Chapter Thirteen: A Heart as Venomous as a Serpent

Qin Mu didn’t ride in his own car; after all, arriving at the hospital in a military vehicle was far too conspicuous. Instead, he sent Wu Mu to park and departed in Xia Yuan’s car.

“Qin Mu, are you truly confident?” After calming down and thinking it over, Xia Yuan finally voiced his concern. Treating an illness was no trivial matter; it was not something to be taken lightly.

“Describe the symptoms to me first,” Qin Mu replied.

“My father fell ill about a month ago. Even before that, he often told me he felt powerless in everything he did, frequently out of breath after just a short walk, and there were several instances when he nearly collapsed for no apparent reason. But when we took him to the hospital, nothing serious was found—the doctor simply said he was a bit malnourished. Ever since he got sick, his health has deteriorated rapidly, his organs failing at an alarming rate, and nothing could stop it. He used to weigh over one hundred and eighty pounds, but now he’s barely a hundred.”

As he spoke, Xia Yuan’s voice became increasingly bitter. He fished a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Yet, in Qin Mu’s eyes, this gesture was anything but ordinary.

“Have you been feeling fatigued lately? Insomnia, cold sweats perhaps?” Qin Mu asked.

“How did you know?” Xia Yuan was startled. These symptoms had only begun to appear recently, but preoccupied with his father’s illness, he’d dismissed them as natural.

Qin Mu took Xia Yuan’s hand, pressing four fingers against his pulse. “Not just that—you also have disordered qi and blood, and your yang energy is depleted.”

Xia Yuan was not the type of wealthy heir given to debauchery; on the contrary, he paid close attention to his conduct. These symptoms were entirely out of character.

“In another two months, you’ll end up just like your father, bedridden and unable to recover.”

“What… what’s happening to me?” Xia Yuan was utterly shaken by Qin Mu’s words.

“I fear this isn’t an illness,” Qin Mu answered, but said no more, leaving Xia Yuan deep in thought. Given Xia Yuan’s intelligence, he must have sensed something was amiss.

…

When they arrived at the hospital, both men quickly got out of the car. Xia Yuan had reserved an elite ward for his father and spent a fortune to assemble the most renowned doctors from the greater Jiangcheng area to monitor his father’s condition around the clock.

Passing the glass window outside the ward, Qin Mu glanced at the middle-aged man lying on the bed. Just as Xia Yuan had described, the elder’s lips were purple, his face bloodless, and he was so thin he was little more than skin and bones—barely clinging to life. Any doctor would pronounce him beyond saving.

Xia Yuan stopped, seeing that his father’s condition had worsened since his last visit. Through the glass, it felt as if life and death were separated by a river. After a long silence, his voice choked as he spoke.

“My father might not hold on much longer, brother. Please, don’t tell my mother about this. Her own health is poor—if she learns my dad is dying, she won’t be able to bear it.”

Qin Mu nodded, respecting Xia Yuan’s decision.

After undergoing sterile procedures, the two of them entered the ward. A haggard woman sitting by the bed quickly approached as she saw Xia Yuan—it was his mother, Han Xueping.

“Son, tell me honestly, is Qinghai about to die?” Han Xueping asked tearfully.

“Not at all, Mom. Dad’s a blessed man—he has a long life ahead of him!” Xia Yuan replied smoothly, though he was far from certain.

“Don’t lie to me. Doctor Li just told me Qinghai has less than half a day left. If he goes, I have nothing left to live for.” With that, Han Xueping broke down, crying bitterly. Xia Yuan could only hug his mother and offer comfort, though inside he was seething with anger.

He had repeatedly instructed his eldest sister not to let Doctor Li reveal their father’s condition to Han Xueping. So how had this happened?

Soon, the Doctor Li in question emerged, looking helpless. “Young Master Xia, I’m truly sorry. As a doctor, I have a responsibility to both my patient and their family. Your mother has a right to know the truth.”

“You don’t know a damn thing!” The usually refined Xia Yuan was so furious he swore outright. If his mother weren’t present, he would have punched Doctor Li then and there.

“Don’t blame Doctor Li, little brother. Dad’s time is almost up. It’s better for Mom to know sooner rather than later, wouldn’t you agree?” A woman stepped out from behind Doctor Li, heels clicking on the floor—his eldest sister, Xia Xuan.

“You!” Xia Yuan was baffled by her attitude. He and Xia Xuan had been at odds since childhood, never seeing eye to eye. He had hoped that with their father’s illness, they could at least unite for once, but instead Xia Xuan was more indifferent than ever.

“There’s no point keeping all these doctors here. It’s a waste of money—this luxury ward, the medication, the care—it all costs a fortune every day. Isn’t that throwing money away?” As she spoke, Xia Xuan pulled out her phone and began making calls.

“No!” Xia Yuan rejected her decision outright.

“And why not? Dad’s down, which makes me head of the family! I say they all leave!” She shoved Xia Yuan aside, issuing orders into her phone.

Immediately, the doctors and nurses who had been attending their father began gathering their things to leave. Even the IVs and tubes keeping Xia Qinghai alive were being removed one by one.

“Damn it!” Xia Yuan cursed, storming forward, snatching the phone from Xia Xuan’s hand, and smashing it to pieces on the floor.

“The next one who tries to leave, I’ll break their legs!” he roared. “No matter what, I will not give up on my father!” The determination in his eyes was unmistakable—a man bearing responsibilities few could imagine.

No one dared move or speak.

“What’s the meaning of this, Xia Yuan?” After a moment, Xia Xuan sneered. “Doctor Li already said Dad’s beyond saving, and all the doctors agree. What are you clinging to? If you have the guts, why don’t you save him yourself?”

She folded her arms, mocking him mercilessly.

“As it happens, I do have a friend who might be able to save him!”

At these words, Xia Xuan finally noticed the silent young man standing behind Xia Yuan.

“Him? You must be out of your mind! You just drag some random guy off the street into the ward?”

“Doctor Li has been practicing for twenty years, his reputation spans three cities. What is your friend compared to him? Does he think he can play doctor too?” Xia Xuan looked at Qin Mu with utter disdain.

“Whether I can save him or not, we’ll find out soon enough,” Qin Mu replied, ignoring Xia Xuan as he strode toward the bed.

He hadn’t taken more than two steps when Doctor Li rushed over, blocking his path anxiously.

“What do you think you’re doing? Do you have a medical license? If not, stay out of the way!”

“He’s my friend, and I believe he can save my father. Please stand aside, Doctor Li,” Xia Yuan insisted.

“That’s not good enough!” Doctor Li retorted stubbornly, refusing to move.

Qin Mu’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Doctor Li, his voice cold. “Are you just stalling for time?”

His words froze the entire room, so silent now that the beeping of the monitors was all that could be heard.

At that very moment, a shrill alarm pierced the air—the heart monitor connected to Xia Qinghai flatlined.

“Dad!” Xia Yuan’s eyes went wide as he screamed.

“He’s finally dead!” Xia Xuan muttered under her breath, a sinister smile flickering across her face—though both Qin Mu and Xia Yuan heard her clearly.

“You venomous woman!”

“Oh, dear brother, what are you saying?” Xia Xuan feigned innocence. “Life and death are only natural. Dad’s gone, and I already ordered the coffin and contacted the funeral home—they can come any time. What matters now is organizing a grand funeral for him.”

Hearing this, Xia Yuan finally understood—Xia Xuan had her eye on Xia Qinghai’s estate. With their father gone, their mother’s fragile heart wouldn’t survive, and all the inheritance would fall to Xia Xuan. With her cunning, she’d keep every penny for herself. What a venomous woman—killing without leaving a trace!

Doctor Li moved quietly to Han Xueping’s side, sighing and consoling her, “We did everything we could. Madame, please accept our condolences. I’m sure Old Master Xia, wherever he is, would not blame you.”

These words were like a lit fuse—Han Xueping’s spirit broke completely. She bent over, rushing to throw herself against the wall.

“Qinghai, I’m coming to join you!”

Xia Yuan’s face paled as he tried to stop his mother, but it happened so suddenly and they were too far apart—he couldn’t reach her in time. Meanwhile, Xia Xuan and Doctor Li, closest to her, exchanged looks of malicious satisfaction, barely able to contain their laughter.

At that critical moment, everyone’s faces froze in shock. A figure darted forward like the wind, shoving aside Xia Xuan and Doctor Li, and caught Han Xueping before tragedy could strike.

“Don’t despair, Auntie. Uncle isn’t dead yet!”

“I can save him!”