"Child."
"My child!"
Jiang Shuqin woke up from her sleep, startled.
She looked around, her heart skipping a beat. Could it be that what she had experienced wasn't just a dream? Could it be that her child had been harmed by those thugs...
"Husband," Jiang Shuqin grabbed Lin Chang's wrist, "Our child has been saved, right? He's still safe in my belly, isn't he?"
Lin Chang sighed and remained silent.
Seeing the expression on Lin Chang's face, the hope in Jiang Shuqin's eyes slowly faded.
Her child... Could it be that he couldn't be saved?
"Mom," Lin Qingwan crouched in front of Jiang Shuqin, "Little brother wasn't meant to be with us. Although he has left this world, he will surely be happy in heaven. Mom, please don't be too sad."
Lin Qingwan's words completely shattered Jiang Shuqin's heart.
Her child was truly gone.
Jiang Shuqin touched her abdomen, which had once cradled a baby. At over five months, the child had grown quite large, and she had even felt him kicking. Now, it was flat and silent.
She had waited for years to finally have this child.
But she hadn't protected him...
"Thud."
With a heavy sound, Lin Li knelt on the ground.
"Li," Lin Qingwan tried to help Lin Li up, "What are you doing? Get up."
"Elder sister, don't stop me," Lin Li pushed Lin Qingwan's hand away.
"Mom, I'm sorry," Lin Li lowered his head, "It's my fault. If I hadn't suggested taking you to the temple, if I had checked the car properly before we left, if I hadn't taken that small road, little brother wouldn't have been lost."
"It's all my fault."
Lin Li's voice choked with emotion, "I caused all of this."
"Li, come here," Jiang Shuqin said hoarsely.
Lin Li sat by the bed.
"Child, what are you saying?" Jiang Shuqin's eyes reddened, "You got hurt protecting me. How could I blame you?"
Lin Li pursed his lips, "Mom, I didn't know the master's warning about the fetus being affected would come true so quickly. If I had known, I would have stayed by your side, never leaving even for a moment."
Lin Li's words were filled with regret.
His words also reminded Jiang Shuqin of something.
"Yes, it must be Lin Xuan!" Jiang Shuqin's voice suddenly became agitated.
"Mom, what does this have to do with Xuan?" Lin Qingwan asked, puzzled.
Jiang Shuqin gritted her teeth, "Today, when we went to the temple, the master said that Lin Xuan would affect the fetus!"
"Also, Lin Xuan saw me yesterday, so he knew I was pregnant. After he went back, someone as cruel and vicious as him must have cursed my child. It must be him!"
Jiang Shuqin's face was filled with anger.
What bad luck!
Even after leaving the Lin Family, he still came back to bring misfortune!
"Mom, how can you believe such things?" Lin Qingwan disagreed, "We live in a society that values science."
"No, this is believable!"
Jiang Shuqin was certain. She had experienced it firsthand. The master's words had proven true. Ever since she sent Lin Xuan away, her luck had improved significantly.
Lin Qingwan sighed.
Her mother was beyond reason now. No matter what she said, her mother wouldn't listen.
Lin Qingwan had no idea how to mend the relationship between Lin Xuan and Jiang Shuqin. It seemed like, in this family, aside from her, no one welcomed Lin Xuan back.
Lin Qingwan felt her heart heavy and decided to go out for a walk alone.
"Mom," Lin Qingwan said, pursing her lips, "There are matters at the company that need my attention. I should go. Please rest well."
Lin Qingwan made up an excuse and left the hospital. She wandered aimlessly on the streets.
Suddenly.
She saw a woman of breathtaking beauty walking arm in arm with Lin Xuan into a high-end hotel.
It was the same woman she had seen at the school gate that day.
Lin Xuan looked at the woman with tenderness, his entire being radiating happiness.
Back when Lin Xuan was in the Lin Family, he had always been tense, never showing such a relaxed and joyful smile.
Could it be that Lin Xuan was truly better off outside the Lin Family?
No, that couldn't be!
At this thought, Lin Qingwan shook her head.
Having a family and the warmth of kinship was true happiness. Love was just the icing on the cake.
What she needed to do was clear up the misunderstandings her parents and sisters had about Lin Xuan.
Unable to resist, Lin Qingwan followed them into the hotel.
Lin Xuan had been avoiding her, and now that she had finally run into him, she wanted to try persuading him again to return home.
Lin Qingwan didn't know that Su Hua was the head of Su Corporation. She had missed meeting Su Hua at Lin Li's birthday party because she had to leave for the company midway.
Inside the private room, a table was set with exquisite dishes, and a few candles were lit in the center.
Su Hua was sitting on Lin Xuan's lap, entwined with him, kissing him passionately.
Suddenly, the sound of a phone notification broke the intimate atmosphere.
Lin Xuan checked his phone.
Seeing the message, he frowned, "Hua Bao, I need to step out for a moment. Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
"Okay," Su Hua nodded, sliding off Lin Xuan's lap. Her eyes were seductive as she elegantly took a seat on the chair.
Seeing Lin Xuan leave, Lin Qingwan tried to enter the private room but was stopped by Su Hua's bodyguards.
Lin Qingwan said, "I'm Lin Xuan's sister. I need to go in."
"Sister?" The bodyguard frowned, "Does Mr. Lin have a sister?"
He looked at her with suspicion, as if she were impersonating someone.
"From what I know, Mr. Lin has no parents or any relatives."
Lin Qingwan felt awkward.
She knew they were referring to Lin Xuan's estrangement from the Lin Family.
"Please, could you let her know I'm here?" Lin Qingwan asked.
The bodyguard frowned but still didn't intend to let Lin Qingwan in, not wanting to disturb his boss and Lin Xuan's good mood.
Another bodyguard approached, "I think it's better to ask the boss first."
Perhaps the boss would want to see her.
"Alright."
The bodyguard nodded, knocked on the door, and after receiving Su Hua's permission, entered the private room.
"Boss."
As soon as the bodyguard entered, he saw Su Hua, her cheeks flushed, her eyes filled with allure.
At this moment, she was particularly captivating.
The bodyguard's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look further.
A woman like Su Hua was not someone he could ever aspire to, and besides Lin Xuan, no other man could get close to her.
"What is it?" Su Hua asked indifferently.
"Boss, there's a woman outside claiming to be Mr. Lin's sister. She wants to see you," the bodyguard said respectfully.
"Let her in," Su Hua tapped the table lightly with her slender fingers.
Her beautiful eyes carried a piercing coldness.
The Lin Family had treated Ah Xuan poorly in the past.
If it weren't for the fact that she wanted to keep them around for Ah Xuan's amusement, they would already be suffering unbearably by now.
Lin Qingwan walked in.
"So, you're Xuan's girlfriend?"
Lin Qingwan's tone was haughty.
As Xuan's sister, she held a higher position than this woman in front of her.
Su Hua glanced at her lightly.
She said nothing.
Her delicate fingers picked up a wine glass, and she elegantly sipped the crimson liquid.
Seeing Su Hua disregard her like this, Lin Qingwan couldn't help but feel annoyed.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, "If you truly care for Xuan, then you should know what's best for him."
"And what would that be?" Su Hua's beautiful brows slightly raised.
"You should persuade Xuan to return to the Lin Family. He needs to talk things out with our parents. Family bonds cannot be severed."
Lin Qingwan continued, "If he returns, the Lin Family can become his support, and his future path will be smoother."
Lin Qingwan believed that to repair Xuan's relationship with their parents, Xuan needed to earn their favor.
In the past, Xuan's behavior in the Lin Family had been lacking, so it was natural that they didn't like him much.
Deep down, parents always love their children. If Xuan could show a little more filial piety and not argue with their parents at every turn, they would surely welcome him back.
Also, their father was already targeting Tianmu Group. If Xuan were willing to return, their father wouldn't harm Tianmu Group, and Xuan wouldn't be hurt.
"No need," Su Hua said indifferently.
Lin Qingwan frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"What I mean is..." Su Hua set her glass down heavily. "I am Xuan's support. He doesn’t need to rely on anyone else but me. So, Xuan doesn’t need to return to the Lin Family."
She also believed that her Xuan would grow into someone who didn’t need to depend on her in the future.
Lin Qingwan’s expression darkened. "Yes, you can give him money, but can you give him family affection?"