CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33 FIGHTING EVIL WITH EVIL3_1

Before Yan Xixi could answer, a sudden loud BANG came from outside. She rushed out and saw her mother had collapsed on the floor. The remote control lay broken nearby, its batteries scattered. Her mother’s hand clutched her chest tightly, her forehead slick with large beads of sweat from the pain.

"Mum... Mum, what’s wrong with you?"

"Xixi... don’t you worry about me..."

Xu Xiaoya also rushed out. When she saw Yan’s mother’s ashen face, she too was terrified. Her skin had a sallow, morbid hue; even the most unobservant person could discern an aura of death.

"Call emergency services..."

"There’s no time for that, Xixi! I drove. I’ll take you to the hospital."

The two of them clumsily helped Yan’s mother into the car. Xu Xiaoya started the engine. Yan Xixi sat in the back, cradling her mother. She saw that her mother’s complexion had turned an ominous, dark, purplish-black. Yan Xixi’s heart sank, and she clutched her mother tightly, babbling incoherently.

Yan’s mother clenched her teeth. She knew better than anyone that her condition had deteriorated drastically after her last discharge from the hospital. But to save money, she had insisted she was recovering. These past days, when no one was looking, the pain had become more agonizing each time. Yet, she had gritted her teeth and endured it. Now, she simply couldn’t hold on any longer.

Xu Xiaoya drove as fast as she could. As they approached a major intersection with a red light, a security guard waved them to a stop. Xu Xiaoya rolled down the window and yelled, "There’s a sick person in the car! We’re in a hurry..."

The guard, perhaps not hearing clearly or for some other reason, shouted impatiently, "Pull over! Routine inspection!"

Xu Xiaoya had no choice but to stop the car. Yan Xixi, her heart burning with anxiety, pleaded, "My mother has suddenly taken ill! Please, I beg you, show some leniency and let us pass..."

But the guard just yelled, "Driver, get out! Young person in the back, you get out too! The old lady can stay in the car. Get out your driver’s license and vehicle registration..."

"My mother is critically ill! It’s very serious! Please, hurry..."

The guard glanced dismissively at the old woman in the back seat. In the dim light, he couldn’t see her clearly. He then carefully inspected Xu Xiaoya’s car, noting the thick layer of dust and grime on its roof.

This was the second-hand car Xu Xiaoya had bought, gritting her teeth to pay for it, after being spurred into the purchase by events at Zhou Xiaoxuan’s wedding.

Recently, C City had experienced a spate of violent murders targeting minors. Consequently, checkpoints had been set up at many major intersections to screen for drunk driving and various prohibited items. Xu Xiaoya’s car, a rather low-end second-hand model covered in dust, naturally drew their attention.

The moment Xu Xiaoya stepped out of the car, the guard eyed her up and down. These guards were veterans, their eyes sharp and discerning. One look at the woman’s world-weary face suggested to them that she was a frequent patron of nightclubs, which instantly heightened their suspicion.

Xu Xiaoya grew agitated. "Officer, my car is filthy, yes. It’s caked in dust because I went back to my hometown for the New Year and haven’t had a chance to wash it. But we aren’t carrying anything illegal! We’re respectable citizens..."

"Cut the crap! Open the trunk!"

"There’s a critically ill person in the car! If we’re delayed, it’ll be too late..."

"If you’re in such a hurry, then open the trunk quickly! What are you dawdling for?"

Two other guards walked over. They began vigilantly pulling out and inspecting the items in the trunk one by one. As it happened, Xu Xiaoya’s trunk was crammed full of all sorts of miscellaneous things. The buzz-cut guard looked from one thing to another, then prodded each item with his gun, examining it meticulously. His actions were deliberately slow.

As he did so, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter. "What is all this junk? It’s a complete mess..."