The night after Lin Wei's disappearance felt longer than any night Xiaoyu had ever known.
The house, once filled with quiet struggle, now felt suffocating.
Empty.
Heavy.
Broken.
Her mother didn't sleep.
Not even for a moment.
She lay on the bed, staring at the door as if willing it to open… as if believing that her son would suddenly walk in and say it was all a mistake.
"Xiaoyu…" she called weakly.
Xiaoyu, who had been sitting beside her all night, immediately leaned closer.
"Yes, Mama…"
Her mother's fingers trembled as she reached out and grabbed Xiaoyu's hand.
"Go find him…"
Her voice cracked, filled with desperation.
"Bring your brother back to me…"
The words hit harder this time.
Not like a request.
But like a plea.
A mother begging for her child.
Xiaoyu swallowed the tightness in her throat.
"I'll try," she said softly.
But deep inside—
She knew.
Finding Lin Wei in a place like the city…
Was like searching for a single drop of water in the ocean.
Morning came slowly.
But the heaviness in the house didn't lift.
If anything—
It worsened.
Her father sat outside, staring blankly at the ground, unmoving.
He hadn't eaten.
Hadn't spoken.
Hadn't even looked at anyone properly.
It was as if something inside him had shut down completely.
Xiaoyu stepped out quietly, carrying a small bowl of porridge.
"Father… you need to eat."
No response.
She knelt beside him.
"Please…"
Still nothing.
Her hands tightened slightly.
"Brother wouldn't want to see you like this."
That—
Finally—
Got a reaction.
Her father's fingers twitched.
His voice came out low and rough.
"…Your brother chose his path."
The words were heavy.
Final.
Xiaoyu's heart clenched.
"But he's still family."
Silence.
Then—
Her father let out a bitter breath.
"…Family doesn't abandon each other."
The words cut deeper than anything else.
Because they carried truth.
And pain.
Inside the house—
Things were worse.
Her mother had tried to sit up.
But her body was too weak.
She coughed violently, her frail frame shaking uncontrollably.
"Mama!" Xiaoyu rushed to her side.
"I'm fine…" her mother insisted weakly.
But she wasn't.
Her breathing was uneven.
Her face pale.
Her condition—
Worsening.
"Please lie down," Xiaoyu said gently, adjusting the thin blanket over her.
But her mother grabbed her wrist again.
"No…"
Her grip was surprisingly strong.
"Take me to the city."
Xiaoyu froze.
"…What?"
"I'm going to find him myself," her mother said, her voice shaking but determined.
"I can't just lie here while my son is out there alone!"
Her breathing grew faster.
More unstable.
"I have to go… I have to—"
"Mama, stop!" Xiaoyu's voice broke slightly.
"You can't even walk properly!"
"I don't care!" her mother cried.
"He's my son!"
The room filled with tension.
Raw.
Painful.
Uncontrollable.
Xiaoyu felt her chest tighten painfully.
Because she understood.
She understood too well.
If she could—
She would run to the city right now.
Search every street.
Every corner.
Every shadow.
Until she found him.
But reality was cruel.
They had no money.
No connections.
No strength.
"We'll find him," Xiaoyu said, forcing calm into her voice.
"I promise."
Her mother stared at her, searching her face desperately.
"Really…?"
Xiaoyu nodded.
Even though she wasn't sure.
Even though the promise felt too big.
Too heavy.
But it was all she could give.
That afternoon—
Everything got worse.
Xiaoyu returned from fetching water—
Only to find her mother on the floor.
Collapsed.
Unmoving.
"MAMA!"
The bucket fell from her hands, water spilling across the ground as she rushed forward.
Her heart pounded violently.
Her hands shook as she lifted her mother slightly.
"Mama! Wake up!"
No response.
Her breathing—
Weak.
Too weak.
"Father!" she screamed.
Her voice echoed through the house, sharp and desperate.
Her father rushed in.
For the first time—
Panic filled his eyes.
"What happened?!"
"I don't know—she just—she—"
Xiaoyu couldn't even form her words properly.
Fear had taken over completely.
"We need a doctor!" she cried.
Her father's expression darkened.
"We don't have money."
The words hit like a slap.
For a moment—
Everything froze.
Then Xiaoyu stood up suddenly.
"I'll go."
Her voice was firm.
Desperate.
"I'll find one."
Without waiting for a response—
She ran.
Her legs burned.
Her breath came in sharp gasps.
But she didn't stop.
She couldn't stop.
She knocked on every door.
Begged every person.
"Please… my mother is dying… please help…"
Some turned her away.
Some closed their doors.
Some didn't even listen.
Because in a place like this—
Everyone was struggling.
Everyone was surviving.
And no one had the luxury to save others.
By the time she reached the small clinic at the edge of the village—
She was shaking.
Exhausted.
Desperate.
"Please…" she said, her voice breaking as she stood before the doctor.
"My mother… she collapsed… please come…"
The doctor looked at her.
Then sighed.
"I don't do free treatment."
Her heart dropped.
"I'll pay you!" she said quickly.
"Later—I promise!"
He shook his head.
"No money, no treatment."
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Then—
Xiaoyu did something she had never done before.
She dropped to her knees.
"Please…" she begged.
Her forehead almost touching the ground.
"I'm begging you…"
"Save her…"
The doctor hesitated.
Just slightly.
But still—
Not enough.
And in that moment—
Something inside Xiaoyu broke.
Not completely.
But enough to change her.
Because for the first time—
She realized something clearly.
Kindness alone…
Was not enough to survive this world.
And as she knelt there—
Desperate.
Helpless.
On the verge of losing everything—
Fate was already preparing the next step.
A step that would pull her out of this broken village…
And into a world far more dangerous than she could imagine.