Chapter 39

Chapter 39

"Let me explain what really happened. Gan Yan made it clear to Huang Ze early on that she didn’t like children and wouldn’t have any in the future. Huang Ze agreed, and so did his family."

"But three years into their marriage, Huang Ze saw all his friends having kids and regretted his decision. He kept pushing her about having their own child, but she refused. They ended up in a huge argument, with Gan Yan accusing him of backpedaling—did he think her principles would change just because they were married?"

"Coincidentally, on the day they fought, Huang Ze’s parents returned from a one-month celebration and overheard the argument. Eager for a grandchild, they came up with a sneaky plan—they sabotaged the condoms..."

"Sure enough, a month later, Gan Yan ended up pregnant. But why was Huang Ze still unhappy and even accuse her of cheating?"

"Because Gan Yan refused to bear his child, he started seeing someone else. Now that Gan Yan was pregnant, he had the perfect out. What a total dirtbag!"

Lin Tingyue was furious, and Gan Yan, who accidentally overheard Lin Tingyue’s thoughts, was even angrier!

"Seriously? Knowing your wife is getting checked at this hospital today, you bring your mistress here for a prenatal checkup while your wife is getting an ultrasound?"

"You really couldn’t be bothered to put in any effort or even spare a minute of your wasted time, huh?"

Just as the crowd was soaking this in, Huang Ze’s phone rang.

"Bet you anything it’s the mistress calling."

No sooner had Huang Ze finished calming her down than Gan Yan slapped him across the face.

Huang Ze cupped his cheek in disbelief. "Gan Yan, have you lost your mind? How dare you hit me?"

"What’s wrong with hitting you? I’m hitting you on purpose. Not only will I hit you, but I’ll also kick you."

With that, Gan Yan lifted her leg and delivered a sharp kick to Huang Ze’s family jewels.

"Can’t get a vasectomy? Let me help you—I’ll end your bloodline today."

Gan Yan went at Huang Ze again, kicking and stomping, every hit nailing him right where it hurt most.

Lin Tingyue facepalmed.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Gan Yan is a black belt in taekwondo. You had it coming!"

Only when the beating seemed sufficient did the doctor wave over security. She herself took Gan Yan’s hand and gently comforted her, "Be careful, don’t risk the baby."

Huang Ze, sprawled out: "Seriously?"

She waits until after the beating to warn about risking the baby? Couldn’t the doctor have said that earlier?

"Hahahaha, why’s everyone so ruthless?"

After Gan Yan left, Huang Ze lay sprawled on the floor alone. He pulled out his phone, intending to call an ambulance, but when he caught sight of the word "hospital," it suddenly dawned on him—he was already in a hospital.

So he thrashed around on the ground, shouting, "Help! Help! Do your jobs or what?"

Before he could struggle to his feet, someone looked down at him.

Huang Ze looked up and awkwardly said, "Babe, why’re you here?"

Long Yingdong looked at him with concern. "Baby, you alright?"

"I—I’m fine, just took a spill."

Seeing Huang Ze reach out, Long Yingdong hurriedly pulled him up. Looking at Long Yingdong, who only had eyes for him, Huang Ze felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

What's so special about Gan Yan? Without her, there was always someone else—one who wouldn't yell at or hit him and would even give him a child!

He asked gently, "Darling, are you done with your tests?"

"I am, but there’s something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" Huang Ze asked nervously. "Is there something wrong with the baby?"

Long Yingdong shook her head, biting her lip. "I’ve thought about it for a long time, and I want our baby to have a father who’s morally sound."

Huang Ze: "?

What do you mean?"

"Darling, what you did was really wrong. I can’t stay with you anymore."

After saying this, Long Yingdong choked back tears and ran off.

From Lin Tingyue’s perspective, she could see Long Yingdong collapsing into the arms of another man who had been waiting at the hospital entrance.

"Wow."

"Hospitals really are the best place for juicy gossip."

The Lins would argue—wherever Lin Tingyue was, that was where the juiciest drama happened.

...

On Saturday, Ying An invited Lin Tingyue to his sister’s 18th birthday party.

Lin Tingyue agreed. The banquet was in the evening, but she started deciding what to wear early in the morning.

Lin Chengyan walked by munching on an apple and, seeing Lin Tingyue drowning in a sea of clothes, had to stop and mess with her.

"Oh, Lin Tingyue, already primping for your date?"

Lin Tingyue pushed aside the clothes and, sure enough, saw her smartass of a brother standing at the door.

"We girls don’t just dress up for dates—we do it for ourselves too. We just like looking our best."

Lin Chengyan: "..."

But it didn’t end there.

Her internal monologue was even snarkier.

"Unlike Second Brother, who preens like a peacock every day."

Lin Chengyan: "?"

Who are you calling a peacock?

Trouble was, Lin Tingyue only thought it. Lin Chengyan itched to smack her but had no excuse, so he could only stand there, grinding his teeth in frustration.

"You're coming tonight, right?"

Lin Chengyan smoothed his lapels smugly. "Of course."

Lin Tingyue blinked her eyes and asked, "Did you two make up with Mr. Ying?"

Lin Chengyan had been striking a pose leaning against the door—his best James Dean impression—but at Lin Tingyue's question, he literally nearly slipped and bit the dust.

"Second Brother, that was an epic fail."

Lin Chengyan: "..."

Of course, whatever. Why did Lin Tingyue have to copy his exact pose and stand there so damn steady? Rubbing it in like that?

"Lin Tingyue, I'm warning you—"

"Yeah, yeah."

Lin Tingyue zipped her lips and threw away the key. "I won't say anything else."

"If Second Brother acts this annoying in front of us, what’s he like in front of Cheng Jinshuang?"

"Sigh, no wonder he can’t land a date with her—total one-sided crush."

"That jerk act really doesn’t work on anyone, huh."

Lin Chengyan shot a glance at Lin Tingyue bobbing her head smugly. Lin Tingyue, when you shut up, could you please turn off your inner monologue too?!

...

By the time they reached the banquet, Lin Tingyue was walking ahead with a sweet smile while Lin Chengyan tagged along behind looking like he'd sucked a lemon, holding up her dress train.

Lin Chengyan grumbled, "Lin Tingyue, how much longer are you going to keep posing? This isn’t a red carpet!"

Lin Tingyue brushed him off. "Almost done, almost done."

Lin Chengyan: "..."

Terrific. Only thirty more minutes of this to go.

Even though he was clearly annoyed, Lin Chengyan still held her skirt perfectly. He’d walked enough red carpets—he knew exactly how to play the perfect gentleman. But then he caught some not-so-nice whispers from nearby.

"Isn’t that the Lin family’s switched-at-birth daughter?"

"The real biological daughter has already come back. I don’t know how she has the nerve to stay in the Lin family."

"Right? And this is the Ying family’s debutante ball. If the Lins were sending someone, it should’ve been the real daughter. What’s she doing here? Probably stole the real one’s spot. Ugh, not only a gold-digger but total two-faced."

Lin Chengyan was seeing red. He marched over to the gossipers, arms crossed, clapping back at each one.

"Got a problem with that?"

"Our family chooses to keep her, pamper her rotten, and treat her like a princess. Got something to say? Coming out of your paycheck?"

"My sister got her invite straight from Ying An himself. ‘Stole the spot’? Maybe lay off the soap operas."

Lin Tingyue came running over just in time to see the whole thing—and what did she do?

"Awwww, I’m so touched."

Lin Chengyan flipped his hair with flair. How’s that for dazzling?

"Although Second Brother is a hopeless romantic, he's still pretty good to his family."

Lin Chengyan: "..."

That last bit was totally uncalled for.

Lin Chengyan shut those people up with his sharp words and strode off proudly with Lin Tingyue.

Lin Tingyue said, "Second Brother, you shouldn’t act like this next time."

"You get bullied, and I can't even have your back?" Lin Chengyan frowned.

"Of course you can, but you're in the entertainment industry, Second Brother. That industry’s already full of haters. If you keep running your mouth like that, I'm afraid you’ll catch flak."

Lin Tingyue looked up at him, her eyes bright and earnest.

She was actually worried about him getting backlash?

Lin Chengyan shrugged. "So what if they do? A star can still go to war with words for his little sister."

"That’s so sweet of you."

Lin Chengyan hooked a corner of his lips upward and couldn’t help ruffling Lin Tingyue’s hair.

"Miss Lin."

Both Lin Chengyan and Lin Tingyue turned to see Ying An approaching them.

"Miss Lin, there you are. Ning Ning’s been waiting forever."

Ying Ning was Ying An’s younger sister.

Lin Tingyue said, "I’ll head over to her. I even brought her a gift."

"Alright."

Lin Tingyue gathered her skirt and walked away, while Ying An stared after her.

Lin Chengyan cleared his throat. Ying An glanced at him. "You good? Throat bothering you?"

Some concern, but barely.

Lin Chengyan huffed. "A whole-ass person standing right here, and you don't even see me?"

"I see you. Want me to kiss your feet?"

Lin Chengyan rolled his eyes. What a jerk—still daring to be eyeing his sister? No way he’d let that slide.

Ying Ning was still upstairs.

Her skin was fair, her features delicate and striking, as if she stepped out of a painting.

"Damn, how is anyone this pretty? Nuwa, hook me up like this in my next life!"

Ying Ning snorted laughing.

If that’s her vibe, she’s gotta be the Miss Lin her brother told her about.

"Miss Lin." Ying Ning took the initiative to greet Lin Tingyue.

"Hello, Miss Ying Ning."

"Just call me Ning Ning."

"Ning Ning, then you can call me Tingyue Jie."

"Sure."

Lin Tingyue and Ying Ning went downstairs together.

After cutting the cake came present time.

"Hey Ning Ning, check this out."

There was a large box on the floor. He pressed a button, and the box automatically opened.

Ying Ning said excitedly, "I thought this plush toy was discontinued?"

"Yeah, I hunted everywhere for it."

Ying Ning hugged the plush toy tightly. "I love it, thank you, Lingyu."

"Glad you like it!"

"Guo Lingyu?"

"Eww! He's a pervert who likes to hide cameras in plush toys! Stay away!!!"

Ying Ning's smile turned to horror.