Volume 1, Chapter 143: They Are Twin Brothers

A car accident claimed two lives at once.

The driver fled the scene, and the police were making every effort to apprehend him.

When Qin Minshu heard the news from one of the servants, she shuddered violently. She rushed down from the attic and ran straight to Madam Qin.

Zheng Xueyao had just finished holding a family meeting with her stepson and stepdaughter.

She was dressed in plain black mourning clothes, a veil of black gauze covering her head. Her face was pale and exhausted, filled with the grief of a widow.

Every image captured by the media showed Madam Qin weeping uncontrollably, supported by her children as she took charge of the situation.

She was handling the funeral arrangements for her dead husband.

Qin Minshu had a thousand questions she wanted to ask, but Madam Qin silenced her with a sharp glance.

A servant took Qin Minshu away to wash and change her into mourning clothes. As the servant was tying up her hair, Madam Qin walked in.

“Madam,” the servant greeted her.

“I’ll do it. You may go,” Madam Qin said.

Qin Minshu timidly called, “Mother,” then began, “Father, he…”

Madam Qin walked to the dressing table, picked up a white mourning flower, and pinned it into her daughter’s hair. In a hoarse, subdued voice, she said, “Your father was in the same car as Feng Yuhai, discussing your marriage. While they were passing along a mountain road, a large truck suddenly came out of nowhere and sent their car plunging over a cliff. Your father, Feng Yuhai, and your father’s driver, Old Zheng, are all dead.”

Qin Minshu shuddered violently, her face turning deathly pale.

She stared wide-eyed at the woman in the mirror, whose face remained calm and bloodless.

Zheng Xueyao glanced at her daughter in the mirror, picked up the comb, and continued brushing her hair.

“It happened so suddenly that your father left no will. I called your brothers and sisters back and divided the Qin family’s assets among them according to their shares. I left a portion for you as well. None of your brothers or sisters objected. Your brothers will take over the management of the Qin Group. From today onward, I will withdraw completely from the group’s affairs.”

“Once your father’s funeral is over, we’ll go abroad. I bought a detached house in Country F. You may live with me, or you may go out and make your own way in the world. Either is fine.”

Her composure sent a chill through Qin Minshu. Tears streamed down her face.

“Mother…” Her voice trembled. She wanted to ask something, yet she did not dare.

But she knew her mother understood exactly what she wanted to ask.

Zheng Xueyao continued brushing her daughter’s hair and said calmly, “Originally, my plan was for you to marry Feng Yuhai, establish yourself in the Feng family, and then send him to his death so that you could inherit the Feng family’s fortune.”

“But later, I changed my mind. You don’t have enough ability to control Feng Yuhai. He would only toy with you until you were dead.”

Zheng Xueyao shook her head faintly. “Your father would do anything to preserve the Qin Group. He doesn’t care whether your brothers and sisters live or die, and he won’t care about your life either. Once the marriage was settled, your death would have been certain.”

Qin Minshu abruptly raised her head, her eyes red and her throat constricted.

“Then… my brothers…”

“Shh.”

Zheng Xueyao touched a finger to her lips.

“You have only two half-brothers. Remember that.”

Qin Minshu closed her eyes and let her tears soak her face.

Just like her mother, she had sacrificed her brothers.

—

The result of Ye Sheng’s conversation with Huo Lingdong was the decision to find a suitable bone-marrow transplant for Huo Xiaobei.

“He needs a match.” Ye Sheng looked at Huo Lingdong. Since they were both doctors, there was no need for them to conceal anything from each other. “Have you ever been tested as a match for Xiaobei?”

“Yes,” Huo Lingdong replied. “My bone marrow isn’t compatible with Xiaobei’s.”

Ye Sheng understood.

“No wonder you were so anxious to find Xiaobei’s mother.” Ye Sheng comforted him. “It’s all right. We still have time. We can keep looking together for another suitable donor.”

Huo Lingdong gazed at Ye Sheng, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

A knock sounded at the door, and Ye Zhun walked in.

“Brother.” Ye Sheng greeted him, then noticed that Ye Zhun’s expression was unusual. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Ye Zhun glanced at Ye Sheng, then looked toward Huo Lingdong.

“The results are out. Do you want to see them first, or should you and Ye Sheng look at them together?”

Huo Lingdong’s pupils contracted. The moment Ye Zhun asked that question, he had already guessed the result. His heart felt as though it had been struck with a heavy blow, and for a long while he could feel it trembling violently in his chest.

“What results?” Ye Sheng asked, bewildered. He had no idea what secret game the two men were playing.

“There’s no point hiding it anyway. You two may as well look together.”

Ye Zhun made the decision for them and handed the examination report to Ye Sheng. Ye Sheng reached out to take it. The moment she saw that it was a DNA paternity test, her expression changed, and she looked up in alarm.

What Ye Zhun said next struck the hearts of five people like a hammer at once.

“Xiaobei and Huo Cong are twin brothers. They’re biological brothers.”

Ye Sheng and Huo Lingdong were stunned.

Outside the door, Huo Mingting, Huo Cong, and Huo Xiaobei heard those words—and all three were struck completely dumb.