Qin Ya replied, “We found her through an agency. Su Zhan and I looked through her profile together. She looks decent in the photo and is apparently quite highly educated as well…”
According to the agent who gave them the recommendation, the candidate in question possessed a Master’s degree. It was difficult for many to imagine someone so well-educated to be involved in the surrogacy trade.
However, it wasn’t totally unbelievable. That’s how far some people would go for money.
“Is it a reliable source?” Lin Xinyan asked.
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Qin Ya explained. “The agreed sum is one and a half million. We’re only required to pay a hundred thousand as a deposit for now; the remaining balance won’t be released until the surrogacy is successful. Besides, Su Zhan’s and my personal details are kept confidential, so we don’t foresee any serious trouble in the future.”
Qin Ya sounded quite confident. The agency seemed professional. Su Zhan and herself had also made sure that they would verify the biological identity of the baby before settling up the remaining payment. There shouldn’t be a need to worry about things like having their real child swapped with or replaced by a different child.
Lin Xinyan nodded. “Alright. You both must remain careful throughout.”
“Okay…”
In that instant, there came a knock on the door. Qin Ya hushed herself immediately.
“Come in,” Lin Xinyan called out to the visitor. As the door creaked open, there stood Shao Yun. Tactful enough to not step into the room, he smiled as he remained in the doorway.
“What are you two whispering about in here?” he asked as soon as he noticed Qin Ya’s presence.
Lin Xinyan replied with a smile, “We’re just chatting away, uncle. Have you seen the baby?”
“Yes,” Shao Yun answered. “He looks a lot like you.”
“Oh, uncle… Aren’t you good at joking…” Lin Xinyan let out a curt laugh. How could it be possible for someone to determine a newborn baby’s resemblance to either of his parents? The child’s still so tiny!
“By the way, Yan, I’ll be heading back to C City soon.”
“Why the hurry?” Lin Xinyan was hoping for him to stay longer since the man had come all the way here.
“I’d love to spend more time here, but that Cheng fella’s been pestering me to return,” Shao Yun snickered. “The company’s in a busy period these days, so at least one of us has to stay behind. He would have been happy to come along otherwise. We had a rock-paper-scissors and I won, so I got to come here first. It’ll be his turn to come and visit the baby when I go back.”
Qin Ya couldn’t hide her amusement. “This is so hilarious! Deciding things by rock-paper-scissors even at this age? You both are so childish!”
“You won’t understand. It’s a de-stressing entertainment for us guys,” Shao Yun retorted as he looked towards Qin Ya.
“It’s a form of entertainment for immature guys. Grown-ups who’re mature wouldn’t do a game like this on something important,” Qin Ya added.
Amidst the lighthearted chatter, a sudden look of realization flickered briefly in Shao Yun’s eyes. “Ya, you look skinnier than before…” He glanced back and forth at both Qin Ya and Lin Xinyan. The latter actually seemed healthier and filled with luster despite having gone through a recent surgery. On the contrary, Qin Ya looked unwell.
“Well, I guess I’ve always been skinny…” Qin Ya smiled awkwardly.
“Are you sure Su Zhan’s been taking good care of you?” Shao Yun asked out of concern. “Look, you and Yan are both equally important to me. You have to tell me if anyone mistreats you, alright? I’ll make that person pay.”
“Alright, alright. I know that already,” Qin Ya reassured in a cheerful tone. She has always been grateful that Shao Yun had always treated her and his own niece as equals. He had shown just as much care towards herself as he did towards Lin Xinyan.
Moments later, Zong Jinghao came in and invited Shao Yun for dinner together with the others. He had to show some courtesy as it was a rare opportunity for Shao Yun to visit, after all. There was a decent canteen in the hospital, albeit with limited choices of food. In the end, the group decided to dine out for the evening.
Lin Xinyan had to stay behind, though.
In the meantime, Zhuang Zijin came to keep her daughter company as the rest left the hospital for their meal.
After finishing their food, the group parted ways. Zong Jinghao arranged a hotel for Shao Yun to stay the night in.
Su Zhan returned home with Qin Ya to find his grandma seated in the living room. She was watching the television while Chen Xue was busy peeling some fruits by her side. “Su Zhan, Qin Ya, you’re both back!” Chen Xue stood up and greeted them as soon as they entered the house.
She was still getting used to addressing Su Zhan and Qin Ya in this manner. Grandma Su had instructed her a few days ago, “Since you call me ‘grandma’, you should address them as if they’re your older brother and sister.”
She obeyed the woman’s without question.
Grandma Su had decided that there was nothing inappropriate with how Chen Xue addressed them. She’s still young after all. Su Zhan and Qin Ya had no preference either.
“Mm,” Qin Ya gave a curt response to the greeting.
“Have you had dinner, Qin Ya? Would you like me to make something to eat?” Chen Xue smiled politely.
“No, it’s fine. We ate out just now,” Qin Ya replied.
Grandma Su waved a hand at them. “Come sit here with me.”
Su Zhan walked ahead as Qin Ya followed him. “Is something the matter, Grandma?” he asked.
“It’s nothing! Can’t you both accompany me here even for a while?” Grandma Su was slightly upset. Her grandson hadn’t paid her much attention ever since he got back together with Qin Ya. She felt neglected somewhat as if Qin Ya was the only person he cared for.
It was obvious that Grandma Su wasn’t very happy. Though she was exhausted, Qin Ya tried to pull herself together and approached the old lady with a smile. “Are you upset, Grandma? I’m sorry if Su Zhan and I haven’t been spending much time with you these days,” she comforted.
Grandma Su reached out her hands and grabbed onto Qin Ya’s. “You’re such a sweetheart. You know me best.”
Qin Ya looked down without a word.
“Xue, bring the herbal soup over for Ya,” Grandma Su instructed Chen Xue.
The helper stood up obediently and went into the kitchen. Qin Ya shuddered as soon as she heard the word “soup.”
She looked up with a glint of fear in her eyes. “Grandma… Is it alright if I pass on it today?”
“No,” Grandma Su replied firmly.
Chen Xue soon returned from the kitchen, carefully holding a bowl of warm soup in her hands.
“Bring the soup into the room,” Su Zhan instructed.
He knew Qin Ya was repelled by the liquid. At least, he thought, she can secretly throw it away if she drinks it in the room…
Grandma Su was aggravated. “What are you trying to do?” She glared at Su Zhan.
“I don’t mean anything, grandma. We just had dinner a short while ago. It may be difficult for Ya to drink the soup right now. Give her some time to digest what she ate; she can have it later,” Su Zhan appeased.
“No. She has to drink it now while it’s warm.” Grandma Su was determined to see Qin Ya drink the soup with her own eyes. She gestured for Chen Xue to hand the bowl over.
Qin Ya reluctantly took the bowl in her hands. She had no choice.
A sudden wave of nausea hit her. She breathed in slowly, fighting against a strong urge to vomit.
An intense stench emitted from the soup just as when she first started sipping the drink. In the beginning, she had thought that the unpleasant smell was just something she merely had to get used to. Until that one day, she saw Grandma Su return home with a bag filled with something that looked damp. It reeked of stale blood and rotting flesh.
When she asked about the bag’s contents, Grandma Su had told her plainly that it was a Chinese medicine to make her herbal supplement. She refused to explain what exactly it was.
Qin Ya had thus waited for an opportunity when Grandma Su wasn’t looking to sneakily take a photo of the contents. She looked the image up on the Internet, curious to find out about the ingredient that looked and smelled so obnoxious. When the search results appeared, she gasped in horror at what she saw on the screen…
