Chapter 179

She spent all her savings, but faced with the astronomical figure the doctor estimated, it was merely a drop in the bucket.

At that moment, she thought everything through, tore up her college admission notice, and when she got a friend's call, she happily blessed her, also knowing she could never go back to before.

Relying on her extraordinary beauty, she frequented nightclubs, and eventually was kept by someone; when she got into the car, she showed a delighted smile, and the other person looked at her contemptuously: "Are you happy?"

She laughed until tears streamed down, nodded vigorously, "Mom, I have money now; I can pay for your treatment."

Until today—

Ling Yue restrained her gaze, then looked at the other person, who smiled obsequiously: "Master?"

That money had always been used by her for medical treatment; aside from helping her mother get treatment, she hadn't touched a cent, but her mother's condition kept worsening, and she couldn't just watch her die.

This was her all-or-nothing gamble.

Ling Yue looked at her, her gaze shifting several times, then her expression grew solemn, but before that she said: "You should know, I'm a pet consultation live-stream."

When she spoke those first words, the woman's heart jumped.

Ling Yue continued: "I'll make an exception just for you, but you must pay a price—I'll reveal all your past before an audience of over a hundred million, and I'll only make this exception once."

The woman's face turned deathly pale; after a moment, she whispered hoarsely: "Okay."

She could give up anything, except her mother.

Ling Yue revealed everything about her past, big and small, though she blurred the exact address; yet even that was enough to shock people.

The live-stream's viewers were shocked one after another, various comments poured in; the woman dared not close her eyes, but her expression grew increasingly grim as she endured wave after wave.

Suddenly, Ling Yue's expression turned cold: "Go to the hospital now."

The woman stared: "Master?"

Ling Yue: "Your mother's condition has been improving, but she's now in danger—hurry to the hospital!"

The woman's face instantly changed; she didn't care about anything else, she ran out in a panic; the camera shook, and the confused viewers were left dazed, until she got into the car and finally steadied herself.

【Frog fun, I just stepped away for a few minutes—what on earth happened?】

【Brother, you missed out big—you missed a huge piece of gossip!】

【From what the host said, the girl's mother is in the hospital, but why did she suddenly say she's in danger? Could her condition have worsened?】

Many people knew her past, knew the mistakes she'd made, yet they couldn't help feeling pity, just because of her sincere heart.

Ling Yue furrowed her brows, seeing what would happen half an hour later.

The woman clasped her hands nervously: "Host, why is my mother in danger?"

Ling Yue looked at her and sighed softly: "Because of you."

"You know best what kind of person your mother is; what do you think her reaction would be after learning the truth?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman's face instantly turned deathly pale; after a moment, she lowered her head: "I understand."

As for the scene Ling Yue saw, her eyes flickered—it was a hospital ward where a short-haired woman suddenly burst in, indiscriminately scattering photos onto the mother's hospital bed, telling her that the daughter she had always been proud of was actually a home-wrecking third party.

She's a shameless home-wrecker who seduces men!

Her mother immediately clutched her chest, her expression twisted; by the time she arrived, resuscitation had ended, and amid the rolling sound of wheels, she lifted her head in panic, only to see her mother's face covered with a white cloth.

The woman plunged to her knees with a thud, she gave up everything, even if it meant going against her conscience, yet she still lost her mother.

The car soon arrived at the hospital.

She hurried straight to the upper floors, to the VIP ward prepared for her mother, a stifling expanse of snowy white; at the end of the corridor, before the room, appeared a short-haired woman in a Chanel-style wool coat; the instant she saw her, the live-stream viewers suddenly recalled a descriptor.

"A worldly wealthy flower."

I am my mother's little treasure, beautiful and pretty, practically peerless; but the woman opposite is a dignified, graceful peony, the poise and pride cultivated by her upbringing and family.

Compared to her, I am my mother's little treasure, yet I inexplicably lowered my head; she herself didn't know what she was thinking, and suddenly her shoulders slumped.

Behind the Chanel-style woman stood two black-clad bodyguards.

The moment she saw "I am my mother's little treasure," the woman raised an eyebrow intriguingly: "Xu Lingling?"

"I am my mother's little treasure," no, Xu Lingling trembled all over, yet she kept walking step by step toward her; the bodyguard beside her furrowed his brow, about to brush her aside, but at the woman's gesture, he remained motionless.

"Xu Lingling, this should be our first formal meeting—hello."

Her bearing was generous and entirely proper.

Xu Lingling wished she could sink into the ground, she lowered her head in anguish, saying nothing.

With such an attitude, even a blind person could tell something was off, let alone the live-stream viewers, whose guesses ran rampant.

【She looks guilty, huh?】

【Ah, this, could she be the legitimate wife? 【embarrassed】【grinning】】

"A De, let's go in." The woman shifted her gaze, but simply said something; hearing that, Xu Lingling instantly spread her arms, blocking the door: "Don't."

She plunged to her knees with a thud: "I beg you, I beg you, don't tell my mother—she won't be able to take it! I'm lowly! I'm depraved! I deserve to die! Do whatever you want, just don't tell my mother..."

After she finished, she started slapping her own face, while the woman snorted repeatedly: "Who are you putting on this act for? He's not even here—who are you trying to win sympathy from?"

"Me?"

She said it, unable to hold back another bout of laughter.

Aside from the beginning, the live-stream's viewers could not see the woman's face at all, only hearing her mocking voice, while waves of speculation flooded the screen.

At this moment before the ward, Xu Lingling wept uncontrollably, she pleaded, she begged the other not to go in.

The woman looked at her with contempt: "Why can't I go in? You raised such a shameless daughter, and she can still spend my husband's money with a clear conscience? You two are truly a pair of lowlifes!"

Xu Lingling felt as if struck by lightning, her hands clenched tightly at her sides: "My mother doesn't know."

"My mother doesn't know anything."

The woman was somewhat startled: "What did you say?"

Before she could ask for details, the ward door suddenly swung open; a doctor in a white coat stepped out, startled by the scene before him: "Miss Xu?"

Inside the room, hearing the sound, Mother Xu turned her head, locking eyes with Xu Lingling's terrified gaze—why was she kneeling on the floor?

Mother Xu staggered for a moment, and Xu Lingling, her voice hoarse, cried out: "Mom."

She hurriedly stood up, wiped the tears from her face, and ran to her mother's bedside: "Mom, what's wrong?"

Xu's mother narrowed her eyes, her gaze carefully scanning her face: "Lingling, what's going on?"

Xu Lingling forced a smile: "Mom, just focus on your treatment, don't ask so many questions, lie down and rest."

She said this to herself, but unexpectedly, the mother on the bed directly said: "Did you do something unconscionable? Tell me, Mom."

"If you don't tell me today——"

She sat at the bedside, making a move to pull out the needle in her hand; Xu Lingling's face turned pale instantly, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

Beside them, the short-haired woman was somewhat startled by this scene; did the other party not know?

Xu Lingling also revealed the truth under pressure, saying over and over: "Mom, Mom, don't be angry; if you are angry, just hit me… beat me to death!"

"Tell me!" Xu's mother grabbed the blanket, already faintly sensing something; a vague anxiety welled up in her heart, she felt somewhat short of breath, covering her chest, her lips turning pale.

"I didn't go to college, I didn't find a job, no kind soul helped us; it's me, I sold myself."

"Mom, sorry, Mom, sorry……"

She didn't know why, why heaven would torment her like this; she had no good recourse, aside from selling her body, aside from this good skin, what else could she offer?

Xu's mother remained silent, as if frozen, but her emotions were like rolling molten lava; the equipment beside her emitted a sharp, piercing beeping sound.

Doctor: "!!!"

"Don't get agitated, old person, it's bad for your health."

He was Xu's mother's attending physician, knowing what this disease most forbids, he immediately became nervous.

At this moment, Xu Lingling knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing: "Mom, don't abandon me; if you leave, I'll go with you."

Xu's mother covered her face, closed her eyes, and remained silent.

If she had shouted and scolded her, Xu Lingling might have felt reassured, but she was like ashes-hearted, leaving her completely at a loss.

Xu Lingling looked toward the short-haired woman beside her; no one knew what she thought of at that moment.

She knelt on the ground, looking up at the woman: "Sorry."

The short-haired woman furrowed her brows, feeling her tone was off; the next moment, Xu Lingling suddenly rose, grabbed the fruit knife placed on the bedside table, and slashed from the base of her temple to her jaw, the left half of her face turning inside out, blood spurting out instantly.

She trembled all over from the pain, half her face like an angel, half like a devil: "Sorry."

"I only spent money to treat my mother's illness; the overdue medical fees… I will repay you."

Everyone present was stunned by her decisiveness; the netizens watching this scene in the live broadcast were terrified, as if empathizing, they started shaking.

【I fucking…… this is too ruthless……】

【Ah ah ah ah she slashed her own face, boo hoo hoo I suddenly want to cry!】

【Why did this happen?!】

"Doctor, hurry up and save her!"

The short-haired woman was somewhat startled, because of her actions; originally, this time she would never let the other party off.

She had long known that her husband kept a mistress outside; even, every time she was with her husband, she would hear him praising the mistress, through objects and words, boosting her presence here.

The short-haired woman loathed her intensely, unable to understand how a person could be so shameless!

Therefore, even without feelings, given her pride, she would never easily let her off.

But now, she suddenly felt some hesitation, some doubt; while the doctor was bandaging her, the short-haired woman paused for a moment: "When you were together with Jiayuan, did you mention me?"

Xu Lingling startled, slightly raised her eyes, shook her head: "No."

She knew she was the mistress; even if she had to do this for her mother's sake, she never dared mention the man's legitimate wife, wishing she could shrink herself into a transparent person—

Xu Lingling wearily lifted her eyelids: "Besides me, he has others; to him I'm just a pet."

Xu Lingling is not stupid, nor blind; she cautiously glanced at the short-haired woman.

The netizens in the live broadcast who heard this—

【Holy shit, what a huge scumbag!】

【Fucking hell, is this the extravagant world of the rich?】

Upon hearing this, the legitimate wife raised the corners of her eyebrows: "Good."

Really good.

The woman instantly understood Xu Lingling's position: "You're the shield he set up."

No wonder, her investigation and evidence gathering were so easy; it turns out there are others.

She came with a mighty presence, and left even more decisively.

In the quiet ward, only Xu Lingling and her mother remained; looking at her daughter's state, Xu's mother gritted her teeth: "I won't seek treatment anymore; even if I die, I won't drag you down."

The vast majority of netizens couldn't help sighing; Xu Lingling was wrong, but what else could she do? If she hadn't been driven to desperation, she wouldn't have done this.

Some also said: 【Being a mistress is just shameless! Just base! Just depraved!】

At the same moment, Ling Yue saw the knot on Xu's mother's face disappear, also sighed; after this affair's turmoil subsided, Xu Lingling would take her mother away from here to start a new life.

In the live broadcast, opinions on this matter were mixed; ultimately, only one sentence remained.

【The frayed rope snaps at its weakest point; misfortune seeks only the ill-fated.】

Ling Yue made no comment on this matter; Xu Lingling has already paid the price for her actions, one matter settled, one matter cleared.

However, this is regarding Xu Lingling; she saw that short-haired woman, who actually has a wealth star in her destiny.

She looked at the camera, for the first time noticing a livestream bug; this is a pet consultation livestream, not a fortune-telling one!

Ling Yue had to earnestly reiterate: "Folks, I really am a pet consultation livestream, not a fortune-telling broadcast."

The livestream netizens: 【Ah, right, right, right, the host is correct!】

Ling Yue: "If there's another like this, sorry, I'll kick them out directly and move on to the second place!"

Ling Yue: "If there's another one like this, sorry, I'll kick them out directly, and start promoting the second place!"

【Good, good yay!】

Ling Yue chatted on a few more sentences, trying to shift the topic; it did have some effect—at least no one mentioned Xu Lingling again—but the matter wasn't over.

Ling Yue greatly underestimated the influence of her livestream and the netizens' abilities; though the scumbag had hidden himself, everyone could still see.

They all became Sherlock Holmes–level detectives, using a name and a hospital address, and finally located where the story happened.

Not long after, it emerged that the son of a certain real estate tycoon had estranged his wife, even taken her to court, and, by coincidence, that wife was the efficient and decisive young lady seen that day.

The other side ruthlessly tore a piece of flesh from him, blew the affair sky‑high—even his two‑year‑old illegitimate child was exposed to the public—and rumor had it that the woman they couldn't find was his true love.

The real estate tycoon's company reputation was ruined, and the divorced man became a local joke—whereas the original spouse, uh, the ex‑wife's family, saw their business thrive more and more.

Of course, those events came later; returning to the topic, Ling Yue closed the livestream, and outside it had started snowing again without her noticing.

Qiao Qiao, in a thin jacket, smiled and passed her a roasted sweet potato; with the sun fruit, inside and outside the house were like two different seasons.

Ling Yue sniffed, and the rich sweet aroma immediately filled the air.

Seeing this, Qiao's dad immediately frowned: "We're stewing little chicken and baking pancakes today—why are you letting Ling Yue eat roasted sweet potato?!"

After saying that, he looked up—Ling Yue was already eating: "I like stewed meat with baked pancakes, and I also like roasted sweet potato, right, Qiao Qiao?"

She leaned on her friend's shoulder; Qiao Qiao bobbed her head like a pecking chick, her face flushed, and mysteriously asked: "Do you know why my dad's so happy today, Yueyue?"

Ling Yue shook her head—she truly didn't know, especially after seeing the lavish dinner being prepared in the kitchen, which only heightened her curiosity.

Qiao Qiao shook her head: "I know; if you beg me, I'll tell you."

Ling Yue: "……"

She stared at Qiao Qiao unblinkingly, making her feel creepy all over, then suddenly reached out to tickle her; Qiao Qiao laughed until tears streamed down, unable to beg for mercy: "I'll talk, I'll talk."

"Because that bastard Qiao Shi left, my dad's out of sight, out of mind; today he's especially happy, so he's showing off a special skill."

Ling Yue heard this, startled, and hesitated before nodding.

Before bed, she felt she had forgotten something, but then thought, if it could be forgotten, it probably wasn't important.

In the dead of night, in the old forest of Changbai Mountain, a long, powerful wolf howl suddenly rang out, one after another; this strange commotion frightened all the wild animals in the woods into repeatedly shrinking into their dens, not daring to show their heads.

A little squirrel hid in a tree hollow, trembling atop a pile of nuts, its heart pounding: "Goodness gracious, why have wolves suddenly appeared in the mountains?!"

This was also the sentiment of many animals living here.

Because the Changbai Mountain region hadn't seen a wolf pack in ages, and judging by the sound, something big must have happened!

At that moment, in the gloomy, cold forest, suddenly rows of cute little green lanterns lit up; looking closely, they seemed to float in mid‑air.

Only when stepping into the moonlight did one realize that each little green light was actually a pair of glossy green eyes.

The gray wolf pack, tails lowered, with frames nearly as tall as a person, ran across the snow, their long howls echoing almost all night.

Thanks to her keen hearing, Ling Yue dreamed of wolf howls all night—thoughts of "setting out" and "looking for wolves"—and at dawn the next day, with the sky just lightening, she opened her eyes.

"Du du du——"

Ling Yue, half‑asleep, followed the sound and saw a small, tawny‑yellow head perched on the window sill, big dark eyes staring at her, a blunt round chin, and two paws still tapping the window.

"Little Yellow Immortal?"

It anxiously chirped, its paws rubbing together: "Something's wrong! Something's wrong with the adult!":,,.