Alma ran to ask the butler what Pei Wanyou usually cared about the most. She must be hiding somewhere; if there had really been an accident, she would have been discovered long ago.
The butler was analyzing the surveillance footage frame by frame, overwhelmed with anxiety. Hearing Alma’s question, he fell into deep thought…
What the young lady cared about most was none other than the young master, wasn’t it?
Alma didn’t get any useful information from the butler, so she ran to Bai Yanzhou’s side and shared her thoughts: “Wanyou must be throwing a tantrum and hiding herself. As long as we involve the people or things she cares about, she’ll definitely come out on her own.”
Bai Yanzhou pinched the bridge of his nose. She had been spoiled too much; even when throwing a tantrum, she didn’t know the limits. He called over a maid and gave her a few low-voiced instructions.
Half an hour later, Shushu woke up. Perhaps because of gas, she cried uncontrollably. The maid couldn’t calm her down and had no choice but to carry her to Bai Yanzhou.
Although Bai Yanzhou was in a bad mood, he couldn’t ignore his daughter crying like this. The little girl had been eating and sleeping well lately and had grown much heavier than before. He let Shushu lie on his arm while the maid covered her with a small blanket to shield her from the wind.
Shushu wasn’t just crying; she was also spitting up milk.
The maid looked panicked, her hands trembling violently. Anyone who has fed a baby knows that when an infant drinks milk, they need to be propped up a little, with their body slightly curved, otherwise they can easily choke.
Bai Yanzhou raised his deep blue eyes: “Don’t let me see you in the Bai family again.”
The maid covered Shushu with the blanket and quickly retreated. With the mistress not at home and the young master in a foul temper, she was lucky he hadn’t taken her life.
Shushu wasn’t even a month old yet and didn’t even have the most basic ability to save herself. The maid had actually dared to be so careless. If she had really choked and couldn’t catch her breath, the child would have been gone.
Alma, who was still standing nearby trying to think of a solution, saw this and her expression changed. She didn’t know what Pei Wanyou cared about, but she seemed to have figured out what Bai Yanzhou cared about.
“…”
Pei Wanyou had originally planned to wait until dawn before leaving, but Shushu’s cries kept reaching her ears. Her heart was in turmoil, and she had no choice but to crawl out from under the car.
Whether it was drones or patrol aircraft, their focus was all on the mountainside. She was under a row of cars, where the light couldn’t reach at all.
But the key point was that they had chosen the wrong focus.
Bai Yanzhou saw a small figure running over. The anger he had suppressed rose again. Running around in the middle of the night, making so many people search for over three hours!
Shushu cried at the top of her lungs, her legs kicking nonstop.
“Brother Yanzhou is amazing, knowing that as soon as Wanyou hears Shushu crying, she’ll worry about her little niece and come out to check.” Alma felt puzzled.
Why did Pei Wanyou care so much about her little niece…
Pei Wanyou was barefoot, wearing dirty pajamas, with several leaves stuck in her hair, looking somewhat disheveled.
Bai Yanzhou lowered his gaze and looked coldly at Pei Wanyou: “Finally willing to come out?”
“Slap—”
Pei Wanyou’s slap landed on Bai Yanzhou’s face, causing everyone around to gasp sharply, not daring to breathe loudly.
Alma was stunned.
The butler came out and saw this scene. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he quickly descended the steps: “Young lady, we finally found you.”
Although he didn’t know what had happened, protecting her came first.
Lu Shu’an was still adjusting the team when he heard the sound of a slap. Thinking Bai Yanzhou had hit Pei Wanyou, he quickly turned back. With his strength, how could Wanyou endure it?
Bai Yanzhou stared at Pei Wanyou, his eyes icy cold. It was the first time in his life he had been slapped in public.
Some men valued face above all else, especially Bai Yanzhou.
Pei Wanyou raised her chin, glaring angrily at Bai Yanzhou. To force her out, he had even made Shushu cry. Was that any way for a father to act?
She had to secure custody of Shushu!
Bai Yanzhou held Shushu with one arm and grabbed Pei Wanyou’s collar with the other. Many people stood around, but none dared to intervene.
Seeing this, Lu Shu’an hurried over. “Now that she’s been found and is safe, it’s late. Everyone should rest.”
At first, he had thought Bai Yanzhou had hit Pei Wanyou. But as he got closer, he saw Bai Yanzhou’s cheek was flushed red. With his fair skin, it was especially noticeable. “…”
The young lady certainly had guts.
Bai Yanzhou forcefully shoved Pei Wanyou away, and Lu Shu’an happened to catch her from his angle.
“I’m moving out tomorrow. I never want to see you again,” Pei Wanyou leaned into Lu Shu’an’s arms, tears streaming from the pain. Her foot seemed to be cut.
Bai Yanzhou glanced at her, then turned and walked back into the courtyard. The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead. It had been a heart-pounding ordeal. If things continued like this, he might have to retire early.
Alma followed behind Bai Yanzhou. “Though suddenly hitting someone isn’t right, Wanyou is still young. You can discipline her properly from now on.”
Lu Shu’an gently patted Pei Wanyou’s back. “You know his temper—he responds to softness, not force. He actually cares about you a lot. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made such a fuss searching for you in the middle of the night.”
Though it was still unclear why Bai Yanzhou had been slapped…
“He used Shushu to force me out. What kind of father does that? I regret it so much…” Pei Wanyou’s voice was very soft. Waves of pain shot through the sole of her foot, and combined with fear, she trembled uncontrollably.
Lu Shu’an slowly crouched down. For over a decade, the two had lived as siblings. Their personalities clashed, and with the sudden change in their relationship, there was much to work through.
Pei Wanyou climbed onto Lu Shu’an’s back. “I’m not going back.”
“To my place first?” Lu Shu’an carried Pei Wanyou down the mountain. His car was parked halfway down.
Pei Wanyou rested her chin on Lu Shu’an’s back. “I never realized before how detestable he is…”
Lu Shu’an remained silent, as their perspectives on the matter differed.
Bai Yanzhou sat on the sofa smoking. Shushu had fallen asleep by now, lying in a pose as if surrendering, with her little arms raised high.
Even their sleeping postures were nearly identical.
Lu Shu’an sent him a text, informing him that he had taken Pei Wanyou home. He didn’t trust anyone else, but he was absolutely reliable.
Bai Yanzhou smoked one cigarette after another until the sky began to lighten before finally going to bed.
Pei Wanyou had reached a rebellious age. She simply wouldn’t listen to him, and with a child between them, she feared him even less.
In the past, she wouldn’t have dared lay a hand on him even with a hundred times the courage.
Before he could fall asleep, his phone rang.
Lu Shu’an: [The young lady has a high fever…]
“…”
Pei Wanyou lay on the large bed in the Lu family home, a medical pad beneath her. Her entire body burned with fever, and the sole of her foot was cut by gravel.
“Mr. Lu, this young lady is experiencing postpartum hemorrhage and needs to be taken to the hospital urgently,” the doctor said, removing his mask and disposable gloves.
Lu Shu’an walked to the bedside. “Miss, I’ll take you to the hospital. Please don’t take your anger out on your own health.”
Pei Wanyou clung to the blanket. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
She couldn’t go to a hospital owned by the Bai family—she would be recognized at a glance. Nor could she go to any other hospital, where there would be too many people and prying eyes. If word got out to those with ill intentions, it would only cause greater trouble.
Lu Shu’an knelt by the bed, but as soon as his hand touched Pei Wanyou, she began struggling, refusing to let him carry her no matter what.
“Alright, alright, I won’t touch you. Just don’t move around,” Lu Shu’an said, his face filled with anxiety and helplessness. He had never had a girlfriend before, and faced with a girl’s unreasonable behavior, he was at a loss.
He could only hope that Bai Yanzhou would hurry over.
Whoever caused the trouble should be the one to fix it.
…
Bai Yanzhou leaned back in the car seat, holding Shushu in his arms. The driver was at the wheel. He had just taken medicine for his headache, and now drowsiness washed over him, making it difficult to keep his eyes open.
His life had become a tangled mess.
Lu Shu’an lived in a villa near the casino, decorated in a simple, minimalist style with white as the main color. He disliked overly complicated things, so the furniture and decor were sparse, even somewhat empty.
Pei Wanyou was staying in the master bedroom on the second floor. The doctor had just given her hemostatic and fever-reducing medication, and she had already fallen asleep.
However, without a proper examination, the doctor couldn’t make a definitive diagnosis and could only urge Lu Shu’an to take the patient to the hospital as soon as possible.
After Bai Yanzhou carried Shushu upstairs, he handed her over to Lu Shu’an. He was being so cautious because his granduncle’s child had once been carelessly drowned in a washbasin.
Having grown up under his granduncle’s care and with that lesson in mind, how could he not be careful?
Pei Wanyou’s lips were pale, and a thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead. Whether from pain or some other reason, her brows were slightly furrowed.
Bai Yanzhou reached out and lifted her from the bed. A strong smell of blood filled the air—the medical pad on the bed was already stained with a large patch of red.
“I’m not going,” Pei Wanyou said weakly. “If someone sees me, it’ll cause trouble for my brother…”
She felt extremely unwell, so much so that she could barely keep her eyes open. A dull ache throbbed in her lower abdomen, making her feel as though she were dying.
As before, she had chosen this path herself, so she couldn’t blame anyone else. If she had been more mature, thinking twice before acting, things would never have come to this.
But even if she could go back, given the circumstances at the time, she would probably still choose this path. After all, her experience and age were what they were.
Bai Yanzhou carried Pei Wanyou out of the bedroom. She had been immature, and he hadn’t restrained himself in time. If there was fault to be found, it was his.
Afterward, he should have made sure she took the medication. Though it would still have harmed her body, it would have been better than the current situation.
Lu Shu’an held Shushu, thinking to himself that he would never get involved with women in this lifetime—or men, for that matter…
Just the thought made his scalp tingle.
Bai Yanzhou carried Pei Wanyou into the car. The driver was momentarily taken aback but knew better than to ask questions.
In her daze, Pei Wanyou opened her eyes. Seeing it was Bai Yanzhou, she struggled even more fiercely. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”
A warm flow spread from her legs, and the smell of blood grew stronger. Bai Yanzhou was at his wit’s end—he couldn’t hit her, couldn’t scold her…
The driver lowered the privacy partition. The more you know, the quicker you die. In the future, the Bai family would still be under the young master’s control.
“I don’t need you to care even if I die.” Pei Wanyou was still fuming. The thought of him harming an infant less than a month old, especially his own daughter, filled her with indescribable anguish.
Because Shushu was born by her, that’s why he didn’t like her.
She didn’t know why, but lately she had been prone to overthinking, filled with pessimistic thoughts.
Bai Yanzhou placed his large hand on Pei Wanyou’s abdomen, his voice lowered. “Stop making a fuss.”
He didn’t dare to rub it. Bleeding this long after childbirth meant either the hospital hadn’t handled it properly at the time, or there was an issue with her uterus.
If he applied pressure, it would definitely have the opposite effect and worsen her condition.
“You’re driving me away…” Pei Wanyou muttered softly, tears sliding down the corners of her eyes.
Bai Yanzhou lowered his head, looking at the troublemaker in his arms. Why had he gotten angry because she watched that kind of film?
“Will you behave from now on?” His voice was slightly hoarse.
Pei Wanyou continued to mutter softly, “You’re driving me away…” If it weren’t for her physical discomfort, she probably would have already turned against him and wouldn’t have obediently let him hold her.
Bai Yanzhou frowned. He could touch anyone, but not her—yet it was precisely her.
After arriving at a nearby hospital, Bai Yanzhou carried Pei Wanyou inside, followed by several of his men. Since it was early morning, only the doctor on duty was present.
The head doctor was startled by the commotion, but after all, the hospital was located near a casino—he had seen all kinds of people.
Broken arms, broken legs, even severed heads…
Pei Wanyou was taken into the examination room. The men following behind didn’t think much of it—women’s issues were just that, weren’t they?
The examination results showed that Pei Wanyou had moved too vigorously, and combined with still being in her postpartum recovery period, she had strained herself, leading to heavy bleeding.
She needed to rest quietly at home, though hospitalization was also an option.
“The patient has severe anemia, low blood sugar, and obvious arrhythmia. She needs to rest and avoid staying up late,” the doctor said, holding the report.
Pei Wanyou couldn’t stop her tears, complaining pitifully, “I won’t go home with you.”
“Shut up, stop making a fuss.” Bai Yanzhou walked over and lifted her from the hospital bed. He had taken a slap without complaint, yet she was the one getting angry.
The one in the wrong turning hostile first—was there no way to deal with her?
After getting into the car, Pei Wanyou reached out her hand. “Give me your phone. I want to call my mom…”
He hadn’t intended to give it to her in the first place, and after hearing her say that, he definitely couldn’t.
“What else can you do besides tattling?” Bai Yanzhou said, then tugged at the blanket covering her.
Pei Wanyou thought to herself, she could do a lot of things. Did he want to know?
Bai Yanzhou stretched his legs, looking utterly exhausted. From yesterday until now, he had hardly rested.
“You can watch, but if I watch, you’ll throw me out of the house. I hold grudges—I’ll remember all of it.” Pei Wanyou’s fever had subsided by now, and she had regained some energy, her little mouth starting to chatter.
Bai Yanzhou pinched Pei Wanyou’s cheek. “Still being stubborn? Is me watching the same as you watching?”
“What’s the difference? Oh, your skills aren’t that great even after watching. You’re afraid I’ll watch more and find out you’re not up to it.” Pei Wanyou was the champion of stirring up trouble.
Bai Yanzhou: “…”
Throughout the journey, Bai Yanzhou remained silent. He didn’t know how to respond to Pei Wanyou’s words. With anyone else, he could prove himself again.
But not with her.
After the car stopped, Bai Yanzhou carried Pei Wanyou out of the vehicle.
The maid who was punished yesterday hurried over upon seeing this: “Young Master, please give me another chance. I absolutely wouldn’t dare to be as careless as I was last night.”
“You caused the little miss to choke on milk and cry uncontrollably, and you still have the nerve to come before me?” Bai Yanzhou hadn’t intended to say so much.
But these maids were all carefully selected and retained by his mother.
“Wait, you said Shushu cried uncontrollably last night—what happened?” Pei Wanyou seized the key point.
Seeing an opportunity, the maid recounted everything from beginning to end.
Pei Wanyou’s small mouth formed an ‘O’ shape. She cautiously lifted her gaze to look at the man holding her…
Help, what should I do! Someone save me!
Bai Yanzhou narrowed his eyes. It seemed he now understood why he had been hit yesterday. Was she holding a grudge? Hmm?
“…”