Thinking of this, she knocked harder, using her palm to slap the door.
Bang bang bang.
Soon, the door swung open with a swoosh.
Jiang Qin paused as she saw the girl with disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes, stunned for a moment.
Then she sighed, realizing that it wasn't only her who couldn't sleep last night.
She spoke earnestly, "Fanfan, you don't need to be burdened by what happened yesterday. That's a matter between adults. You're still a child, focus on your studies first."
Even though her performance studies weren't a particularly promising field, it was better than not putting in any effort at all.
Si Fan lowered her lashes and responded with a faint "Mm."
Jiang Qin smiled lovingly, "Eat breakfast first, hotel service, free."
"I'll wash up first."
Si Fan said, then turned and went back.
Jiang Qin urged her to hurry as she went to set the table.
Five minutes later.
Si Fan sat at the two-meter-long dining table, facing Jiang Qin.
Her posture was straight and proper, her eating habits were delicate and elegant, like she was born noble.
Jiang Qin watched in a daze.
She didn't know why, but she felt like her daughter had changed overnight.
But no matter how she looked, it was the same person!
Maybe leaving the Si Family was too shocking for her, causing her emotions to fluctuate wildly, making her behavior odd.
Jiang Qin placed a chicken leg into Si Fan's bowl, "Eat more, you're too thin."
Si Fan's lips twitched slightly, very coldly, "Mm, thank you."
The unfamiliar tone made Jiang Qin's nose ache painfully.
She clenched her chopsticks tightly, her eyes went red, "Fanfan, do you... hate me as a mother? Do you think I'm useless?"
For so many years, Si Fan suffered hunger and cold in that household, endured so much hardship and adversity, and she hadn't helped her, instead she told her to endure and bear it.
Even though Si Fan hadn't said anything, she must hate her mother.
Even she hated herself, hated her own cowardice, unable to resist.
Living like a pitiful creature without dignity.
Upon hearing this, a strong resentment inexplicably surged deep in Si Fan's heart.
She furrowed her brow.
This resentment was obviously original Si Fan's suppressed hatred, nowhere to vent.
Clearly, the original Si Fan blamed her mother for her lack of action.
But this wasn't Si Fan's own resentment.
Towards Jiang Qin, she felt nothing.
If she weren't the original Si Fan's mother, they wouldn't be involved together.
Since they were involved, she wouldn't stand idly by; if there were responsibilities the original Si Fan had to bear, she would take them on without hesitation.
Including the original Si Fan's mother, her sick brother, and complicated relationships.
Jiang Qin saw Si Fan not speaking, assumed she hated her completely, and felt even more distressed.
Her throat choked slightly, "I'm sorry, Fanfan, for all these years, I ignored you, didn't care about your feelings. It's only right if you hate me..."
Si Fan's lips moved slightly, "I don't hate you."
She had no feelings for Jiang Qin, where would the hate come from?
Besides, everyone has their own difficulties, she wasn't truly Si Fan, but rather observing this as a bystander, naturally seeing more rationally and clearly than the original Si Fan.
Really don't hate?
Deep down, Jiang Qin didn't believe it.
A mother as failed as she was, how could Fanfan not hate her?
Perhaps Fanfan was considering her mother's feelings and hadn't been honest with her.
Thinking this, Jiang Qin's guilt towards Si Fan deepened.
From now on, she'll treat Si Fan well, never neglect her again.
After finishing the meal, Si Fan prepared to go to school.
Jiang Qin called her, "Do you have money with you? Do you need me to give you some?"
Si Fan: "I don't need any."
The fifty-thousand-yuan prize from last night hadn't been spent.
"Really don't need any?" Jiang Qin glanced at Si Fan's outfit.
Today she wore a white shirt and black pants, the shirt was wrinkled, the black pants had been washed so many times they seemed faded, it looked like they were old.
Jiang Qin suddenly realized she hadn't given Si Fan money for new clothes in a long time.
Her clothes largely consisted of things Si Ya and Si Xue didn't want and threw to her.
Once she had bought new clothes for Si Fan, but when Si Ya found out that she'd used Si Mingyuan's money to buy them, she'd have the maid secretly shred the new clothes to pieces.
This happened several times afterwards.
She couldn't find evidence to prove Si Ya did it, so it was left unresolved.
She dared not buy new clothes for Si Fan anymore.
Because if she did, they'd be destroyed.
Thinking of these irritations, Jiang Qin's nose felt a bit sore, "I'll transfer you ten thousand, go buy some nice clothes."
Si Xue and Si Ya wore clothes that cost over ten thousand each, the most expensive ones were hundreds of thousands.
And Si Fan only wore what they didn't want.
"No need!"
Si Fan refused decisively.
But the more decisively she refused, the deeper Jiang Qin's guilt became.
Since Si Fan didn't want to accept her money to buy new clothes, then she, as a mother, would have to go out and buy them for her.
"Alright then, if that's the case, go to school first. If you need money, tell Mom, I'll transfer it to you."
Si Fan glanced at Jiang Qin, responded faintly, and then turned to leave.
Seeing Si Fan leave, Jiang Qin also prepared to go to the hospital to visit her son Si Yi.
Si Yi had a serious heart condition, needing medication almost daily.
Even if he didn't need medication, he had to stay in the hospital for daily observation.
The doctor said that unless a healthy suitable heart donor could be found to replace Si Yi's defective heart, there was a chance for rebirth.
However, a heart donor had been sought for nearly ten years without success.
In her lifetime, would she see Si Yi leave the hospital and have a normal life like a normal child?
Jiang Qin didn't know; the only thing she could do was continue searching for a suitable donor. As long as there was hope, it would be favored by fate, eventually she would fulfill her wish.
A woman is inherently weak, but as a mother, she is strong.
With this belief, Jiang Qin convinced herself to stay in the Si Family and persevere until now.
Just as Jiang Qin was about to leave the hotel, she received a call from the hospital.
"Ms. Si, your son's treatment cost for this month hasn't been paid. Please come to the hospital to settle the fee at once."
Jiang Qin's eyes widened, "How could that be? Are you mistaken? Didn't my husband pay yesterday?"
Yesterday, before she and Si Mingyuan left the hospital, they had settled last month's fees.
"Sorry, Ms. Si, Mr. Si just withdrew the payment for the treatments. If you want to continue your son's treatment at the hospital, please come to pay immediately."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qin's head buzzed; she seemed unable to believe it.
It was only after the hospital hung up that she came to her senses.
Si Mingyuan actually did something so extreme, even taking back the treatment fees that had just been paid—it's too much!
No matter what, Si Yi had called him dad for more than ten years, he was half his son, how could he be so cruel to his son?!
Thinking it over, she couldn't help but call Si Mingyuan.
But after trying for ages, she couldn't get through.
She had no choice but to go to the hospital first and settle the fees.