The mansion was draped in black silk from the first gate, a somber atmosphere enveloping the connected villas.
As Meng Qi and Yao Feili entered the hall, they saw Meng Yao and her second aunt sitting on the sofa, speaking and weeping.
Upon seeing them return, Meng Yao wiped her tears and rushed forward, asking, "Sister, Brother-in-law, any news from the police station? Has the autopsy report for my second brother come out?"
Meng Qi shook her head. "Not yet. Where are Mom and Dad?"
Noticing the bandages on Meng Qi's right hand, Meng Yao asked anxiously, "Sister, how did your hand get injured? Is it serious?"
The last time she returned from the research institute, she had happily dined with her second brother.
Second brother had been solicitous towards her, and they had chatted and laughed.
She never imagined it would be the last time she saw her second brother, and she couldn't accept that he was gone so suddenly.
It felt like a nightmare she wanted to wake from, but it wasn't a dream at all.
However, she also understood that loved ones she felt would always be there might suddenly disappear one day.
Therefore, she couldn't solely focus on work anymore and forget to care for and connect with her parents and family.
"It's nothing, just a small accidental scratch," Meng Qi said, lifting her bandaged hand weakly. She asked again, "Where are Mom and Dad?"
Meng Yao replied, "Dad and Second Uncle are in the study. Mom is still alone in her room. She hasn't eaten anything all day and doesn't want to be disturbed."
Meng Qi patted her shoulder. "You and Second Aunt shouldn't be too sad." She then turned to Yao Feili. "Go accompany my dad and Second Uncle in the study. I'll go check on Mom."
With that, she went to her parents' room.
She gently pushed the door open and saw her mother, Wu Xiufang, sitting blankly, holding a photograph of Shaohua graduating from a foreign university.
Meng Qi walked closer, observing her pale complexion, sunken eyes, and even her lips were white.
Wu Xiufang had been awake for days and nights. When Meng Qi reached her side, she showed no reaction.
Meng Qi sniffled, suppressing her grief, and said, "Mom, you won't be able to sustain yourself if you continue like this."
"Get out! Why did you come in?" Wu Xiufang slowly looked up at Meng Qi, her eyes bloodshot and her voice hoarse.
Meng Qi didn't leave. She squatted down, trying to take the photo from her hand. "Mom, please eat something and get some sleep. Don't keep looking at these photos..."
Wu Xiufang pushed her away, clutching the photo tightly. "When Shaohua graduated, your father and I specifically flew abroad to attend his commencement ceremony. He even gave a speech on stage as a graduating student representative. You don't know how outstanding and handsome he looked, speaking with ease to thousands of people."
"Yes, Shaohua has always been the most outstanding and excellent, with a good personality, cheerful and kind..."
"It's this soft and kind personality that ruined him!" Wu Xiufang said with intense hatred. "It's all that woman's fault, she's the one who harmed Shaohua! I want that woman to suffer a terrible fate!"
"Mom, when Feili and I went to the police station today, we met Gu Susu. She told me the whole story." Meng Qi tried to comfort her. "I don't think Gu Susu intended to harm Shaohua. The one who intended to harm Shaohua was Sheng Haoguang. This isn't her fault; she's Daisy's good friend and just wanted to help Daisy. She didn't expect such a major incident to happen..."
"I'm talking about Daisy! I knew this had something to do with her." Wu Xiufang gripped Shaohua's photo and said sternly, "She's Shaohua's nemesis; she's the one who killed my son!"
Seeing her shift between grief and anger, with her emotions fluctuating wildly, Meng Qi followed her words. "Yes, they weren't suitable for each other. But the reason Gu Susu arranged to meet Shaohua was because Daisy was pregnant, and the child might be Shaohua's. I think Shaohua didn't want you to know about this, which is why he shook off his bodyguards."
"What did you say?" Wu Xiufang, transitioning from grief to anger and then to shock, couldn't hold on and fainted.
Meng Qi quickly called for the household servants and then contacted the family doctor.
Hearing the commotion, Meng Yao and Jin Dan also rushed to the room. Everyone was in a flurry, pinching her philtrum and making her hold a Danshen tablet.
Meng Qi had intended to tell Wu Xiufang about Daisy's pregnancy, so she would know Shaohua might still have descendants, and she wouldn't be so despairing, holding onto some hope.
She hadn't expected Wu Xiufang to collapse after hearing the news, despite her efforts to stay strong.
When the family doctor arrived, he found Wu Xiufang's blood pressure had risen to over two hundred. He quickly administered antihypertensive medication and started an IV drip.
Meng Qi and Meng Yao watched as Wu Xiufang's complexion improved slightly, but she remained unconscious.
Meng Yao anxiously asked, "Doctor, Mom's blood pressure has dropped a bit, why isn't she waking up? Is something wrong?"
The family doctor replied, "Madam's blood pressure spiked due to extreme emotional fluctuation. Although her blood pressure has stabilized, her physical strength cannot recover instantly; she needs rest."
"It's good for Mom to sleep more," Meng Qi said, pulling Meng Yao aside. "She hasn't slept for days and nights."
Meng Yao nodded repeatedly and whispered, "Yes, I'm also worried that Mom's body won't be able to hold on."
After entrusting the doctor with her mother, Meng Qi beckoned to Meng Yao and her second aunt. "Let's talk outside."
As they stepped out, Huangfu Sishu and Yao Feili, who were waiting at the door, immediately inquired about Wu Xiufang's condition.
Upon hearing that Wu Xiufang had fainted due to emotional distress and extreme fatigue, they breathed a sigh of relief.
One person in the family was already gone; they couldn't afford to lose anyone else.
Meng Qi asked curiously, "Where is my dad?"
"In the study," Yao Feili replied. He then pulled her aside. "Your dad isn't doing well either. A lot of his hair has turned white. I think he's also just holding on. From his tone, it seems he might still blame your mother."
Meng Qi also felt that if her mother hadn't insisted on Shaohua completely severing ties with Daisy, perhaps things would have been different.
But blaming anyone now was futile. All they could do was seek justice for Shaohua, severely punish those who harmed him, and she wanted to confirm if the child Daisy was carrying was Shaohua's.
If it was indeed Shaohua's, at least her parents would have something to cling to, preventing them from living in such profound grief and despair.
Meng Qi said to him, "You take Second Uncle and Second Aunt back to their house first. I'll go find my dad."
Yao Feili nodded, agreeing to all her arrangements.
Meng Qi went to the study and spoke to Huangfu Sisong about the matter. Huangfu Sisong remained silent for a moment before saying, "Have you considered that if that child is indeed Shaohua's, that woman can latch onto our family again through the child? I will absolutely not allow that woman to have any further connection with our family."
"Dad, but if she's carrying Shaohua's flesh and blood, you'll have a grandson. Seeing Shaohua's child, seeing the continuation of his life, you and Mom won't have to live in grief forever."