Volume One, Chapter 2: She No Longer Wanted This Filthy Man

After tossing and turning through most of the night, Xie Kexin’s fever finally subsided.

Su Wanqing was at last able to relax and took a moment to examine the wound on her own face.

Thankfully, the child’s nails weren’t sharp—just a superficial scrape. Besides, enough time had passed for it to have already scabbed over.

Staring at her haggard reflection in the mirror, she couldn’t help but open Su Wanning’s social media again.

Su Wanning had posted several new photos: Xie Yancheng personally grilling barbecue for her, the tenderness in her eyes while eating almost overflowing with warmth.

There was also a video where Xie Yancheng was handling official business, and she was beside him, sometimes patting his head, sometimes tugging his hair playfully. Despite her audacity, he only mock-glared at her without scolding, pulling her into his arms and forbidding her from moving about.

They looked every bit like a couple deeply in love.

Her grip tightened around the phone, then finally loosened with a sigh.

She set Su Wanning’s chat to “message only,” forcing herself to think no more of it.

Returning to the hospital room, she looked at her daughter’s peaceful sleeping face and gently reached out to touch her.

In her heart, she silently resolved that from now on, she would focus solely on herself and her child.

Early the next morning, fearing Xie Kexin wouldn’t like the hospital food, she went to a breakfast shop at dawn to bring back some of her daughter’s favorite dishes.

But before she could enter the room, she ran straight into Xie Yancheng and Su Wanning.

Su Wanning must have twisted her ankle descending from the mountain and was hesitant to put weight on it. Seeing this, Xie Yancheng immediately lifted her into his arms, ignoring the curious stares as he strode through the hospital corridor.

Su Wanqing paused, instinctively wanting to avoid them, but Su Wanning called out.

“Sister Wanqing, what are you doing here?”

Surprise laced her voice, then her eyes darted and she covered her mouth, “You didn’t follow us here, did you?”

Her tone held a hint of reproach: “You really should be taking better care of the child early in the morning instead of causing trouble. No wonder Kexin turned out like this...”

As her voice trailed off, Su Wanqing felt Xie Yancheng’s gaze pierce her like a streak of light.

Meeting his eyes, she couldn’t help but recall the call she made to him last night, holding the child alone through the night without rest—yet he hadn’t returned a single call. Now, just because Su Wanning had twisted her ankle, he made such a scene.

“Why didn’t you answer my call last night?” she asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.

Even if he disliked her, their daughter was theirs together. Did he truly not care at all about whether their child lived or died?

If that was the case, why did he insist on having her give birth in the first place?

Sensing the reproach in her words, Xie Yancheng’s eyes darkened further.

“Why do I owe you an explanation?”

The tension between them was on the verge of snapping. Seeing this, the ever-alert Su Wanning quickly placed a comforting hand on Xie Yancheng’s chest, soothing, “Okay, okay, don’t be angry, Brother Yancheng. Sister Wanqing didn’t mean it.”

“You see? She even brought me breakfast,” Su Wanning smiled and winked, extending her hand. “Thank you, Sister. How did you know I love breakfast from ‘Bisheng Tang’?”

“That’s tough for you. That place is so popular, it takes two hours just to get in line. You must have gotten up very early. Thank you. Let me have it.”

Xie Yancheng’s gaze softened slightly as it fell on the breakfast in her hands.

“Alright, put down the breakfast and go. Learn to have some sense—don’t follow me around anymore,” he said.

Su Wanqing clutched the breakfast tightly. “This isn’t for you. Kexin sent it...”

“What? I support you, feed you, put a roof over your head, and you won’t even give me breakfast?” Xie Yancheng frowned and interrupted before she could finish.

Su Wanqing was taken aback, feeling these were two entirely different matters. But she knew arguing with Xie Yancheng was pointless.

Besides, Kexin was waiting for her. If she woke up and didn’t find her nearby in an unfamiliar place...

With no other choice, she handed the breakfast to Su Wanning. Only then was Xie Yancheng satisfied and he carried Su Wanning away.

Watching their retreating figures, Su Wanqing pressed her lips together and turned toward the supermarket to buy some milk and bread.

Back in the room, Xie Kexin had just woken up. Sitting on the bed, she looked around the unfamiliar place and began to pout, about to cry. Then she saw Su Wanqing return.

She crawled toward her anxiously, calling out, “Mom…”

Her voice was laced with unease.

Su Wanqing was deeply relieved she hadn’t argued with Xie Yancheng. She hurried over, picked up her daughter, and comforted her, “Kexin, sweetheart, this is the hospital...”

Nestled in a familiar embrace, Xie Kexin finally relaxed, her tense body loosening.

Su Wanqing inserted a straw into the milk and handed it to her daughter, then tore the bread into small pieces, feeding her bit by bit.

Thankfully, her daughter wasn’t fussy and obediently ate, but her little eyes remained fixed on her, as if afraid she would disappear again.

When she noticed the wound on Su Wanqing’s face, the little hand reached out gently to touch it, then softly blew on it with her mouth, as if asking if it hurt.

Su Wanqing’s eyes reddened as she took her daughter’s hand and kissed it. “It’s alright, Mom’s not hurting.”

No matter what, her daughter could suffer no harm. Autism or not, the doctors had said that with proper companionship and guidance, she could live a normal life.

She would raise her daughter well.

As for that man...

Since he loved Su Wanning so much, let them live their lives together.

She wanted nothing more to do with that despicable man.

Moreover, she believed in the power of time. One day, she would completely erase him from her heart.

Meanwhile, after Su Wanning’s injury was treated, Xie Yancheng took a call.

“Apologies, President Xie. I’ve tried every means to reach Professor Xu, but... she’s issued a stern warning... as long as she lives, she will never cooperate with us…”

The voice on the other end grew quieter, clearly anticipating Xie Yancheng’s anger.

“Useless!” he cursed.

Before he could continue, Su Wanning pressed close, blinking up at him curiously.

“Brother Yancheng, what’s wrong?”

Xie Yancheng suppressed his temper, quickly ending the call. He turned and gently stroked Su Wanning’s face, softly saying, “Nothing.”

But Su Wanning tilted her head. “Is it about Professor Xu?”

A cold glint flashed in Xie Yancheng’s eyes as he stepped back from her. “You…”

“Sorry, Brother Yancheng. I accidentally overheard your call last time,” Su Wanning admitted before he could question her.

Then a small smile played on her lips as she nestled into his chest.

“But I have good news. I got an internship at Yongfang Company under the Qiuheshanzhuang group. Once I’m in, I’ll find a chance to meet Old Madam Xu and mention your project to her.”

Xie Yancheng listened, but no joy showed on his face. He frowned, studying Su Wanning.

Yet she showed no fear. “Brother Yancheng, our marriage was always a regret of mine...”

Noticing the chill deepen in his eyes, she quickly changed the subject.

“Now, I want to help you.”

As she spoke, she watched him cautiously.

Trained by the Su family as their secret weapon, every move she learned from her father now became a lure to ensnare him.

Sure enough, when tears welled in her eyes, a trace of tenderness appeared in Xie Yancheng’s gaze. He embraced her and gently kissed her forehead.

Everything was said without words.