Chapter 20: I Want a Different Mother

Li Fei’s words struck Qin Mu like a bolt of lightning, causing him to collapse to the floor. "Youyou is dead?"

Li Fei sighed, "Yes. We couldn't find Jiang Li either. The hospital’s security footage from the last two days has been tampered with; everything is corrupted."

Qin Mu stumbled to his feet. "Investigate Jiang Li’s mother, Xie Yun. She must know her daughter’s whereabouts. Yes, spare no expense to find Jiang Li. She owes my Qin family, and I will make her pay double for her sins."

After hanging up, Qin Mu walked toward his son’s hospital room, his demeanor heavy with dark, oppressive energy.

Inside, his son had his head turned to the side, eyes brimming with tears, refusing to speak to anyone.

"Qin Jinchen, I am warning you, stop acting like a spoiled child. If that little girl hadn't died, where would you have found a kidney? And do not dare spout nonsense in front of your father."

Amidst Jiang Xue’s warnings, Qin Mu entered, looking utterly distraught.

"Oh! You startled me, Qin Mu. You scared me."

Qin Mu spoke coldly, "Looking at your demeanor just now, you don’t look scared at all. Furthermore, go home and rest. Leave this to me; I will stay with Chenchen."

"There’s no need. I’ll just stay with my son. He just—"

"I told you to go home and rest. I don't like repeating myself. And treat my son better; remember that you are his biological mother."

Seeing Qin Mu’s anger, Jiang Xue nodded, looking awkward.

"I know, of course I know I am Chenchen’s mother. I love him dearly, and... heh, I’ll go home and rest."

Facing Qin Mu’s icy glare, Jiang Xue swallowed the words she wanted to say and walked out. There was not a shred of genuine concern for her son in her eyes.

The large VIP room was left with only Qin Mu and little Qin Jinchen, who was sobbing uncontrollably on the bed.

Qin Mu closed the door and took a deep breath. "Son, can we talk, please?"

The little boy, having ignored him before, was truly upset. When Qin Mu forced him to turn around, he saw his son’s face drenched in tears, unable to form words.

"Ah, woo, Father, are you a bad man? Why couldn't you protect the little sister? Why did you make her donate her kidney and lose her life? Chenchen feels so guilty!"

Hearing this, Qin Mu’s eyes turned red. "I'm sorry, it’s all my fault!"

"Woo, Father, I don't want that woman to be my mother. Father, can you get me a different mother? Seeing her makes me want to die!"

Qin Mu held his son tightly in his arms. "Chenchen, Jiang Xue is your biological mother!"

Qin Jinchen shook his head. "No, I don't want a mother like her. I’d rather have none at all than have her as my mother. She is vicious; she locked the little sister and me up. She is evil. I don't want her to despise me or hit me. Father, if you have the ability, get me a new mother. If not, just send me to an orphanage! The little sister is dead, and I want to go to an orphanage to atone. Can I just eat vegetables every day?"

Qin Mu stroked his son’s hair, his heart aching with every fiber of his being. He hugged him tighter.

"Father, the little sister said her mother was very gentle and loved her very much. Can you find me a mother like hers? And the little sister’s father is a bad man. I promised her that you could be her father. Is that okay?"

Qin Mu’s mind was filled with images of Youyou’s voice and smile. He nodded regretfully. "Alright, Father will listen to Chenchen. Father promises not to marry Jiang Xue. I will find you a new mother. Of course, we must find your little sister first."

"Find the little sister? Father, do you mean she isn't dead? Is that it?"

Qin Mu nodded, his warm eyes moist. He felt compelled to tell a white lie.

"Yes. As long as we haven't found her body, there is a chance she is alive. We must not give up. You need to cooperate with the doctors to get better, and then you can come with me to find her, okay?"

"Yes, okay! Father, I’m hungry. I want to eat, I want to become strong, I want to get better quickly and find her."

Seeing his son act so mature, Qin Mu’s heart ached.

Meanwhile, Jiang Li had been running a high fever all night and finally woke up at dawn.

"Master Jiang, the eldest young lady is awake! She’s awake!"

Following the voice of Butler Zhang, the elderly Jiang Zhenting rose quickly and went to Jiang Li’s side.

"Oh, thank the heavens, my granddaughter has finally woken up! Quick, go get some porridge; she must be hungry! And bring all the jewelry and clothes prepared for her. I want to give her the best to make up for everything."

"Yes, sir!" The two rows of servants scattered in a flurry, each attending to their duties.

Jiang Li struggled to sit up. She looked at the kind old man before her, recognizing him as the man she had seen on television. Overwhelmed, she didn't know what to do.

"I... where am I? Are you... are you the old chairman of the Jiang family?"

Old Man Jiang nodded vigorously, his eyes brimming with tears as he took Jiang Li’s hand. "Yes, I am your grandfather. Your real grandfather. You should know something about the family situation by now, shouldn't you? The future of the Jiang family will depend on you. This is your home. It is your grandfather who failed you; there were too many reasons I couldn't bring you home sooner, and it brings me great pain that I’ve had to bring you back under these circumstances."

As the old man spoke, tears streamed down his face. Jiang Li understood the circumstances of being an illegitimate daughter, and she shook her head. "No, Grandfather, please don't say that. I don't blame you. After all, I am an awkward existence. But thank you, for giving me a hope of survival when I was on the brink of death."

"Good. Whether you blame me or not, the Jiang family will have to rely on you from now on."

Jiang Li felt a bit timid. "But... I’m afraid I don't have the ability. I’m afraid I can't handle it alone."

Old Man Jiang waved his hand. "If you are worried about that, just think: don't you want the people who caused your daughter's disappearance to be punished? From what I understand, Chen Shaojie was personally introduced by Jiang Jintao to a management position at the Jiang Group. Don't you want revenge? And you are still not divorced from him. Don't you want to make him pay a painful price and leave with nothing?"

"I do. Grandfather, please rest assured. I will go to the Jiang Group to learn. Even if I have to start from the bottom, I am not afraid. I am not afraid of hardship or exhaustion. I only hope to find my daughter, Youyou. I want to punish Chen Shaojie and Qin Mu."

Thinking of her daughter Youyou, whose fate was still unknown, Jiang Li felt her heart lurch into her throat.

She grabbed her grandfather’s arm anxiously and pleaded, "Grandfather, please send people to help me find Youyou. I cannot lose her. She isn't even four years old yet. I beg you."

Hearing this, Old Man Jiang sighed heavily. "I sent Assistant Lin Fan to investigate. The little girl was indeed tracked to the Organ Donation Research Center, but her body was not found there. I fear she may have been sold into the black market for her organs."