Lan Yu Xi clasped her hand, "Later, just when everyone thought she wouldn't escape again, she escaped once more."
Xin Mo Li was slightly stunned, "Weren't her legs broken? How did she get out?"
"Her legs were broken, and her hands too. She spent more than half a day crawling out of her home. Perhaps heaven was moved by her persistence. As soon as she crawled out, she met some cadres who were visiting the countryside, and then she was saved."
Lan Yu Xi sighed softly, "But, the story isn't over yet. After she was rescued, the first thing she did was call her lover. She loved that man so much that even with only half a life left, she had to crawl out of the mountains to see him.
However, it was a woman who answered the phone. That man had married someone else the year after she disappeared. When the girl learned that her lover was married, she was consumed by despair and jumped out of the window, intending to end her life.
Fortunately, the hospital room she was in was on the third floor. She didn't die, but became a vegetative state. I was the one who healed her. The first thing she said when she woke up was: You shouldn't have saved me."
Xin Mo Li's heart clenched. Fortunately, Ming Ying's first love hadn't abandoned her. If she had also chosen to commit suicide like that woman, she wouldn't even have had the chance to secretly look at her.
Xin Mo Li squeezed Lan Yu Xi's hand so hard that it hurt. She knew Xin Mo Li had fully immersed herself in her story. Only by putting oneself in another's shoes could one truly empathize. Once she fully understood Ming Ying's plight, her knot of resentment would soon be untangled.
Xin Mo Li realized she had hurt Lan Yu Xi and let go of her hand apologetically, "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Lan Yu Xi smiled gently.
Xin Mo Li's lips parted slightly, and it took her a while to speak, "I've overlooked something. In fact, she was the most innocent. She had a lover, but my father snatched her to the island. She escaped to find her true love. It's only natural. I shouldn't resent her, but bless her."
Lan Yu Xi was secretly surprised; she hadn't expected Xin Mo Li's transformation to be so swift.
Xin Mo Li spoke again, "I know why my father gave up looking for her. Because he also realized his mistake."
Lan Yu Xi nodded in agreement, "That must be it. Island Master Xin realized he was wrong and pulled back from the brink."
Xin Mo Li glanced at the tightly closed door.
Lan Yu Xi smiled and gave her an encouraging look.
Xin Mo Li lifted the covers, about to get out of bed. Just then, Ming Ying pushed open the door, crying.
"You're not fully recovered yet, lie down quickly," Ming Ying hurried to the bedside and placed her hand on Xin Mo Li.
Xin Mo Li looked at her hand on her shoulder with a hint of unfamiliarity.
Ming Ying quickly withdrew her hand, "I'm sorry..."
Xin Mo Li shook her head, "You haven't wronged me. Instead, I should thank you for bringing me into this world, and thank you for still being alive."
Lan Yu Xi watched the mother and daughter gazing at each other and smiled as she got out of bed.
Seeing her about to leave, Ming Ying quickly asked, "Miss Lan, is that girl alright? Is there anything she needs help with? My husband and I have established a foundation for trafficked women and children, we can help her."
Lan Yu Xi smiled with relief. She had experienced misfortune, yet instead of feeling inferior or self-pitying, she was able to help others with similar experiences.
For this alone, Ming Ying was worthy of her respect.
"Auntie, thank you. However, she no longer needs our help. That girl is a well-known painter, and she's living very well with her daughter."
Ming Ying's expression visibly relaxed, "That's good. I was really afraid she might do something foolish if she couldn't cope."
Xin Mo Li subconsciously grasped her hand, "After you left, did you do anything foolish?"
Ming Ying was slightly taken aback, then smiled. Her daughter had finally forgiven her!
Ming Ying lovingly stroked her head, "No, because I was luckier than that girl. My husband loved me very much. He didn't dislike me. After I returned, he took me to get our marriage certificate. He's just an ordinary businessman, not very brave. But when he saw me secretly crying because I missed you, he actually wanted to go to the island to get you back. If I hadn't followed quickly, he might have lost his life before even reaching the island."
Xin Mo Li's mouth gaped in astonishment. How much did that man love her mother to risk his life just to get her back?
Ming Ying affectionately caressed her small face, "You're grown up now, and you can leave the island freely. If you miss me, come find me in Country X. That's your home too. Oh, you have a younger brother too... Look at my memory. Mr. Shu told me you visited me and then left in tears... Mo Li, Mom is sorry for making you cry."
Xin Mo Li pursed her lips and shook her head, "I was too insensible back then."
Ming Ying sighed, "Growing up in that environment, it's truly not easy for you to be so sensible."
Xin Mo Li detected a hint of resentment in her words and couldn't help but defend her father, "After you left, he got much better, especially after the incident on the island recently. He's just a rather laid-back old man now."
Ming Ying knew about the incident on the island; Lan Mu Shu had told her. Her reaction then was whether her daughter was injured. As for that man, she truly didn't care.
No, she did care. She cared if he would try to capture her again. To avoid him discovering her whereabouts, she even kept her foundation from becoming too prominent.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway, not loud, but hurried, and there were quite a few of them.
So late, who could it be?
Lan Yu Xi suddenly looked up at the door.
The next second, Lan Xiao Wu pushed the door open and entered, followed by a middle-aged man and a teenage boy of eighteen or nineteen.
Lan Yu Xi didn't recognize them, but Xin Mo Li did. They were her mother's husband and son.
She opened her mouth, and after her gaze met Lan Xiao Wu's, she suddenly lost her voice, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
Lan Xiao Wu had intended to leave after bringing the father and son in, but seeing her cry, he hurried over.
"Why are you crying? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Seeing her fifth brother so anxious, Lan Yu Xi smiled, this foolish man!
Xin Mo Li's tears meant she had forgiven him, but he hadn't grasped the key point.
At that moment, the hospital room door opened again. This time, the person who entered was surprisingly Nan Xiao!
Lan Yu Xi blinked. She wasn't hallucinating.
After entering, Nan Xiao immediately pulled Xin Mo Li into his embrace, "Leave the time for Miss Xin and her family. You should make your exit."
Lan Xiao Wu, hearing Nan Xiao's words, looked at Xin Mo Li with reluctance, "Then I'll leave too. I'll be right outside. If you need anything, just call me."