We Weren’t Fated, I Just Played My Cards Right - Chapter 3
At 2:30 p.m. the next day, Dong Zhenghao returned to the identification center. As expected, the results confirmed Liu Mumu was indeed his daughter who had been abducted years ago.
Suddenly faced with a grown daughter, Dong Zhenghao hadn’t yet figured out how to handle the situation.
After some thought, he said to Liu Mumu, “Your grandmother has been ill recently, and the house is in a bit of disarray. Stay at the hotel a little longer.”
Liu Mumu blinked, her long lashes fluttering like tiny fans. “Can I visit Grandma?”
“You remember your grandmother?”
“Of course.” Liu Mumu smiled, revealing a small dimple on her right cheek. “I remember everything clearly.”
“Alright.” Recalling what the doctor had told him a few days prior, Dong Zhenghao didn’t refuse her request.
His mother’s condition was critical—she likely wouldn’t last the month. The old woman had always held Little Wooden Head close to her heart. Letting her see her granddaughter one last time would fulfill her final wish.
As for how Jiang Li would react upon seeing Little Wood, Dong Zhenghao could guess, but he was also certain she wouldn’t make a scene in public.
Once they got into the car, the driver headed toward Qingcheng Second Hospital.
Dong Zhenghao pretended to doze off during the ride, though he occasionally stole glances at Liu Mumu beside him.
She seemed unfamiliar with the concept of a hired driver, sneaking frequent looks at him.
Unconsciously, Dong Zhenghao compared her to his younger daughter, Dong Yue, and found this elder daughter somewhat lacking in sophistication. Clearly, she hadn’t received proper upbringing outside. Jiang Li, at least, had been competent in raising children.
Recalling the documents Secretary Wang had sent him late last night, Dong Zhenghao slightly furrowed his brows. His daughter hadn’t been sold to another family by traffickers, but had instead been adopted by an old man.
The old man’s occupation listed in the documents was that of a fortune teller—or to put it bluntly, a con artist.
For years, Liu Mumu had lived with the old man up north. It wasn’t until she was admitted to a university in Qingcheng that the two of them moved here together. The old man had passed away not long ago.
Due to the short notice, Secretary Wang hadn’t been able to dig up much about the old man. The only certainty was that Liu Mumu’s appearance wasn’t instigated by anyone else.
For Dong Zhenghao, that was enough.
He thought that once the child was properly acknowledged, he could bring her home and have Jiang Li properly educate her, ironing out those unsightly little habits. After all, she was Dong Zhenghao’s daughter—she couldn’t afford to embarrass him.
Soon, the car pulled into a parking lot near the Second Hospital.
Dong Zhenghao led Liu Mumu toward Qingcheng Second Hospital. As they passed through the emergency hall, an ambulance screeched to a halt, and a bloodied patient was carried out.
Following behind was a middle-aged woman, also stained with bl00d, her expression dazed—clearly a family member of the injured.
Liu Mumu only had time for a quick glance before the patient was wheeled away by the medical staff, leaving behind a heavy scent of bl00d in the air.
Dong Zhenghao, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped. He hastily instructed, “Wait here for me. I’ll go take a look.”
Without another word, he hurried back into the emergency hall.
Liu Mumu didn’t pay much attention to his actions. The injured person was probably someone he knew.
She sat down on a nearby flower bed, and after a while, as if remembering something, she pulled three coins from her pocket. Clasping them between her palms, she shook them, then spread them out.
She absentmindedly arranged the three coins in a row on her left palm, studying them before murmuring to herself, “1414? That’s not a very auspicious number. Looks like my dear grandmother won’t make it through the night.”
After waiting for about half an hour, Dong Zhenghao finally emerged from the emergency hall and immediately spotted Liu Mumu curled up by the flower bed.
The girl was fiddling with a few coins in her hand, as if counting money. After a moment’s thought, he pulled out his wallet and took out a few hundred yuan.
A wad of bills suddenly appeared before her eyes. Liu Mumu looked up blankly to see Dong Zhenghao’s somewhat pitying gaze as he said, “It’s too hot out. Use this to buy some ice cream.”
Realization dawned on her. She took the money and flashed him a sweet smile. “Thank you, Dad.”
She bought an ice-cold bottle of water and a popsicle from a roadside shop, handing the water to Dong Zhenghao while she nibbled on the popsicle.
The two of them walked one after the other toward the inpatient building. The elevator rose and finally stopped at the 14th floor.
As Dong Zhenghao led Liu Mumu to Room 1414, Wang Guixiang had just woken from a faint. Opening her eyes and not seeing her son, but instead her daughter-in-law sitting woodenly by the wall, her anger flared up instantly.
With great effort, she raised her hand and swept the thermos cup off the bedside table.
The loud “thud,” accompanied by the old woman’s groans, jolted Jiang Li awake from her doze.
She had just stood up when the door to the ward was pushed open, revealing Dong Zhenghao standing outside.
Her heart sank. This was bad.
“Mom, what happened?” Dong Zhenghao rushed forward as soon as he saw the cup on the floor, the spilled water, and his moaning mother.
Wang Guixiang groaned while complaining to her son, “I was just thirsty and wanted some water. I didn’t wake your wife up since she was sleeping—don’t scold her.”
Her words were layered with implication. In the past, Dong Zhenghao would have playfully reprimanded Jiang Li to please his mother, but today, he had more important matters and ignored the bait.
Instead, he smiled and said, “Mom, I have good news for you.”
“What good news?” Wang Guixiang asked weakly.
“Little Wood, come in and let your grandmother see you,” Dong Zhenghao called toward the door. Liu Mumu, who had been waiting outside, pushed it open and entered.
Dong Zhenghao turned to look at the doorway, failing to notice that his mother’s expression wasn’t one of joy—but of panic.
At the mention of “Little Wood,” Jiang Li’s heart clenched. When she saw the young woman at the door, it sank like a stone.
Liu Mumu didn’t glance at Jiang Li. She walked to Wang Guixiang’s bedside, still holding her half-eaten popsicle. Dong Zhenghao frowned slightly at the sight but said nothing.
Bending down, Liu Mumu gave the elderly woman a sweet smile. “Dad said you’ve been missing me, Grandma. Little Wood came back to see you—surprised?”
How much joy there was remained unclear, but the shock was certainly real.
The moment Wang Guixiang saw a face nearly identical to her former daughter-in-law’s, she didn’t even question it—she gasped, rolled her eyes back, and passed out.
As Dong Zhenghao and Jiang Li rushed out to call for a doctor, Liu Mumu straightened up and looked at the barely breathing old woman on the bed.
Earlier, her father had told her that Grandma had sworn she wouldn’t die in peace unless she found her granddaughter. Now, she could rest easy.
Soon, doctors and nurses rushed in, wheeling the old woman to the emergency room.
Outside, Jiang Li and Liu Mumu sat at opposite ends of a row of chairs while Dong Zhenghao paced anxiously.
Every time he glanced at Liu Mumu still casually eating her popsicle, his frustration burned hotter.
Torn between worry for his mother’s life and anger at himself for bringing Little Wood here—knowing full well the old woman couldn’t handle shocks—he couldn’t help but blame Liu Mumu.
Why did she have to show up now, of all times? His mother had always called her a jinx—maybe she’d been right all along.
Jiang Li had initially worried that Dong Zhenghao’s sudden reunion with his daughter might affect her, but now it seemed she’d overthought it.
Given Old Dong’s temperament, the girl had nearly “scared the old lady to death” at first sight. She would likely be sent away immediately, let alone acknowledged as family.
Before long, a doctor emerged from the emergency room. Dong Zhenghao hurried over.
Before he could speak, the doctor shook his head at him.
Dong Zhenghao staggered, nearly collapsing backward, but the doctor caught him in time.
Jiang Li rushed to support him, her face also etched with sorrow. After standing frozen for a moment, Dong Zhenghao suddenly broke into sobs.
Liu Mumu simply sat to the side, watching them weep as if it had nothing to do with her.
“Don’t grieve too much. Mom lived a full life,” Jiang Li comforted, patting his back.
The mention only made Dong Zhenghao think of Liu Mumu.
How could a daughter he’d just reclaimed compare to the mother who raised him? No matter what had truly agitated the old woman, in his eyes, Liu Mumu was to blame!
He turned and glared at her viciously.
Unfazed by his hostility, Liu Mumu met his gaze with innocent confusion.
Holding onto a shred of restraint, Dong Zhenghao only said coldly, “You should leave now.”
To his surprise, Liu Mumu shook her head. “Since Grandma has passed, it’s only right that I, as her granddaughter, see her off properly.”
Jiang Li shot her a sidelong glance, sneering inwardly. The girl had audacity, but no sense. With Dong Zhenghao’s hostility so obvious, why stay and invite trouble? Probably clinging to her newfound wealthy father—though her desperation was showing.
“We don’t need you here!” Dong Zhenghao finally snapped, raising his voice. “Get out. Now.”
Liu Mumu remained seated, shaking her head again.
Her defiance ignited his rage. Unmindful of the audience, he pointed at her and shouted, “If not for you, my mother would still be alive! I never should’ve listened to her and brought you here! You’re nothing but a curse!”
Instead of anger, Liu Mumu smiled. “Rather than blaming me for Grandma’s death, Dad, why not ask her—when she sold me off for a thousand yuan, did she ever have nightmares? Did she imagine I’d return one day?”
“Wh-what?” Dong Zhenghao gaped soundlessly, like a mute frog, his expression almost comical.