Xiaocong wasn’t usually easily scared.
But even he was frightened now, yet he didn’t want to change the channel, clutching the pillow in his arms tightly as he curled up on the sofa to continue watching anxiously.
With the rumbling thunder, Lin Xinlan grew more and more impatient.
She dialed Rong Shaoze’s phone number, which rang continually in the car without being answered.
Had something happened to Rong Shaoze? Why wasn’t he answering the phone?
Hadn’t he said that he would be back soon?
Lin Xinlan had a bad feeling, fearing that something had happened to him.
Meanwhile, by the seaside, Rong Shaoze had swum in the sea for a long time before he finally managed to bring Du Ruoxin to shore with great effort.
Du Ruoxin’s complexion was white; she had fainted.
Rong Shaoze was also drained, but his physical strength was good; this ordeal was not enough to make him pass out.
After placing Du Ruoxin in the car, he turned on his phone and saw missed calls from Lin Xinlan. He knew she must be worried.
He hurriedly called her back.
Upon receiving Rong Shaoze’s call, Lin Xinlan immediately asked, "Hello, Rong Shaoze, where are you? Why haven’t you come back yet? Did something happen on the road?"
"I’m fine... don’t worry..." He spoke, sounding a bit out of breath.
"What happened to you?!" Lin Xinlan asked anxiously.
The man briefly explained the situation, then hung up the phone.
Lin Xinlan rushed upstairs to change her clothes, planning to head to the hospital.
"Mommy..." Xiaocong grew increasingly scared as he watched and turned to look for Lin Xinlan.
But he found the vast living room empty, without a single person.
Where had Mommy gone?
He withdrew his gaze, and suddenly a startling clap of thunder resounded, deafening.
The glaring lightning illuminated the entire room while the terrifying female ghost in the TV suddenly turned its head, facing him with a gaping bloody mouth and issuing a chilling, sinister shriek.
"Ah—" Xiaocong couldn’t help but scream out, his little face turning pale with fear.
He quickly pressed the remote to turn off the TV and scrambled to his feet to run upstairs.
Lin Xinlan came out in different clothes and heard Xiaocong’s cries.
Seeing her, he plunged into her arms, his small body still trembling.
"What’s wrong?" Lin Xinlan asked, puzzled.
Xiaocong, with his eyes shut, just shook his head without speaking.
Lin Xinlan thought he was afraid of the lightning and thunder and told him, "Xiaocong, go keep Great-Grandpa company. Mommy has something to do and needs to step out for a bit."
"Take Xiaocong with you."
"That won’t work; it’s raining now, and it would be inconvenient with you. Mommy will be back soon, be good at home, and call me if there’s anything."
"...Okay." Xiaocong twisted his fingers and reluctantly nodded.
Lin Xinlan, worried about Rong Shaoze, kissed his forehead quickly and left in a hurry, without noticing that his face was off-color.
When Lin Xinlan’s car arrived at Tao Hua’s hospital, she rushed to the ward.
Rong Shaoze had changed into clean clothes and was sitting on the hospital bed getting an IV.
She asked worriedly, "What on earth happened? Is there something wrong with your body?"
The man took her hand, motioned for her to sit down, and said with a smile, "I’m fine, just a bit exhausted. Tao Hua insisted on giving me some glucose; don’t be alarmed by this setup, I’m very healthy."
Lin Xinlan saw that his complexion was normal and he spoke normally, so she felt relieved.
"You only told me that Du Ruoxin wanted to kill herself, and you brought her to the hospital. So what exactly happened, and why did she want to die?"
Rong Shaoze’s eyes turned cold at the mention of Du Ruoxin.