Nan Jin suddenly snapped back to reality—could it be that she was now trapped in some melodramatic period novel?
And she was probably the cannon fodder female supporting character, the one the male lead tortured relentlessly to be with the female lead, yet she still clung to him like a first love?
Yuan Limei was so infuriated by Nan Zhu’s attitude that her chest ached, and she clutched at it with a pained groan.
Gu Shaoxuan turned to support her, asking worriedly, “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Yuan Limei glared hatefully at Nan Zhu, who didn’t even bother to look back. “That bitch is going to be the death of me,” she spat.
Liang Yourou quickly soothed her in a gentle voice, “Mom, don’t let someone like that ruin your health. It’s not worth it.”
Then she turned to Gu Shaoxuan, “Shaoxuan, hurry up and think of something.”
Gu Shaoxuan helped Yuan Limei lie down on another hospital bed and said urgently, “Mom, rest for a bit. I’ll go get the doctor.”
He strode out of the room and ran into Yuan Zheng, who was carrying a lunchbox as he entered.
“Uncle? Why are you back again?”
Seeing Yuan Zheng once more, Gu Shaoxuan’s expression darkened even further.
Yuan Zheng asked calmly, “Have you brought Nan Zhu any food?”
“I…” Gu Shaoxuan met his uncle’s sharp, all-seeing gaze and couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
From the moment Nan Zhu was admitted to the hospital for her abortion yesterday to her waking up today, it seemed she really hadn’t eaten anything.
But wasn’t it because he was so angry with her that he’d forgotten?
Yuan Limei sat up again, a smile spreading across her face as she looked at Yuan Zheng. “Xiao Zheng, what brings you here? Did you bring me some food?”
Yuan Zheng sat down by Nan Jin’s bedside, opened the lunchbox, and took out the meal. “Xiao Zhu, I had someone steam pigeon soup for you. Drink it slowly.”
His voice was calm as he finished instructing Nan Jin before looking up at Yuan Limei. “What’s wrong, big sister? I hadn’t heard from Xiao Xuan that you were sick.”
Yuan Limei was so angered by her younger brother’s words that she nearly choked, though her voice carried a flattering smile. “Xiao Zheng, when did you arrive in Leshi? Why haven’t you come to see me?”
Yuan Zheng looked at her, his tone still indifferent. “I just arrived in Leshi yesterday.”
Yuan Limei’s face stiffened. She had heard that it was Yuan Zheng who brought Nan Zhu to the hospital.
Why would he go to a place like the detention center?
Yuan Zheng seemed to read her thoughts, his voice growing more authoritative. “The deputy director is a friend of mine.”
Yuan Limei coughed awkwardly and changed the subject. “How are Mom and Dad doing?”
“Mom and Dad are in good health.”
Nan Jin listened to their meaningless conversation and slowly sat up, preparing to get out of bed.
After receiving IV fluids and resting for so long, she had regained some strength.
She picked up her IV bottle and was about to get up when Yuan Zheng shot her a stern look. “Where do you think you’re going in your condition?”
Nan Jin coughed lightly. “I need to use the restroom. You two can keep talking.”
Yuan Zheng’s expression was unreadable as he stood up to hold the IV bottle for her. “Can you manage on your own? Should I call a nurse to help you?”
Nan Jin took the IV bottle herself and nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
Yuan Zheng turned to Gu Shaoxuan, who was standing there dumbfounded, and his voice sharpened. “Aren’t you going to escort her?”
“Oh, right!” Gu Shaoxuan quickly hurried after her.
Liang Yourou stood there, head bowed in embarrassment, though her lowered eyes flashed with intense resentment.
What right did that orphan Nan Zhu have? Why was this uncle treating her so well?
“Comrade, please step out for a moment. My sister and I need to talk.”
Yuan Zheng’s icy voice startled her, making her look up abruptly. Meeting his stern eyes, her heart trembled with fear.
She turned to Yuan Limei, calling out helplessly, “Mom!”
Yuan Limei, who was also somewhat intimidated by her younger brother, could only say to her, “Yu Rou, please go outside for now.”
Among her three younger sisters, he was the only brother. Their parents were usually very busy, so the sisters had raised him since he was young.
Being the only son in the family, their parents, who had longed for a boy, naturally doted on him excessively.
Even the four sisters had to indulge him.
Their younger brother had also lived up to their parents’ expectations. Not only did he skip grades to complete his studies, but after joining the military, he rose through the ranks swiftly and was now a regiment commander.
Yuan Zheng frowned, his tone full of disapproval. “Eldest Sister, is she the woman Xiao Xuan has been seeing outside? You let her call you ‘Mom’? How do you think Xiao Zhu would feel about this?”
Liang Yurou’s face turned pale. Biting her lip stubbornly, she walked out in humiliation.
Yuan Limei felt embarrassed by Yuan Zheng’s words. She straightened up and cleared her throat lightly. “Xiao Zheng, this is my family matter. Can you please not interfere?”
Yuan Zheng spoke with righteous conviction. “A soldier’s duty is to serve the people. If you want me to stay out of it, you’ll have to strip me of this uniform.”
“If you really didn’t like Nan Zhu, you shouldn’t have agreed to let her marry Xiao Xuan in the first place.”
“By doing this, you’re condoning Xiao Xuan’s mistakes. If this escalates, it will stain his life. He’s only twenty-three—have you thought about his future?”
“What has Nan Zhu done wrong? She’s only twenty. Why should she bear such pain? Do you know how much damage a miscarriage can cause a woman?”
“Eldest Sister, you’re a woman too. Why must women make things difficult for other women?”
Yuan Limei’s expression grew increasingly grim, but she couldn’t utter a word in response.
Yuan Zheng glanced at her coldly, his voice even frostier. “You probably didn’t know, did you? The woman who shared a cell with Xiao Zhu committed suicide.”
Yuan Limei looked up, meeting his severe gaze, her face turning ashen.
“Do you think I bribed that woman to deliberately cause Xiao Zhu’s miscarriage? No matter how much I dislike her, the child in her womb was still a member of the Gu family. How could I do such a thing?”
“Whether you did or not, only you know the truth.”
Yuan Zheng’s voice remained cold. “I will follow this matter to the end. Don’t even think about using underhanded tactics to harm anyone else.”
Yuan Limei felt a surge of deep-seated grievance. “Xiao Zheng, I didn’t do it!”
“Didn’t do it? Then why are you so eager to let a mistress call you ‘Mom’?”
Yuan Limei: …
Her voice weakened, lacking conviction. “The child in her womb is also a member of the Gu family.”
“And it’s a boy, which is why you harmed the daughter in Xiao Zhu’s womb?”
“Xiao Zheng, I really didn’t do it! Why won’t you believe me?”
“I want to believe you, but I trust the facts more.”
Yuan Limei: …
“Xiao Zhu is willing to divorce, but she demands 1,500 yuan in compensation. I heard you disagreed?”
Yuan Limei looked up sharply, her voice full of disbelief. “Wasn’t it 1,000 yuan?”
Yuan Zheng looked at her calmly. “Are you implying I’m lying?”
“No, I mean… little brother, don’t let her deceive you.”
“Do you think I have no brains?”
Yuan Limei felt a suffocating anger welling up inside her, unable to voice it or swallow it down—this time, she was truly on the verge of fainting from rage.
Outside, eavesdropping, Liang Yurou clenched her fists tightly in fury, yet there was nothing she could do.