Falling in love with Zhai Yu was the worst mistake Song Ruannin ever made.
Back then, she was the pampered daughter of a wealthy family, yet she insisted on chasing after Zhai Yu.
The man was cold—to everyone.
But he was also poor, so she used her influence, threatening to withhold his scholarship, and he agreed to let her sit next to him in class.
Later, when she caught Bai Yuwei cheating on an exam, she recorded the evidence and took it to Zhai Yu, threatening to expose it if he didn’t date her.
That day, she got her wish and started a relationship with Zhai Yu.
In the school laboratory, Zhai Yu locked the door and covered her mouth.
Afterward, he said coldly, “Remember to take the pill. I don’t want a child.”
His features were sharp, his eyes icy and heartless—Song Ruannin still remembers it clearly to this day.
It was also the first time she realized that loving someone could make you feel utterly insignificant.
For two years, rumors spread across campus that the Song family’s eldest daughter had turned into a fawning admirer for love.
They weren’t wrong.
On her 21st birthday, her wish was to marry Zhai Yu.
During her junior year, her family fell from grace.
After her father’s death, she blocked everyone, cut ties with Zhai Yu, and he never once tried to reach out to her.
Just two months later, when she heard news of him again, he had become the young master of the Zhai family and was about to go abroad.
In the airport terminal, Song Ruannin saw Zhai Yu from a distance.
He stood out, easily noticeable in the crowd.
At that moment, he was smiling—a smile directed at Bai Yuwei.
His sister, his non-biological sister, his childhood friend, the one he loved.
As Bai Yuwei stood on her tiptoes and they were about to kiss, Song Ruannin instinctively turned away.
When she looked back, Zhai Yu was gently stroking Bai Yuwei’s head.
She stopped in her tracks and didn’t approach.
People came and went in the airport, while she wandered like a lost soul.
When Song Zhirou called and she heard her sister’s voice, she crouched on the ground, hugging her head and sobbing.
Song Zhirou, who had just given birth to Song Ziyan not long ago, insisted on coming to pick her up.
On the way back, Song Ruannin was distracted, and Song Zhirou kept comforting her.
During a sharp turn, their car was hit and overturned, leaving both of them lying in a pool of blood.
When she woke up, the doctor informed her that she had been three months pregnant, but the baby hadn’t survived.
She hadn’t even known she was carrying a child.
As for Song Zhirou, she suffered a traumatic brain injury and has been lying in a hospital bed ever since.
All these years, she didn’t want to blame Zhai Yu for everything—she knew it was her own fault.
But if she could go back, she would never, ever fall for Zhai Yu again.
Never.
Hearing the door open, Ruan Ning looked up.
It was Du Yunfei, Song Zhirou’s attending physician.
Du Yunfei got straight to the point: “I called you here today to discuss your sister’s condition.”
We’ve evaluated your sister’s situation and believe she could undergo SCS spinal cord stimulation, but there’s no guarantee it will awaken her. The cost is also very high. Please consider it.”
“We’ll do it.” Song Ruannin didn’t hesitate for a moment.
Their mother had died early, and her sister, six years older, had raised her when their father was away working.
If it could awaken Song Zhirou, she was willing to sell her blood or even her bone marrow.
Du Yunfei nodded. Then I’ll explain the specific costs. Try to gather the money as soon as possible.”
Ruan Ning wiped the tears from the corner of her eye and nodded.
Ruan Ning stayed overnight at the hospital with her daughter and didn’t return home until almost noon the next day.
The neighborhood she lived in was old—the first house Song Sixun had bought when he was still running a small business.
After Song Sixun fell from power and was purged, this was the only house that wasn’t repossessed.
Over the years, Song Zhirou’s hospital expenses had been enormous. Even with the money from that man and her own salary, it still wasn’t enough.
On the way back, she had already made up her mind—she would contact a real estate agent in the next couple of days to sell this house.
To pay for Song Zhirou’s treatment.
Waking her up was the most important thing.
“Mom.” Song Ziyan tugged at Song Ruannin’s hand, pointing ahead.
Song Ruannin froze completely.
Why would he be here?
At the entrance of the dilapidated residential complex, a silver-gray Koenigsegg stood out starkly against the shabby surroundings.
A man in a trench coat leaned against the car, wisps of smoke curling from his lips.
Spotting the woman in the distance, Zhai Yu tossed the cigarette aside and crushed it under his heel.
He strode over to the two of them.
Glancing at Song Ruannin, then at the little girl who bore a striking resemblance to her.
He sneered, “I thought Miss Song had found herself a great husband. So this is where he lets you live?”
Back then, a single brief message on WeChat—”You have no power or money, let’s break up.”—had been enough to dismiss him. He had assumed Song Ruannin had found someone better.
Just some small-time boss running an influencer company.
Song Ruannin stood stunned, unable to speak for a long moment.
She knew Zhai Yu had come here just to mock her.
Seeing someone he once despised in such a miserable state must have felt satisfying for him.
Song Ruannin tightened her grip on her daughter’s hand and walked past the man.
“This has nothing to do with Young Master Zhai.”
The man gritted his teeth and grabbed her wrist.
“Song Ruannin.” His eyes were dark, his tone furious, frightening the little girl beside them.
The girl shrank fearfully behind Song Ruannin.
Ruan Ning shielded the child, glaring at Zhai Yu. “What do you want?”
Zhai Yu released her hand, his voice icy. “Whose child is she?”
He had checked last night—Shen Yi wasn’t married and had no children.
So whose child was this little girl?
Song Ruannin was taken aback, then let out a scornful laugh. “Young Master Zhai, have you been watching too many dramas?”
“You don’t actually think she’s your daughter, do you?” she said mockingly.
Zhai Yu remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
Song Ruannin covered Song Ziyan’s ears and stared coldly at Zhai Yu.
“Zhai Yu, the first time we did it, I took pills.”
“And all those times after, when didn’t you use protection? Even if you did slip up, when did I ever skip the pills?”
“There aren’t that many coincidences in the world. She’s not your daughter.”
The man before her had red-rimmed eyes. “Very good, Song Ruannin. Very good.”
So, even six years ago when they were together, she already had a child with someone else, didn’t she?
At that moment, he wanted to strangle her.
He ground his teeth. “Song Ruannin, from now on, don’t let me see you again in Yancheng.”
“If I catch sight of you even once, just try me.”
With that, the man yanked open the car door and sped away.
Song Ruannin mustered her strength and went upstairs. Closing the door behind her, she slid weakly to the floor, her legs trembling.
Don’t let me see you again.
What a perfect line—don’t let me see you again.
That was exactly what she wanted to say to Zhai Yu too.
Her phone rang, and Ruan Ning answered.
“It’s me. I’ve transferred this month’s living expenses for Ziyan to your account. Let me know if it’s not enough.”
Song Ruannin let out a long sigh. “My sister needs a wake-up surgery. It’ll cost a lot.”
The person on the other end paused. “Mm, I’ll think of something.”
Song Ruannin bit her lower lip. “Forget it, don’t bother.” She was about to hang up.
“Wait, I want to say a few words to Ziyan,” the person on the other end said.
Song Ruannin sneered, “If you have the guts, come back from abroad.”
The person on the other end fell silent and soon hung up.
Song Ruannin stared at the phone.
Coward.