Chapter 196: 90: A Family by the Spring Chapter 196: Avenging the Little Baby in the Most Tragic Way

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

Zhang Xiaoqian was also injured, and both were sent to the hospital together.

Guben rushed to the hospital, furious beyond restraint, barely holding himself back from strangling her on the spot.

Zhang Xiaoqian had drunk alcohol before driving and tried to get away with drunk driving.

Guben insisted on prosecuting her, but things backfired.

Zhang Xiaoqian's mother produced a hospital certificate in open court, stating her daughter suffered from schizophrenia.

The illness was related to her father's death; before Zhang Xiaoqian went to the United States, she had been traumatized by her father's death, causing her to lose her mind.

The mother and daughter thought that with mental illness as an excuse they could escape punishment, but how could Heaven easily forgive them?

Guben had not yet acted, but someone could no longer wait and struck first.

The court declared her not guilty and released her, and the mother and daughter wanted to take the opportunity to leave Shanghai.

On the night before returning to the United States, Wang Fan saw Zhang Xiaoqian drinking away her sorrows at a bar, used an excuse to send Liu Rushi, who was seeing her off, away, and told her the truth about her father's death.

"You shouldn't have saved Guben; he personally sent your father to hell, and you saved your father's killer."

He leaned close to her ear, seeming to flirt with her, but actually spoke the cruelest words.

Only now did Zhang Xiaoqian learn that her father's death was connected to Guben.

She could not accept the cruel fact, and under the stimulation of alcohol, her mind collapsed again; she rushed out of the bar and ran into the middle of the road.

On a night of pouring rain just the same, a speeding car struck her and sent her flying.

Wang Fan watched all this coldly, with no intention of saving her, and after the ambulance arrived, he coldly turned and left.

Zhang Xiaoqian's injuries were too severe, and she died.

Her mother was convinced that Guben had killed her daughter and took revenge in a frenzy.

When she lunged at him with a knife, Guben did not dodge and took the blow head-on.

He used this tragic way to avenge the unborn baby.

Zhang Xiaoqian's mother was arrested and imprisoned for intentional murder, receiving legal punishment.

The mother and daughter both paid the price they deserved for what they did; this karmic bond starting from the Dragon Bed thus came to an end.

On New Year's Eve of the Year of the Rabbit, a pair of ill-fated lovebirds spent it in a hospital ward.

To avoid worrying their relatives, they told no one; only Wu Meng and her younger brother knew the truth.

And, another person who had been secretly caring for Lin Xiyu.

——

Hospital, ward.

"Your body hasn't recovered yet; if you keep going like this, your health will collapse."

"When am I that delicate? The doctor said I'd be fine after the curettage, so stop worrying about me and take care of yourself."

Guben had undergone surgery and was out of danger. Lin Xiyu cared for him by his sickbed without taking off her clothes, refusing to leave no matter how he persuaded her.

"You're punishing me..."

Guben smiled helplessly: "For not taking good care of you two, mother and child."

"That's exactly punishing you..."

Lin Xiyu poked his wound with her finger: "See if you still dare to joke with your own life in the future..."

"Hiss."

Guben sucked in a breath of cold air from the pain: "I won't rest easy until that woman is sent to prison; I'm afraid she'll come to hurt you again."

"Then you don't need to risk your life like that, do you?"

Lin Xiyu's eyes turned red; just thinking of him stabbed in the abdomen and unconscious made her heart ache as if bleeding.

"This is the fastest and most effective method."

Guben raised his arm and gently and tenderly stroked her face.

"I'll forgive you this time."

Lin Xiyu's heart softened, and she couldn't bear to scold him further: "But you must promise me that before your body is fully healed, you can't be so desperate like before, staying up all night for a lousy case."

"Okay, I promise you."

Guben's eyes and brows were gentle: "After I wrap up the case at hand, I'll take a vacation and stay home with you."

"Beep beep..."

As he was speaking, his mobile phone vibrated slightly; the incoming call showed a number from the law firm.

"Who is it?"

Lin Xiyu frowned slightly, a bit displeased: "Calling the hospital at this hour."

"Let me take it."

Guben took the phone, pressed the answer key, and the voice of the law firm director, slightly apologetic, came from the earpiece: "Xiao Gu, I have some bad news to tell you..."

Lin Xiyu sensed something was wrong, and her mood sank to the bottom of the valley.

——

Zhang Xiaoqian drove into someone; after her death, her mother took revenge, and the follow-up events escalated, with the identities and backgrounds of the parties involved being dug up; five years ago, Guben's mother's embezzlement and bribery were exposed as a result.

The director of the law firm clearly explained over the phone that a client had heard the news and requested to change their lawyer, and he tactfully indicated that Guben could rest for a while, with the time for him to take on cases again to be determined.

"Not letting you work is fine anyway; I also don't want you to go back to that law firm."

Lin Xiyu saw Guben was downcast and painedly embraced him.

"It's okay."

Guben struggled to hide his inner grief and indignation, turning to comfort her: "Before returning to the country, I had already thought such a thing might happen. After all, the domestic situation is different from abroad, and the charge of being the son of a corrupt official is a shackle I cannot shake off, one that will bind me for a lifetime."

"This is also why Grandpa and Grandma forced me and Eldest Brother to sever ties with Mother back then. They lived a lifetime and know better than us how severe the impact is. I myself chose the most difficult path."

"I blame no one. The only person I feel guilty for is you. Knowing full well I would drag you down, even our child, I still selfishly wanted to possess you and didn't want to let you go......."

——

"I'm not afraid of being dragged down......"

Lin Xiyu's gaze was resolute: "Even if everyone misunderstands you, I will firmly support you. At worst, I'll quit my job and stop being a teacher. We'll start a business together and run our own company."

"Didn't you want to be a teacher since you were young?"

Guben gently stroked her hair, a flash of emotion in his eyes: "Give up so easily? Can you bear to?"

"For you, there's nothing I can't give up......"

Lin Xiyu's true feelings poured out: "Five years ago, you bore everything alone. I couldn't share your burden, and my heart has been heavy ever since..... 。"

"This time is different. I want to face the difficulties with you and share the responsibility together. You must remember: I am your wife, the mother of your future child. You can't hide anything from me anymore, can't push me away, and can't just leave irresponsibly."

"I won't. I never will again."

Overcome with emotion, Guben wrapped his arms tightly around her: "I won't leave you again. Even if you chase me away, I won't go. In this life, I'll cling to you and never let go."

"That's what you said. No going back......"

Lin Xiyu was happy to hear it, but she wouldn't let him off easily: "If you dare to leave without a word again in the name of doing what's good for me, I'll never speak to you again. The moment you walk out the front door, I'll find someone to marry me at the back door. I'm still a good catch, plenty of people want to marry me......"

"Apart from me, who else do you want to marry?"

Guben's face darkened, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Why so fierce?"

Lin Xiyu deliberately acted unreasonable to help him release his inner sorrow: "I'm not like you, with a host of female confidantes and benefactors. The moment you returned, you got entangled with certain people, claiming to repay kindness while working for her."

"I really didn't do it to repay a kindness......"

Guben helplessly rubbed his forehead: "If she weren't a lawyer and hadn't opened a law firm, I wouldn't have any dealings with her at all."

"But she just happens to be a lawyer."

Lin Xiyu refused to back down: "And she's your senior sister, your boss. You two see each other all day long. I don't believe there's not a hint of ambiguity between you."

"I swear, I swear, is that enough?"

Guben's mouth turned bitter as he decisively laid his heart bare: "Actually, even before I was injured, I thought Zhang Xiaoqian's drunken trouble had something to do with Liu Rushi. It's very likely she was the one instigating it, but there's insufficient evidence to bring her to justice."

"I just feel that woman is hostile toward me."

Thinking of the miscarried fetus, Lin Xiyu felt another pang of pain in her heart: "She likes you. That strong possessiveness can't be hidden. She's more sinister and more frightening than Zhang Xiaoqian."

"I won't let her hurt you again."

A bitterness beyond words flickered in Guben's eyes,

"If being a lawyer doesn't work out, then it doesn't work out."

Lin Xiyu sincerely hoped to have nothing more to do with Liu Rushi: "Being an idle good-for-nothing isn't bad either. I'll support you."

"Hehe."

Hearing the last four words, Guben's grief and indignation instantly vanished like smoke and clouds.

"What are you laughing at?"

Lin Xiyu glared at him: "You look down on me, thinking I'm incapable and can't support you?"

"No."

Guben stopped laughing and made a serious declaration: "Wife, you mustn't think that way. Actually, I'm easy to keep. I don't eat much, and I can keep watch at home. As long as you don't dislike me for eating soft rice."

"Do you really think of yourself as a pet?"

Lin Xiyu was amused by the words "keep watch" and subconsciously thought of the little dog her female cousin kept.

"As long as my wife is happy......"

Guben's coaxing words came easily: "I'm willing to be your pet for a lifetime."

Lin Xiyu laughed in exasperation: "Does your wound not hurt anymore? You say you're fat and you're even panting."

"I really......"

Guben wanted to further express his sincerity and say a few more sentimental words, but the ward door was pushed open from outside with a creak.

Wu Meng and Zhao Yuncheng, brother and sister, each carrying two large plastic bags full of food, ran in panting.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. The big meal is here. The New Year's Eve Dinner can begin."

"Mengmeng, thank you for your hard work."

Lin Xiyu instantly shifted her attention, smiling as she stepped forward and took the plastic bags from Wu Meng's hands.

"Smells so good!"

The disposable lunch boxes were opened, and the aroma wafted out. Wu Meng sniffed contentedly: "The food made by the chefs of a five-star hotel just tastes different."

"Where did you two order the New Year's Eve Dinner from?"

Lin Xiyu looked surprised: "A five-star hotel? You two are so extravagant. How much did this cost?"

"It's not like that......"

Wu Meng's gaze darted around, a bit guilty: "Actually, it didn't cost much. The food from a big hotel isn't as expensive as you imagine."

"How much do you two earn anyway......"

Lin Xiyu didn't believe her: "This one meal must have taken half a month's wages."

"It's not that bad......"

Wu Meng laughed it off without explaining. Actually, a big shot had sponsored this meal, and she and her brother hadn't spent a single cent.

"Sister Xiyu, don't worry about the money."

Zhao Yuncheng was more eloquent than his female cousin and good at handling things: "You and Brother Bin both need recuperation. My sister and I spending a little money to treat you to a good meal—isn't that only right?"

"Or I'll give you the money for the meal."

Lin Xiyu's face was full of emotion: "You two didn't go home for New Year, staying here to take care of us—I already feel terribly indebted. I can't let you spend money anymore."

"You're being too formal."

Wu Meng pressed her hand, stopping her from taking money from the drawer: "Between us, why talk about money? It hurts feelings."

"Right, Sister Xiyu..."

Zhao Yuncheng chimed in from the side: "I'm Brother Bin's assistant. Eating, drinking, urinating, defecating—everything relies on Brother Bin. Brother Bin is injured, and I, his younger brother, running errands and buying food for you, is my duty."

"Don't put it so crudely. What eating, drinking, urinating, defecating?"

Wu Meng gave him a disdainful white eye: "Always talking about shit and piss, not civilized at all."

Zhao Yuncheng made a bitter face and protested: "I just said that one thing, how is it uncivilized?"

"Enough, enough. It's New Year. Don't put on airs as the female cousin and lecture your younger brother."

Lin Xiyu was interrupted by the two and no longer cared about calculating expenses with them.

"Hehe, Sister Xiyu is the best..."

Zhao Yuncheng shamelessly flattered: "Unlike my female cousin, who's disliked me since childhood, either beating or scolding me."

"I hit you, so what? You dare complain?"

Wu Meng started scolding him again: "If it weren't for me bringing you to Shanghai, you'd still be holed up in some poor mountain valley. Where would you have today's good days?"

"Cough cough."

Guben suddenly coughed lightly twice, his face showing a hint of displeasure.

"Sister, why bring this up again?"

Zhao Yuncheng thought of the original purpose for coming to Shanghai, and his spine turned cold.

"Oh oh, I misspoke."

Wu Meng regretted it a little once the words were out, and explained sheepishly: "It's all because of this stinking brat. One word from him and he angers me, making me muddle-headed."

"What are you talking about?"

Lin Xiyu didn't think much, looking a bit confused: "How come I don't understand?"

Guben's gaze turned a bit cold: "Do you really not understand, or are you pretending to be muddle-headed?"

Lin Xiyu laughed in anger: "I didn't do anything wrong. What's there to pretend about?"

"Such a bad memory..."

Guben didn't spell it out, averting his gaze.

"You..."

Lin Xiyu was about to jab him when a flash of inspiration struck her mind, and she suddenly understood.

A sentence "Making trouble during New Year" was about to blurt out, but she forcibly swallowed it back.

"Remembered?"

Guben's mouth corner curled slightly. Without looking at her expression, he could guess where her subtle change came from.

"The food at the big hotel isn't that great either..."

Lin Xiyu wrinkled her nose, this time pretending to be muddle-headed on purpose: "Is there too much vinegar? So sour."

"No way?"

Zhao Yuncheng, worthy of being a personal assistant, decisively took the blame for the boss: "Could a five-star chef make such a mistake? Did we take the wrong meal when picking up the food?"

"That excuse is too lame."

Wu Meng gave him another white eye: "Who would believe that? You're fooling an idiot?"

"Hehe."

Zhao Yuncheng touched his nose and chuckled sheepishly twice, saying nothing more.

"Bang."

Outside the window came deafening firecracker sounds. Several fireworks shot into the sky, exploding in the night sky, their gorgeous colors illuminating everyone's eyes.