If It's just Blood, I'd Give It
It might look like the first time, but Wu Qianqian was aware that Li Heilong could spare a part of him to be soft and warm for his child. The look in his eyes was different from the usual cold gazes that he had.
His son was dying, but he could only gamble as to how to make his son survive. Even if Li Feng could get past the transfusion—if he grew insane from losing his abilities, he was as good as dead.
Wu Qianqian only nodded. "Do you need me to come with you and talk to Xiaodan?"
Li Heilong only shook his head. "It'll be better for you to stay here for now. His case is still being reviewed. If we're seen together alone, a disaster is bound to happen." He then gazed at Liu Li. "I don't have the right to ask—"
"I'll stay here and keep your Bingbing company." Liu Li could understand that gaze. It was from a husband who couldn't face his wife and could only go about saving their child. Of course, he needed someone to watch over them in case something happened.
Li Heilong couldn't ask Wu Qianqian to be Mian Bingbing's physical support as well, could he?
"Thank you."
The cold man had regained his freezing aura as he turned away from them. However, before he could make it past a meter away, Li Yunru sat up from the couch. She then called out to her uncle. "Uncle..."
Li Heilong only turned on his heel; he didn't approach the woman. He waited for her to speak, knowing that her somber tone had something to say. She lifted her gloomy face and gazed at her uncle. "Don't worry about Guangru. You're already too late."
Everyone else's eyes bulged in surprise. Li Yunru then chuckled darkly as a response. "He was here last night. He was the one who found Feng'er first. Ruan Jin only arrived after his girlfriend received a message from the kid."
She then rubbed her arms, growing cold when his uncle's coat fell from her shoulders. "Uncle... Guangru said he'd help find who did this to Feng'er..."
The man then huffed. "Hmph. Then list down the names he gives. I'm going now." He just walked out, feeling fury suddenly flooding inside his chest.
Due to his worry, he had forgotten that someone ran over his son and dumped him in that place. If someone would give him names, then he'd gladly look into it. For now, he needed to save his Feng first.
Li Yunru only chuckled again after Li Heilong walked out. Wu Qianqian then embraced the girl to give her body warmth. The latter then looked at the mother of that unlucky man.
This woman was the daughter of one of her aunties, right? That auntie who had been kicked out from the Mian family registry? Wu Qianqian didn't seem to have any abilities; it must be hard for her mother who grew infamous in the family.
She only leaned against Wu Qianqian's hug. For now, she could only pray that Li Feng would be strong enough to make it... and for Liu Xiaodan to be sensitive enough to give his blood.
...
Liu Xiaodan was already in the library as soon as he was allowed to leave his cell. He was already sketching more concept arts for another book as he promised the librarian. Also, a lot of wardens come to the library lately, checking out that display being bragged about to them.
However, as Liu Xiaodan was in a secluded nook, he wasn't noticed by the wardens.
"It's really pretty even if they're just sketches."
"I'd really pay to see this as a movie. I feel like each of this would be iconic."
"Since when did we have such a good artist among our inmates? I'd like to see him and ask for my portrait to be drawn."
"No matter how good he is, he can't make your ugly face handsome all of a sudden..."
A smile pulled Liu Xiaodan's lips into a curl. They seemed to be enjoying looking at the display. Well, as a film student, that was a good thing for him. He continued to finish up another dozen sketches before the librarian called for him. When he turned, the four escorts were waiting outside the library.
Someone came to visit him? He thought he wouldn't get any this early. His case was being appealed; would his parents come see him again?
...
Unlike what Liu Xiaodan expected, he wasn't taken to the visitation hall. He was walked to a conference room instead. He didn't like how things were going, but he didn't want to act on an impulse. They had no reason to kill him especially when the media would be looking for him in a week.
The wide double doors opened, and Liu Xiaodan was shocked to see a certain man. He never thought this man would come see him while in prison. This arrangement suddenly made sense; why would the prison let a man as powerful as Li Heilong be seen meeting with an inmate?
That would be food for the media pigeons.
The room only had a wide oval table and vacant chairs. Liu Xiaodan was sat down at one longer side of the oval while Li Heilong was opposite him. The four escorts then stood back and carefully watched him. The pressure in the room was immense, but Liu Xiaodan didn't panic.
"Hello, Mr. Li..." Liu Xiaodan bowed a little. This man was the father of a blood cousin; wouldn't that make him his uncle? Then again, he didn't want to get cozy. This man certainly wouldn't want to get cozy with him.
"Liu Xiaodan." Li Heilong acknowledged his greeting. "I'll get straight to the point. Feng got into an accident and needed a blood transfusion. Your blood is the most compatible with his."
Liu Xiaodan stared at the father. He heard that Li Feng was left near-dead somewhere after missing for two days. After a few seconds of silence, he then spoke, "If it's just blood, I'd give it. However... I'm not that healthy. My blood isn't good enough to be donated..."
The man shook his head. "I checked with the prison records. Your blood remained to be compatible. Now, if you're willing, let's head to the infirmary."
"Before that... can I ask? Have you found them? The men responsible?"
Li Heilong twitched inwardly and felt a strange whiff from his surroundings. Not only did it begin to feel colder, but he also felt like a monster was staring at him. What made it suspicious was that the gaze was coming from the front; those were Liu Xiaodan's eyes.
The father's mouth suddenly grew dry. He discreetly waited for his saliva to moist his mouth first before speaking again, "I'm prioritizing Feng's health. After he gets better, I will hunt them down."
"I see." Liu Xiaodan recalled the dangerous gaze and moved slowly to get to his feet. "Do you need me to undergo a check-up first before drawing blood?"
"Yes."
...
Li Heilong only watched as the nurses worked on the blood collection. Liu Xiaodan was surprisingly at his best state, better than how he was outside. Perhaps it was because he didn't have to pull all-nighters for school-related matters these days.
Moreover, his blood was inexplicably clean... free from any trace of even prescriptive drugs injected to him while he was still confined in the hospital. It was as if he was reborn.
This child... this was that small child that Wu Qianqian bore in that rundown hospital. He visited her as well after knowing that Mian Bingbing came to see her. If anything, this child's life was his to claim as he saved Wu Qianqian and her mother from the ruthless Wu family.
If he didn't step in, Wu Qianqian and her mother wouldn't be able to escape that hellhole.
Since Wu Qianqian was Mian Bingbing's favorite cousin-sister, Li Heilong decided to take care of her as well as this child. Liu Li didn't have much capability to watch over his son while in college so Liu Xiaodan was sent to the capital... where the Li family was.
This child had a potential that was at the same grade as Li Feng so Li Heilong didn't hold back that much. If one place refused to work with either Li Feng or Liu Xiaodan, all Li Heilong had to do was clear his throat. Even Cherry Medical couldn't say no to him.
Then again, they were bewildered by that project which even reached famous web blogs that showcased science. That short film 'The Stimulus of Fear' was too commendable.
However, what had happened over the course of time? Liu Xiaodan ended up being the person behind Li Feng's downfall... and it had nothing to do with their college courses. Li Heilong felt like it was just a funny turn of events as Li Feng's desire to help was rewarded with death and despair.
As for Liu Xiaodan, he didn't know what made that man hold onto such an entity.
"Mr. Li, we've collected enough blood. Should we prepare to leave?" The assistant, who accompanied him but didn't show himself back in the conference room, asked the boss. He could only watch the nurses finish up with Liu Xiaodan while waiting for the boss's answer.
"En, let's head to the hospital. Tell the nurses we have the blood to be used." Li Heilong hummed as he continued to watch. What made him concerned was that Liu Xiaodan didn't even seem to be weakened. They drew out the maximum amount a person could donate, and the donor wasn't even paling.
Liu Xiaodan's eyes met Li Heilong's gaze, and the former only bowed. In a bit, he would be cuffed again and be taken back to his cell. He needed to rest albeit that he didn't look like he just gave his blood away. Before the guards could approach him, he spotted Li Heilong walking up to him first.
The father then spoke after looking down at him after a few seconds. "Xiaodan, how reliable are the skills of your pet?"
"My pet?"
"Guangru."
"Guangru isn't my pet." Liu Xiaodan frowned at the man towering in front of him. However, he didn't assume an offensive stance. "What skills are you asking about?"
"He said he'd find the ones who hurt my son. How likely was he going to succeed?"
Liu Xiaodan... didn't know really. Did Guangru do some detective work before? Though he was aware that Guangru could more or less carry out some tasks on his own, finding people was something he...
Then, it occurred to him. Guangru didn���t have to look around for clues; he just had to ask the entities around the area about what happened. It's not like they could refuse to answer Guangru. Liu Xiaodan only smiled bitterly. "If we're lucky...
"A hundred percent."