"I was pregnant before marriage, and my parents were very disappointed in me. They told me to get rid of the baby, but I refused. Relatives and people around me gossiped about us. For the sake of their reputation, they kicked me out of the house."
Ji Luofei sobbed as she spoke. She was very good at manipulating emotions, as evidenced by Shen Zhenghao's sympathetic expression.
"To safely give birth to Jun Shen, I rented a place. At that time, I missed you terribly, wishing you were here with me and Jun Shen. But before I could muster the courage to find you, I heard the news of your marriage to Gu Zhiyan."
"You have no idea how jealous I was of her when I saw your wedding photo with Gu Zhiyan. I was so envious. Seeing the smile on your face, I thought you loved her dearly. At that time, I truly wanted to bless you."
Shen Zhenghao wiped away Ji Luofei's tears and explained with concern, "No! I never loved Gu Zhiyan. I was just forcing a smile then."
"As my belly grew bigger, I started preparing things for the baby. But no matter how much I prepared, I couldn't predict the future. The day my water broke, it was raining heavily. I grabbed my hospital bag and went out to hail a taxi, but in the middle of the night, coupled with the rain, I couldn't get a cab at all. It was then that Zhou Shaoyuan appeared!"
Shen Zhenghao's heart leaped into his throat. What if a murderer saw a pregnant woman whose water had broken and harbored malicious intentions towards her?
"I begged Zhou Shaoyuan to save me. He looked terrifying when he saw me, but upon seeing my belly, he suddenly smiled and said something to me..."
Shen Zhenghao swallowed nervously, "What did he say?"
"'I can save you, but you have to give me your child.'"
Ji Luofei's words were actually true. The reason she wanted to give birth to Li Jun Shen wasn't because she couldn't bear to abort him, but to better return to Shen Zhenghao's side.
However, Ji Luofei still remembered the incident with Zhou Shaoyuan clearly.
She was extremely sensitive to danger and sensed the malevolence and scent of blood emanating from Zhou Shaoyuan. Coupled with his words, she was terrified and wanted to run.
But her stomach pain was so severe that she couldn't move.
She wanted to call for help, but there wasn't a soul around, only Zhou Shaoyuan standing in the darkness with a black umbrella, and Ji Luofei lying on the ground, drenched and pathetic in the rain.
"If you nod, I'll take you to the hospital. If you shake your head..."
Zhou Shaoyuan didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear: if she shook her head, both she and Li Jun Shen would die.
If Li Jun Shen were gone, she might never have the chance to marry into the Shen family. But if she lost her life, then nothing would matter.
Perhaps not receiving Ji Luofei's answer, Zhou Shaoyuan took a step closer.
As he leaned down and reached out his hand towards her, Ji Luofei closed her eyes and shouted, "Okay! I agree!"
A triumphant smile appeared on Zhou Shaoyuan's face, as if he had anticipated this outcome.
After Zhou Shaoyuan saved her, she learned that he was a doctor, and a very skilled surgeon at that.
During her hospitalization, Zhou Shaoyuan was exceptionally gentle and considerate. He not only hired a nanny for Ji Luofei but also personally prepared her prenatal meals.
The hospital staff held Zhou Shaoyuan in high regard, calling him a rare good man and a man that nurses and patients' families wished to marry.
Yet, such a man fell in love with a single mother.
In the eyes of others, Zhou Shaoyuan was pursuing Ji Luofei. But Ji Luofei knew very well that the reason Zhou Shaoyuan was so good to her was solely for Li Jun Shen.
Ji Luofei didn't know Zhou Shaoyuan's true nature at first. It wasn't until Li Jun Shen was three years old that she accidentally saw Zhou Shaoyuan showing Li Jun Shen bloody and terrifying videos.
He even made the young Li Jun Shen dissect a puppy, and only then did she realize he was a pervert with psychological issues.
But at that time, she didn't have the power to take Li Jun Shen away from Zhou Shaoyuan, nor could she escape him. She could only wait patiently for an opportunity.
Knowing that Zhou Shaoyuan preyed on teenage boys, she deliberately showed Shen Chi Yan's photos to Zhou Shaoyuan.
She wanted to use Zhou Shaoyuan to get rid of Shen Chi Yan and simultaneously use the Shen family to eliminate Zhou Shaoyuan.
Everything was proceeding smoothly, except...
Ji Luofei closed her eyes tightly. When she opened them again, she looked at Shen Zhenghao with a wronged and helpless expression. "If he hadn't brought it upon himself, Jun Shen and I would still be living a dark and desperate life."
When Ji Luofei played the victim, Shen Zhenghao's heart softened. However, he still had some lingering doubts. "As for Zhou Shaoyuan kidnapping Ah Yan, did you know about that?"
Ji Luofei shook her head. "Zhenghao, I love you so much. If I had known Zhou Shaoyuan was a threat to your son, how could I have stood by and watched him be captured?"
Shen Zhenghao fell silent, as if contemplating the truth of Ji Luofei's words.
"Zhenghao, so much time has passed since Zhou Shaoyuan and I parted ways. Who told you all this?"
"This..."
Ji Luofei shoved Shen Zhenghao away fiercely. "That person is clearly trying to drive a wedge between us. You actually believed him and came to question me. Shen Zhenghao, you've disappointed me so much!"
Shen Zhenghao was already feeling guilty about the unsubstantiated accusations. Seeing Ji Luofei angry, he quickly stood up and chased after her. "How is this questioning? I was just curious."
"Whether it's curiosity or suspicion, you know best in your heart. Shen Zhenghao, I'm telling you, I've waited for you for over twenty years. My entire life has been dedicated to you. If you don't believe me, then we..."
Before she could finish, Ji Luofei started crying again. Shen Zhenghao immediately comforted her with concern. "Alright, alright, it's my fault. Didn't you want a new handbag? Let's go shopping right now."
Ji Luofei snorted coldly. "Don't try to placate me with a handbag! Do you think I'm with you for material possessions?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"Then what do you mean? Shen Zhenghao, we've been together for years, but have you ever given me a proper status? Jun Shen suffered so much since he was a child. Just when he finally found someone he loved, Shen Chi Yan snatched her away. He's been drinking every day and has become so dispirited. As his father, you haven't thought about helping him, but instead, you doubt me because of someone else's words!"
Ji Luofei grew more and more incensed. "If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have gotten involved with you in the first place! Then Jun Shen and I could have lived happily ever after abroad!"
Shen Zhenghao's head was about to explode. He didn't know what to do, as both his son and his current situation were dear to him.
"Alright, alright, don't be angry first. Let me think about it properly. However... Nian Nian and Ah Yan are very in love now. Jun Shen... alas, there are plenty of good women. There's no need to hang yourself on one tree. How about I introduce some to Jun Shen?"
Ji Luofei sneered. "Why don't you say that to Shen Chi Yan?"