How cruel!
In the end, she chose to tell Youzi later.
Patting Youzi’s head, she comforted, “Mommy promised you that as long as I’m alive, I’ll always be with Youzi, and I won’t break my word. But Mommy really is making a protective charm. If Youzi doesn’t want to give me a strand of hair, then I won’t take it. Protective charms don’t have to use hair either.”
Youzi was still very worried.
Beneath her long eyelashes lay a shadow of panic.
“Mommy, you really won’t send me to that person, will you?”
Lin Ting, “…”
Forcing herself to go against her conscience, she said firmly, “No, how could I? Youzi is Mommy’s life, how could Mommy bear to?”
“Mommy, you’re also Youzi’s life, and Youzi can’t bear to lose you either.” In Youzi’s round, big eyes, a relieved smile instantly appeared.
Lin Ting patted Xiao Youzi’s head again. “Alright, let’s go. But do you remember, every time we go to a new school, the teacher asks for a physical examination report? We haven’t gone for the check-up yet, so today we need to go to the hospital first for the physical exam.”
She could only tell this lie.
After going to the hospital for the “physical exam” and getting Xiao Youzi’s blood sample, she could have Jiang Yu do the paternity test again.
This time, Xiao Youzi didn’t suspect anything.
She dropped Xiao Youzi off at kindergarten and prepared to meet Jiang Yu.
Just then, she received a call from Dr. Zhao.
At first, she was a bit surprised. “Dr. Zhao, how do you have my number?”
Dr. Zhao: “I found your number from your medical record.”
Also, most doctors at the hospital wouldn’t proactively contact patients.
Why would he look for her?
Amid her confusion, Dr. Zhao said, “Ms. Lin, the hospital has a batch of specific anti-cancer drugs entering the clinical trial phase, and you’ve been selected as one of our trial subjects. I wonder if you’re willing?”
Could it be that Linjiang Pharmaceutical Group’s specific anti-cancer drugs had already been successfully developed?
Lin Ting had seen it in the news earlier.
This was undoubtedly a bright beam of light shining into her utterly dark life.
“I’m willing!”
She answered excitedly and firmly.
Dr. Zhao: “However, there are some specific details I need to discuss with you in person. After all, this batch of specific anti-cancer drugs is provided free of charge to patients. We need to record a lot of data in the process and require your cooperation with many tasks. Ms. Lin, would meeting at noon, twelve o’clock, be okay for you?”
She had already scheduled noon for Jiang Yu.
With the two clashing, Lin Ting was in a dilemma.
But thinking that if there was hope for her to survive, she still preferred to meet Dr. Zhao first.
So she agreed.
Before leaving, since she didn’t have Jiang Yu’s WeChat, she sent him a text message.
Afraid he might not see it, she also gave him a call.
Jiang Yu: “It’s fine, I can come meet you. Send me the meeting location.”
This time, for the paternity test, he would be even more careful and cautious than last time.
He wouldn’t allow any mistakes to happen again.
At 11:56, Lin Ting met Dr. Zhao Meng, who had a crew cut.
Her impression of Dr. Zhao was very deep—a cold, reserved oncology attending physician who spoke little, answering only when asked.
Surprisingly, this meeting turned out to be very approachable.
Lin Ting always felt something was off.
After sitting down, they discussed the clinical trial matters for the specific anti-cancer drugs normally.
But suddenly, Dr. Zhao Meng abruptly changed the subject and began saying things that left her utterly bewildered:
“Ms. Lin, I have done as we agreed and deliberately showed up at the place where Mr. Jiang was dining.”
“As expected, he fell for it and came over to ask me whether you really had cancer.”
“I followed our original plan and said everything I was supposed to.”
“This Jiang fellow is quite easy to fool. Next time, you’ll need to work a bit harder—lose some weight, make yourself look thinner and more like a patient. Keep blood plasma ready in your bag at all times, and if necessary, you can even cough up blood in front of him.”
“Just act as realistically as possible.”
“Once his heart softens, he’ll give you the specific anti-cancer drug they developed, even before clinical trials.”
“Once we get the research secrets, the Zhou family won’t treat you unfairly.”
By the time Lin Ting belatedly realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
She didn’t even have a chance to speak.
Because at that very moment, Jiang Yu strode over.
He had been standing right behind her and had heard every word.
Furious, Jiang Yu clenched his jaw tightly and balled his hands into fists.
Blue-purple veins bulged angrily on his forehead, neck, and the backs of his hands.
His icy, hate-filled gaze seemed as if it wanted to cut her into a thousand pieces.
“Lin Ting, you really are a despicable, shameless, and utterly disgusting bitch with no bottom line.”
He regretted all the affection he had ever shown her.
He regretted that even after being deceived by her time and again, he was still willing to trust her and go do another paternity test with Xiao Youzi.
“Your ‘bitter flesh’ scheme was really well executed!”
He laughed mockingly.
Mocking her, and mocking himself.
“I even believed you and went so far as to contact an authoritative oncology expert abroad for you.”
“And what’s more, because of your ‘illness,’ I almost broke up with Lin Weiwei.”
“Lin Ting, is this how you trample on my trust?”
Trust?
Had there ever been any?
Lin Ting, who had already stood up, looked at Jiang Yu, whose hatred for her had doubled, and knew deep down that at this point, anything she said would be too late.
Jiang Yu would not believe her.
“Lin Ting, you’re quite the actress.”
Speaking of acting, the buzz-cut Dr. Zhao beside her was the real master performer.
His face was full of panic after their plan was exposed.
Then, with an air of credibility, he assured Lin Ting, “Ms. Lin, we didn’t anticipate this situation, but rest assured, we won’t shortchange you on the payment you’re owed. We’ll be in touch later. I’ll take my leave now.”
After the buzz-cut Dr. Zhao left, Lin Ting had no time to chase after him or hold him accountable.
She didn’t even pay attention to Jiang Yu’s thousand-cutting glare.
All she cared about was Youzi’s chance at life.
Given the layers of misunderstanding now, Jiang Yu would hate her even more.
The idea of doing another paternity test was out of the question—no need to even think about it.
Amidst the chaos in her mind, she desperately tried to think of a solution.
“Mr. Jiang, when this Dr. Zhao suddenly contacted me, I found it suspicious.”
“He really is—”
Jiang Yu roared, “Enough, Lin Ting.”
He was utterly disappointed.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t care about the bond we shared growing up together.”
“But the Lin family raised you, and Uncle Lin truly treated you like a precious pearl for over twenty years.”
“Even after all the terrible things you did in collusion with Zhou Ziheng, Uncle Lin still believed there were extenuating circumstances for you.”
“For your own selfish desires, you really are beyond saving.”
“You people really deserve to get cancer and suffer retribution!”
Lin Ting was left speechless.
At this point, every additional word would only disgust and annoy Jiang Yu.
Amidst her chaotic thoughts, she slowly pieced together the entire incident.
From her visit to Jiang Yu, to the first paternity test, and then meeting Dr. Zhao.
It felt as if there were eyes in the shadows, watching every move she and Jiang Yu made.
Something was definitely wrong.
“Mr. Jiang, our conversations must have been completely exposed.”
“You only called me yesterday about redoing the paternity test for Youzi, and you only learned half an hour ago that I would meet you here. Even that Dr. Zhao—it must have all been arranged by someone else in advance. Including the previous paternity test you did…”
Jiang Yu angrily retorted, “You never change, always shifting blame onto others. Are you going to suspect Weiwei again? Weiwei isn’t that kind of person.”
“Jiang Yu, your phone might even be tapped,” Lin Ting strongly suspected.