CHAPTER 236: 215: WANTING TO HAVE A BABY IS NOT SHAMEFUL

"Sis, are you ready yet?"

Yu Cheng’an’s voice coming from outside the door yanked Yu Xinman, who was submerged in terror, abruptly back to reality.

She scrambled to pick up the scattered photos, her fingertip inadvertently slicing a faint line of red, though she seemed completely unaware of the pain.

"I’m still changing clothes, give me a moment." Yu Xinman gripped the photos tightly, taking a deep breath in an attempt to make her voice sound more natural.

"Alright, I’ll go find my brother-in-law first. Hurry up."

"Okay, got it."

Thankfully, Yu Cheng’an didn’t seem overly suspicious, nor did he immediately push open the door she’d forgotten to lock.

Otherwise...

Once the sound of footsteps faded into the distance, Yu Xinman quickly twisted the lock twice, trembling as she picked up her phone and searched through her contacts for a name she hadn’t touched in ages.

"Man’er, calling all of a sudden—missing Brother Hu, huh?"

The man’s greasy nickname and roguish tone provoked a visceral discomfort in Yu Xinman, her eyes brimming with undisguised disgust.

Her face turned stony. "Were you the one who sent the photos?"

"What photos?"

The man feigned ignorance in a way so revolting it almost went beyond description.

Yu Xinman pinched her palm. "I don’t have the patience to circle around this with you. What do you want?"

"Man’er, is this how you talk to Brother Hu now?" Brother Hu’s voice turned cold.

Even without seeing him, she could vividly picture his feral and sinister expression.

Yu Xinman steadied her nerves, silently chanting, "Don’t be scared, don’t be scared of him," before her tightly shut eyes abruptly opened.

"Brother Hu, I’m negotiating with you now. You should understand that if things get too ugly, it won’t be good for either of us."

Having laid all her cards on the table, Brother Hu wasted no further time with her either. "Man’er, looks like you’ve wisened up."

He chuckled. "Business at the Nightclub hasn’t been great lately. Your Brother Hu hasn’t made much money—things are a bit tight."

Yu Xinman knew he was here for cash. Oddly enough, this realization made her feel somewhat relieved, her palms loosening their grip a little. "How much do you want?"

"Not much—five million should do it."

"I can give you money, but you have to hand over the film negatives."

Brother Hu hesitated briefly. "Fine, I’ll have someone send them to you later."

"..."

Ending the call, Yu Xinman hurried into the bathroom.

She held one corner of a photo, flicked the lighter on, and let the orange flame devour it completely, ash falling slowly into the toilet bowl.

The fiery light illuminated her face, her pupils darkened with resentment and vicious intent, gradually replaced by the smoldering traces of sparks.

She flushed several times, waiting until all the ash had disappeared from sight before her stifled heart found some semblance of relief.

She thought everything had ended.

Little did she know, this was only the beginning.

**

Outside the hospital.

A man and a woman clutching medical report slips walked hand in hand to a striking Maybach parked by the roadside.

The car door opened and shut, the previously ajar window now sealed tightly, blocking out any view from outsiders.

Shi Wei held the young girl perched on his lap, his gaze dropping to her face. It was hard to tell whether her expression carried joy or disappointment, his refined brows lifted slightly.

"Zhizhi, what are you thinking about?" he pinched her cheek.

Though his grip was feather-light, it still left faint indentations on her tender skin.

The girl’s face was impossibly soft, like gelatin—every time his finger brushed against the faint hairs atop it, he couldn’t resist giving it a squeeze.

"Shi Wei, I just embarrassed myself." Yu Zhi leaned against his shoulder, her scarlet lips pressed together tightly.

Even though several minutes had passed since they left the hospital, she couldn’t shake off the memory of how the nurse had looked at her earlier.

Or the words, "It’s alright, you’re still young. You’ll have plenty more chances to get pregnant if you try hard enough."

No matter how she replayed it in her mind, it all sounded as though they’d taken her for someone desperate to have a baby...

Shi Wei’s lips curved slightly, a tiny glint of humor flickering through his dark eyes. He sucked lightly on the patch of soft skin where the marks lingered. "Wanting a baby isn’t embarrassing."

Yu Zhi caught the teasing lilt in his voice, her face turning visibly red.

She raised her gaze, glared at him petulantly, and shoved him away before sliding back into the passenger seat.

It was her way of refusing to let him hold her—or give him any attention.

Shi Wei leaned over, his fingers brushing the seatbelt into place and fastening it for her. His lips, tinged faintly pink, pressed against hers. "Honey, I was wrong."

His words carried a soft coaxing tone. "How about I make corn and rib stew for you tonight?"

Yu Zhi’s lashes fluttered slightly. She silently met his gaze for a few seconds before giving a small nod beneath his loving eyes.

"We’ll have the ribs tonight." She raised her wrist to check the time on the watch’s dial. "Let’s stop by the detention center first. Uncle’s already waiting."

Shi Wei murmured in agreement, leaning over to plant a few more kisses on his little girl. Only after his expression revealed traces of satisfaction did he finally start the car.

Where the Third Ring Road intersected with the highway encircling the city, there lay a spacious detention center.

The eerily quiet surroundings whispered an oppressive atmosphere well before anyone reached the entrance.

Outside the meeting room, Xu Changxiao stood motionless, clad in a sharp suit, holding a tablet and a file in his hands. His calm, statuesque demeanor betrayed not a hint of impatience.

He stared fixedly toward the distant end of the road, his expression unchanged throughout, though his eyes carried the faintest ripple when he finally spotted the couple trailing behind a police officer.

"Uncle." Yu Zhi quickened her pace toward him, her fingers laced with Shi Wei’s. Her lips pressed into a guilty curve. "Sorry, we’re late."

"No problem, I didn’t wait long." Xu Changxiao patted her head, his warm gaze softening into a smile.

After nodding politely at the officer escorting them, he led the group inside.

Xu Changxiao had arranged things in advance, requesting a private room through his connections with senior staff.

This time, he also presented himself as the young woman’s lawyer for her meeting with Yu Baisheng.

To avoid arousing Yu Baisheng’s suspicion, they’d decided to leave Shi Wei waiting outside, sparing him from exposing his famously recognizable features.

About ten minutes later, Yu Baisheng shuffled in, escorted by two officers. Wearing an inmate’s uniform and shackled at both hands and feet, he stepped into the room.

Though it had only been days since they last saw him, his once meticulously groomed black hair had gone completely white, his appearance aged as if he were in his sixties.

Beyond the physical toll, even his gaze lacked the sharpness it once held.

At a single glance, the overwhelming weariness within him was unmistakable, his entire persona profoundly changed.