Chapter 18: Darkness Before Dawn

Page 1/3

Lin Wei sensed something was off the moment he heard those words; he was sharp and perceptive.
“Yu Heng, do you have a bad relationship with Xiao Lan?”
Lin Wei asked proactively.
“Of course. If we had a good relationship, how could we get divorced? Right, Lin Xi Lan?”
Zhou Yu Heng was deliberately retaliating. With just a casual remark, he had dismantled the protective shield that Lin Xi Lan had so carefully woven.
Lin Wei understood everything. Though he said nothing at the time, Lin Xi Lan knew that obtaining custody of Lin Xing Mian would be nearly impossible.
After Lin Wei and Jiang Cui Ping left, only Lin Xi Lan and Zhou Yu Heng remained in the hospital room.
“...”
“So, how does it feel to be exposed?”
Zhou Yu Heng pulled a chair and sat beside the hospital bed.
Lin Xi Lan was utterly dejected; all her efforts had been ruined by Zhou Yu Heng.
She lifted her eyes to look at him weakly and said, “Do you really think I don’t want a divorce?”
Zhou Yu Heng nodded. “At least for now, you’re the one refusing to leave.”
Lin Xi Lan suddenly threw a pillow at Zhou Yu Heng in frustration. “It’s not that I don’t want a divorce. I’ve already stepped aside for you and Song Qing Li, but I need to survive — my sister and I need to survive!”
Faced with her hysteria, Zhou Yu Heng remained calm. “You live your life, and it has nothing to do with the divorce. Lin Xi Lan, why should I make things easier for you if you treat me badly?”
His words completely shattered Lin Xi Lan’s defenses. The grievances she had so desperately hidden now surged forth.
“What do you mean by not letting me be well? Did you make things easier for me? I trusted you, that’s why I married you.”
“You and Song Qing Li broke up before I came along. Am I the reason you split up?”
Discontent flickered in Lin Xi Lan’s brows as she looked at Zhou Yu Heng.
“What wrong have I done, just because I’m dragging my feet on the divorce?”
Zhou Yu Heng retorted, “If not, then what?”

Page 2/3

Lin Xi Lan said, “I told you, I need your grandfather’s help now. As soon as he finds a kidney donor for me, I’ll divorce.”
“Do you think you’ll still be able to leave then? You haven’t even found a donor yet, and you’re already obeying him. Once everything falls into place, do you think you’ll be able to walk away?”
Lin Xi Lan was speechless.
Zhou Yu Heng gazed coldly at her. “You’re just too greedy. You want a shortcut and don’t consider me or Xiao Li. You say I’m selfish, but aren’t you too?”
Lin Xi Lan’s heart was crushed. Her eyes filled with disappointment as she looked at Zhou Yu Heng. “Yes, I’m selfish. You are selfless. A human life is nothing compared to your so-called great love.”
“Zhou Yu Heng, but as I said before, you were the one who provoked me first.”
No one ever admits their faults — Zhou Yu Heng was no different, and neither was Lin Xi Lan.
“Fine, let’s just continue like this. But I warn you, Lin Xi Lan, I have already given you a choice.”
Lin Xi Lan now only wanted to save Lin Xing Mian. She refused to listen to anyone else’s words.

/

Lin Xi Lan had recently suffered a fracture and found it difficult to move around. She rarely visited Lin Xing Mian, who was mostly cared for by Jiang Cui Ping.
Time passed, and soon Lin Xi Lan received good news: a kidney donor matching Lin Xing Mian had been found — from a brain-dead girl in another city who had donated her organs.
Lin Xi Lan knew this opportunity was hard-won and must have been arranged with the help of Grandpa Zhou.
One day, Grandpa Zhou personally visited Lin Xi Lan in the hospital, making quite an impression; even the hospital director accompanied him.
“Xiao Lan, do you still feel unwell anywhere?”
Lin Xi Lan shook her head. “Thank you, Grandpa, I’m fine.”
Grandpa Zhou smiled with satisfaction. “That’s good. You must recover quickly. Also, your sister’s surgery arrangements have been settled. You can rest assured now.”
“I’m relieved. Thank you so much.”
Lin Xi Lan spoke sincerely. She was a person who valued feelings deeply and vowed to repay Grandpa Zhou in the future.
“No problem, it’s a small matter. By the way, has Yu Heng come to see you recently?”
Lin Xi Lan understood the implication behind Grandpa Zhou’s question. She knew she couldn’t lie now, as lies were easily uncovered.

Page 3/3

So Lin Xi Lan chose a different approach.
“Grandpa, after my sister’s surgery, I will have a proper talk with Zhou Yu Heng. Please don’t worry.”
Hearing this, Grandpa Zhou did not react harshly. He simply said, “Marriage is not a game. The Zhou family has never had a precedent of divorce in all these years.”
Lin Xi Lan understood that this was a warning. She was caught in a difficult position both inside and out.
However, Lin Xi Lan didn’t want to think too much. All she wished was for Lin Xing Mian’s surgery to go smoothly.
Lin Xing Mian was admitted to another hospital. The day before the operation, Lin Xi Lan made a special effort to visit her in a wheelchair.
“Sister, I’m a little scared.”
Lin Xing Mian was still young, so fear was natural.
Lin Xi Lan gently brushed away the stray hair from her sister’s forehead and said softly, “Don’t be afraid. I found the best doctors for you. They’ll give you anesthesia, so just think of it as a nap. When you wake up, you’ll be healthy.”
Lin Xing Mian smiled, lips pressed together. “Sister, you’re really like a mother to me. I feel like you care for me even more than Mom. Sister, when I get better, can you take me away?”
“I don’t want to live with Lin Wei anymore.”
“Okay.”
Lin Xi Lan’s reply was firm. After everything that had happened, she could no longer entrust Lin Xing Mian to Lin Wei and Jiang Cui Ping. Even if it meant tearing apart their relationships or going to court, she would fight for custody.
With Lin Xi Lan’s firm answer, Lin Xing Mian was overjoyed. “Sister, I’m so looking forward to being with you. Don’t worry, I’ll be good and won’t cause you trouble.”
“I’ll study hard, get into a good university, find a good job, and then take care of you.”
Lin Xing Mian held Lin Xi Lan’s hand and chattered on, her eyes full of hope and happiness.
Seeing Lin Xing Mian like this, Lin Xi Lan felt that no matter how much hardship or suffering she endured, it would be worth it.
Lin Xing Mian was scheduled for the first surgery the next day. As Lin Xi Lan felt both anticipation and anxiety, she suddenly received a call from Lin Xing Mian’s attending physician.