Chapter 8

Wen Jianxin acted as though she hadn’t heard a word, not even sparing the man before her a glance. She brushed past him and walked straight toward the hospital.

Even if Xu Wangzhi himself appeared today, he could not stop her from terminating the pregnancy—let alone one of his subordinates.

Wang Jin’s heart sank. If Miss Wen really went through with it and got rid of the child, once his master returned, he would be the one to suffer the consequences.

Unable to help himself, he followed her closely, speaking in a pleading tone.

“Miss, you should know the master’s temper. If you get rid of this child, none of us can withstand his fury. Besides, I’ve already sent word to your mother about your pregnancy. She’ll be here soon. Please think carefully—don’t do something you’ll regret.”

Wen Jianxin suddenly stopped, let out a cold laugh, and turned her head toward him.

“You think just because you told my mother, she can stop me?”

Her eyes swept across the hospital lobby, her expression chilling.

“Even if no doctor here dares perform the procedure, I will still get rid of this child. Xu Wangzhi’s bastard should never exist in this world.”

Wang Jin felt a shiver crawl up his spine. The young woman standing before him was far too beautiful, yet her heart was vicious beyond reason.

The master treasured her like a rare jewel, yet she remained cold as ice and determined to kill the child—showing no regard whatsoever for the care and devotion he’d shown her.

Worse still, she had seen straight through his actions, and declared outright that even if the hospital refused her, she would find another way to terminate the pregnancy.

What exactly did she plan to do?

How far would she go?

Such a ruthless, unfeeling woman—what on earth did the master see in her?

Her face?

But there were plenty of beautiful women in the world. None could quite compare with Miss Wen, but still…

Baffled, he found himself staring at her.

There was no denying it—her features were exquisite, her bearing unique. Even with her face frozen in cold indifference, she was so striking one could not help but think of the old verse: A beauty in the north, peerless and alone.

Yes, beautiful indeed—but with no heart.

To be able to turn on her own flesh and blood so decisively—could there be anything more merciless?

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Quickly, he dropped his gaze and lowered his head, his voice shrinking to a supplicant’s whisper.

“Miss, I beg you, please think of the master. He truly loves you. Right now he’s out on a mission, between life and death. If he comes back to find the child gone, it will destroy him.”

Wen Jianxin showed no reaction, but she no longer continued toward the hospital. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked toward the exit.

She knew perfectly well—today, no one in this hospital would dare perform the abortion. If she wanted to get rid of this child, she couldn’t rely on normal means. She would have to take risks.

Wang Jin, panicked, hurried to keep pace with her.

“Miss, you’re pregnant. Please be careful. Let me take you home.”

Wen Jianxin ignored him, acting as though he weren’t even there. As she reached the doors, she finally cast him a warning.

“Don’t follow me. Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to see you stripped of your job.”

It was as though an invisible hand had gripped his throat. Breathless, Wang Jin stopped in his tracks at once.

This job was too precious—hard-won through layers of selection, after beating out countless competitors. Good pay, little risk—there was no better position to be found.

But if he didn’t follow her and she really did get rid of the child, the job would be gone anyway.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, he suddenly heard her voice, low and venomous:

“You said it yourself—Xu Wangzhi is on assignment, cut off from all news of me. I will get rid of this child. Offending him or offending me—it makes little difference. The Wen family’s power is no less than the Xu family’s. Whatever he can offer you, I can as well. But if you dare keep standing in my way, I’ll make sure your whole family disappears from the capital, never to set foot here again.”

Bitterness filled Wang Jin’s mouth.

Gods fought while little people suffered. He was just a hired hand, yet he had been dragged into this bloody farce—pitiful, laughable.

A farce, yes.

One man went to all lengths to cherish. The other went to all lengths to escape.

The powerful treated love and freedom like treasures to be fought over. For people like him, struggling for three meals a day, such things were a luxury beyond imagining.

Now, faced with her threat, he held his tongue.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to speak, or to argue—it was that he didn’t dare.

Those above never regarded common folk as human.

If they were pleased, they might toss you a bite to eat. If displeased, they’d crush you without a thought.

He served Xu Wangzhi, yet he feared Miss Wen just as much.

Both were far beyond what he could afford to offend.

Seeing his silence, Wen Jianxin no longer wasted words. She only said,

“Don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll take the blame. Xu Wangzhi won’t touch you.”

This much confidence she still had.

The title of “Miss Wen” still carried weight in many situations.

No matter how lawless Xu Wangzhi was, he still had to take the Wen family into account.

The Wen family’s cold ruthlessness was, in some ways, her shield—and in others, her death warrant.

At the thought, her lashes lowered, and her hand on her purse trembled faintly.

Just like two months ago, when the Wen family silently condoned Xu Wangzhi’s violation of her.

Even going so far as to grandly arrange their wedding.

Every time she thought of it, sorrow and bitterness clawed at her chest.

Wang Jin remained mute. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“Miss, I’ll resign. I won’t watch over you anymore.”

Wen Jianxin gave a nonchalant nod.

“Mm.”

He went on.

“I know you don’t like the master. But he loves you—he won’t let you go. If you want to get rid of the child, do it. I won’t stop you again. I’ll also rescind the order I gave the doctors. Please… take care of yourself.”

Then he turned, striding away, his back radiating a kind of easy freedom.

He thought, life in the capital wasn’t for him. He still had an elderly mother in the countryside—it was time to return and fulfill his duty of filial piety.

He had no desire to be dragged into this deadly game between the two. And even less desire to die in vain.

Wen Jianxin watched his departing figure for a long time, unable to look away.

For the first time, in this rough man’s retreating silhouette, she saw the freedom she had longed for all her life.

Growing up swaddled in wealth, every word and action scrutinized, bearing the suffocating burden of being Xu Wangzhi’s fiancée.

Everyone said: you must be gentle, virtuous, poised, dignified—only then would you be worthy of him, the rising star.

But she had never wanted to be his wife.

She loathed him, detested him. Even sharing a roof with him made it hard to breathe.

Fate between people was strange indeed.

Her hatred of Xu Wangzhi was not born of reason.

She simply hated him. Disliked him.

And later, his actions only deepened that disgust.

She re-entered the hospital and arrived at the doctor’s office she had arranged.

The doctor was on the phone, glanced at her, nodded, hung up, and stood with a smile.

“Miss Wen, please come with me.”

Wen Jianxin nodded.

“Alright.”

The procedure went smoothly. In what felt like the blink of an eye, the child was gone from her womb.

No grief as she had imagined—only relief, a great weight lifted.

For her, getting rid of the child was the only correct choice.

She rested on the hospital bed for scarcely an hour before the door swung open.

Her mother entered, her presence cold as frost.

Her words carried no warmth.

“The child is gone.”

A statement, not a question.

Wen Jianxin looked away, her voice calm.

“Yes. Gone.”

“Heh.”

Shang Lingzhu sneered, pulled up a chair to the bedside, her gaze sweeping over her daughter with ice.

“Wen Jianxin, do you have any regard left for me as your mother?”

Wen Jianxin lifted her eyes.

“Mother, did you come here just to ask me that?”

She lowered her gaze again, voice flat.

“When Xu Wangzhi violated me, did you regard me as your daughter?”

Shang Lingzhu had to swallow the urge to strangle her. Drawing a deep breath, she snapped,

“If I hadn’t regarded you as my daughter, would you be lying here safe right now? Wen Jianxin, you’ve disappointed me deeply.”

Wen Jianxin arched a brow.

“Mother, if you truly saw me as your daughter, you wouldn’t be provoking me when I’m already weak. The child is gone. Nothing you say will change that. I’m hungry. I want to eat.”

Her tone was infuriating. Shang Lingzhu had to remind herself again and again not to stoop to her level. Forcing down her rage, she stood, voice frosty.

“Wait.”

Wen Jianxin smiled sweetly.

“I’d like spicy tofu, sliced pork in chili broth, and roasted duck…”

But Shang Lingzhu was already walking out.

As the door shut, Wen Jianxin’s smile vanished. Exhaustion swept over her as she sank back onto the bed.

She closed her eyes and slipped into sleep.

She was so very tired. What she had shown just now was nothing but forced bravado.

Still, Shang Lingzhu was not utterly heartless. If she had been, Wen Jianxin might not have been able to stop herself from dragging everyone down into the mire with her.

A week later, Wen Jianxin was discharged from the hospital.

At the same time, Xu Wangzhi returned from his mission with the military—only to learn that his child was gone.