Retribution

The medicinal liquid in the cauldron dwindled until the gu insect exploded with a bang, releasing an even more overpowering stench.

"Master, what happened?"

"To the gu insect, this medicinal liquid was like an irresistible drug. It overdosed and died," Ye Fan said.

"What will happen to Yuan Yi now that the gu insect is dead?" Bai Yunxi asked.

"It won't affect her much, but she should sense something now that the child gu is dead," Ye Fan said.

Zhang Siliang's phone rang. When he saw the name on the screen, a cold glint flashed through his eyes. "Hello. What is it?"

Yuan Yi's displeased voice came over the line. "Where have you gone? Hurry back. Something happened to my younger brother."

Yuan Yi had been restless in the hotel. Ever since Zhang Siliang went out that afternoon, she had felt uneasy, so she could not resist calling to summon him back.

Zhang Siliang frowned. "I understand."

Zhang Siliang put down his phone, his expression grim. Yuan Yi's imperious tone disgusted him.

Yuan Yi was no saint, and her family was no less troublesome. Since getting together with him, she had constantly asked him to find jobs for her siblings and lend them money. Zhang Siliang was sick of the harassment, but he had been forced to play along.

Over the past few years, Yuan Yi's relatives had done all sorts of bad things in his name, dragging his reputation through the mud.

"Master Ye, she doesn't seem to have sensed anything," Zhang Siliang said.

Ye Fan nodded. "She's far away, so it's normal that she hasn't noticed yet. But I imagine you can feel the difference."

"Indeed." In the past, whenever he received a call from Yuan Yi, he would obey her against his will, no matter how reluctant he was.

Bai Yunxi looked at Zhang Siliang and smiled. "If you have something to attend to, Mr. Zhang, go ahead. There's no need to stay here."

Zhang Siliang smiled. "Then I'll take my leave. I'll come back another day to thank you both!"

Watching Zhang Siliang leave, Bai Yunxi smiled and thought, Things are about to change in the Zhang family. Zhang Siliang built his fortune from nothing. He couldn't have come this far without a few tricks up his sleeve. Yuan Yi dared to scheme against him like that, and now it's time to settle the score.

In the hotel, Yuan Yi could not shake her unease.

"What took you so long?" Yuan Yi demanded reproachfully when she saw Zhang Siliang.

"What is it?" Zhang Siliang asked flatly.

"I'm pregnant."

Zhang Siliang looked utterly astonished. "Are you?"

Yuan Yi studied his expression. "Aren't you happy?"

"Why should I be happy? It isn't mine. Even if it were, there'd be nothing to celebrate," Zhang Siliang said.

Yuan Yi shot to her feet and stared at Zhang Siliang. "You... inside you... you took the gu insect out."

Zhang Siliang looked at Yuan Yi coldly. "Yes, I did. Sorry to disappoint you."

A flicker of panic rose in Yuan Yi's heart as she looked at Zhang Siliang. "You didn't go to see Third Young Master Bai at all. You went to see that Chicken-Nest Head."

Zhang Siliang gave a cold laugh. "So what if I did? You vile, disgusting woman."

The sight of Yuan Yi made Zhang Siliang want to vomit. He had never expected her to be pregnant. He had undergone a vasectomy and could no longer father children. Who knew whose bastard Yuan Yi was carrying? Fortunately, he had run into Ye Fan on the plane. Otherwise, that bastard would have been born as his son.

"You'd better look out for yourself." Zhang Siliang turned away coldly.

"You can't do this!"

Yuan Yi's phone rang. "Yiyi, your older brother was in a car crash! That policeman actually said your brother ran a red light and was entirely at fault. You absolutely can't let that driver get away with it!" Her mother's frantic voice came over the phone.

Yuan Yi put down the phone and looked at Zhang Siliang. "You... was it you?"

Zhang Siliang laughed coldly. "So what if it was? Yuan Yi, this is only the beginning."

"Zhang Siliang, I've been with you for three years! You can't be so heartless!" Yuan Yi cried in terror.

Zhang Siliang could not be bothered to spare Yuan Yi another glance and walked out.

At the Yuan family home, Yuan Yi's mother paced anxiously.

"Grandma, hasn't Auntie replied yet? Is Uncle not going to help? My dad's still in jail. What if he can't get out?" Yuan Yi's nephew asked.

Yuan Yi's mother said uneasily, "Your uncle has always done whatever your aunt tells him. He's probably just too busy to do anything right now."

"What's wrong with Uncle? How could he let us down at such a crucial time!"

The Yuan family was still waiting for Yuan Yi to save them, unaware that she could no longer even save herself.

As Yuan Yi stepped outside, several burly men blocked her path, and a sharp, capable-looking woman stepped forward.

"Ning Shuang, what are you doing here? Didn't you go abroad?" Yuan Yi asked with a frown.

Ning Shuang gave a cold laugh. "I was waiting for you!"

"That's her. Grab her," Ning Shuang said.

"Ning Shuang, what are you trying to do? This is illegal!" Yuan Yi said.

"Don't worry. I don't want to kill you. Killing you would make me criminally liable. I'm only sending you where you belong. I think a psychiatric hospital is the perfect place for someone like you. Rest assured, I'll ask the doctors there to take good care of you," Ning Shuang said coldly.

"Ning Shuang, I'm carrying Zhang Siliang's child. For the child's sake..."

"Child? After he divorced me, he had a vasectomy. How could you be carrying his child?" Ning Shuang asked scornfully.

"No wonder! No wonder!" Yuan Yi's face twisted with malice. "Ning Shuang, it's all because of you! Why should you have a better life than me? I'm smarter than you, prettier than you... why did you get to marry a wealthy businessman while I had to live in poverty?"

Ning Shuang clenched her fists and said through gritted teeth, "Take her away."