He didn’t know why Yan Shi was avoiding Shen Ci, but it seemed Yan Shi had no intention of meeting him for now, so they shouldn’t go to the hospital at this moment.
“Hmm…” Yan Shi nodded thoughtfully, then stood up. “I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to see Grandma. I can disguise myself a little and dress up as a nurse to go to the hospital, as long as I avoid Shen Ci.”
Yan Shi’s tone was resolute.
Wang Cheng had no choice but to make the arrangements for her.
The two briefly discussed it—since she was going to disguise herself as a nurse, there was no need to go to the hospital late at night. In the dead of night, she would actually draw more attention.
She could simply walk into the ward openly wearing a nurse’s uniform. After all, Shen Ci wasn’t stationed at the hospital twenty-four hours a day.
The next morning, in a room on the second floor, a woman’s shrill scream startled the entire villa awake.
Then Yan Yi suddenly flung open her door and stormed over to pound on the master bedroom door.
“Yan Shi, get out here!”
Her other hand kept scratching at her arm, her face twisted in agony.
“What’s going on?” Everyone gathered in the hallway, and the moment they saw the person at the master bedroom door, they all gasped in shock.
“Yan Yi, why are your arms covered in red rashes? Your neck too…” Yan Feiyu’s eyes widened, but she instinctively took a step back.
This couldn’t be some kind of skin disease, could it? Was it contagious?
“Auntie, look at this! This is all Yan Shi’s doing! She’s trying to kill me!” Yan Yi seized the opportunity to grab Yan Feiyu and sob out her grievances.
But the other woman kept backing away.
Just then, the master bedroom door opened. Yan Shi was already fully dressed—fortunately she had woken up early, or being rudely startled awake like that might have easily frightened the baby in her womb.
“Yan Shi! You explain yourself—what exactly is going on?” Yan Yi reached out to grab her, but was blocked by the man inside the room.
Wang Cheng stood there openly in Yan Shi’s room, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
“Wang Cheng, why are you in Yan Shi’s room? You two…” Yan Feiyu was stunned at first, then smiled meaningfully, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them.
“Auntie is overthinking things. I kept Wang Cheng here simply because I was worried someone might disturb my rest. And it seems my decision was quite necessary.”
Yan Shi cut off the other woman’s filthy thoughts with a cold laugh.
Not a single person in this villa was easy to deal with. How could she not take precautions?
Hearing this, Yan Feiyu was clearly disappointed. She snorted coldly and turned her face away.
“Yan Shi, don’t try to change the subject! Tell me, what did you put in those clothes? You were deliberately trying to kill me, weren’t you?”
Yan Yi’s whole body itched unbearably. Her hands kept scratching wildly at herself, and the red rashes on her arms were shocking to behold.
“What clothes?” Yan Shi was completely baffled.
“The clothes in your dressing room! Don’t play dumb!” She had simply picked up the clothes Yan Shi had thrown away.
After all, they were all the latest styles from top designer brands, and many still had their tags attached. She had only tried on the clothes—how could she have imagined it would turn out like this?
“You wore the clothes I threw away, and that’s why you’ve become like this.” Yan Shi accurately grasped the key point, a slight smile curling at the corner of her mouth. “It seems someone got to them before you, trying to tamper with my clothes to stop me from attending the party, or make me look foolish there. But they never expected you to intercept them instead.”
What a stroke of luck. If Yan Yi hadn’t simply cut the clothes to pieces, she probably wouldn’t have discovered such subtle scheming.
“What nonsense are you talking about? I’m dying here!” Yan Yi couldn’t help but shriek, having no mind to listen to what Yan Shi was saying.
“Uncle Wang, have someone take her to the hospital.”
Butler Wang immediately stepped forward and helped Yan Yi out the door.
As the commotion came to an end, Xu Rou was just about to accompany Yan Feiyu downstairs when she was called out by the person in the master bedroom.
“Hasn’t Xiao Rou already gotten engaged? Why haven’t you moved into the Chu family home? Can Chu Yan bear to have you living under someone else’s roof?”
Others might not know Xu Rou’s true nature, but Yan Shi understood her all too well.
After all, it was this seemingly fragile and delicate Xu Rou who had quietly stolen away Chu Yan—both her first love and her fiancé.
That pitiful, tear-streaked look, so pathetic and endearing, was enough to capture any man’s heart.
“Big Sister… I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong…” Xu Rou lowered her head timidly, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
“Yan Shi, don’t think you can bully Xiao Rou just because she seems easy to push around. Not a chance.” Yan Feiyu stepped in front of Xu Rou, like a hen protecting her chicks.
Yan Shi let out a soft laugh and walked toward the stairs. As she passed by the two of them, she paused briefly. “I hope you really are a soft target.”
Xu Rou’s body stiffened, and she clenched her teeth in secret. Only when the sound of footsteps had completely faded did she raise her head, staring at the direction of the door with a cold, sinister gaze.
Outside the villa.
“How did the Young Miss know those clothes had been tampered with?” Wang Cheng gripped the steering wheel with both hands, unable to resist glancing at the woman in the rearview mirror.
Yan Shi’s morning sickness had been quite severe when she woke up, and her complexion wasn’t looking too good right now. She was leaning against the back seat with her eyes closed, resting.
“I didn’t know. It’s just that some people are too greedy and have reaped what they sowed.” Yan Shi’s tone was calm. If these people dared to pull such petty tricks on her, it was no wonder they’d also tampered with Grandfather’s medicine.
It seemed she needed to find a way to lure the snake out of its hole.
“Young Miss, are you feeling unwell? Do you need me to take you to the hospital for a check-up?”
“That works.” Yan Shi unconsciously stroked her slightly swollen belly.
A smile appeared on her face. Her baby would definitely come into this world safe and healthy.
Sunlight filtered through the glass window, becoming soft and gentle as it fell upon the woman’s face, adding a touch of serenity and beauty to her features.
“Just go to Huaxin Hospital.” Yan Shi raised her head and happened to meet Wang Cheng’s gaze.
He hastily averted his eyes and tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
The car stopped at the hospital entrance. “You go back first. If someone from the Shen family comes to the company, you know what to say.”
Wang Cheng had been by her side for quite some time. Parking the car so conspicuously at the entrance would easily draw attention.
“Young Miss, are you alright going in alone?” Wang Cheng’s face showed concern, his words filled with worry.
Yan Shi waved her hand and turned to walk into the hospital.
Fortunately, she had worked here before. She navigated her way with ease to the nurse’s lounge on the top floor.
This was exactly the time when the two nursing shifts were changing, so the break room was empty. Yan Shi casually grabbed a nurse’s uniform and changed into it, putting on a mask and cap before stepping out.
She looked around to make sure no one had noticed her, then pushed open the door to the ward.
An elderly man with a head full of white hair lay in the hospital bed, his face pale and bloodless.
“Grandma…” Yan Shi spoke softly, her voice unconsciously turning choked as her eyes reddened slightly.
“Shishi!” Old Mrs. Shen struggled to sit up upon hearing her voice.
Yan Shi immediately stepped forward and took the old lady’s hand, preventing her from getting up. “I’m sorry, Grandma, for only coming to see you now.”
She had been busy dealing with the troubles at the Yan family business these past days and simply hadn’t had the heart to face Old Mrs. Shen.
She was even more worried that she might accidentally reveal her emotions and disappoint the old lady. She didn’t want to lie to her, yet she was powerless to change the situation.
“Grandma is fine, don’t worry. Did you have fun going out with your friends? Shishi, if anything is bothering you, remember to tell Grandma. No matter what happens, Grandma will stand up for you.” Old Mrs. Shen kept holding Yan Shi’s hand, a kind smile on her pale face, her eyes full of affection.
Yan Shi only nodded, not daring to meet the old lady’s expectant gaze.
“Silly girl, you always share the good news and hide the bad. Grandma understands everything. In a little while, when Ci comes over, Grandma will be sure to give him a good scolding on your behalf, so he’ll never dare bully you again.”
Yan Shi was startled. “Grandma, you said Shen Ci is coming over later?”