The first act of cowardice and the first broken promise in her life were dedicated to the quadruplets ultrasound report.
Shi Wan’s trembling fingers tapped the phone keypad, inputting the phone number she knew by heart, digit by digit.
Call.
Wait.
Three seconds passed.
Ten seconds passed…
[The number you dialed is not answered. Please try again later～]
Did Lu Xicheng only accept her “vanishing without a trace, never bothering him again”? Was even a phone call not allowed anymore?
This was a matter of life and death!
One adult and four little ones—five lives in total.
Given her current physical condition, it was impossible to immediately remove the four babies.
But if she stopped to recuperate, waiting until she replenished her nutrition and her constitution met the surgical requirements, the timeline would be pushed back by at least half a month.
The embryos were now nearly seven weeks old. Waiting another half a month would mean they’d grow too large for outpatient surgery. She’d have to continue the pregnancy until after four months for an induced labor.
Induced labor meant giving birth naturally.
Giving birth to four at once—she’d have to pass through the gate of hell four times.
At the same time, it would be a tragedy for the children. They’d already be tiny human beings, sent to the crematorium without ever seeing the light of day…
For now, the four babies had to stay.
With quadruplets, her belly would swell within four months, making normal life impossible. She’d need help just to lie down or get up.
Moreover, even if she gritted her teeth through the pregnancy by hiring several nannies, she couldn’t raise four children alone from crying for nourishment to adulthood.
From infancy to adulthood, the time span stretched a full eighteen years.
With the passage of time and the cycles of scorching heat and bitter cold, it was a difficult and lengthy endeavor.
She was just an ordinary girl, with no parents.
Fresh out of college, only twenty-one years old.
Her maternal love was limited to one share, divided among four children—each receiving only a little, insufficient to meet their growth and development needs over the next eighteen years.
After careful consideration, the role of a father couldn’t be missing.
She had to notify Lu Xicheng so the two of them could bear the responsibility together.
If Lu Xicheng wouldn’t answer the phone, she’d go find him.
Shi Wan tucked the ultrasound report into her pocket, dragged her canvas suitcase, and walked out of the hospital.
She hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Lu family home.
Through the car window, the ginkgo trees lining the road swept backward. Autumn rain drifted, cold wind twisted the raindrops, and raindrops angrily struck the glass.
Shi Wan rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought.
—Lu Xicheng’s identity had changed. He was now the father of four babies. Would he be excited? Thrilled?
—Perhaps, for the sake of his four flesh and blood, he’d call off the engagement…
She didn’t dwell on what Lu Xicheng might have done with Lin Zaixin during the twenty days she was locked up.
She could endure the injustice of being imprisoned and suffering while Lu Xicheng moved on outside.
For the sake of the four children, she went with an open heart and tolerance.
Today, the Lu family viewed her as a sworn enemy.
The security guards stopped her outside the main gate; she didn’t even catch a glimpse of the luxury mansion’s wall.
But she was mentally prepared. She’d just wait outside.
Lu Xicheng had to come and go eventually.
When he passed by, she’d be able to see him.
The autumn rain was relentless.
She waited from four in the afternoon until six, as time’s great hand covered the sky and the ground grew dim.
From the vehicle exit lane of the mansion, Lu Xicheng’s car approached.
Drenched, her dress clinging to her body, Shi Wan broke into a run.
“Brother Xicheng, Brother Xicheng～ Wait…”
She rushed to the front of the entrance, spreading her arms to block the way.
The car window in the driver’s seat rolled down, revealing a large head.
The driver was Lu Xicheng’s assistant, named Mao Bin.
Mao Bin's eyes gleamed with a sharp light. "Why are you back again? I told you to leave through the back door and not disturb anyone. What I meant was, don’t you dare look back, don’t come back, and don’t pester Brother Lu."
"I have an urgent matter. I must see Lu Xicheng."
Shi Wan couldn’t care less anymore.
Mao Bin opened the car door and stepped out, his face full of impatience.
"Miss Lin just got out of the hospital. Brother Lu is accompanying her. He’s busy."
Shi Wan clenched her fists. "I have something very important to tell him. Please ask him to come out for just five minutes."
Mao Bin glanced back at the passenger seat.
"I have to take the designer back."
He had no time to go notify Lu Xicheng now.
Shi Wan followed Mao Bin’s gaze and looked at the car.
Mao Bin curled his lip. "An Austrian diamond jewelry designer, specially invited today to customize a wedding ring for Miss Lin."
A thunderbolt split the sky.
It blasted through Shi Wan’s head.
Shattering everything stored in her mind.
All the thoughts she had prepared on the way here vanished into thin air.
"Sorry for disturbing you."
Her frail body swayed as she stepped back, making way.
Her face, wet with rainwater, felt cold. Mao Bin’s strange gaze fell upon that layer of coldness.
Shi Wan felt her skin pores tighten under his stare.
She wasn’t sure if he was mocking her wretched state, but that’s how she interpreted it, because she couldn’t hold her face together anymore and wished she could crawl into a hole.
Then she heard Mao Bin’s sighing voice say, "It’s raining, and it’s getting dark. Get in the car. After I drop off the designer, I’ll take you home."
She retreated to the wall side, leaning against it for support.
"No, thank you."
Knowing she had no relatives in the capital city, the phrase "take you home" didn’t feel the slightest bit warm; instead, it made her overthink.
She declined on her own accord.
Just after Mao Bin left, An Bo’s car drove out.
Shi Wan had no intention of rushing up to seek help.
She had already faced reality and no longer held even a sliver of hope for Lu Xicheng.
She turned her back to avoid them, wanting to end this "spineless entanglement with her ex-husband."
Unexpectedly, An Bo stopped the car and walked toward her.
"Wanwan, why are you standing here alone in the rain?"
An Bo’s voice was as warm as ever.
Shi Wan forced a smile. "I was just about to leave. Thank you for your concern, Uncle."
Since Lu Xicheng was unreliable, she didn’t mention her purpose for coming here.
An Bo didn’t ask either. He pointed to the car. "Come on, I’ll give you a ride."
Shi Wan lowered her eyelids. "I have no destination."
"Ah! Child, it’s alright. I’ll find you a hotel to stay in."
Deeply moved by An Bo’s willingness to help without avoiding suspicion during difficult times, Shi Wan got into the car and said to the driver, "Please stop by the North District Bus Station when we pass it."
An Bo asked with a kindly expression, "Where are you going?"
"Yufeng Mountain."
"What’s there?"
"My grandfather’s home."
An Bo: "Oh. That’s good too. Go back and see your grandfather, take good care of yourself."
An Bo began rummaging through his pockets—the inside and outside pockets of his suit, plus his pants pockets. After searching all six, he scraped together 1,200 in cash.
Shi Wan refused. She had already seen a black card in the suitcase.
Lu Xicheng had said he would give her one hundred million after the divorce.
She wasn’t short of money.
Tears welled up in An Bo’s eyes. "Good child, be brave. Next time, find someone who can stay with you till the end."
Watching the old man cry, Shi Wan couldn’t hold back her tears either.
"Thank you~"
Taking the money, the driver said, "It's getting dark. A young girl like you spending the night at the bus station will be too hard on your body. I have a fellow villager heading back to Yufeng Town tonight to attend a banquet. Would you like to ride with him? He has a car and can give you a lift."
From the capital city to Yufeng Town is 500 kilometers.
From Yufeng Town to Yufeng Mountain, there's still half an hour of mountain road to travel.
Having a direct ride was, of course, the best option.
"Then please help me get in touch with him."
Shi Wan thanked the driver and then thanked An Bo.
The vehicle that came to pick her up was a new car, not yet registered with a license plate.
An Bo personally saw her off into the car, waving his fat hands, "Wanwan, have a safe journey. Let uncle know you've arrived safely."
"Alright, thank you for your trouble."
"Wanwan, even though you've left the Lu family, don't give up on our friendship."
"Mhm~"
This departure, in her mind, was a farewell forever.
She was certain she wouldn't contact anyone related to Lu Xicheng again.
Unable to hold back, tears fell.
She waved vigorously at An Bo.
The driver leaned over to look at her, offering comfort, "Don't cry, don't cry. If you miss uncle, just give him a call. We're all here for you."
"Mhm."
While waiting at a red light, the driver got out to buy some food.
"You're too thin, and it's cold out. Have some hot milk and a cake to replenish your nutrition."
Shi Wan was deeply moved and thanked him repeatedly.
During her 15 years in the Lu family, An Bo and his driver had truly been good to her, always warm and kind.
After drinking the milk, feeling comfortable, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Until…
Gurgle, gurgle…
Her breaths were filled with water, her nostrils flooded, making her unbearably uncomfortable. As she opened her mouth, water rushed in, forcing her to swallow involuntarily.
She had fallen into water!
She realized she was drowning.
Instinctively, she held her breath to self-rescue.
The next moment.
Her arms couldn't stretch out.
She tried to move her legs, but they wouldn't open either.
She struggled.
She tried hard to think…
Her limbs seemed folded, her body curled into a cooked shrimp shape, trapped with her head and limbs tucked inside a basket.