Tianyi saw through her thoughts. He pretended to get up, but as soon as he let go of her, he pounced on her again, reaching for her waist and tickling her lightly.
Su Su couldn't help but burst into laughter. Just as she turned to dodge, she was unexpectedly swept away by him like a wave...
...
During Zhan Jiayi's days in the hospital, she was plagued by nightmares whenever she slept.
One moment she dreamed of the unborn child, the next of Feng Rou's ferocious face when she went mad, and then of Yang Shasha's sinister, terrifying smile towards her...
She woke up again from a nightmare, covered in sweat, feeling sticky all over. She was about to call the nanny to wipe her down.
Someone spoke softly by the bedside, "Jiayi, I'm back."
Hearing the voice, she froze for a few seconds before immediately reacting. She looked at Xie Zhendong by the bed and tears immediately streamed down her face.
"Our child is gone..."
Xie Zhendong sat down and held her, telling her not to get up, "I know. Don't cry, it's alright, it's alright."
"It's my fault for not protecting our child. You don't blame me?" Zhan Jiayi said guiltily.
"No one could have predicted the car accident." Xie Zhendong was naturally heartbroken, especially since the child he had been looking forward to was gone, which also made him incredibly disappointed.
He returned to Lan Cheng and, after arriving at the hospital, first met with Zhan Jiayi's attending physician. From the doctor, he learned that Zhan Jiayi's uterus had been injured in the car accident, and she would no longer be able to conceive.
Zhan Jiayi herself did not yet know this. The doctor, seeing her unstable emotional state after losing the child, had not dared to tell her.
Xie Zhendong saw the haggard Zhan Jiayi and couldn't bring himself to tell her this, thinking it was best to keep it from her for now.
Zhan Jiayi wanted to say it wasn't an accidental car crash but that Yang Shasha was harming her. However, seeing that Xie Zhendong's gaze towards her lacked the former affection, she knew she couldn't speak without evidence.
Now that her child was gone and Xie Qining was also gone, Yang Shasha's child should have become Xie Zhendong's only hope.
It wasn't the right time to expose Yang Shasha's true face.
Seeing her remain silent and only shedding tears, Xie Zhendong said, "Take good care of yourself and don't be too sad. I have to rush back to the group, so I'll be leaving now."
Zhan Jiayi stopped crying, surprised that he would come and then leave so abruptly. But she had no reason to keep him, and she said blankly, "Okay."
However, Xie Zhendong had already gotten up and left.
She lay on the hospital bed, gazing at the door, feeling an unspeakable sense of loss. But she still thought that he might genuinely have something to do and couldn't stay longer.
Xie Zhendong emerged from the hospital, feeling a suffocating blockage in his heart. His hope of Zhan Jiayi bearing him an heir had vanished.
Now that his grandson Jiejie was the sole heir, he had to accept this reality.
Getting into the car, he held his forehead, thinking that Shasha was just a daughter-in-law after all, and she was also deep in thought.
Only he could personally guide Jiejie, ensuring that Jiejie possessed the qualities of an heir from a young age.
This child must not be ruined again.
Now that Qining's affairs were settled, he and Shasha needed to have a good talk.
She was so young and had lost her husband; she would definitely have to remarry in the future.
It would also be inconvenient for her to raise a child alone, so it would be better to hand him over to him.
The child following her would become a burden, which would not be beneficial for her future.
Xie Zhendong thought that this matter should be discussable with Yang Shasha.
...
Two days later, Shasha was in Xie Zhendong's office, her eyes red and swollen, looking like two peaches.
Xie Zhendong had specifically called her over, firstly to inform her about the arrangements for Xie Qining's funeral.
He had brought back Xie Qining's ashes and planned to bury them in the Xie family mausoleum, also holding a low-key funeral in Lan Cheng.
In Lan Cheng, few people knew that Xie Qining had been imprisoned abroad and had committed suicide.
Therefore, Xie Zhendong did not want to publicize his funeral.
Shasha agreed with Xie Zhendong's proposed arrangements, but she was a little puzzled as to why there was a lawyer in the office when Xie Zhendong had called her over today.
Seeing that the matter of Qining was almost settled, Xie Zhendong gestured for his lawyer to take out a document and hand it to Shasha.
Shasha took the document inexplicably and read it. The initial content of the contract filled her with surprise.
Xie Zhendong intended to designate Jiejie as the heir to the Xie Corporation now, which was within her expectations.
Now that she and Jiejie were the only remaining members of the Xie family, if her child wasn't chosen as the heir, there was no one else to choose.
However, as she read the later pages, her hands began to tremble. This was asking her to give up custody of Jiejie, which she absolutely could not accept.
She immediately looked up and said, "Dad, Jiejie has already lost his father, and he can't lose his mother as well. The child is still so young..."
"You don't need to worry about that. I will hire the best nanny to raise him, and the best teachers to educate him," Xie Zhendong said calmly, observing her every micro-expression.
Shasha said with a heartache, "No matter how good a nanny or teacher is, they are not as good as biological parents. Jiejie needs the love of his parents most at this age!"
"Qining is gone, but even if he were still here, he wouldn't know how to care for a child. I, as his grandfather, can care for him in place of you. As for you, you are still so young, do you intend to never find anyone again for the rest of your life..."
"Yes, I will never remarry for the rest of my life. I will only stay with Jiejie and watch him grow up," Shasha said firmly without hesitation.
This surprised Xie Zhendong somewhat. He hadn't thought Shasha loved Qining that much before; they were both fond of eating and lazy, with somewhat compatible personalities.
Would she be willing to remain a widow for Qining and never marry again?
He found this hard to believe.
"Now that Qining has just passed, you will surely say this. But the future is so long, who can guarantee that you won't meet someone suitable again?" Xie Zhendong's mind was made up, and his attitude was clear, "If you want Jiejie to become the heir to the Xie Corporation, then you must give up his custody. If you are unwilling to give him up, I will have to postpone this matter. In fact, the heir to the Xie Corporation can also be selected from the collateral branches of the Xie family who are adults, and it is not necessary for a child to become an heir so early."
Shasha looked at Xie Zhendong, and this time her eyes were truly tearful.
Of course, she wanted Jiejie to become the heir to the Xie Corporation now, but she couldn't give up custody of Jiejie.
If she couldn't even see or manage her own child in the future, would Jiejie still recognize her as his mother when he grew up?
"Dad, I cannot give up Jiejie's custody."
Xie Zhendong gestured for the lawyer to put away the documents and said, "How about this, I'll give you some time to consider. If you agree to let Jiejie be the heir to the Xie Corporation and give up his custody, I will also give you some compensation and a set of housing. You can then live in your own house, and I will not interfere with your personal life."
Shasha merely said blankly, "I completely understand your meaning."