Chapter 48

Chapter 48

"048"

"What!" Zhao Lan's steps faltered. She forcefully pushed the nurse's hand away, shaking her head as she backed off. "Then I... I can't..."

Xiao Jingli saw she was about to let something slip. He mouthed frantically at her, urgent and desperate, "Run!"

Xiao Liqin was right there. He noticed immediately, a vein pulsing at his temple.

That woman was Xiao Anfeng's birth mother!

Zhao Lan was stunned for a moment, her heart pounding erratically. She glanced at the emergency room, gritted her teeth, and turned to run.

At the sudden change, the nurse was the first to speak up. "Hey, hey, hey, why's she running off..."

Xiao Lancui didn't stop her. He said flatly, "Guess she changed her mind."

The nurse was taken aback but didn't push it. Donating blood was voluntary—backing out at the last minute was rare, but you couldn't force someone.

She looked at Xiao Lancui. "I'll go make more calls right away. You should try reaching out to people too. RH-negative blood is super rare, and the patient's in serious danger the longer we wait."

Xiao Lancui spoke up. "I've never had my blood type checked. I'll go with you—just in case I'm a match."

Xiao Jingli suddenly remembered. That's right, Xiao Lancui was O-negative! Just like him—he could donate! He quickly said, "Good idea. Go get yourself tested."

The nurse and Xiao Mian spoke at the same time.

"Aren't you family?"

"Half-siblings still count as immediate family, right?"

The hallway went dead silent.

The nurse caught on right away. She explained awkwardly, "Half-siblings aren't immediate family. He's allowed to donate."

Xiao Mian still objected. "Even if the blood type matches, Xiao Lancui's sick himself!" He said pointedly, "You pop a handful of Western meds and two bottles of Chinese medicine every day. Is your blood even any good?"

Xiao Lancui hadn't expected a roadblock to come out of nowhere, but Xiao Mian meant well, so he didn't take it to heart. "Let me just get tested first—"

"Aren't you type AB?" Xie Jingfang, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. She looked at Xiao Jingli and said, "When you brought him home, you said he was type AB."

Xiao Jingli's face flickered. He didn't remember that at all, but since Xie Jingfang said it, he had to play along. "Right, I was all mixed up. Yeah, Lancui's AB. No need to test."

His heart pounding, he decided he'd be the one to donate. He shot Xiao Liqin a look and said, not very convincingly, "I'll go reach out to find a donor."

He headed off with the nurse.

Xiao Lancui knew he was sneaking off to donate his own blood. He pretended to tag along. "Dad, I'll go with—"

Xiao Liqin immediately cut him off. He was a few centimeters taller, and he looked down at Xiao Lancui and said, "I'll go with Dad to sort this out. You and Xiaomian stay with Mom."

He gave Xiao Lancui a hard stare. Xiao Lancui took it in stride. "Okay."

Xiao Liqin shot him one more look, then hurried off.

Xie Jingfang hadn't budged since she'd spoken.

Xiao Lancui didn't go over to her yet. He had a feeling Xie Jingfang had caught on.

That whole "AB-positive" thing was Xie Jingfang testing Xiao Jingli.

The original story had never mentioned it.

Maybe it was in the gaps, but given how much Xie Jingfang hated the original body, she wouldn't have remembered some illegitimate kid's blood type.

Now he just had to sit back and wait.

"Mom, let's go sit down—" Xiao Mian didn't get to finish before Xie Jingfang walked up to Xiao Lancui.

The corridor's fluorescent lights lit up Xiao Lancui's pale face. Every one of Xie Jingfang's fingers was trembling.

She asked, "That woman—the convenience store owner—what's her name?"

Xiao Lancui replied, "You mean Boss Zhao?"

Xie Jingfang nodded. She'd actually heard it perfectly clearly, but she still wanted Xiao Lancui to confirm it.

Xiao Lancui got it. So Xie Jingfang had dug into Zhao Lan too. Not completely clueless. He gave her two plain words. "Zhao Lan."

Xie Jingfang's heart sank straight into an abyss.

She was chilled to the bone.

Zhao Lan...

Yesterday, she'd gotten a message from Xiao Lancui's biological mother—no photo, because there was no woman named Fang Qiao at all!

The people Yungu had hired also sent over the names of the pregnant women admitted to the hospital that day.

One of them was Zhao Lan.

Xie Jingfang's thoughts were all over the place. She looked at Xiao Lancui, her words coming out jumbled. "What's your mom's name?"

Xiao Mian was totally lost, thinking she was just going after Xiao Lancui again. "Mom, stop—"

"Fang Qiao." Xiao Lancui cut him off. He looked back at Xie Jingfang. "Fang like 'square,' Qiao like 'coincidence.'"

He dropped his gaze. "I'm sorry, Auntie. I know my mom wrecked your marriage. I don't know how to make it up to you. I wish I could donate to Second Brother, but I'm just plain AB."

Even Xiao Mian felt awkward hearing that. He couldn't help blurting out, "Your mom's mistake isn't your fault!"

"You..." Xie Jingfang totally ignored Xiao Mian. She knew how insane it sounded, but she asked anyway.

"Do you miss your mom?"

Xiao Lancui shook his head. He looked at Xie Jingfang. "I can't miss a name that isn't real."

Xie Jingfang was about to say more when footsteps echoed down the hall. Xiao Liqin was back.

He didn't even look at Xiao Lancui and said to Xie Jingfang, "Mom, it's taken care of. Dad found a donor. They're on their way to the hospital now."

Xie Jingfang muttered, "That quick..."

Xiao Liqin didn't hear her. "Mom?"

"Nothing." Xie Jingfang glanced at Xiao Lancui one more time, then went to the bench and sat down.

With enough blood on hand, Xiao Anfeng's surgery wrapped up quickly and went smoothly.

Xiao Liqin arranged the best private suite for Xiao Anfeng. Xie Jingfang went in, but he blocked Xiao Lancui at the door. "You can head back now."

Xiao Mian, standing behind Xiao Lancui, saw Xiao Liqin clearly singling him out and immediately spoke up. "Third Brother is also worried about Second—"

"The doctor said Anfeng needs peace and quiet." Xiao Liqin's words were directed at Xiao Mian, but his piercing gaze stayed locked on Xiao Lancui.

Xiao Mian wanted to keep arguing, but Xiao Lancui turned and walked away without saying a single word to Xiao Liqin.

Watching Xiao Lancui leave, Xiao Mian looked around, then shot Xiao Liqin a complicated look. "Big Brother, you were way out of line tonight."

Without another word, Xiao Mian hurried after Xiao Lancui. "Third Brother, wait for me!"

Xiao Liqin's brow furrowed deeply as he watched Xiao Mian follow Xiao Lancui, and so missed that inside the hospital room, Xie Jingfang had quickly yanked out several hairs with follicles from Xiao Anfeng's head, wrapped them in paper, and slipped them into her pocket.

Xiao Anfeng remained oblivious, eyes shut tight in his sleep. He wouldn't wake up until eight the next morning.

Xie Jingfang stared at him for a long moment before finally pulling out her phone and sending a message to Yungu.

"Figure out a way to grab a few hairs with follicles from Xiao Lancui's room tomorrow morning."

She was going to run a paternity test.

Between her and Xiao Anfeng.

Between her and Xiao Lancui.

Xiao Lancui caught up to Xiao Mian at the elevator.

*

Today's performance was over; he needed to get back to the Xiao residence to handle something else.

Xie Jingfang had uncovered so many clues today—her next move would obviously be a paternity test. He needed to get back to the Xiao residence and leave a few hairs behind so Yungu could easily collect them.

As the elevator reached the first floor, Xiao Lancui had just stepped out when he suddenly heard, "Mr. Xiao?"

Xiao Lancui looked up coolly. A familiar figure jogged over and quickly stopped in front of him.

Qi Ying's face lit up in surprise. "Mr. Xiao, small world!"

Xiao Lancui said flatly, "Running into someone at a hospital isn't exactly a happy occasion."

"True." Qi Ying's smile dimmed a bit, but his eyes never left Xiao Lancui. "I came to see a friend. And Mr. Xiao is here for...?"

"Visiting someone."

Xiao Lancui kept walking, not bothering with any pleasantries.

First, because he was used to it—no one dared to challenge his dignity, and no one had any standing in his eyes. Second, whether it was the Qi Ying of Dali or the Qi Ying of this era, he had no fondness for either.

Xiao Lancui was as cold as ever. Qi Ying watched him walk away, shook his head with a wry smile, and quickened his pace to catch up. "Mr. Xiao, where are you headed? Let me drive you."

Xiao Lancui said flatly, "No need."

"Mr. Xiao." Qi Ying stepped around to block his path. "I really need your help with something."

Xiao Lancui was about to walk around him when Qi Ying said two words: "Lu Ao."

Xiao Lancui paused mid-step. He finally looked up to properly meet Qi Ying's eyes, and Qi Ying's heart leaped with excitement.

He'd guessed right!

Anyone interested in Dali would definitely not be able to stay indifferent to Lu Ao!

Qi Ying quickly pushed his advantage. "You remember that Xiao Zixian I mentioned last time, right?"

"My knowledge of him comes from my advisor. My advisor has spent over forty years chasing the lost era of Emperor Yingzong of Li, and he's proposed a new theory: maybe Lu Ao erased that period of history because of this Xiao Zixian. It's also highly possible that his becoming a Tyrant is linked to Xiao Zixian."

The first theory, Xiao Lancui agreed with quite a bit.

He—Xiao Lancui—had created that period of history. For Lu Ao to erase him, he would have to erase that history along with him.

The second theory, Xiao Lancui only half agreed with.

He was Lu Ao's teacher; he was responsible for Lu Ao's conduct. But while he was alive, Lu Ao could be considered a wise ruler. After his death—

No matter what led Lu Ao to become a tyrant, could a dead man be held fully accountable?

"And?" Xiao Lancui asked.

Qi Ying looked at him hopefully. "I believe that with your understanding of those paintings and calligraphy, your help would be a huge asset in uncovering the history Emperor Yingzong of Li concealed."

Xiao Lancui didn't turn him down outright. He said flatly, "I'll contact you when I have time."

Qi Ying wanted to say more, but Xiao Lancui was already walking off.

The night was late and the chill was heavy. Xiao Lancui didn't call his driver, instead walking slowly toward the hospital entrance.

Lu Ao figured Xiao Lancui would take a taxi.

He got to the roadside first.

Sure enough, a man was smoking away at the taxi stand.

Xiao Lancui couldn't stand weird smells, and now that he was drinking herbal medicine for his lungs, he absolutely couldn't handle secondhand smoke.

Lu Ao grabbed the guy. The guy didn't even see who it was, couldn't react in time, and in the blink of an eye was hoisted up and tossed into an empty lot nearby.

"Damn—"

The guy didn't finish his curse before a cold boot sole pressed down on his mouth. The burning cigarette was ground straight into his lips by the sole. The guy writhed in pain, unable to cry out, his hands clawing desperately at Lu Ao's boot, trying to shove it away.

The boot didn't budge an inch.

Once the cigarette was completely shoved into the guy's mouth, Lu Ao looked down at the guy frantically trying to dig it out, and said coldly—

"Smoke again, and I'll kill you."

It was cold out, but breathing in the fresh air—finally free of secondhand smoke—Xiao Lancui felt a lot better. He got in the car, gave the driver his address, and pulled out his phone.

Lu Ao had sent another goodnight photo.

This time he was sitting cross-legged on the bed, wearing a black tank top and sweatpants, flashing a peace sign at the camera.

The caption read: "Big Brother should get some rest too! Good night!"

Maybe because he'd just heard something about Lu Ao, Xiao Lancui almost called him back—but seeing the time, he dropped the idea.

He didn't text back either. Back at the Xiao family villa, he showered, blow-dried his hair, pulled out a few hairs with follicles, and casually placed them on the towel he'd used to dry his hair.

The next morning, he went downstairs for breakfast, and when he returned to his room, the hair on the towel was gone.

Xiao Lancui, as if nothing had happened, packed up and headed downstairs, where he ran into Yungu, who was just leaving. He smiled and said, "Going to the hospital? Me too, we can go together."

Yungu smiled back. "I've got a few errands to run first, then I'll head over."

Xiao Lancui nodded and got in the car. Yungu breathed a sigh of relief, and once he drove off, she hopped into her own car and headed straight for the DNA testing center Xie Jingfang had specified.

With the expedited service, the results would be ready in three hours.