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Shen Wan looked at Xie Liuzheng. "Okay."

Her sister-in-law looked cold, but she was warmhearted beneath it all.

Shen Wan crept closer and pulled the small blanket that had slipped onto the carpet over Xie Liuzheng's stomach.

Xie Liuzheng's long lashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes drowsily. "Sister-in-law?"

"You're awake." Shen Wan glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's almost noon. Lunch should be ready."

"Are you hungry?"

Xie Liuzheng blinked. She still wasn't fully awake. "A little."

"Then wash your hands and get ready for lunch. Your brother will be back soon," Shen Wan said with a smile.

"I'm back." Xie Chengyue came in through the doorway.

Xie Liuzheng suddenly grew nervous. "I'll go wash my hands."

Xie Chengyue watched her hurry away. "Why does she seem a little afraid of me today?"

"You two have something to tell me." He turned to Shen Wan, who answered vaguely, "You'll know after lunch."

Xie Chengyue didn't press her.

Duan Xing left early that morning. Instead of going to the office, he headed to an upscale residential complex in West City. He had another home there.

He entered the code from memory. The apartment was quiet. He went into the child's bedroom first.

A little boy lay asleep on the large blue bed, hugging a stuffed toy. Duan Xing sat beside him and watched him for a while, a gentle smile on his face.

He left the room and opened the door to another.

Unlike the little boy's neat, clean room, this one was a mess. Designer clothes and handbags lay scattered across the floor, and cosmetics were strewn over the table.

His entrance did not wake the woman on the bed. Long black curls spilled across the sheets. Her revealing silk nightdress had a strap that had slipped off her shoulder, exposing her soft, pale breast. Oblivious, she slept soundly with a pillow in her arms.

Expressionless, Duan Xing pulled the pillow away.

The movement disturbed her. She rolled over and murmured, "Sweetheart, there's bread in the fridge. Eat some if you're hungry. Let Mommy sleep a little longer."

Duan Xing gave her no chance to fall back asleep. He hauled her upright. "Wake up. I need to talk to you."

Qiao Yun woke fully and took the opportunity to lean against his shoulder as though she had no bones. "Oh, my other sweetheart is here."

Duan Xing put an arm around her and caught her wandering hand. "Stop it. I have something serious to tell you."

Qiao Yun nipped his ear. Feeling him shudder, she giggled. "Such a prude."

"I've missed you so much. You haven't come to see us lately."

"Now that your wife's back, you've forgotten your old lover." Qiao Yun traced restless circles on his chest.

Duan Xing ignored her jealous remarks and said gravely, "Liuzheng has agreed to adopt a child."

"In a few days, I'll send Little Sheng to the Welfare Institute and arrange the adoption."

Qiao Yun's smile froze. She sat up straight. "...Do we have to send him there?"

"I can't bear to part with Little Sheng. I carried him for nine months and went through so much to give birth to him. Can't we..."

Her face twisted with anger. "Xie Liuzheng can't have a child of her own, so she's shamelessly stealing someone else's precious son."

Duan Xing had long since seen through Qiao Yun. His face turned cold. "I'm informing you, not asking you."

"Do you want him to remain an illegitimate child his whole life?"

"If the Xie Family adopts Little Sheng, he'll inherit everything Xie Liuzheng owns. And what do you have?"

His words were cold and cruel, striking her where it hurt most.

She lowered her eyes and gave up resisting. "I understand. I'll talk to Little Sheng."

Duan Xing placed his large hand on her head, his voice softening. "Good girl."

"He's my only child. Of course I'll treat him well."

He was adept at following a blow with a sweet reward. Qiao Yun leaned against his shoulder and said coaxingly, "W has a new necklace out. It's beautiful."

She looked up at Duan Xing with adoration and expectation. "Will you buy it for me, honey?"

Duan Xing agreed readily. "Of course. I'll buy you several."

Qiao Yun cheered, threw her arms around him, and kissed him. "You're the best, honey."

Smiling, Duan Xing wrapped an arm around her shoulders. They fell onto the bed and made love.

To Duan Xing and Qiao Yun, the child was nothing more than a bargaining chip. They cared only about what they stood to gain, not about Duan Sheng.

Neither noticed that the bedroom door had not closed properly. The little boy stood outside holding his stuffed toy, a flicker of disgust passing through his innocent eyes.

Xie Residence, the Study. "What did you want to tell me?" Xie Chengyue asked, looking at Xie Liuzheng, who hesitated, unable to bring herself to speak.

He glanced at his watch. "I have an international meeting in an hour."

Time was short. Xie Liuzheng knew that if she missed this chance, she had no idea when another would come.

She gritted her teeth. "I want to adopt a child."

Xie Chengyue's hand stilled, his gaze sharpening. "Is that what you want, or what Duan Xing wants?"

Xie Liuzheng said, "We both want it."

Now that she had started, she stopped hesitating.

"Brother, you know it's hard for me to conceive, and Duan Xing is his family's only son... We want to go to the Welfare Institute, find a child we connect with, and raise them as our own."

Her eyes shone with hope.

Xie Chengyue looked at her. "All right."

Xie Liuzheng was still thinking of ways to persuade her brother. His agreement stunned her.

"Brother, you agree?"

All the arguments she had come up with over the past few days had gone unused.

Xie Chengyue said, "I have no reason to object."

"Brother, thank you!" Xie Liuzheng beamed. Her eyes, so much like Xie Chengyue's, brimmed with joy.

There was a smile in Xie Chengyue's eyes. "When you sign the adoption agreement, remember to take a lawyer from Xie Corporation."