Asking for help

Inside the hospital room,

When Huo Mian entered, her mother had already woken up, but her mood still seemed very poor.

"Mom, I have something I need to discuss with you," Huo Mian said softly.

Yang Meirong turned her head away, her face pale, and didn't respond.

"I just went to the director's office and asked about Zhixin's condition. The director also suggested a second surgery for Zhixin, but the surgery fee is very expensive—three hundred thousand yuan."

"Even if we have to sell the house and land, we must save Zhixin. Money is nothing," Yang Meirong said fiercely, glaring at Huo Mian.

Huo Mian nodded. "That's what I think too. To save Zhixin, I'll do whatever it takes. Mom, you need to take care of yourself. Leave the rest to me; I'll go raise the money first."

"We can sell the house and rent a place to live," Yang Meirong said in a muffled voice, lowering her head.

"It's too late to sell the house now. The second surgery will be done within a few days. I'll figure something out. You take care of your health."

With that, Huo Mian turned and walked out of the hospital room.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, then took out her phone and flipped through her contact list, looking at each one, to see if anyone could help at this critical moment.

At this point, she thought of someone: Ning Zhiyuan.

It wasn't necessarily because she had to borrow money from Ning Zhiyuan, but when they bought the house, Huo Mian herself had contributed sixty thousand yuan towards the down payment.

Her salary wasn't high, and those sixty thousand yuan were hard-earned, saved from both part-time jobs and her regular work.

So she wanted to ask Ning Zhiyuan if he could return that money to her.

---

Later, she went to Ning Zhiyuan's newly bought house.

She hadn't been to this place many times in total. She had originally planned to move in after marriage, but after they broke up, nothing came of it.

This was a tall, thirty-three-story apartment building, located on the edge of the Third Ring Road, with very convenient transportation.

Ning Zhiyuan lived on the ninth floor. Huo Mian took the elevator directly to the ninth floor, apartment 902.

Just as she was about to knock, she saw the door was ajar.

She slowly opened the door, and before she even stepped inside, she saw a pair of women's high heels by the entrance—purple and very seductive.

Then, intimate sounds came from the bedroom.

"Oh, you haven't showered yet. Go quickly, you're so dirty."

"No rush, I'll shower after we're done," Ning Zhiyuan's voice was teasing at this moment.

Huo Mian thought to herself that she had clearly come at the wrong time and perhaps shouldn't speak up.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, she accidentally knocked a pair of shoes on the shoe rack, making a considerable noise.

"Who's there?" Ning Zhiyuan immediately walked out of the bedroom to check.

When he saw Huo Mian, he was clearly surprised, then embarrassed. "You... why are you here?"

Seeing Ning Zhiyuan shirtless, wearing only boxers, Huo Mian immediately turned her head and said, "Something happened in my family, and I need some money, so I wanted to ask if you could return the money I put towards the down payment."

"Money? It's gone, all used for buying the house. If you want it, you'll have to wait until I save enough to pay you back."

"Okay, I understand," Huo Mian said, then turned to leave.

"Huo Mian, what happened to your family?"

"Zhixin was in a car accident," Huo Mian's voice was a little hoarse.

"Such a big thing happened, and it's useless for you to come to me. You should go find your rich ex-boyfriend," Ning Zhiyuan suddenly blurted out.

Huo Mian said nothing, her face simply filled with disappointment as she turned and walked away.

After saying that, Ning Zhiyuan actually regretted it. Why had he mocked her like that?

"Zhiyuan, whose voice was that? Why aren't you coming in?" A delicate female voice came from the bedroom.

Ning Zhiyuan actually still had money on his card—about one hundred thousand yuan meant for the wedding and banquet.

If he gave it to Huo Mian now, would she be so moved that she would get back together with him?

But what if Huo Mian took the money and still didn't reconcile with him? That wouldn't be worth it.

---

Leaving Ning Zhiyuan's apartment, Huo Mian received a call from Zhu Lingling.

"Girl, I just got off the plane and saw your message. What happened? Why do you need to borrow so much money?" Zhu Lingling's voice was quite anxious.

"Zhixin was in a car accident and is in the hospital for emergency treatment. I need three hundred thousand for his surgery."

Huo Mian's voice was already terribly hoarse.

"What? Zhixin got into a car accident? Don't worry. Where are you? I'll come find you right now."

"I'm at the Rainbow Mall near the Third Ring Road."

"Okay, see you in a bit."

Half an hour later, Zhu Lingling arrived by taxi and found a KFC to sit down with Huo Mian.

"Lingling, I really don't know what else to do."

"What did the police say? What about the person who caused the accident?"

"They're still investigating. Apparently, four or five students were injured this time, and my brother isn't the only one. So the police are having a hard time dealing with it, and getting compensation will take a process. But Zhixin's surgery can't wait that long; the sooner the better."

"I understand. How about this: I have eighty thousand in savings; you take that first. Then I'll go back and borrow some from my parents, my cousin, and my friends. We can probably gather about one hundred thirty thousand for you. We'll figure out the rest if it's not enough."

"Thank you, Lingling," Huo Mian grabbed Zhu Lingling's hand, her eyes red-rimmed.

"Silly girl, we're best friends. Why thank me? If I don't help you now, when will I? Money can be earned again. It's most important that Zhixin is safe and sound."

Huo Mian nodded.

"Xiao Mian, how about we ask the media for help? Once the media publicizes it, people can donate, and we'll quickly gather the money."

Huo Mian hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I've thought about that too, but if it alarms the media and becomes known all over the city, Zhixin will face a lot of pressure when he recovers and goes back to school. I don't want others to look at him with sympathy, you understand? After all, he's a boy with strong self-esteem. Unless absolutely forced, I don't want to take that step."

"You're right, I didn't think it through. It's okay, don't worry. We'll figure something out."

---

After parting with Zhu Lingling, Huo Mian returned to her rental apartment and washed her face.

Just then, her WeChat suddenly buzzed with a notification.

"Huo Goddess, are you there?" It was from her high school classmate, Wei Dong.

"Yes, what's up?"

"I heard from Zhu Lingling that your brother was in a car accident and needs money for surgery, is that right?"

"Yes."

"I have some money; I can lend it to you."

"Really? Thank you," Huo Mian was a little excited.

"Let's meet and discuss this properly."

"Okay." Whenever it concerned Zhixin, Huo Mian was very proactive.

At 6:30 PM, at a nearby Thai restaurant, Huo Mian met Wei Dong.

He arrived in a black Mercedes GLK, wearing an Armani suit, carrying an LV handbag, and a Longines diamond watch on his wrist, exuding an air of extreme wealth.

In contrast, Huo Mian was simply dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans, looking quite conventional.

"Have you been waiting long?" Wei Dong asked with a smile.