After five years of a cold marriage, I can no longer hide the child I secretly gave birth to.

Afraid of waking Xu Meng, she took her phone to the balcony.

He didn't want to answer, but his muscles seemed to still be attached to Zhou Yanci, and his fingers pressed the answer button before his mind could.

"Feed..."

"Sister-in-law, why didn't you answer my calls? Do you know my Nibao is sick? It's very serious! Please bring the first-aid kit to the manor quickly, I'll have Uncle Liu open the door for you!"

Zhou Yingying's urgent voice came from the other side.

Xu Daikui paused, her heart suddenly sinking. "How come you're using Zhou Yanci's phone?"

She should have guessed that Zhou Yanci wouldn't contact her on his own initiative; in the past five years, he hadn't contacted her even once.

What was she just expecting?

"Of course it's because you didn't answer my calls!"

Zhou Yingying's tone was urgent, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong? Come over here right away, my brother isn't asleep yet. After you heal my dog, I'll try to get you two together for the night. Don't you really want to see him?"

She knew that Xu Daikui liked her brother, but her second brother was as cold as an ice cube and seemed to have no interest in women at all.

Moreover, Xu Daikui has been neglected by the Xu family for many years. She has no power or influence and is not worthy of the Zhou family at all.

It was only because she knew how to treat small animals that her daughter, Ni Bao, liked her, and that she reluctantly accepted her as her sister-in-law.

...

In the past, Xu Daikui would have immediately taken a taxi there without hesitation.

But now she doesn't want to see Zhou Yanci as much anymore. Anyway, even if she saw him, the man wouldn't even give her a second glance.

She had become numb to her expectations of him.

"Yingying, I'm sorry, it's too late for me to come. Nibao is sick. Please bring her to the hospital tomorrow," Xu Daikui said listlessly.

Zhou Yingying's face immediately turned ugly. "No way! Ni Bao has been sneezing non-stop. It won't be dawn yet. If you're still my sister-in-law, if you still want to be with my second brother, you'd better come over right now. My Ni Bao can't afford to wait. If you don't come, I'll make sure my second brother never speaks to you again!"

She threatened him angrily.

Xu Daikui laughed instantly upon hearing this.

It turns out everyone knew that if you threatened her with Zhou Yanci, she would do whatever you wanted.

Her deep affection became a bargaining chip for everyone to hurt her.

Xu Jiaojiao was like that, but Zhou Yingying was even worse.

Loving someone can also be a sin.

"Whatever. I'll be done with him soon."

She finished speaking in a flat tone and then unilaterally hung up the phone.

Looking at her reflection in the glass, her long hair cascading down her shoulders, tears already streaming down her fair cheeks.

It wasn't difficult to refuse them; it was just that my heart felt suffocated.

The person I once cherished seems to be being stripped away.

Her marriage was already beyond saving.

...

Hearing the busy signal, Zhou Yingying was stunned for a good ten seconds before she reacted.

Was she just rejected by Xu Daikui?

Why has she suddenly changed!

Hesitating, Zhou Yanci's phone suddenly received a business call, which startled her.

She hurriedly swiped the screen to delete the call record before running downstairs in her slippers, her voice becoming soft and cautious.

"Second brother, your phone is ringing."

Zhou Yanci shifted his gaze from the computer screen and looked at her sharply.

"How did my phone end up with you?"

Zhou Yingying nervously twisted her fingers. "I... I just grabbed the wrong one. I'm sorry, please answer the phone."

She really didn't want to face her second brother directly. He was always fierce and cold. When she saw him, it was as if she saw her elementary school homeroom teacher. The oppressive feeling was right above her head.

Zhou Yanci took the phone, glanced at the number, didn't answer, casually tossed the phone aside, and continued looking at the computer.

He caught a glimpse of a figure still standing beside him out of the corner of his eye, and said impatiently, "Go upstairs and get some sleep."

Zhou Yingying turned and took a few steps, then turned back, hesitating for a long time before finally asking, "Second Brother, have you seen Sister-in-law recently? Are you... doing well?"

She felt that Xu Daikui was acting strangely. She recalled that at the welcome banquet that day, her second brother was inseparable from Xu Jiaojiao the whole time, and he didn't even inform Xu Daikui when he returned to the country. Could it be that the two of them had secretly divorced behind her back?

No wonder Xu Daikui suddenly changed her expression.

So, his second brother doesn't want Xu Daikui, but plans to marry Xu Jiaojiao?

But they are sisters after all, and it's not right for them to share the same man.

"What's it to you?"

Zhou Yanci's long fingers tapped on the keyboard, his eyes fixed on the computer, like a cold, emotionless machine.

Zhou Yingying didn't dare to interfere in his affairs, but her baby was still sick.

If they get divorced, then Ni Bao will have to go to the hospital whenever she gets sick.

Pet hospitals are usually closed in the middle of the night, and you don't know how skilled other veterinarians are. If Ni Bao doesn't like them, her precious baby will suffer.

Where else can she find a free veterinarian like Xu Daikui who is always available and exceptionally reliable?

She boldly stated, "Of course we're related! Xu Daikui is my sister-in-law. We're very close. She's gentle, beautiful, and kind to animals. You absolutely can't argue with her or divorce her over some shady characters outside!"

"divorce?"

"Who told you that?"

Zhou Yanci finally responded, his gaze fixed on her with a cold intensity.

Zhou Yingying lowered her eyes subconsciously and swallowed. "It was my sister-in-law who said it. I even talked to her on the phone today. She said you two will be fine soon."

Seeing the man's expression darken as she spoke, she cautiously asked again, "So, you and your sister-in-law have a misunderstanding, and you won't get a divorce, right? And you and Sister Jiao Jiao are innocent too, right?"

She noticed that her brother didn't seem to like the word "divorce."

"This is none of your business!"

A cold voice rang out, and Zhou Yingying felt a chill run down her spine as the man grabbed his laptop and headed straight out the door.

She sighed and rubbed her forehead.

What's wrong with her second brother? After returning from his trip abroad, he's become even more cold-blooded and gloomy.

If he weren't handsome and rich, what girl in this world would be crazy enough to like him?

Although she was inwardly furious and complaining, she was determined not to let this matter rest.

If her second brother doesn't want to talk about it, then she can just ask Xu Jiaojiao tomorrow.

As long as they do something wrong, she's not afraid of not being able to find fault with them!

...

Zhou Yan left the manor and sat in the car. The cold moonlight poured down, casting an indistinct shadow on his handsome and sculpted features, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He lit a cigarette, the word "divorce" echoing in his mind for a long time.

He exhaled a thin mist, swiped his phone to check the call log, found nothing unusual, and then opened the text message.

The message consisted of just four simple numbers; it was unclear whether the recipient had received it or not, as there had been no reply.

He turned off the screen, extinguished the cigarette, and then, with a cold expression, drove back to the company.

...

The next day, Xu Daikui got up and saw that Xu Meng was still sleeping in. She made breakfast, left a note, locked the door from the outside, and went to work.

The house is a small one-bedroom apartment with excellent security facilities. She also installed surveillance cameras inside, so she can check on Xu Meng's situation at any time, even if she leaves her alone at home.

As soon as she entered the hospital, Dean Zhao eagerly called her into his office.