Chapter 47: Huo Yin Is Sick

After returning from Qiao Shiqian, Wen Xuxu finally noticed the dozen missed calls from Lin Ziyang on her silenced phone—calls she’d completely forgotten about. She hadn’t gone to Shaoshuiwan to give Huo Sijue his acupuncture treatment.

When she’d arrived at Qiao Shiqian’s place, he’d shown her those books, explained how to gather evidence, and she’d been so absorbed in the conversation that time slipped away entirely.

Now… should she go back?

For a split second, the thought crossed her mind.

But then, as memories of the day’s events flashed through her head—the way Qiao Shiqian had stood by while that woman stomped all over her—her resolve hardened instantly. No way was she going to lower herself like that. That dog of a man had helped *her* kick dirt in her face. Why would she care if he lived or died?

She quickly washed up, then tucked her two little treasures into bed. The night passed in peaceful silence.

The next morning, Wen Xuxu was just about to start cooking breakfast when her phone rang again—Lin Ziyang once more.

“Madam,” he said, voice tight with panic, “something’s wrong. Master Xiao is sick.”

“What? Sick? What do you mean? He was fine yesterday!”

Her stomach dropped. Breakfast vanished from her thoughts. She grabbed her phone and rushed to the balcony, heart pounding.

Lin Ziyang whispered into the receiver, muffling his voice like he was hiding from someone. “He stayed in his room all night, refusing to sleep… just playing chess with himself. You know how delicate his health is—he gets sick even from a chill. The CEO’s already preparing to take him to the hospital.”

“!!”

Wen Xuxu swayed on her feet, dizziness washing over her. Guilt crashed down like a wave, sharp and suffocating. Her chest ached. She turned and bolted back inside, phone clutched to her ear.

Was she even a mother?

No. Not really. She kept saying she loved him, that she wanted to make up for everything—but here she was, letting her own selfishness leave him unattended, unprotected, vulnerable.

Back in the living room, she stumbled, disoriented.

“Momo, Ruoruo,” she said, forcing calm into her voice, “Mommy has an emergency. Can we grab some simple breakfast outside? Afterward, I’ll take you to kindergarten.”

“Okay, Mommy. What happened?” Momo asked, stepping out with his sister, both freshly dressed. His eyes narrowed slightly—Mommy looked terrible. Something was wrong.

Wen Xuxu waved it off. “Nothing big. One of my patients’ sons is sick. I need to check on him.”

Wait…

Huo Yin was sick?!

Both kids froze, stunned.

Twenty minutes later, the siblings were dropped off at kindergarten. As they watched Mommy’s figure disappear down the street in a frantic hurry, their faces fell into identical frowns.

“Brother,” Momo whispered, “wasn’t she talking about Yinxin brother? Is he really sick?”

“Yeah…” Momo frowned, chewing on his lip.

Last night, he’d actually *encouraged* Mommy to go to Uncle Qiao’s. He’d seen how badly Dad treated her—and wanted her to have someone better. So he’d arranged for Qiao Shiqian to come over.

But why did Yinxin get sick?

“He must’ve gotten sick because he didn’t see Mommy,” Ruoruo said softly, her voice sweet and serious. “If I don’t see Mommy, I get sick too.”

Momo stared at her, silent.

Oh no.

Had he made a mistake?

---

By the time Wen Xuxu arrived at Shaoshuiwan, it was barely past eight thirty.

She ran breathlessly, sweat beading on her forehead, her pale cheeks flushed from exertion. But she didn’t stop. When she saw the villa ahead, she pushed forward again, legs burning.

“Yinxin… please, please don’t be okay. Mommy’s sorry. I promise—I’ll never leave you again. Please…”

Tears blurred her vision as she burst through the front gates of the royal estate.

“Stop! Who are you? How dare you enter here? Do you even know where this is?”

“…!”

Wen Xuxu nearly collapsed from exhaustion, but seeing the guard blocking her path only lit a fire under her. “Please, sir—didn’t I come here a few days ago? Let me in! I need to see your young master!”

“Master? He’s ill. The CEO’s attending to him right now. Who are you? Stop! Don’t come in! Get back!”

The guard shouted, flustered, as he watched the woman shove past him without hesitation.

But Wen Xuxu wasn’t turning back.

She heard her son was still here—*not* taken to the hospital—and she was already a bullet fired from a bow, racing toward him.

Sure enough, when she finally reached the villa’s entrance, the normally quiet house was in chaos: people rushing around packing bags, boiling water, calling doctors, frantically preparing for a trip to the hospital.

Her heart sank.

She rushed inside, heading straight for the stairs—until a man in uniform came bounding down, holding a bowl.

“Quick—get some lukewarm saltwater. Doctor said it’s needed.”

A bodyguard? Doing kitchen chores?

Lukewarm saltwater?

So he wasn’t just cold… he was *diarrheic*? Was he dehydrated?

And she hadn’t even been there to help.