After Transmigrating As The Mother Of The Pitiful Female Supporting Character in a Campus Novel - Chapter 4

It had to be said that the “Xia Shibai” in the original novel had left far too much room for Auntie Lin to commit her crimes.

As an employer, she stayed away from home for long periods and rarely called to check on Xia Yaozhou; even the occasional phone call consisted of a routine inquiry from her assistant. With this kind of completely hands-off employment, even someone with a good heart would find it difficult to maintain their original integrity over time, let alone a bad person like Auntie Lin, whose character was already rotten to the core.

Initially, Auntie Lin attempted to use sophistry, trying the “cry, make a scene, and threaten suicide” routine at the police station. She even slid off her chair to sit on the floor, kicking the tables and chairs in the mediation room, and tried to run out to make a scene in the main hall.

It took the combined effort of two grown men, Qin Wang and Liu Tong, to barely restrain her.

Eventually, Qin Wang grew livid. After three warnings proved ineffective and he was slapped across the face by Auntie Lin in the chaos, he directly handcuffed her and dragged her into a private interrogation room next door.

“Can’t understand human speech, can you? Can’t talk like a civil person? If you insist on throwing a tantrum, then stay here and cool your head. When you’ve calmed down enough to communicate like a normal human being, we’ll come find you.” With a dark face, Qin Wang slammed the door shut and turned back to the mediation room.

“Continue. Do you have any other evidence?” Qin Wang looked at the full page of notes, and with the surveillance footage Xia Shibai provided, he felt much more at ease.

Indeed, talking to smart people was so much easier. Unfortunately, his job often involved dealing with freaks like Auntie Lin, which made Qin Wang want to quit and go back to grad school.

Xia Shibai nodded. “There is evidence of items stolen from the house, and then there is the matter of her embezzling my child’s living expenses. My assistant has preserved evidence of the bank transfers. Later, I will take my child to the hospital for a comprehensive physical examination. I will bring the report then to serve as further evidence of her child abuse.”

Qin Wang indicated his understanding. “As for the theft accusation, we will look into that shortly.”

“Is the child okay?” Qin Wang glanced at Liu Tong, who knowingly picked up the organized notes and headed to the interrogation room next door to continue investigating the other “crimes” Xia Shibai had accused Auntie Lin of.

Speaking of the child, Xia Shibai suddenly remembered hearing Xia Yaozhou’s weak cry earlier. Since then, she had been preoccupied with recalling the sparse plot details about little Yaozhou from the book and planning how to get Auntie Lin behind bars, completely forgetting the daughter she was still holding.

When she carefully pulled back a corner of the quilt, she found the little girl in her arms with a flushed face and tightly closed eyes. Her breathing was heavy; even without reaching out to feel, it was obvious the child’s condition was wrong.

Xia Shibai panicked, no longer caring that the legalities weren’t finished. She stood up, ready to head out. “Officer Qin, there’s nothing else major for now. We’ve provided all the evidence we currently have; gathering the rest will take time. My child has a fever; I have to get her to a hospital.”

“If you’re in a hurry to process this, I’ll have my lawyer stay behind to cooperate with you.”

Because the wait time had been so long earlier, Xia Shibai had already sent the family doctor home with Old Wu. She had originally summoned the doctor just in case she needed medical cover for beating someone, but when she had actually made her move, she hadn’t lost her mind—the golf club had landed specifically on fleshy parts, avoiding any areas that could cause permanent disability.

Thus, after the family doctor finished his statement and confirmed that Auntie Lin had no major injuries to her head or other vital areas, he had checked in with Xia Shibai and left with Old Wu.

Qin Wang glanced at the pitiful girl huddled in the quilt. Her hair and face were damp, her curled eyelashes were clumped together, and her lips were dry and peeling. Her small face was a burning crimson. He quickly pushed the door open and signaled for Xia Shibai to follow him.

“There’s a hospital near the station. A pediatrician I know is on duty in the ER tonight. I’ll drive you.” Qin Wang hurried to the back office, fished his car keys out of a drawer, and explained the situation to his mentor.

“Go on then, hurry.” The mentor glanced at the time while holding a teacup. “It’s almost time for the shift change anyway. How much longer until things wrap up over there?”

“Liu Tong is taking the statement, and we have half the evidence. It’s likely she’ll be detained.”

“Fine, clock out and head home. I’ll check on Liu Tong.”

“Got it.”

Qin Wang didn’t waste a second. He led Xia Shibai to a Porsche Cayenne parked in the corner of the yard.

Xia Shibai: ?

A cop driving a Cayenne? Shouldn’t it be the Volkswagen next to it…

Until the Cayenne chirped twice and the side mirrors unfolded, Qin Wang pulled open the back door. “Get in.”

Xia Shibai: …

Poverty has truly limited my imagination. In this novel world, everyone you bump into is rich.

Xia Shibai hurriedly got in with the child. Qin Wang turned up the AC and immediately called his acquaintance at the hospital.

Fifteen minutes later, Qin Zhijin, who had been asked by the hospital director to stay and observe a brain tumor patient, was waiting in the ER.

It was nearly midnight, but the ER was still brightly lit and filled with patients. Qin Zhijin stood to the side, her exquisite, beautiful face cold as frost. She looked unapproachable; even the busy night-shift nurses gave her a wide berth, offering only a distant greeting of “Doctor Qin” as they passed.

As soon as Qin Wang entered, Qin Zhijin went to meet them. She bypassed her cousin and walked straight toward Xia Shibai.

Qin Zhijin took one look and, without a word, led Xia Shibai to the nurses’ station. She grabbed a mercury thermometer, flicked it a few times to reset it, and placed it under Xia Yaozhou’s arm.

The hospital was packed. It was tiring enough for an adult to stand, let alone while holding a three-year-old. Xia Shibai’s arm strength and leg support were being pushed to their limits.

“You’ll probably have to stand for a bit; all the beds are full right now. If you can’t hold out, let Qin Wang hold the child.”

Xia Shibai wanted to do just that, but as soon as the dazed, feverish Xia Yaozhou was moved toward Qin Wang’s arms, she let out a whimper. Her tiny, curled fist pressed against Xia Shibai’s chest in clear rejection.

“Never mind, I’ll hold her. She doesn’t like it.” Xia Shibai had very little strength left in her arms, relying entirely on willpower. She tried to distract herself, thinking she would definitely hit the gym later. Holding a child was like weightlifting; without arm strength, you really couldn’t keep it up. Most importantly, she worried her arms would be “paralyzed” tomorrow, unable to even straighten out.

Qin Wang was a man and the youngest in his family; he had zero experience with kids. He stood there like a fool, not even knowing how to help support the child’s weight.

Finally, Qin Zhijin, unable to watch any longer, stepped in to help support Xia Yaozhou’s waist and bottom, giving Xia Shibai some leverage to reduce the load on her arms.

Xia Shibai looked up and smiled at her. “Thank you.”

If it had been Qin Wang, she might not have let him help, even if it meant her arms would ache tomorrow.

“You’re welcome.” Qin Zhijin’s voice was flat, with no more inflection than a computer-generated voice.

Precisely because they were standing so close, Xia Shibai’s chaotic brain finally found some room for a distracted thought.

The woman in front of her wore flat shoes and only reached Xia Shibai’s brow. Her hair was pulled back efficiently into a low ponytail, and her white coat was buttoned up neatly. If it weren’t for the faint dark circles under her eyes, Xia Shibai wouldn’t have believed this person was a doctor—let alone a pediatrician, one of the most demanding specialties.

Qin Zhijin smelled faintly of milk-scented body wash. It wasn’t overpowering, but like she had been soaked in it. Her palms were very warm; when Xia Shibai accidentally touched them, she flinched back from the heat of the skin.

Perhaps because Xia Shibai’s gaze was too blatant, Qin Zhijin—who usually didn’t want to say a single word after work—frowned uncomfortably. “Is there something on my face?” she asked, puzzled.

“No, it’s just… looking at you, you don’t really seem like a pediatrician.”

Qin Zhijin pursed her lips. “You aren’t the first to think so.” She gestured with her chin toward Qin Wang, saying coldly, “Most normal people don’t think he’s a cop when they first see him, either.”

“In fact, even after he shows his badge, people suspect he made his fortune through scams and that the badge is a fake.”

Xia Shibai looked at the serious, cold-faced Qin Wang. Just standing there, he exuded an aura of casual disdain. Combined with the luxury car he drove, it wasn’t hard to imagine his privileged background. Seeing a guy like this become a cop made it truly hard for people to believe he was “serving the people.”

“True.”

The fifteen-minute wait didn’t feel long. Qin Zhijin hadn’t intended to join the ER’s night intake, but suddenly a three-car pileup occurred, bringing in five stretcher cases at once.

Without waiting for the nurses to call her, Qin Zhijin had to step in. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to instruct Xia Shibai and Qin Wang: “Stay right in this spot; you’re not in the way here. I’ll come back as soon as I’ve processed the patients.”

“Take the thermometer out in fifteen minutes and remember the reading. I’ll deal with it later.”

Having said that, Qin Zhijin strode toward a patient lying on a bed, covered in blood and groaning.

The ER became exceptionally noisy. Almost everyone’s attention was on the five new arrivals. Xia Shibai watched Qin Zhijin’s busy back, then thought about Qin Wang’s exhaustion from working until dawn, and silently held the feverish Xia Yaozhou tighter.

To advise someone to study medicine is to call down lightning.

Daughter, let’s just be a beautiful salted fish (lazy person) instead.

Although in that terrible novel, her “cheap” (found) daughter supposedly took over the enterprise and became the corporate decision-maker, the hardship involved wasn’t any less than what Qin Wang and Qin Zhijin were facing. And the fact that the company she worked so hard to “raise” was eventually swallowed by the main couple was even more infuriating.

Xia Shibai felt a wave of gloom. It seemed there was still a long road ahead to ensure her daughter lived a relaxed and happy life.

Qin Zhijin returned an hour later. She had finished treating the external wounds. In most cases, she could only act as an assistant to the ER doctors until the severely injured were sent to surgery. A patient with severe lung trauma had vomited, and the blood had splattered all over her.

Qin Zhijin didn’t even have time for a proper wash. she hurried back to the hallway to check on Xia Yaozhou. The girl’s face wasn’t as flushed as before, but her breathing was audibly congested. Feeling her neck and forehead, her temperature was still higher than normal.

“Sorry. What was the temperature reading?”

“The first was 38.5°C. Since we waited so long, I checked again; it was 38.2°C.”

“Okay, it’s nothing too serious. Just a cold and fever. We’ll use a cooling patch, prescribe some medicine, and she’ll get through it with plenty of water and rest.” After saying this, Qin Zhijin looked at Qin Wang. “Go handle the ER registration. I’ll write the prescription; you go line up for the medicine, then find me in my office.”

“You, come wait in my office for now. There are seats there; you won’t be so tired.” Blood was still flecked on Qin Zhijin’s cheek, but the cold Doctor Qin, who had just finished her shift, tried her best to curl her lips into a smile to appear approachable and gentle. She failed due to “social animal” exhaustion.

Qin Zhijin bit her lip slightly, her beautiful phoenix eyes staring at Xia Shibai.

As if possessed, Xia Shibai nodded and agreed.

Once in the office, before Xia Shibai could even touch the edge of a chair, Qin Zhijin placed a spare set of clothes she kept in her office on the desk.

“You’re soaked. If you hold her like that, you’ll pass the chill and dampness to the child.” Qin Zhijin pointed at the door. “Lock the door and change. I need to go to the ward to check on a patient. You can turn on the AC yourself; turn the temperature up a bit so the little one will be more comfortable.”

Qin Zhijin had seen the panic hidden under Xia Shibai’s calm exterior and couldn’t help but offer comfort. “Don’t worry. As the old saying goes, ‘a child grows like the wind after a fever.’ She probably just got sick from the fright today, combined with the extreme temperature changes.”

“Thank you.” Xia Shibai let out a breath of relief.

She felt a strange sense of comfort. Perhaps it was because she had suddenly transmigrated and never actually experienced childbirth—she had been so busy with work she hadn’t even interacted with children. Suddenly becoming a mother left her somewhat at a loss. Even though she had looked after younger kids in the orphanage, that was many years ago. Now, she was truly a “blank slate” trying to educate another blank slate.

Qin Zhijin pulled the door shut behind her. Hearing the lock click, she began walking toward the brain tumor patient’s ward.

Even Qin Zhijin, who had seen all the tragedy and suffering of the hospital, couldn’t help but frown and put a red ‘X’ over the current state of child-rearing in society. Irresponsible fathers, and overworked mothers who were always the first to be blamed.

The days of suffering seemed endless.

Thinking of her own grandmother’s persistent attempts to “straighten her out” and force her into blind dates to conform to secular marital values, Qin Zhijin couldn’t help but shudder.

“In the end, who actually benefits?” Qin Zhijin couldn’t figure it out. It certainly wasn’t her, nor was it the Xia Shibai in her office, and definitely not the Xia Yaozhou who had a high fever at dawn with only her mother by her side.