Chapter 54: Heart in the Next Room, Body with You

Chapter 54: Heart in the Next Room, Body with You

On a calm night, Jiang Fengmian tossed and turned, frustrated, and gave Huo Zong another kick.

This time, he was obedient. He was all worked up, but Huo Zong insisted on abstinence. Damn it.

"Baby, did you have a nightmare?"

Huo Zong cooed softly, comforting Jiang Fengmian as he ran his fingers through his hair, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Tch, how could I sleep well enough to have a nightmare?"

Huo Zong was clearly playing innocent after getting his way. Jiang Fengmian was so angry that he pinched Jiang Fengmian's nose and said, "Huo Zong, go sleep next door. Go cool off."

"Kitten, are you asking me to sleep in another room?"

"What do you think, huh?" Jiang Fengmian was fuming, and he punched Huo Zong's chest again.

"Jiang Fengmian, don't be mad at me."

A soft kiss landed on Jiang Fengmian's lips, wrapping him in the soft blankets, with Huo Zong's hand resting on his waist.

Jiang Fengmian panted, lifting his eyes to look into Huo Zong's under the dim light from the window. His tongue unconsciously licked his lips as he whined, "Didn't I tell you to go next door?"

"My heart’s in the next room, but I'm here with you. Pretend I slept next door."

"Baby, I read in the news yesterday saying it's not good for your health to do it too often. Let's wait a day or two. It's my fault for making my kitten feel bad."

Jiang Fengmian's anger subsided. He wasn't really that eager; he just wanted to challenge Huo Zong. Only he could say no, not Huo Zong.

"Big bro, hold me."

Jiang Fengmian nestled into Huo Zong's arms, finding a comfortable position, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

In his dream, he could almost hear Huo Zong humming a lullaby, like he was back in the nights when his parents were still around, with his mother singing a nursery rhyme and his father gently patting his back.

It was so beautiful that Jiang Fengmian didn't want to wake up.

***

In the VIP ward of the Capital's First People's Hospital.

The room was packed with experts Huo Cong had invited to consult on Huo Qing's condition. It had been a full day and night since the rescue, but he still couldn't speak clearly, was half-paralyzed, and suffered from incontinence.

Huo Cong frowned, avoiding Huo Qing's gaze, his eyes filled with disgust.

Can’t die, can’t live, it would be better to just draw up the will quickly so they could divide the money and let him die sooner, sparing him the suffering.

"Director, do you see any treatment options for my father's condition?"

Experts from various departments were gathered here, top doctors from across the country. No matter who looked at his condition, they all wore expressions of difficulty.

"The patient's condition was already a miracle to save. He had acute cerebral hemorrhage and a head injury. Saving his life was the best outcome. The nerve damage is irreversible, and given his age, we can only proceed with conservative treatment."

Another surgery would only add to the burden on his body without any real therapeutic effect.

"We recommend conservative treatment. If you strongly insist on surgery, you can proceed, but you must bear the consequences."

"We understand your concerns. The ability to speak can be treated, though it won't return to its original state. However, the paralysis of the lower body is beyond our capabilities. There is no such technology available domestically or internationally."

Hearing this, Huo Qing on the bed suddenly broke down. He smashed the pillow, and the needle in his hand began to draw blood. His face turned red as if he were about to suffocate.

"Hurry, get the sedative!"

Several orderlies struggled to restrain the frenzied Huo Qing, and after administering the sedative, his bulging eyes slowly returned to their normal state. He lay down silently, his face pale and expressionless.

"Doctor, in situations like this, is long-term hospitalization necessary?"

"Huo Zong, given your family's financial status, a private high-end nursing home would be more suitable. The hospital has many patients to attend to daily, and we can't focus solely on him."

"Alright."

Huo Cong decided to transfer Huo Qing to another hospital once today's medication was completed. Qi Yan had returned home last night, while Huo Qilin had remained by his side. Huo Cong patted his shoulder.

"Xiao Lin, I have some business to take care of..."

Huo Qilin interrupted Huo Cong sharply, "Company? What company are you talking about?"

Hearing Huo Qilin's aggressive questioning, Huo Cong ran his hand through his hair, realizing he had slipped up. He had been exhausted all day and couldn't keep it together anymore. The company's representatives had been calling, reporting that some projects were underperforming. To keep the company afloat, they might have to lay off some staff.

Huo Cong had been pondering this all night, never expecting to let it slip in front of Huo Qilin.

"Never mind, just look after your grandfather for now."

Huo Qilin stepped in front of Huo Cong, determined to get a straight answer. "Dad, at this stage, are you still keeping secrets from us? That's something else. All these years, we had no idea you owned a company."

He was livid. Every time he asked for money, it was always unavailable. All these years, it was his grandfather who supported him. Now, Huo Cong suddenly reveals he owns a company.

Hah, absurd, utterly absurd.

"Dad, what do you think of me and Mom? As enemies? To be so secretive? It's understandable not to tell me the truth when I was young, but Mom? She's been by your side for thirty years. How could you keep it from her too?"

Huo Cong hid behind a mask of selfishness and hypocrisy, even Qi Yan, his closest confidante, couldn't see through it. Horrifying, absolutely horrifying.

Huo Qilin's heart grew cold. He never imagined Huo Cong could be like this.

"Xiao Lin, it's not that I was hiding it from you. It's just a small company, always in the red. I didn't want to worry you."

"What's it called? Let me see if it's in the red or making a profit."

Huo Cong, cornered, slapped his phone into Huo Qilin's hand, trying to sound tough. "Here, look, see if it's in the red."

In the early years, he had indeed made a lot of money. But starting two years ago, it had been in the red. Much of the previously earned money had been spent, and with Qi Yan's high spending habits, it was hard to keep up.

"You think your mother's extravagant lifestyle comes from where? It's all from the money I spent. What isn't money? Haven't you spent money? I just filled a 24 million yuan hole for you. What's wrong with not saying anything?"

Huo Qilin went through his phone thoroughly but found no evidence of infidelity. The chats were all about discussing layoffs and how to save the company.

Huo Cong's company and Huo Corporation were competitors, but without reputation or quality, they couldn't compete.

Huo Zong, damn Huo Zong again.

"Dad, what do we do now?"

"I'll discuss it with the board again. The situation isn't optimistic. Someone mentioned finding yellow stones on a mountain in Qijia Town, Lincheng, which yielded a lot of gold. I was about to buy that mountain, but I found out Huo Zong had already beaten me to it. I'm not sure if there's any gold, but if there is, we're completely outmatched by Huo Corporation."

Huo Cong leaned towards the possibility that there was gold. Perhaps Huo Zong had better information, and they had missed the opportunity. There was really no way around it.

"Dad, you go back. I'll take care of Grandpa."

"Alright, don't make him angry. Be gentle with him."

Huo Qilin nodded. He knew better than anyone that without Huo Qing, he was nothing but a shadow of himself. He could only cling to Huo Cong's leg, as he couldn't afford to lose his financial source.

The sedative’s effect faded fast, and Huo Qing started shouting in the hospital room. The caregivers kept their distance, too afraid to approach him.

"Grandpa, you're awake."

Huo Qing looked at the empty space beside Huo Qilin and pointed, making incoherent sounds.

"You mean my dad? He had some business to take care of and went home. I'll stay with you."

At that moment, Huo Qing felt a wave of sorrow. He’d given everything to Huo Zong, yet Huo Zong couldn’t even stick around for a bit. What could be so important?

Even worse, Huo Qing couldn’t feel his lower body anymore. There was no response below his waist. He shut his eyes, feeling like a helpless worm on the bed, shoved around by others, stripped of every shred of dignity.

He couldn’t face reality, couldn’t accept that the once proud and vigorous man had been reduced to this. No matter how much pride he had, he couldn’t stand up.

"Grandpa, if you’re tired, just rest for a bit."

Huo Qing hadn't eaten for a whole day and night. His lips were pale, and his stomach growled with hunger.

Huo Qilin, who had been leaning slightly, heard the noise and finally asked the caregivers to bring some food for Huo Qing.

Huo Qilin stood a few feet away, repulsed. He seemed to catch a strong smell of urine. Even now, he had to keep pretending.

Damn, this was pure misery.

Huo Qilin braced himself and walked over to Huo Qing, murmuring, "Grandpa, maybe we should call Uncle again? Ask him to come see you. You’re still his father."

Huo Qing on the bed reacted, seemingly agreeing with Huo Qilin's suggestion. Huo Qilin called five or six times, but when he tried again, the number was blocked.

This only made Huo Qing more upset. He pressed his lips together and stayed silent, enduring Huo Qilin’s chatter.

"Grandpa, no matter what, your health comes first. The doctor said there’s little hope, but we’re still alive, right? And as long as we’re alive, there’s hope."

"Look, you’re so old now, and Uncle’s being so cold. It’s not even time to split the inheritance, and there’s no will. I don’t get what he’s thinking, why he can’t even visit you once."

The hospital room fell into an eerie silence. Huo Qing's heart grew colder. In the end, it was all about his will.

Huo Qing had spoiled this grandson his whole life, only to realize it was all about his money.

Money? What money did he even have?

Huo Qing's desire to contact Huo Cong reached its peak. A faint sense of guilt emerged. If he had known it would come to this, he should have treated Huo Cong better.

At least it wouldn't have ended like this.

As night fell, Huo Zong, who had been uncomfortable all day, finally fell asleep.

"A Lan, A Lan, it's me."

Huo Qing chased after Sheng Lan's silhouette, running desperately but never catching up. He reached out his hand, only managing to touch the hem of Sheng Lan's dress.

"A Lan, please don't go, don't leave me."

Sheng Lan still looked as young as ever, wearing a bright-colored dress, standing under the moonlight. The dreamy light bathed her, and Huo Qing stretched out his hand, feeling ashamed.

He was already a seventy-year-old man, while A Lan was only forty-two. He was no longer worthy of her.

"A Lan, it's been so long since you've visited my dreams."

Huo Qing sat on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, pounding his chest and stomping his feet, praying that A Lan would say something to him, even just a single word.

"Why didn’t you love our son the way you should have, why? I gave everything for him, why did you hurt him?"

Sheng Lan's voice was sharp and piercing. Huo Qing looked up and saw two lines of bloody tears. The corner of the fabric he clutched began to drip with blood.

It was never a vibrant dress; it was A Lan’s blood, an unending stream of blood.

"But he caused your death, I hate him, I despise him."

"Huo Qing, I fell in love with the wrong man. You didn’t even care for the child I nearly died bringing into this world. Did you truly love me, or did you just enjoy the act of pretending to be devoted and receiving everyone’s admiration?"

"How could you, how could you do that to him? He was just a child, completely innocent. You hurt him for twenty-eight years; you deserve a terrible death, a wretched end."

Huo Qing stood frozen as Sheng Lan cursed him, wishing him a gruesome death.

Hehehehe, he’d meet a gruesome end, a wretched demise.

Huo Qing, consumed by despair, watched as Sheng Lan faded away, no longer having the courage to stand up. The A Lan he had devoted his life to said she had loved the wrong man.

Loved the wrong man...

Huo Qing’s legs gave way, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t rise. He jolted awake to find the nurse changing his clothes.

He had soiled the pad under him once more.

Huo Qing clutched his constricting chest and abruptly spat out a mouthful of blood, his spirit and energy nearly drained.

He pulled up Huo Zong’s contact, gathered the courage to send a message, only to find that he had been blocked at some point.

A Lan would never appear in his dreams again, not in this life.

It seemed he had fulfilled A Lan’s curse, doomed to a gruesome death, with no escape.

But who would choose death? He couldn’t accept it, he simply couldn’t.

***

"Kitty, here’s the test report Chen Chen brought over."

Huo Zong had already seen the contents beforehand. He sat next to Jiang Fengmian, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I wiped the fingerprints off. After you handed it to me, I cleaned it several times. My apologies."

If he hadn’t been so obsessed with cleanliness, they could still have extracted Jiang Fengqiu’s fingerprints.

"It’s okay, brother. Having his blood DNA is good enough."

Words alone aren’t enough. They could easily argue that Jiang Fengmian was trying to frame him. He had always been in a state of mental incapacity, and his testimony couldn’t be used as evidence. It wouldn’t lead to a good outcome.

Seeing Jiang Fengmian’s low spirits, Huo Zong immediately hugged his waist.

"Jiang Fengmian, no matter what, we’ll face it together."

"Yes, together."

The only thing Jiang Fengmian could do now was figure out how to obtain evidence, preferably getting Jiang Fengqiu and Jiang Junling to admit that they pushed him, that it was intentional murder.

In the Jiang family villa, apart from him, there were no other witnesses. The three of them would never tell the truth, and the situation suddenly reached a deadlock.

Jiang Fengmian sighed deeply, leaning on Huo Zong’s back to act spoiled. Thankfully, Huo Zong was there; he wouldn’t be completely lost.

Ding ling ling ling———

Jiang Fengmian was startled by the sudden ringtone, his whole body jolting. He took out his phone and saw that it was an unexpected caller.

Just when he was about to doze off, someone came to his aid. The person calling was Jiang Fengqiu.

"Brother, he’s come to us himself," Jiang Fengmian said.

Jiang Fengmian deliberately waited a few minutes before answering, lazily saying, "Hello, what's up?"

"Jiang Fengmian, I have something to discuss with you. Do you want to take down Jiang Junling? I have a way."

Jiang Fengmian and Huo Zong exchanged glances. The person on the other end was insane. Take down who? His own backer?

"I have no idea what you're on about."

"Jiang Junling is abusive. You’re the one with the most authority on this matter. Can we team up to put him back behind bars?"

Jiang Fengqiu was seething with anger. Jiang Junling, that madman, had conflicts with him and took it out on his mother, beating her so badly she couldn't get out of bed. After he called the police, Lv Minhui herself said it was just a marital dispute.

He felt like a fool, stuck in the middle of their mess. Jiang Fengqiu made a ruthless decision, wanting to use Jiang Fengmian's hand to send Jiang Junling back to prison, giving his mother a chance to breathe.

"Oh, wasn’t he the one you got out?"

With that one sentence, Jiang Fengqiu confirmed that Jiang Fengmian had indeed recovered.

"Jiang Fengmian, it’s time to drop the act, don’t you think? You were already clear-headed last time, weren’t you? What are you trying to achieve by acting?"

For a second, Jiang Fengqiu felt a twinge of fear. He wasn't sure if Jiang Fengmian had remembered what happened back then. If he went to the police, the facts were clear, and they would all end up in prison.

"Why would I act? My mind being clear has nothing to do with you."

Jiang Fengqiu was puzzled. Is it possible Jiang Fengmian really doesn’t know?

"Jiang Fengmian, how about we meet? Let’s talk in person. Come by yourself, and we’ll hash it all out today. I did get Jiang Junling out, but I didn’t expect him to turn out like this. At the end of the day, we’re both victims and should stick together."

"Is Huo Zong with you?"

Jiang Fengmian blinked at Huo Zong, lying through his teeth, "No, he’s at the office."

"Then come over. I might have what you’re looking for. Let’s talk properly. Come alone. If I find out there’s two of you, I’ll destroy it on the spot."

Jiang Fengqiu braced himself for Jiang Fengmian to remember everything. If he really had recovered, then he should know what he was holding.

"Send me an address."

After hanging up, Jiang Fengmian checked the location. It was almost out of the suburbs of the capital, just a few kilometers away from some unfinished buildings, a blind spot for surveillance. It looked like the perfect spot for a hit.

"Brother, I’ll get the driver to drop me off there. You tail me. If Jiang Fengqiu tries anything, you can get there right away."

"Check out the spot he picked, it’s out in the boonies. I think if you come, you’ll be easy to spot. You can come a few minutes later, wait for my message."

Huo Zong tightly grasped Jiang Fengmian's wrist, worried, "Kitty, I’m worried."

"It’s fine, he won’t dare pull anything. Probably just trying to scare me. Do we have a tracker at home? I’ll take one. If I can't be reached by phone, you’ll know where I am."

Jiang Fengmian attached the mini tracker to the back of the peace buckle on his wrist. He gently patted it and smiled at Huo Zong.

"Brother, your peace buckle will surely keep me out of harm’s way."

"Alright, if anything unusual happens, contact me first."

Jiang Fengmian tucked a multi-tool knife into his pocket and kissed Huo Zong's lips before leaving, flashing him a heart sign.

"Brother, come join me later."

Jiang Fengmian walked to the location given by Jiang Fengqiu and realized why he could act so boldly. The place had a wide view; you could spot any car coming from a mile away, with nowhere to take cover.

[Cat: Bro, come a little later.]

"Jiang Fengmian, I’m not some monster. Why keep your distance?"

They each took a corner, Jiang Fengmian leaning against the back wall, on guard against Jiang Fengqiu’s every move.

"Come in for some tea. It’s no place to chat after coming all this way."

Jiang Fengmian sat down at the doorway, and Jiang Fengqiu raised an eyebrow and sat down too.

Looking at Jiang Fengqiu's face, which resembled Jiang Junling's, he felt a wave of nausea. At the end of the day, they were cut from the same cloth—disgusting scum.

"Brother, huh, I’ve always wanted you to accept me as your brother, but in the end, I never could."

"Sorry, I don’t have a bastard for a brother. The homewrecker and her kid who ruined a family deserve no sympathy. You deserve to die, and Jiang Junling even more."

He single-handedly hurt so many people, several families, while he got off scot-free.

"You’re still so self-righteous, Jiang Fengmian. I said, let's join forces, I’ll cut you in on the money."

Jiang Fengmian laughed as if he heard a joke. Money? He was rolling in money.

Hearing Jiang Fengmian's sneer, Jiang Fengqiu's face turned cold. How could he forget? Jiang Fengmian was literally swimming in cash now.

"Guess what's in here."

What Jiang Fengqiu held was a small memory card. Jiang Fengmian's eyes sharpened, wondering if there was some recording from the Jiang family.

"Is it related to me?"

Jiang Fengqiu breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn’t know.

"It's evidence of Jiang Junling abusing you. Ten million, I’ll sell it to you. Ten million is nothing to you; Huo Zong's monthly allowance for you is more than that."

Jiang Fengmian laughed coldly, "What makes you think I’d want it? Have you forgotten? It was your family of three who abused me together. You tell the police it's edited, cutting out your own criminal evidence. Do you really think that’ll fly?"

"I don't want to do this either, but I have no choice, no choice at all."

Jiang Fengqiu's fingers touched something in his pocket, a move that instantly put Jiang Fengmian on alert.

When he was bitten by a mad dog, it was also Jiang Fengqiu's medicine that hurt him. In front of everyone, he dared to use his own medicine.

Jiang Fengmian instinctively held his breath but still caught a whiff of a strange smell. His vision blurred slightly, and he saw Lv Minhui.

The Lv Minhui who Jiang Fengqiu said was bedridden from domestic violence, she wore a scarf, her face covered in thick powder, barely concealing the bruises.

"Xiao Qiu, do we really have to do this?"

Jiang Fengmian pretended to faint, lying on the table, subtly tapping his phone.

The phone automatically sent an alert message, received by Huo Zong a few kilometers away.

"Mom, he's not cooperating. What can I do? I’ve got it all figured out. It's all Jiang Junling's doing; it has nothing to do with us."

"Don't forget, he's not a fool anymore. It's only a matter of time before he remembers the events of three years ago. When that time comes, none of us will be able to escape."

Lv Minhui still felt the plan was flawed, which was why she insisted on coming along after learning Jiang Fengqiu intended to carry out a kidnapping.

In the capital, right under the nose of Huo Zong, attempting a kidnapping—Lv Minhui didn't know if Jiang Fengqiu had lost his mind or what, but this harebrained scheme made her want to laugh in exasperation.

"What kind of substance did you give him? What if he wakes up?"

"It's not a drug, just some common knockout drops. We covered our noses and mouths beforehand to protect ourselves. It's fine, he'll just sleep it off."

Lv Minhui was still unconvinced. She stepped in front of Jiang Fengqiu, pleading with urgency, "Three years ago, we could still argue that it was an accident. But how do you justify this time? This is premeditated. Xiao Qiu, I don't even know if you've gone mad too."

"Yes, I’ve gone mad. I didn't expect you to be so naive. What's so great about Jiang Junling? You don't like any of the men outside, but you like a domestic abuser, a murderer. You’re just twisted, getting off on him hitting you, aren’t you?"

"I've already said, we’re not actually going to hurt Jiang Fengmian. We're just trying to scare Huo Zong to get some money. The people outside are all my hires—it’s foolproof."

Lv Minhui was completely disillusioned. Jiang Fengqiu was utterly delusional, downright foolish. He still thought Jiang Fengmian was that pushover who could be easily manipulated.

Scare Huo Zong? Lv Minhui felt like she’d just heard the joke of the century. Using the kidnapping of Jiang Fengmian to scare Huo Zong—his brain must have been crushed by a door to come up with such an idea.

Lv Minhui said, "Xiao Qiu, no matter what you say today, I can't let you do this. Money is just material. Do you really want to throw your life away and end up in prison?"

"Yes, I do want to go to prison. I’m sick of it all—sick of you, sick of Jiang Junling. Why do you get to live it up while I was born an outsider, branded a bastard, an animal? You, why couldn't you like anyone else but him?"

"I don’t want any part of the Jiang family. I'm not some illegitimate child. You've been happy all these years, but how have I lived?"

"I’ve gone mad. I lost it every time Jiang Fengmian brought me down. I've lived my entire life in his shadow. Do you think the company still has money? It's about to go bankrupt, saddled with billions in debt. Who's going to pay it? You? Me? Or that animal?"

Lv Minhui was speechless. She numbly raised her hand. She didn't understand the company's business and had no idea it was already burdened with billions in debt.

She grabbed Jiang Fengqiu's wrist in panic, pleading, "Xiao Qiu, there must be another way. Why does it have to be this?"

"Mom, I stopped wanting to live a long time ago. I'm happy to kill Jiang Fengmian as my last act."

With a slap, Lv Minhui struck Jiang Fengqiu's cheek.

"You're really insane."

"Yes, I am insane. Driven mad by you all long ago."

Jiang Fengqiu took Jiang Fengmian's phone from his pocket and had him carried into the van outside, speeding toward the unfinished building.

Lv Minhui was frantic, not knowing what to do.

Call the police? No, she couldn't call the police. She couldn't.

Lv Minhui was at a loss. She clutched her phone, resolved to take the fall for Jiang Fengqiu if things went south.

Inside the unfinished building.

Just as a few people were about to tie Jiang Fengmian up, he suddenly opened his eyes and kicked the two men in front of him.

"Jiang Fengmian, you're not unconscious."

Jiang Fengqiu panicked for a moment. The dosage of the drug should have been enough. How could he not be unconscious?

"You didn't think someone would fall for the same trick twice, did you? The first time you fed it to the dog, this time you wanted to feed it to me. Am I that stupid?"

Jiang Fengmian fought the urge to roll his eyes. Had Jiang Fengqiu been cursed or something? His intelligence had dropped so quickly, as if he had gone mad.

"So, what if you're prepared, Jiang Fengmian? I never planned to live anyway."

A few days ago, he got his medical report—a brain tumor. In his twenties, he had a tumor in his brain.

Whether it was malignant or not, he didn’t want to live anymore.

What’s the point of living? Even in death, he wanted to take someone with him.

"Jiang Fengmian, I might as well tell you. Three years ago, it was me and Jiang Junling who pushed you off. You injured your head, and now I’ve injured mine too. You always talk about karma, don’t you? Well, I’ve got mine now."

Before dying, Jiang Fengqiu wanted nothing. He just wanted to kill Jiang Fengmian along with him. Only the dead can keep secrets forever, after all.

Whether Jiang Junling lived or died, he couldn’t care less. His mother was stubborn, and he had no right to control her life. But his own life—he had the right to decide.

If he was going to die, he’d take them with him.

Jiang Fengqiu kicked over a nearby gasoline barrel and lunged at Jiang Fengmian, trying to pin him to the ground by grabbing his waist. But Jiang Fengmian’s knee slammed into him, making him grimace in pain.

The lighter was still jammed in his pocket, impossible to retrieve. Amid the struggle, someone suddenly yelled.

"Jiang Fengmian."

Huo Zong charged over like a madman, grabbing Jiang Fengqiu by the collar, slamming him to the ground, and pummeling his face.

His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had been set off. Every punch landed with brutal force, nearly killing Jiang Fengqiu.

"Brother."

Jiang Fengmian grabbed the lighter from Jiang Fengqiu’s pocket and his own phone, clutching them tightly. He gently pulled Huo Zong’s arm.

"Brother, I’m okay. Let the law handle the revenge."

Jiang Fengqiu was already half-dead. Jiang Fengmian feared Huo Zong might lose control and kill him, which would ruin everything.

Hahaha, Jiang Fengqiu laughed, his face twisted with mockery.

"Jiang Fengmian, go ahead and laugh at me."

All these years, he’d accomplished nothing, and now he had a brain tumor. Was this some cruel joke?

Jiang Fengqiu’s head throbbed with pain as he struggled to his feet. He didn’t even react to the sound of police sirens.

"Jiang Fengmian, let’s go!"

Huo Zong grabbed Jiang Fengmian and bolted. Jiang Fengqiu looked utterly deranged. They ran as fast as they could, and just as they reached an open area, the gasoline exploded.

Huo Zong shielded Jiang Fengmian, and though his ears rang from the blast, he was otherwise fine.

"Huo Zong, you alright?"

Jiang Fengmian anxiously got up, checking Huo Zong all over.

"I’m fine, I’m fine. Luckily, we ran fast."

Jiang Fengqiu had planned for them to die together. He’d hidden more lighters behind the pillar. If he had managed to crawl over and light them, they would all have died together.

The police arrived quickly, and with them came Lv Minhui. She rushed in like a madwoman, shouting at the police, "My son is fine, he’s fine! Please save him!"

Jiang Fengqiu only got minor burns. The barrel didn’t have much oil, and he was on the edge of the blast, so he wasn’t seriously hurt.

"Xiaoqiu, you've really lost it."

Lv Minhui was crying uncontrollably. No matter what, things shouldn't have gotten this bad. After she called the police, she found out they were already on their way.

Then it all clicked—Jiang Fengmian had everything planned out.

"Mom, I have a tumor in my brain."

With those words, Jiang Fengqiu collapsed into Lv Minhui's arms.

With the guy unconscious, Jiang Fengmian and the others had no choice but to go home and wait for the police to call them back before they could explain further.