Chapter 13

She caught his hand and tried to place it on her stomach.

Disgusted, Jiang Zhixu shook her off.

“Enough, Wen Ran. Tell me what you want.”

“I want you to take responsibility. For me and for our child!”

She moved closer, stubbornness written across her face.

“This baby's a gift from heaven. Heaven knows I'm an orphan. Knows how badly I've wanted a child. That's why we conceived after only one time.”

“You should be happy. Why aren't you happy?”

“I know. Ji Shu. You don't want her to know I'm carrying your baby. You're afraid she'd never forgive you, aren't you?”

He stared at her, speaking through clenched teeth.

“Are you going to the hospital yourself, or do I have to take you?”

“What?”

For a moment, she could only stare. She hadn't imagined he could be so ruthless.

“You want me to get rid of our baby?”

“This child should never have existed. Have an abortion, and I'll give you two hundred thousand.”

Wen Ran laughed at his words.

“Tell me something. If Ji Shu were carrying your baby, would you make her abort it?”

“No.”

The answer was absolute.

The last of Wen Ran's hope in him died.

“Fine. Fine! Then don't blame me for what happens next!”

She ran downstairs. He chased after her.

“What are you doing?”

“Telling Ji Shu's parents. I'll tell them we've been together for years. I'll tell them I'm carrying your child—and you want me to get rid of it!”

A destructive hatred filled her eyes.

“Even if Ji Shu forgives you one day, I'll make sure her family never does!”

“Don't!”

He caught her.

“Ranran, don't do this. Can't we part on good terms?”

“What does that mean? You got me pregnant. You won't take responsibility. You want me to abort my child. How are we supposed to part on good terms?”

“Listen. We can find a better way to sort this out.”

“I don't want to listen! Let go!”

They struggled on the stairs.

Ji Shu's father came back with the groceries. Seeing them, he frowned.

“Zhixu's here? What's going on? Why are you fighting? Has something happened to Shushu?”

“Godfather, Jiang Zhixu and I have been together for years! I'm carrying his child!”

## Chapter 18

“I told you not to say anything!”

In the struggle, Wen Ran lost her footing and tumbled down the stairs.

She lay on the ground. Blood spread beneath her.

Jiang Zhixu and Mr. Ji froze.

Mrs. Ji came out at the noise and recoiled.

“What's happened?”

“What are you standing there for? Get her to the hospital!”

The three of them took Wen Ran to the hospital. The doctor said she might be miscarrying and rushed her into surgery.

Outside the operating room, Ji Shu's parents faced Jiang Zhixu, their expressions grim.

Her father spoke first.

“What exactly is going on? Was Ranran telling the truth? You've been with her all this time? And the baby… is yours?”

“What?”

Mrs. Ji stared at him in disbelief.

“Aren't you dating my daughter? How did you end up involved with Wen Ran? And a child?”

Jiang Zhixu dropped to his knees.

“I'm sorry. I lost my head. I didn't mean to! Shushu's the one I love. I only felt sorry for Ranran. I wanted to give her some affection. She promised we'd break up after four years at university.”

“I didn't expect her to refuse after graduation. She kept clinging to me. Now she's trying to tie me down with a baby. I asked her to have an abortion. She refused. That's why we struggled…”

Before he could finish, Mrs. Ji slapped him.

“You betrayed my daughter and got her best friend pregnant. Did you ever think about how she'd feel? No wonder she wouldn't come home after graduation. No wonder she went abroad. It was because of you!”

“You little bastard! Did you think you could do this because our Shushu's easy to bully and Wen Ran has no parents? You've gone too far!”

Mr. Ji lunged forward and punched him.

“I never approved when my daughter wanted to date you. Now a life's been lost, and you still dare say you didn't mean it? You're beyond help!”