"Oh."
The man sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"So it's about money. What else could it be? It's not even a month yet, why are you in such a hurry? Don't worry, you won't be shortchanged. Just wait. Do you think the Fu family can't afford to feed you?"
After a moment, he added, "Don't call me unless it's important. If there's anything, I'll contact you."
The call ended abruptly.
Sheng Xiangsi held her phone, stunned.
He truly loathed her to this extent!
"Heh, heh..."
Sheng Xiangsi's face turned pale, realizing how utterly humiliating it was to beg him for money just now.
She silently placed her hand on her still-flat belly, closed her eyes, and tears spilled from the corners.
...
Eight months later.
Philadelphia, slums.
Sheng Xiangsi lay asleep on her bed, her belly now large and round, indicating she was near her due date. The doctor had suggested she be admitted early due to the baby being in a breech position.
Sheng Xiangsi just smiled and said nothing.
Because she had no money.
Eight months ago, after that phone call with Fu Hanjiang where he spoke so heartlessly, the living allowance...
Still hadn't arrived.
Sheng Xiangsi used up all her savings, moved out of her apartment, and ended up in the slums.
She never asked him for money again.
She couldn't bear to hear him call her a parasite.
Once settled in the slums, Sheng Xiangsi found a part-time job, balancing work and school.
Though the pay was meager, it was enough to keep her and her baby fed if she was frugal.
While she slept soundly...
Suddenly, a cacophony of shouting broke out.
"Fire!"
"Run!"
Sheng Xiangsi woke up, got out of bed, and opened the door to see chaos outside. Smoke billowed and flames raged!
Her face turned white.
"Sheng!"
Her neighbor, also an international student, saw her and rushed over.
"Why are you still here? There's a fire! Run!"
"Oh! Okay!"
Sheng Xiangsi hurried back to grab her backpack.
She tried to go further inside but was grabbed by her neighbor, "Are you crazy? Where are you going? Run!"
"No!"
Sheng Xiangsi stamped her foot anxiously.
Her money was still inside, the money she had painstakingly saved, penny by penny, for her baby!
For hospital fees, diapers, formula... she needed that money!
"I have to go in!"
She took a step forward, but a burning beam fell from above!
"Ah!"
Sheng Xiangsi quickly stepped back.
She wasn't hurt, but the path was blocked.
"Sheng! We need to go!"
"No!"
Sheng Xiangsi shook her head desperately. She couldn't leave! She broke free from her neighbor and rushed forward regardless.
"Ah!"
A burst of flames surged towards her, scorching her lower back. She winced in pain.
"Sheng!"
Her neighbor pulled her back, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Cough, cough..."
She shook her head, but the thick smoke made her cough uncontrollably.
"We have to go!"
Her neighbor dragged her away, "Think about your baby! This smoke can kill! Do you want to die with your baby?"
"Run!"
Half-dragged, Sheng Xiangsi finally left the burning building.
Her back was burned, and she hadn't retrieved the money. She could only watch as her shabby rented room was engulfed in flames and turned to ash!
What was she going to do now?
"Ah!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain hit her, and Sheng Xiangsi clutched her belly.
"What's wrong? What's happening?"
People around her rushed over.
"She's having a baby!"
"Call an ambulance! Get her to the hospital!"
...
"Ah!"
"Push!"
Sheng Xiangsi was taken to the hospital and lay on the delivery bed, enduring over ten hours of labor, narrowly escaping death.
Finally, she gave birth to a baby.
A fair-skinned nurse handed her the baby, and Sheng Xiangsi, tears streaming down her face, smiled.
This was her baby...
Her family...
She wasn't alone anymore!
She closed her eyes and passed out.
...
When she opened her eyes again, Sheng Xiangsi held her baby, eyes downcast, silent.
The fair-skinned nurse looked at her helplessly, there to collect the hospital fees, but Sheng Xiangsi had paid only a fraction.
Sheng Xiangsi kept her head down, speechless.
She knew she was shameless, but she truly had no money left...
"Sigh."
The nurse, soft-hearted, looked at the young girl, guessing she'd been abandoned by a heartless man.
"Do you have any family? Or friends? Contact them, ask for help."
With that, she left, not pressing her too hard.
Sheng Xiangsi raised her head, eyes full of tears.
Family? Friends? She truly had none...
But she was a mother now. She couldn't be a scoundrel and owe the hospital money!
Sheng Xiangsi pulled out her phone from her bag.
After eight months, she called Fu Hanjiang again.
The phone rang and rang...
Finally, it connected.
"Fu..."
"Hello?"
She had just opened her mouth when a familiar female voice interrupted. It was Yao Leyi!
"Is this Sheng Xiangsi?"
Yao Leyi smiled lightly, her voice soft, "Are you looking for Hanjiang? He's not available right now. Is there something I can help you with?"
Could she be this kind-hearted?
Did she not hate her?
But at this moment, Sheng Xiangsi had no choice.
She had no other options!
Thickening her skin, almost pleading, "I... I need to borrow some money?"
She no longer dared to ask directly, only dared to consider it a loan.
"Please, I'll pay him back as soon as I can!"
"Alright."
Yao Leyi laughed, "Got it, I'll let him know. Goodbye."
"Thank you..."
Before Sheng Xiangsi finished speaking, the call ended.
She held her phone, heart in her throat.
Would Fu Hanjiang lend her money? Perhaps out of respect for his grandmother, or because they weren't officially divorced yet...
But days passed, and nothing came.
Two days later, Sheng Xiangsi, with her bag and baby, stood at the hospital entrance.
Unable to pay the hospital fees, she was kicked out.
Looking up at the sky, the winter sun stung Sheng Xiangsi's eyes, tears flooding her vision.
"Don't cry."
Sheng Xiangsi bit her lip, scolding herself.
"What right do you have to cry? You're a mother now, you have a child to care for! No crying!"
But she was penniless, her home in the slums was burned, and she had nowhere to go...
...
Two weeks later.
Sheng Xiangsi clutched her baby, running desperately.
"Thief! She stole something!"
"Stop her!"
The footsteps behind her grew closer and closer!
She knew she couldn't escape.
Stumbling, Sheng Xiangsi fell, turning as she did to protect her baby.
"Got her!"
Before she could get up, store employees pinned her down.
"Let's see what she stole!"
They took her bag, opened it, and spilled the contents.
"Baby formula? Diapers? Why steal these?"
"Look, she has a baby!"
Sheng Xiangsi closed her eyes in shame, wishing she could die then and there. She had lost all dignity!
But clutching her baby, she knew she didn't even have the right to die...