Li Cuiping still wanted to slap a few more times, but found that Su Qi just stood there, not dodging. Looking at her adopted daughter's swollen face and the blood flowing from her mouth, her eyes instantly turned red.
She hugged Su Qi.
Like a child, she started crying loudly.
"Silly child, you have no idea of my good intentions. It's true that my methods were not honorable back then, but you don't know what the Xu family did to our family!"
"Our family were just farmers in the countryside. My husband and I ran a small business there, and life was smooth sailing, carefree and at ease. Later, people from the Xu family's company came to our village to requisition land for real estate development."
"Your maternal grandfather and paternal grandfather, farmers their whole lives, loved their land so much that they naturally disagreed. But the Xu family resorted to any means necessary, stopping at nothing!"
"They forced your maternal grandfather and paternal grandfather to their deaths. Your maternal grandmother and paternal grandmother followed them within a few years. My husband and I were heartbroken. After giving birth to Su Yan, we came to Shencheng to do business. Later, by chance, we met a client of the Xu family!"
"My husband and I were guests for a full two months, just to get close to the Xu family. Later, we were humiliated by the Xu family, who forbade my husband and me from ever cooperating with the Xu family, simply because my husband said the wrong thing or made a small mistake!"
"Aren't you even a little curious why your adoptive father has been missing for so many years, still doing business in Hong Kong and hasn't returned? Do you think your adoptive father didn't want to come back?"
"I'm telling you, Su Qi, your adoptive father was forced to his death by the Xu family! They forced your adoptive father to jump off a building!"
"I cursed downstairs at the Xu family's company for a whole month, wanting justice for your adoptive father, but I was arrested by the Xu family and imprisoned for a full year!"
"I hate the Xu family! The Xu family ruined my family! I won't let them rest in peace, even as a ghost!"
Li Cuiping looked up at Su Qi, her eyes bloodshot, tears streaming down her entire face.
"I know I was wrong, that I dragged you into this hatred, but I have no other choice!"
"Su Yan lost his father, and now, because of the Xu family, you've indirectly caused your brother to be crippled!"
"If it weren't for Xu Linyun, if it weren't for the Xu family, how could your brother have been crippled! How could your adoptive father have committed suicide by jumping off a building!"
Back then, the Su family's business was blacklisted and monopolized by the Xu family. The Su family had no way out, and the adoptive father jumped to his death. Li Cuiping, for the sake of her two children, lied that her adoptive father had gone to Hong Kong for business.
Then she disappeared for a full year.
During that year, Su Qi spent her time at university, and Su Yan was sent abroad to study.
After Li Cuiping was released from prison, she made up her mind, bribed someone, and sent Su Qi to Huo Tingyun's bed.
She knew that Huo Tingyun was Xu Linyun's childhood sweetheart and the most powerful man in Shencheng.
Only Huo Tingyun.
Only he could avenge the Su family.
Li Cuiping had never mentioned these things to Su Qi.
She wanted Su Qi to be strong, she wanted this unrelated daughter to avenge her.
Although she repented every night, the hatred for her ruined family made it impossible for her to withdraw completely!
The entire Xu family had caused all her relatives to die!
And they still wanted to live well!
"Mom—"
Li Cuiping's emotions were too intense, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Su Qi hugged Li Cuiping, tears streaming down her face.
Her whole body trembled.
She never expected, never even thought of it.
When Xu Linchuan received the call, he rushed to the emergency room.
He saw Su Qi in the hospital corridor. She had been beaten by someone, and her face was still swollen.
Her eyes were swollen like walnuts.
Like a little white rabbit that had been bullied.
His heart ached.
Xu Linchuan strode forward and reprimanded a nurse, "Where's the ice? Get an ice pack for compression!"
He helped Su Qi to sit on a long bench in the corridor.
He took the ice pack from the nurse and gently pressed it against Su Qi's cheek.
Su Qi trembled, then looked up and saw Xu Linchuan in front of her.
For a moment, her mood was complicated.
"Linchuan..."
"I'm here."
"Linchuan."
"Don't move. With me here, everything will be fine. I'll change into protective gear now to perform surgery on your mother."
Xu Linchuan placed the ice pack in Su Qi's hand and then got up and walked towards the emergency room.
Su Qi watched the man's back disappear into the emergency room.
The ice pack in her palm, its chill, spread through her entire body from her palm.
After two hours of rescue, Li Cuiping was out of danger, but she had not yet woken up.
"It's a very serious cerebrovascular disease, caused by long-term worry, overwork, and excessive grief. When your mother wakes up, try to keep her in a good mood." Xu Linchuan came out of the emergency room. It was already past midnight. He saw Su Qi still sitting in the corridor, maintaining the same posture, as if she hadn't moved for two hours.
He couldn't help but feel heartache.
"You go rest first. I'm here, don't worry."
Su Qi didn't seem to hear him, staring blankly, showing no reaction.
"I'll take you to the rest room. You need to rest well. You're going to be a mother soon, you must take care of yourself."
Xu Linchuan directly scooped up Su Qi.
Strangely, Su Qi didn't struggle.
She was like a doll, letting Xu Linchuan move her as he pleased.
He carried Su Qi into his office.
Because he sometimes had night shifts, this was a private hospital, and he had his own exclusive office with a bed. The hospital cleaners would come every day to clean and change the sheets and bedding.
Su Qi didn't know if she was tired, but as soon as she lay on the bed, she closed her eyes and seemed to fall asleep.
Xu Linchuan stood for a while. Hearing Su Qi's breathing stabilize, he left the rest room.
She was very tired and had fallen asleep, but not completely soundly.
In a semi-conscious state, she woke up still feeling tired.
Upon learning that Li Cuiping had woken up, Su Qi immediately went into the ward.
Li Cuiping slowly opened her eyes and saw Su Qi, beckoning her over.
Su Qi stepped forward and held Li Cuiping's hand.
The place where Li Cuiping had hit her yesterday had already subsided a lot.
"Child, I'm sorry for you. I've caused you to be like this all these years. Now that you've divorced Huo Tingyun, it should have been a good thing for you, and it's the outcome your brother Su Yan hoped for. But Mom is not reconciled... The Xu family ruined my family, how can I let them off so easily!"
Li Cuiping didn't want to involve Su Qi.
Although she was only an adopted daughter, the affection over the years was still evident.
But she was powerless.
She wanted revenge, but her will was strong, though her strength was insufficient.
"If it weren't for the entire Xu family killing my parents and your adoptive father, our family of several people could still be living a simple and happy life in the countryside, living a stable life."
"If it weren't for Xu Linyun, your brother Su Yan wouldn't have been hit and killed by Huo Tingyun's car!"