Xu Xiaoya went to get some hot water, and Yan Xixi went to pay the fee. The line to pay was long, so Yan Xixi had to wait a while before she could pay. After that, she bought some food. Just as she reached the hospital room door, she heard a heated argument from inside. Someone was demanding, "Mother, you have to speak up today..." Then came Xu Xiaoya’s cold voice, "What are you all here for now?"

"What are we here for? Do you have a say in that? What do you mean, Xu Xiaoya? Do you still have the right to keep us away?"

"Xu Xiaoya, Dad’s critically ill. What else would we be here for?"

Yan Xixi stood silently outside the door and peered inside. The room was full of people: Xu Xiaoya’s younger brother, his wife, and a burly young man who seemed to be the brother’s brother-in-law.

Xiaoya’s brother sneered, "The hospital has issued a critical illness notice. Did you think you could keep that from us? Xu Xiaoya, everyone knows what you’re up to."

Xu Xiaoya retorted, "What am I up to?"

The brother’s wife stepped forward, "Xu Xiaoya, don’t treat us like fools. Weren’t you the one who ran away with the money and severed ties with the family? Why are you so dedicated to taking care of the old man now? Isn’t it obvious what you’re after?"

Xu Xiaoya grew impatient. "Whatever you have to say, take it elsewhere. I don’t have time for this now, and you’re not needed here."

The sister-in-law gave a cold laugh. "Of course you’d rather we leave. Then all the benefits would be yours. Xu Xiaoya, don’t be too greedy, and don’t bite off more than you can chew, or you’ll choke."

"How am I the one being shameless? The old man is critically ill, and you all won’t chip in a single penny. I’ve paid for all the medical and hospital expenses, and you haven’t even bothered to ask. You took that huge amount of relocation money for yourselves, and now you have the nerve to come here and accuse me? What benefits do I stand to gain?"

"No benefits? Aren’t you aiming for those two houses?"

The brother pulled his wife back and immediately turned to their mother. Livid, he demanded, "Mother, you’ve got to make things clear today. What’s going to happen with those two houses?"

Only then did Yan Xixi fully understand what had happened. It turned out that the brother and his wife had taken almost all of the 2,000,000 yuan from the relocation compensation. However, the compensation also included three houses, two of which were registered in the names of Xu Xiaoya’s parents. Mother Xu, reminded by her daughter, had staunchly refused to transfer the ownership of the houses prematurely. The brother and his wife had considered the properties as good as theirs. They had been reluctant to spend money on the old man’s care, hoping he would die quickly so they could then pressure their mother to transfer the deeds. Then, the old man was diagnosed with cancer and was now on his deathbed.

Moreover, the old man had previously made a clear verbal promise to leave the houses to his two grandsons.

What they hadn’t expected, however, was Xu Xiaoya’s reappearance. She, who had long ago severed relations with her father, was now covering the medical expenses and taking care of the old man. This naturally aroused their suspicion that she had ulterior motives. And now, with Mother Xu calling to say the old man was critically ill, they had rushed over.

They were determined to take the old man home. If he died at home, all his property would go to their sons after the funeral and burial.

But Mother Xu wouldn’t agree. Even with only the faintest glimmer of hope, she didn’t want to let the old man simply wait for death.

They were even more convinced that Xu Xiaoya had been speaking ill of them to their mother, and that all her actions were aimed at securing the two houses. How could they possibly let it go? So, they had brought the brother-in-law along, intending to have the old man write a will as soon as he woke up. Otherwise, if the old man died in the hospital without regaining consciousness or leaving a will, things would become complicated.