Chapter 8: Why Was She Fine After Drinking the Chicken Soup, But I Ended Up Hemorrhaging?

As that thought struck her, Tong Caihe’s face turned instantly dark.

It seemed that this time, she’d have to add more into the soup.

Having made up her mind, she immediately slipped into the kitchen.

However, just as she pulled the chicken out of the cupboard, Lin Jianxue squeezed in with a bright smile and said cheerfully, “Aunt Tong, are you making chicken soup? Let me help you.”

Tong Caihe was startled. She quickly waved her hands. “No, no, Jianxue, you’ve had a long day. Go rest. There’s a lot of smoke in the kitchen—you don’t want to breathe that in. Cooking’s my job.”

But Lin Jianxue saw right through her.

There was no way she was letting Tong Caihe drug her mother’s soup again.

“I’m not tired,” she replied sweetly. “My mom just gave birth. As her daughter, I should be the one taking care of her. And now that I have a baby brother, I’m so excited I can’t sleep.”

Tong Caihe’s expression stiffened, a flash of panic crossing her face.

If Lin Jianxue stayed in the kitchen, how was she supposed to doctor the soup?

But she couldn’t outright chase her away—that would only raise suspicion.

So Tong Caihe suppressed her irritation, forcing a smile. “You’re such a thoughtful girl. But this chicken soup—Auntie can handle it. Why don’t you go rest, hmm?”

Lin Jianxue pretended not to hear and continued, “Auntie, why don’t you prep the chicken, and I’ll get the water boiling?”

With that, she turned on the stove and started heating water.

Tong Caihe stood beside her, fuming inside, wishing she could throw Lin Jianxue out. But she had no choice but to grit her teeth and get on with it—cleaning the chicken, chopping it, putting it in the clay pot, and—right in front of Lin Jianxue—adding a generous handful of nourishing herbs.

The whole time, Lin Jianxue didn’t leave the kitchen for a second.

Every excuse Tong Caihe tried to make to send her away was effortlessly countered.

In the end, Tong Caihe gave up and grudgingly finished cooking both the soup and a hearty breakfast.

Once everything was ready, Lin Jianxue insisted on accompanying Tong Caihe to deliver the food to Shen Wu.

On the way, Tong Caihe wore a falsely pleasant smile, endlessly praising how dutiful and considerate Lin Jianxue was.

But Lin Jianxue just looked at her fake, smiling face and thought of how ruthless this whole family was. Her gaze turned cold.

This couldn’t go on. She couldn’t spend every waking moment watching Tong Caihe to keep her from poisoning her mother.

She needed to find a way to divorce Jiang Yubai fast and send this whole family back to the countryside where they belonged.

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Meanwhile, back at the hospital—

Jiang Yuning woke up in excruciating pain.

Her lower abdomen and everything below felt like they had been run over by a truck.

Zhang Guihua was sitting by her bedside, holding an enamel cup, about to give her a sip of water. The moment she saw Jiang Yuning stir, she quickly put down the cup and leaned in.

With her strong regional accent, she said excitedly, “Daughter! You’re finally awake! You had a massive hemorrhage earlier—scared me to death!”

Jiang Yuning froze.

Hemorrhage?

How?

She had been quietly resting in the rental apartment Tong Caihe had arranged for her, barely going out.

She only remembered drinking some chicken soup that Tong Caihe brought over, and not long after, the pain started, then the bleeding…

She tried to sit up but found she had no strength.

Reaching down instinctively, she touched her now-flat stomach.

Her face went deathly pale.

“Where’s my baby?”

Zhang Guihua sighed and replied, “Don’t be sad, dear. The baby couldn’t be saved. But you’re still young—there will be more chances.”

Jiang Yuning felt like she had been struck by lightning. Her entire body went rigid.

The baby’s gone?

Her baby is gone?

This was her first child with Jiang Yubai.

She couldn’t process it.

She shook her head desperately as tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls.

“No… no, it can’t be… my baby… my baby…”

Zhang Guihua, unable to find words to comfort her, could only sigh again and again.

Jiang Yuning remained bedridden for three days. Aside from Zhang Guihua, not a single person came to visit.

Her anxiety deepened.

She couldn’t understand why Jiang Yubai hadn’t come.

When she asked Zhang Guihua, the woman just fumbled and mumbled vague reassurances, urging her to rest.

Finally, on the fourth day, Jiang Yubai showed up.

He looked haggard—pale, hollow-eyed, unshaven. He seemed like he hadn’t slept in days.

The moment Jiang Yuning saw him, tears flooded her eyes again.

She had the delicate beauty of a first love—the kind of “white moonlight” face people never forgot. Normally already fragile and lovely, now, after a severe illness, her skin was pale as paper, lips drained of all color. She looked heartbreakingly pitiful.

Jiang Yubai was devastated to see her like this. In three quick steps, he rushed to her side, wrapped her tightly in his arms, and gently rubbed her back.

He murmured, “Yuning, you’ve suffered. It’s all my fault for not taking good care of you…”

She buried herself in his familiar scent—the faint smell of soap clinging to his clothes—her heart swelling with grievance.

Clutching his shirt, she sobbed, “Yubai… why did it take you so long… I thought… I thought you didn’t want me anymore…”

Hearing that, Jiang Yubai’s heart ached even more.

He cupped her face tenderly, wiped away her tears, and spoke with heart-melting softness, “Silly girl. How could I not want you? You’re the woman I love most in this world. I don’t even have time to cherish you—how could I abandon you?”

He paused and explained:

“These past few days, Shen Wu gave birth. The house was a mess. My mom and Jianxue were running in circles around her and the baby. I was being ordered around like crazy—washing diapers, making formula, running errands…

I haven’t slept in days. But the moment I could get away, I came to see you.”

Jiang Yuning relaxed slightly.

She looked up at him with teary eyes, bit her lip, and asked softly, “So… Shen Wu still gave birth to the baby?”

Jiang Yubai nodded, frowning deeply. “Yeah. It was a boy. Six pounds, two ounces. Both mother and baby are fine—not a scratch.”

Jiang Yuning’s brows furrowed tightly. She asked, puzzled, “How is that possible? Didn’t your mom put something in the chicken soup? Why is it that she drank the soup and nothing happened, but I drank the soup she sent and ended up hemorrhaging?

Did your mom… give her the wrong chicken soup?”