"You're doing this alone because you're afraid of us?" the small demon exclaimed.
Mu Anxiao nodded. "Yes, you can't solve this with demon arts, and your master wouldn't agree to you harming yourselves this way. So, let's see. If it doesn't work, you go inform Hu Yuan, and I'll stall here. What do you think?"
Hearing Mu Anxiao's meticulous plan, the small demon relented.
"Alright, I'll listen to you," he said.
Over there, Hu Yuan's mother looked displeased at the man who had pulled her out of the queue and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"
"I thought about it. I can't just watch you do something so foolish for Hu Yuan," the man said, tightly gripping Hu Yuan's mother's arm.
"I'm willing to do anything for my son, what's wrong with that!" Hu Yuan's mother widened her eyes, ignoring the onlookers.
The man glanced at the people turning their heads towards them and whispered, "This is a public place. It's not good for you to be like this."
"That day, why didn't you agree to see Hu Yuan when I called you?" Hu Yuan's mother suddenly asked.
A shadow crossed the man's eyes. "I haven't told anyone that we have another son like this. If I met him and acknowledged him, how would I explain it?"
"You haven't said anything?" Hu Yuan's mother retorted, her voice cracking. "You've been lying to me all this time."
"I..." The man looked around. "Can we go outside to talk? We're really disturbing others here."
"No wonder you chose to marry me when Hu Yuan was hospitalized. No wonder you always change the subject whenever I mention Hu Yuan to your friends. You even said I was going to work when I went to the hospital to see Hu Yuan," Hu Yuan's mother said. "So, you've been lying to me for the past year."
"I..." The man was speechless.
"That's enough. I don't want to say anything more to you. I will divorce you no matter what today. I cannot keep this child. Hu Yuan is my only son in this life," Hu Yuan's mother said coldly.
The man tightly grasped Hu Yuan's mother's arm. "It's not worth it for you to do this for Hu Yuan. You know about that child's illness, his life... won't last long. What will you do after he dies if you are like this?"
"Hu Yuan is your own flesh and blood. You have a part to play in the child being unhealthy, don't you?" Hu Yuan's mother glared at the man.
The man looked troubled. "That was so long ago, you..."
"It's only been a little over ten years. I admit, you've been helping me pay Hu Yuan's medical bills all these years, and I thank you," Hu Yuan's mother took a deep breath. "Don't worry, I will repay what I owe you. After this is over, I'll go with you to get the divorce. I won't drag you down anymore."
"Can you please not do this?" the man pleaded.
Hu Yuan's mother forcefully shook off the man's hand and said, "No." With that, she turned and walked back to the queue.
The man's eyes darkened.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao hesitated, unsure whether to step forward or not.
"She wants to abort that child," the small demon suddenly said.
Mu Anxiao was startled. "You can hear them talking?"
"Of course. My previous form was a dog," the small demon said.
"Then why haven't you gone back to inform Hu Yuan?" Mu Anxiao urged.
"That man doesn't seem willing to let master's mother abort the child, nor is he willing to divorce her. I think it's better if he goes to find master," the small demon said meaningfully.
"What should I do?" Mu Anxiao asked.
The small demon glanced at the man standing there helplessly looking at Hu Yuan's mother. "You go find him, pretend to ask him where Hu Yuan's mother is, then tell him master's ward number. Then you try to stall master's mother."
"You want Hu Yuan to persuade his mother?" Mu Anxiao asked softly.
"That child is also a life. If I'm not mistaken, there are yin messengers recording master's every word and deed. I think if master sincerely saves that child, it might move them. Once they arrive, we confess our guilt, and then master," the small demon smiled, "will be fine."
"This is your and Da Tou's idea!" Mu Anxiao said softly.
"This is my idea. I believe if I tell my elder brother, he will accept it too."
"Alright, I'll follow your plan," Mu Anxiao accepted the small demon's series of ideas and said.
"I'll follow that man to master's ward later," the small demon said.
Mu Anxiao nodded, took a deep breath, and walked towards them.
At the next moment, Mu Anxiao deliberately ignored Hu Yuan's mother and approached the melancholic man. "Excuse me, have you seen a woman with long hair?"
"No," the man shook his head and then glanced at Hu Yuan's mother again.
Mu Anxiao followed the man's gaze and turned to look at Hu Yuan's mother, saying, "Oh, she's there." As she was about to walk towards Hu Yuan's mother, who had her head bowed, the man spoke, "Excuse me."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned to the man and asked, "Is there something?"
"Little girl, do you know that woman?" the man pointed towards Hu Yuan's mother.
Mu Anxiao pretended to follow the man's gesture, glanced at Hu Yuan's mother standing there, and turned back to ask, "You mean, that auntie with her hair down, her head bowed?"
"You know her?" the man said excitedly.
"Yes, I'm Hu Yuan's friend. I saw her looking unwell in the ward just now, so I followed her out worriedly. I lost sight of her at the entrance, so I thought I'd come in to look for her," Mu Anxiao said, her expression freezing mid-sentence. "That's strange, why are you asking me this? Who are you?"
"Oh, I'm her husband. We had a bit of a disagreement. If it's possible, could you help me persuade her?" the man said softly.
"Persuade her about what?" Mu Anxiao feigned ignorance.
"She's pregnant, but she doesn't want the child anymore. If possible, can you persuade her not to abort it?" the man whispered.
"You're her husband, and you can't persuade her? What a joke," Mu Anxiao said, deliberately glancing at him.
"No, our relationship is a bit complicated. If..."
"I'm just an outsider who came to check on her. If possible, I can offer you a solution," Mu Anxiao said seriously.
"What solution?" the man leaned down and asked.
"Her son and I are friends. She only listens to her son now. If possible, you should go find him, and I'll help stall her," Mu Anxiao gestured towards Hu Yuan's mother with her head.
"This..." the man hesitated.
"If you're unwilling, then forget it. She still has another son anyway," Mu Anxiao said, deliberately taking a step towards Hu Yuan's mother.