Free Web NovelChapter 251: Chapter 251: Only Crueler
The next morning, Su Li met the lawyer Wu Sheng had found for her in the hospital room.
The lawyer had already met with Wu Sheng and was fully briefed on Su Li’s intention to sue Mrs. Tang. He had come prepared.
Including his introduction at the door, it took him less than two minutes to explain everything clearly.
He gave Su Li a sheet of paper listing the documents she needed to prepare, along with a draft of the complaint. Aside from a few details that required her input, it was basically complete.
"I can get these documents ready today."
"In that case, I’ll come back to see you at the same time tomorrow morning. If there are no issues, we can file the complaint."
Su Li nodded. "Okay, thank you."
"You’re welcome. Goodbye." The lawyer left with brisk efficiency.
"Goodbye." Su Li looked at the documents in her hand and let out a breath.
Wu Sheng was usually all laughs and jokes, but when it came to getting things done, he was incredibly thorough. Just like last time.
At ten in the morning, someone else arrived outside the hospital room.
It was none other than Wa Wa Lian, the baby-faced young man she had met near Xinghua Village, the one who called Wu Sheng "Boss." She hadn’t seen him in a long time.
Wa Wa Lian appeared at the door, looking as harmless as a high school student.
For a moment, Su Li almost didn’t recognize him.
Yesterday, Wa Wa Lian had been carrying out an order from his boss. Today, he was here on another one: to deliver documents to Su Li.
Tang Yuanxiao had always remained silent about the past, but he never imagined those old stories would eventually come to light.
Su Li thanked Wa Wa Lian and took the documents into the room.
She sat quietly for a moment before slowly opening the folder.
The first page was Mo Jianjun’s identification information.
Mo Jianjun was from a county in a southern province. His parents had both passed away, and he was raised by his elderly grandmother...
Su Li had just started reading when there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Su Li glanced at Little Tang Mo before getting up to open the door.
Standing at the door was none other than Tang Yuanxiao.
"I came to see Momo."
Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes were bloodshot, and he looked haggard. His gaze and tone held a hint of pleading.
"Let me ask Little Mo."
Su Li turned around, approached the bed, and asked Little Tang Mo softly.
"Little Mo, Dad is here to see you. Can he come in?"
The moment Su Li finished asking, she saw Little Tang Mo’s body suddenly tense up.
Su Li frowned. "Little Mo..."
"What’s wrong?" Tang Yuanxiao’s voice came from behind her. "Momo, Dad’s here to see you."
As soon as Tang Yuanxiao finished speaking, Little Tang Mo suddenly started trembling and, without a second thought, pulled the blanket over his head.
He still had an IV in his hand, so Su Li hurried to pull the blanket back. "Little Mo, don’t be scared."
"Momo, it’s Dad..." Tang Yuanxiao was so worried about Little Tang Mo that he had followed Su Li into the room.
Seeing the previously quiet and well-behaved Little Tang Mo suddenly start to tremble, he quickly spoke up, trying to soothe him.
It would have been better if he’d stayed silent. The moment he spoke, Little Tang Mo’s trembling intensified.
He let out a muffled cry and instinctively tried to flee.
Su Li had been through this before and quickly hugged Little Tang Mo. freёwebnovel.com
"It’s okay, it’s okay, Little Mo..."
She turned to the frantic Tang Yuanxiao. "Tang Yuanxiao, get out! Now!"
The hospital bed and IV stand were dragged, making a piercing sound.
Tang Yuanxiao stumbled back two steps and bumped into the bedside table.
"How could this happen... Momo, I’m your dad..."
Tang Yuanxiao wanted to step forward but was stopped by Su Li’s anxious shout.
"Just get out!"
Dazed and in disbelief, Tang Yuanxiao walked out.
After he left the room and closed the door, he froze on the spot.
He couldn’t quite process what had happened. More than anything, he was in utter disbelief.
Tang Yuanxiao knew that Little Tang Mo was so terrified of Mrs. Tang that he was afraid of even hearing her voice, which was why they had to leave immediately after his emergency treatment.
But he never imagined that Little Tang Mo would be afraid of him, too.
Listening to Su Li’s voice soothing Little Tang Mo from inside the room, Tang Yuanxiao felt so weak he nearly lost his footing.
Inside the room, Su Li held Little Tang Mo tightly. "Don’t be scared, Little Mo. Only Mommy is here. It’s okay now, it’s okay..."
She repeated it over and over, kissing Little Tang Mo’s forehead and the top of his head.
"If you don’t believe me, look. See? It’s just Mommy here. Don’t be scared. Mommy will protect you..."
Little Tang Mo finally, slowly, calmed down.
The IV needle had been dislodged by the movement. The fluid hadn’t stopped, and a small lump had formed on Little Tang Mo’s hand. Seeing this, Su Li didn’t even have time to call a nurse; she quickly pulled out the needle and applied pressure.
"Does it hurt?" Su Li asked Little Tang Mo softly. He shook his head.
Su Li lay down on the hospital bed, gently patting Little Tang Mo. "We’ll do the IV drip again this afternoon. Why don’t you get some sleep for now, Little Mo, okay?"
Having just been through such a fright, Little Tang Mo was exhausted and fell asleep in moments.
Looking at his small face, Su Li bit her lip so hard she managed to keep from crying out loud.
Of course, Tang Yuanxiao would never abuse Little Tang Mo. But the fact that Little Tang Mo trembled at the sound of his voice, at the word "Dad," had to be related to Mrs. Tang.
Su Li’s guess was correct.
The reason Little Tang Mo was scared and trembled at the word "Dad" was because of Mrs. Tang. On several occasions, Mrs. Tang had exploded in anger precisely because he had called for his father.
If he didn’t call Tang Yuanxiao "Dad," Mrs. Tang would lash out. If he did call him "Dad," she would also fly into a rage.
"’Dad?’ What ’Dad?’ He’s not your dad! What right do you have to call him that? I’ll teach you to call him that! I’ll teach you!"
"Not even calling him ’Dad.’ Just as I thought, you’re not his real son. You ungrateful brat, you won’t even call him ’Dad’..."
Calling him "Dad" was wrong. Not calling him "Dad" was also wrong. No matter what he did, pain was sure to follow.
The word "Dad" was a recurring theme throughout Little Tang Mo’s entire ordeal of abuse.
And so, the word "Dad" had become something Little Tang Mo feared.
Tang Yuanxiao knew his mother’s abuse would cause immense harm, but he never, ever imagined it would be this devastating.
Seeing Little Tang Mo tremble in fear for the first time—and all because of the word "Dad"—felt like a knife to Tang Yuanxiao’s heart.
Just half a month ago, when he left, Little Tang Mo had been so bright and adorable that a single look at him could melt your heart.
But now...
Now, this thin, frail Little Tang Mo, as jumpy as a frightened bird, caused Tang Yuanxiao so much pain he could barely breathe. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"I’m sorry, Momo... I’m so sorry..."
Under the strange gazes of onlookers, Tang Yuanxiao squatted down by the door of the hospital room.
After Little Tang Mo fell asleep, Su Li bent down to pick up the folder that had fallen on the floor, but she barely had the strength to stand back up.
From yesterday to today, Little Tang Mo’s condition had clearly been improving. But Tang Yuanxiao’s arrival had sent everything back to square one.
Su Li gritted her teeth, picked up the documents from the floor, and opened the door.
Tang Yuanxiao, who was by the door, scrambled to his feet.
"How..." He started to say a word, then quickly shut his mouth.
"He’s asleep now. For Little Mo’s sake, you shouldn’t come here anymore," Su Li said in a low voice.
"When you go back, keep a close eye on your mother. Don’t let her come to the hospital, either. I don’t need to explain why, do I?"
Su Li had been constantly on guard, worried Mrs. Tang might show up and frighten Little Mo, hindering his recovery. She never expected that Little Tang Mo would be afraid of Tang Yuanxiao, too.
"I..." Tang Yuanxiao wanted to speak but couldn’t get the words out.
His gaze swept over Su Li’s hand, and when he saw the name Mo Jianjun on the document, he froze.
