The next day, Gu Xiangyun rushed in, unable to hide her urgency. "Is the... item ready?"
"Of course it is," Su Jin replied calmly, her voice tinged with confidence. "It's already been sent to the hospital."
"Really? That quickly?" Gu Xiangyun's eyes lit up with excitement. What she didn't know—what she could never have imagined—was that the heart had always been there. It was Zhou Tao's.
Watching Gu Xiangyun's eager face, Su Jin's expression remained neutral, but her mind churned with irony. If Gu Xiangyun ever finds out that the heart inside Su Nuo came from Zhou Tao... will she cough up blood in rage?
Stretching lazily, Su Jin leaned back on the hospital bed and said slowly, "No need to be so tense. I'm starving. Mom, could you buy me something to eat?"
She needed strength to deal with the storm ahead—there was no way she'd mistreat her stomach now.
Gu Xiangyun's face twisted, but she forced a stiff smile. "Fine. Wait here. I'll go now."
As she walked out, she bit her lip and muttered under her breath, This little tramp actually dared to order me around… "Just wait. I'll make sure she dies an ugly death.
Soon enough, the food arrived.
Su Jin picked up the spoon without ceremony. Porridge, a few side dishes, and a small steamed bun—nothing fancy, but enough.
She ate steadily, unbothered.
Gu Xiangyun watched Su Jin eating with such a relish that she nearly lost control. She had half a mind to fling the porridge right into her face. But on the surface, she maintained a pleasant smile and said sweetly, "Now that you're done, you can take me there."
Su Jin ignored her tone completely, eating calmly and unhurriedly. Only after she finished the last bite and placed her chopsticks down did she finally glance at Gu Xiangyun.
"Now," Su Jin said evenly, wiping her lips with a napkin, "we can talk about our business."
Without another word, she stood and led Gu Xiangyun to a refrigerated container box located in a side room. The box held the preserved heart, carefully sealed and monitored by a medical team.
When the lid was opened, the display on the side panel lit up, showing vital signs—preservation temperature, oxygen levels, and circulation—all within the required parameters.
Gu Xiangyun stared at the container, heart pounding. She didn't blink until the overseeing doctor confirmed, "The tissue compatibility report is complete. Blood type, RH factor, size—it's all a match. It's suitable for Miss Su Nuo."
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, as though the heavy weight pressing on her chest had finally lifted.
Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction. She was one step closer to saving Su Nuo.
The share transfer contract has already been prepared by my assistant. As long as you sign it, the shares will be yours," Gu Xiangyun said, placing the document in front of Su Jin.
Su Jin picked it up and carefully examined each line. After confirming that everything was in order, she smiled faintly at Gu Xiangyun. "Then I won't be polite."
Gu Xiangyun stared at her unsettling smile. Something about it felt off, but she couldn't quite place the problem. Still, she had the heart—that was all that mattered. Victory tasted sweet.
They had completed the transaction. The price had been paid, and the good were delivered.
Su Jin stood, dusting off her hands. "The hospital will handle the surgery preparations for Su Nuo. Since there's nothing else concerning me, I'll be leaving now."
Gu Xiangyun scoffed and turned her face away, clearly unwilling to spare Su Jin another glance.
Just as Su Jin was about to walk away, she paused—almost as if recalling something casually.
"Oh, by the way..." she turned back slowly, her expression calm. "The kidnapper—do you have any news about him yet?"
Su Jin then blinked, her face painted with innocent surprise. "Oh? Didn't I tell you? He passed away at the scene."
Su Jin pretended to be surprised, gently covering her mouth as she lowered her voice and looked at Gu Xiangyun.
"Mom... you mean you don't even know whose heart this is?"
Alarm bells rang in Gu Xiangyun's mind. She rushed over to the container and scanned the label.
Zhou Tao.
Her vision blurred. The blood drained from her face. Her knees buckled.
Zhou Tao?!
How could it be Zhou Tao's heart?
If she had known earlier, why would she have wasted time bargaining with Su Jin? She wouldn't have asked him to kidnap her. She would have killed him and took his heart forcefully. Why is everything I do end up benefiting this bitch?
That little wretch Su Jin… she dared to demand 10% of her shares!
A bitter taste surged in her throat. With a choked groan, Gu Xiangyun spat out a mouthful of blood and stumbled toward the door, wanting to chase Su Jin down and tear up the contract.
But Su Jin was long gone.
At that moment, Su nuo rushed in and saw her mother crumpled on the ground.
"Mom!" she cried out, running to her side. "What happened? Did that little bitch hurt you again?"
Gu Xiangyun wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, eyes filled with rage and humiliation—but how could she explain something so disgraceful?
She said nothing. She only clenched her fists, her body trembling with suppressed fury.
She had been too negligent—too fixated on Su nuo's heart. In her excitement and desperation, she hadn't even thought to double-check the source.
"Nuo'er," Gu Xiangyun whispered, stroking her daughter's hair, "you have to stay strong for Mom, okay? You have no idea what I've sacrificed for you."
Suno nodded obediently. "Don't worry, Mom. I won't let you down."
Gu Xiangyun gave a tight smile and quickly shifted the subject—if she dwelled on it any longer, she might collapse from the heartache. "The heart that matches yours... it's already been found."
Su nuo froze, eyes wide. "What? A matching heart? Are you serious, Mom?!"
God knew how long she had dreamed of this—how many nights she had fallen asleep wishing for a healthy heart, praying that one day she could run, jump, dance, and live like a normal girl.
"Mom, I'm so happy!" Su nuo cried, throwing her arms around Gu Xiangyun, her body trembling with joy. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to her mother. "Is this really happening?"
Just then, Su Mingyuan walked into the hospital corridor and heard Suno's excited voice. His eyes lit up with disbelief.
"Wait—what did you just say? A matching heart was found? Is it true?"
He looked at both of them, stunned. "I must be dreaming…"
"The operation is scheduled for tomorrow, Nou're. You should rest well and prepare yourself," Gu Xiangyun said softly, affectionately stroking Su nuo's hair.
"Okay, Mom. I've been waiting for this day my whole life," She replied, her voice trembling with excitement and tears shining in her eyes.
From a distance, Su Jin stood quietly, watching the picture-perfect warmth between mother and daughter and her father smiling beside them. A cold sneer tugged at the corner of her lips.
Enjoy it while you can. Moments like these won't last long.
Without a word, Su Jin turned and left, her footsteps silent but determined.
She hailed a taxi and headed straight to the old lady's ancestral house.
With everything that had happened, the old matriarch was surely aware by now.
When Su Jin arrived, the old lady was overjoyed. She immediately took Su Jin's hand, eyes scanning her up and down with concern.
"My poor child… It's all Grandma's fault. I didn't protect you. You've suffered so much," the old lady said with deep emotion.
For a moment, Su Jin was stunned.
So this… this is what it feels like to be truly loved by family.
A gentle warmth bloomed in her chest, melting a piece of the ice that had long wrapped around her heart. She shook her head gently, squeezed the old lady's hand, and said with a reassuring smile:
"Grandma, don't worry. I'm fine now."
Mrs. Li came over and gently scolded, "I just knew something had happened to you. The old lady didn't sleep a wink all night."
The dark circles under the old lady's eyes said it all — she hadn't rested a moment.
Su Jin's heart tightened with guilt. She stepped forward and apologized softly, "I'm sorry, Grandma. I should've told you sooner."
"I'm just glad you're safe," the old lady said with deep affection, reaching out to stroke Su Jin's hair gently. The warmth in her gaze stirred something tender in Su Jin's heart.
Then Su Jin handed over the share transfer contract. "Grandma, please take a look at this."
"What's this?" The old lady adjusted her glasses, and when she saw the contents of the contract, her eyes widened in disbelief. "These are… Gu Xiangyun's shares? How did you manage this?"
Not long ago, she had tried everything to get Gu Xiangyun to release even a small portion of her shares—yet failed. Now, Su Jin had done what even she couldn't.
Su Jin calmly recounted the entire story: the kidnapping, the truth about Zhou Tao, the heart, and the deal.
By the end, the old lady's expression had darkened, her hand tightening around the papers.
"This woman… Gu Xiangyun really thinks I'm old and blind. Not only did she scheme behind my back—she dared to lay a hand on my granddaughter?" The old lady's voice trembled with suppressed fury. "She truly thinks there are no consequences."
"Grandma, you'd better keep this." Su Jin handed the contract to the old lady and said softly, "I'm still young. It's no use me having these shares. I'd rather you hold them."
The old lady looked at Su Jin with a complex expression, her eyes filled with both surprise and emotion. For a long moment, she said nothing, simply watching Su Jin as if seeing her in a new light.
Then, she slowly pushed the contract back toward her. "You deserve it."
"Grandma?" Su Jin was startled and quickly shook her head. "No, really. I just wanted to help you take back what belongs to our family. I didn't do it for anything else."
A warm, satisfied smile appeared on the old lady's face. She patted Su Jin's hand, her voice filled with rare affection. "Xiaojin, it seems you've really grown up. Grandma is proud of you."
She paused for a moment, then her expression turned more solemn. "There's something I've kept from you for a long time. But now, I think you're ready to know."
Su Jin's heart suddenly tightened. The shift in her grandmother's tone made her nerves stand on edge.