Bai Yinning was stumped. There was reason in her words.
“But I’m his son. How can I be indifferent to his suffering?” He was so obsessed with avenging Bai Hongfei. The man raised him and gave everything belonging to the Bai family to him when he was not related to him by blood.
Bai Yinning was grateful yet also heartbroken that such a devoted man lost his lover and was tortured. More than anything, he felt unfair on his behalf.
Even though he knew that B City was not his territory, he still wanted to reclaim justice for Bai Hongfei!
Cheng Yuxiu fixed her gaze on Bai Yinning for a long time. She had to admit that what he said made sense too. If the latter was indifferent to the suffering of someone he cared about, then he must be cold-blooded.
“I have said everything I came here to say, and I cannot stop you if you insist. However, this is B City, not Baicheng. They are out in the open while you are in the dark. You may have the upper hand this time, but I’m afraid it might not end well.”
Bai Yinning came to B City and premeditated the car accident without Wen Qing’s and Zong Jinghao’s knowledge. He understood that once any of them found out his identity, it would be difficult for him to make a move again.
“I can’t leave any regrets.”
Cheng Yuxiu could tell that Bai Yinning had made up his mind, and she couldn’t persuade him further. She could only let him be.
The least she could do for Bai Hongfei was to watch over him.
She stood up.. “I should go now.”
However, Bai Yinning did not give any response.
As Cheng Yuxiu twisted the door handle and was about to open the door, Bai Yinning stopped her. “My adoptive father said he hoped I would marry your daughter.”
Cheng Yuxiu paused and looked back at him while Bai Yinning turned her wheelchair to face her.
“You have given birth to a child. I really want to know where your child is now. If it is a girl, I would like to follow my adoptive father’s wish and marry her.”
Cheng Yuxiu tightened her fingers around the door handle and said, “I have never given birth to a child.”
“That’s impossible!” Bai Yinning replied with force and conviction. If Cheng Yuxiu had never given birth to a child, why would Bai Hongfei’s last wish be for him to marry her daughter?
There was only one possibility. Bai Hongfei knew Cheng Yuxiu was pregnant, but he didn’t know whether she was carrying a boy or a girl. He might have wanted it to be a girl so that Bai Yinning could marry her.
Cheng Yuxiu was flustered for a moment, but she quickly calmed down. “I married into the Zong family afterward. Everyone knows that I have never had a baby in my life.”
Bai Yinning looked at her with a sharp gaze and guessed, “Your child is Zong Jinghao.”
Cheng Yuxiu’s heart sank. “Do you have evidence?”
“I don’t. I have no way of finding out what happened back then. However, some things could not be disputed. For example, why did my adoptive father give up on you and stayed single throughout his life for you? The reason was simple. You had a child with another man; he had no choice but to let you go. Even if he were reluctant, even if his heart ached, he could only let you go. He knows how important a child is to a mother. Maybe you didn’t really love the person who impregnant you, but you would stay for the sake of the child…”
Cheng Yuxiu cut him off and said, “I don’t want to hear your wild guesses anymore! Go back to Baicheng.”
“Forgive me for being rude,” Bai Yinning apologized. “Since I am here now, I won’t leave that easily. Even if I have to leave, I will do so after achieving my goal.”
Seeing how she avoided the topic, he could affirm his guess. What he lacked now was evidence.
If he could find proof that Cheng Yuxiu gave birth to Zong Jinghao, it would be easier for him to deal with Wen Qing. Maybe he would have another helping hand.
After all, Cheng Yuxiu was also imprisoned for six years.
Cheng Yuxiu stared at Bai Yinning. For Bai Hongfei’s sake, she wanted very much for him to leave B City safe and sound. Even if he insisted on his ways, she would not simply sit by and watch him get into trouble.
Above all, she would allow no one to uncover her secret. She knew very well who would hurt the most if the truth were revealed.
“Don’t blame me for not warning you. Even if you are Bai Hongfei’s adopted son, I will not let you off if I find out that you are looking into the past.” With that, Cheng Yuxiu opened the door and left.
Since she came to see Bai Hongfei without telling anyone, she had taken a taxi to the hotel instead of taking the family car. At the hotel entrance, she hailed for a taxi and returned home.
Zong Jinghao had asked Aunt Yu to prepare nutritious foods for Lin Xinyan to replenish her health. Lin Xinyan was currently eating what she had prepared for her.
Aunt Yu had stewed sea cucumber soup for her, but she didn’t add many ingredients, so it tasted very bland.
Furthermore, the sea cucumber was left whole in the soup, and it looked creepy.
Aunt Yu scooped several sea cucumbers into her bowl. “Sea cucumbers contain iron, vitamin B, and folic acid, which have the effect of nourishing blood.” She then leaned closer to her and said with a smile, “It is said that eating sea cucumbers can also beautify your face.”
Although Lin Xinyan was very beautiful, looks had to be maintained.
Lin Xinyan scooped around her bowl with a spoon. “I can’t finish this much.”
“You must. Mr. Zong said that you are in poor health and asked me to prepare it for you,” Aunt Yu said.
The sea cucumbers were wild-caught, which had matured for at least eight years with a long growth period. Specialized fishers only caught those that had matured for five to nine years. If they caught one that matured for less than five years, they would throw it back to the sea and let it continue to grow.
On the other hand, farmed sea cucumbers were sold once they mature after a year. The effects would vary accordingly.
Moreover, wild sea cucumbers grew naturally on the seafloor. They fed on algae and aquatic animals rich in nutrients, and accumulated the nutrients in their bodies for a long time. In contrast, farmed sea cucumbers fed on artificial feed, which accelerated their growth but was harmful to the human body.
Because of the high price sea cucumbers could fetch, wild ones were caught in large quantities. There were few left in the sea. Currently, most of the sea cucumbers on the market were farmed.
Needless to say, wild sea cucumbers that had such a long growth period were very few.
How could Lin Xinyan refuse the kind thought?
Even though it was unpalatable, she bit the bullet and ate it.
Cheng Yuxiu overheard Aunt Yu as soon as she walked into the house. She lowered her eyes as she hung up her coat.
She should be happy that Zong Jinghao treated Lin Xinyan so well, but she felt a tiny bit of envy and jealousy.
She had never had that kind of treatment.
She walked into the kitchen and asked, “Why are you only eating now?”
She had left early in the morning and had no idea that Lin Xinyan woke up late.
Lin Xinyan lowered her head as she answered, “I was drawing a design last night so I got up a bit late today.”
Cheng Yuxiu didn’t think much about it, as she was preoccupied with her own matters. Then, she looked at Aunt Yu and asked her to go ahead with her work.
The housekeeper understood her intentions. “There is no more food at home. I’ll go on a supermarket run.”
She took off her apron and left the room.
Another maid was outside the house, overseeing workers pruning the plants and the lawns. That happened monthly because the flowers and plants would grow out of shape without pruning.
Lin Xinyan put down the spoon in her hand. “Have you met Bai Yinning?”
