Sunlight streamed through the window into the pristine white hospital room, where Hu Zi Yuan remained nestled by her side. Ning Yue’s arms, from muscles to joints to bones, felt completely disjointed, hanging limply in front of Hu Zi Yuan. She sat slumped in a corner chair, appearing almost paralyzed. After staying busy with the child all night, both father and son’s phones weren’t answered until after seven in the morning. It wasn’t that their phones were off – they were either sleeping too soundly or the phones were too far away to hear.
However, this didn’t prevent them from expressing their concern now. Hu Cheng and his father gathered around Mother-in-law’s hospital bed. Three or four doctors stood there, answering the rapid-fire questions from the two men. Under their protective watch, Mother-in-law, who had been insisting she was fine, suddenly seemed to realize she wasn’t feeling well.
It was indeed a sudden heart attack, but that wasn’t the main issue now. What concerned the two men more was that the elderly lady had broken two ribs!
Yes, while performing cardiac emergency aid, Ning Yue had broken two of Mother-in-law’s ribs.
Only after the doctors repeatedly confirmed that the broken ribs could heal and that the elderly lady was no longer in mortal danger did Hu Cheng, his father, and Mother-in-law finally let the doctors leave.
Hu Cheng turned around and frowned at Ning Yue, saying, “How could you be so careless to break her ribs! Couldn’t you have waited for the nurses to do it?”
Ning Yue lowered her eyelids, having no desire to explain. She even had a slightly mischievous thought about whether to tell him that she hadn’t wanted to do it in the first place.
Mother-in-law whimpered tremulously, “It hurts…”
Father-in-law hesitated before saying, “Hu Cheng, you shouldn’t say that. Didn’t the doctor say that it was thanks to the timely rescue that your mother survived?”
Hu Cheng’s frown deepened as he said to Ning Yue, “I left you at home to take care of Mom, how could you let her fall outside so late at night!”
Ning Yue thought to herself: Fortunately, Mother-in-law chose the room herself; fortunately, she had argued with the renovation workers about not having a bathroom in the room; fortunately, I hadn’t interfered with any of it – otherwise, it would all be my fault! Though it didn’t seem to matter much anyway. After all, last night it was just me and the elderly lady at home. Thinking of this, Ning Yue met Hu Cheng’s accusing gaze and said coolly, “Why don’t we hire a live-in caretaker then, so someone can help them to the bathroom at night!”
Hu Cheng grew angrier, “What nonsense are you talking about? Does my mother need that?”
Ning Yue pursed her lips and turned her head away.
“Hu Cheng!” Mother-in-law spoke up, “Don’t blame Ning Yue. I went to the bathroom by myself, and then suddenly I don’t remember what happened.”
“You’ve never had problems before, how did this suddenly happen?”
As the family continued their discussion, Ning Yue looked down at the worried face of Hu Zi Yuan in her arms and asked softly, “Are you tired?”
Hu Zi Yuan shook his head, “Mom, when are we going home?” He finished with a yawn.
Ning Yue stood up and told Hu Cheng that she needed to take Hu Zi Yuan home since the child hadn’t slept well for half the night.
Hu Cheng merely waved his hand, while his mother said, “Look at what you’ve done, making the child suffer too. What if he gets sick from lack of sleep!”
After being blamed for everything, now even Hu Zi Yuan’s lack of sleep was her fault. Ning Yue had enough and stood up saying, “Oh, so you’re saying I should have left Zi Yuan alone at home to sleep for the night?”
Mother-in-law choked for a moment: “You could have called Hu Cheng or your father to help!”
“They didn’t answer!”
“You should have kept calling!”
“I did…”
“Can’t you just be quiet! Are you trying to anger Mother to death?” Hu Cheng suddenly interrupted Ning Yue’s words, glaring at her as if she had committed an unforgivable sin.
Ning Yue’s words stopped abruptly. She looked at Hu Cheng, watching the flames in her eyes slowly extinguish. If that great fire had continued burning, perhaps there might have been hope for the future, but with the flames extinguished, all that remained was indifference, despair, and understanding after a futile struggle: “There is no place for me to speak here!”
Ning Yue didn’t want to stay for even a second longer. She slowly scanned everyone in the room – they were all busy with their concerns, no one noticing her sudden silence. When her gaze finally fell on Hu Zi Yuan, her heart ached: at this moment, only this child noticed her!
Hu Zi Yuan looked at his mother, his confused eyes gradually clouding with tears. Ning Yue went over and picked him up, gently patting him while saying softly, “It’s alright, Mom will take you home!”
What kind of world is this? Save a stranger and you might be considered a benefactor, receiving thanks. Save your family member, and you’re lucky if you don’t get scolded to death – forget about gratitude, even getting “forgiveness” would be a generous gesture!
Luo Ya Ting put down the phone and smiled helplessly. Since her last attempt to talk with Ning Yue, she has been delayed by various business trips and meetings. When she finally found time to chat with Ning Yue, she learned that Ning Yue had taken leave.
“It’s not showing in the leave system?” Luo Ya Ting remembered seriously checking the attendance records while on the phone.
Pan Jie said on the other end, “Her mother-in-law fainted in the middle of the night and is still in emergency care at the hospital, so she can’t come in today.”
“But it’s just one day, surely she could come in the afternoon?”
“She said her child didn’t sleep for half the night, so she needs to stay home to take care of him.”
Luo Ya Ting frowned and muttered to herself, “Someone like that should just stay at home! Why come out to work? Just causing trouble!”
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and Qin Can enter: “I heard you’ve been looking for Ning Yue several times. What’s the matter? You can tell me instead.”
Qin Can sat at Luo Ya Ting’s desk. After some consideration, Luo Ya Ting asked, “Is Ning Yue’s work situation suitable for office work?”
“Everyone has their family issues.”
“Isn’t she taking leave too frequently?” Luo Ya Ting asked unhurriedly.
Qin Can suddenly smiled and sat up straight, saying seriously, “Why don’t we set up homework then? Working from home would save company resources. Just need to provide a computer.”
“What can an administrative staff do from home?”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to discuss with you.” Qin Can take out a resume, “Ning Yue is capable of doing much more. Our department needs a lawyer.”
Luo Ya Ting didn’t even look at it and smiled, “I know her level all too well. But even the fiercest tiger without a fighting spirit can be taken down by wolves.” Meeting Qin Can’s confused gaze, Luo Ya Ting explained, “This circle is small. When she was working on a case years ago, my colleague was her opponent.”
Qin Can nodded, “So you wanted to reminisce?”
Luo Ya Ting suddenly didn’t know how to respond. She turned to look out the window, remaining silent. She didn’t even notice when Qin Can left. What did she want to say to Ning Yue?
Talk about Hu Cheng? How was that man who had broken her heart doing now? That passionate love affair and heart-wrenching experience had left her speechless in the face of all sweetness since then!
When she became curious about Ning Yue and looked up her resume and gossip, besides the mistress Tian Qiu Zi, she found the man behind Ning Yue – Hu Cheng.
Luo Ya Ting’s ex-husband – the male lead in a marriage that lasted forty-two days.
Ning Yue stayed home with her child to catch up on sleep, and in the afternoon when the sun was good, they went out to enjoy the sunshine and run around a bit. As soon as she entered the house, she saw Hu Cheng and his father sitting exhausted on the sofa.
Seeing Ning Yue come in, Hu Cheng said, “Ning Yue, Mom says the hospital food is terrible, and she doesn’t like takeout because it’s too oily. From now on, you’ll need to bring her meals.”
Ning Yue wanted to roll her eyes. Had she changed her nature? Mother-in-law had cooked at home all her life but loved eating out the most. She always said restaurant food tasted better than home cooking and would take any chance to eat at restaurants. Saying this now was directed at her. However, considering that patients shouldn’t eat greasy food, Ning Yue understood. She nodded and said, “I can bring breakfast and dinner, but what about lunch?”
“Of course, you’ll make that too,” Hu Cheng frowned, “Is there a problem?”
“I still have to work, I won’t make it back in time.”
“Weren’t you laid off?” Hu Cheng had confirmed that Ning Yue was indeed laid off and had received compensation.
Ning Yue said calmly, “I went back.”
“Impossible!” Hu Cheng was bewildered.
Ning Yue explained, “It’s just cost-cutting, eliminating one employee position and changing it to outsourcing to reduce costs.”
“What! You agreed to that?”
“Yes, it’s the same work anyway. The money is about the same, so what’s the difference between being outsourced or not?”
“Of course, there’s a difference! Aren’t you embarrassed? To say that Hu Cheng’s wife is working as a temporary worker for others, are you sick? Are we short of that bit of money?”
Ning Yue was angry and about to retort when she suddenly felt someone pulling her hand. Looking down, she saw Hu Zi Yuan timidly looking up at her. She patted her son and, suppressing her anger, said softly, “I can’t quit my job. If you think we’re not short of money, then hire a housekeeper. Even if I cook for Mom, Dad still needs someone to cook for him. Besides, I haven’t cooked at home for over a decade – are you sure what I make will be edible?”
Hu Cheng was speechless for a moment: “Whether it’s edible or not, you must quit this job! Even if you find something else, don’t do this anymore. The family needs you more right now.”
Ning Yue ignored Hu Cheng and took Hu Zi Yuan’s hand: “Come on, Mom will take you to the study to draw.”
Just as Hu Cheng was about to stop Ning Yue, his father suddenly spoke up: “Hu Cheng, come here for a moment.”
Hu Cheng walked over, and his father waited until he heard the study door close before sighing: “Hu Cheng, last time when Zi Yuan was sick and I called you in the middle of the night, who was that woman who answered?”
Hu Cheng suddenly realized that everyone had been avoiding this topic.
Father said, “If a man can’t make a woman feel secure, she won’t rely on him. Ning Yue wants to work outside – if you make her quit today, she’ll find another job tomorrow. Spend more time at home when you can. This is your home! Zi Yuan is your son!”
Hu Cheng’s mind was in turmoil. Ning Yue had called, she never mentioned it, but she kept insisting on working. Why? Was there a connection between the two? What was Ning Yue trying to do? The answer was becoming clear. Hu Cheng suddenly noticed the teapot lid on the table had been removed at some point. He reached over, picked up the delicate lid, and carefully replaced it.
The clear “click” echoed in the quiet living room.
[Content removed for ethical reasons]
Hu Cheng looked down at his wife, who was trying desperately to suppress her coughing fit, and after observing for a long while, a smile finally appeared at the corner of his mouth: “So that’s how it is!”
He bent down, hands pressed on either side of Ning Yue, and said softly, “Zi Yuan is about school age now. Should I send him to boarding school and tell him his mother is too busy to care for him, or will you quit your job and continue taking him to and from school?”
Ning Yue stopped moving, her lungs burning, but still unable to resist the overwhelming despair: he was the one who decided everything. In this marriage, she had lost not only her career and future but also her dignity as a person and her position in the family!
Hu Cheng grabbed Ning Yue’s chin, roughly turned her head, and continued in a gentle tone, enunciating each word: “Listen to me and take good care of Zi Yuan. I promise you’ll always be his mother. Otherwise, I have ways to turn you into a woman who can’t afford to raise a child!”
Hu Cheng got off Ning Yue and lay down on his back. The memory foam mattress gently undulated, Hu Cheng’s shoulders sinking slightly into the edge of the pillow as he completely relaxed. He closed his eyes and said coldly, “Get out!”
Everything was resolved – both his affair and the trouble of Ning Yue’s resignation were settled. Most importantly, Hu Cheng felt some relief: he now knew what Ning Yue wanted!
Whether facing business opponents or family members, his greatest skill was finding weaknesses and then taking whatever he wanted.
Even at night, the bedroom wasn’t completely dark. When Zi Yuan first slept in his small bed, he asked to be able to see his mother when he woke up at night. The doctor said night lights weren’t good for child development, so after careful consideration, Ning Yue removed the fringe at the bottom of the curtains to let light shine through.
Ning Yue leaned against the window, gazing out through the sheer curtain. The community’s central landscape was right outside, with some landscape lights staying on all night. The rockery was bathed in the lights’ glow, which scattered outward.
The room was thus dimly lit, with shadows of trees, the bed, blankets, and the child… Ning Yue stared at a spot near the headboard where there was a semicircular object. Just a shape, its contents unclear in the darkness. But Ning Yue knew it was a preserved flower. A beautiful rose, sealed in a transparent acrylic frame, resting on velvet – life forever frozen at its most noble, beautiful, and enchanting moment. But it was just death; eternal beauty bought at the price of death. Just like her status as others’ idea of a fortunate housewife – what had that cost her?
Her tears had long since dried up. Ning Yue adjusted the curtains and quietly lay back down on her bed. The bed frame above made a slight creaking sound as Hu Zi Yuan turned over in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible. She stared with dry eyes vacantly at the preserved flower whose shape she could barely make out – slowly reached out, took it, opened the base, and tore it apart.
Early the next morning, Ning Yue took Hu Zi Yuan out for breakfast. Hu Cheng was still sound asleep, and Zi Yuan didn’t ask why his father wasn’t eating. The whole way, he held Ning Yue’s hand tightly, talking non-stop about kindergarten. Ning Yue was somewhat distracted and didn’t notice the tension in her child’s voice. Only when they reached the kindergarten entrance did she sense something was wrong and asked Zi Yuan what was wrong. After hesitating, Zi Yuan said, “Dad is bad, he hit Mom.”
Tears burst from Ning Yue’s eyes as she held her child tightly.
Last night, had he seen it? How much had he seen?
“Mom,” Zi Yuan’s hesitant voice came from behind Ning Yue’s head, “I will protect you.”
Ning Yue didn’t dare turn around, afraid her tears would frighten her child. A lump in her throat prevented her from speaking; she could only nod heavily.
After a long while, Ning Yue finally took a deep breath and pulled Zi Yuan in front of her, solemnly telling him: “There are indeed some problems between Dad and Mom. However, these are adult matters. Mom will handle them. Trust me!”
Zi Yuan reached out to touch Ning Yue’s face, nodding slightly. He had eyes exactly like Hu Cheng’s, now filled with tears, behind which lay undisguisable terror.
Ning Yue took out tissues, wiped away her child’s tears, and said in a gentler tone: “No matter what happens between Mom and Dad, we both love you – nothing can change that. Especially Mom – Mom will love you forever!”
“I don’t want Mom and Dad to divorce!” The child finally broke down, crying as he threw himself into Ning Yue’s arms, then sobbed, “I don’t want Dad to hit Mom!”
Leaving the hospital, Ning Yue held a medical certificate documenting the injuries on her neck and some gynecological examinations. She carefully placed the certificate in a file folder that already contained several freshly developed photos of the marks on her neck.
When she stepped into the office, Ning Yue habitually checked the time – she was an hour and a half late. Her colleagues looked up in surprise, and Pan Jie said, “Manager Luo is looking for you.”
Ning Yue nodded; none of that mattered anymore.
She walked to Qin Can’s office. He asked curiously why she was so late, wondering if something had happened at home. Ning Yue said, “I want to resign.”
Qin Can give her a “you’re crazy” look. He certainly remembered how adamantly she had insisted on keeping this job just a month and a half ago. Now Ning Yue came in expressionless, declaring so firmly – resignation!
Ning Yue repeated herself.
Qin Can finally found his voice: “Why? Is something wrong with your child? If you need leave, I can approve it.”
Ning Yue’s expression finally showed a crack. She touched her tightly buttoned collar, looking away as she said softly, “It’s nothing, I just need to resign!”
“I remember you wanted to keep this job! And…” Qin Can seemed at a loss. He was designing a homework system, and if approved, he had planned to offer the first position to Ning Yue. He paused, as it wasn’t his style to discuss uncertain matters. He hesitated, remembering something else, “Your labor contract has a high penalty clause. And you modified it yourself – eliminating any defense of unconscionability or standard form contract.”
Ning Yue said: “I know. And I can’t afford to pay it.”
Qin Can be stunned.
Ning Yue said: “So the company must sue me.”
Qin Can shook his head: “No, no, no! If you want to resign, I’ll allow it. Contracts are just mutual agreement, we can sign a supplementary…”
“No, Director Qin, the company must sue me.” Ning Yue suddenly became agitated, “If you want to help me, you must sue me.”
Qin Can carefully examine Ning Yue, his gaze finally fixed on her neck. Although the collar was buttoned tight, looking carefully, one could still see slight bruising at the edge. Qin Can wasn’t naive; during his law firm internship, he had handled minor criminal and family cases and knew something about injury marks.
“What happened to your neck?” Qin Can leaned forward with one arm on his desk as if trying to see more clearly.
Ning Yue’s fingers traced the edge of her collar, “It’s nothing, I’ll handle it myself.”
“You were a lawyer, you remember how to handle this, right?” Qin Can pressed, his expression grave.
Ning Yue nodded. Seeing her resistance, Qin Can hesitantly sat back: “If you need help, just tell me.”
“Then file for labor arbitration, make me pay according to the contract,” Ning Yue said. “I stated in the contract that I’m willing to use my personal property as security to ensure payment of compensation. You can apply for enforcement.”
Qin Can shook his head: “Absurd!”
Ning Yue nodded: “Indeed. But as long as there’s action, it’s enough. If you do this, maybe I can come back. I’m begging you!” Ning Yue’s expression turned sorrowful, her excessive earnestness making her appear helpless and flustered.
Qin Can’s gaze lingered on Ning Yue’s face, “Alright, I’ll do it. Though I don’t think this is a good solution! But if you want to come back and can’t, you must discuss it with me. We’ll find a way. Including,” he paused, “the child!”
Ning Yue’s pupils dilated sharply before returning to normal. She shook her head helplessly, smiling bitterly: “Am I that obvious?”
Qin Can sighed: “We know a bit about your family situation. We’ve been colleagues for so long, don’t be too distant.”
Ning Yue paused, thinking, “Pan Jie? Her relatives know Tian Qiu Zi.”
Qin Can was surprised that Ning Yue knew so precisely.
Ning Yue just smiled without saying more. Since Tian Qiu Zi was going to such lengths to torment her, she would be failing her profession if she couldn’t figure out Tian Qiu Zi’s background.
Though Qin Can was clever, he had never married. Besides descriptions from news and inspirational articles, he had no way to understand how brutal the war between husband and wife could be. So seeing that Ning Yue had done considerable behind-the-scenes work, he was surprised. At the same time, as a friend, he felt somewhat relieved.
At noon, Ning Yue brought the prepared lunch to Mother-in-law’s hospital bed. Seeing Ning Yue so obedient, Mother-in-law hesitated: “Ning Yue, are you alright?”
Ning Yue lowered her head and smiled, pushing the food in front of the old lady: “Try it, see if it suits your taste.”
Just as Mother-in-law was about to say something, the phone rang. Listening to the old lady talk, Ning Yue knew it was Hu Cheng calling. Her lips curved in a cold smile.
Outside the window, the flowers bloomed brilliantly, but couldn’t warm the cold desolation in her heart. Zi Yuan had seen everything! Father hitting Mother – what impact would that have on a child? Let her son watch or sense his mother being abused, then grow up under such a shadow? No, this wasn’t her original intention in maintaining this marriage. She wanted a warm home – if Hu Cheng would give it, fine; if not? She would fight to take it back!
Ning Yue gently stroked her neck, every joint aching. She pressed hard on the wound, the intense pain like a hot iron, burning last night’s memories – which instinct was trying to erase – back into her mind! She needed to remember this night, and never forget it!
Hu Cheng, you only had one chance, and you’ve used it up!