Immediately afterwards, Zhu Yao turned to the wealthy woman and said, "First of all, you can't prove that the child is Zhu Guorong's; secondly, you can't be sure that it's a boy."
The wealthy woman persisted: "Then let's do a paternity test!"
Zhu Yao glanced at her with a strange look: "Sure, you have two choices now: either have an abortion and do a paternity test, or pray that Zhu Guorong is still alive after the child is born."
The wealthy woman paused for a moment, then asked, "Can't a paternity test be done before the child is born?"
Zhu Yao shrugged: "Zhu Guorong is critically ill right now. We can't just let any pregnant woman come along and say she's carrying his child and then do a paternity test, can we?"
"Besides, why didn't you tell him sooner if you were pregnant? Who knows if you were lying to us?"
Zhu Qiong added fuel to the fire with a sarcastic remark: "You're pregnant with a child with an old man who's almost seventy? You really dare to say that. If you ask me, is it because Zhu Guorong found out that you're having an affair and pregnant with an illegitimate child that he's gone crazy with anger?"
The noblewoman pointed at Zhu Qiong, so angry she stammered, "You!"
Upon hearing the words "bastard," Zhu Yao clenched her fist in mid-air, then quickly released it.
Yu Nan, who had been observing Zhu Yao, noticed this and stepped forward to take Zhu Yao's hand.
Feeling the reassuring strength in her hand, Zhu Yao squeezed Yu Nan's hand to let her know she was alright.
Yu Nan: The feuds in wealthy families are so complicated, I want to go back to my rural town, sob sob sob.
Zhu Yao and Zhu Qiong fanned the flames, and together they drove the noblewoman away.
Zhu Qiong still had a bit of lingering sentiment: "What a pity, why didn't we give her a miscarriage? It would have been better if it had resulted in both mother and child dying."
Yu Nan trembled; this sister-in-law was a bit difficult to get along with.
Seemingly noticing Yu Nan's hesitation, Zhu Qiong said meaningfully, "I'm doing this for his own good. Who knows how twisted he would become if he were born into this kind of family."
She has a greedy, shrewish mother and a paranoid father who is nearing the end of his life...
"It's better to have a slightly skewed personality than to become a high-IQ criminal who endangers society."
Yu Nan's inner thoughts: What kind of twisted logic is this...?
Zhu Yao suddenly asked, "Are you short of money?"
Zhu Qiong was a little surprised: "We don't lack any."
Do you want Leslie Cheung's estate?
Zhu Qiong felt a chill: "There's no need. I'm quite wealthy, and I really don't care about his meager savings for his funeral."
"I don't need it either."
Zhu Qiong narrowed her eyes: "You mean... I was meddling in your business back then?"
Zhu Yao shrugged: "Nothing else. After all, my girlfriend and I are doing very well, and as a law-abiding citizen, I don't want to get into trouble."
Zhu Qiong stared intently at Zhu Yao, her eyes filled with hostility.
Zhu Yao looked back with a calm expression: "I don't think I have any grudge against that noblewoman. There's no need for me to transfer my hatred for Zhu Guorong onto her. What difference would that make between me and Zhu Guorong?"
She simply found the woman's constant wailing annoying and had absolutely no interest in who would inherit Zhu Guorong's estate.
Zhu Qiong sneered, "I just don't want Zhu Guorong to get his way."
“If that child is not a boy, or is an illegitimate child, I would be very happy to have Zhu Guorong’s estate raise her.”
"Alright, I'm going to rest now. You keep watch tonight."
After saying that, Zhu Qiong left.
Once the clattering of high heels faded at the end of the corridor, Zhu Yao sighed and pulled Yu Nan to sit on a bench.
The bodyguard went to the end of the corridor to stand guard, and for a moment there were only the two of them at the door of the ward.
"Sister," Yu Nan asked Zhu Yao cautiously, "what are you and your sister talking about..."
She didn't understand a word Zhu Yao and Zhu Qiong said.
Zhu Yao shook her head: "It's nothing."
"Sister, please tell me."
Yu Nan gripped Zhu Yao's hands tightly; they were cold. She forced Zhu Yao to look her in the eye: "I also want to help you relieve your troubles. I want to understand you more..."
Zhu Yao sighed softly: "I'm afraid Zhu Qiong will make a move against Zhu Guorong's lover."
Are you... worried about that innocent child?
Zhu Yao was speechless. In fact, compared to worrying about the child, she was more afraid that Zhu Qiong would become a second Zhu Guorong.
Zhu Qiong was her benefactor, even though she completely disregarded Zhu Yao's feelings and constantly used the term "bastard" to insult her, she was still Zhu Yao's benefactor.
If it weren't for Zhu Qiong's financial support during high school in order to rebel against Zhu Guorong, Zhu Yao would still be at Zhu Guorong's mercy, and naturally wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet Yu Nan, nor would she have the happy life she has now.
"Actually... ever since I was old enough to understand, I've heard people around me call me a bastard."
Zhu Yao rested her head on Yu Nan's shoulder, seemingly a little tired, and gently closed her eyes: "Elementary school, junior high school... It was only after Zhu Guorong took me away and I had unfamiliar classmates at school that things got a little better. At least they wouldn't call me a bastard anymore."
Then, Zhu Yao added, "However, Zhu Guorong and Zhu Qiong's mother would call me a bastard, and sometimes Zhu Qiong would call me that too, but I didn't care much at that time."
“Zhu Qiong is right. People born into this kind of family will eventually become twisted. My heart is already twisted, but because of long-term repression, this twistedness has only deepened. I hate myself, I hate my family, I hate this world…”
"I just drift along, passively avoiding the world..."
Fortunately, I met you.
Because of Yu Nan, she realized that she could be relied upon, cared for, and deeply loved.
Zhu Yao buried her head in Yu Nan's shoulder, and Yu Nan felt a gentle liquid slowly flowing down her face.
"At first, I was jealous of you, because you have loving older brothers and sisters, loving parents, friends, and partners..."
"I..." Zhu Yao suddenly couldn't continue.
"Sister, you have one now too."
Yu Nan hugged Zhu Yao: "And there's also me, who will never be unfaithful to you until death."
Zhu Yao chuckled softly: "You also have a lover who will never forget you."
“I loved you first,” Yu Nan said, a little unconvinced. “I definitely loved you more. From here to the moon, and back again.”
Zhu Yao didn't argue with her, but quietly leaned on Yu Nan's shoulder, feeling her strong and powerful heartbeat.
"Yu Nan," Zhu Yao suddenly said, "without you, I really might not be able to survive."
Yu Nan smiled and said, "So we all need to live well."
…
Illness strikes like a landslide.
Zhu Guorong's illness deteriorated rapidly. The three of them did not last more than a few days before the medical staff informed them that Zhu Guorong was experiencing a brief period of lucidity before death.
So the three of them went into the ward to see Zhu Guorong one last time.
Zhu Qiong, dressed as if celebrating something, crossed her arms and looked at Zhu Guorong, who was lying on the hospital bed with wide eyes, with disdain and said, "You old codger, you didn't expect to still be alive and well, did you?"
Zhu Qiong's lips curled into a threatening smile: "Do you know that your little lover is pregnant with your son?"
"But don't worry, I know you love your son, so I've already arranged for her and your good son to go down and keep you company."
Zhu Guorong coughed violently, his hand trembling as he tried to lift it—but he had no strength left and could only look at Zhu Yao with questioning eyes.
Zhu Yao didn't continue the topic about Zhu Qiong. Instead, she kissed Yu Nan and said generously, "Dad, this is my girlfriend."
Zhu Guorong finally raised his hand: "Okay, okay..."
Zhu Qiong added, "Yes, I also think my sister-in-law is quite nice."
Author's Note:
You can get a paternity test before the baby is born, but Zhu Yao is just kidding.
Chapter 66 Pig and Fish Wife
As she left the ward, Zhu Qiong suddenly smiled.
It wasn't a forced laugh, nor was it a crazy laugh; rather, it was the kind of hearty laughter that comes from being amused.
Wearing a red dress, with glamorous makeup and a tearful smile, she attracted the attention of passersby.
"I'm sorry, I haven't been this happy in a long time."
Zhu Qiong wiped away her tears and extended her hand in an invitation: "Zhu Guorong is finally dead, let's have a meal to celebrate."
After leaving the ward, the madness and ferocity between Zhu Qiong's brows dissipated, and she returned to her refined and gentle demeanor.
Zhu Yao teased, "Aren't you going to send his wife and children down to keep her company?"
Zhu Qiong said with a hint of helplessness, "I was just saying that out of anger, especially in the hospital room, I was saying it to Zhu Guorong."
“My resentment is only directed at Zhu Guorong. I don’t care what happens to others after he dies.”
Zhu Yao sighed: "That's good. I was really afraid of seeing you in the Legal Daily one day."
Zhu Qiong led the two into a hot pot restaurant and then into a private room.
Along the way, chatting and laughing, Yu Nan felt much less afraid of her sister-in-law.
"Sister-in-law, aren't you cold wearing so little?"
Yu Nan and Zhu Yao were wrapped tightly in their thermal underwear, with sweaters underneath and scarves wrapped tightly around their necks.
In contrast, Zhu Qiong's red dress was drafty, revealing a deep cleavage...
"Hahaha, boys are natural furnaces."
Zhu Qiong's voice was very cheerful: "After all, I used to be a man, so wearing less in this kind of weather is no problem at all."
After saying that, Zhu Qiong straightened her chest and bounced the ball, looking at Yu Nan triumphantly: "I specifically told the doctor to make it a 36D, it would be a waste not to show it."
Zhu Yao: ...
Yu Nan was stunned.
"You know what? When you were kissing your girlfriend in the hospital room just now, it was absolutely hellish. I suspect that old man Zhu was driven to his death by you."
Zhu Yao almost spat out her water: "I think you're the one who's more infuriating. Don't take me with you to hell."