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She was just about to get up when she heard clear footsteps. They sounded like music from heaven!

She immediately called out for help. "Miss, do you have a pad?"

"My period stained my pants."

The footsteps stopped. Shen Baili heard the woman reply, "I don't have one. Wait there."

"I'll go buy a pack at the mall."

"Thank you." Shen Baili was so moved she nearly cried. There were still plenty of good people in the world.

The footsteps started again, noticeably more hurried than before.

"What size pants do you wear?"

"Small," Shen Baili blurted out.

"Okay. Wait for me. I'll be right back."

The footsteps faded away, and the restroom fell quiet again. Shen Baili could finally relax.

Girls were angels.

She knew her luck couldn't stay bad forever!

About eight minutes later, Shen Baili heard the familiar footsteps. Someone knocked on her stall door. The woman sounded a little out of breath.

"Sorry for the wait. I'll pass everything to you."

Shen Baili opened the door a crack and noticed the woman's beautiful hands.

They were slender and fair, with well-defined knuckles, as lovely as a work of art.

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Miss, could I have your contact information?"

"My phone's with my friend. I'll send you the money once I get it back."

"Sure. I'll give it to you in a bit."

Shen Baili heard a restroom stall open not far away. The woman had gone to buy her pads before she'd even had a chance to use the toilet herself.

Warmth filled her heart, and all her earlier unhappiness melted away.

She didn't know what the woman liked, but she wanted to give her a small gift in return for her kindness.

Shen Baili opened the bag. It was packed full.

Disposable underwear, a simple, comfortable pair of black pants, a pack of daytime pads, and stick-on heat pads.

So thoughtful QAQ.

Shen Baili changed her pants, and the door to the next stall opened.

The moment their eyes met, they both froze.

"Miss Angel... No... Aunt Xie?" Shen Baili said hesitantly.

She was sure no one else had come into the restroom. That meant the woman who had just helped her was Xie Liuzheng, the distant ice queen she barely knew.

They rarely spoke, so neither had recognized the other's voice.

"Aunt Xie, thank you for what you did." Shen Baili was sincere. It turned out Aunt Xie was cold on the outside but warm at heart.

Surprise filled Xie Liuzheng's cool, delicate face. She hadn't expected the girl she'd helped on a whim to be the step-niece she'd met only a few times.

The girl's eyes sparkled as she looked at her with gratitude.

"You're welcome," Xie Liuzheng said. "It was nothing."

Aunt Xie is so nice. Beautiful and kind.

Shen Baili clearly hadn't opened her mouth, yet Xie Liuzheng heard her voice.

Clear and distinct.

Xie Liuzheng's heart raced. Was there a ghost in the restroom?

Clang! Xie Liuzheng flinched involuntarily. Shen Baili looked puzzled. "Did something fall over?"

She was about to go take a look when Xie Liuzheng grabbed her forearm and pulled her toward the exit.

"Let's go outside first."

Xie Liuzheng led Shen Baili back into the crowd. The mall's bright lights were reassuring.

"Aunt Xie, what's wrong?" Shen Baili didn't understand, but she obediently followed her.

Hearing the bustle of people around them, Xie Liuzheng let out a breath. "Don't go back to that restroom. There seems to be something..."

Then she heard Shen Baili's thoughts again.

Why is her face so pale? Is she sick?

Shen Baili asked with concern, "Your hand is really cold. Are you feeling unwell?"

"Should we go to a hospital?"

Xie Liuzheng felt as though she'd plunged into an icy cellar. Her hand grew even colder.

She looked at the people around her. None of them seemed to notice anything unusual. Was she the only one who could hear that strange voice?

"I've always had poor circulation," she answered reflexively.

"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Xie Liuzheng fought to keep her hands from trembling.

The surroundings and the warmth of Shen Baili's forearm helped Xie Liuzheng steady herself. She was a staunch materialist. After silently reciting the core socialist values several times, she finally felt grounded again.

Shen Baili said, "I put on a heat pad. My stomach doesn't hurt."

Her thoughts were especially lively now.

I finally have Aunt Xie alone... How do I tell her that the child she's planning to adopt is actually her husband's illegitimate son?

Duan Xing is a scheming, venomous scumbag who acts nice!!! He's been cheating for ages and keeping his mistress and illegitimate son somewhere else...

Once Aunt Xie agrees, he'll pull strings behind the scenes, send his illegitimate son to the Welfare Institute, and go through the legal adoption process. That'll give the boy a legitimate identity so he can inherit Aunt Xie's property... Even more disgusting, that scumbag will have his illegitimate son renamed... Duan Muzheng.

...Duan Xing admires Xie Liuzheng. That damned scumbag.

If I tell Aunt Xie outright, she definitely won't believe me. Maybe I should ask my big brother to help investigate that scumbag?

Shen Baili's thoughts made no sound, yet they were deafening.

Every sentence hit Xie Liuzheng like a blow.

She really had encountered a ghost!

Xie Liuzheng couldn't remember how she'd said goodbye to Shen Baili. By the time she came to her senses, she was sitting in her car.

She calmed down. Her first instinct was to call Duan Xing, but her hand stopped before she pressed the button.

Those words had pierced her heart like darts.

She recalled Duan Xing's sweet promises.

"If we adopt a girl, we'll name her Duan Nianzhen. If it's a boy, we'll name him Duan Muzheng. He'll be our child, a testament to our love."