Volume One, Chapter 20: Once She Gives Birth, She Will Be Sent Away

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Jiang Yunmiao pressed her forehead wearily. “Captain Fu really got shot while lying down this time. I’m telling you, can’t you treat the people’s police a little better?”

Lu Shenshen stuffed her phone back into her pocket with a proud pout. “That’s just my temper. Who told him to mess with me?”

Jiang Yunmiao shook her head mockingly. “Fine, Captain Fu brought this on himself. Let him suffer the consequences.”

Less than an hour after Jiang Yunmiao got home, Duan Yixiao returned as well.

He walked in dragging his suitcase, his handsome features tinged with fatigue—probably from the effort of coaxing Chen Nianke.

Jiang Yunmiao glanced at him coolly and went back to drinking the red bean glutinous rice balls Sister Xu had just prepared.

Seeing her ignore him, Duan Yixiao pursed his thin lips in frustration. A wave of melancholy washed over him. Every time he had returned from a business trip before, she would always greet him warmly and ask after him.

But this time, after so many days away, she hadn’t even made a single call.

“Are you angry? There’s really nothing between me and Nianke. I admit I was careless earlier and overlooked your feelings. But Nianke isn’t like you—you're strong, decisive, capable. She was spoiled as a child and even struggled with depression. Now she wants to make her career a success, and as her friends, it’s only right we help her where we can, don’t you think?”

Duan Yixiao reasoned earnestly, appealing both logically and emotionally. He believed Jiang Yunmiao would understand with her broad perspective.

But Jiang Yunmiao responded coldly, “Where did you hear this rumor that I’m friends with Miss Chen? I think children starving and unable to attend school in remote mountain areas, and those with disabilities living in hardship, need our help far more.”

Back in school, during a sports meet, Jiang Yunmiao was entered in the 400 meters but found her shoes broken just before the race. Chen Nianke happened to have an extra pair in the same size. The class monitor went to ask her to lend them.

“How would I wear them then? Shoes are personal,” Chen Nianke scoffed disdainfully at Jiang Yunmiao’s disheveled state and refused outright.

The monitor said, “Miss Chen, do you really care about a pair of shoes? Besides, we’re classmates, friends even. If Jiang Yunmiao wins, I’ll tell the head teacher to give you credit.”

Chen Nianke snapped, “Who’s friends with her? She’s just my family’s maid’s daughter.”

At the time, Jiang Yunmiao’s grades were among the top in the school, causing some to resent Chen Nianke’s arrogance, saying, “Who does she think she is? Just lucky to be born into that family, looking down on everyone else but still can’t beat the maid’s daughter.”

Somehow, these words reached Chen Nianke’s ears, and she devised many ways to sabotage Jiang Yunmiao’s studies, even threatening, “If you keep scoring high, I’ll make sure your mother loses her job.”

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So Jiang Yunmiao began to hide her true talents. When applying for high school, she carefully calculated the admission scores for years and barely got into the best school.

Throughout high school, she kept her abilities concealed, maintaining only average grades.

It wasn’t until the college entrance exams that she revealed her real strength, entering a top university. The whole school thought she was an unexpected dark horse, unaware she had been quietly biding her time for years.

So how could she possibly be friends with Chen Nianke?

“Besides, if I were really friends with her, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for you to be so close to my female friends?” Jiang Yunmiao smiled faintly, a trace of mockery in her eyes.

Duan Yixiao frowned deeply, his eyes clouded with resentment. He wanted to explain more, but seeing Jiang Yunmiao’s distrustful expression, he suddenly lost interest. Without another word, he grabbed his suitcase and went upstairs.

After finishing her meal, Jiang Yunmiao went up to her room to rest.

When Duan Yixiao returned from his trip, Zhou Manhua brought some freshly prepared soup, worried that her daughter-in-law might neglect her precious son.

Upon hearing Zhou Manhua’s voice, Jiang Yunmiao intended to greet her but accidentally overheard a whispered conversation between mother and son at the study door.

“In just over a month, Jiang Yunmiao will give birth. I’ve consulted many experienced people, and barring any surprises, it should be a girl. When the time comes, don’t be soft-hearted—get rid of them as soon as possible. She has no background or connections and will only hold you back,” Zhou Manhua said with utter disdain.

Duan Yixiao’s emotionless voice came through the crack in the door, accompanied by a bleak, hollow laugh. “If she hadn’t taken advantage of me back then, why would I have married her? No softness, no mercy.”

Jiang Yunmiao’s heart trembled violently, her body swayed as if struck by a bullet that tore through her chest, leaving it mangled.

Though she had already accepted Duan Yixiao’s betrayal, she never imagined he saw her this way.

So all these years, had he only been using her, extracting her value? Not moved by her sincerity or growing fond of her over time?

His few words utterly denied all the bonds between them.

Frozen in place, Jiang Yunmiao’s throat burned painfully, as if something was lodged there. She clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth, determined not to make a sound.

“That’s good. Once you two separate, I’ll find someone from an equally wealthy family to match you. Only then will you truly establish yourself in the Duan family and all of Qing City,” Zhou Manhua replied, clearly pleased with her plan, eagerly fantasizing about her and her son’s meteoric rise.

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Jiang Yunmiao felt a bone-chilling cold wash over her.

Good!

Very good!

So they had been planning to push her out all along.

So the happy marriage she had taken pride in was nothing but a mirage.

So the man she thought would stay by her side forever was actually a selfish two-faced villain!

Duan Yixiao said, “Alright, Mom, watch your words at home from now on.”

“Oh dear, why wasn’t the door closed tightly? What if someone overheard?” Zhou Manhua panicked.

Jiang Yunmiao quickly slipped back into her room, grabbed the half-finished snow pear soup, and hurled it at the study door—

With a loud bang, the porcelain bowl shattered, shards scattering everywhere.

“Ah!” Zhou Manhua screamed as she opened the door, just in time for some shards to strike her ankle. Luckily, it was winter, and she was wearing thick fleece-lined tights; otherwise, she would have bled.

Seeing Jiang Yunmiao standing at the door, dark and grim, jaw clenched tightly, eyes bloodshot as if deeply hurt, Zhou Manhua retreated in panic, her gaze flitting about helplessly.

“When did you get here?” she stammered, filled with regret. She desperately wanted to slap herself for speaking such ill words—and now Jiang Yunmiao was standing right there.