131: Qi Xueyao protects the child, Yanyan's past ten years ago - The Rich Second-Generation Villain With No Morals

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Qi Xueyao's sobs struck Jiang Lei's heart like daggers. His anger found no outlet, leaving him only to slam his fists into the wall repeatedly. Before long, his knuckles were stained with blood. "If you're unhappy, take it out on me. There's no need to hurt yourself like this," Qi Xueyao cried, moved by Jiang Lei's self-harm. Jiang Lei shook his head incessantly, his voice pained, "I don't blame you. I know it's not your fault—Qi Lin forced you, right? It's my own lack of ability. I didn't get you a house, nor did I come for you sooner. I hate... I hate that I can't kill that bastard Qi Lin to avenge you." With that, Jiang Lei abruptly raised his head, fixing Qi Xueyao with a bloodshot, frustrated gaze, "Xueyao, are you pregnant with Qi Lin's child? That evil seed mustn't stay! Xueyao, come with me to the hospital right now and terminate this child." He reached for Qi Xueyao's arm to drag her away, but Qi Xueyao, terrified by his words, stepped back repeatedly, instinctively shielding her belly. Realizing her reaction was wrong, her face flushed as she shouted at Jiang Lei, "Are you insane? It's been less than a week since I was with him. Even if you took me to the hospital, they couldn't perform the procedure." Jiang Lei, missing the details of her movements, paused and then slightly calmed down. "If it can't be aborted, then take emergency contraception. Any child that can be terminated mustn't be left," Jiang Lei said coldly. For reasons not entirely clear, Qi Xueyao felt a twinge of fear seeing Jiang Lei's demeanor. She bit her lip, shaking her head, "The effective period for emergency contraception is 48 hours. That window has passed. Besides, I'm not even sure if I'm pregnant. Taking random pills would only harm my body." The pain flickered in her beautiful eyes as she spoke. God, even if she didn't want to admit it, a part of her didn't want to harm this child, didn't want to end its life. Jiang Lei stared at Qi Xueyao, realizing she was avoiding the issue of abortion. "Xueyao, is Qi Lin threatening you, forbidding you from ending this pregnancy?" At that moment, Qi Xueyao seemed on the brink of madness. Her stunning face was hysterical as she shouted at Jiang Lei, "I already told you I'm not sure if I'm pregnant. Why are you pushing me? Is causing me more physical pain less important to you than making yourself feel better? Don't you know I'm the most hurt here? It's me, Qi Xueyao! Do you think my heart isn't in pain?" "Sob... please leave. I don't want to see you right now. I just want to be alone." Qi Xueyao crouched down, burying her face in her knees, tears streaming down her face. Seeing Qi Xueyao like this, Jiang Lei's eyes were filled with pity as he reached out to comfort her. "Jiang Lei, what are you doing? Xueyao is the victim. Why are you pushing her?" As he pondered, he calmed down completely. If you love someone, don't tear open their wounds. To love someone is to accept their entirety. Jiang Lei gently spoke, "Xueyao, rest assured, in my eyes, you're... you'll always be that pure and flawless girl. I may lack the ability to protect you now, but I'll try my best. I'll strive to defeat that beast Qi Lin and bring you back to a peaceful life with me." Having voiced his thoughts, Jiang Lei decisively turned and left. Without strength, all talk is merely delusion. What if Qi Lin took Qi Xueyao's innocence? Seeking revenge on Qi Lin now, with such disparity in power, would only invite humiliation. "Old Li, I agree to cooperate with you. I want a stake in those smuggled learning machines," Jiang Lei said blandly, pulling out his phone and dialing a number that had nearly driven him to the brink. Qi Lin had read Qi Xueyao's diary. Naturally, he knew this girl now leaned emotionally towards him and wouldn't let Jiang Lei harm this child. Letting Jiang Lei discover her pregnancy was merely to disgust the main protagonist. During the final class, Qi Lin opened the newly signed Yan Yan's diary and started reading: "October 8, 2022. Today marks the sixth anniversary of my father's death. Time flies, more than a decade has passed. Reflecting, I was just a front desk receptionist at HuaMei ZiXin when I first graduated, and now I am the vice president at HuaMei ZiXin. All of this is thanks to my husband, Li Zhou. Back then, my mother was hit by a hit-and-run car and her life was in peril. Though the doctor saved her, he told me the costs of further treatment would run into the hundreds of thousands of yuan. For a fresh grad like me, it was a devastatingly high medical bill. To pay for my mom's medical expenses, my father worked overtime day and night, trying to save as much money as possible. But fate has a cruel way of mocking the poor. Shortly after my mom was hospitalized, my father was also rushed to the hospital for vomiting blood, having suddenly developed acute leukemia. At that time, I was plunged into despair, unable to find meaning in living, considering that if my parents were to die, I'd leave this world with them. But it was then my husband, Li Zhou, appeared, his warm smile and willingness to cover my parents' medical expenses bringing a shred of light into my dark, hopeless life. Even though my father passed after a few years due to leukemia, I was determined to repay Li Zhou's kindness by marrying him without hesitation. In the years following, Li Zhou and I interacted with each other as courteous strangers. He even provided care for my mother at HuaMei ZiXin, never minding the lifelong burden of her paralysis. Oh, what a kind husband I have, yet I shamelessly allowed Qi Lin, that scoundrel, to kiss me. This morning, I visited my father's grave and then saw my ailing mother in the hospital. I've decided, from now on, to take good care of this household and leave these thoughts behind. Once Jia Ming matures, I'll hand the company over to him, take care of his children when he has them. As for love, perhaps fate never intended for me to have it. Without love, I'll cherish this hard-earned familial bond and spend my days with Mr. Li Zhou." Yan Yan's diary ended there. When Yan Yan spoke of severing ties with Qi Lin and living out her days with Li Zhou, Qi Lin remained expressionless, showing no special reaction. Yet, as he read about Yan Yan's early days upon entering society and joining HuaMei ZiXin, Qi Lin frowned, intuiting something was amiss. "Given Li Zhou invited me to his home and set countless traps, it's clear he’s an old fox. In his youth, he must have been the kind who wouldn’t hesitate to pay any price to get what he wanted. Ten years ago, Yan Yan had just graduated, sweet and pure—her allure undeniable. Few wouldn't be moved. At that time, Yan Yan must have held high ideals about love and wouldn't have willingly married someone like Li Zhou." "Could it be that if conventional means couldn’t win Yan Yan over, then offbeat methods were employed to make her his?" "No matter the process, the outcome is what counts. In Li Zhou's shoes, I'd fight tooth and nail to make Yan Yan my woman." "If true, then Yan Yan's mother being hit by the car, her father developing leukemia—these events would make sense. Hiring a hitman to stage an accident is child’s play for a wealthy person. As for leukemia, just have someone place a piece of highly radioactive metal at Yan Yan's father's workstation, exposing him to a dangerously radioactive environment, and it wouldn't take long for his cells to mutate, causing leukemia or cancer." "Working at the company required filling out family details, meaning only Li Zhou could easily access Yan Yan's information. No way would someone as naïve as Yan Yan spot this trap if so perfectly laid around her unnoticed." "In the throes of despair, with a mother in a car accident and a father stricken with an illness, Li Zhou reappeared as a savior, effortlessly winning Yan Yan's gratitude and hand in marriage." "Truly ruthless, Li Zhou—destroying a family to win a wife, a typical machiavellian villain hidden beneath a smiling guise." "What a shame, though. Karma caught up, and now, at barely fifty, he’s prematurely aged, weak like a man in his eighties. That charming, alluring wife beside him, and he lacks the strength to enjoy—left to watch, drink from the bittersweet cup." "Still, I can’t be certain. I might be overthinking things. But, it’s worth investigating first." "Tonight, I’ll visit Li Zhou’s company and home, see if I can dig up some evidence of his wrongdoings. If I can find proof of Li Zhou’s malice, separating Yan Yan from Li Zhou would become a breeze." Having made up his mind, Qi Lin closed Yan Yan’s diary. After class, Qi Lin texted Wang Siling, instructing her to have dinner by herself outside school, not to wait for him. Qi Lin also told Lan Yu Xi he had an errand at noon and suggested she have lunch at her aunt's house. "Honey, it's inconvenient for me to take the bus every day. Aren't you worried your little fairy might be taken advantage of on crowded buses?" Lan Yu Xi flirtatiously clung to Qi Lin's arm. "Could you buy me a motorcycle? I'd love to ride it to school." "I’m fine with buses. What about your dad? If he learns the motorcycle's from me and you get hurt, he won't hesitate to drag me to the police station," Qi Lin teased Lan Yu Xi. Giggling, Lan Yu Xi replied, "Oh, come on. My dad doesn't know how to appreciate his future son-in-law or his daughter-in-law, singing your praises so much that even my mom can't stand it anymore." "As for riding a motorcycle, you teach me. I'm smart, once I learn, I'll ride cautiously, no reckless driving." Lan Yu Xi nuzzled her cheek against Qi Lin's chest like a Persian cat. Qi Lin, having no other choice, agreed. But to sweeten the deal further, Lan Yu Xi whispered something in Qi Lin’s ear, making him raise an eyebrow quizzically. "Where did you learn about these wild ideas? You didn’t study them somewhere, did you?" he asked. Blushing, Lan Yu Xi raised a delicate finger and declared, "I swear, in these eighteen years, I’ve always been loyal to my husband, never doing anything to harm him. If I'm lying, may the heavens punish me with a fierce storm…" Her words were cut off as Qi Lin covered her mouth. "I just asked how you knew, not for you to swear an oath," Qi Lin chuckled. Lan Yu Xi smiled and admitted, "I glanced at some of my dad's forbidden books once when I was in his office." "Oh, I didn't expect Uncle Lan to have such a hidden side. If you tell your mom, do you think your dad will have to kneel on a washboard tonight?" Qi Lin joked. "Come on, honey. Stop changing the subject. Just promise you'll get me that motorcycle." Seeing the sincerity in Lan Yu Xi's eyes as they welled up, Qi Lin sighed, "Alright, I remember what you said. If your dad gives you trouble, just blame it on me." Once Qi Lin agreed, Lan Yu Xi's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, honey. Your little fairy, Lan Yu Xi, loves you so much," she exclaimed, hugging Qi Lin's neck and planting a kiss on his lips before skipping away, humming a tune. When Qi Lin drove back to the "City People" renovation company, few were left inside. It was lunchtime after all, and most had gone out or headed home to eat. Even Zhang Man, a brilliant schemer, was absent, which left Qi Lin lamenting the missed opportunity to playfully banter with her. However, upon entering his office, a smile crept to Qi Lin's lips. His secretary Chen Shu Yi was cleaning up. In her white blouse, with the top button undone and a graceful collarbone peeking out, she exuded an elegant femininity. Her black pencil skirt and black stockings accentuated her slender legs. Hearing the door, Chen Shu Yi nearly lost her balance, startled. Recognizing Qi Lin, she rolled her eyes, "I've finished tidying up your office. I’m off to lunch now." Her sweet voice held a slight chill, clearly still harboring thoughts about the trap Qi Lin had used to make her his secretary. "Forget the Employee Contract Act, Article 7, Page 12? I am without a name, even as the boss? Besides, if I haven't eaten, what gives a secretary the right to have lunch?" Qi Lin casually blocked her way. His authoritative nudge left Chen Shu Yi momentarily stiff. Perhaps she’d grown too familiar with him, so much so that she instinctively snapped at him—forgetting he owned the "City People" company now, making him her boss. “Boss~,” she grumbled, her anger failing to diminish his impassable demeanor, as if wary of what he might do next. “Fair enough. But tell me, where's lunch?” Qi Lin took his seat in the boss's chair, asking. Grudgingly, Chen Shu Yi replied, "I ordered delivery. It’s on the table outside." "Good job, Secretary. Knowing I hadn't eaten, you ordered me a meal. Go ahead, fetch it. No need to switch the containers—I'll eat from yours." Chen Shu Yi: "" Where did this arrogant fool come from? What makes him think the takeaway was for him? And to use her personal lunchbox? This guy’s narcissism knew no bounds. From annoyance to disbelief, Chen Shu Yi felt an urge to question Qi Lin aloud. But, as their eyes met and battled silently, she backed down. If she refused, she suspected he might skip lunch only to devour something else—namely, her. With a stamp of her high heels, like a girlfriend in a childish tiff, Chen Shu Yi went to fetch Qi Lin's lunch.