“Three years ago, you pushed the fiancé you didn’t want onto me. Now you’re back in the country and taking my husband, too. Is that what you call caring about me?” Qin Xingwan said with a scornful laugh. “I’m afraid I can’t bear that kind of concern.”
“You…”
“I’m going to rest. Please leave.” Qin Xingwan turned her head away, unwilling to say another word.
Madam Qin stormed out. When she reached the doorway, she added, “Grandma misses you. Once you’re feeling better, go home and see her.”
All the resentment in Qin Xingwan’s heart vanished at the word “Grandma.”
She stared up at the ceiling, but the tears still came.
Grief surged through her like a rising tide.
She was the one who had lost the baby, yet not one of them had asked whether she was in pain…
But they’d come to reproach her over Qin Yunshu’s tears.
Her child mattered less to them than Qin Yunshu’s tears.
By the time Qin Xingwan had finally managed to calm herself, her eyes were already sore and aching.
She called Grandma. She didn’t mention the miscarriage, only said she was away on a business trip and would visit as soon as she got home.
The old woman was delighted and gave her a few more reminders, her affection for her granddaughter plain in every word.
Qin Xingwan’s battered heart found comfort, and a faint warmth flowed through her.
Qin Xingwan stayed in the hospital for half a month, and Chu Li stayed there with her the whole time.
He took care of every little thing himself.
When Dr. Tang assessed Qin Xingwan’s health, she couldn’t help remarking, “President Chu really is a rare man—so devoted to one woman.”
He had never been linked to any other woman, and even his assistant was a man.
Compared with the second- and third-generation heirs in their circle who played the field, he had the rare virtue of keeping himself chaste.
Qin Xingwan’s expression remained impassive. She didn’t tell Dr. Tang that Chu Li had never been devoted to her.
“How are the results?” she asked, changing the subject.
Dr. Tang had already reviewed the test results. Her easygoing expression turned serious at once.
“Is something wrong?” Qin Xingwan’s heart tightened.
Dr. Tang set the report down beside Xingwan. “Your abdomen suffered severe trauma, and you were soaked in heavy rain for so long. I’m afraid you may have difficulty carrying a child in the future.”
Qin Xingwan stared blankly at the paper. She knew every word on it, but put together, they looked so unfamiliar.
Her voice trembled. “Do you mean I’ll never be able to become a mother again?”
Dr. Tang sighed sympathetically. “You’re still young. If you take care of your health, there’s still a chance.”
Qin Xingwan’s tears fell in large drops, soaking the page and blurring the ink.
“Mrs. Chu…” Dr. Tang looked worried.
“I want to be alone for a while.” Qin Xingwan took the report and walked to the door. “Please keep this between us. Don’t tell my husband yet.”
“But…” Dr. Tang hesitated. Chu Li had hired her specifically to care for Qin Xingwan. Keeping this from him would be a serious dereliction of duty.
Qin Xingwan gripped the paper tightly. “I’ll find a chance to tell him.”
“All right,” Dr. Tang agreed.
She knew that the wealthier a family was, the more it valued its heirs. Now that Qin Xingwan’s body had been damaged and she might not be able to have children, her value to the Chu family would be greatly diminished.
That, she thought, was why Qin Xingwan didn’t want to tell him yet.
Back in her room, Qin Xingwan carefully folded the report and put it in her pocket. She closed her eyes, and it was as though she were back in the pouring rain, struggling to survive.
The rain had been cold.
For a while, she had thought she was going to die.
…
When she was discharged, Chu Li had an urgent matter come up and couldn’t come himself, so he sent his assistant to pick her up.
Qin Xingwan went home, changed, and then headed to the Qin residence.
She missed Grandma terribly.
As she reached the living room, she heard laughter from inside.
Her husband, Chu Li, was sitting beside Qin Yunshu. Across from them, on another sofa, sat her mother and Older Brother.
Laughter and chatter.
Everyone seemed perfectly at ease.
She didn’t go in. Instead, she turned to head for Grandma’s room.
But a servant spotted her.
“Second Miss is back.”
The conversation in the living room stopped as abruptly as if someone had flipped a switch.
Qin Xingwan turned sideways and halted.
Qin Yunshu had already risen from Chu Li’s side. She hurriedly shifted away and called, “Sister, you’re back?”
The others in the Qin family all looked puzzled, as if they couldn’t understand why Qin Xingwan was there.
Qin Shen made no effort to hide his dislike of Xingwan. “Being Mrs. Chu sure has changed you. Even your own sister has to watch her step around you. Now she can’t even stand beside A-Li.”
Qin Xingwan looked at Qin Shen with cool, dark eyes. “From the moment I came in until now, I haven’t said a word.”
Qin Yunshu had chosen to move around on her own. What did that have to do with her?
“She’s only so afraid of you because you’re always bullying her,” Qin Shen sneered. “Don’t forget, if it weren’t for Yunshu, you wouldn’t have been qualified to marry A-Li.”
Qin Xingwan’s gaze swept over her mother on the sofa. Zhou Yalan’s face showed she agreed.
She laughed in disbelief and looked scornfully at the family.
“She ran away from her wedding. How is that my fault?”
“Was I the one who insisted on marrying Chu Li?”
Qin Yunshu’s eyes immediately reddened. In a trembling voice, she apologized, “I’m sorry, Sister. I know my selfish behavior back then hurt you. I’m truly sorry.”
“That’s enough. Stop,” Chu Li said in a low voice. He strode over to Qin Xingwan. “We’ve been married for three years. What’s the point of bringing this up?”
Qin Shen scoffed. “You got what you wanted and still act like the victim. Disgusting.”
Though Qin Xingwan had long known how Chu Li and the Qin family favored Qin Yunshu, their accusations still left her reeling.
Especially Chu Li—the man she had once hoped to spend her whole life with.
Qin Yunshu had been the one to act in a way that invited misunderstanding, and Qin Shen had made his snide remarks. Chu Li hadn’t said a word. Now that Qin Xingwan had merely defended herself, he was quick to tell her to stop.
He was so biased.
She stared straight at Qin Yunshu’s aggrieved face, her expression cold. “I don’t care how close you and Chu Li are, but he’s my husband now. I expect you to understand what boundaries are and stay away from him.”
She had come close to calling Qin Yunshu a mistress outright.
Qin Yunshu covered her mouth, her shoulders trembling as she sobbed.
“Qin Xingwan, Yunshu is your sister. How can you talk to her like that?” Madam Qin shot to her feet and took Qin Yunshu’s hand, heartbroken. “Yunshu, don’t cry.”
“Qin Xingwan.” Qin Shen’s face darkened as he shouted, “How can you be so vile? Yunshu and A-Li are good friends. If there had been anything between them, it would have happened long ago. Do you think you’d have gotten a chance with him?”
Qin Xingwan curled her lip scornfully. “Wasn’t he the one Qin Yunshu didn’t want and shoved onto me?”
The living room fell silent.
Even Qin Yunshu stopped sobbing. Everyone instinctively looked at Chu Li’s face.
It was the truth, but no one had ever dared bring it up.
Qin Xingwan had torn away the veil they’d all used to cover it.
Qin Shen was furious and about to start shouting again when the voice of an elderly woman calling out reached them.
“Is Wanwan here?”
The voice was so warm.
Qin Xingwan immediately turned and left the living room.
“I’ll go with you.” Chu Li strode over and took hold of Qin Xingwan’s fingers.