact, she was able to hold onto Xiao Yuanmu’s hand with great strength. She held onto him tightly as she questioned him again.

“Why aren’t you sad?”

Xiao Yuanmu didn’t seem to feel the pain from her hold. His tone was very light, “Keeping him alive was already a very difficult task.”

“Are you hoping that your brother won’t even be able to stay alive?” Madame Xiao’s eyes grew wide as she asked, “That way, the Xiao Family will be yours completely. Is that what you’re thinking in your heart?”

“Madame!”

The housekeeper had already interrupted her before Song Xuanhe could speak.

“I apologize for the madame, young master.” The housekeeper bowed, “The little young master is now in bad condition, and the madame’s mood isn’t very stable. The mister doesn’t know about the situation here for the time being, so the madame is under even more pressure. I hope you can understand.”

Xiao Yuanmu’s expression remained unchanged. He nodded indifferently and said, “Take care of the madame.”

The housekeeper nodded respectfully, his face devoid of emotion as he helped Madame Xiao retreat a step.

Madame Xiao also came back to her senses when she heard the housekeeper’s clear but cold words. She looked up at Xiao Yuanmu anxiously, opening her mouth and wanting to explain, but she didn’t know where to start. After starting and stopping a few times, her shoulders collapsed heavily, and her voice sounded like she was holding back tears, “Yuanmu, please forgive mom, your mom… is just feeling too sad.”

Song Xuanhe pulled Xiao Yuanmu behind him. He smiled superficially and said, “Madame Xiao, I’m sorry that your younger son has encountered such misfortune, but what you said to my lover makes me very unhappy. I can understand that you’re too agitated, but I can’t understand you questioning your eldest son because your younger son was injured. You even said such chilling words.”

“I…” Madame Xiao’s mouth moved. She looked at Xiao Yuanmu with eyes that held guilt and pleading, “Yuanmu…”

“Madame Xiao.” Song Xuanhe interrupted her again, “I know that doing this is very impolite to you, but I don’t want you to continue talking to Xiao Yuanmu anymore. Regardless of whether you mind or not, I’m going to take him to the ward now because his leg has just been stitched up, and he needs to recover. Of course, if you still remember about this matter, then I’m sure you wouldn’t mind.”

Song Xuanhe held Xiao Yuanmu’s arm and turned to leave. He’d only taken two steps when he paused, turned his head back, and said, “Do you still remember what I said to you before?”

Madame Xiao was staring at Xiao Yuanmu’s back in a daze. At this time, her attention was pulled back by Song Xuanhe’s voice. She blinked, her expression in a trance.

Song Xuanhe’s eyes were cold. He no longer looked at Madame Xiao and supported Xiao Yuanmu to leave.

When they returned to their ward, Xiao Yuanmu reached out to hold Song Xuanhe’s hand.

“I don’t want to live in the hospital. Can’t I go back and recover?”

“No.” Song Xuanhe pulled his hand away and said, “It’s already very late now. We’ll go back tomorrow morning and sleep here for today first.”

“I don’t like hospitals.” Xiao Yuanmu looked at the bed he was sitting on, his voice clear, “And this bed is too small.”

Song Xuanhe sat down on another bed. He’d already changed his clothes and lay down,”You just have to fit in it for one night. We can go back tomorrow.”

Xiao Yuanmu stared closely at Song Xuanhe’s profile, then stated his request, “I want to sleep with you.”

“No way.” Song Xuanhe glanced at him and saw that his face was a little pale, and there was a trace of unhappiness in his dark eyes. His heart softened, and he frowned as he explained, “Your bed is too small. You’ll bump your wound if we sleep together.”

“Then, let’s go back and sleep.” Xiao Yuanmu said, “I don’t think it’s too troublesome.”

“No way.” Song Xuanhe frowned and refused him again.

Xiao Yuanmu clenched his mouth, his jaw tense. He was just about to speak again when someone knocked on their door.

Yang Jie’s voice sounded out, “Brother Xiao, Young Master Song, you may have to get up.”

Song Xuanhe moved the quilt aside, got up, and opened the door. he asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Xiao Baicong woke up.” Yang Jie’s expression was a bit complicated. He continued, “He learned that his legs had been amputated, and he can’t accept it. The doctor can’t even give him a tranquilizer, and also… he said that Brother Xiao was the one to crush his legs.”

Song Xuanhe’s eyebrows leapt up. Yang Jie continued, “Madame Xiao wants Brother Xiao to go over there.”

“You tell her,” Song Xuanhe’s expression was cold, “Xiao Yuanmu is injured and needs ot rest. If there’s anything to talk about, we can do it tomorrow.”

“I’m afraid that won’t work.” Yang Jie frowned, then whispered, “Madame Xiao isn’t in a much better state than Xiao Baicong right now, and if this matter really reaches Mr. Xiao’s ears, then things will be really bad for Brother Xiao. Right now…”

“Right now, Xiao Yuanmu needs to rest.” Song Xuanhe held the door. His expression was colder than the hospital lights, “Tell her directly that Xiao Yuanmu is asleep.”

“How could he have fallen asleep!”

Madame Xiao’s voice sounded out sharply from the other side of the corridor. Her high-heeled shoes rang out with her steps, the crisp sound growing louder as she neared. They also emphasized her haggard and angry appearance.

“Mister Song, I think that this is our own family business. As Xiao Yuanmu’s mother, I want to ask him a few things. I hope that you can step aside.”

This was the first time that Madame Xiao had shown a cold, almost oppressive expression towards outsiders. She’d lost the elegance and softness of a well-bred lady, and gained the courage of a mother.

It was just that this trace of courage seemed ridiculous to Song Xuanhe.

“Mother.”

Xiao Yuanmu had appeared behind Song Xuanhe at some unknown point in time. He pulled open the door that Song Xuanhe held with one hand, then put his other hand on Song Xuanhe’s arm. He spoke calmly, “You can come in. He can know anything there is to know about me and doesn’t need to leave.”

Madame Xiao looked at her eldest son, who obviously didn’t look to be in good condition, and the anger at the bottom of her eyes dispersed slightly. She nodded, then walked into the ward after Xiao Yuanmu stepped aside.

“Your younger brother said that you were the one who caused his injury.” Madame Xiao got straight to the pint, “I want to know if it’s true.”

Xiao Yuanmu dropped his gaze, his tone very calm, “What did he say?”

“He said that at the time, you two had already run outside, and there was no one following you. However, when it was time to get into the car, you suddenly pushed him out, causing his legs to be crushed by the motorcycle that suddenly rushed out from behind. Then, he had to latch on to the door and refuse to let go in order to not end up left behind.”

Xiao Yuanmu raised his gaze. His emotions couldn’t be read as he asked Madame Xiao very calmly, “Do you believe it?”

Madame Xiao was stunned for a moment. Back when her younger son wailed and told her what had happened, sobbing as he looked at his legs with beautiful, but empty eyes, she’d naturally believed what he’d said. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gotten so angry that she ordered Yang Jie to call Xiao Yuanmu over immediately, nor would she have charged over without waiting for him to come.

But now, when she saw her older son’s expression, she wasn’t too sure.

Madame Xiao didn’t answer. Xiao Yuanmu’s expression didn’t change, and he remained calm, without showing even a trace of sadness over being questioned by his own mother.

“Then, what happened with Congcong’s legs?”