Kneel.
These words caused Wen Zhaoning's entire body's blood to freeze.
She looked at He Huaiqin in disbelief.
He actually told her to kneel.
Wen Zhaoning thought that even if their breakup years ago wasn't pleasant, they had at least shared passionate love and the most intimate moments. He could hate her or despise her, but why insult her in such a contemptuous way that trampled on her dignity.
"Do you hate me this much?" Wen Zhaoning asked.
"Does Miss Wen feel that being made to kneel insults you?" He Huaiqin's eyes were like a red-hot dagger, piercing Wen Zhaoning's heart. "Yes, I am insulting you."
He Huaiqin would never forget their breakup that year. He was depressed and unhappy. His mother, feeling sorry for him, quietly went to find Wen Zhaoning alone. On her way back, his mother was unfortunately in a car accident.
When he rushed to the scene, his mother was lying in a pool of blood, barely alive. She said to him, "Huaiqin, Mom went to find Miss Wen, to ask her not to abandon you. Miss Wen said that if I knelt and begged her, she wouldn't break up. Mom knelt for her... Miss Wen is a person of her word, she definitely won't leave you, don't be sad anymore..."
In that car accident, his mother lost both her legs and would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.
And Wen Zhaoning, who made his mother kneel, not only didn't keep her promise, but she didn't even come to see them, mother and son, once. She not only toyed with him, but also with an elderly person's pure love for their child.
If Wen Zhaoning could make his mother kneel back then, why couldn't she kneel now?
Hearing He Huaiqin's words, Wen Zhaoning's eye sockets uncontrollably welled up with burning soreness, and her vision quickly blurred.
She should have turned and left immediately, but the thought of Qing Ning, who had a high fever and was still in Lu Hengyu's hands, made her unable to just walk away. All her sadness, humiliation, and unwillingness were forcibly suppressed by her maternal instincts.
"If I kneel, will you help me?"
"Yes," He Huaiqin's gaze was cold and firm.
"Okay, I'll kneel."
Wen Zhaoning closed her eyes. Tears still clung to her thick eyelashes, like a butterfly with broken wings, trembling with a heartbreaking decisiveness.
Her knees bent down little by little, and her body began to fall...
Just as she was about to touch the marble floor, a large hand suddenly grabbed her arm with such force that it almost crushed her bones, forcefully stopping her from kneeling.
Wen Zhaoning opened her tear-filled eyes in shock. What met her gaze was He Huaiqin's face, inches away. At some point, the cold hatred and cruel mockery on his face had disappeared, replaced by complex emotions that Wen Zhaoning couldn't understand.
"You..."
Wen Zhaoning choked, and as soon as she opened her mouth to utter a word, his burning lips covered hers.
What a fierce kiss.
He Huaiqin roughly pried open her teeth, his breath hot and chaotic, as if he wanted to tear her apart with this kiss.
Wen Zhaoning was held tightly in his arms, her mind a blank slate, passively enduring this storm-like kiss. But why was it that he, who was taking and punishing, was trembling more than she was?
After an unknown amount of time, both of them were gasping for air due to lack of oxygen. He Huaiqin finally released her, ending the kiss that carried a hint of blood and was almost like a plunder.
He took a step back, the emotions burning in his eyes forcibly suppressed, covered once again by a layer of icy frost.
"I have already felt Miss Wen's sincerity. I agree to your transaction." He glanced at her swollen lips and tear-blurred eyes, then turned around and asked with his back to her, "Speak, what do you want me to do?"
He Huaiqin had ultimately accepted this transaction, which was gambled with dignity and her body. However, Wen Zhaoning felt no sense of relief. She only felt more uneasy. She had sold not only her body but also the last remnants of her pride and bottom line in front of He Huaiqin.
Countless questions entwined her thoughts like vines, making her feel a suffocating fear.
But for now, she couldn't afford to worry about that.
"Lu Hengyu has confined my daughter. Please help me rescue my daughter. She has a high fever and needs to see a doctor as soon as possible."
He Huaiqin finally understood why the proud Miss Wen was willing to kneel to him today. It was for her daughter.
The mother who had desperately begged six years ago and her today, full of maternal love, formed a ridiculous and ironic closed loop.
"Go back and wait for my news." He Huaiqin wrote an address on a piece of paper. "Go here and wait for me. Do not return to the Lu family!"
Wen Zhaoning almost fled from the luxurious yet suffocating office.
She took a taxi to the address He Huaiqin had given her.
It was a villa in the city center. The main body of the villa was made of ochre-red brick walls. Between the seams of the brick and stone, a few strands of dark green ivy occasionally peeked out, adding a touch of wild charm. The roof was made of steep, dark grey slate tiles, with distinct layers. The entire villa was not excessively ostentatious but exuded a low-key taste everywhere.
As soon as Wen Zhaoning got out of the car, it started to rain heavily.
Fortunately, there was an arched porch supported by a white pillar at the entrance of the main door. She stood there to shelter for a while and entered after the rain subsided.
He Huaiqin had mentioned in advance that the password here was the same as the one at Xicheng Bieyuan.
The house was empty.
After entering, Wen Zhaoning sat in the living room waiting.
The color scheme of the living room was carefully matched with warm beige and natural wood tones. Overall, it looked much warmer than the living room at Xicheng Bieyuan, but there were no signs of life.
The surroundings were silent. The sound of rain outside grew louder and softer, falling on the window frame, making Wen Zhaoning even more restless.
She wondered how Qing Ning was doing.
She wondered if He Huaiqin had gone to look for her.
Time ticked by, and Wen Zhaoning looked towards the entrance again and again. Finally, as evening approached, two car headlights pierced through the rain curtain and slowly swept across the living room curtains. The sound of a car stopping echoed at the entrance.
Wen Zhaoning instantly jumped up from the sofa and rushed to the window to check.
The black Cullinan was parked quietly in the rain.
The rear door opened. First, a large black umbrella "popped" open, and then a tall figure bent down and got out of the car.
It was He Huaiqin.
In He Huaiqin's arms was a small, sleeping figure, Qing Ning, whom Wen Zhaoning had been thinking about day and night.
Qing Ning was wrapped snugly in a black suit, with only her fair and serene small face exposed, leaning against He Huaiqin's shoulder.
The rain was falling heavily.
He Huaiqin held the child steadily with one hand, holding the umbrella with the other. The umbrella was tilted significantly towards the side where Qing Ning was leaning, completely shielding Qing Ning. Meanwhile, more than half of He Huaiqin's shoulder and back were completely exposed to the cold rain. The expensive shirt fabric was quickly soaked, clinging tightly to his tall back and outlining clear muscle lines.
Wen Zhaoning quickly ran over and opened the door.
"Baby!" Her voice trembled, filled with tears.
He Huaiqin had just reached the porch when Wen Zhaoning immediately reached out and took Qing Ning.
The moment the child was in her arms, that real, warm, small weight broke through all of Wen Zhaoning's pretense. She hugged her child as if she had regained the entire world.
He Huaiqin closed the umbrella and stood silently to the side, watching the reunion of mother and daughter, complex, indescribable emotions churning in his eyes.
After entering the house, Wen Zhaoning immediately lowered her head and used her lips to feel Qing Ning's forehead temperature.
Fortunately, it wasn't particularly hot.
"The nanny taking care of the child said she was given fever reducer two hours ago, so you don't need to worry too much. The doctor will be here soon," He Huaiqin said.
"Thank you."
Wen Zhaoning was grateful from the bottom of her heart.
Although the process of asking for his help wasn't pleasant, at least the outcome was good. He had brought her child back.
"You're welcome, it's just a transaction."
"..."
"Take the child to the guest room on the east side of the second floor." He Huaiqin took off his soaked shirt and said as he went upstairs, "You'll be staying here for the next few days."
"Okay."
Wen Zhaoning carried her daughter upstairs.
The bed in the guest room was large. Wen Zhaoning gently unbuttoned the black suit wrapped around Qing Ning and placed her in the center of the big bed, tucking her in with a quilt.
Qing Ning was still sleeping soundly. Her long eyelashes were like two small fans, casting soft shadows under her eyelids. Her small pink lips were slightly pursed, and her breathing was steady and long.
Wen Zhaoning knelt by the bedside, her gaze lingering on her daughter's face, as if she could never look enough.
She brought her daughter's small hands to her lips and kissed them repeatedly.
After a while, she remembered to inform Su Yunxi.
Wen Zhaoning first called Su Yunxi to tell her that Qing Ning had been found, and then she called Aunt Duan.
Aunt Duan had already returned home.
"Ning Ning, Mr. He brought my phone back. He also sent someone to take me home. You don't need to worry about me. Take good care of Qing Ning."
"Okay, you've suffered. Get some good rest."
As soon as Wen Zhaoning hung up the phone, she noticed that Qing Ning on the bed had woken up.
"Mommy!" Qing Ning saw Wen Zhaoning, her little mouth pouted, and a great sense of grievance washed over her. "Mommy... where did you go? Qing Ning was so scared... I missed you so much..."
Seeing Qing Ning's tears rolling down like large pearls, Wen Zhaoning hugged her tightly with heartache. "I'm sorry, baby. It's Mommy's fault for not protecting you. Don't be scared, Mommy is here, you're safe now."
"Why did Daddy lock me up?" Qing Ning's small shoulders trembled. "Was it because Qing Ning was naughty?"
"Baby, it's not your fault. Don't worry, Mommy will solve everything. From now on, I will never let Qing Ning be in danger again."
"Qing Ning doesn't like this Daddy. This Daddy is fierce and bad. Mommy, I don't want this Daddy anymore."
"Okay, we don't want this Daddy anymore."
After Wen Zhaoning comforted her for a while, Qing Ning finally stopped crying.
Just as she was about to wash Qing Ning's face, Shao Yiyu arrived with a medicine box.
"Huaiqin asked me to check on the child," Shao Yiyu said, then immediately stepped forward to examine the child.
His movements were professional and gentle. After examining Qing Ning's mouth and throat, he used a stethoscope to listen to Qing Ning's heart and lungs.
"Doctor Shao, how is she?" Wen Zhaoning asked anxiously.
"High fever, with obvious blisters in her throat. It's herpangina. It's not a big problem, but the child will have symptoms like a sore throat and poor appetite, and will be uncomfortable for a few days." Shao Yiyu took out some medicine from the medicine box. "Take the medicine on time. Use this spray for her throat. Don't drink water immediately after spraying. Pay attention to her temperature to prevent febrile seizures. If there are any problems, have Huaiqin call me."
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome."
Shao Yiyu finished packing his medicine box, glanced at Wen Zhaoning and the beautiful little girl, and withdrew from the room with a complex expression.
Downstairs, He Huaiqin had already showered and changed his clothes.
He was sitting on the sofa drinking tea.
Shao Yiyu walked over to He Huaiqin, opened the medicine box, took out an ear thermometer, and inserted the sensor into He Huaiqin's ear.
"What are you doing?" He Huaiqin pushed Shao Yiyu's hand away. "I just got rained on a little, I'm not going to get a fever."
"You're not going to get a fever? I think your brain is already burning," Shao Yiyu pointed towards the second floor. "What's going on upstairs?"
He Huaiqin quietly drank his tea, saying nothing.
"I asked you before when you were moving, and you said you weren't moving. Why have you brought a whole family here now?" Shao Yiyu said excitedly. "The key is, you've brought someone else's family and someone else's mouth. Buddy, wake up, okay? That's someone else's wife and child! Wen Zhaoning isn't divorced yet!"
"She will be soon."
"She will be soon, but she's not divorced yet. Is it appropriate for you to bring a mother and daughter home like this?"
"If you don't say anything, who will know?"
"I..." Shao Yiyu was speechless.
"Keep your mouth shut."
"I can keep my mouth shut, but what about you?" Shao Yiyu glanced at He Huaiqin. "What I'm afraid of now is that you can't control your heart."
"I know what I'm doing. My heart will never be hers again."
Seeing He Huaiqin looking so composed, Shao Yiyu sighed. "Forget it, forget it. I can't control you. If you want to be the third party, then be the third party. If you get beaten up one day for stealing someone else's wife and child, call me. I'll help you survive. That's the last bit of brotherhood I have."
"Then I really thank you."
"You're welcome."
Shao Yiyu stayed for two cups of tea and then left.
He Huaiqin processed two more emails downstairs. When he went upstairs, the guest room on the second floor was quiet.
The door was ajar. He peeked inside through the gap. On the bed, the little girl was asleep, leaning against a pillow. Wen Zhaoning was lying beside her child, her body slightly curled up, her hand resting on the child, in a protective posture.
Under the dim light, the beautiful sleeping faces of the big and small girl, nestled together, created a scene so warm that one's heart couldn't help but soften.
He Huaiqin thought of the little girl leaning on him during the day, looking at him with such dependence.
At that moment, a ridiculous thought crossed his mind: what if this child were his daughter?
Unfortunately, she was the child of Wen Zhaoning and another man.
As He Huaiqin stood watching, the little girl suddenly turned over and rolled out of the quilt.
Wen Zhaoning was sleeping too soundly to notice.
He Huaiqin hesitated for a moment, then quietly pushed the door open and went in to cover the child with the quilt. As he leaned over, the child suddenly raised her hand and grabbed two of his fingers.
"Daddy..."
✦✦✦