"Husband, you're back?"
Meng Wanting's voice came.
Ye Mingyao hurriedly let go of his hand, stepped aside, and quickly composed himself.
Meng Wanting came down from upstairs, not only bringing a facial mask for Nan Zhifeng but also a set of cosmetics.
Ye Mingyao made small talk for a few sentences before excusing himself to deal with official business in the study.
Nan Zhifeng accepted the gifts, thanked Meng Wanting, and returned with the child.
Once inside and the door locked, she took a small red box out of her suitcase, opened it, and retrieved a photograph.
The girl in the photo looked exactly like her, but her gaze was melancholic and sorrowful...
"Zhiqiu, so your ex-boyfriend was Ye Mingyao. I didn't do anything, and he showed his true colors. He abandoned you and your unborn child for the sake of a family alliance, leading to your mysterious and tragic death. Sister will not let him off..."
"However, he doesn't know about your death. The person who caused your demise probably wasn't him..."
Nan Zhifeng narrowed her eyes, filtering through each member of the Ye Family in her mind, "Sister will certainly find out who the murderer is and give you justice! And I will find your child, rest assured."
...
In the following days, everything remained calm, but she had yet to meet Ye Zhantian.
On the fourth day, problems arose.
Nan Zhifeng refused to let the childcare provider take the child downstairs alone.
In fact, she had been taking care of the child herself these past days, occasionally letting the childcare provider assist, never allowing the child out of her sight.
The childcare provider, employed by someone else, naturally followed instructions.
But she promptly reported this situation to Shen Yue'e.
Shen Yue'e then reported it to the old master of the Ye Family.
So at dinner time, the old master of the Ye Family confronted Nan Zhifeng about it in front of the whole family.
"Holding the child all day without letting go, not even trusting the childcare provider. With such caution and care, could it be that you're worried we might take the child for a DNA test?"
"Uncle Seven is usually as cold as an iceberg and never shows interest in women. Yet he fathered a child outside? Unbelievable." Ye Mingcheng said jestingly, "And auntie, with your delicate appearance, how did you manage to get into our Ye family's birthday feast? Could someone have helped you from behind?"
"Exactly," Shen Yue'e also expressed her confusion, "There are so many women who wish to marry the seventh uncle, all of them from prominent families and excellent in both talents and beauty, who failed to succeed despite trying every trick in the book. And yet you..."
"Are so clever!"
Ye Mingcheng finished the sentence his mother left hanging, his charming peach blossom eyes sizing up Nan Zhifeng.
To describe her as merely beautiful would be an understatement.
Nan Zhifeng's beauty was clean and pure, without any adornment — snowy white skin, black and smooth long hair, perfect facial features, an appropriate body figure, and that cool and unadulterated aura.
Like an uncut jade, naturally flawless!
"Zhifeng, is there something you find difficult to speak about?" Meng Wanting asked softly.
Nan Zhifeng, holding the sleeping Xiaofeng, remained silent.
Ye Mingyao, the eldest, glanced at her and quickly averted his eyes.
Ye Mingsheng, the second eldest, kept his head down eating his meal from beginning to end, not joining in the conversation.
"If you don't speak up, I'll arrange for a paternity test."
The old master's expression turned unpleasant.
"I will talk when Ye Zhantian returns," Nan Zhifeng finally spoke.
"He is very busy with work; it's uncertain when he will come back," the old master lost patience and directly summoned the butler, "Abu, arrange for the hospital!"
"Yes, master..."
"There's no need to arrange anything!"
A cold voice came through.
Nan Zhifeng's heart skipped a beat as she turned to look.
Ye Zhantian strode in, dressed in a sharp black suit that looked extremely commanding under the light.
Though the members of the Ye Family looked quite alike, and Ye Zhantian was only a few years older than his nephews, the overbearing air about him was truly unique!
"Now you can speak," he said.
Ye Zhantian sat beside Nan Zhifeng, looking at the child in her arms.
Clearly, the childcare provider had also reported the situation to him.
Nan Zhifeng raised her head to meet his gaze, her voice trembling as she said,
"Because... Xiaofeng has a congenital heart disease, his body is very frail and cannot withstand any accidents."
Hearing this sentence, the faces of the entire family changed.
The Ye Family had a history of hereditary heart disease, and Ye Zhantian's older brother had died of heart disease.
In the generation of Ye Mingyao, none of the three brothers inherited the condition, yet unexpectedly, the youngest one now showed signs of the generational skip.
This confirmation dispelled any lingering doubts about Xiaofeng's identity.
Not only did he resemble them, but he even shared the same hereditary disease.
What are the odds of such a coincidence in the world?
"Have you seen a doctor?"
The Ye patriarch asked hurriedly.
"We have," Nan Zhifeng's voice choked up, "and the prognosis isn't very optimistic. The reason I've gone to such lengths to have Xiaofeng acknowledged by the family was to hope that you could cure his illness. By myself, it's too difficult."
This kind of hereditary heart disease, not only did it involve exorbitant medical costs, but if it came down to a heart transplant, a common person would have a hard time finding a compatible donor.
Her motives were not to covet the Ye Family's wealth and status, nor to seek the honor of being the Ye madam; it was solely for the sake of treating her child's illness.
This reason was both logical and deeply moving.
If one were to still doubt her, it would seem they harbored malice in their own heart.
Meng Wanting's eyes reddened with sympathy, and she quickly comforted, "Zhifeng, don't worry. We will definitely find the best doctors to treat Xiaofeng. He will be alright."
"Arrange it immediately."
The Ye patriarch instructed Abu to take care of it without delay.
"I'll do it." Shen Yue'e personally made the call.
The whole family was very eager to help.
In contrast, Ye Zhantian, Xiaofeng's father, seemed indifferent, "You should have said something earlier."
Shen Yue'e arranged for a medical team to examine Xiaofeng overnight and admitted him to the hospital for treatment.
Meng Wanting accompanied Nan Zhifeng throughout, and the patriarch personally visited the hospital to instruct that his grandson must be cured.
Late at night, Nan Zhifeng finally returned to her room.
Just as she was about to go to the bathroom to take a shower, the butler, Feng Auntie, came to remind her, "Miss Nan, Mr. Seven is waiting for you."
Ye Zhantian was ranked seventh; he was the patriarch's youngest son, and the household staff referred to him as Mr. Seven.
Shen Yue'e's deceased husband, Ye Shijun, was the eldest, making Shen Yue'e the senior madam.
The fact that the household staff addressed Nan Zhifeng as Miss Nan showed they did not consider her the true mistress of the house.
Indeed, while Nan Zhifeng had gained entry through her son, Ye Zhantian had not married her and had arranged for her to stay in a guest room rather than the master bedroom.
The family clearly knew her status.
However, the Ye Family rules were strict, and although the servants did not treat Nan Zhifeng as the madam, they were respectful and polite to her nonetheless.
"I understand."
After taking a shower, Nan Zhifeng changed into a comfortable white dress and went to the room next door, Ye Zhantian's room.
The room lighting was dim, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.
Ye Zhantian sat on the sofa toweling his hair, wearing a white bathrobe slightly open at the neck, revealing a glimpse of his toned chest.
Just by sitting there, he emitted an intense aura of pressure.
Nan Zhifeng carefully asked, "You wanted to see me?"
Ye Zhantian lifted his eyes to look at her, his gaze deep and enigmatic.
Nan Zhifeng felt a chill down her spine under his gaze.
"Come here!" Ye Zhantian suddenly commanded.
Obediently, Nan Zhifeng walked over, "Mr. Ye... Ah..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ye Zhantian pushed her down onto the sofa.
"What are you doing? Let me go... mmph..."
Ye Zhantian covered her mouth with one hand while the other slipped directly under her skirt, his hot palm slowly moving up along her leg...
Nan Zhifeng's eyes widened in shock, her body trembling.
Ye Zhantian didn't stop his actions; his hot and rough hand kept moving on her body, caressing her smooth and delicate skin...
Her chest heaved with nervousness, her eyes opened wide, filled with terror.
Was he intending to continue what had happened two years ago?