Yun Shu's barrage of questions left Lu Jianshen somewhat irritable.
He tugged at his tie and said in a muted voice, "Mom, Nan Xi is very calm, it's not as serious as you say."
"Not serious?"
Struggling to keep herself calm, she looked at Lu Jianshen again, "Your grandfather doesn't know about this yet. If he finds out, flaying you would be letting you off lightly. You'd better watch out."
"Also, don't think I can't see through your plans. If you want to hide it, then do it properly. Your grandfather's health is deteriorating; he's not as strong as he used to be. If he detects anything amiss and something unfortunate happens, you are my son, but I will still cut you down without hesitation."
"And don't think just because you get Nan Xi to ask for a divorce, we will agree to it. I suggest you give up that notion right away. You are my son; do you think I don't know what you're really like?"
"Fang Qinglian is not as simple as you think. She was able to leave decisively back then, and now, two years later, she comes back wagging her tail. Do you know what she's plotting?"
Lu Jianshen appeared to be nonchalantly drinking water, but his heart was already in turmoil.
How could his mother know all of this?
On the ride home, Lu Jianshen sat in the car silent, exuding an aura that kept everyone at bay.
Even the driver in the front seat held his breath, cautious and careful.
"Nan Xi?" As soon as he got home, Lu Jianshen called out her name, his whole person wrapped in a layer of barely contained anger.
"Where is she?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than he saw Nan Xi on the sofa.
As he approached, Nan Xi happened to wake up.
Seeing him return, Nan Xi immediately rubbed her eyes and said in a drowsy voice, "You're back? Oh right, there's something I need to tell you, mom seems to have found out about our divorce."
"Was it not you who told her?" Lu Jianshen asked angrily.
Nan Xi was a bit confused by his question.
It took her a moment to catch on, and then she looked incredulously at the man standing before her, "What do you mean? Are you saying that I leaked our divorce to mom?"
"Was it not?"
"Of course not."
Lu Jianshen scoffed, his deep eyes becoming sharp and icy cold.
That coldness, shooting straight into Nan Xi's chest, was more painful than a knife, "This matter, I've only discussed with you. If it wasn't you, then who was it? If you don't want to divorce, you can just tell me. Why resort to such tricks? I've said any compensation is up for discussion—I'll satisfy any of your demands, even if you want an equal split of the property, I'll agree to it."
For a moment, Nan Xi felt as if she had forgotten how to breathe, her mind going blank.
She opened her lips, but found that suddenly she couldn't utter a single word.
This misunderstanding was too painful for her.
"So you have nothing to say now?"
The scorn in Lu Jianshen's voice made the pain in her chest even worse.
After a while, she composed herself, "So what you're saying is, everything I've done, it's all for your money, for your property?"
"What else?" Lu Jianshen looked at her coldly, "Or are you actually unwilling to get divorced? Agreeing with me on the surface but then telling mom and grandpa behind my back. Nan Xi, you've played your hand well, so well that even I can't help but applaud."
"Is this really what you think of me?"
With a self-deprecating laugh, Nan Xi lowered her eyelashes.
Forget it, she was tired.
She didn't want to explain anymore.
Nor did she want to justify herself.
Anyway, once the grandfather's birthday had passed, they would divorce, and then to each their own way, with no contact ever again.
"With all that you've done, how do you expect me to think of you?"
"And you? Why did you marry me in the first place?"
Although she already knew the reason, Nan Xi felt crazy for still stubbornly wanting an answer.
She wanted to hear him say it, for him to tell her personally.
Lu Jianshen's silence made her feel even worse, "Why won't you say it? Say it!"
"You said at the beginning it was voluntary, quite the voluntary indeed—to volunteer your own marriage for an ex-girlfriend, to willingly use yourself as bait to trap me. Lu Jianshen, your voluntariness is indeed brilliant; I can't help but admire you to the fullest."
"Say something!" Nan Xi couldn't help but shout out.
Long, silent.
The air between the two was suffocating.
Nan Xi took a breath, suddenly feeling even the air was painful, as if inhaling knives that pricked her throat.
"Why don't you explain?" Nan Xi's laugh was filled with desolation.
"Because you can't explain at all."
She answered her own question, feeling as though her chest had been hollowed out, blood gushing out unstoppably.
"I'm sorry!"
In the end, all she could wait for were these three words.
"Haha… I'm sorry!" Nan Xi muttered, laughing until she was on the verge of tears.
What a "sorry".
This word is truly all-powerful.
As if no matter what you do, no matter what mistakes you make, these three words can be the answer.
She felt so bad.
It hurt so much and was unbearable.
Especially the lower abdomen, which felt as if it was being pulled taut, the pain spasmodically intense.
Soon, she felt something wet and sticky beneath her.
Realizing what it might be, Nan Xi's face instantly turned as pale as death.
If she wasn't mistaken, she was bleeding, and it wasn't just a little.
"Baby, don't scare Mommy. You must be safe and sound!"
"Please be okay, you must be okay."
"I'm sorry, baby. It's Mommy's fault for not protecting you!"
Nan Xi was consumed with self-reproach.
Seeing her abnormally pale, Lu Jianshen quickly said, "What's wrong with you? You look terrible. I'll take you to the hospital."
"Don't pretend to be compassionate."
Nan Xi suddenly stretched out her hand and shoved his away.
The pain in her lower abdomen was getting worse.
And she could feel she was still bleeding.
It's said that the first three months for pregnant women are the most unstable, and miscarriages are incredibly common.
Thinking this, Nan Xi immediately regretted her actions.
She might be angry with him, but right now the baby was the most important thing. She shouldn't have used the baby as a pawn in her anger with him.
Her lips trembled as Nan Xi tried to open her mouth to speak.
Suddenly, a vast darkness enveloped her vision, and her body, without any warning, fell backward.
"Nan Xi."
Fortunately, Lu Jianshen reacted quickly and caught her in his arms.
"Nan Xi, wake up!"
Lu Jianshen held her and rushed downstairs while instructing someone to prepare the car.
When Nan Xi came to, they had just arrived at the hospital, and Lu Jianshen was carrying her towards the emergency room.
His face was covered in anxiety, and due to running, fine beads of sweat covered his face, stripping away his usual handsome and refined appearance, instead making him look somewhat disheveled and disordered.
If only he were truly worried about her, how wonderful that would be.
Unfortunately, it was probably just because of guilt.
Upon reaching the emergency room, the glaring overhead lights suddenly turned on. Nan Xi didn't close her eyes; instead, she opened them wide as tears rolled down her cheeks in streams.
The doctor came in, and Nan Xi grabbed her hand, crying and pleading, "I'm pregnant. Please, save my child."
Looking at the pool of fresh blood gushing from beneath her, the doctor said with difficulty, "I will do my best, but you need to be prepared mentally. The chances of saving the baby are very low."