The cold wind in the hospital sent chills down Liu Mo's spine, and despite pressing the call button several times, no nurse came.
Her husband and mother-in-law hadn't shown their faces for a while, and Liu Mo, fresh out of surgery, was somewhat confused whether it was the cold wind making her feel icy or whether it was a sensation coming from inside her.
Not long ago, at night, in the pouring rain, a Range Rover had rolled over her lower leg, causing a comminuted fracture and a centipede-like scar on her beautiful face.
The phone rang. She wiped away her chilly tears casually, and her eyebrows crumpled tightly together when she saw the word 'Mother' flashing on the screen.
"When are you being discharged? The hospital called me about the bill. Where is Tang Beize? Don't tell me you expect me to pay for it?"
Liu Mo’s sentence of ‘I just got out of surgery’ doesn't even get to leave her mouth, as Zhou Lin's words leave her speechless.
"You only cause trouble every day. Now you are asking me for money? Why couldn't you have just died! If you want money go to the underworld and ask your damn dead father!"
Liu Mo didn’t want to believe that the person saying these brutal words was her own mother.
The 'damn dead old man' in her mouth was her own father, Liu Yi, a highly decorated military officer. He died in the line of duty two years ago. Although Liu's family was still wealthy, Zhou Lin's addiction to gambling and her brother's drug addiction had left their family in ruins.
In the evening, Tang Beize broke the routine by visiting the hospital. Liu Mo's cold heart regain a hint of warmth. Remembering her mother's phone call regarding overdue bills, she opened her mouth, feeling a bit awkward.
"Beize... I know I’ve put you through a lot with my hospital stay...but the doctor approached me about an outstanding balance on the medical bill, what's the deal?" Liu Mo cautiously asked her husband. Her hands, holding a bowl of hot porridge, were trembling.
"Do you have anything else to talk about other than money. It's always about money with you. I never knew you were this type of woman." Tang Beize replied, impatiently furrowing his brows and knocking the porridge out from Liu Mo’s hands.
"Liu Mo gasped from the pain.
Tang Beize, with a look of disgust, took out his wallet, pulled out a crimson Chinese Renminbi note, and flung it on Liu Mo's face as if driving away a beggar.
"Take the money and get lost. Do you know how much your legs have cost me? Three hundred thousand! You haven’t fulfilled any of your duties as a wife, yet I still have to pay for you." With these words, Tang Beize left, leaving Liu Mo alone with his indifferent silhouette.
After her father passed away, everything changed.
The car accident also caused her husband to treat her colder than ever before.
Liumo covered her eyes with her scorching, reddened hands, but still couldn't stop the tears from flowing freely.
The day she was discharged from the hospital, Liumo stood at the gate of her home, alone, dragging her still-healing leg. Before she had a chance to sit down, Tang Beize brought her a big surprise.
"Beize, is this your 'ex-wife'? It seems she puts a damper on your value," a woman wearing a bright red dress affectionately held onto Tang Beize, acting every bit the hostess.
Tang Beize bent down to peck the woman's cheek, the two of them acting affectionately in front of Liumo as if she were the outsider.
"Who are you? Why are you here in my house!" Blood rushed to Liumo's head, her heart pounding vehemently, "Beize, give me an explanation."
"Just as you see, the 500,000 for your leg’s treatment is a thank-you gift from the Liu family. From now on, stop bothering me," Tang Beize nonchalantly put one hand in its pocket. The other hand was caressing the woman's waist. The sight of the Patek Philippe watch on his wrist was painful to Liumo.
It was the gift her father gave him when they got married.
The luggage in Liumo's hand clattered to the ground. The two-year-long marriage ended abruptly. At that moment, she felt as if her world was falling apart.
But Tang Beize showed her with his actions that his cold-heartedness was even scarier than the world collapsing.
He threw two copies of the divorce agreement in front of her, pressing her to sign. Retreating backward, pen in hand, Liumo asked, "Why?"
A cold smirk played on the corner of Tang Beize's mouth, "Your father was somewhat useful before. Now? Your gambler of a mother and drug-addicted brother will drive me to my grave. I feel sick looking at that scar on your face, like I am looking at a bug crawling on it."
Liumo fell weakly at the doorstep of her house, her pride trampled into the ground.
The Liu residence was a detached house located in the fourth ring. From ten meters away, you could hear Zhou Lin playing mahjong with a group of people. Seeing Liumo struggling into the house with her suitcase, Zhou Lin's originally smiling face immediately turned cold.
"Why have you, curse-laden person, come back? Don't make me suffer your bad luck and lose my money. You'll see trouble if you do."
Without uttering a word, Liu Mo turned around and began cleaning his old room.
A few days later, he had to return to school to teach. Even if his leg was not completely healed, there was no way around it. The high school art class couldn't afford any delay.
However, once he arrived at the school, the principal's comments felt like a cold shower followed by a handful of salt on his wounds —
"Ah, Liu! The students you oversee are at a crucial point. During your absence, Teacher Zhang took over for you. Why don't you go back and take another break? Once these students finish their exams, you can come next year to teach the new students."
Liu Mo didn't respond and left the school, where the atmosphere was bustling and filled with laughter and joy. The students were blissfully unaware of life's cruel realities.
He had lost both his career and love life due to a car accident. He can't think of anyone else who might be in a worse situation.
However, there was more trouble waiting for him. Zhou Lin received a phone call from the police, stating her younger brother, Liu Shu, was suspected of group drug use and was currently held at the police station. They requested the family to confront the situation.
Zhou Lin, always more concerned about her son than herself, grabbed Liu Mo and hurriedly rushed to the police station.
Sitting nervously outside the police station, Liu Mo looked at his mother humbly listening to the police and started to find the situation ridiculous.
After a while, she emerged from inside, her hands clutching Liu Mo's arm like a pair of eagle claws.
"Mo, your younger brother, he... is suspected of group drug use. This is not a trivial offense! However, the police do not have evidence. They only need 100,000 yuan. With 100,000 yuan, we can bail your brother out..."
Liu Mo nodded blankly, but before he could fully comprehend the situation, a heavy slap landed on his face.
