Volume One, Chapter Six: If It's Inconvenient to Go to the Hospital, I'll Arrange for the Medicine to Be Delivered

“Why are you taking these photos?” Ji Yichen asked her with a furrowed brow.

Cheng Qian replied bitterly, “I heard this place is going to be demolished soon. I just wanted to take some pictures to remember it by.”

Ji Yichen said indifferently, “Don’t worry. With me around, this place won’t be torn down.”

“Really?” Cheng Qian’s eyes brightened with hope as she looked at him. “It really won’t be demolished?”

Ji Yichen looked at her curiously. “You’re Li Zhinan’s wife, right? I thought the Li family had already bought up this whole area.”

Cheng Qian’s expression darkened slightly. “He never talks to me about work matters.”

Ji Yichen nodded. “Are you two not on good terms?”

Not wanting to discuss the matter with a stranger, Cheng Qian changed the subject. “Mr. Ji, is there a particular use for this little building you bought?”

Ji Yichen shook his head. “Not decided yet. But my father has a project to work on back in the country. I’m considering letting him come here.”

“Your uncle Ji is returning to the country?” Cheng Qian’s face lit up with delight. “When is he coming back? Can I visit him?”

Looking into her bright amber eyes, Ji Yichen was momentarily lost in thought. “I often hear my dad mention a little girl who always pesters him for candy.”

Cheng Qian blushed deeply, embarrassed. “Did he ever say he found the girl annoying?”

Ji Yichen shrugged. “I don’t think so. Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be talking about her all these years abroad.”

“That’s wonderful! Mr. Ji, could you please give me your contact? I want to see Uncle Ji as soon as possible,” Cheng Qian earnestly requested.

Only then did Ji Yichen take a business card from his suit pocket. “This is my private number.”

“Thank you. I’ll be going now. When exactly will Uncle Ji be back?” Cheng Qian asked again.

“In about two weeks,” Ji Yichen replied.

“All right, I’ll contact you then,” Cheng Qian said before bidding farewell and heading toward the parking lot.

Ji Yichen watched her graceful figure fade away, then shook his head, erasing the image of the little girl with a ponytail from his mind.

He didn’t want to admit it, but back then, he had felt inexplicable jealousy looking at that photo.

He even hated himself for being a boy. His father must have wanted a daughter, but unfortunately, he was a son.

“Cheng Qian. So it’s you,” Ji Yichen said with a faint smile.

…

That afternoon, Cheng Qian arrived early to pick up her son from school.

Halfway there, she received a call from the teacher: “Xiao Ye’s mother, Miss Cheng is here to pick up the child.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Qian immediately said sternly, “Don’t let her take Xiao Ye. I’m on my way.”

The teacher’s phone was quickly taken by a large hand, followed by Li Zhinan’s voice: “I’m taking Xiao Ye out for a meal.”

Cheng Qian’s face flushed with anger as she gripped her phone tightly.

At the traffic light, horns blared incessantly. She threw the phone aside and quickly crossed against the red light.

She drove toward the school and, from a distance, spotted a silver Bentley making a U-turn.

Her heart felt pierced by countless needles.

Was Li Zhinan taking her son to meet his mistress?

Didn’t he find it inconvenient to bring a child along?

Cheng Qian stopped the car by the roadside and watched the silver Bentley disappear into the traffic.

…

At ten-thirty that night, the sound of a car engine shutting off echoed outside the villa.

Snow fell silently, deepening the chill.

Though Cheng Qian had resigned from her research institute job, she didn’t stop pursuing her studies.

She closed her books and went downstairs to pick up her son.

---

“Mom, I have a little plane.” The car door opened, and Li Zhinan, dressed in a black coat, came in holding the child with one arm.

As Cheng Qian descended the stairs, Xiao Ye waved at her.

She approached and took her son from the man’s arms.

Perhaps it was the bright living room light, but Cheng Qian noticed a faint mark on the man’s neck.

It looked like a bite mark — a sweet, lingering trace.

A light scent of rose perfume wafted over, though she couldn’t tell if it came from the man or the child.

Turning, Cheng Qian carried the boy upstairs for his bath, hating the smell of roses.

After his bath, the little one grew sleepy, curling up in her arms, his chubby fingers tugging at her blouse.

She laid him in his small bed and covered him with his quilt.

Cheng Qian tiptoed toward the study, deciding to talk to Li Zhinan about their son’s matters.

The study door was ajar, and she heard voices on the phone.

“Is it still painful? Do you want to go to the hospital?”

“If it’s inconvenient to go, I’ll have someone deliver the medicine.”

The man’s low voice sounded, then he glanced cautiously toward the door.

“Get some rest early. I have some work to handle,” he said hoarsely.

Cheng Qian froze at the door.

The next moment, a large hand swung the door open, startling her.

“Is there something you need?” The man’s indifferent gaze landed on her face. “Has Xiao Ye gone to sleep?”

Cheng Qian nodded and stepped inside. “Li Zhinan, from now on, I will handle picking up and dropping off our child. You don’t need to trouble yourself or Miss Cheng.”

Li Zhinan toyed with his phone, shaking it slightly. “Xiao Ye is my son.”

Cheng Qian couldn’t hold back her anger any longer. “Yes, he’s your son. But you bring your new lover to pick him up—what about me? I have dignity too.”

Li Zhinan frowned, then said with displeasure, “Cheng Qian, don’t slander others recklessly.”

Her heart sank. Even now, he was defending her?

Suddenly, she didn’t want to continue this conversation. The one unloved was the mistress. Talking further would only bring humiliation upon herself.

She turned to leave.

At that moment, a large hand grabbed her arm, and a strong body pressed against her from behind.

The man was tall; as he bent to hold her, the glass beside them reflected a few shadows of desire.

Cheng Qian struggled angrily. “Li Zhinan, what are you doing?”

Sensing her sweet scent, Li Zhinan kissed her without hesitation. “Cheng Qian, your temper has grown lately. Do you have someone else outside?”

Cheng Qian, already boiling with anger, struggled harder. “Li Zhinan, stop talking nonsense.”

His last shred of patience snapped. He released her hand and pushed her against the door, towering over her. “If you weren’t eating well outside, why haven’t you been hungry for nearly a year?”

Cheng Qian’s face flushed crimson with shame and fury. He was the one cavorting with Cheng Yan, ambiguous and blatant.

Now he twisted the truth to smear her.

Was he so eager to defend his new lover by labeling her the other woman?

“Li Zhinan, let me go.” Cheng Qian lowered her head in anger and bit his hand.

Li Zhinan winced in pain and released her, seeing a neat row of bite marks. Truly, a woman born under the dog sign.

Cheng Qian stormed back to her room and gently closed the door.

She felt she couldn’t endure another day like this.

---

The next day.

It was the weekend, and as the year’s end approached, the city buzzed with activity.

Cheng Qian met her friend Lin Si for lunch. Though Lin Si seemed carefree, she was gradually taking over her family’s company.

“Xiaoqian, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” Lin Si asked as they sat down.

Cheng Qian smiled. “Of course, the good news.”

Lin Si immediately said, “Good news is I went on a blind date with a young, successful surgeon. I’m kind of interested.”

“Really? Congratulations! You’ve finally found a good man,” Cheng Qian sincerely wished.

Lowering her voice, Lin Si added, “The bad news is I added that little bitch Cheng Yan on WeChat. Last night she posted a story showing off a limited edition necklace. The pendant was being grabbed by a small, chubby hand.”

After speaking, Lin Si grabbed Xiao Ye’s little chubby hand. “Is this yours?”

Little Ye looked confused and a bit scared by the stern auntie, his lips pouted.

Cheng Qian gently took back her son’s hand and soothed him softly, “I’m done caring about their mess.”

“If you’re sad, cry. Don’t hold it in; it’s bad for your breasts and hormones,” Lin Si advised sympathetically.

Cheng Qian whispered, “Lin Si, I know you mean well, but please don’t check her WeChat anymore.”

“I just want to see how shameless she is—stealing someone’s husband and flaunting it. I’m going to expose her sooner or later,” Lin Si fumed.

“A man who’s changed his heart is like trash. Handling it just dirties your hands. Better to throw it away,” Cheng Qian said lightly.

Lin Si laughed. “Right, dirtier than trash.”

They sat in the main hall. Cheng Qian fed her son as Lin Si’s expression changed, staring toward the entrance.

“Xiaoqian, isn’t that your husband’s grandmother?”

Cheng Qian looked up. The elderly woman in the dark green coat was indeed the matriarch of the Li family.

Following her were the wife and daughter of his second son. The beautiful figure supporting the matriarch made Cheng Qian’s face fall.

“Why is that shameless woman here again?” Lin Si was so angry she wanted to throw her fork at her.

Cheng Qian sighed. “Lin Si, ignore them. Let’s eat.”

“Seeing disgusting people kills my appetite,” Lin Si muttered, putting down her chopsticks.

At that moment, the group went upstairs. In the corridor on the second floor, Cheng Yan caught a glimpse of Cheng Qian downstairs in the hall but pretended not to see her, curling her lips into a slight smile.

After finishing their meal, Cheng Qian and her son left the restaurant and went shopping in the afternoon.

“Xiaoqian, you really don’t have the air of a wealthy wife,” Lin Si said, recalling how Cheng Qian was looked down on by the sales clerk. She shrugged helplessly. “You know how pampered rich wives live, right?”

Cheng Qian smiled faintly. “Not many know I’m married to Li Zhinan.”

“Well, you can’t be so shabby. You’ve seen the Li family mansion—the matriarch, your mother-in-law, and your sister-in-law wear only custom-made clothes all year round, delivered by high-end managers to their doorstep to choose from. And you, you shop on your own every day.”

Cheng Qian replied coldly, “I don’t focus my energy on daily appearance. I just want to devote myself to my research.”

“I know you’re dedicated, but a person should also enjoy life. If you don’t spend his money, he’ll eventually spend it on another woman,” Lin Si urged, hoping her friend could keep some dignity.

Cheng Qian was stunned. Was that the reason? Because she wasn’t a spendthrift, Li Zhinan spent his money on the other woman?

Her heart harbored some resentment. So, that afternoon, she went on a shopping spree and spent a hefty sum, determined to make a statement.

That evening, back home.

The man sat on the sofa watching the news. Hearing the car, he came out and scooped their son from the back seat.

Cheng Qian opened the trunk and carried the large shopping bags into the living room.

Li Zhinan looked on and asked, “What did you buy for me?”