Sensing the tension in the room, she ran straight into Gu Zhizhou’s arms. Looking at Lu Yi, she asked, “What’s wrong, brother? You seem upset.” Lu Yi looked at her dotingly. “Oh, so you can tell I'm upset? You run into another man’s arms the second you walk in, and you think I shouldn't be?” His words drew a flirtatious laugh from Lu Ke'er. “Brother, Zhizhou isn’t just some other man. He’s *my* man.” I wasn't about to stand there and watch them flirt, flaunting their romance and their family bonds. I wasn't sick in the head, and I certainly didn't have a taste for self-torture. Just as I was about to leave, Lu Ke'er’s eyes landed on me. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her gaze filled with confusion. Her eyes instinctively flickered down to my stomach, then swept over the other women sitting beside the men in the private room. Suddenly, as if something had clicked, her brow furrowed. “Do you work here?” I shook my head, but before I could speak, Lu Yi gave me an odd look and then turned to his sister. “You two know each other?” Lu Ke'er nodded. “We met at the hospital yesterday. Ji Qing accidentally bumped into her just as she was leaving after her abortion.” The word “abortion” made Lu Yi’s brow twitch slightly. “A company matter,” he said flatly. “Li Mu didn't handle it properly.” He then looked at Li Mu. “Escort Miss Tang downstairs and get her a cab.” “Thank you, Mr. Lu, but that won't be necessary,” I cut in quickly, before Li Mu could respond. Without waiting for another word, I walked straight out of the room… Back home, after I got my mother settled into bed, I lay awake, unable to sleep. The clock on the wall read eleven. Gu Zhizhou would still be up. My hand trembled as I dialed his number, a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. It rang three times before he picked up, his deep, controlled voice coming through. “What is it?” I hesitated, then spoke cautiously into the receiver, “I just wanted to thank you… for tonight.” If he hadn't stepped in, Lu Yi probably wouldn't have even listened to me. Then, a soft woman's voice drifted from the other end. “Zhizhou, can you pass me my pajamas?” It was Lu Ke'er. My grip on the phone tightened instantly. It felt like I’d been slapped, my cheek burning with the sting of it. “I'm hanging up,” Gu Zhizhou said, his voice sharp with impatience. Before I could utter a sound, the line went dead. I didn't need to guess. They were living together. I turned off my phone and stared at the ceiling. It felt as if a million ants were crawling over my heart, burrowing countless bloody holes until it was nothing but a mangled mess. The next day. I hadn't slept a wink. Seeing the dark circles under my eyes, my mother’s heart ached for me. She pushed me back toward my room. “I'll go see Xiao Chen at the hospital. You get some more sleep. Don't push yourself.” “How could I possibly sleep?” I whined, clinging to her. “If my little brother finds out I stayed home sleeping instead of visiting him after his chemo, he'll definitely throw a fit with you.” “But you…” I knew she was worried my body couldn't take the strain. I cut her off with a playful smile. “Mom, I’m only in my twenties. Pulling an all-nighter once in a while is perfectly normal. It’s not that serious. Just let me come with you to the hospital!” Unable to resist my pestering, she finally agreed. At the hospital. My brother, who had just been moved to a regular ward after his latest round of chemotherapy, beamed when he saw Mom and me walk in together. He grabbed my hand, grinning foolishly. “Sis, you haven't visited in so long! Am I going to be an uncle?” “Tang Chen, don't talk nonsense!” Mom chided, clicking her tongue to silence him. I froze for a second and looked at my mother. She understood my unspoken question. “He overheard the call from Miss Lu, the one about you almost hemorrhaging. He's just a kid, he doesn't understand, so he's just guessing wildly.” Tang Chen was twelve, an age where curiosity trumps everything. Seeing Mom shut him down only fueled his interest. “Sis, who's my brother-in-law? Have I met him?”