Chapter 127: Double Blow

“Stop right there!”

The third elder’s voice was firm and calm.

The bodyguards stationed at the door immediately blocked Zhao Sijie’s path.

“Miss Zhao, you’re being quite foolish,” the third elder said coldly. “You come from two entirely different worlds. Why insist on forcing them together?”

“I’m doing this for your own good,” he added.

Zhao Sijie turned to look at him, tears streaming down her face. His words pierced her heart deeply. She persisted only because she still trusted Xia Yu.

“It’s not that I can’t live without him. It’s just that these things should be spoken to me by him, not relayed through you.”

“That’s because it’s not his intention.”

The third elder looked at her seriously. “If I could persuade him, why would I have to come to you?”

“Miss Zhao, I know you love Xia Yu, but that’s exactly why you should leave him.”

“Why?” Zhao Sijie asked, confused.

“To marry a girl from a humble background brings no benefit from the perspective of family interests,” the third elder replied coldly. “The entire Xia family will oppose it.”

“You might even lose your rights of inheritance. Do you know how many people want Xia Yu dead?”

“Do you want him to lose everything? Don’t you think such love is selfish?”

“You will ruin Xia Yu. So if you truly love him, you’d better leave him. Otherwise, there will be no good outcome for either of you!”

Zhao Sijie trembled all over, her tears falling like rain.

She stood there silently for a long time.

Finally, she wiped her tears and looked up. “I need some time to think.”

“Fine. I’ll give you three days. If you’ve made up your mind, call me. Here is a check for ten million waiting for you anytime.”

The third elder stepped forward and handed her a business card.

“No need to be polite. This is what you deserve.”

Zhao Sijie glanced at the card and then walked out.

The third elder lit a cigar, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

Back at home, Zhao Sijie sat downstairs to collect herself, not wanting her mother to see her crying.

It took her a full hour to compose herself before she went upstairs.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“Ah, Sijie, I’ve made dinner. It’s cold now, just heat it up. I’m going to sleep first,” her mother’s voice came from the bedroom.

“Mom, why are you going to bed so early?”

Zhao Sijie glanced at the clock and entered the room with concern.

Seeing her mother lying in bed looking pale, she hurried over. “Mom, are you feeling unwell?”

“No, just a bit tired. I’ll rest a little and be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“No, Mom, you look terrible. If you’re not well, just tell me.” Zhao Sijie worriedly touched her forehead and found it burning hot.

“Mom, you’re sick. Get up quickly, we need to go to the hospital.”

...

After a whole day and night on the train, Cao Jun and his family finally arrived back at their hometown county.

Cao Jun held his bag tightly, the entire family tense and alert. After all, the bag contained two hundred thousand yuan in cash—any loss was unacceptable.

But just as they feared, trouble found them. As soon as they stepped out of the train station, they were targeted.

“Those must be them, let’s get them!”

Several burly thugs charged forward without hesitation and began to beat Cao Jun, quickly snatching his bag.

“Ah, what are you doing?”

“Give us back the bag! This is a robbery! Someone’s been robbed!”

The family shouted desperately but dared not intervene. The thugs were too fierce and had knives at their waists. Who would dare to step in?

“Go!”

The crew leader opened the bag, glanced inside at the cash, and nodded, satisfied that the mission was complete.

“Stop! Give us back the bag!”

Chen Shufen sobbed with red eyes.

“Get lost, old hag!”

The leader slapped her hard across the face before the group hurried away.

“Ah... this is outrageous.”

Chen Shufen collapsed to the ground, crying bitterly.

Cao Jun was beaten, blood covering his face, groaning softly.

Cao Xun and Liu Jing were still in shock but quickly rushed over to check their injuries.

The thugs had long since disappeared, stopping by the roadside. The leader pulled out his phone and dialed.

“Young Master Yu, it’s done.”

“Hmm, are you sure it’s them?” Xia Yu’s voice was indifferent.

“Pretty sure. Two men and two women, look like a family. And the bag had a full two hundred thousand inside,” the leader reported respectfully.

“Yes, well done.”

The leader asked, “Young Master Yu, should we transfer the money to you at the bank now?”

“No need. Consider that your reward.”

“What...?” The leader was incredulous. “All of it? Then why did you have us wait so long?”

“Because I don’t like the look of them!”

With that, Xia Yu hung up.

The leader was stunned but then the others excitedly jumped up to celebrate.

...

At the hospital, it wasn’t until two in the morning that Zhao’s mother’s test results came back.

Seeing the doctor’s grave expression, Zhao Sijie had a bad feeling. “Doctor, how is my mother? Is it serious?”

“It is quite serious, but you don’t need to worry too much. There’s no immediate life danger, but if not treated promptly, the outcome could be uncertain.”

The doctor sat down and explained in detail: “Your mother has been overworking for years, pushing her body beyond its limits. She frequently has minor ailments but didn’t pay much attention.”

“This time, her body has sent a severe warning. She has many small health issues.”

“The most serious problems now are brain cells suffering from oxygen and blood deficiency, and damage to the vital organs, especially the liver and kidneys, which require intensive repair. Without treatment, there’s a risk of cancer. So you must take this seriously.”

Zhao Sijie shuddered. Leaving the hospital with her mother, guilt weighed heavily on her heart.

She urged her mother to stop all work, focus on recuperation, and keep up with regular treatment.

At four in the morning, Zhao Sijie finally lay down to rest but could not sleep.

Every event of the night pressed down on her like suffocating weight.

Especially the doctor’s words—her mother’s condition required long-term, regular check-ups and treatment, which would cost at least 800,000 yuan.

For a junior manager earning just over ten thousand yuan a month, this was an astronomical sum.

Tears unknowingly streamed down her face.

“Yu Ge, I’m sorry...”

The next day.

Xia Yu had just woken up when he received a call from Zhao Sijie. He smiled knowingly, “Sijie, missing me?”

“Yes, I do,” Zhao Sijie laughed. “Mr. Xia, are you at the office now?”

“Office? I went yesterday. Everything’s fine there. Seems they don’t even need me,” Xia Yu said with a wry smile.

“Oh really? Then do you have time to spend with me?”

Zhao Sijie teased playfully, “I’ve taken three days off. I want to go out and have some fun.”

“Alright, I’ll come pick you up. We’ll have a good time.”

Still feeling a bit guilty toward her, Xia Yu naturally wouldn’t say no.