Fang Yingxue was intimidated by his presence. Shen Xiaoxing's affection for An Ruo was genuine—he had even assigned bodyguards to protect her!
Realizing the purpose of her visit, she forced a smile and said, "Ruo Ruo, your aunt doesn't mean anything else. I just want to sincerely apologize to you and, while I'm at it, invite you for some coffee and a chat."
Nothing good comes from sudden kindness!
An Ruo could tell she had a favor to ask. A flicker of curiosity sparked within her—she wanted to see what kind of problem would make the old couple take turns coming to her.
"Ye Feng, I'm going to the café up ahead with Aunt for a chat." An Ruo turned to Ye Feng and pursed her lips. "If you can't report back properly, you can come along."
She wasn't naive. What if Fang Yingxue changed her tune halfway and set her up?
So she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of Fang Yingxue.
"Xiaoxing has been clingy lately and doesn't feel at ease letting me go out alone. I'll send him this photo so he can relax."
Fang Yingxue's face stiffened. She knew An Ruo was being cautious—if anything went wrong at the café, Shen Xiaoxing could rush over immediately.
This girl might seem quiet, but she was sharper than anyone. She was clever, and that made Fang Yingxue regret not adding something extra to the abortion drug.
She should have dealt with her too!
An Ruo sat gracefully into the car. She didn't say a word on the way, while Fang Yingxue chattered endlessly, asking all sorts of questions. Suddenly, the topic shifted to her health.
"Your body should be fine, right?"
An Ruo found it strange that she was suddenly concerned about her.
She curled her lips into a smile. "Thanks for asking, Aunt. I'm doing well."
The car stopped by a roadside café. Fang Yingxue got out first and even reached out to help her.
An Ruo raised an eyebrow slightly at the gesture. Was Fang Yingxue really changing her ways?
Still, she stayed alert. Shen Tingfeng's imprisonment was deserved, but it was also Shen Xiaoxing's behind-the-scenes maneuvering that made it happen.
Fang Yingxue knew who was responsible for framing her son, yet instead of showing any hatred, she smiled and helped her out of the car. That was too obvious—like protesting too much.
Unless she really needed something from her, that was the only reason she'd lower herself to apologize.
"What would you two like to drink?" The waiter brought over the menu.
Fang Yingxue placed the menu in front of An Ruo. "Ruo Ruo, take a look—what do you want to drink?"
An Ruo raised an eyebrow. Since Fang Yingxue was genuinely offering to treat, she wouldn't hold back. It wasn't her treat anyway.
"I'll have this, and a dessert too."
The waiter nodded and left.
Ye Feng sat not far away, close enough to rush over and protect her if needed, but far enough not to interrupt their conversation.
Fang Yingxue hesitated for a long time. Only after the coffee and dessert arrived did she speak. "Ruo Ruo, I've been unable to sleep or eat these past few days. I've been wanting to apologize to you... I'm sorry. I was blinded by anger when I did that to you."
An Ruo was confused. Was this about the time she teamed up with An Qing to accuse her of impersonation?
That couldn't be it, right?
An Ruo deliberately probed. "Aunt, I don't understand what you mean."
"..."
"Back then, when you did it, didn't you think this day would come?"
Fang Yingxue's eyes darted around. Cleverly, she squeezed out a few tears and dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a napkin, like Lin Daiyu. "Your aunt has wronged you. I regret it deeply. No matter how much I hated you, I shouldn't have gone after an unborn child. Every night, I wake up in guilt and can't sleep..."
An unborn... child?
An Ruo, who was about to sip her coffee, froze. She stared at Fang Yingxue in disbelief, a chill creeping up from the soles of her feet.
Her voice was stiff. "Wh-what child?"
Fang Yingxue paused. Seeing the urgency in her eyes, she suddenly understood.
She forced a stiff smile. "Nothing. I misspoke. There's no child..."
"I clearly heard you say 'unborn child'! Tell me! What's going on!?" An Ruo's voice rose, drawing glances from other café patrons. She glared at Fang Yingxue. "Tell me now!"
Why would Fang Yingxue suddenly apologize to her?
She mentioned an unborn child, and that word had become a sensitive trigger in An Ruo's mind lately!
Her intuition told her that the miscarriage was connected to Fang Yingxue!
Seeing An Ruo's bloodshot eyes, Fang Yingxue realized she didn't know she had caused the miscarriage. Her careless words had put her in a tight spot, and panic crept in. "Don't get worked up. This matter—"
"Tell me!" An Ruo shot to her feet, grabbing Fang Yingxue by the collar, her cold gaze closing in. "The baby in my belly... the miscarriage—you did it, didn't you?"
Fang Yingxue never expected the girl to be this bold, gripping her and refusing to let go. As more eyes turned their way, she struggled. "I don't know."
"You do!" An Ruo couldn't stay calm when it came to the child. It was a scar in her heart that wouldn't heal easily.
"You came to apologize because of my lost child. You did it. You poisoned me, didn't you!?"
She should have realized it sooner. The second branch hated Shen Xiaoxing so much that they had framed him multiple times, even tried to kill him! When they learned she was pregnant, would they really stay so calm?
At first, Shen Xiaoxing told her it was a natural miscarriage. She had read some books on women's health and knew her weak constitution couldn't sustain a pregnancy.
So she had been consumed by guilt. These days, she had been diligently following treatment and supplementing her nutrition, all to numb herself!
But now, hearing Fang Yingxue's words, she suddenly snapped awake. No matter how well Shen Xiaoxing kept secrets, walls had ears. Maybe it wasn't her body's fault at all—maybe someone had never wanted it to survive from the start?
"Tell me!"
Fang Yingxue dared not admit it. She decided to calm An Ruo down first, then go home and discuss the next step with Shen Yu.
But An Ruo wasn't about to let her off easily. She immediately called Ye Feng to trap Fang Yingxue. He single-handedly took down the two accompanying bodyguards, pulled up a chair, and sat down, his imposing frame completely blocking Fang Yingxue's escape route.
"If you don't come clean today, don't even think about walking out of here!"
Fang Yingxue glared back fiercely. "An Ruo! Do you know what you're doing?"
"I only know I have to avenge my child!" An Ruo grabbed her by the throat, murder flashing in her eyes. "You'd better tell me the truth now, or when I find out on my own, I won't be so easy to deal with!"
Fang Yingxue was terrified inside but couldn't show it. She stiffened her neck and shot back, "Go ahead, kill me if you dare!"
"You think I wouldn't?" An Ruo picked up the silver fork from the table and pressed it against her neck. "If I push down gently, you're dead."
Fang Yingxue was truly frightened now. She hadn't expected An Ruo to be serious.
"Without my child, I live every day worse than death. At this point, I might as well take someone down with me!"
Fang Yingxue was completely shaken by those words. She might be old and faded, but she wasn't ready to die yet. Trembling, she said, "I'll talk! I'll talk! Just calm down... I don't want to die."