Chapter Five: Divorce Is the Only Way

The words Ding Lei had just spoken flashed through her mind: She’s in the midst of a divorce...

She stopped walking, hesitated not at all, and entered the hospital room.

Li Ran was lost in thought when a strange man suddenly burst into the room. Instinctively, she sat up, wary and alert. “Who are you? Why are you in my room?”

Ye Huai said nothing, his eyes fixed intently upon her, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

At last, his gaze settled on her face. He remembered that night—it was this very face.

“I asked you a question!” Li Ran pressed him again when he didn't respond.

“You’re getting divorced?”

Li Ran was stunned. She had only spoken of her divorce to Zhang Fan Fan; even her close friend Chu Jing didn’t know. How could this stranger possibly be aware?

“I don’t know you. Please leave!” she said.

Ye Huai remained unmoved, offering instead a faint, enigmatic smile. “I can help you. You won’t have to leave with nothing.”

Li Ran couldn’t fathom his intentions. He appeared out of nowhere, offered help—what did he want from her? Yet, his words struck a chord. Zhang Fan Fan was unwilling to divorce; if she forced the matter, she feared she would gain nothing by her own methods.

But she could not trust this man who had suddenly appeared.

Ye Huai caught every flicker of emotion in her eyes, but he was in no hurry. He took a business card from his pocket and placed it on her bedside table.

With quiet certainty, he said, “I believe you’ll come to find me.”

Then, without another word, he walked away.

Ding Lei had been listening from outside, following Ye Huai for some time. He was never one to meddle in trivial affairs—why was he behaving so out of character today?

“Boss, what does this mean? Why do you want to help her?”

“Don’t you think she’s interesting?” Ye Huai replied, tossing out the words before climbing into the car.

Interesting? Ding Lei saw nothing of the sort.

...

Only after he’d gone did Li Ran pick up the card and glance at it. The white card held nothing but a phone number—no name, no title.

She turned it over and over in her hands. That man seemed to know everything, yet said nothing of his motives. What was his purpose?

As she pondered, footsteps echoed outside the door. Li Ran quickly slipped the card into her pocket.

Zhang Nan entered, carrying things, her manner ingratiating. “Ran Ran, come eat something. You’re expecting now, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t throw any more tantrums.”

Li Ran fixed her gaze on Zhang Fan Fan. He did not look at all like a man rejoicing at fatherhood.

“You personally bought me breakfast? I’m truly honored. But all this is for the sake of my child, isn’t it?” Li Ran exposed her intentions without hesitation.

The smile on Zhang Nan’s face froze, turning awkward. “It’s nothing like that. My grandson is in your belly—don’t talk about divorce again, understand?”

“No, I want a divorce,” Zhang Fan Fan, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.

Li Ran stared at him, unable to understand his sudden change of heart. After learning she was pregnant, she had decided to give the child a complete family, refusing divorce. As for Zhang Fan Fan and An Qi’s affair, she would choose to tolerate it.

But now, what was Zhang Fan Fan playing at?

“Fan Fan, are you so happy you’ve lost your mind? Talking about divorce! I’m telling you, for my grandson’s sake, you’re not allowed to get divorced!” Zhang Nan was the first to protest.

Zhang Fan Fan sneered coldly. He stepped forward, gripping Li Ran’s arm and pulling her roughly out of bed. “My child? Li Ran, tell her—is the baby in your belly really mine?”