Chapter 99: Farewell to the Past

Chapter 99: Farewell to the Past

Just as Yang Yeye was standing there hurling abuse at Tang Ling, Tang Ling woke up.

Seeing that Tang Ling had opened her eyes, He Lu hurried forward with concern. "Miss Tang, you're awake?"

Tang Ling looked at the gauze wrapped around her wrist, then at the IV drip hanging beside the bed. Her lips curved faintly, carrying a trace of bitter self-mockery.

"Why did you save me? I'm the scum of society. I never should have lived in this world.

My parents don't love me, society doesn't care for me, and when I finally met a lover, he left me worse than dead."

From Tang Ling's words, He Lu caught on to something. "A lover? Miss Tang, can you tell me a little more about what happened before?"

Before slitting her wrists, Tang Ling had wanted to die. But when the blade truly cut into her vein, she had been afraid. She had wanted to live.

Fortunately, He Lu had discovered her in time. Fortunately, she had been saved.

Tang Ling did not answer He Lu's question, but instead asked directly, "Officer He, thank you for saving me."

He Lu scratched his head. "The one who really saved you wasn't me. It was Miss Fan who gave you her blood. There was a shortage of blood plasma at the hospital at the time.

Luckily, Miss Fan's blood type matched yours, and she made the decision to help you without hesitation.

Because she gave you so much blood, Miss Fan is still resting in the ward next door."

When Tang Ling heard the name Miss Fan from He Lu's mouth, a surge of unease rose in her heart.

She had never wanted Fan Xiaoyou to see her in such a disgraceful state. Yet things had gone against her wishes, and Fan Xiaoyou had still seen it.

What Tang Ling had never expected was that Fan Xiaoyou would actually save her without holding old grudges. To Tang Ling, this was the greatest irony in the world.

A tear slipped from the corner of Tang Ling's eye, and she could not help feeling regretful for what she had once done to Fan Xiaoyou.

Tang Ling had never imagined that when everyone had turned their backs on her, it would be Fan Xiaoyou who reached out and pulled her up.

The madness she had shown in the hospital before had only been an act. She had simply been too ashamed to face anyone.

He Lu pulled a tissue from the table and handed it to her. "Miss Tang, having Miss Fan as a friend is truly your blessing.

The day Miss Fan heard that you had cut your wrists and were being rushed into emergency treatment, she ignored her own condition and gave you nearly sixty percent of her blood.

That kind of generosity is not something everyone has... nor is it something every friend can do. You should treasure a friend like her."

A friend?

Tang Ling's heart turned bitter. No one knew better than she did how much harm she had done to Fan Xiaoyou over the years.

Back then, she had lured Fan Xiaoyou into the den of a pyramid scheme. How cruel had that been?

Afterward, she had blindly compared herself to Fan Xiaoyou again and again, even taking perverse satisfaction in selling her own body...

How could someone as ruined as she was deserve Fan Xiaoyou's friendship?

Tang Ling had thought that if misfortune struck her, Fan Xiaoyou would be the first person to step on her. But she had been wrong.

Because since the accident, Fan Xiaoyou had been the first to come see her, and the only one to come see her.

What made Tang Ling even sadder was her parents. From the moment it happened until now, they had remained completely indifferent.

If they had spoken at all, it had only been to scold her over the phone and tell her it would be best if she died outside.

Just as Tang Ling was sinking into self-reproach, a quarrel from outside the door reached her ears.

The person cursing her was no stranger at all. Yang Yeye?

Yes, once upon a time, how pleasant it had been for her, Fan Xiaoyou, and Yang Yeye to travel through life together. She had never imagined that by this day, she and Yang Yeye, and even she and Fan Xiaoyou, would have drifted so far apart.

"Fan Xiaoyou, let me in! I want to see that shameless woman. Hasn't she hurt you enough? Why did she have to make you give her your blood too?

What, did you owe Tang Ling in a past life? When she falls on hard times, when she suffers, you stay by her side and help her in silence.

And when she gets ahead, when she makes her fortune, she tramples all over you...

Has this world no justice left at all? Why don't wicked women ever die young?"

Yang Yeye was pulling at Fan Xiaoyou. When she reached Tang Ling's door and was about to open it, Fan Xiaoyou stopped her.

And at that moment, the door creaked open anyway. Tang Ling, her face deathly pale, looked at Yang Yeye and Fan Xiaoyou. Pride still remained in her; she lifted her spine straight and said to Yang Yeye, "This is a hospital. It's a place for quiet. If you have any complaints about me, say them inside. Don't disturb the other patients."

Yang Yeye was held back by Fan Xiaoyou and became somewhat angry. "Fan Xiaoyou, you ungrateful wretch. Do you even know who is standing in front of you?"

Fan Xiaoyou forced a smile. "Second Sister-in-law, I haven't lost my memory. The person standing in front of us is Tang Ling, the Tang Ling we grew up with."

Once they entered the ward, Yang Yeye shook off Fan Xiaoyou's grip. "Grew up together? Is that so? It was this childhood friend of yours who nearly killed you back then. Have you forgotten?"

Seeing Tang Ling's complexion grow worse and worse, Fan Xiaoyou feared that she might fly into another fit of hysteria, so she hurried forward and embraced her.

"Don't be angry. Yeye has always been straightforward since she was little, saying exactly what she thinks. In truth, we forgave you long ago."

Tang Ling let out a slow breath, looked at Yang Yeye, then at Fan Xiaoyou, and said, "I did so many terrible things. How could I ever ask you to forgive me?

Actually, I know very well that someone like me no longer deserves to be your friend.

Yeye is right. I nearly harmed you before, and you... you saved me instead... Xiaoyou, I truly owe you an apology."

With that, Tang Ling sank to her knees.

Her voice broke with tears. "I don't dare ask for your forgiveness, but I want to say I'm sorry to you and to Yeye. During those days, I hurt you, and I..."

Seeing Tang Ling kneel on the floor, Fan Xiaoyou hurried forward to help her up. "Little Ling, what are you doing? No one is perfect. Who doesn't make mistakes?

Don't do this. The fact that I gave you blood means I still consider you a friend. And the fact that Yeye is still willing to scold you means she has never really stopped caring about you..."

"Fan Xiaoyou, why did you say what was on my mind?" Yang Yeye complained from the side.

Though she said it that way, Yang Yeye still stepped forward on her own and hugged Tang Ling. "Silly girl, don't be so foolish again in the future! Wealth and honor are things you're born with. If they aren't yours, then no amount of grabbing will help."

Tang Ling knew all too well what Yang Yeye said. Only this world, overflowing with desire, had magnified human greed and selfishness without limit.

That was why Tang Ling had taken the wrong road. Fortunately, disaster had turned to blessing, and now it was still not too late to pull back from the edge of the cliff.

Fan Xiaoyou held Tang Ling's shoulder and comforted her softly, "Everyone has had moments when they've been a jerk. Don't keep blaming yourself for it.

Right now, the most important thing is for you to identify the person who kidnapped you and bring him to justice.

Let's turn the page on the past and say farewell to it. You're still young. As long as you mend your ways and start anew, as long as you work earnestly and live with your feet on the ground, you can still welcome a new life, embrace new love, and find someone who truly cherishes you to spend your days with."