When the manager saw the boss enter, he quickly went over to him and brought him to Yun Shu’s table.
Yun Shu immediately stood up. “Hello.”
“Sit,” Uncle Yang gestured for her to sit and then took a seat across from her.
“Uncle Yang, my name is Yun Shu,” she introduced herself.
“Hello, Yun Shu. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“It’s like this—I have a friend named Lin Man. Her mother is Lin Nan. She’s currently in trouble and needs your help. I don’t know the full details, but she’s now hospitalized in the neurology department of People’s Hospital. She said you might know her mother, so she asked me to find you. If it’s convenient, could you come to the hospital with me to see her? She’ll explain everything to you in person.”
Uncle Yang thought for a moment and agreed. He said he had time now and could go with her right away.
Yun Shu felt this was perfect—no need to wait for another day. If she could help Lin Man sooner, she would be very happy.
They stood up and walked out of the café together. Uncle Yang said he had a car and offered to drive her.
Yun Shu gladly agreed and waited at the café entrance while he went to bring the car around.
Many customers entering and leaving the café glanced at her.
“Meow, Master, why are they all looking at you?”
“Maybe they’re looking at you,” Yun Shu teased.
“Hehe, really? Do they also like me? Then hold me higher so they can admire my stunning beauty.”
“Pfft, aren’t you a bit too narcissistic?” Yun Shu laughed, stroking its fur.
“Hehe, Master, you’ve received a lot more favorability points.”
“Huh? I didn’t even do anything—where did they come from?”
“Hehe, probably from those people just now.” The system felt warm all over—the more favorability Yun Shu gained, the more energy it received.
After a while, Uncle Yang drove the car over. Yun Shu opened the passenger door and got in.
The car drove smoothly onto the elevated highway. While driving, Uncle Yang asked, “You don’t sound like a local. Where are you from?”
“I’m from the capital,” Yun Shu replied with a smile.
“The capital—that’s a big city. I’ve been there a few times. The roast duck there is especially delicious.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Your cat is quite cute. So small—perfect for girls like you to keep.”
Hearing the compliment, the system immediately perked up and let out a “meow.”
“It can understand people?”
“Not really. It’s just used to being praised. Whenever someone calls it cute, it meows in response. Right, Meow Meow?”
System: “Meow.”
“Hahaha…”
They chatted occasionally, and soon the car arrived at the hospital. After parking, Yun Shu led Uncle Yang to the elevator and went up to the fifth floor of the neurology department.
To make sure no one else was in Lin Man’s room, she first checked with the nurse at the station. After confirming there were no visitors, she brought Uncle Yang to the ward.
Seeing how careful she was, Uncle Yang couldn’t help but look at her with approval.
They arrived at Lin Man’s room and pushed the door open. Lin Man was lying on the bed, asleep.
Yun Shu walked to the bedside and gently nudged her shoulder. “Sister Lin Man, wake up…”
Uncle Yang looked at the woman on the bed. Her face resembled the one in his memory by about eighty percent. His heart trembled with emotion—this must be her daughter.
But the girl’s hands and feet were shackled, her face pale and thin, her cheeks slightly sunken.
Her arms were so thin they looked like they could break with one hand, making his heart ache.
Lin Man was awakened from her sleep. She suddenly opened her eyes, revealing a fierce expression.
Yun Shu was startled and stepped back, her heart pounding wildly.
Holding the system, she pressed a hand against her chest, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.
“Master, it’s okay, calm down, take deep breaths.”
Yun Shu’s face was pale as she slowly steadied her breathing.
Uncle Yang noticed and helped her sit down on a chair.
“Are you alright?” he asked with concern.
“I’m fine, Uncle Yang. I was just startled. I’ll be okay after a moment.”
“Ah—ah—” Suddenly, Lin Man began screaming and struggling on the bed.
The nurse outside rushed in upon hearing the noise. “What’s going on? Another episode?” She quickly administered a sedative.
Lin Man gradually stopped struggling and screaming, her eyes turning blank as she stared at the ceiling.
Seeing her like this, Uncle Yang’s eyes reddened. He stepped forward and said softly, “Child, I’m your mother’s friend.”
Lin Man seemed to react slightly. Her gaze slowly focused as she spoke weakly, “You… really knew my mother?”
Yun Shu, now recovered, stepped forward and said, “Sister Lin Man, Uncle Yang came specially to see you. You can tell him everything.”
Lin Man took a deep breath and began to explain.
Back then, Lin Nan and Uncle Yang had known each other. Later, her mother met her father. At first, they were very loving, but eventually her father had an affair with her current stepmother.
Unable to bear the betrayal, her mother fell into depression and later took her own life.
Her younger sister had a congenital heart condition, and Lin Man had raised her since childhood.
After the stepmother entered the family, she and her sister were isolated at home. Lin Man had to go to school, and her sister couldn’t go with her, so she had no choice but to leave her alone at home.
The sister was often abused by the stepmother and forbidden to tell anyone. Over time, she became withdrawn.
As Lin Man grew older and became able to support herself, she took her sister away to live with her.
But one day, while she was at work, the stepmother came to their home with her son.
No one knew what was said, but it triggered her sister’s heart condition. Instead of taking her to the hospital, they fled.
When Lin Man came home, she found only her sister’s cold body.
This shock caused her mental state to deteriorate further. Her stepmother suggested sending her to a psychiatric hospital.
However, her father refused out of concern for his reputation. Instead, he claimed publicly that she also had a heart condition and sent her here.
Her stepmother would occasionally visit and deliberately provoke her, worsening her condition.
Eventually, in despair, she tried to take her own life to be with her mother and sister.
Now she was completely alone and helpless. Only after Yun Shu’s reminder did she think of asking Uncle Yang for help.
After hearing everything, Uncle Yang patted her hand and said firmly, “Child, don’t worry. I will definitely help you.”
Yun Shu stood beside them, smiling with relief. She believed that with Uncle Yang’s help, Lin Man would be able to contact her relatives abroad, escape her current situation, and recover as soon as possible.