CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 423: I’LL GO CALL MY UNCLE-IN-LAW

"Stomach ache? How did you get a stomach ache!"

"I, should I call my uncle?" Yuanyao stammered as she spoke, her tone sounding like a question, yet also carrying a sense of panic and guilty fear. Naturally, she knew it was because she had exerted too much force earlier, but it wasn’t intentional.

"Go quickly." Yuanyao felt so weak that even speaking a single word was difficult, but she still managed to nod at Tianxin.

"Okay." Tianxin immediately agreed and ran out of the house.

Seeing Tianxin run out, Yuanyao could no longer hold on, sitting on the floor, biting her lips, her face pale as she clutched her stomach. The pain was so intense that she dared not move at all, and her hands on her abdomen could faintly feel a sticky liquid. With a horrified look, she glanced down and saw the crimson blood; realizing it was fresh blood, Yuanyao’s face turned ashen, her eyes blurred with tears.

Tianxin had run out a while ago and found the Wu Family at a small park near Z city, where Lixue was having a walk with his parents and was also sharing Yuanyao’s thoughts with them. Suddenly, a frantic Tianxin arrived: "My aunt, she has a stomach ache, and she’s bleeding..."

"What?" Lixue was shocked.

Mr. and Mrs. Wu were instantly panicked, then hurried home, while Lixue led the way and ran ahead.

Lying on the floor, Yuanyao felt even breathing hurt. She didn’t know how much time had passed; it seemed like she heard hurried footsteps. When she saw that familiar figure, Yuanyao breathed a sigh of relief, but in the next moment, her consciousness began to blur: "The child..." Clinging to those hands, Yuanyao tried to express her thoughts.

"Yuanyao..." Accompanied by Lixue’s worried and shocked calls, Yuanyao couldn’t resist the pain and fainted: "It’s okay; you and the child will be alright." Lixue said, and the usually gentle him burst out with potential, lifting Yuanyao in his arms.

When Mr. and Mrs. Wu reached the door, Lixue was already carrying Yuanyao out. Seeing her lower body covered in fresh blood and her fainting, both elders shouted in shock; Mrs. Song immediately burst into tears, muttering prayers for Buddha and Bodhisattva’s blessings.

"Quickly, take her to the hospital..." Mr. Wu urged Lixue.

"Yes." Lixue nodded and began to run while carrying Yuanyao.

Song Yuan Yao had been trailing the Wu Family back home. When she saw Song Yuan Yao, covered in blood, being carried out by Wu Lixue, she gasped and stumbled back two steps. Then, seizing the moment when the Wu Family had all gone to the hospital together, she gritted her teeth and rushed through the front door.

Xu Xiuxiu learned about the dramatic developments in Z City a day later. At that time, Wu Lixue had rushed home after Song Tianxin hastily informed him, and it took some effort to successfully get Song Yuan Yao to the city hospital. Thankfully, they were just in time to save the baby inside her. Fortunately, the child proved to be tenacious. However, after this incident, Song Yuan Yao would need to take great care to recuperate.

However, just as the Wu Family breathed a sigh of relief, upon returning home, they found that Song Tianxin had disappeared and some hundreds of dollars were missing from the house.

It seemed that when Song Yuan Yao ran out to call back Wu Lixue, Song Tianxin, who had been following behind the Wu Family, also returned home and saw Song Yuan Yao covered in blood. Realizing she wouldn’t get off lightly, and taking advantage of Wu Lixue and the Wu Family’s parents being too panicked to notice her—even unaware that she was partly to blame for Song Yuan Yao’s incident—she ran away.

So, when the Wu Family learned from the doctor that the child was safe, upon returning home, they discovered that Song Tianxin had vanished with her luggage.

Regardless of her young age and their dissatisfaction, the Wu Family was anxious. After all, a semi-grown child had come to their house and now her whereabouts were unknown, which was not easy to explain. Despite efforts to find her, they came up empty, leaving the Wu Family troubled.

Moreover, the disappearance of Song Tianxin was no small matter; attempts to conceal it might well prove futile. Wise to this, Wu Lixue consulted with his young uncle, Song Yuanming, who was also studying at a university in Z City, and, while looking for Tianxin, reluctantly made a call to his second uncles’ house in the Imperial City. Song Yuan Yao had been married there for over a year. Although they only visited home during holidays and met the second uncle just a few times, they weren’t very close, but he clearly understood that besides Father Song and Mrs. Song, the second uncle was definitely one of the decision-makers in the Song Family.

Wu Lixue obviously couldn’t reach Song Yuan Yao’s military district phone, so he had to call Xu Xiuxiu’s home, and thus Xu Xiuxiu learned of this dramatic turn of events and also felt anxious for Song Yuan Yao.

"Lixue, just take good care of Yuanyao for now, and I’ll talk to our family about Tianxin," Xu Xiuxiu reassured Wu Lixue, he was clearly troubled, so she took it upon herself to inform Father Song and Mrs. Song, knowing full well it was a thankless task. With Song Yuan Yao in such a grave condition and Tianxin missing, if Father Song and Mrs. Song found out, they’d be frantic. Wrestling with how to inform them, she also decided to return to Z City.

When Song Yuanhuan came home from work that evening, Xu Xiuxiu told him about the trouble Song Tianxin had caused in Z City.

"She ran away?" It was both a statement and a judgment. Facing the issue of Tianxin, Song Yuanhuan didn’t show any different emotion, but it was evident he was quite upset.

It wasn’t hard to understand Song Yuanhuan’s anger. Daring to face consequences, Tianxin had stirred up trouble and then ran away. Although it might be explained away as fear of punishment, fleeing was undoubtedly the weakest response. Moreover, with her being so young, if the situation wasn’t resolved properly, the victim Song Yuan Yao might even face blame from Song Yuantao.

"Yeah, Wu Lixue can’t find her, Yuanming has also helped look, still no news. Although Yuanyao managed to save the baby, she needs to rest from now on. Tianxin is also not very old, it’s chaotic outside, so Wu Lixue is very troubled. He asked me whether we should tell Mom and Dad!" Xu Xiuxiu explained, also mentioning the issue she took upon herself.

"Mom and Dad don’t know yet, let’s keep it that way for now!" How Tianxin fared wasn’t of much concern to Song Yuanhuan, but he also knew very well that if Father Song and Mrs. Song found out, especially Mrs. Song, knowing she indirectly caused a series of tragedies while trying to do her best for her son, would likely be extremely self-critical! Fortunately, the child in Song Yuan Yao’s womb was safe, otherwise, the situation could have been far worse, and with Tianxin still missing, Song Yuantao was probably also harboring some thoughts.