Page 17

"Who said you're infertile?"

"Straight from the horse's mouth, the hospital's official diagnosis can't be wrong, can it?" Though Che Zaiqiang didn't want to publicly admit his infertility, he was willing to do so to get rid of Sugar Water Sister.

"Someone deceived you," Chu Yuening declared bluntly. "In reality, you're not infertile. Your wife has hidden the true diagnosis, and it's right beneath the bed frame where you sleep."

Che Zaiqiang sneered. "Let me tell you the truth. I've been sunning my mattress on the balcony for a while, so there couldn't be anything under the bed frame. Give up, Sugar Water Sister."

Next door, Lin Jiahua packed an egg tart for a customer and turned her head. "Without evidence, we'll have to see it for ourselves."

"Fine, let's go," Che Zaiqiang snatched the lighter from the table and stood up promptly.

Lin Jiahua refused. "There's no need for you to come. If we find something, wouldn't you just hide it again? I know where your place is; I can call your stall workers to join me."

Remembering his empty bed at home, Che Zaiqiang smirked. "I'm curious to see what on earth you could possibly find out of thin air."

Chu Yuening continued with her calculations.

"After discovering your infertility, you felt guilty and anxious, so you became tolerant of your wife's petty tantrums."

Che Zaiqiang acknowledged openly, "After all, it was my fault. She stayed with me through thick and thin, so of course I have to spoil her more."

Chu Yuening looked at him. "If not for that reason, would you still dote on her?"

Recalling the punch he had once thrown at his ex-girlfriend during his youth in the gang, Che Zaiqiang guiltily averted his gaze.

"Unfortunately, your wife is accustomed to a life of luxury. Over time, she often complained and even mentioned leaving. Since you couldn't have children, you were worried about not being able to remarry."

"So, for the sake of money."

Chu Yuening paused before continuing, "You ventured into illegal activities, dealing drugs."

Che Zaiqiang immediately drew a sharp breath. He lifted his head to meet Chu Yuening's piercing gaze, his heart pounding like a drum, causing him to break out in a cold sweat as if he were in a steamer.

The consequences of being caught trafficking drugs were severe.

This operation was highly secretive, and there was no reason for Chu Yuening, who lived a street away, to know about it.

Without hesitation, Che Zaiqiang denied it, slamming his fists on the table, causing the lighter to bounce up in agitation.

"Don't slander me with baseless accusations. Dealing drugs warrants imprisonment – don't try to frame me!"

Chu Yuening shook her head, stood up, and opened the icebox to pour herself a bowl of chilled coconut milk with peach jelly and snow fungus.

Seeing that Chu Yuening didn't finish her sentence, Che Zaiqiang was convinced she had no evidence. "If Ah Kuan comes back without finding any so-called test results, you'll have to pack your things and leave immediately."

Taking a sip of the chilled coconut milk, the coolness helped to soothe her rising anger. "You only have about three more minutes. You should be more concerned about yourself."

Confused, Che Zaiqiang asked, "What three minutes?"

Chu Yuening didn't respond.

The onlookers huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, trying to understand what Che Zaiqiang's three minutes meant.

Many were also discussing if Che Zaiqiang was truly dealing drugs.

But Che Zaiqiang spent his whole day selling car trunk noodles; how could he find time to deal drugs?

Could it be that Sugar Water Girl was deliberately trying to frame Che Zaiqiang?

At last.

Someone cried out, "A Hua's back!"

Chapter 10

Everyone turned to look.

Lin Jiahua emerged from the crowd.

Seeing Lin Jiahua with a stern expression, Che Zaiqiang assumed he hadn't found anything and felt relieved, "I told you, there couldn't be anything under the mattress."

But then,

Lin Jiahua pulled out a folded piece of paper from his jeans pocket, "Ning Ning, there was indeed something behind the bed partition. When I was searching, A'Qiang's wife tried to stop me."

Che Zaiqiang's face froze, and he instinctively looked at his assistant.

Ah Kuan wore a troubled expression, looking down then up again, "Brother Qiang, you should see for yourself."

Che Zaiqiang took the examination report, unfolded it carefully, and scanned its contents with widened eyes, hardly able to believe what he was seeing. His expression darkened with each passing moment.

"I... I really don't have an illness?"

His words drew a collective gasp from the surrounding crowd, causing a low murmur of unrest.

The more confident Che Zaiqiang had been previously, the more humiliated he felt now. A mix of emotions, both sorrow and relief, threatened to overwhelm him.

His sorrow stemmed from the realization that he had been deceived by a fake medical report for three long years. The joy came from the fact that he was still capable of continuing his family line.

"Why, if I'm healthy, why would she do this to me?"

Chu Yuening revealed the truth, "Your wife is infertile. She was afraid you'd reject her or stray, so she kept it from you."

Only then did the onlookers understand the reasoning behind Che Zaiqiang's wife's actions.

Chu Yuening calculated swiftly, "You have one minute left. You can use the public phone to bid farewell to your father first."

Che Zaiqiang's anger flared, crumpling the paper into a ball and slamming it onto the table. "Are you insane? Why would I call to say goodbye? She's the reason I'm childless at this young age! I only want to confront that woman and ask what her intentions are!"

He shot up from his stool, fists clenched, ready to rush home and confront his wife.

"Wait," Chu Yuening called out, extending her hand. "Thank you for your business. The fortune-telling costs a hundred dollars."

Che Zaiqiang gritted his teeth, consumed by rage over his wife's deceit. He paid no heed to Chu Yuening's mention of the remaining minute. In the heat of his anger, he had no time to consider whether or not to chase the annoying dessert girl out of Temple Street.

Swiftly, he pulled out a hundred-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it over before dashing back home.

Unexpectedly,

no sooner had Che Zaiqiang crossed the street than he was stopped by two uniformed officers.

One of them produced an ID card from within his uniform, holding it up to Che Zaiqiang's face. "We're from the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, O Branch. We currently have reason to suspect your involvement in a drug trafficking case. Please come with us to the police station to assist with the investigation."

The officer's stern words, delivered in a serious tone, carried over to the dessert stall. The crowd erupted in a mixture of shock and fear. What was this O Branch? It was known for combating drug-related and organized crime activities.