Mrs. Xu looked at Qin He with a pained smile. "He'er, you can't be blamed for this at all. I know Wanwan's temperament. She was already feeling cooped up after she got pregnant, and she definitely wouldn't be able to stay at home."
Qin He pursed her lips. "I didn't stop Zhu Xiaochuan when she made her move."
"That's also because she was too audacious. Who would have thought she'd dare to act?"
Mrs. Xu sighed. "Alright, don't be sad anymore. It's good that Wanwan is alright this time."
Qin He glanced upstairs. Ever since they returned from the hospital yesterday, Xu Wanwan had been lying in bed in the master bedroom.
She was tense this time, afraid to move or get out of bed, completely terrified by Zhu Xiaochuan's actions.
Yan Chen, sitting on the sofa nearby, had a somber expression. "It's also my fault. I mentioned to Zhu Xiaochuan about Wanwan and I going on a blind date before."
He had said it casually, not expecting Zhu Xiaochuan to take it seriously.
"Xiaochen, don't think too much about it," Mr. Xu said, looking at Yan Chen.
At this moment, everyone felt a sense of guilt.
Qin He and Yan Chen didn't say much more, not wanting to burden the grieving Xu family with their own distress.
"Aunt Xu, I'll guarantee Wanwan's safety from now on. I'll ensure she reaches delivery safely!" Qin He vowed.
Grandpa Xu and Mr. Xu didn't stay long. After seeing Xu Wanwan, they left.
Mrs. Xu was still worried and stayed to be with her daughter until the evening.
In the following days, Qin He visited Xu Wanwan every day.
Although she wasn't an expert in obstetrics and gynecology, she knew how to check a pulse and help maintain a pregnancy.
For several days, Xu Wanwan recovered from her shock. She would occasionally get out of bed and spend some time in the Qin family's garden, but she didn't dare to walk for too long.
...
The Fang family in Qingcheng.
Fang Yaozu had been in a bad mood lately, and the Fang family's servants were all treading on eggshells.
It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Fang Yaozu had already gone to the company.
The Fang Corporation was still being targeted by several conglomerates. With the company's stock price steadily declining, Fang Yaozu was working late and waking up early, trying to find solutions and attending social events to build connections.
In the bedroom on the second floor, the bruises on Song Nuan's eyes had not yet healed, and there was still bruising on her lips from being beaten.
She wearily got out of bed and looked at the mottled whip marks on her arm, her eyes darkening.
Ever since Gu Qichen and Qin He visited last time, Fang Yaozu found out what she had done to Gu Ranran and beat her severely.
It was the first time she had been beaten so badly since she was born.
When Fang Yaozu choked her, she felt like she was going to die.
But fortunately, Fang Yaozu's lust hadn't changed!
He still came to find her at night. Song Nuan gritted her teeth and went into the bathroom.
She found a disposable paper cup and a pregnancy test from the bathroom, her hand tightening.
Her period was already half a month late! Heaven help her, she had to be pregnant, or she couldn't bear this torment any longer!
Five minutes later, Song Nuan's teeth ached with hatred.
She stared intently at the single line on the pregnancy test. Not pregnant!
Then why was her period so delayed?
If it wasn't pregnancy, then there was something wrong with her body, which would make it even harder to conceive!
Throwing the items into the trash can, Song Nuan went downstairs with a cold expression.
As she was about to enter the dining room on the first floor, a maid hurried over.
"Madam, Miss Zhang is insisting on seeing the master."
The Miss Zhang the maid referred to was Zhang Caiyu, who had been under Fang Yaozu's control.
For a 30 million investment, Zhang Caiyu had agreed to stay with Fang Yaozu for a month.
In three days, Zhang Caiyu would regain her freedom, but this past month would undoubtedly leave a huge shadow on her life.
Song Nuan was somewhat impatient. "Don't you know the master is out? She's insisting on seeing him, why are you asking me?"
The maid was nervous. "I'm sorry, Madam, but Miss Zhang said she's pregnant when she was shouting."
Song Nuan's steps faltered, and she turned around sharply, her voice menacing. "What did you say?!"
The maid was startled and grabbed by Song Nuan's wrist. "Miss Zhang said she's pregnant!"
Song Nuan's nails dug into the maid's wrist, and she let out a soft cry of pain. "Madam—"
A few minutes later, Song Nuan released her hand.
She stood there for a few seconds with a livid expression. "You are not to tell the master about Zhang Caiyu's words, do you understand?"
"Y-yes, I understand!"
Five minutes later, Song Nuan stood before the door of the storage room on the third floor.
Fang Yaozu had intentionally humiliated and degraded Zhang Caiyu, not even giving her a decent bedroom.
Opening the storage room door, a musty smell assaulted her nostrils.
Song Nuan looked inside. Besides various miscellaneous items, there was a mattress in the middle of the floor, and Zhang Caiyu was curled up on it.
"Miss Lin?" Zhang Caiyu didn't dare to look up at Lin Xiaoya. "Where is Fang Yaozu?"
Song Nuan sneered. "You've got some nerve now. As Fang Yaozu's mistress living here, you dare to ask me directly where he is?"
Zhang Caiyu's expression changed. "Fang Yaozu doesn't seem to respect you as his wife either, so you can't blame me."
"Alright, I know you're feeling smug because you think you have a bun in the oven."
Song Nuan pulled a broken chair from the corner and sat down.
"What is your purpose in seeing Fang Yaozu? Do you want him to marry you?"
Zhang Caiyu's secret was exposed, and she said angrily, "It's none of your business!"
Song Nuan sneered. "Zhang Caiyu, I think you're dreaming. Fang Yaozu keeps you like an animal for his amusement. Do you think he'll divorce me and marry you just because an animal is pregnant?"
Zhang Caiyu clenched her fists and said hatefully, "How are you any better? Lin Xiaoya, if Fang Yaozu truly cared about you, why would he have done those things with me in front of you? And Fang Yaozu is almost fifty and doesn't have a child. The one in my belly now is the only heir to the Fang family!"
This was the truth.
Song Nuan's eyes darkened slightly. She lowered her gaze and curled her lips. "Zhang Caiyu, I'm pregnant. Do you think Fang Yaozu will risk public scorn to marry you, or will he choose me, his publicly acknowledged wife, and my child?"
Zhang Caiyu was stunned and looked down at the other woman's stomach.
Song Nuan had planned her stratagem before coming, and now her lower abdomen was slightly distended.
"I've already had an amniotic fluid test and confirmed it's a boy. You don't even know what's inside you yet."
Song Nuan raised her chin arrogantly. "You offended Qin He earlier. Do you think Fang Yaozu would dare to marry you? That would be openly opposing the Qin and Gu families!"
Zhang Caiyu had been confined by Fang Yaozu recently and had no idea what was happening outside.
Her hands slowly tightened, and she felt as if she had reached a dead end.
What about the child in her womb?
She thought that being pregnant would be a turning point, and Fang Yaozu would agree to any of her demands for the sake of the child!
Seeing Zhang Caiyu's arrogant demeanor gradually extinguished, Song Nuan leaned closer to her.
"Zhang Caiyu, if Fang Yaozu finds out you're pregnant, he'll definitely make you have an abortion."
"You've been with him for almost a month. Haven't you figured out what kind of person he is? Even if you insist on giving birth, do you really think you can use this child to gain any advantage from him?"
Zhang Caiyu's body trembled slightly. She knew Lin Xiaoya was telling the truth.