Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Evasion, Greed
"Agh, my stomach... it hurts..." Xia Yingyu shrieked in pain. "Help me..."
Seeing Xia Yingyu fall, Zhao Huilan stumbled back a few steps in terror and shouted, "You fell on your own! It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me... Stop faking it and get up!"
Just then, a tall man ran up from behind, grabbed Zhao Huilan, and—SLAP! SLAP!—struck her twice across the face. "You wretch!" he cursed. "If anything happens to Yingyu, I won’t spare you."
The man was none other than a haggard-looking Zhao Jinghai!
With no time to continue scolding the insolent Zhao Huilan, Zhao Jinghai rushed forward, scooped up the wailing Xia Yingyu, and ran to find a doctor for emergency treatment.
Reeling from her father’s slaps, Zhao Huilan burst into tears. ’My father only cares about that woman.’ Stomping her foot in a rage, she muttered, "First a stepmom, and now I have a stepdad too! I hate you..."
Both terrified and furious, Zhao Huilan turned and ran off.
Wang Lianhua had wanted to leave, too, but then she remembered that the baby in Xia Yingyu’s belly was her grandson, after all. On top of that, her son was back. Overjoyed, she completely forgot about her granddaughter and began to shout, "Someone! Someone, help! Save my grandson, save my grandson..."
Doctors and nurses immediately ran over and began performing emergency treatment on Xia Yingyu.
During the procedure, tears streamed down Xia Yingyu’s face, her heart broken.
A doctor immediately said, "Ma’am, you need to remain calm. Severe emotional distress will cause intense uterine contractions, which is extremely dangerous for the pregnancy."
Seeing Xia Yingyu like this, especially the way her resentful eyes stared right at him, Zhao Jinghai quickly tried to explain. "Yingyu, believe me, I was forced into it. Look, I’ve been released, which proves I’m innocent. The Li Jianfeng family is still locked up. Don’t hate me. I truly didn’t do it on purpose."
’If I can’t get her to let this go,’ he thought, ’I might really lose my son. And I’d probably lose her, too.’
"You... you’re not... lying to me...?" Xia Yingyu asked, gasping for breath. "But you could have let Nuanyue and Nuanyang go. Why did you capture them and bring them back? Do you have no conscience?"
"If I didn’t agree to Mrs. Li’s demands, you, my mother, and Huilan would have died! What was I supposed to do?" Zhao Jinghai explained hurriedly. "I refused at first, but Mrs. Li threatened me over and over. That’s why I hesitated. You suspected me back then, but I was just conflicted! Look, I’ve been released. Don’t you believe me now? I was framed! I was forced! You have to believe me, please believe me..."
’That’s true,’ Xia Yingyu thought. ’If Zhao Jinghai wasn’t innocent, how could he have been released so quickly?’
"You swear?" Xia Yingyu stared at Zhao Jinghai. "If you’re lying to me, may you die a horrible death and be struck by lightning."
"I swear, I swear," Zhao Jinghai said quickly. "If I’m lying to you, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death! Just focus on getting better. Cooperate with the doctors to save the baby. I... I’m begging you... Please, I’m begging you. No matter what, once you’re recovered, I’ll kick Huilan out. I won’t let her stay in this house..."
Even though Wang Lianhua was furious at her son’s words, she also understood that right now, her grandson was more important.
Hearing Zhao Jinghai’s words, Xia Yingyu felt somewhat relieved. Although she still had her doubts, the pain was becoming almost unbearable.
’Right now, I want to live. I want to save my child.’
After a full two hours of emergency treatment—and thanks to this being a military hospital with excellent doctors—the baby was finally saved, and Xia Yingyu was out of danger. However, from now on, she would have to remain on bed rest to protect the pregnancy. If she was careless or suffered another shock, not even a god could save the child.
"The patient’s condition was very good before this, but now you must be extremely careful. Take meticulous care of her and don’t let her get upset," the doctor instructed. "If something like this happens again, we’ll likely have to induce labor to save the mother."
Hearing this, Zhao Jinghai broke out in a cold sweat and nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes. We’ll definitely take good care of her. Definitely."
After the doctor and nurses left, he looked at Xia Yingyu sleeping in the hospital bed, his heart pounding with terror, but also with a sliver of relief.
’I was lucky I was quick-witted this time. When I saw things going south, I immediately informed on Li Jianfeng and Mrs. Li. I’d done a lot for them, so most of the information I gave was useful—enough to convict Li Jianfeng. That’s how I got lenient treatment. I can even serve as a witness to bring him down, which is why they were willing to give me a chance.’
’I won’t get a promotion and might even be demoted, but considering how big this incident was, I’m just lucky I managed to get myself out of it.’
’As for Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuanyang, as long as I placate Yingyu, those two can’t make any major waves. I’ll just stick to my story: I was forced, I had no choice. If I keep begging, soft-hearted Yingyu will eventually forgive me for the sake of our unborn child.’
Back in her room, Zhao Nuanyue waited and waited for her mother, but a long time passed, and she never came.
So she asked a nearby nurse for help, pleading with her to go find her mother.
A short while later, the nurse returned and said that Xia Yingyu had been pushed and was now undergoing emergency treatment.
Zhao Nuanyang had been beaten badly, but his injuries were all superficial. He was in a wheelchair. Zhao Nuanyue had a nurse get them wheelchairs, and the guards assigned to protect them pushed them over. They arrived to see Wang Lianhua guarding the doorway.
Zhao Nuanyue struggled to her feet, then forcefully slapped Wang Lianhua across the face. "Was it you who pushed my mom? Do you have any humanity? Even if you don’t like her, don’t forget that the baby in her belly belongs to that animal Zhao Jinghai!"
Stunned by the slap, Wang Lianhua took a moment to process what had happened. This Zhao Nuanyue had actually dared to hit her. Trembling with rage, she lunged forward to strike Zhao Nuanyue. But how could Zhao Nuanyang let this old woman hit his sister? He shot up and slapped Wang Lianhua several times, keeping the old woman from getting near his sister, Zhao Nuanyue.
Wang Lianhua’s old face was now swollen.
At that moment, the guards protecting Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuanyang pulled them apart, stopping the fight to prevent further injury.
Zhao Jinghai heard the commotion outside and rushed out.
The moment he saw it was Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuanyang, a nameless rage instantly welled up inside him. ’I don’t know if Zhao Nuanyue is connected to those people,’ he thought, ’but I know she couldn’t possibly have this kind of power on her own.’
