CHAPTER 669: CHAPTER 664: HUMILIATED

Fang Xiu and Fang Pingying chatted for a while before they went to the kitchen to cook. The morning’s chaos left everyone hungry.

After they left, Luo Zhiyong and Zhou Guangsheng entered the room.

Thinking back to today’s events, Zhou Guangsheng knew that Fang Pingying had oversimplified things. Worried, he asked Luo Zhiyong, "Is Fang Xiu’s matter a bit complicated? Are we sure the child isn’t Luo Zhiming’s?"

Hearing Zhou Guangsheng say this, Luo Zhiyong roughly knew that he was aware of Fang Xiu’s past. He directly asked, "Guangsheng, Fang Xiu must have told you about her past, right?"

"Uh-huh."

Hearing Zhou Guangsheng admit his knowledge, Luo Zhiyong sighed slightly, but didn’t forget to remind him, "Guangsheng, since you know about Fang Xiu’s past and still married her, it means you’ve accepted her history. So, I hope that no matter what happens in the future, you and Fang Xiu should keep getting along well. Don’t let Fang Xiu’s past or Luo Zhiming’s matters come between you."

Zhou Guangsheng nodded and said, "I understand."

For Zhou Guangsheng, since Fang Xiu had clarified everything before being with him, he might feel slightly bothered as a man but wouldn’t fight with Fang Xiu over this. He was also fond of Haohao. Privately, he hoped Luo Zhiming wouldn’t take Haohao away.

Meanwhile, Xu He and Luo Zhiming had taken Haohao’s blood and were waiting for the results at home.

During these days, Luo Zhiming was anxious and restless, worried about Haohao’s identity. Initially, Xu He wasn’t worried at all, having already discussed with Bai Jing that the child’s matter was not a concern. However, after hearing Fang Pingying’s words that day, Xu He also became unsettled, unsure how to silence Fang Pingying.

But she knew how she had treated Fang Pingying in the past; Fang Pingying wouldn’t help her hide it. She didn’t speak up only because she didn’t think it was the right time yet.

Typically, Xu He preferred to take the initiative.

She thought for a long time about how to handle this situation. Of course, the best solution was to silence Fang Pingying. But right now, she couldn’t do anything to Fang Pingying or even think of a way to threaten her.

So, her only remaining option was to find an escape route in advance, to see if she could rely on another man before Luo Zhiming and Zhou Yunmei discovered the truth.

After much deliberation, her best potential reliance—the father of the child in her womb—was Shuanzi.

Thinking about Shuanzi’s identity made Xu He hesitate.

Truth be told, Xu He wanted to enjoy the material benefits Shuanzi could offer. However, she was unwilling to share Shuanzi’s less-than-reputable identity, which made her hesitant to reach out.

But sometimes, things seem to be fated, and what’s meant to happen will happen, no matter how much you try to avoid it.

One day, Luo Zhiming said he was going to the hospital to get the results for himself and Haohao. Left alone at home, Xu He grew restless thinking about Fang Pingying possibly knowing about the child.

Feeling agitated, she decided to go out for a walk.

Coincidentally, when Xu He was at a shopping mall last time, she unexpectedly saw Shuanzi with a group of men loitering around.

Shuanzi and his men were up to no good in the mall. Officially, they were there to protect the shopkeepers from being bullied, but frankly speaking, it was extortion. Under the guise of protection, they collected a fee from the shopkeepers each month, splitting the collected money with the police or other relevant departments. Essentially, Shuanzi and his gang lived off such earnings.

Xu He spotted Shuanzi, and it seemed Shuanzi also noticed her. However, whether it was because Xu He was heavily pregnant and looked much different, or Shuanzi hadn’t seen her in a long time and didn’t recognize her, he merely glanced at Xu He indifferently and walked past with his men.

Xu He watched Shuanzi’s retreating figure, bit her lip, eventually calling out, "Wait a minute."

Shuanzi and his men paused, turned around, and looked at Xu He. "What do you need?"

Because Shuanzi’s attitude was so indifferent, Xu He almost wanted to retreat. But she knew that if she backed down this time, there would be no hope with Shuanzi ever again.

Thus, she hesitated for a moment, then set aside her so-called dignity, approached Shuanzi and asked directly, "Don’t you recognize me?"

Only then did Shuanzi take a serious look at Xu He, seeming to remember something but still uncertain as he asked, "Are you the one from Luojia Village last time?"

This question humiliated Xu He deeply.

Clearly, Shuanzi didn’t treat their past conversation seriously, but she still remembered it well.

But having come this far, Xu He couldn’t back out and simply replied, "Yes."

Shuanzi nodded, and then looked at Xu He a bit puzzled, asking, "You came to see me, was it especially to repay your husband’s debt?"

It seemed that apart from this, he couldn’t think of any other reason Xu He would seek him out.

Speaking of repayment, this did give Xu He an opening to initiate the discussion. She said, "Didn’t you say last time that my husband’s debt could be forgiven?"

"Did I say that?" Shuanzi thought for a moment before smacking his forehead and lamenting his poor memory.

But then he seemed to remember he had indeed said that. However, his tone and expression were not as warm and flirtatious as before; his eyes even carried a bit of sarcasm as he said, "I remember now, I did say that, but I think there was a condition involved, right?"

As he said this, Shuanzi’s eyes swept over Xu He’s body, then he snorted disdainfully, the smile on his face filled with slight contempt.

Following that, the few underlings behind him also seemed to understand and started laughing, clearly implying that Xu He was overestimating herself.

Suddenly, Xu He’s face flushed red. She had always considered herself superior, and no man had ever looked down on her like this before.

Still, with her face reddened, she stated her purpose, "If I agree to the condition you mentioned last time, can your promise still be honored?"

Shuanzi fully recalled what he had said last time, his lips curling slightly as he spoke, "Miss, last time I said if you could stay with me for a year or half, I might consider forgiving your husband’s debt, right?"