Pan Li was sent to the hospital.
At this moment, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong absolutely couldn’t show their faces, fearing Pan Li would latch onto them, especially Wen Dongrong.
Chen Li didn’t want to deal with Pan Li either, but letting Pan Li miscarry right in front of her was something Chen Li couldn’t stomach.
It was a little life.
No matter who the father of Pan Li’s unborn child was or how it was conceived, only the parents should decide its fate—Sister Fang, understanding and kind, took on the tasks Chen Li couldn’t bear, accompanying her to get Pan Li to the hospital.
As Pan Li was loaded onto the ambulance, lying on the stretcher, her eyes burned with venom. With strength from who-knows-where, she propped herself up, grabbed Chen Li’s arm, and cursed her as a murderer.
“You’re too vicious. The child is innocent. You can’t control your man, so you harm my baby!”
Chen Li’s arm got stained with blood.
She felt Pan Li’s malice once again.
Chen Li shook off her grip, “You tried to steal my man and came to our company to cause a scene. No one wanted to harm your child. If it’s lost, maybe it’s a blessing for the kid—born to a mother like you, its life would be nothing but shame!”
“You—”
Pan Li was lifted into the ambulance, and the doctor fitted her with an oxygen mask, silencing her.
Sister Fang spat fiercely, “These young girls nowadays have no shame. Too lazy to work hard, they just want to take the easy way out!”
What it meant to turn the tables, Sister Fang had seen it today.
On the way to the hospital, Sister Fang promised to explain everything to Boss Deng, ensuring it wouldn’t strain Deng Shangwei and Chen Li’s marriage. Chen Li stayed silent.
When Deng Shangwei arrived at the hospital, his first move was to hug Chen Li.
“Honey, you okay?”
Pan Li could do anything at this point, and Deng Shangwei wouldn’t be surprised. Today’s mess might just be another of her schemes to wreck his family.
Chen Li shook her head, “I told my sister and brother-in-law. They didn’t believe me and insisted on confronting you at the company. Then they ran into Pan Li. You know my sister’s temper… Shangwei, will she get into trouble?”
Deng Shangwei comforted her, “What trouble could there be? Pan Li brought it on herself. She claims the kid’s mine, so getting a beating from my wife’s people is her own fault. Even if she reports it, it’s just a fine at most.”
Money could fix it, and to Deng Shangwei, that was no issue.
Not that he lacked a conscience—show kindness to a villain, and his whole family might pay the price without knowing how.
As for Chen Ru… what could Deng Shangwei say? For Chen Li’s sake, he couldn’t blame her. Chen Ru was stubborn and looked down on him, but she acted to protect Chen Li. The sisters could bicker, but as a husband, he had to tolerate his wife’s family.
No one’s perfect. Even Deng Shangwei himself nearly strayed if Wen Ying hadn’t kept a close eye on him.
He urged Chen Li to go home, “Don’t tell Wen Ying about this yet. She’s just a girl and has done enough for our family. We can’t dump all our burdens on her.”
Chen Li nodded.
Because Chen Li and Deng Shangwei were on the same page, Wen Ying remained clueless. Deng Shangwei even warned Detective Luo not to leak a word.
Wen Ying found it odd that her parents visited Rongcheng, paid the down payments for two houses, and left in a hurry without even sharing a meal.
When she called Chen Ru, her mother’s tone was off, citing a family emergency and warning Wen Ying not to stir trouble in Rongcheng.
“Something’s weird,” Wen Ying said, hanging up and grinning at Qin Jiao, “Come on, I’ve got time to go with you to the airport to pick up your brother.”
Qin Jiao beamed, “I’ve been wanting to introduce you to him. He’s been traveling with some classmates and just got back to Rongcheng.”
The siblings were close. Qin Jiao hadn’t seen Qin Yi for a whole semester and missed him dearly.
Wang Shuang rubbed her hands eagerly, “Big Bro Yi’s been gone so long, no one’s taken us out to have fun!”
Well, Qin Yi was only half a month late returning from summer break, but the little crew that usually revolved around him had somehow gained Wen Ying in his absence.
If Qin Yi didn’t come back soon, his spot as the group’s leader might get snatched by Wen Ying.
The trio headed to the airport, waiting over half an hour until Qin Yi’s flight landed. With luggage delays, it was another half hour before Qin Yi emerged with his girlfriend and classmates.
“Bro!” Qin Jiao’s voice was bright and clear. Standing there, she was like a budding flower, graceful and poised. Qin Yi’s classmates were dazzled.
“Qin Yi, this is your little sister?”
“She’s gorgeous!”
“Man, Qin Yi, you’ve been holding out on us.”
At school, they loved to tease, and if Qin Jiao weren’t so stunningly untouchable, they might’ve jokingly called Qin Yi their big brother-in-law.
The guys perked up, their travel fatigue vanishing.
The two girls with them quietly sized up Qin Jiao.
Qin Yi was handsome, so his family’s looks were expected to be good.
But this level of beauty caught them off guard—put her in college, and she’d be a department flower, if not the campus queen.
Especially Xu Mei, Qin Yi’s girlfriend, who’d always been confident in her own appearance—enough to chase Qin Yi after freshman military training. Seeing Qin Jiao, she felt outmatched.
It was hard to describe—all who met Qin Jiao could tell she was a favored child of the heavens. Xu Mei dimmed a little, wondering if her usual confidence looked laughable to Qin Yi next to such a sister.
Her gaze shifted to Wen Ying beside Qin Jiao.
With her round face and girlish charm, Wen Ying was cute but not striking—zero threat to Xu Mei.
Xu Mei smiled at her, leaving Wen Ying puzzled.
Then she glanced at Wang Shuang, whose face soured, clearly annoyed at Qin Yi’s classmates fawning over Qin Jiao. Qin Yi was two years older than Qin Jiao, three years older than Wang Shuang, making his classmates practically “old men” in her eyes—college guys with bad intentions!
Damn it!
Wang Shuang stewed silently.
Wen Ying, meanwhile, was clueless, wondering why Qin Yi’s female classmates were so warm to her.
On the way, she pieced it together. Qin Yi and Xu Mei had something going—lovers’ glances don’t lie. Qin Yi tried to hide it but instinctively prioritized Xu Mei.
Wen Ying nudged Qin Jiao, whispering, “Did you notice? Your brother brought a sister-in-law back, haha!”
Qin Jiao nodded lightly, “He doesn’t want it out yet. Don’t spill it.”
Why would Wen Ying? But she found it odd—Xu Mei was lukewarm to the real sister-in-law but overly friendly to her, an outsider. What was that about?
She kept her confusion to herself.
Meanwhile, Qin Yi, Xu Mei, and their classmates piled into a van heading to a hotel. The chatter revolved around Qin Jiao, completely forgetting they’d come to Rongcheng to see her and Wen Ying’s middle-school startup.
Qin Jiao’s striking looks overshadowed Wen Ying.
At the hotel, Qin’s parents personally hosted Qin Yi’s friends in a grand private room—spacious, with a big round table easily fitting everyone.
Qin Yi’s classmates exchanged glances.
Calling him “Boss Qin” had been a joke, but this high-end reception hinted his family was far from ordinary.
Xu Mei tensed up.
A female classmate grabbed her, “You’ve struck gold, girl. Don’t mess up—impress Qin Yi’s family.”
That pushed Xu Mei’s nerves from seven to ten. From sitting down to the food arriving, her cheeks stayed flushed.
Mrs. Qin, sharp as ever, spotted the special vibe between Xu Mei and her son.
She didn’t mind Qin Yi dating in college—people should do what fits their age. No love experience in school meant fumbling later when it mattered. If you can’t handle dating, marriage would be a mess.
But for Qin Yi’s first girlfriend, Xu Mei left her underwhelmed.
Money or looks weren’t the issue—she wanted smart and poised.
After some polite words, Mrs. Qin shifted gears, asking about Wen Ying, “Xiao Ying, you’ve met Qin Yi, right?”
Wen Ying set down her chopsticks, answering confidently, “Auntie, we introduced ourselves at the airport.”
Mrs. Qin nodded.
A bright girl like Wen Ying was her type.
Pity she was only sixteen, four years younger than Qin Yi. Mature as she seemed, dating this young would derail her studies.
But who knows the future? Qin Yi was still young. In three or four years, when Wen Ying hit college, he’d graduate. A master’s degree could shrink the age gap even more.
Her husband knew her too well, shooting her a disapproving look.
Let the kids figure themselves out—adults shouldn’t play matchmaker. Friendship between Wen Ying and Qin Jiao seemed more lasting than forcing a romance.
Still, if the kids clicked on their own, Mr. Qin wouldn’t object.
He and his wife were tight, and her fondness for Wen Ying came from him. He genuinely liked and admired her, open to her as a daughter-in-law. His bar for Qin Yi’s partner wasn’t high—if she matched Wen Ying’s caliber, the family would hit the jackpot.
Forget arranged marriages—young people’s own skills trumped that.
Wen Ying ate quietly.
This meal felt off. Was something going on she didn’t know about?
