Chapter 75.2: The Abusive Adoptive Mother Goes Viral

Content Warning: This chapter contains depictions of child abuse and violence. Reader discretion is advised.

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　　After all, he was just a child. He would howl whenever he was beaten. Worried the neighbors might hear, she switched tactics and pricked him with a needle instead. The sudden pain struck fear deep enough to cease his cries, leaving him too scared to shout. Only then did she finally relent.

　　Three days ago, the incident at the animal hospital had escalated so badly that it ended up at the police station. Back home, the more she brooded over it, the more furious she became. As soon as her husband left for work the next morning, she snatched up the broomstick and beat the child with all her might.

　　She lashed out for over half an hour, venting the fury that had been festering inside her. Only when her arms grew sore and her rage finally ebbed did she feel a twisted sense of relief.

　　But the child had borne the brunt of her outburst; he was burning with fever by the time she finished. With little care, she stuffed a few fever pills down his throat and tossed him onto his small cot in the storage room.

　　That night, when her husband came home and found the boy unconscious, panic set in. They had no choice but to drive through the night to a small clinic, where the child was hooked up to an IV and given antibiotics. It was nearly dawn by the time they stumbled wearily back home.

　　Today, she was in a hurry to get her Ragdoll cat spayed. Early in the morning, she dropped her child off at preschool, then whisked Jenny off to the animal hospital, barely having time to check on how the boy was doing.

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　　“This is the one you’re looking for, Officer. She’s Zhang Man, the woman from that video.”

　　“Yes, yes, that’s her. Her family has adopted a child.”

　　“She would beat and scold him day in and day out. Tsk tsk, how pitiful that child is.”

　　Amidst the crowd, two police officers emerged. Without hesitation, one questioned, “Are you Zhang Man?”

　　The moment Zhang Man spotted the officers, terror ripped through her like a storm. But this time was different; the evidence was concrete, leaving her no way to deny it.

　　“Y-yes… that’s right,” she stammered nervously.

　　“We received a report claiming you’ve been abusing a child,” the square-jawed policeman stated grimly, “We need to check that the child is safe.”

　　“N-no, it’s not like that!” Zhang Man shook her head quickly, but the flicker of panic and unease on her face gave her away.

　　“We need to see the child,” the square-jawed policeman insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

　　Zhang Man’s instinct screamed for her to run, but the sheer number of people around her blocked every escape. With the police’s firm stance bearing down on her, she had no choice but to climb the stairs, open the door, and step back to let them through.

　　Zhang Man walked into the storage room and found the child still fast asleep in bed. “This child sure loves to sleep in. It’s already noon, and he’s still not up.”

　　She tried to bluff her way through, but the square-jawed policeman was not so easily deceived. He stepped forward and yanked back the covers. Beneath them lay the child’s body, red and mottled with bruises. His expression changed at once. He felt for the child’s breathing, then swiftly gathered him into his arms.

　　“Hurry, we need to get him to the hospital! The child may not make it!”

　　Click, click!

　　The camera shutter clicked as someone snapped a picture with their phone.

　　The neighbors, who had been following closely behind, immediately turned their cameras on Zhang Man, the police officers, and the child in the officer’s arms. The sharp clicks of camera shutters filled the air as some snapped photos, others recorded videos, and a few young onlookers even started live streaming the scene.

　　“This is the home of the adoptive mother involved in the child abuse case. The police have already rescued the child, who is now being rushed to the hospital! He’s unconscious right now. Look at all those bruises on his body! The woman in the spaghetti-strap dress is Zhang Man, the adoptive mother. Her husband is the legal representative of Rising Tide Inc.…”

　　In an age where the internet is ubiquitous, the speed and methods of information dissemination were beyond what people in the past could have imagined. With just a smartphone and an internet connection, anyone could become a purveyor of news.

　　Major streaming platforms, forums, Weibo, WeChat Moments, and countless WeChat groups were abuzz with heated debates and outraged discussions over the harrowing child abuse case involving an adoptive mother in Sylvan Willows Town, City H.

　　By this time, the topic #5-Year-Old Boy Abused by Adoptive Mother# had already shot to the top of the trending topic list. Waves of voices poured in, condemning the vicious adoptive mother and sending prayers to the child. People from all walks of life were paying attention to the case, and even the Women’s Federation had dispatched representatives to the hospital.

* * *

　　Su Clan Ancestral House

　　Su Ling shook the grogginess from his head and pushed aside the silk blanket, attempting to swing his legs over the side of the bed.

　　“Don’t move.” Lin Feng clamped a firm hand on him, pinning him in place.

　　“I have to get to the hospital.” Su Ling gripped Lin Feng’s shirt tightly, tears welling up in his eyes. “I don’t know what’s happened to that child… I need to make sure he’s alright.”

　　The video Zhan Yang had sent him the previous day hit him hard, throwing his emotions into turmoil. He cried so uncontrollably that he could barely catch his breath. Lin Feng stayed by his side all night, comforting him until he finally calmed down.

　　Everything that unfolded online today had Zhan Yang’s signature all over it, his handiwork evident in every step.

　　By leveraging Su Qi’s popularity, he exposed Zhang Man’s crimes to the public, using the pressure of public opinion to trap her with no way out. With enough evidence, she could lose custody of the child, and in the worst-case scenario, she might even face criminal charges.

　　Today, Lin Feng took the day off and stayed home with Su Ling as they awaited the results. Everything unfolded smoothly; the overwhelming public outcry had successfully caught the attention of the local police, who were now investigating Zhang Man’s home.

　　At this point, Su Ling felt the weight lift from his heart. But when he saw the police officer emerge with Xiao Fangqi’s battered and broken body in his arms, his emotions spiraled out of control once more.

　　“It’s my fault! It’s all my fault! If I hadn’t called the police that day, he wouldn’t have been beaten like this!”

　　Lin Feng pulled him into a fierce embrace, planting frantic kisses across his cheeks and forehead. “It’s not your fault, Baby. The one truly to blame is Zhang Man! The child’s going to be okay. I’ve sent Zhan Yang ahead to the hospital. Don’t cry, alright? I’m here.”

　　The calming presence around him eased his nerves, and little by little, the turmoil in Su Ling slowly stilled.

　　“Could you send a doctor from Lin Clan Hospital here?” he inquired.

　　“Sure.” Lin Feng, who was always quick to oblige to his every request, picked up his phone and dialed the hospital director without hesitation.

　　The director was caught off guard — both surprised and flattered — by the unexpected call from his superior. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he quickly assured them that he would assign someone right away.

　　After hanging up the phone, Lin Feng gently ran his fingers through Su Ling’s hair. “The child will be alright.”

　　“Mmh.” Su Ling leaned back on the bed and opened Weibo, scrolling through the latest posts.

　　Before anything else could be seen, Lin Feng’s large hand covered the screen of his phone.

　　With a puzzled expression, Su Ling stared at him as if seeking answers.

　　Lin Feng explained, “The internet is overloaded with so much information that it’s not only confusing but also draining. We might as well just wait for Zhan Yang’s call.”

　　Upon hearing that, Su Ling pondered for a moment before setting his phone down.

　　Since Zhan Yang had gone to the scene himself, the information he gathered was bound to be faster and more accurate than anything online.

　　With his mind finally at ease, sleepiness crept in. He rested his head on the soft pillow, eyes fluttering shut.

　　“What do you feel like having for lunch?” Lin Feng asked. “I’ll have Aunt Zhang prepare it for us.”

　　Su Ling opened his eyes, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep. “Maybe… I should just do it?”

　　After a sleepless night and an emotional breakdown, he felt utterly drained. But with no housekeeper around, there was no one to prepare lunch for the two of them.

　　“Lie down. I’ll do it,” Lin Feng stated.

　　“You?” Su Ling shot him a doubtful look. It was not that he did not trust Lin Feng, but it was just hard to believe that someone, who could not even tell salt from sugar, could prepare an edible meal.

　　When his abilities were questioned, Lin Feng’s face turned serious. “I can cook noodles,” he declared with conviction.

　　“Really?” Su Ling’s hand wrapped around his.

　　Lin Feng nodded his head.

　　Su Ling released his hand and lay back on the bed, flashing him a playful smile. “Well then… I suppose I’ll be looking forward to the noodles you’re going to make.”

　　Lin Feng kissed him lightly like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water. He quietly slipped out of the bedroom, closing the door with barely a sound. His expression suddenly hardened as he made his way down the stairs. Passing through the guest hall, he ignored the two curious pets edging closer. Then, he moved through the dining room and headed straight for the kitchen, where he stopped in front of the fridge. A frown creased his brow as he stood there, lost in thought.

　　What ingredients do I need to make noodles?