Liu Yunxi's face was streaming with tears, "How could this be? It shouldn't be like this... How could I give birth to your child! Ah—"
Li Tingshen gripped Gu Mian's hand tightly.
The two exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, they both saw a hint of relief in each other's eyes.
Old Madam Li also took a sigh of relief.
It was better for Li Bao to be Li Hongxuan's than to be Li Tingshen's.
It was just like that with Li Hongxuan, having one more son didn't matter, but Li Tingshen and his wife were devoted to each other, their love should be pure, with no impurities.
"Old Madam, there's something else I must report..." the doctor said with a troubled look on his face, "Director Li, he... he..."
Old Madam Li said, "Speak plainly."
"We found the HIV virus in Director Li's blood, which means AIDS."
Everyone was shocked!
"How is that possible!" Li Hongxuan abruptly stood up from the sofa, "Don't spout nonsense here! How could I possibly get AIDS!"
"Director Li, how would I dare to make this up?" the doctor said, sweating profusely with fear, "If you don't believe me, feel free to get tested at another hospital."
"Nonsense! Believe it or not, I..."
Before Li Hongxuan could finish his sentence, Old Madam Li's vision went dark and she fainted!
"Grandma!"
...
Gu Mian stayed in the hospital until the evening, and Old Madam Li finally woke up.
"Grandma, how are you feeling now?"
"I'm fine," Old Madam Li said with a pained expression, "Mian, our Li family has fallen on misfortune..."
"Grandma, his private life is so chaotic that it's normal for him to contract such a disease," Gu Mian consoled, "You should be more open-minded."
"Indeed," Old Madam Li said with a bitter smile, "A man who often walks by the river does not choose his stepping stones with care. It is only a matter of time before he gets his shoes wet. With his character, today's outcome was expected. To speak unpleasantly, this day has actually come much later than I had anticipated..."
Standing to the side, Nanny Zhang sighed, "Young Mistress, do you have a way to treat it?"
"No," Gu Mian said flatly, "Even if there were, I wouldn't help her."
"Aunt Gu was very kind to me, and I would never help a man who ruined her life."
Nanny Zhang did not say anything more.
Gu Mian held Old Madam Li's hand, "Grandma, the doctor said your blood pressure is a little high, you need to stay in the hospital for observation for two days. Once you're discharged, go stay at Yunyue Bay for a while and let Niannian keep you company."
"Okay," Old Madam Li said, her eyes filled with tears, "Seeing Niannian makes me happy."
"Mm."
Gu Mian stayed with Old Madam Li in the hospital and had dinner before leaving.
Just as she walked out of the ward, a man who looked like a bodyguard approached respectfully and said, "Young Mistress, I am Director Li's bodyguard. Director Li has been admitted to the hospital for examination and treatment, and he is asking for you to visit him."
Gu Mian flatly refused, "I don't have the time."
"Young Mistress, after all, you are family. It wouldn't be right not to go, would it?"
Gu Mian smiled faintly, "Director Li has already broken off with Tingshen. Isn't it a bit too late to talk about family now?"
Bodyguard: "..."
"If Director Li is looking for me, it must be about his illness. Tell Director Li that I can't help him."
...
Gu Mian returned to Yunyue Bay, first visiting Lin Jinshu and Niannian.
When she got back to the master bedroom, she heard Li Tingshen on the phone.
"How could Li Hongxuan get AIDS... Look into it."
Gu Mian entered the room.
"Back already?" Li Tingshen hung up the phone, "How's grandma?"
"She's awake now, and there's nothing seriously wrong," Gu Mian asked, "Who were you talking to just now?"
"Procedures."
"How could Li Hongxuan not have gotten AIDS?" Gu Mian was curious, "His private life is so chaotic; it would be normal for him to get AIDS."
"Wife, you don't understand." Li Tingshen chuckled lightly, "Li Hongxuan values his own life, and a scandal like this is the last thing anyone in a powerful household would want."
"Although he loves to play, he actually makes sure that the women he's involved with are thoroughly investigated first to ensure they're clean. And as for one-night stands, he always takes safety precautions to avoid accidents."
"...So you suspect there's something fishy going on?"
Li Tingshen was noncommittal, "I can only say, it indeed caught me by surprise."
Gu Mian pondered.
Li Tingshen wrapped his arm around her slender waist and said in a deep voice, "Wife, Li Bao is not my son, our enemies have not succeeded in their plot against us."
"Mhm."
"I am very relieved." Li Tingshen gazed at her deeply, "Although we misunderstood each other before, I am still very relieved that the thorn in our hearts has finally been removed."
"You no longer have to convince yourself to accept this because of your deep love for me, you no longer have to feel aggrieved."
Gu Mian's eyes were moist, "Tingshen, it's all in the past now, and everything will get better."
Li Tingshen kissed her lips directly.
Both their hearts were filled with a myriad of emotions.
Complicated feelings instantly melted into a surge of passion, scorching them both.
As Li Tingshen kissed her, he carried her toward the bed.
Garments from their bodies scattered all over the ground as they got straight to the point.
Like venting some profound emotion, Li Tingshen claimed her wildly.
Gu Mian was swallowed by the waves again and again, unable to control her own body or soul, only able to repeatedly sink into oblivion under his guidance...
...
The next day, in the afternoon.
When Gu Mian came downstairs, she heard Jiang Yi on the phone.
"What does her issue have to do with me? I couldn't care less about her affairs!"
"I don't need this sister; whoever wants her can have her... That's it!"
Jiang Yi hung up the phone and turned around to find Gu Mian standing behind him.
"What happened to Liu Yunxi?" Gu Mian asked.
"She's gone crazy." Jiang Yi said with disgust, "Ever since she found out that Li Bao is Li Hongxuan's, she's been going nuts, nearly smashed up the hospital. My mom can't even calm her down."
"She even hit Li Bao. My mom says she now looks at Li Bao with hatred in her eyes. She must be crazy. Isn't Li Bao her own flesh and blood?"
Gu Mian shook her head helplessly, "She loves Tingshen and previously thought Li Bao was his child, so of course, she loved him by extension."
"But now that she suddenly found out Li Bao is Li Hongxuan's, she probably can't even catch her breath with shock."
Jiang Yi sighed, "My mom just called to say that MS Corporation has already issued a statement, and Liu Yunxi will probably cause a scene again..."
Online public opinion started to shift after MS Corporation released a statement.
MS Corporation V: [After DNA testing, it has been proven that our corporation's president is not the biological father of Ms. Liu's son.
In response to Ms. Liu's actions of fabricating lies to incite public opinion against my wife and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hall, we will formally file a lawsuit against Ms. Liu.]
Once the statement was released, the internet exploded with reactions.
[As expected from Sister Sperm-Stealer, not getting slapped in the face just isn't your style!]
[Money is almighty, but even paternity reports can be faked, right?]
[Sister Sperm-Stealer is so tough, she wouldn't let anyone slander her without fighting back. @WhatMakesAHome]
[Insiders, speak up. Sister Sperm-Stealer really thought the kid was her cousin's, but the DNA comparison at the hospital didn't match. Upon investigation, it turned out, the kid is her cousin's father's. ]
[Holy smokes, is it that explosive? Grandpa becomes daddy?]
[I can't get enough; there's never an end to Sister Sperm-Stealer's melodramas...]]