“Xingguang, as long as you can successfully marry Huo Wen’an, the Xu family can establish a relationship with the Huo family. By then, your elder brother Jiaoyang’s official career will surely soar, and your elder sister Mingyue can also marry into a wealthy family. The Xu family will bask in endless glory and wealth!”
With each word, Xu Zeqing became more excited. His refined demeanor vanished, and he appeared completely manic.
Xu Zeqing gripped Xu Xingguang’s frail shoulders and continued fervently, “Once I gain power and influence, I will definitely bring down the Jiang family, tie Jiang Heng in front of your grave, and make him kowtow and apologize to you!”
The more Xu Zeqing’s enthusiasm grew, the colder and more detached Xu Xingguang felt. She was experiencing a soul-deep numbness, a detachment from affection and love.
For ten lifetimes of reincarnation, no matter the hardships and torments she endured, she never dared to forget the way home. She fought to return home, hoping for a family reunion, only to find that her family was willing to sell her!
Not once, but twice!
Furthermore, when did she acquire an elder brother named Jiaoyang and an elder sister named Mingyue?
Xu Xingguang was the only daughter of the Xu family and had never been treated kindly by her grandparents, who preferred male heirs.
When she was young, her grandmother would hint at her mother to have another son. Fearing that her daughter would be further neglected, her mother had secretly undergone a sterilization procedure to avoid having more children.
Her grandfather, on the other hand, was disdainful of her because she was a girl. During ancestral rituals on holidays, he forbade her from entering the ancestral hall.
So, where did Xu Zeqing’s elder brother and sister come from?
Could they be illegitimate children?
Thinking of how Xu Zeqing not only had an affair behind her mother’s back but also secretly had two children older than her, Xu Xingguang felt disgusted.
However, since Xu Zeqing was willing to use his own daughter in exchange for wealth and prosperity, his extramarital affairs seemed relatively minor.
“Xing Guang, our father-daughter relationship is shallow in this lifetime. In the next life, we’ll continue our father-daughter relationship!” Xu Zeqing said with remorse, all while he was already resolute in his decision. He placed his hand on Xu Xingguang’s oxygen mask and forcefully removed it!
The moment the oxygen mask was completely removed, the alarm on the ventilator continuously beeped, but all the patient’s vital signs remained normal.
Xu Zeqing stared at the waveforms on the ventilator screen, his facial expression gradually becoming puzzled. Normally, removing the ventilator should lead to the patient’s rapid weakening of breath and eventual death, causing the waveforms to become flat lines.
Why wasn’t it happening?
Could it be…
Xu Zeqing realized something and raised his gaze abruptly, only to fall into a pair of deep, beautiful eyes.
Moonlight and starlight intertwined in those mesmerizing eyes, resembling a dazzling Milky Way, stunningly beautiful.
Xu Xingguang, who had been in a coma for three years, had awakened!
“Dad.” After not speaking for three years, Xu Xingguang’s lips and throat were dry, and her voice sounded hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against a concrete wall.
That voice sent shivers down Xu Zeqing’s spine.
Xu Zeqing, holding the oxygen mask tightly in his hand, felt as if he were clutching a burning coal.
He noticed Xingguang’s gaze directed at the oxygen mask in his hand, but instead of becoming angry, she wore a warm smile. However, her words frightened Xu Zeqing: “Dad, how does it feel to have removed your daughter’s oxygen mask with your own hands? Enjoyable?”
Having never killed anyone before, Xu Zeqing was terrified by the way his daughter could see through his intentions.
Suddenly, Xu Xingguang tapped the pillow beneath her and made a sincere proposal to Xu Zeqing, “Dad, why don’t you take advantage of the fact that no one has noticed yet and smother me to death right now? If you miss this opportunity, you won’t have another chance.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Zeqing was horrified. His own daughter could see through his wicked thoughts!
Looking at his daughter’s smiling face, Xu Zeqing was frightened and conflicted. After all, she had just awakened from a three-year coma, and her body was still weak. She had no power to resist. If he were to pick up the pillow and press it against her face, waiting for a few minutes, she would die, and everything would proceed as planned. However, he had never killed anyone before, and now that his daughter had exposed his sinister plan, he lost the nerve.
In the blink of an eye, Xu Zeqing found the perfect excuse for himself.
With a sorrowful expression, Xu Zeqing began to fake remorse, tears streaming down his face as he cried out, “Xing Guang, it’s all because Dad is useless!”
His tears flowed freely, and he sobbed, “That Jiang Heng, he’s a scoundrel! When he pursued you, it was all a ploy to gain your trust and use your blood to save his first love!”
“When I refused, he threatened me and even boasted about killing our entire family! I had no choice but to agree!”
“Two months ago, that wretched woman’s condition was successfully stabilized, and Jiang Heng was afraid that I would seek revenge. He directly swallowed up all the assets of the Xu family! Now the company is bankrupt, and I’ve accumulated debts. Your grandfather’s health is deteriorating, and he needs treatment. I simply can’t afford your medical expenses anymore. I can only…”
“I can only give up on you.” Xu Zeqing delivered a speech that mixed truth with falsehood, accompanied by his Oscar-worthy performance. Even the best actors would have to yield to him.
Xu Xingguang couldn’t help but admire Xu Zeqing’s acting skills. If she hadn’t heard his heartless words earlier, she might have been led astray and directed all her hatred towards Jiang Heng. She would certainly seek retribution for Jiang Heng’s actions, but she couldn’t forgive her father’s two attempts to sell her for personal gain.
It seemed that the Xu family’s current predicament, caused by Jiang Heng, was partly due to Xu Xingguang’s condition. The expenses for treating a vegetative patient were undoubtedly a heavy burden for the Xu family. Xu Zeqing’s decision to give up her treatment was something Xu Xingguang could understand.
However, she could accept her father’s decision due to financial difficulties, but she couldn’t accept him selling her for wealth and prosperity.
Just then, a series of footsteps sounded from outside the ward.
Bang!
The door was suddenly pushed open, and a middle-aged woman strode in.
Despite the cold weather, she was wearing an open coat over a form-fitting black dress, showcasing her voluptuous figure and exuding sensuality.
(End of Chapter 2)
Thank you for reading! If you like this title, please consider supporting by leaving a review on Novelupdates, it would mean a lot for this title by making more people interested in reading it too (keep me motivated too). And lastly, if you found any mistake in translation, feel free to contact me on Discord or leave a comment and I’ll fix it ASAP. ~Devyme
