Song Nanzhi couldn’t help but curse under her breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She carefully recalled the plot of the original novel.
Two months ago, the original owner had plotted to frame the female lead, Shen Yuexi, and ruin her reputation.
But the plan backfired—she ended up drinking the spiked wine herself.
Strangely enough, what she had bought at the Black Market was supposed to be knockout powder, yet it made her body burn with heat.
Clinging to her last shred of consciousness, she went upstairs to the guest room, intending to tell the thug she had arranged in advance to stop waiting.
But the moment she opened the door, she was yanked inside by some force, and then…
No way?
She got pregnant from that one time?
The original owner really did shoot herself in the foot.
Great. She was a proper, innocent maiden, and now she had transmigrated into a pregnant woman?
Other people got to become mothers without the hassle—why did she have to…
What was even more infuriating was that the thug had vanished without a trace afterward.
So this child would be born without even a father!
Song Nanzhi’s heart sank completely.
She had thought that as long as she kept a low profile today, she could survive.
But now—she was pregnant out of wedlock!
In this era where gossip could drown a person, she was finished.
“Song Nanzhi!” The voice belonged to her adoptive father, Song Mingyu.
With outsiders present, she had to give him face.
Song Nanzhi took a deep breath, suppressing the nausea rising in her throat, and pushed the door open.
On the first floor, there were two or three guest rooms. As she passed by, she noticed one door was slightly ajar.
“…Yanting, look—your cousin is already engaged!”
“And you, as the older brother, don’t even have a prospect yet. What kind of nonsense is that!”
Song Nanzhi paused mid-step. The voice, though aged, was full of vigor.
“Grandfather.” A lazy voice responded, drawing out the words deliberately.
“I’m just a rough soldier who’s been divorced. Who would even take a liking to me?”
“You’re getting on in years—stop worrying about things that don’t matter.”
Yanting?
That was Shen Yuexi’s cousin, Shen Yanting?
Song Nanzhi peered through the crack in the door.
She saw a tall, upright man leaning against the sofa.
He wore a crisp military uniform, no hat, with slightly tousled hair.
High brow bones, a straight nose, a clean-cut jawline. A cigarette was pinched between his fingers, though unlit.
In the original novel, the female lead’s cousin had limited screen time.
From the looks of him, he was actually quite handsome.
Apparently, Shen Yanting was young but had already become a regimental commander in some military camp.
“Nonsense! Four-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged girls are everywhere!”
Across from Shen Yanting sat an energetic old man, glaring at him.
His cane thumped against the floor. “You’re almost thirty and still single! Where am I supposed to put my old face?”
Shen Yanting gave a roguish grin. “Face is earned by oneself—who relies on marrying a wife to get it?”
“Besides, with my circumstances, I’d rather not ruin some poor girl’s life. I haven’t had my fill of fun yet.”
“You… you brat! Not a shred of decency in you!” The old man raised his hand as if to strike.
Shen Yanting didn’t dodge, his smirk deepening.
“Nanzhi, why are you still standing there!” Her adoptive mother, Yun Shuang, rushed toward her.
Hearing the commotion, the door swung fully open, and a tall shadow loomed over her.
Well, well, you little girl—daring to eavesdrop on me getting scolded!
Song Nanzhi looked up, met that unfriendly gaze, and quickly lowered her head again.
The old man came out leaning on his cane and jabbed Shen Yanting’s arm.
“Look what you’ve done, scaring the girl! What’s the matter with you!”
Yun Shuang grabbed Song Nanzhi’s arm with considerable force, smiling as she smoothed things over.
“Nanzhi, come greet the old chief, and Regimental Commander Shen.”
Song Nanzhi steeled herself and offered her greetings.
The old chief was amiable. “This child has been raised so beautifully. Comrade Yun Shuang, you’ve done a remarkable job.”
Yun Shuang wore a perfectly measured smile. “The old chief flatters me. Please, take a seat?”
“Alright, alright!”
Song Nanzhi was half-dragged by Yun Shuang toward the dining area.
“The old chief’s grandson is nothing but trouble. Stay far away from him from now on!”
Song Nanzhi instinctively glanced back.
Coincidentally, Shen Yanting was also looking her way, raising an eyebrow as he fixed his gaze on her.
With that defiant face, he seemed to be letting out a scoffing laugh.
Song Nanzhi’s heart lurched, and she quickly turned her head forward.
He really was someone not to be trifled with.
At the banquet, the atmosphere was lively.
The Shen family doted on Shen Yuexi, so naturally, they approved of this marriage.
It was just that her adoptive parents’ flattery toward the Shen family was a bit too obvious.
As if afraid something might go wrong with the engagement.
Though Song Nanzhi couldn’t taste the food, she still ate small bites of the dishes in front of her.
Avoiding drawing any attention from the table.
However, Song Youfan across from her kept casting glances her way, which irritated her to no end.
Shen Yuexi naturally noticed as well, and her expression grew increasingly sour.
Please, could the original owner’s brother just behave?
Just get married properly and live happily ever after with the female lead, wouldn’t that be great?
Tsk, look what a cannon fodder female supporting character like her had been reduced to.
“Hiss.” Song Youfan let out a sharp intake of breath, as if caught off guard by pain.
He had most likely been pinched on the thigh or stepped on the foot by Shen Yuexi.
This low exclamation sounded somewhat jarring in the otherwise “harmonious” atmosphere.
Song Nanzhi kept her head lowered, as if she were the one who had made a fool of herself.
Yun Shuang shot Song Youfan a glare, then smiled to smooth things over, “The young ones are just flirting!”
She then changed the subject, “Youfan, hurry up and put the engagement ring on Miss Shen.”
Just then, Nanny Zhang came in carrying a steamed fish.
As luck would have it, she had to serve the dish from Song Nanzhi’s side—steaming hot, with a rich, savory aroma.
But all Nanzhi could smell was a strong fishy odor.
The nausea she had been suppressing in her stomach for so long could no longer be contained.
“Ugh…” Song Nanzhi abruptly covered her mouth and shot up from her seat.
Forgetting all decorum, she pushed back her chair and rushed toward the restroom.
The entire table fell silent.
Yun Shuang reacted the fastest, “Nanzhi must have eaten too much from being happy today.”
Mr. and Mrs. Shen maintained their composure on the surface, but they both knew full well.
Song Nanzhi, their adopted daughter, had feelings for their prospective son-in-law, Song Youfan.
Had it not been for their daughter’s insistence on marrying into this family, they would never have agreed to this match.
Song Youfan watched Song Nanzhi’s retreating figure and could no longer sit still.
He immediately stood up, “I’ll go check on Nanzhi.”
Yun Shuang pressed him back into his seat, her face ashen, “You stay seated. I’ll go!”
Instantly, the atmosphere at the banquet dropped to freezing point.
Shen Yanting subtly curled the corner of his mouth toward Song Youfan.
He muttered without any attempt to hide it, “A man who can’t tell what matters!”
In the restroom, Song Nanzhi was bent over the sink, vomiting violently.
Tears were forced out of her eyes.
This child—it was going to be the death of her!
Just then, the restroom door was suddenly pushed open, and Yun Shuang stormed in, furious.
“Song Nanzhi, are you deliberately trying to ruin your brother’s big day?”
Song Nanzhi turned her face around, “Mom, I’m not. I just have an upset stomach.”
“Upset stomach?” Yun Shuang let out a cold laugh.
“What’s the matter? You just happen to have an upset stomach exactly when your brother is putting the ring on Yuexi?”
She furrowed her brow, “If that’s the case, then you can go to the countryside!”