Chapter 386: Chapter 386: Whose Child Is It?
Gong Chen lit his lighter, but in the end, extinguished the fla and tossed both the lighter and the cigarette onto the table.
Chen Jin handed him a bowl of soup. “Third Young Master, please.”
Gong Chen’s fingertips grazed the rim of the steaming bowl, his tone indifferent: “When is she leaving?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
Gong Chen stared at the soup in his hands without saying another word.
In the silence, neither of them noticed Sang Ran hiding outside the door.
She leaned against the wall near the door, tilting her head back as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Upon hearing movent inside, she imdiately steadied herself against the wall and returned to her room.
As she walked back into the room step by step, she finally realized that ever since she had moved in, Gong Chen had cleared out all his personal belongings.
She was still herself; he was still himself.
Sang Ran collapsed onto the bed. She didn’t know how long she sat there until she pulled out her phone and sent a ssage to Lin Zhiyi.
“Let’s et tomorrow.”
Lin Zhiyi replied after a while.
“Alright.”
…
The next afternoon.
Lin Zhiyi arrived at the dessert shop she had arranged to et Sang Ran at.
As she pushed open the door, the sound of “Welco!” was accompanied by the sweet aroma of desserts, instantly creating a sense of relaxation.
Lin Zhiyi scanned her surroundings and saw Sang Ran sitting in a corner by the window. Sang Ran raised her hand slightly, her expression calm and composed.
Lin Zhiyi walked over and sat down. “Sorry, there was a bit of traffic.”
Sang Ran shook her head. “It’s fine. I ordered juice and dessert. See if there’s anything else you’d like to eat.”
“No need, this is enough.” Lin Zhiyi shook her head again.
She knew Sang Ran hadn’t called her here to eat.
Sang Ran stared at Lin Zhiyi for a long while but said nothing.
Lin Zhiyi let out a small sigh in her heart and took the initiative to ask, “What’s the matter?”
“Zhiyi, I was too forward yesterday,” Sang Ran said in a low voice.
“Xiao Ran, don’t say that. I’m leaving tomorrow. It won’t affect anyone.” Lin Zhiyi said seriously.
Sang Ran smiled faintly, coldly. “Really? Then why did you make loquat leaf tea for him? I didn’t even know there were so many things between you two.”
Lin Zhiyi froze for a mont before quickly explaining, “It’s not what you think.”
Sang Ran’s smile vanished, her gaze turning unfamiliar as she stared at Lin Zhiyi. “Then how should I interpret it? Should I admit that in his heart, you matter more than I do?”
“Xiao Ran.” Lin Zhiyi raised her voice abruptly as a warning.
“Stop pretending, Lin Zhiyi. You haven’t lost your mory at all. This is just your tactic for seducing him.”
Sang Ran bit down hard on the word “seducing,” her eyes filled with resentnt.
Lin Zhiyi imdiately retorted, “It’s not true. I’ve forgotten everything—everything. You’re overthinking it.”
At that, Sang Ran let out a cold laugh.
“I pity him. You’re a coward—not worthy of everything he’s done for you!”
“And then what?” Lin Zhiyi’s gaze cooled sharply and she retaliated with a question.
“What?”
Sang Ran’s expression faltered as she frowned at Lin Zhiyi.
Lin Zhiyi looked up, her tone calm. “Xiao Ran, if the two of us were truly together, would you bless us?”
The mont the words fell, Sang Ran’s face went completely pale.
Her expression gave it all away.
No, she wouldn’t bless them.
Lin Zhiyi shook her head in self-mockery. “Between him and , is courage enough? You’re so clever. Ever since you returned to the country with the intention of marrying him, you’ve likely analyzed its feasibility. You confidently showed up before everyone because you knew everyone would bless your union.”
“I’m not like that. Maybe reincarnation could give a chance to be as unconcerned and effortlessly self-assured as you.”
“I’m not smart, nor do I have solid backing. Even if I know a lot, I don’t even qualify to sit at the table and question. How would I fight back?”
As she spoke, Lin Zhiyi raised her hand to show the raised scar on the back of her hand.
“If it were you who got hurt, would the culprit still be walking away unscathed?”
The Sang Family would’ve co knocking already, wouldn’t they?
That’s Sang Ran’s privilege.
Lin Zhiyi shook her head again, a bitter smile on her lips. “I forgot. You wouldn’t get hurt, because he wouldn’t dare lay a hand on you.”
“So yes, I’m a coward. I truly don’t deserve him, and I won’t be with him.”
At her words, Sang Ran bit her lip, unable to respond. She tightly averted her gaze, too afraid to look at Lin Zhiyi’s hand.
At this mont, a shop attendant interrupted the heavy, awkward silence.
“Here are your juice and ricotta red velvet cake. Please enjoy.”
“Thank you.”
Lin Zhiyi cast her eyes down, stirring the bits of fruit floating in her juice with a long spoon.
Sang Ran glanced at the food in front of her and spoke in a near-interrogative tone, “Whose child is it?”
Clink.
Lin Zhiyi’s spoon struck the wall of her cup with a crisp sound, but she didn’t hesitate in her motions and continued stirring her juice.
She appeared composed, but to Sang Ran, it looked like evasion.
Sang Ran’s pale face flushed with an angry redness as she gritted her teeth. “So you really are pregnant.”
Lin Zhiyi’s chest tightened sharply.
She didn’t know how Sang Ran had figured out she was pregnant.
At this mont, all she knew was that even if Sang Ran produced an ultrasound with her na on it, she’d have to remain calm and claim it was soone with the sa na.
Lin Zhiyi put the spoon down, t Sang Ran’s gaze head-on, and curled her lips into a faint smile. “I’m not pregnant. Your brother and I aren’t planning to have kids for now. If you don’t believe , I can go to the hospital with you for a checkup right now.”
She was gambling.
Gambling that Sang Ran wouldn’t take things to the extre.
Sang Ran stared at Lin Zhiyi for ten seconds, searching her face for any trace of inconsistency.
Lin Zhiyi slowly lifted her juice, gesturing slightly toward Sang Ran, “Thank you for the treat.”
Sang Ran clasped her hands tightly on the table, an unidentifiable flicker passing through her gaze as she looked at Lin Zhiyi.
It made one’s heart tremble.
But Lin Zhiyi couldn’t afford to dwell on that now. She only wanted to end this eting quickly.
She had agreed to et mainly because she didn’t want any rift to form between Sang Ran and Sang Li, the siblings, because of her.
Unexpectedly, Sang Ran had co with the matter of her pregnancy in mind.
Just as Lin Zhiyi raised her juice to take a sip, a little girl accidentally bumped into Sang Ran.
As she fell, the little girl caught sight of the prosthetic limb beneath Sang Ran’s skirt.
Tilting her head, she asked, “Auntie, why is your leg fake? Are you fake too?”
Sang Ran’s expression turned instantly pale, her confidence and brightness drained from her eyes.
She always felt that Gong Chen wasn’t interested in her—not just because of Lin Zhiyi, but also because of her disability.
Even lying in bed with her prosthetic limb, she felt stiff and unnatural.
Gradually, her short skirts beca long ones, with so even trailing the floor.
Hearing the child’s naive question felt like her deepest insecurity had been pierced. She tugged at her skirt forcefully to hide the prosthetic.
Lin Zhiyi imdiately set down her glass and knelt slightly beside the little girl, speaking softly: “Shh, let tell you a secret. This auntie is a warrior, and her chanical leg is an honor she earned by saving people. Isn’t she amazing?”
The little girl nodded vigorously and looked up at Sang Ran, saying, “Pretty Auntie, you’re so amazing!”
Sothing shifted in Sang Ran’s gaze.
She reached out to pat the little girl’s soft, fluffy head, the sensation reminding her of a newborn kitten.
The fur was tender and warm.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. She glanced at Lin Zhiyi and repeated, “Thank you.”
Lin Zhiyi smiled.
“Xiao Niangao, why are you wandering off?”
A woman hurried over to pick the child up.
She glanced at Lin Zhiyi and Sang Ran, evidently noticing Sang Ran’s prosthetic limb.
“Sorry, the child didn’t say anything inappropriate, did she?”
“No,” Sang Ran shook her head.
The woman sighed in relief, apologized for the disturbance, and left with the child.
The little girl nestled close to the woman and said, “Mom, I’ll tell you a secret. That auntie is a warrior who saved people. Her leg turned into a drumstick because of it.”
“What drumstick? That’s a super cool chanical leg, you little glutton,” the woman chuckled. Then, more seriously, she added, “That auntie truly is amazing—a hero who saved lives.”
The mother and child walked farther and farther away, and their conversation beca inaudible.
Sang Ran remained lost in thought, her hand lightly touching her leg.
Lin Zhiyi didn’t interrupt her, sipping her juice calmly.
Just as her cup reached her lips, Sang Ran’s voice rang out coldly, “Don’t drink.”
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