Zhao Xiangwan glanced at Zhang Shihu with disdain, then looked at Liu Liju’s belly. “I’m afraid you don’t know, but our country has developed DNA testing technology now, right?”

Yuan Dongmei was confused. “What technology?”

Zhang Yalan’s eyes lit up. Could it be that the child in Liu Liju’s belly wasn’t her father’s?

Zhao Xiangwan continued, “Zhang Yalan, do you remember that DNA testing technology Professor Yang mentioned in class?”

Zhang Yalan nodded. “Yes, I remember. DNA testing was originally used for criminal cases, but last year, the Ministry of Public Security used it for the first time in a paternity case to prove if a father and son were biologically related.”

In 1991, the Ministry of Public Security introduced “parentage testing” using DNA to establish biological relationships in paternity cases. This breakthrough excited professors at the Public Security University, as it meant DNA testing could be used in civil cases, bringing clarity to such disputes.

Zhao Xiangwan pressed further. “Zhang Yalan, do you remember the outcome of the first case where DNA testing was used in a paternity case?”

Zhang Yalan thought for a moment. “Yes, I remember. A father in a divorce case had his five-year-old son’s blood tested, and it turned out that they were not related. The court ruled that the father was no longer obligated to support the child. The mother had to pay for the test and court fees and return the child support that had already been paid.”

Zhao Xiangwan smiled, her eyes sharp and calculating. “Mr. Zhang, the woman next to you has a special job. Anything can happen before the child is born. Why don’t you wait until the baby is born and do a paternity test to confirm if it’s your son? Then you can talk about divorce. Why rush into it, abandon your wife, and turn your daughter into your enemy? We’re students of Public Security University, and we’ll work in law enforcement. Is it worth making enemies of us?”

Zhang Shihu’s expression shifted. He glanced at Liu Liju’s belly and seemed to grow suspicious.

Zhao Xiangwan continued, “Do you understand? Even if you force Mr. Zhang to divorce, have the baby, live here, and marry him, do you really think you can settle down smoothly? Once the child is born and the paternity test is done, the truth will be clear, and there’s no going back.”

“If the child is Mr. Zhang’s, everything will be fine. But what if it’s not? If Mr. Zhang files for divorce, the court will definitely grant it. Not only will you not get any child support, but you can also demand compensation for mental damages. In the end, you will lose both your husband and your future. How will you survive with a baby in your arms?”

Liu Liju’s eyes darted around. Her left hand, which had been resting on her lower back, dropped. She started breathing heavily.

After a tense moment, Liu Liju screamed, “You’re lying! There’s no such thing as DNA testing! Don’t think you can fool me just because you’re a police officer.”

Zhao Xiangwan pressed on. “If you don’t believe me, go to the Public Security Bureau and ask the Criminal Investigation Technology Section. They’ll tell you if what I said is true.”

Go to the Public Security Bureau? Liu Liju would never dare, even if she were beaten.

Criminal Investigation Technology Section? The term confused her completely.

Maybe it was the heat in the room, but Liu Liju felt a burning sensation on her back, and sweat started to form on her forehead. The oppressive heat was overwhelming. Since entering the sex trade at 20, she had always known how to maximize her profits and minimize risks.

Her carefully laid plans to secure a life through her son and settle into the city began to crumble under the simple phrase “paternity test.”

Zhang Shihu, noticing Liu Liju’s reaction, turned pale. He seemed to realize something. His anger exploded, and he grabbed Liu Liju by the neck. “You filthy whore! You dare cheat on me and force me to accept this bastard! I’ll kill you!”

Liu Liju struggled desperately, pushing against his arm while screaming, “You coward! Shameless bastard…”

The battle was intense. Yuan Dongmei was so anxious that her hands trembled: “Don’t fight, don’t fight.”

But her knee was injured, and she couldn’t even stand after being knocked down. How could she dare to intervene in the fight? For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond, so she desperately grabbed her daughter’s arm and said to Zhang Yalan, “Yalan, Yalan, don’t let your dad kill her…”

Zhao Xiangwan, arms crossed, stepped back toward the door, leaning against it with an expression of someone watching the drama unfold, not intending to stop the fight.

Zhang Yalan glanced at Zhao Xiangwan, grinned silently, and reassured her mother, “It’s okay, dogs fight with dogs. Let them fight. We’re just weak women. My dad hit you when he came in. We couldn’t fight back. Now he wants to kill the pregnant woman, and we dare not interfere either.”

The mention of “pregnant woman” triggered Liu Liju’s response. She pushed her belly forward and screamed, “If you kill me, your son will die too. You believe in fate, don’t you? This is your son.”

Her own son? Zhang Shihu suddenly snapped out of his rage and stopped.

Breathing heavily, his eyes bloodshot, his face twisted with fury, he gritted his teeth and asked, “Is he really my son?”

Facing his anger, Liu Liju had no choice but to lower herself and answer, “Of course it’s yours! Though I’ve been with other men, I’ve been faithful to you since we got together. Don’t you know that?”

Zhang Shihu grabbed Liu Liju’s right shoulder with his hand, squeezing tightly, causing her to scream in pain. Staring into her eyes with a fake smile, he said, “Fine, if you say he’s mine, then have the baby. Once it’s born, we’ll do a paternity test. If it’s my son, I’ll divorce and marry you. If not, I’ll kill you!”

Seeing the fury in his bloodshot eyes and hearing the coldness in his voice, Liu Liju’s heart sank. She realized that Zhang Shihu had killed his first wife without hesitation, so she shouldn’t expect kindness from him, especially considering her infidelity.

Liu Liju forced a smile and nodded, saying, “If you’re confident, then go ahead. I, Liu Liju, am upright and honest. If you want a paternity test, let’s do it. But if it’s your son, I want 20,000 yuan!”

Zhang Shihu sneered, “If he’s really my son, I’ll give him 50,000, not just 20,000!”

After the fight, Liu Liju’s hair was a mess, and there was a bruise around her neck. However, she was used to these situations, so she quickly lowered her tone, hugged Zhang Shihu’s arm, and laughed nervously: “Brother Shi Yong, you’re so generous. I’ll thank you on behalf of my son.”

At this point, Zhang Shihu felt reassured and grunted, “Just take care of the pregnancy, and you’ll get some benefits later.”

Liu Liju’s eyes widened. Her smile was forced, and her voice dry, she said, “I’ll listen to you.”

Having his doubts confirmed, Zhang Shihu was in no mood to stay. He kicked the coffee table, glared at Zhao Xiangwan, said a few harsh words, and slammed the door as he left with Liu Liju.

“Bang!”

As the door slammed shut, Yuan Dongmei’s legs buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor.

Zhang Yalan rushed to help her mother up, sat her on the sofa, and comforted her: “It’s okay, Mom. It’s alright.”

Yuan Dongmei was a timid woman who had suffered psychological trauma from Zhang Shihu’s abuse. Today, when she saw him act so violently toward Liu Liju, it triggered painful memories of her own abuse. Her heart raced, her body stiffened, and she began to shake uncontrollably.

After a long time, Yuan Dongmei finally regained her strength under her daughter’s reassurance. She looked at Zhao Xiangwan with an apologetic expression: “I’m sorry, Zhao Xiangwan. I made you suffer.”

Zhang Yalan, finally able to ask a question, turned to Zhao Xiangwan: “Zhao Xiangwan, how did you know that woman was from a special profession?”

“First, her eyes are full of whimsy, and her behavior is frivolous and coquettish. When she speaks, she pouts her lips like a spoiled child, showing that she is used to pleasing others with her beauty.

Second, she curled her hair, wore heavy makeup, painted her nails, and wore high heels even during pregnancy. This shows she has no common sense of motherhood, and there’s no elder around to guide her.

Third, her skin is dry and dull, even heavy makeup can’t hide the acne and blackheads. Her eyebrows are sparse, her eyes are cloudy, and her dark circles are severe. This suggests she stays up late, overworks, and leads a chaotic life.

From these signs, along with her rude words and shameless behavior, what kind of person do you think she might be?”

Zhang Yalan, impressed, said, “Oh my God, Zhao Xiangwan, you can see all that just from a glance. You’re amazing!”

Zhao Xiangwan’s face remained neutral. She had the ability to read minds at a young age, understanding what others were thinking. She then observed their expressions, behaviors, language, and actions, which helped her develop a skill for judging people. It was nothing special to her.

Yuan Dongmei cautiously asked, “Can this technology you mentioned really be used to identify relatives through blood tests? Can we know if this is Zhang Shihu’s child just by testing?”

Zhao Xiangwan nodded: “Yes, such technology exists.”

Zhang Yalan frowned, “But… the professor said in class that DNA testing technology isn’t fully developed yet and is mainly used for criminal cases. In 1987, the Supreme Court issued a special reply about whether courts could use human leukocyte antigens for paternity testing in legal trials, emphasizing that it involves serious personal and property relations. Last year’s case was the first precedent, and it’s uncertain if it will be widely available in the future. How could ordinary people do this?”

Zhao Xiangwan answered, “As long as it begins, there will be progress. If your father waits long enough, we can eventually confirm if this child is his.”

Zhang Yalan gasped, laughing, “Ah! You’re deceiving her!”

Zhao Xiangwan raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, as if to say: “Did you just figure that out? You’re a criminal investigation major!”

Zhang Yalan’s clear, hearty laughter lifted the gloomy atmosphere in the room, causing even Yuan Dongmei, who had been sad moments ago, to smile.

Unconsciously, Yuan Dongmei trusted Zhao Xiangwan fully: “Zhao Xiangwan, even if that woman is a prostitute, does that mean the child in her belly isn’t definitely my father’s?”

Zhao Xiangwan: “When I mentioned the paternity test, the woman’s eyes shifted, her pupils dilated, she began to sweat, and her breathing quickened. What do you think that means?”

Zhang Yalan quickly answered: “It means she’s guilty!”

Zhao Xiangwan: “Yes, since she’s guilty, the baby in her belly is probably not your father’s.”

Zhang Yalan was stunned: “It’s not my father’s, yet she dared to frame him and force my mother to divorce? How bold!”

Zhao Xiangwan said, “Don’t worry, as long as your father has doubts, she won’t be able to keep the child.”

Yuan Dongmei, shocked, stared at Zhao Xiangwan blankly, repeating, “Give birth, can’t give birth?”

Zhao Xiangwan nodded.

Liu Liju didn’t want to keep this child. For her, it was a huge gamble. If she won, she’d be honored by her child; if she lost, she would lose both money and life. She knew the odds of winning were slim.

If Liu Liju were a woman with strong maternal instincts, she would endure the pregnancy. But Liu Liju had gotten pregnant only to secure a stable life, driven by profit, not maternal instinct. It was likely she’d abort and run away within a month.

Yuan Dongmei was horrified. She clasped her hands together and said “Amitabha” ^[1]refers to a Buddhist prayer.: “What a sin, what a sin. That’s a life at stake.”

She was kind-hearted and had strong maternal instincts. Even though her husband’s actions forced her into a divorce and Liu Liju used her pregnancy to mock her, Yuan Dongmei felt conflicted about a life potentially lost.

Zhang Yalan was displeased by this and asked angrily, “The fetus’s life matters, but your life doesn’t? You feel sorry for the fetus, but no one sympathizes with you?”