Chapter 39

【Little Ning, I believe you wouldn’t do something like this】

【There must be something wrong with this surveillance footage. Zheng Xuan is already investigating it】

Seeing these words, Zhong Ning felt a mix of discomfort and gratitude. Touched, yet fearful. What if—what if the original body had really done something wrong? A cannon fodder character in a sweet romance story was capable of all sorts of malicious deeds; she could easily imagine it…

【Why do you trust me so much? I’m not even sure myself】

Fu Nanshuang: 【Even if something really happened because of drunken impulsiveness, I still wouldn’t believe Liu Ruyue’s version of events. Because Miaomiao is an innocent child, and you wouldn’t stand by and watch her die just because she couldn’t afford medical treatment. That’s not who you are】

【Not a single word she said do I believe】

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Today was an overcast day, but an overcast day in summer was a rare blessing—cool, comfortable, with a gentle breeze.

Zhong Zinuan strolled through the garden, her fingertips brushing over the tender green leaves as she spoke in an unhurried tone, “Is everything arranged with the hospital?”

There was a reply from the other side. A moment later, she smiled faintly and said, “I’ve always trusted your work.”

She raised her hand to glance at her freshly manicured nails, gently blowing away a petal fragment stuck to them, and said carelessly, “Of course Mother is furious, but I know her well. She only cares about results, only about the winner.”

“If a loser loses their chips, there’s no need to pay them any more attention. If she can’t resolve this issue, that useless Zhong Ning will be disowned.”

She let out a soft laugh. “Once and for all.”

Ending the call, Zhong Zinuan turned her head to look at the luxurious Zhong family villa. It was as if she could see her mother’s seemingly gentle, yet truly emotionless figure.

She was an old fox. The moment this incident occurred—especially since it was Zhong Zinuan herself who had delivered the news—her mother knew this was entirely her doing.

But did she object? No.

That so-called anger was nothing more than an act.

What she demanded from Zhong Ning was merely to see whether she had the ability to handle the crisis and whether she was still capable of competing.

If not, she didn’t need such an incompetent daughter.

This was Zhong Li—a creature soaked entirely in self-interest, devoid of family affection.

She didn’t mind the two daughters fighting each other, laying traps in the shadows, using all kinds of tactics against one another. In fact, she even subtly encouraged it.

It was like two poisonous creatures placed in a jar—she only cared which one survived in the end.

Carefully wiping away the dirt from under her nails with a handkerchief, Zhong Zinuan wore a rosy smile. After all, she felt no affection for this mother either. This kind of competition suited her just fine—it was exactly what she needed.

Zhong Ning, that useless person, deserved the fate of a loser. She was entirely unworthy of Xie Shiqing. To marry into the Xie family in such an utterly disgraceful and incompetent way—what a joke.

Was someone like her really worthy of Xie Shiqing?

The smile at her lips turned cold.

She would never allow such a thing to happen.

Zhong Ning went to visit Miaomiao again and learned more about her condition.

Miaomiao’s illness was rooted in a complex origin. Liu Rushi’s early contraceptive measures had caused some damage to the fetus. Coupled with her own physical issues, Miaomiao was born prematurely, constitutionally weak, and had unfortunately inherited the family’s history of heart disease.

With current medical technology, a cure was extremely difficult and expensive. Liu Rushi’s family background was only average and completely incapable of affording such high medical costs.

Zhong Ning had always been a fortunate person, from childhood until now. Hardship and she had always stood on opposite ends. Her environment had given her optimism and kindness, but it hadn’t given her the ability to truly empathize with suffering.

Even so, the immense empathy she carried still allowed her to absorb a sliver of grief—and that alone was enough to bring her to tears.

“She’ll be fine.”

Facing Zhong Ning, Liu Rushi had always responded only with sneers and sarcasm. But for this one sentence, she didn’t offer any rebuttal. “I want custody of Miaomiao.”

She said, “Miaomiao is my daughter alone.”

“What?” Zhong Ning nearly bit her tongue. “No! I just want her to get better, I didn’t mean to fight you for custody.”

Liu Rushi gave her a cold glance.

Zhong Ning had no way to defend herself and drooped her shoulders in defeat.

A misunderstanding like this—it no longer stung anymore. Not at this point.

She had come to the hospital today for another important reason—the result of the paternity test was being released today.

Several friends had rushed over as well.

It was just a few thin sheets of paper, but when the doctor brought them over, Zhong Ning was so nervous it felt like a person afraid of heights walking a tightrope. The air seemed to solidify, leaving no oxygen for her to breathe—she was suffocating.

Taking the report, she looked directly at the conclusion: According to the current information and DNA analysis, Zhong Ning and Liu Miaoyi are in a parent-child relationship.

It struck like a bolt of lightning. She felt as if she were on the brink of death.

The world became both deafeningly loud and eerily silent. She hardly dared look at the people around her, didn’t dare imagine what their expressions might be.

Would it be the expected ridicule, or the stunned disappointment of lost trust?

Why do I have to suffer through this? Zhong Ning stared at that line of text. It was so foreign it sent chills down her spine, like reading a ghost story.

She hadn’t wanted to come to this world. These mistakes weren’t hers to begin with, and yet now she was the one burdened with them.

Calm down… deep breath… don’t panic, you expected this, you had a plan, didn’t you?

But Zhong Ning truly didn’t dare lift her head to look at the people beside her. She had never experienced it, but she imagined a disappointed gaze might weigh more than an elephant—enough to crush someone with ease.

Gripping the report tightly, she dropped one sentence: “I have to go.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep