Chapter 618 This Isn’t Ning Ning

"Mom, think about it again! The two newborns look practically the same. If we switch them now, no one would ever notice!"

"You're already helping out at the He family, so you’d get to see your own granddaughter every day. Wouldn’t that make you happy?"

"No matter how much we earn, we’ll never match their wealth. If my daughter is raised by Jiang Yu, she’ll have a life of luxury!"

Yi Xia dug her fingers into Auntie Zou’s arm.

Even through the thick clothing, her nails were practically drawing blood.

Though the child wouldn’t grow up by her side, she’d always be the one who gave birth to her.

Later, if she, the birth mother, asked for money, how could she say no?

Yi Xia’s pulse quickened—this was simply the best idea ever!

Auntie Zou, seeing Yi Xia’s wild-eyed look, a shiver ran down her spine.

"This is a terrible thought! She’s your own child—how could you bear to give her away? Even if you could, how could you bear to separate Jiang Yu from her child?"

Yi Xia clenched her jaw. "I’m doing this for her own good! As for Jiang Yu, why should I care? She’s so rich because she took advantage of hardworking folks. If that money can raise her daughter, why can’t it raise mine?"

Auntie Zou shook her off. "No, I won’t agree! We absolutely cannot do something so immoral!"

Yi Xia collapsed into tears. "Then doesn’t it break your heart to see your granddaughter? Are you just going to watch her suffer with us? If I’d known this, I never should’ve given birth to her!"

Auntie Zou wiped her own tears, said through her tears. "I know you’re suffering, and I know you love your child! But Yi Xia, we can’t be so heartless. What has Jiang Yu’s child done wrong? Does she deserve to suffer?"

Yi Xia suddenly threw herself to her knees before her, her knees hit the floor with a thud, her face wet with tears.

"Mom, I’m begging you! I’m begging you! For the sake of Aqiang’s death and me still insisting on having this child—please think of us!"

Auntie Zou, helpless, reached to pull her up.

"Get up first."

They were in the stairwell, where anyone could walk in.

If someone saw, it’d look bad.

Yi Xia remained motionless, stubbornly kneeling.

"If you don’t agree, I won’t get up!"

Auntie Zou looked at her, face blank.

"Have you made up your mind?"

Yi Xia nodded firmly. "I have!"

Auntie Zou bit down on her lip. "Fine, I’ll agree!"

Let her be the one to do this terrible thing. If there was retribution, let it fall on her.

She turned and walked away, not looking back at Yi Xia’s triumphant expression.

By the time she returned to the ward, Auntie Zou had pulled herself together.

"Jiang Yu, the doctor said they need to take blood samples, so I'll take the baby there first."

Jiang Yu didn’t suspect anything and nodded.

"Go ahead, be careful."

"Okay."

After Auntie Zou left, Director Chen came with staff.

"Jiang Yu, we’ve come to collect the baby’s blood."

Jiang Yu froze. "But I was told to bring the baby myself. Auntie Zou just carried her out."

Director Chen turned to the nurse assigned to Jiang Yu’s ward.

The nurse seemed just as confused. "I didn’t give any such notice. We always do blood draws here in the ward."

He Tingyue’s face turned cold as he quickly gave instructions. "Director Chen, please notify hospital security immediately. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll go look."

Jiang Yu watched him rush out the door, her heart racing as tears filled her eyes.

She had always been a good judge of character, especially after spending time with Auntie Zou. Little things showed a person’s character, and Auntie Zou’s was above suspicion.

Jiang Yu tried to push down her panic—maybe she was overthinking it.

Without delay, Director Chen called security to secure all hospital exits.

"Especially anyone carrying a newborn—no one leaves without verifying the birth certificate!"

After the call, she returned to the ward to comfort Jiang Yu.

"Don’t be afraid, Jiang Yu. Maybe Auntie Zou misheard. She’ll bring the baby back soon."

Jiang Yu clutched at her chest, trembling uncontrollably.

Her Ning Ning—she had barely held her yet. If she lost her like this, she’d lose her mind.

Fortunately, soon enough, a nurse’s voice came from the doorway. "They’re back! They’re back!"

Jiang Yu hurriedly got out of bed and opened the door to see Auntie Zou carrying the baby.

Auntie Zou stopped short. "What’s going on?"

Director Chen frowned in disapproval. "Where did you take the baby? When did we ever notify you about a blood draw?"

Auntie Zou panicked and quickly explained. "I must’ve heard wrong! I’m so sorry, Jiang Yu. I wasn’t listening carefully and misunderstood."

Jiang Yu immediately took the baby from her arms, but before she could calm down, she looked down—

"This isn’t Ning Ning!"

A chill ran through Auntie Zou, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.

"How could she not be? I’ve been holding this child the whole time. This is Ning Ning!"

Jiang Yu suddenly raised her eyes, sharp and searching, studying Auntie Zou’s face.

"Let me say it again—this isn’t my daughter. This isn’t He Ning! Where’s my daughter?"

Auntie Zou gulped, unable to control the panic on her face.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, this is your daughter! Jiang Yu, all newborns look the same—maybe you’re mistaken."

Jiang Yu sneered, "No matter how scatterbrained I am, I wouldn’t fail to recognize my own daughter! Auntie Zou, where is my daughter? Where did you take Ning Ning?"

Director Chen inspected the swaddled baby. Newborns did look similar, but if she remembered correctly, Ning Ning was fairer-skinned.

Moreover, Ning Ning had a distinctive birthmark.

Director Chen unwrapped the blanket and checked the baby’s left hand. Her face fell.

"This is definitely not Ning Ning. Ning Ning has a red mole on the back of her left hand—I delivered her, I know better than anyone! Xiao Huang, alert security immediately. There’s a baby trafficker here—no one carrying a baby is allowed to leave the hospital!"

Such incidents had happened before, but thankfully, there was still time to act.

Auntie Zou’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor.

Her eyes went blank—she hadn’t expected to be exposed so quickly.

Jiang Yu looked down at her, her expression icy.

"Unless I’m wrong, this child is your granddaughter, isn’t she?"

Auntie Zou shuddered. She couldn’t confess—not ever, no way!

"No! She’s not my granddaughter, she’s your daughter! You’re all mistaken—she is Ning Ning!"

Director Chen barked, "I’ve birthed hundreds of babies and never made a mistake. This child is absolutely not Ning Ning!"

Jiang Yu gritted her teeth and set the baby down.

She wasn’t some saint—she couldn’t stop herself from lashing out at Auntie Zou.

"Auntie Zou, I’ve treated you well. How could you do something so heartless? Let me tell you, security’s locked down every exit in the hospital. Even if you’ve given my daughter to someone else, they won’t get out!"

"I will report this to the police! Do you know the prison time for child traffickers? Have you thought about what your granddaughter will face—born with a mother and grandmother who are traffickers? She’ll spend her whole life scorned and ridiculed!"

"If you all go to prison, what will happen to this child? She’ll end up in foster care, with no family to call her own!"