Brother Qin, I am carrying your child.

Wen Yao tried hard to keep her expression calm.

She pressed herself against the man’s chest. “Brother Qin, now that Xia Anran is in prison, doesn’t that mean your engagement with her is over as well?”

Qin You had long grown tired of Xia Anran’s willfulness and fiery temper.

He even hated her.

If not for Xia Anran, Wen Shuang would never have been harmed to such a state.

He still remembered the last time he saw Wen Shuang lying in the hospital bed, her face full of despair—it had weighed on him for a long time afterward!

So, from the moment Xia Anran was arrested to when she was sent to prison, Qin You had not visited her even once.

“There’s no possibility between us anymore. A woman as venomous as her doesn’t deserve me.”

Hearing this, Wen Yao instantly felt a surge of hope. Now that Xia Anran was in prison, and Wen Shuang’s legs were crippled, she was the only woman left by Qin You’s side. Who else could possibly compete with her?

“Then, Brother Qin, would you consider me?”

“You?” Qin You looked at her as though she’d told an outrageous joke. “Are you serious? A woman like you, who knows how many times you’ve had your virginity ‘restored’ in the hospital—good enough to play with, but you think you could be my girlfriend?”

Qin You scoffed at Wen Yao without mercy.

Wen Yao pouted. “Brother Qin, your words are really hurtful… But my sister has also slept with Officer Ji countless times, why don’t you mind that about her?”

“Do you think you’re comparable to Wen Shuang? You may be sisters, but you’re worlds apart.” Qin You’s gaze was full of contempt. “Even if Wen Shuang slept with my uncle, as long as she’s willing to come back to me, she can be whatever she wants—my girlfriend, the young mistress of the Qin family, whatever she desires, I’ll give it to her!”

Every day since breaking up with Wen Shuang, Qin You had been tormented by regret.

“But my sister’s legs are broken… She’s just a cripple now, she’ll never dance again… Brother Qin, don’t you care that she might be disabled for the rest of her life?”

“Then I’ll find her the world’s best doctors. And even if she’s disabled, I’m willing to take care of her for a lifetime, as long as she wants me to.”

Whenever Qin You spoke of Wen Shuang, his eyes inevitably softened with longing.

Wen Yao was consumed with jealousy.

She hadn’t expected that even now, when Wen Shuang was ruined and had been with other men, Qin You’s heart was still entirely hers!

She muttered resentfully, “My sister really is so lucky, so many men love her… Unlike me…”

“Of course. You’re so wanton, men only want to sleep with you, not cherish you!” Qin You, suddenly aroused, pressed Wen Yao down. But Wen Yao resisted, “No… Brother Qin… Not now.”

Every man would be annoyed at having his passion interrupted.

Qin You frowned, “Are you on your period? If you are, why did you even come? Just to ruin the mood?”

He pointed straight at the door, telling Wen Yao to get out.

“It’s not… it’s not my period.”

“Then what is it?”

Wen Yao blushed and guided his hand to her abdomen. “Brother Qin, I have your baby in my belly…”

.....

There was only one day left until Wen Shuang’s leg surgery.

The specialists came to confirm the procedure with her one last time. Wen Shuang, resolute as ever, nodded without hesitation.

“Very well, Miss Wen. The surgery will begin tomorrow at ten o’clock sharp,” the lead doctor said.

They told her to be mentally prepared—the pain would be beyond what most could endure. If it became too much, someone could accompany her throughout.

Ji Shen spoke up, “Who else but me could qualify for that?”

Wen Shuang teased, “Yan Yan could do it. She’s been my best friend since childhood!”

“What’s her number? I’ll call and see if she’d let me have the honor tomorrow.”

Wen Shuang laughed.

Deep down, she truly hoped it would be Ji Shen by her side.

Though determined, she couldn’t help but worry—if the surgery failed, what then?

Ji Shen saw the concern in her eyes.

That night, he carefully settled her into her wheelchair and took her for a stroll outside.

The autumn night carried a hint of chill, and Ji Shen made sure to drape a light blanket over her knees.

Rows of trees shed their leaves in silence.

Wen Shuang finally spoke. “Brother Shen, I’m actually quite scared. I may look determined, but what if the surgery fails…”

Ji Shen’s voice was steady. “These are the world’s leading experts. The surgery will succeed.”

“But I’m still scared… what if…”

A woman’s vulnerability only emerges before the man she loves.

Ji Shen bent down, picking a leaf from her hair. “Even if the surgery fails and you can never walk again, I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life. I’ll be your wheelchair, your crutch, your strongest support.”

That was exactly what she longed to hear.

Wen Shuang’s eyes reddened. “Brother Shen, it’s so good to have you by my side.”

“It’s even better that I met you.”

With those words, Wen Shuang slept peacefully on the eve of her operation.

Early the next morning, the entire Wen family arrived. Wen Yao, who would have slept in, was forcibly dragged out of bed by Aunt Chun—no matter what, she had to put on a show in front of Wen Fanhai.

Wen Fanhai kept encouraging Wen Shuang.

Aunt Chun and her son, on the other hand, secretly hoped the surgery would fail—that Wen Shuang would never walk again.

Tang Yan, catching sight of Wen Yao, deliberately elbowed her hard.

Wen Yao, now pregnant, cried out at once and clutched her belly.

“Your sister’s about to go into surgery—what are you making a scene for? Get out!” Wen Fanhai barked.

Wen Yao bit her lip and left, sulking.

In half an hour, Wen Shuang would be wheeled into surgery. This operation was fraught with risk—if it succeeded, she’d recover, but if not, she’d be bedridden for life.

“Dad, don’t worry so much. They’re the world’s top experts—I’ll be fine. Besides, Officer Ji will be with me the whole time.”

Wen Fanhai turned to thank him, only to realize Ji Shen wasn’t in the room. “Speaking of which, where is Officer Ji?”

Half an hour earlier, Ji Shen had received a call from work and had stepped out to answer it. He hadn’t returned since.

“He’ll be back soon, I’m sure,” Wen Shuang replied.

But half an hour passed, and Ji Shen still hadn’t returned.

As she was being taken into the operating room, Wen Shuang grew anxious. Ji Shen had been her pillar of strength these past days—without seeing him, she felt unsettled.

Tang Yan, sensing her worry, kept searching for him.

Indeed, Ji Shen was outside, on a case call. Seeing the time, he quickly hung up and rushed toward Wen Shuang’s room.

At that moment, his phone rang again.

He answered out of reflex, not even asking who it was.

A clear, familiar voice came through.

“Brother Shen, it’s me, Ning Ning.

I’m back.”