Chapter 30: Saving a Child but Accused of Being a Murderer

The little girl timidly glanced at the beautiful sister before walking over to her mother with the candy in hand. There were three pieces in total. The tall, skinny woman grabbed them all at once and sneered, “Well, well, Shi Jian Nu, you’ve got some luck. Even I haven’t had candy like this before.”

“Next time, remember to give it to your little brother first.”

The people nearby looked at the scene, then at Xu Jiaojiao’s generous gesture, their eyes filled with admiration. Shanghai’s famous White Rabbit candies were a luxury, and the girl in her green blouse dress, with her fair, delicate skin, was clearly someone deeply cherished and spoiled.

Xie Zhi returned with the tickets, for the train leaving at 4:30 PM. Seeing him, Xu Jiaojiao quickly moved the packages off the seat, allowing him to sit down. He took a quick glance at the tall, skinny woman.

Xie Zhi gently patted the girl’s head. Sitting next to Jiaojiao, it felt as if the unpleasant smells of the train station dissipated instantly, replaced by the sweet, fragrant scent of the girl. His mind involuntarily wandered to the memories of the previous night, the warmth of her touch lingering in his senses, filling his bones and marrow.

In a low voice, he asked, “Are you hungry? Should I get something for you to eat?”

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at the pile of packages. These items were valuable, and losing them would be a significant loss. She shook her head.

Her gaze inadvertently fell on the little girl and the tall woman. When she saw the woman tearing open a piece of candy to feed the baby, she hurriedly spoke up, “Don’t give the baby candy; he might choke!”

The candies of this era were solid and heavy, each about the size of an adult woman’s index finger. The infant in her arms looked only a few months old—far too young to safely eat candy.

An older woman nearby also frowned and commented disapprovingly, “A candy that big? He could choke. Just let him taste it a little.”

Hearing the surrounding criticism, the tall woman’s expression turned awkward. She reluctantly let the baby lick the candy.

Xu Jiaojiao finally felt relieved. No wonder the survival rate for children in this era was low—medical care was one factor, but the actions of parents were another.

Xie Zhi took out some boiled eggs that his mother had packed that morning. His hands moved carefully, peeling the eggshell with the precision of handling a delicate work of art. Once done, he held the egg up to the girl’s lips. “Jiaojiao, eat this egg. You didn’t have a proper breakfast this morning.”

Embarrassed by the gazes of those around her, Xu Jiaojiao shyly took the egg from his hand. She really wasn’t used to this level of public affection. She ate the egg white and then held the small yolk between her fingers, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she waved it in front of Xie Zhi’s lips. “I don’t like the yolk.”

Xie Zhi lowered his gaze to her, his eyes burning with intensity. In that moment, their gazes met, and Xu Jiaojiao felt her heart race. This man’s gaze was terrifying, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

He leaned in and, holding her hand, took small, delicate bites of the yolk. The tender atmosphere between the two was enough to make anyone nearby green with envy.

But their moment was interrupted by a sudden cry from the woman: “My baby! My baby!”

Xu Jiaojiao’s sharp gaze darted over. The once rosy-cheeked infant was now purple-faced, struggling for breath—clearly choking on something.

Without hesitation, Xu Jiaojiao rushed over, her voice filled with disbelief. “Did you give him the candy? How could you feed candy to such a young child?”

The tall woman was panicked, frantically patting the baby’s back, her movements haphazard and ineffective. A crowd quickly gathered around them.

“How could a mother be so careless? Didn’t we say not to give the baby candy?”

“Exactly! How foolish can you be?”

Overwhelmed by the reproach of the crowd, the tall woman grew even more flustered. Her disoriented eyes landed on Xu Jiaojiao, and her emotions reached a boiling point.

“It’s her! It’s all her fault! This wicked girl gave me the candy! You want to kill my son because you’re jealous I have a boy!”

The woman spat venomous accusations and lashed out at Xu Jiaojiao, her nails aimed at her face. The baby in her arms grew weaker with every passing moment.

Xie Zhi immediately stepped in to shield Jiaojiao, his sharp gaze cutting through the chaos. “Instead of saving your child, you’re here making a scene?”

He then turned to look at Xu Jiaojiao, who seemed momentarily stunned but was already trying to recall first-aid methods from her previous life. Her voice trembled slightly. “Is there a doctor? Is there no doctor here?”

Hearing this, the tall woman broke down completely, clutching the baby and wailing hysterically. Her eyes burned with hatred as she glared at Xu Jiaojiao. “Murderer! Murderer! You’re a killer!”

“It was you who fed the candy. What does this have to do with her?” someone in the crowd protested.

Xu Jiaojiao stepped forward and slapped the woman hard across the face twice, her voice commanding and firm. “Stop spouting nonsense. Give me the baby!”

But the woman refused, clutching the baby even tighter and attempting to run. Xu Jiaojiao shot a glance at Xie Zhi, who blocked her path with ease.

“She’s trying to kill my child! Help! She’s killing him!” the woman screamed.

Fearing for the baby’s life, Xu Jiaojiao snatched him from the woman’s arms. She held him upside down and tried to clear his throat with her fingers. But the baby was too weak, and inducing vomiting wasn’t working.

The crowd watched anxiously. Xie Zhi stood rigid, his face filled with concern. He couldn’t even speak, fearing that if the baby didn’t survive, Jiaojiao would be blamed.

Xu Jiaojiao, drenched in a cold sweat, tried every method she could think of—pressing on the baby’s abdomen, patting his back, anything to clear his airway. She silently prayed, knowing full well the consequences if she failed.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the baby spat out the candy, along with a stream of saliva that had been blocking his airway.

Relief washed over Xu Jiaojiao as she checked the baby. When she heard his faint cries, she felt a weight lift off her chest.

Xie Zhi quickly took out a handkerchief, carefully wiping the sweat from Jiaojiao’s hands. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. “Good job! Well done!”

“My baby!” The tall woman snatched the child back, clutching him tightly and showering him with kisses. Once she was sure he was fine, her cold eyes turned toward the little girl. “Get over here, you little wretch!”

The little girl flinched and instinctively stepped forward, holding her brother protectively. The woman stomped toward her, her hand raised to deliver a slap.

But Xu Jiaojiao caught her wrist mid-air. “Have you lost your mind?”

The tall woman laughed maniacally, her voice venomous. “Murderer! Murderer! You’re just jealous I have a son!”