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

Without a word, Zhou Yingying shoved the little teddy bear she was holding into Xu Daikui's arms, then pushed her into the passenger seat of the Ferrari. She then got into the driver's seat herself, stepped on the gas, and the car sped away from the neighborhood.

Xu Daikui sat in the car, looking at the listless puppy in her arms, which was snuggling into her embrace. Only then did her impatience subside a little.

If anyone in the Zhou family still likes her, it's probably this little teddy bear.

Every time I see her, I love to snuggle into her arms.

She reached out and touched Ni Bao's belly and armpits; they were burning hot, estimated to be at least 39 degrees Celsius, which was considered a low-grade fever.

"Did you buy fever-reducing patches?" she asked Zhou Yingying casually.

Zhou Yingying held the steering wheel with one hand and handed her a bulging plastic bag with the other. "I bought it. It has a thermometer and fever reducers inside. I don't know how to use it, so I didn't dare to feed Ni Bao any of it."

Xu Daikui opened the plastic bag, skillfully took out an ear thermometer to take Nibao's temperature, and then applied a fever-reducing patch to Nibao's armpit.

The movements were swift and professional; after a series of cooling operations were completed, the car came to a stop.

Through the car window, Xu Daikui saw the scene before her clearly. Her pupils suddenly contracted, and her blood seemed to freeze at that moment.

The familiar carved iron gate, the familiar European-style villa, and the lush and precious sycamore tree in the courtyard.

Why did you come here?

She had never set foot in this place since Zhou Yanci left the country and moved out.

"Today is your fifth wedding anniversary with your second brother, have you forgotten?"

Zhou Yingying playfully stuck her tongue out at her.

She really didn't want to remember.

"It's none of my business, I'm going to work."

Xu Daikui shoved the dog into her arms, got out of the car, and turned to leave.

Zhou Yingying had already noticed that her foot was injured. She quickly ran out of the car to help her. "Sister-in-law, I've already asked for leave from the hospital. My second brother is the largest shareholder of that hospital. Even if you don't go every day, let alone take a day off, the hospital director won't dare to say anything to you."

Xu Daikui was speechless.

She worked her way up to the pet hospital through her own hard work, so what does it have to do with Zhou Yanci?

She'll soon no longer be a member of the Zhou family, so she won't have the good fortune to benefit from their family's influence anymore.

"I don't need you to ask me for leave."

She didn't want to expose her relationship with Zhou Yanci to everyone at the hospital, which would only make them a laughing stock.

"Soon I won't be your sister-in-law anymore. From now on, if Ni Bao gets sick, go see another doctor!"

Zhou Yingying knew this would be the outcome.

Her face turned pale as she tried her best to clarify, "I called Sister Jiaojiao this morning. She said that she and my second brother are just good friends and there was nothing inappropriate between them. She went abroad for the past five years to further her studies. Sister-in-law, there must be a misunderstanding between you and my brother."

"Besides, this wedding room was chosen by you and him together before the wedding. There are your wedding photos and many of your things inside. Don't you really want to go in and take a look?"

Xu Daikui remembered that there were indeed her college-era magazines inside, and her diary in a small box in the cabinet.

Five years ago, after she became pregnant, it was inconvenient for her to carry many things, so she didn't move everything at once.

I think that one day I might come back to live here.

It's impossible now.

Seeing that her expression relaxed, Zhou Yingying immediately and warmly took her hand.

"Sister-in-law, let's go inside. I've already hired a wedding planning company to decorate the room. You and your second brother will definitely have a wonderful fifth anniversary tonight."

Xu Daikui smiled involuntarily as she listened, a smile that was somewhat sarcastic.

How can you be sure your second brother will come?

He doesn't want to see me at all right now. He's here to celebrate our fifth anniversary. Won't Xu Jiaojiao be jealous?

"Oh dear, you and your second brother are husband and wife, how can you live apart for so long? Don't worry, go inside and get some sleep in the bedroom, rest a bit, and come down for dinner tonight."

Zhou Yingying wasn't actually sure if her second brother would come.

But in order to prevent them from getting a divorce, she has to do something, right?

She would feel guilty if she did nothing.

After all, she had received a lot of affection from Xu Daikui over the past five years.

Seeing how much she loved animals, she knew she wasn't a bad woman.

The fact that he was drugged was probably just a misunderstanding.

...

Xu Daikui walked into the living room and saw workers getting dressed.

Balloons, red candles, cakes, and a group of Michelin-starred chefs are busy in the kitchen.

This big house had been empty for five years, and now it finally has a bit of life in it.

Zhou Yingying helped her walk towards their bedroom. "Sister-in-law, your feet hurt, so go and rest. I'll come and wake you up when it's time."

Xu Daikui walked into the bedroom and stared at their wedding photo for a while.

I had just started packing my things when I found that diary and opened it. The last thing I remembered inside was:

May 5th, Rain: It's pouring rain outside today. Zhou Yanci handed me an umbrella as he passed by the school gate. When I took the umbrella, I saw Xu Jiaojiao standing angrily at the corner. So that's how much she cares about Zhou Yanci. Seeing her being so jealous of me because of a man, to the point of being twisted and crazy, makes me feel incredibly happy. I really want to keep Zhou Yanci by my side every day, just to make her angry to death.

She still clearly remembered that on that day, Xu Jiaojiao deliberately prevented her from entering the house after Zhou Yanci handed her an umbrella.

After school that day, she stood in the yard until dark, until her whole body was frozen stiff, before her stepmother called her back.

After that day, she caught a bad cold, and no one bought her any medicine.

She wrote this passage while enduring the agony of life and death.

However, at the end of that year, she received a scholarship and moved out of that chaotic house, and her desire for revenge faded.

She felt it was bad luck to let herself become dark and twisted for the sake of an extremely vicious woman.

She slowly closed the diary, put it in the storage box, zipped it up, and then stroked the wedding photo again.

The men and women inside were all smiling very gently.

Back then, Zhou Yanci didn't seem to hate himself as much as he does now. In fact, after taking the wedding photos, he even leaned down and kissed himself.

Very sweet.

Recalling that scene, her hand holding the scissors suddenly stopped.

She originally wanted to cut herself out of the wedding photos, but thinking about the past, she couldn't bear to do it.

That was the happiest time she and Zhou Yanci had ever shared.

A fleeting moment of beauty.

If it's cut off, even the last glimmer of hope will be gone...

*

It was six o'clock in the blink of an eye.

In the living room, a violinist, fiery red candles, enchanting aromatherapy, rose-infused red wine, and a delicious dinner…

Everything is ready.

The only missing figures are today's two main characters.

In the afternoon, Zhou Yingying called Zhou Yanci, but his secretary answered.

She asked her to tell Zhou Yanci that today is their fifth anniversary, and Xu Daikui is waiting for him in the bridal chamber, wondering if he will come.

As lunchtime was approaching, she sent him several more WeChat messages, showing him the beautiful and romantic decorations for the event.

...

As if bidding a final farewell, Xu Daikui sat in the bridal chamber until eight o'clock.

Until her phone rang, it was a message from Mengmeng.

[Mom, are you off work yet? I miss you. Please come home soon, okay?]

She snapped out of her daze, grabbed her suitcase, and left the bedroom.

As expected, the man did not go home.

She was mentally prepared.

Five years ago, she waited like this too.

So there was no disappointment, no heartache, only a chilling coldness.

"Sister-in-law...my brother is probably busy. You...I...would you like me to eat with you first?"

Zhou Yingying's original intention was to bring them together.

The result was such a huge blunder that she now finds her own setup ironic and utterly pointless.

Her brother truly doesn't care about Xu Daikui.

She had sent those pictures several hours ago, and also typed that Xu Daikui had personally arranged them, inviting him to come back and meet her.

But the men ignored it.

They won't even answer my calls now.

How is she supposed to handle this?

Noticing her embarrassment, Xu Daikui gently smiled and said, "It's okay, I'm not expecting anything."

"You eat it yourself, I have something to do."

As she spoke, she dragged her suitcase and limped out the door.

...

It's already the end of August, and the night wind is bitterly cold.

A cool breath brushed against her cheek, and she shivered from the cold.

It was hard to get a taxi here, so she quickened her pace and walked forward. Suddenly, a bright, dazzling incandescent headlight shone directly on her.

She thought it was Zhou Yingying, but when she turned around, she saw an expensive Maybach pull up beside her.