Transmigrated as a vicious stepmother, I raised a child who became a heartthrob.

It wasn't until he stood in the ward that Huo Wang finally felt a tiny bit of reality.

"Why did you come back? Who called you?"

There was no warmth and harmony as I had imagined, nor the mutual care I had expected. My mother just stared at him with a stern face and a frown.

“You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are today, and now you’re coming back for everything? If you miss a day of class, it will be hard to keep up later.”

The reprimands came one after another. All of Huo Wang's concern was swallowed back.

This kind of thing has actually happened before, more than once or twice, but each time it left him speechless.

"You're sick, can't I even come back to see you?"

Huo Wang spoke in a low voice. His voice was still trembling, as if the fear he had just felt was still vivid in his mind. But it quickly turned into an even greater anger.

"No way! This is an old problem of mine, do you think you can cure it just by coming to take a look?"

The emaciated woman lay on the bed, pounding on the bedside armrest, her face filled with disappointment and frustration.

"I've come to see my mom! I've come to see my mom! Do you understand? I'm just here to see my mom! She's sick, what's wrong with me, as her son, coming to visit?"

Huo Wang almost couldn't help but shout those words, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

If you don't come back now, when will you ever come back?

Did they die?

The atmosphere between the two became tense.

"Stop it, stop it."

A neighbor aunt who had come over whispered words of advice and gently pushed Huo Wang.

"Ah Wang, go and pay the medical bills. We've racked up a lot of debt these past few days in the hospital."

The neighbor lady spoke softly, her smile still gentle.

Huo Wang softened his expression: "Auntie, I'm here. You should go back and take care of your work. You have a whole family to take care of, so you can't stay here all the time. Thank you for your help during this time."

Huo Wang knew very well that his father had drowned in a ditch years ago from drinking. He knew that if it weren't for the help of the neighbors, his mother wouldn't have been able to manage on her own.

So he was very grateful to these neighbors, and they had helped him a lot over the years.

"Okay. I have something urgent to attend to here, so I won't be able to keep an eye on things for you."

As the auntie spoke, she walked out, and as she passed Huo Wang, she tugged at his sleeve. The movement was very light, and then she went out as if nothing had happened.

Huo Wang followed closely behind and went out.

The two walked into the fire escape one after the other; there were relatively few people there.

“Ah Wang, your mother’s illness is not easy to treat. I’m not well-educated, and I don’t understand the words the doctor uses. Go and ask again later. If it’s difficult to treat, let’s all chip in to help.”

The aunt was actually quite old, and the clothes she wore weren't fashionable; in my memory, they were always gray and drab, like a painting that had been sitting for many years.

As he said these words, his face showed genuine concern.

This aunt and her mother have been playing together for over ten years and have a very good relationship.

Huo Wang, naturally, wouldn't disregard his elders' feelings and simply nodded.

"And your mother. She has a terrible temper. She wants to control everything and doesn't allow you to say this or that. You have to see for yourself. Don't get angry. She's just insecure and wants to control everything herself."

The aunt was talking on and on, giving earnest advice one sentence after another. Huo Wang felt that this aunt had a better temper than his mother.

But ultimately, there are differences. A biological mother is still a biological mother.

After finally getting rid of the person, Huo Wang sat in the hospital corridor for a while.

He didn't know what he was thinking. He just felt his mind was blank, and it was quite a while before he went to the doctor's office.

"Bed 7 in ward 609, may I ask which doctor is taking care of you?"

Huo Wang didn't know which doctor it was, so he had to ask them one by one and then find the doctor according to the instructions.

Are you his family member, or...?

The doctor glanced at the medical record and asked cautiously.

"Family members".

Huo Wang answered honestly. Because it involved the patient's privacy, Huo Wang also proved that he was indeed the other party's family member.

"Late-stage breast cancer. She's now experiencing difficulty breathing, pain, swelling, and a range of other symptoms. Treatment in the late stage has a lower cure rate than in the early stages, but there is still a chance of success."

The doctor carefully chose his words, explaining slowly. Huo Wang tried hard to remember every word the doctor said, but only the word "cancer" echoed in his mind.

An ending I never imagined, nor dared to imagine.

People sometimes think about death very easily. Huo Wang had imagined all sorts of endings, but he never thought it would end like this.

"If it needs treatment, how should it be done? Approximately how much will it cost?"

Huo Wang also felt his hands and feet getting cold, but he still forced himself to say those words.

He could not abandon his family.

"It's uncertain. It could cost anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, or even millions, depending on the specific circumstances. I still suggest you go to a good hospital for a checkup. Go to a first-tier or super first-tier city and see a highly authoritative doctor."

The doctor frankly admitted that the medical conditions here are indeed worse than in some other places, and the hospital has never allowed patients to die here just to make money off them.

"it is good."

Huo Wang was completely stunned by the money. He could draw until his hand broke and still not earn that much.

"If you're transferring to another hospital, remember to take all the X-ray films with you. It will save you some money."

The doctor offered a brief reminder.

Huo Wang dragged his heavy steps out. He didn't dare go into the ward, but just sat at the door.

A jumble of chaotic thoughts crowded my mind. It took me a while to come to my senses. I started asking around among my former clients if they needed any artwork.

The rope breaks at its thinnest point. And yet, at this very moment, he remained remarkably calm.

Actually, I don't remember exactly what my mom said back then, but it wasn't very nice.

Huo Wang only remembers being so short of money back then that he wished he could sell himself.

Several times when I was wandering around late at night and people approached me, I even thought I should just let it go.

What does chastity matter in the face of life?

Whether it was luck or misfortune, the list of students recommended for postgraduate studies came out during the most difficult time.

The number of places for postgraduate recommendation is limited, and someone whose ranking was slightly lower than his contacted him.

"I'll give you some money to give up this spot."

The way the other party looked down on him was still vivid in Huo Wang's mind. But Huo Wang felt as if he had grasped at a straw.

How much can you give me?

Studies? Dreams?

Huo Wang could only look at his feet.

"Twenty million, I guess."

When the other party mentioned the amount of money, it was as casually as if they were only talking about two dollars.

Huo Wang was stunned and did not agree immediately.

"I'll give you another ten million as a favor. But I advise you not to be ungrateful. As far as I know, your mother is still in the hospital, right? Coincidentally, I happen to be acquainted with the owner of this private hospital."

The person opposite him was bored, fiddling with his fingernails, his eyes filled with disdain as if he were looking at a tiny speck of dust.

"You wouldn't want your mom to be thrown out of the hospital, would you?"