Chapter 69: That Car Accident Was No Accident

“What?!”

Chi Wanwan, who had collapsed to the ground, stared with wide, disbelieving eyes, her whole body trembling violently with shock.

A child...

He actually had a child with that wretched Shi Runrun...

Did this mean that something had already happened between them—that they’d already shared that kind of intimacy?

Chi Wanwan’s whole body shook uncontrollably, the tremor spreading from her hands to every inch of her frame. She looked up incredulously at the man before her, whose brows remained tightly furrowed.

What was that woman Shi Runrun, really? What right did she have to possess the man Wanwan had dreamed of for so long—and to bear his child?

Wanwan could not help but yearn for the chance to exist by his side, to share with him the most intimate moments that lovers could have, and to carry his child...

Yet all of it had been stolen first by that despicable woman Shi Runrun!

Hatred... She felt such hatred...

The more he spoke, the more she detested that woman!

But suddenly, a new thought struck her—so what if Shi Runrun had been pregnant? Hadn’t she already made sure that child was gone?

Ha!

A cold, triumphant laugh curled in Wanwan’s heart. That car accident had truly been a masterstroke. Thankfully, she hadn’t allowed that wretch to give birth to his child. Otherwise, she’d never have had a chance to drive Shi Runrun away and get close to him herself.

Xiao Xuezheng looked at the woman who once used to collapse to the floor and weep uncontrollably, and let out a heavy sigh before speaking his final words: “Wanwan, I once promised your sister that I’d take care of you for the rest of your life. But you have disappointed me far too deeply.”

“You tried to harm the woman I love, nearly took her life, and cost me my child as well. From now on, I will have no more softness or kindness toward you.”

“From this moment on, your life has nothing to do with me. And if you ever dare lay a finger on Shi Runrun again, don’t blame me for showing no mercy. Even if you are Zaozao’s sister, I won’t hesitate.”

Three sentences, and his attitude was unmistakable.

Chi Wanwan listened, so stunned she felt her eyes might burst from their sockets. She could not believe that this wretched Shi Runrun held such importance in his heart—so important that he would rather break his promise to her sister than stop protecting and loving her...

Such hatred—such burning hatred...

At this moment, Chi Wanwan’s loathing for Shi Runrun reached its peak. She bit her lip so hard that blood seeped out, not even noticing the pain. What was this sting, compared to the agony twisting inside her heart?

At this moment, Chi Wanwan swore to herself that even if he came to hate and despise her—even if it cost her her life—she would drive that wretched woman from his side!

Having spoken, Xiao Xuezheng cast one last disappointed glance at her crumpled figure on the floor, then strode past her toward the door.

But just as he reached the threshold, Chi Wanwan, still kneeling, spun around and screamed after him with a cold, mocking laugh: “So all men are fickle in the end! Xiao Xuezheng, do you remember what you said when you first got together with my sister?!”

“You said you’d love her and only her for this lifetime—that you’d be with no one else. How many years has it been since my sister died? You’ve already forgotten your vow, and fallen for another woman!”

“A man’s promise is truly worthless, isn’t it? Ha!”

She hurled her words to provoke him—and succeeded, for he stopped in his tracks.

In the next instant, Xiao Xuezheng pressed his lips together, hands clenched tightly at his sides, and without turning, almost spat the words: “Even now, Zaozao is still in my heart. I haven’t forgotten my promise to her. I never will!”

With that, he pushed open the door and left Chi Wanwan sobbing helplessly on the cold floor.

It was not until ten minutes after he’d gone that Chi Wanwan finally managed to get up. She rubbed her swollen, almond-shaped eyes, curled her blood-red lips into a sneer, and stared at the door he’d just left through.

“Xuezheng, oh Xuezheng... You can’t let go of my sister, so devoted to her—and yet you can’t help caring for Shi Runrun as well. Sooner or later, your divided heart will get you into terrible trouble!”

“Just wait! I’ll wait for that day to come—the day you and Shi Runrun are torn apart forever!”

Just you watch—it won’t be long. She would play Shi Runrun to death and snatch him away.

...

Ten o’clock at night.

The weather was growing warmer, little by little.

Because it was the weekend and there were no classes, Shi Runrun had finished dinner early and gone to bed, already pondering how she might conceive again.

She had to manage it before Grandpa and Grandma grew suspicious and discovered the truth. The old couple, who valued their great-grandchild so highly, would surely drive her out of the Xiao family if they found out she had lost the baby...

Shi Runrun didn’t know if they were truly that ruthless, but even if they didn’t cast her out, they would never treat her as kindly as before.

It had taken so much to gain a semblance of familial affection—Shi Runrun only wanted to keep it a little longer, just a little longer.

So she climbed into bed and started researching on her phone, face growing redder with every article she read. She’d never paid attention to this before—she hadn’t realized that conceiving a child involved so much between husband and wife...

Just then, she heard the sound of the front door opening downstairs.

Shi Runrun left her bed and went down, finding him just returning home. The clock on the wall had already ticked past eleven.

He stood tall in the foyer, one hand holding a briefcase, the other with his suit jacket draped over his arm—a picture of a man coming home after a long day.

“Why are you just standing there? Come down!”

He called up to her as she stood on the stairs, gazing down at him.

Shi Runrun hurried down, came to his side, took the briefcase and jacket from his hands, and said, “You’re back.”

It was then she caught the strong scent of alcohol on him. Shi Runrun frowned slightly and asked softly, “Xiao Xuezheng, have you been drinking?”

But the man did not answer. Instead, in the next instant, he bent down, reached out, and pulled her tightly into his arms.

Shi Runrun froze.

“Xiao Xuezheng…”

Before she could finish, he was gazing at her with deep, dark eyes, his voice gentle as he whispered, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Runrun. I failed to protect you...”

Shi Runrun’s heart clenched suddenly, pounding in her chest.

He was apologizing to her...

But why?

Was it because of the accident and the loss of the baby?

But it wasn’t entirely his fault...

She was slowly coming to terms with it. Though in the quiet of night, when she dreamed of the child, she still couldn’t help but cry.

But Shi Runrun knew the accident was just that—an accident. She didn’t blame him.

Held tightly in his arms, her expression dimmed as she whispered, “Xiao Xuezheng… The accident was not your fault. It wasn’t your responsibility...”

But in the next moment, he cut her off, his voice heavy, “It wasn’t an accident... not an accident... It was my fault...”

Shi Runrun stared at him, stunned.