Free Web NovelChapter 259: Chapter 259: No Cause for Relief
Whether from rage or the stifling atmosphere, waves of darkness washed over Su Li’s vision.
"Momo’s been discharged, so everything’s fine now, heh... It’s all fine..."
Looking at Tang Yuanxiao’s expression, Su Li no longer knew how to describe what she was feeling.
"You’ve been here all this time and haven’t once asked how Little Mo is. You’ve just been defending your mother, trying to get me to drop the lawsuit. Hah! Is this what you call being a devoted son?"
Only then did Tang Yuanxiao finally seem to snap out of it and find his voice.
"Impossible... That’s impossible. How could he be mute? Momo can’t be mute. He was such a good talker, how could he just... go mute?"
Tang Yuanxiao shook his head back and forth furiously, completely unable to accept the news.
"Impossible? You can ask your mother whether it’s possible or not. Ask her what exactly she did to make Little Mo go mute!"
Tang Yuanxiao stumbled back two steps, not steadying himself until his back hit the wall. "How... How could this happen...?"
Su Li watched him, clenching her jaw so hard it ached.
"Because of the psychological trauma, Little Mo is mute. He can’t speak, he can’t even make a sound. If this can’t be treated, he might never speak again for the rest of his life!"
Su Li’s lips twisted into a bitter sneer. "Drop the lawsuit? Tang Yuanxiao, how can you possibly expect me to drop the lawsuit?"
"So your mother’s life is precious, but Little Mo’s isn’t? He’s just a little boy. His life has barely even begun."
Su Li panted slightly, watching as Tang Yuanxiao slumped weakly to the floor, tears streaming down his face.
She wanted to cry, too. She was filled to the brim with hot tears, but her eyes were painfully dry. Not a single one would fall.
She had already cried enough.
She had cried until she had no tears left.
And she couldn’t afford to cry now.
Just on the other side of the door was Little Tang Mo. He still needed her.
Su Li took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Once her emotions were under control, she turned and went back inside without another word.
She closed the door, washed her face, and started making breakfast.
When Su Li opened the bedroom door, she had already put on a smile.
"Little Mo, time to get up."
Little Tang Mo opened his eyes and looked behind Su Li.
Su Li noticed his gaze, froze for a moment, then understood.
"Are you looking for that uncle, Little Mo? The knock on the door wasn’t him. Someone just knocked on the wrong door. That uncle didn’t come."
Hearing this, Little Tang Mo averted his gaze.
"Let’s go wash up first, okay?"
Su Li took Little Tang Mo to wash his face. As she was washing his hands, she suddenly felt something strange about his palm.
Su Li looked closely and saw several neat, crescent-shaped nail marks dug into his palm.
Worried that Little Tang Mo might hurt himself, Su Li had trimmed all of his fingernails and toenails the day before.
Because his nails were so short, the skin on his palm wasn’t broken, but deep indentations were left behind.
Marks like that couldn’t be made in an instant. He must have been clenching his fists with all his might for a long time.
At Su Li’s pause, Little Tang Mo noticed and immediately pulled his hand back.
Su Li resisted the urge to look at his hand again, turning instead to carefully study Little Tang Mo’s face.
Little Tang Mo had eaten a little over the past two days, but his complexion was still sallow.
And the dark circles under his eyes hadn’t faded at all.
Su Li forced a smile. "Little Mo, did you sleep well last night?"
Little Tang Mo avoided Su Li’s eyes. Without even wiping his face, he walked right out.
Su Li watched Little Tang Mo’s retreating back, her eyes filled with worry.
After getting back the day before, she had cleaned the room and rearranged it a little.
She put away anything hard in Little Tang Mo’s room that looked even slightly dangerous. She even found a way to stick padded mats to the wall by his bed to soften it, in case he hit his head.
She hadn’t even dared to fall asleep properly, only dozing off after making sure he was truly sleeping soundly.
’So when on earth did he make those marks on his hands?’
Su Li was sure that if she hadn’t trimmed his nails, his palms would have been bleeding.
Little Tang Mo used to be so sensitive. Even a small fall or a little bump would have him crying out in pain, needing her to "kiss it better" before he’d calm down.
But now...
Su Li poured out the wash water, came out, and put on another smile to eat breakfast with Little Tang Mo.
She kept talking and telling stories to Little Tang Mo throughout the meal. Around ten o’clock, Su Li finally ventured a probing question.
"Little Mo, are you hiding anything from Mommy?" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Little Tang Mo didn’t answer, but his eyelashes trembled slightly, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
Seeing his reaction, Su Li quickly smiled and changed the subject.
"Are you thinking about the military boxing that Uncle Wu Sheng taught you? Do you remember the moves? Want to try them out?"
Little Tang Mo paused, glanced quickly at Su Li, and nodded.
"Okay, then give it a try, Little Mo."
Little Tang Mo imitated Wu Sheng, standing ramrod straight in the living room. He furrowed his brow in concentration, then tentatively threw a punch.
"Good!" Su Li clapped.
"HYA! HUP! HA! HA!" Su Li threw a casual punch of her own. "It’s better if you shout like this."
With his back to Su Li, Little Tang Mo opened his mouth and strained, but no sound came out. His little face contorted in agony.
* * *
Tang Yuanxiao didn’t know how long he had sat outside the door.
He struggled to his feet, glanced at the apartment they once rented together, and squeezed his eyes shut in pain.
He didn’t even know how he made it back.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that Tang Yuanxiao finally shuffled back to the hospital room.
Mrs. Tang’s eyes lit up when she saw Tang Yuanxiao.
"Tangyuan, you’re finally back! Did you go see Su Li?"
"What did Su Li say? Did she agree not to press charges against me?"
She got out of bed and rushed to Tang Yuanxiao at the door, grabbing his hand and firing off questions.
Tang Yuanxiao kept his head down, unresponsive, and Mrs. Tang grew anxious.
"Tangyuan, say something! Is she dropping the charges?"
"Is she still refusing to listen to you? Did you beg her? Tangyuan, as long as she drops the charges, I’ll get on my knees and beg her myself. I swear I will."
After her vow, Mrs. Tang saw that Tang Yuanxiao still wasn’t reacting and hurriedly patted him.
"Tangyuan, why aren’t you talking? Are those people coming back today?"
Tang Yuanxiao finally reacted. He nodded. "Yes, they’re coming back."
Mrs. Tang’s expression changed in an instant. "They’re coming back?"
She beat her chest and stomped her foot. "I knew Su Li wouldn’t agree! That woman’s heart is made of stone."
She immediately burst into tears, went back to her hospital bed, and pulled out a coil of rope. "If they come back, I’ll hang myself."
Tang Yuanxiao watched her back, then looked at the rope, and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Mom, why haven’t you asked about Momo?"
Mrs. Tang froze, turning back to Tang Yuanxiao. "I was going to ask... How is Momo? Is he better?"
She suddenly felt the rope in her hand was burning hot and tossed it aside, looking down with a guilty conscience as she spoke.
"Isn’t he scared of me? I... I didn’t dare to ask. I was afraid of making you angry, too."
Tang Yuanxiao looked at Mrs. Tang and spoke after a moment of silence.
"Mom, Momo is not okay. He’s far from okay. He’s become a mute. He can’t speak anymore."
Mrs. Tang’s eyes flew wide. "Can’t speak? Why?"
Tang Yuanxiao just stared at Mrs. Tang without saying a word.
His stare made her blood run cold, and a flicker of guilt crossed her eyes.
"Tangyuan, I just... I didn’t do anything to his throat! I don’t know why he’s a mute, really."
Watching his mother, Tang Yuanxiao slowly sank to his knees.
"Mom, I did my best, but there’s nothing I can do. You might..."
’You might have to go to jail.’
Mrs. Tang looked at Tang Yuanxiao, her legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees on the floor. "No... Tangyuan... no..."
All hope vanished from her eyes, replaced by utter, all-consuming fear.
