"Auntie, it's not like it's incurable. Why did you sneak back home and make Yingying worry so much?"
Xu Mu walked over and sat down beside Li Yun.
"It can be treated," Li Yun sighed, "but the cost is too high. We already borrowed 15 thousand from you…"
"I can lend more."
Xu Mu interrupted her mid-sentence.
[Favorability +10]
Seeing Xu Mu's sincere expression, Li Yun wiped away her tears, moved."Xiao Xu, it'll still take tens of thousands more. Even if I'm cured, how could my daughter and I ever repay you?"
Beside her, Zhao Yingying sobbed, "Mom, I'll pay it back! I'll do it!"
"I'm worried because you'll try," Li Yun said softly. "You're still young—if you end up carrying such a huge debt, how will you live in the future?"
She sighed again. "Besides, the doctor said there's only a chance of recovery. What if it doesn't work?"
"Auntie, I can just give you the money. You don't need to repay me," Xu Mu said gently.
"How could I? Everyone earns their money through hard work. I can't just take yours for nothing."
Li Yun shook her head. "Xiao Xu, I appreciate your kindness. Just promise me you'll take good care of Yingying in the future."
"Uh…"
"What? You're unwilling?"
It was a clear hint—asking him to take care of Yingying was the same as asking him to marry her.
"Auntie, to be honest… I'm already married." Xu Mu explained.
Li Yun froze for a moment. Why did all the good men she met already have wives?
"But don't worry, Auntie—your illness can be treated…"
Before he could finish, a knock came from the door.
Zhao Yingying quickly got up and went to open it.When she saw who it was, she gasped. "Brother Fang?"
It was Fang Chu.
The moment Fang Chu stepped inside and saw Xu Mu sitting there, his face darkened. Li Yun had left the hospital without permission—a serious matter—and instead of calling him, Zhao Yingying had called this Xu Mu.
[Fate Power -10]
"Xiao Fang, why are you here?" Li Yun asked weakly.
"Auntie, you left the hospital without telling me?" Fang Chu said with a look of concern. "Don't worry—I managed to raise another 20 thousand. We can afford treatment now."
Xu Mu was quietly surprised. As expected of the male lead—he somehow always came up with money.
"Xiao Fang, you don't understand," Li Yun said softly. "I've been diagnosed with cancer. I won't continue treatment."
"What?! Cancer?"
Fang Chu's face went pale. Li Yun looked so young, not even forty yet. He had actually been planning to "take her in" eventually—her mature beauty and voluptuous figure were something he dreamed of experiencing. How could she suddenly have cancer?
Just then, there was another knock on the door. Zhao Yingying frowned curiously and opened it again.
Standing outside was a man and a woman. "Uncle, Auntie? Why are you here?"
The man replied, "You forgot? I was the one who drove your mom to the hospital before. I left my number as the emergency contact—just now the hospital called me."
The man looked about thirty-five, with a square face and permed hair. He was Li Yun's younger brother, Li Kun.
Beside him stood a woman with wavy hair and heavy makeup, narrow eyes, and a sharp expression—his wife, Qian Jing.
"Big Sis, I heard from the doctor that you have cancer?" Li Kun rushed over, pretending to be concerned.
Meanwhile, Qian Jing's eyes darted around the room, assessing their modest home.
"Stomach cancer," Li Yun said calmly. "The doctor said it's due to years of overwork, irregular meals, and poor sleep—disrupting digestion and leading to lesions."
Looking at her brother, she continued evenly, "I was just about to find you. I might not have long left—hurry up and return the thirty thousand you owe us to Yingying."
At that, Xu Mu's expression darkened. That one sentence revealed plenty—her own brother had borrowed thirty thousand from her and never repaid it.
So when she was hospitalized and needed surgery money, he hadn't contributed a single cent.
"Don't worry, Sis. When the time comes, we'll take care of Yingying," Qian Jing said with a fake smile.
Li Yun gave her a cold look. "Yingying doesn't need your care."
Qian Jing's expression stiffened. Did Li Yun already see through her plan?
Zhao Yingying was a beautiful and well-educated college student.If Li Yun died, they intended to "adopt" her—then marry her off to a rich man for a hefty bride price to line their own pockets.
Knowing Yingying's kind personality, she'd never ask for any of that money back. They wouldn't have to spend a dime raising her and could still collect a generous bride price—a perfect deal.
But Li Yun had refused outright.
"Sis, what are you saying? If something happens to you, Yingying will be all alone. She's just a young girl—what if she runs into bad people?"
"Who said she'd be alone? She still has me!"
Fang Chu stepped forward, seeing an opportunity to look good.After speaking, he shot Yingying a proud look as if to say, See how reliable your Brother Fang is?
"Who the hell are you? This is a family matter—you don't get to butt in!" Li Kun barked, glaring at him.
"Yingying won't be alone," Xu Mu said calmly. "Because Auntie will be fine."
Both Li Yun and Zhao Yingying looked at him gratefully.
[Favorability +20]
[Favorability +20]
Fang Chu cursed under his breath. Damn it—this kid is aiming for Li Yun now. Crafty bastard.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Li Kun asked coldly.
"I'm Yingying's brother—and a doctor. I can treat Auntie's illness. You don't have to do anything—just pay back what you owe in due time."
Xu Mu's tone remained calm.
"Mu-ge… you—you're a doctor?" Zhao Yingying asked through her tears, clutching his arm.
"That's right," Xu Mu nodded with a smile. "Early-stage stomach cancer can be treated without surgery—just medication."
"Cocky brat! You think you can cure cancer? Are you trying to get my sister killed?" Li Kun snapped.
But before he could go on, Qian Jing pinched his arm lightly.
"You can treat it? Then go ahead and prescribe the medicine. We don't want to see Big Sis suffer," Qian Jing said sweetly, giving Li Kun a meaningful look.
He blinked, then understood her intent. If this kid claimed he could cure cancer without surgery, then he was clearly a quack.
Let him "treat" her—if Li Yun died faster, all the better. With her gone, they could easily take Zhao Yingying home as planned.
"No way! You say you're a doctor—do you even have a medical license?"
Fang Chu stepped in front of Xu Mu, glaring coldly. Li Yun was the woman he'd set his sights on. What if this guy's nonsense killed her?
Even with cancer, she could live a few more years. By then, when his "three-year period" ended and his strength returned, he could just earn money himself and cure her—simple as that.
"You bastard! He's trying to help my sister, and you're blocking him? You got a better solution?"
Li Kun shouted at Fang Chu.
From this moment on, he and Xu Mu were suddenly on the same side—eager for Xu Mu to begin the "treatment" and send Li Yun to the afterlife as soon as possible.