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Chapter 384: 177 Bone Marrow (First Update)

She had known long ago that Zhu Xiangxiang couldn’t stay at the Deng’s for long, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

These days, the biggest topic in the neighborhood after meals was the gossip about the Deng family, such as the absurd rumors about a stepfather killing his stepdaughter. Zhao Xiaohui’s family had become famous in the community.

Zhu Xiangxiang replied, “I came back to see Yangyang.”

“Yangyang?” Tang Wan raised her eyebrows, apparently Zhao Xiaohui had been hiding this matter from Zhu Xiangxiang.

Looking at Zhu Xiangxiang’s radiant and smiling face, Tang Wan secretly curled her lips and sighed, “Yangyang is quite pitiful.”

Zhu Xiangxiang snorted coldly, thinking what was there to pity for a child with both mom and dad? It wasn’t like her; she didn’t even know who her biological father was.

Watching Zhu Xiangxiang follow Zhao Xiaohui into the house, Tang Wan sneered, anticipating that there would be a good show coming up.

Half an hour later, Zhao Xiaohui hurriedly went downstairs. The Zhu’s driver parked the car at the entrance of the residential complex. Zhao Xiaohui told him that Zhu Xiangxiang wanted to spend more time with her brother and would stay at home tonight, so the driver could go back first.

Considering that Zhao Xiaohui was Zhu Xiangxiang’s biological mother, the driver felt nothing would go wrong, so he drove back to the Zhu’s.

Zhao Xiaohui stared at the departing car and called: “Dr. Wang, I’m ready here.”

Ten minutes later, a stout middle-aged man knocked on the door of the Deng’s.

“Cousin, is this your daughter Xiangxiang? It’s obvious that she’s raised in a wealthy family, with such delicate skin and a pampered look.” The man stared at the sleeping girl on the sofa and sighed in admiration.

Zhao Xiaohui’s face was somewhat pale as she said, “Quit the nonsense, let’s go to the hospital.”

Xie Qiang asked, “Cousin, why don’t you tell Xiangxiang the truth? That’s her own brother; she wouldn’t refuse to donate bone marrow, right? You’re doing this secretly without her knowing, won’t she get angry and disown you when she wakes up? Then you won’t be able to take advantage of her anymore.”

He thought his cousin was acting foolishly.

If it could be done openly, why did it have to be done secretly?

Zhao Xiaohui sighed, “Do you think I want that? The law explicitly states that one cannot donate bone marrow under the age of 18, and Xiangxiang is only 17. But Yangyang can’t wait any longer.” She had specifically paid to go through the back door, or the operation wouldn’t even be possible.

What she didn’t say was the more crucial point: If Zhu Xiangxiang knew the truth, she would refuse without hesitation, putting Yangyang’s life on the line.

This was the only chance.

For Yangyang, she was willing to sacrifice everything.

“Fine, as long as you know what you’re doing.” Xie Qiang carried Zhu Xiangxiang while Zhao Xiaohui covered her with a blanket, hiding her face. The two hurriedly left.

Tang Wan followed them closely from a distance, guessing that Zhao Xiaohui had big plans in mind. Wasn’t she afraid of the Zhu family settling the score with her afterward?

Thinking about it, Tang Wan understood Zhao Xiaohui’s intention.

No matter how deceitful she might be, she was still Zhu Xiangxiang’s biological mother, and their blood ties were unchangeable. Besides, considering how doting she was on Deng Yang, she would willingly give her life for his; there was nothing she couldn’t do.

Xie Qiang ran a small business and had a van. They stuffed the unconscious girl into the van and drove to the hospital.

Lin Qing was furious when she heard from the driver that Zhu Xiangxiang was staying at the Deng’s for the night.

When she called Zhu Xiangxiang, Zhao Xiaohui answered, “Madam Zhu? I’m sorry, Xiangxiang went to the bathroom. Yangyang, Xiangxiang’s brother, just came back from our hometown. The siblings rarely see each other, so she wanted to spend some more time with him. She won’t be able to return tonight; I hope Madam Zhu can understand.”

“Brother?” Lin Qing replied coldly, “I’ve never heard Xiangxiang mention him. Let her answer the phone.”

“Xiangxiang is in the bathroom right now; it’s not convenient. Madam, I know that you raised Xiangxiang and that you have a deep mother-daughter bond, but the blood relationship is still there. Just like Miss Ming Jing, isn’t she close to you too? We’re all mothers; please spare a thought for me. You have everything, and your own daughter is by your side while my husband is gone, and now my own daughter is leaving me as well. Are you trying to drive me to my grave?”

Lin Qing choked, “What are you trying to do?”

“I don’t want to do anything. I just want Xiangxiang to spend more time with me, just a few days. I promise to send her back safely, and the three of us will disappear from your lives.”

Lin Qing responded, “I hope you remember what you’ve said today.”The phone call was abruptly hung up.

“What did Madam Zhu say?” Xie Qiang asked while driving the car.

Zhao Xiaohui touched Zhu Xiangxiang’s face, taking the opportunity to examine her carefully as she slept.

“Xiangxiang is a lucky child, and she’ll have a happy life in the Zhu family. Our mother-daughter bond will be severed from now on.”

“Sister, what are you talking about? You’re Xiangxiang’s birth mother, and no adoptive mother, no matter how rich, can compete with you. Even if Xiangxiang finds out the truth, she will be angry for a few days at most but will not cut ties with you forever.”

Zhao Xiaohui shook her head, knowing her own child well.

A person who is fundamentally selfish can give up everything for the sake of personal gain.

Just like how she would sacrifice everything for Yangyang’s sake.

You can’t have both fish and bear’s paw.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Zhu Xiangxiang was first taken for an examination. They had arranged everything in advance and it proceeded smoothly.

“Mom, have you seen my big sister? I miss her so much. I drew this picture for her. If you see her, can you give it to her for me?”

The little boy in the sickbed was emaciated, his face pale and his eyes sunken after a long battle with illness, but he still had a pair of bright and clear eyes.

He excitedly showed off his drawing, depicting a large and a small character hand in hand, both with bright smiles, the larger figure wearing a pink dress and a hairstyle like sheep horns. The smaller one was a cool little boy. The drawing was very nice, and he was clearly talented.

Zhao Xiaohui smiled and nodded, “Alright, once Yangyang’s illness is cured, he will be able to see his sister. She also misses Yangyang very much. So Yangyang must stay strong and get through this together.”

Yangyang nodded, “Mom, after I get better, I want to go to school and play together with sister.”

As he spoke, he started to smile. The pain didn’t seem to affect the bright smile on the little boy’s face, as his eyes brimmed with hope for his future life.

Zhao Xiaohui covered her mouth, holding back her tears. “Okay, let’s go for the checkup first.”

Zhao Xiaohui and the nurse pushed the bed out along the corridor, with Yangyang excitedly asking questions all the way, and the topic never strayed far from his yet-to-meet sister.

His mom said that as long as he had the surgery, his illness could be cured. He must be strong and not cry out in pain. Once he got better, he could see his sister soon.

His mom told him that his sister was very gentle and beautiful, like a fairy. He often dreamed about her, and she indeed appeared like a fairy in his dreams.

During this blood draw, he didn’t even furrow his eyebrows. He was now a strong boy.

The nurse taking his blood patted his head sympathetically, “Does it hurt?”

The little boy shook his head with a smile, “Not at all. You can take more if you want.”

The nurse couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head. What a lovely child, why did he have to be plagued by illness?

This child was talented in drawing, always giving pictures to doctors and nurses. He was also well-behaved and sensible. Everyone pitied and cared for him. Knowing his family’s financial situation, the hospital even organized a fundraiser. Perhaps even the heavens pitied him, for they found a suitable donor, and the child could be saved.

Zhu Xiangxiang felt a sharp pain in her arm, and her fuzzy eyes opened slowly, squinting against the bright light above her head.

Where am I?

Turning her head, she saw a nurse injecting a syringe into her arm, the fluid slowly entering her body.

Zhu Xiangxiang’s pupils suddenly contracted, and she violently pushed away the nurse, shouting, “What are you doing?”

The nurse stumbled back, frowning at her, “Aren’t you Deng Yang’s family member from bed 28? You volunteered to donate bone marrow, so now we are injecting recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to mobilize your bone marrow. This process might be uncomfortable, but you can just bear with it and it’ll be over soon.”

Zhu Xiangxiang recognized the individual words the nurse said, but when combined, she couldn’t understand them.

“Deng Yang? Bone marrow donation? What are you talking about?” Zhu Xiangxiang suddenly remembered the glass of water Zhao Xiaohui had given her, and losing consciousness after drinking it, as well as her blurry apology before she passed out…

Zhu Xiangxiang shouted with despair, “Zhao Xiaohui, you actually deceived me.”