Chapter 12: She Is Mentally Ill

Watching Jiang Xue leave, Xie Yun, pale-faced and clutching her stomach, struggled to stand. Her face was etched with pain as she murmured, “Youyou, bring Youyou back to me. Someone, please save my granddaughter Youyou.”

Summoning all her strength to rise, Xie Yun’s mind raced through the names of anyone who might be able to help her. Finally, biting her lip, she resolved to make that call—the call to Jiang Li’s biological father, Jiang Jin Xiu.

She was throwing caution to the wind. Even if it meant sacrificing her dignity, she couldn’t allow any harm to come to her daughter and Youyou. Without Youyou, she would suffer unbearable pain; Jiang Li, even more so.

Staggering forward toward the reception desk to borrow a phone, she caught sight of the large screen broadcasting the news.

“Breaking news: The memorial service for Jiang City Group’s president Jiang Jin Xiu, his wife Lin Dan, and their son Jiang Che will be held tomorrow at 9 a.m. Their graves will be located at Jiangdu Cemetery. The elderly Chairman Jiang, overwhelmed by grief, is expected to be discharged tomorrow morning to attend the final farewell. As for who will inherit the Jiang Group’s assets—whether it will be the president’s nephew, niece, or another party—we will continue to follow this developing story.”

Startled by the news, Xie Yun staggered back several steps. “Impossible, it can’t be. Jiang Jin Xiu is dead? How could that be?”

She stared in disbelief at the broadcast, her eyes wide with incredulity.

Who now could save her daughter Jiang Li?

Who could rescue her granddaughter Youyou?

Her eyes reddened and bloodshot, she hesitated before inching closer to the screen.

Around her, murmurs of sorrow and disbelief filled the air.

“Oh my God, that private plane crash killing Jiang City’s richest man Jiang Jin Xiu and his family—it’s terrifying. Something about this feels off.”

“Could they have been set up? A whole family lost. What will become of 70-something-year-old Chairman Jiang now?”

“Yeah. I heard Jiang Jin Xiu and his wife Lin Dan were childhood sweethearts and very devoted. Looks like the Jiang family fortune might end up with his cousins since they reportedly have no illegitimate children.”

“Sigh, Jiang Che was only 20, a Dr. Harlan prodigy—such a talented family. How did this happen?”

“It’s such a cruel fate. And if Jiang Jin Xiu did have an illegitimate child, now that he’s gone, who would dare impersonate him? There’s no way to do a paternity test now. This situation is complicated.”

Leaning against the wall for support, Xie Yun thought: Jiang Li is Jiang Jin Xiu’s daughter!

Indeed, he’s dead now—who would know?

Even if Chairman Jiang knew, the elder would never tarnish his son’s reputation.

It seemed no one could save them anymore. No one.

On the brink of collapse, Xie Yun’s last resort was to call the police.

“Youyou!” Fearful for Youyou’s safety, she grabbed hold of a doctor nearby. “Doctor, nurse, may I borrow your phone? I need to call the police. My granddaughter is missing—please help me report it!”

The nurse looked at the frazzled woman, unsure how to respond.

Dressed in sky-blue scrubs, Xie Yun’s anxiety deepened as she pleaded again, “My name is Xie Yun. My daughter has been imprisoned, and my granddaughter has been taken away. Please, I beg you, help me call the police to save them!”

The nurses exchanged glances before two burly men in white coats suddenly rushed out.

“Sorry, Ms. Xie Yun is a patient here at our psychiatric hospital. We didn’t expect her to escape. This is her mental illness. Here are our IDs. We will be taking her back now. Please cooperate.”

Seeing their credentials, the nurse quickly pulled her hand away, eager to keep distance.

After all, who wants to be associated with someone mentally ill?

“Wait!” Just as they were about to take Xie Yun away, a deep, magnetic voice rang out.

She looked up to see Ji Han, clad in a white coat, appearing like a savior arriving just in time.

Xie Yun struggled desperately. “Dr. Ji, please help Little Li. She’s being held by Qin Mu in a villa out in the suburbs. And Youyou—Chen Shaojie took her away. He’s surely secretly selling that girl’s kidney to some wealthy buyer. Please, you have to save them both. I beg you.”

Ji Han looked at her in disbelief. “How could this happen? In broad daylight? How dare they? Aunt Xie, don’t worry—I’ll find Youyou and Jiang Li. Why are they abducting people like this?”

As Ji Han stepped forward, the two men in doctor’s outfits shoved him aside.

One of them spoke coldly, “We are doctors from the psychiatric hospital retrieving our patient. If you have complaints, you can address them to Ms. Xie Yun’s representative, Mr. Chen Shaojie.”

Ji Han tried to reason, “Kidnapping is illegal. If you continue, I will call the police. Help! Kidnappers!”

He yelled loudly, trying to attract attention. But the burly men grabbed Xie Yun and hurried away.

Ji Han pursued them relentlessly. “Let go of Aunt Xie! I’ve already called the police!”

Seeing Ji Han’s determined chase, Xie Yun, worried about Youyou’s safety, quickly waved him off.

“Dr. Ji, Youyou was taken by Chen Shaojie. I’m worried about her safety—Youyou is more important. Please.”

Hearing this, Ji Han nodded promptly. “Alright, I’ll go rescue Youyou. Auntie, you must be careful!”

No sooner had Ji Han spoken than Xie Yun was pushed into a car heading toward the psychiatric hospital.

Ji Han rushed back to the hospital, beginning his search for Youyou.

Meanwhile, Chen Shaojie and Jiang Xue laid the drugged Youyou on an operating table in the surgical room.

At that moment, a boy of similar age was pushed in, his face weary as if tormented by illness.

Dressed in sky-blue hospital garments, the small figure lay on the bed—tiny hands, frail body, yet delicate features.

He looked weakly toward Jiang Xue, his gaze vacant.

“You’re not my mother. You don’t like me. I don’t want to stay in the hospital. I want to find my father. I want to leave here.”

The boy’s eyes held a coldness, showing no warmth or affection toward Jiang Xue, even a hint of rejection.

Jiang Xue crossed her arms impatiently, exhaling sharply. “Shut up, you’re so annoying. Qin Jinchen, if you keep yelling, do you think I won’t throw you out? And I am your mother—otherwise, would I go through all this trouble to save you? You brat, if you keep talking nonsense, I swear…”

She raised her hand threateningly, causing the boy to burst into tears.

“No! You’re not my mother. Mother never hits me. You’re only taking care of me so that Dad will marry you. I will never agree to that.”

Qin Jinchen cried as he curled up and recoiled on the bed, clearly frightened.

Chen Shaojie couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Thinking of the ten million yuan promised for the kidney donation, he feared delays.

“Mr. Jiang, children can be difficult sometimes. Please don’t lose your temper. We need to soothe him now so the surgeries can proceed smoothly.”