Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Two

Only after rushing Grandma Lin to the hospital did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Now in her eighties or nineties, Grandma Lin's sudden collapse was no small matter.

Fortunately, her grandson, who was at the hospital looking after his wife and daughter, arrived within minutes of the call from the maternity ward.

Upon learning the situation, his expression was complex, "So Lin Yin Yang was a fraudster..."

"Yes," Qin You Rong nodded seriously, "He's done many evils over the years, has been taken away for investigation, and probably won't be coming back."

"Sorry, Mr. Lin, we didn't expect your grandma to be so emotional..." the police said guiltily, "We should have been more tactful."

"It's not your fault," Grandma Lin's grandson shook his head with a bitter smile, sharing the absurdities of his grandmother's life.

Believing in a charlatan's lies due to her preference for boys over girls, she caused the death of several of her own children and nearly harmed her daughter-in-law... Everyone who heard this was stunned, unsure of what to say.

It's hard to say she brought it upon herself as she too was a victim of deception; yet to claim she was faultless and merely deceived seems too simplistic.

"What's done is done, I hope she can come to terms with it," was the only dry consolation that could be offered.

At this time, the doctor completed the examination: "The elderly lady is fine, just overly agitated. She fainted due to a rush of blood to the head."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness she's okay!"

The doctor gave some instructions, advising the family to take the patient to the ward to rest and to return for a comprehensive check-up once she woke up.

Seeing that the elderly woman was fine, the police officers also relaxed and left one after another to continue their duties.

Qin You Rong stood beside Shen Wang and asked curiously, "Did you notice anything?"

Shen Wang's gaze was complex, "The vitality has left her face."

This facial expression indicated that Grandma Lin's life was nearing its end, with not many days left.

Qin You Rong's expression also turned complex.

Grandma Lin's life could be seen as fortunate, living to such an age peacefully, without illness or disaster, her body healthier than others her age.

But it was also unfortunate, as in her youth, she personally lost her children, grew distant from her son in old age, and even her beloved grandson had drifted away from her.

"Everything is predestined," Qin You Rong finally said.

Receiving the truth so abruptly in her old age was like a heavy blow to the head.

She had paid the price for her actions.

Before leaving, Shen Wang subtly reminded Da Lin Zi, who didn't quite seem to understand but responded, "Although she made many mistakes, she never hid anything from me. I will take good care of her when she needs me."

Shen Wang nodded and, without saying much more, turned and left the ward.

At this moment, Grandma Lin finally regained consciousness, her eyes vacant and lost, seemingly immersed in her own world, unable to be drawn back even by her most cherished grandson.

Devoid of the vitality seen in the past few days, she lay on the hospital bed, frail and helpless like any other elderly person.

Shen Wang withdrew his gaze and gently closed the door of the ward.

"Those who are pitied," Qin You Rong mused thoughtfully, "often have aspects that are detestable."

As they descended the stairs together, two other people were also coming down. Suddenly, Shen Wang felt a tug at his clothes and turned to see a teenager who appeared to be in his teens.

"Mommy," the teenager called out to Shen Wang.

Shen Wang: "???"

Qin You Rong was shocked: "!!!"

The boy smiled sweetly, trying to affectionately take Shen Wang's hand; "Mommy."

Shen Wang was completely flustered, stepping back hastily: "Who are you? Do I know you? I'm a man, a man! Don't randomly claim someone as your mom!"

The middle-aged woman standing with the boy also couldn't help but laugh, repeatedly apologizing to Shen Wang: "I'm so sorry, young man. My child isn't very bright. He means no harm; he just likes you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wang and Qin You Rong noticed that, though the teenager's dress and appearance were like any normal person's, his skin was very pale and his eyes too innocent, giving him an oblivious look, not typical of a teenager.

He seemed more like a child of only a few years old.

Shen Wang understood, "Still, one shouldn't just grab anyone and call them 'mommy'."

The boy, not understanding why he was being scolded and holding no grudge, squinted and smiled at him, trying to put something in Shen Wang's hand: "Sweet, eat."

Looking down, Shen Wang saw a lollipop.

"It seems he really likes you," the boy's mother said affectionately, watching her son and explaining, "He's usually very possessive of his food. Anything in his hand, he only shares with me and his dad."

Shen Wang looked at the lollipop, reluctantly accepting it: "Thank you."

The boy then smiled happily: "Eat, eat."

Qin You Rong, trying not to laugh, teased: "Shen, don't waste the kid's goodwill. He wants you to eat it, so go ahead and eat it."

The boy's mother also smiled, "His name is Lin An, you can just call him Xiao An."

Perhaps because of Xiao An's fondness for Shen Wang, his mother found herself increasingly fond of Shen Wang too, engaging him in more conversation.

"Our Xiao An was actually very bright as a child, sweet-talking, and could call everyone uncle and auntie without any shyness. Then he fell ill, and the fever damaged his brain."

"It's our fault for not taking it seriously, thinking it was just a common cold and not taking him to a major hospital in time..."

"He used to be quite dull, barely speaking. Today, he suddenly started talking and called me 'mommy', which made me incredibly happy," the boy's mother wiped away her tears, "Maybe it's a blessing from heaven."

Hearing this, Shen Wang's eyes shifted, looking at Xiao An again.

Xiao An was carefully stepping down the stairs, first tentatively moving his right foot, then following with his left, making sure both feet were stable before stepping forward again.

Feeling Shen Wang's gaze, Xiao An, with both feet on the ground, turned his head in confusion towards Shen Wang.

"Xiao An's head seems a bit large," Shen Wang slowly commented.

His mother laughed, "You have a keen eye. His head is only a bit large now, but as a child, it was quite disproportionate to his body. Everyone said a big head means intelligence, and he was known as the smart kid around here."

Shen Wang looked deeply at Xiao An and then smiled, "Auntie, you've taken great care of Xiao An."

"He's my own child. He might be a bit slow, but what can I do? I just have to take good care of him," his mother said, accepting the situation rather than complaining.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to give you something," Shen Wang offered a talisman to the mother, "Hang it around his neck, and except for when bathing, it's best not to remove it."

The boy's mother took the triangularly folded talisman with a puzzled expression, saying, "Thank you... I didn't expect someone as young as you to believe in these things. I got him a peace charm from a temple years ago..."

Xiao An was dressed neatly, with a red string faintly visible around his neck.

His mother unhooked the red string, revealing a small pouch about the size of two fingers, and tucked Shen Wang's talisman into it.

She then hid the pouch back against Xiao An's chest. Xiao An looked down, fished out the pouch, and held it dearly in his hand.

A sense of comfort and warmth enveloped him, his eyes squinting happily as he smiled at Shen Wang, confidently calling him "Mommy!"

This was the feeling, just like that of a mother! Xiao An, beaming with joy, walked between his mother and Shen Wang, glancing at his mother and then at Shen Wang.

He looked utterly content.

The sight brought smiles to the faces of the adults nearby.

Reaching the ground floor, the boy's mother left to fetch medicine, bidding farewell to Shen Wang and then coaxing Xiao An away.

Xiao An, one hand held by his mother and the other clutching the small pouch at his chest, kept looking back, his gaze lingering on Shen Wang with reluctance.

Gradually, they disappeared from Shen Wang's view.

Qin You Rong asked Shen Wang, "That talisman you gave away seemed of high quality, why give it away so casually?"

Qin You Rong felt a tinge of envy, wondering why he wasn't casually given such fine talismans.

"I feel a connection with him," Shen Wang replied.

In Lin Yin Yang's formation, Shen Wang had seen a big-headed ghost, barely retaining its consciousness, bullied and in tatters.

Now, he finally understood why the big-headed ghost still had some semblance of consciousness.

His mother had obtained a peace talisman for him, suppressing a sliver of his soul within his body, preventing complete soul loss.

But since Lin Yin Yang had forcefully taken his soul, Xiao An's body had become dull and simple-minded... Now, with Lin Yin Yang's trapping formation broken and the malicious energy on the ghost cleansed,

all the ghosts had entered reincarnation, except Xiao An, who returned to his own body.

Xu Cheng, after communicating with his parents, also came over and curiously asked, "Isn't that the fool from the neighboring village? How did you run into him?"

Shen Wang slapped Xu Cheng on the head: "Don't call him a fool, speak respectfully."

With his soul returned to his body, Xiao An was just young. Given some time to grow, he would be fine.

Stepping out of the cool hospital lobby, they were greeted by the pleasant sunshine outside.

A previously unnoticed gloom in Shen Wang's heart suddenly dissipated.

"Let's go, it's time to head back to C City," Shen Wang stretched lazily under the sun.

Peeling the wrapper off the lollipop and putting it in his mouth, he savored its sweetness.

Li Pingping had already called him several times to inquire about the situation and mentioned that people claiming to be from the Metaphysics Association had visited his house several times, their demeanor aggressive and ill-intentioned.

Li Pingping and others, unable to resist, were bullied to the point of tears and had no choice but to call Shen Wang for help.

Shen Wang said, "I want to see who dares to cause trouble in my newly bought house."

"Not seeking compensation of a million or two would be an injustice to my newly bought mansion!"