Chapter 3

“Ms. Xu, we’ve worked together for years. You can’t do something so disgraceful!”

“If I don’t receive products that meet the standards within three days, I’ll sue!”

I hung up and was about to ask Lin Qian what was going on.

Then I saw that Jin’an had posted an apology as my husband, promising that every future batch would meet the required quality.

Just like that, my name was tarnished throughout the industry.

My career was almost destroyed.

My head rang.

I rushed to Jin’an and Yunshu’s home to ask why he’d done it.

But in the underground garage, the moment I got out, someone yanked me to the ground.

I looked up in alarm at a savage face.

“My wife has always used your products. This time, she had a severe allergic reaction and lost our baby!”

“She went through hundreds of injections for us to have that child. A heartless crook like you deserves to die!”

Facing his fury, I tried to explain.

“I’ve left the studio. That batch has nothing to do with me.”

He spat.

“Your husband’s already apologized, and you still won’t admit it?”

As he grew more agitated, he raised his fist.

I found my phone and dialed a number in panic.

The call connected immediately.

My voice shook.

“Jin’an, I’m in the garage. Someone is…”

Before I could finish, a heavy blow landed.

I groaned.

At the same moment, his cold voice came through the phone.

“Xu Chunian, must you compete with Shushu for attention right now?”

“The suppliers you left behind caused problems. The clients are at the studio demanding answers. She was so frightened she nearly lost the baby, and you’re still going to lie?”

Tears fell uncontrollably.

“I’m not lying. That batch really has nothing to do with me. Jin’an, save me. Save our baby.”

He hung up without hesitation.

Seeing that no one was coming to help, the man grew bolder.

He advanced on me, his fists raining down.

I curled around my stomach to protect it.

Yet through the terrible pain, I could feel my child slipping away.

I don’t know how much time passed.

Finally, he straightened and spat at me.

“If I catch you doing this again, I’ll beat you to death!”

He swaggered away.

I lay on the floor, cold all over.

Just as I was about to lose consciousness, someone rushed over and lifted me.

His voice was trembling.

“Niannian, don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’ll get you out.”

I closed my eyes.

The car sped out of the garage.

And out of Lu Jin’an’s world.

From now on, there would be nothing between us.

5

After ending the call, Jin’an couldn’t shake his unease.

Yunshu spoke weakly.

“Jin’an, perhaps you should go back and check. What if my sister wasn’t lying? What if something really happened?”

Lin Qian immediately sneered.

“What could happen? Niannian failed to frame you and resents it. She’s just trying to get everyone’s attention.”

The Xu parents nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. She’s been like that since childhood. She couldn’t bear us paying Shushu too much attention. Even as a child, she was calculating. Nothing like our innocent Shushu.”

Jin’an’s grip on his phone tightened.

He didn’t go back to check on Chunian.

Instead, he called repeatedly, trying to establish whether she was safe.

But however many times he called, the phone rang unanswered.

Her mother looked vindicated.

“There. I told you, that child has no sense of proportion. She makes a fuss regardless of the situation.”

“If she hadn’t gone to your company and caused trouble back then, Qianqian wouldn’t have had to pretend to be dead for five years to protect Shushu.”

No one believed anything had really happened to Chunian.

Jin’an abandoned the idea of going back.

Her mother was right. If something had truly happened, she would keep calling for help.

She wouldn’t stop after he hung up once.

He mustn’t return too quickly.

Otherwise, she would use this shameful trick every time she wanted attention.

He put down his phone and went to care for Yunshu beside her bed.

Her face shone with happiness. A triumphant smile curved her lips.

Only when the baby supplies she’d bought were delivered did her mother suggest that Jin’an go home to receive them and get some rest.

He agreed and drove back to the complex.