Chapter 25: A Mother’s Love Turns Poisonous

“Mr. Tang!”

“And you are?”

“You surely don’t know me, but I know you! My husband and I have purchased from your company.”

Wu Xiuli leapt from the bed as though greeting a long-lost relative, nearly throwing herself into Tang Songyuan’s arms. It was no wonder—Tang Songyuan, in Wu Xiuli’s eyes, was the embodiment of wealth, and who doesn’t love money?

“You are—Miss Wu.”

Tang Songyuan actually recognized her! Wu Xiuli was more astonished than when she’d first arrived, her excitement lighting up her face as she reached to shake his hand. Tang Songyuan shook her hand politely, then quickly let go.

“I never imagined you’d know me! I thought people like us, running small businesses, would never catch your attention.”

“You’re too modest, Miss Wu.”

Tang Songyuan had no wish to continue this conversation, much less build rapport with a minor client in this place. He set his bag on the bedside table, pulled out the little tray, and poured a bowl of soup, offering an apologetic smile to Tao Fei.

“I went to Crockpot House and bought your favorite Five-finger Root Soup. I didn’t expect the traffic to be so bad—I only just made it back. The soup is still hot, have some while it’s fresh. And here’s this.”

Tang Songyuan fished a black widescreen phone from his pocket and handed it to Tao Fei.

“Your old phone model is no longer in production. Try this one and see if you find it comfortable. I’ve already replaced your SIM card with the same number, and I’ve installed all your usual apps.”

“Thank you.”

Tang Songyuan had bought the latest phone on the market, but in Tao Fei’s eyes, it was an outdated relic. Still, Tao Fei loved exploring antiques; she took the phone, swiped through it a few times, and found her interest piqued.

Tang Songyuan prompted Tao Fei to drink the soup, so she set the phone aside. By now, Wu Xiuli had grasped the nature of Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan’s relationship, and began lavishing praise on Tao Fei, with her mother chiming in to say Tao Fei was the picture of a virtuous wife and mother, without any airs of a wealthy lady.

Tang Songyuan listened contentedly, smiling as Tao Fei finished the entire bowl of soup. He poured mineral water for Tao Fei to rinse her mouth, wrung a hot towel to place on her face, and even remembered to apply face cream for her.

Watching Tang Songyuan’s series of attentive gestures, Wu Xiuli and her mother exhausted all words of praise.

“If my husband were half—no, even a tenth—as good as Mr. Tang, I’d be satisfied for life. Tao Fei, you’re so lucky! Mr. Tang not only makes money, he’s so gentle and considerate. How did you find such a wonderful husband—did you save the galaxy in your past life?”

Wu Xiuli genuinely envied Tao Fei and sincerely wanted to hear the story of Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan’s romance and marriage. Tao Fei smiled but said nothing, so Wu Xiuli pleaded with Tang Songyuan to share his wisdom, so she could use his standards to find husbands for her three daughters.

Wu Xiuli was only thirty-one or thirty-two, so her eldest daughter could hardly be much older.

“My wife and I were introduced by a matchmaker, nothing special. That was how people usually married in our day.”

“Really? A matchmaker! My husband and I were high school classmates, we married for love. I always thought marriages arranged by matchmakers couldn’t be as happy as free love, but seeing how affectionate you two are, I’ll have to change my mind.”

Wu Xiuli said half-jokingly.

“Then you must have been well-matched. Well-matched marriages are the most stable. That’s why matchmaking is becoming popular again—one TV show after another. All the successful couples are well-matched; rich people marry other rich people, good looks alone aren’t enough.”

Wu Xiuli’s mother summarized their marriage, waiting confidently for Tang Songyuan and Tao Fei to affirm her view.

“I married up back then.”

“Tao Fei must have been a great beauty in her youth!”

“She’s beautiful even now.”

Tang Songyuan smiled softly, and Tao Fei continued to smile without speaking. The conversation was pleasant, helping her to relax.

“Men who are older than their wives are more caring!”

“That’s not necessarily true. Old He is over ten years older than his wife, but he still beats her…”

Wu Xiuli’s mother tugged at her sleeve, and Wu Xiuli immediately realized her mother was helping her flatter Tang Songyuan. Anyone could see that Tang Songyuan was much older than Tao Fei.

“It depends on the person! Only mature and cultured men like Mr. Tang truly cherish their wives.”

“Mr. Tang is obviously a fine man! Not like those who fool around outside, keeping mistresses as soon as they have money.”

“It’s already two-thirty; the patient needs her afternoon rest.”

Tang Songyuan interrupted Wu Xiuli and her mother, helped Tao Fei flatten the bed, and Tao Fei, eager to study her antique phone, quickly pulled up the blanket to her chin and pretended to sleep as Tang Songyuan bent to tuck her in.

Wu Xiuli wisely fell silent, but within a minute, she and her mother were whispering about what to eat before five o’clock. The two reached an agreement, said their goodbyes to Tang Songyuan, and slipped out of the ward for a shopping spree.

The room quieted instantly.

Tang Songyuan leaned back on the sofa by the window, eyes closed, as the afternoon sun painted a glaze atop his head.

Tao Fei watched Tang Songyuan secretly, feeling there was a trace of worry between his brows. Suddenly, Tang Songyuan opened his eyes; Tao Fei quickly rolled over.

Her mother, who had issued harsh demands, did not come to the hospital that afternoon. Tao Fei rested well, waiting for the moonrise.

A round, orange moon silently hung in the sky, and Tao Fei’s heart began to race. The same hour, the same place, the same moonlight—the moment of witnessing a miracle was near.

Wu Xiuli and her mother had not yet returned; Tang Songyuan was sent out by Tao Fei to buy fish congee.

Hand on the door handle, she opened and closed it several times. The ward, the corridor—everything was unchanged. She stood outside the door, pushed and pulled again; still, no miracle occurred.

Tao Fei was unwilling to accept this. She believed it was merely a matter of timing. She returned to the ward, opened the door, closed her eyes and walked outside, then abruptly opened them. The long corridor, warm and gentle lighting—a young nurse hurried into the adjacent ward.

The familiar laboratory did not appear!

Tao Fei forced herself to repeat the opening and closing of the door several more times. Standing at the threshold, she heard the sound of her own heart breaking.

The electronic clock at the nurses’ station in the Y-shaped corridor ticked another red number.

One last try!

Perhaps her anticipation was too intense, Tao Fei shivered as she opened the door with closed eyes, stepping outside but hesitating to look. She hoped to hear her mentor call her name, then open her eyes to find herself back in the medical school’s laboratory…

No familiar voice came, but she felt a wave of scorching breath before her.

Tao Fei opened her eyes and was startled by the sudden appearance of a man, retreating several steps in fright and nearly falling back into the ward.