Chapter 8

Chapter 8

On the way to the hospital, I finally learned that Aunt Ma had been so shaken that she fainted and was hospitalized.

As for my dad…

His old superior had been transferred, and the department was holding a farewell banquet for him today.

His coworker, Xiao Li, had driven all the way out to the countryside to pick him up. The two of them went back to our place to change, then headed to the west side of the city to drink.

My dad had never left the hotel the entire time. There were plenty of people who could testify to that. Once his suspicion was cleared, the police let him go.

When we arrived at the hospital, my dad warned me not to run my mouth. He told me to kneel down and kowtow to Aunt Ma in apology the moment we saw her.

We had just reached the third floor of the inpatient ward when I saw a middle-aged man walk out of one of the rooms.

He was Aunt Ma’s older brother, An’an’s maternal uncle.

Uncle Ma was carrying a thermos. His eyes were red from crying, and when his gaze landed on me, I saw his fist clench.

He was clearly holding back his anger, but he didn’t say anything. He only glared at me with hatred before turning to my dad. “What’s the situation now?”

My dad said, “The police are canvassing the family compound. When I left, they were taking fingerprints.”

After saying that, my dad glanced toward the ward. “Where’s Xiaoqin? Is she all right?”

Uncle Ma shook his head and sighed. “She cried until she passed out. Let’s not stand around in the hallway. Come on, let’s talk over there.”

My dad grunted in response, then handed me the lunchbox and fruit. He smacked the back of my head, his eyes full of warning. “Go take her the food. Don’t wake your Aunt Ma!”

I lowered my head. “I know.”

They went to the hot water room. Carrying the things, I crept toward the ward.

The moment I pushed open the door, I saw that Aunt Ma was awake.

In my memory, Aunt Ma had always been bright and beautiful. She wore fashionable dresses, had her hair dyed and permed into big waves, and strangers often tried to chat her up when she walked down the street.

But now, she lay weakly in the hospital bed, her face as pale as paper. There were even faint strands of white at her temples.

She was like an exquisitely vivid, delicate flower that had withered and shriveled overnight.

Her eyes stared straight at the ceiling. She didn’t move. She didn’t speak. Tears slid down both sides of her face and disappeared into her hair.

Her sister-in-law sat beside her crying, trying to persuade her. “Xiaoqin, please don’t be like this.”

Hearing movement at the door, her sister-in-law turned around. “Yanwei, you’re here.”

I froze for a moment. Just as I was about to walk in, I suddenly saw Aunt Ma turn her head toward me.

Her face, which had been numb and expressionless, shifted ever so slightly in that instant, then gradually twisted.

She stared at me with a deathly glare. A sound came from deep in her throat, impossible to decipher, like a lioness tearing into prey.

I knew I was supposed to kneel down and apologize right then.

But I couldn’t move. I didn’t dare move.

In the end, coward that I was, I turned and ran.

When I reached the entrance of the hot water room, I heard Uncle Ma’s voice.

“Jianlin, I’m going to be blunt, so don’t take offense. Does your son have anything to do with An’an’s death or not?”