Chu Yan held her feet in his warm palms, as if he were holding a handful of fragile glass. Suddenly, he looked up, his eyes surging with dark currents.

"Lately, I feel like my heart is about to jump out of my chest. Even though I'm right here with you, I feel more uneasy than ever."

“Niannian, I think I was really too naive before. Even after Dad was framed and I came to this place, I always thought that interpersonal communication would be very simple.”

"But I didn't expect to encounter so many things. I'm most worried about you. You're pregnant now, and I'm afraid that all of this will affect your mood and your health."

Chu Yan's words were filled with deep concern.

Ye Nian'an bent her other leg and lightly tapped his reddened earlobe with her toe: "Brother Yan, do you really have so little confidence in your wife? This little thing can't bother me."

"I once heard a saying: 'What doesn't kill me makes me stronger.' The more I experience, the more I understand, and the more I learn, the stronger we all become."

Chu Yan held Ye Nian'an's toes, which were causing trouble, and rubbed the soft flesh of her soles with his fingertips. His Adam's apple bobbed as he said, "I'm afraid the filth of this world will taint you."

"I want to shield you from all of this, but how can people's hearts be so easily dispelled? I'd rather all the storms crash down on me."

"I'm not a flower in a greenhouse."

Ye Nian'an felt a warmth in her heart. She rested her chin on her hand, her eyes shining like stars: "Besides, I have you by my side."

"No matter when or where, as long as I know you are behind me, supporting me, I am not alone and have endless motivation."

"Those demons and monsters are no match for me—"

Chu Yan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, as if he wanted to say something more.

Ye Nian'an suddenly clutched her lower abdomen and let out a soft cry. Before the coquettish tone had faded, she was startled by the force with which he gripped her shoulders, causing her eyelashes to tremble.

Chu Yan immediately tensed up: "Niannian, what's wrong? Are you alright?"

The man's burning palms covered her lower abdomen through her clothes, his fingertips tracing eagerly over her soft skin: "Was the water too hot when you soaked your feet just now?"

"I guess we kept talking about it, and the baby in my belly heard us. He got annoyed and told us to shut up. He was kicking me just now."

Ye Nian'an's eyes crinkled with laughter.

"real?"

"Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, post it here and listen carefully."

Chu Yan immediately pressed his ear against her, his nose brushing against her delicate waistline, feeling the movements inside Ye Nian'an's belly.

But after listening for a long time, I didn't hear anything.

She counted the frequency of his eyelashes fluttering until a suppressed laugh escaped her throat.

"Niannian, why didn't I feel anything? Did I put it on too late?"

Chu Yan hadn't yet realized Ye Nian'an's bad intentions; his confused look resembled that of a big dog whose toy had been taken away.

"Brother Yan, it's only been a little over a month, the fetus isn't even fully formed yet, how could it possibly be kicking in the belly?"

"...Niannian, so you were lying to me all along."

Chu Yan then realized he had been tricked, but his eyes were filled with a doting smile as he looked at Ye Nian'an with a helpless gaze.

Ye Nian'an patted Chu Yan's cheek: "Okay, I just wanted to make you happy. Don't have so many worries. Brother Yan, we've been married for over a year, and you still don't know how powerful I am?"

"I'm happy that you're willing to help me weather all the storms, but everyone is an independent individual. I don't want to be a weak woman who just wants to hide behind you and be protected by you. I want to be a strong woman, understand?"

"I can't do what you want, and I never will. I need to be able to protect myself. I don't want to ask anyone for anything. I just appreciate everyone's support."

“Yes, Niannian, you are already the most dazzling sun in my heart, but I want to be your shadow even more, no matter how strong the wind and rain, I will always be close to your warmth.”

Chu Yan reached out and pulled Ye Nian'an into his arms, kissing her forehead repeatedly...

The moonlight outside the window crept up onto the headboard, bathing our intertwined figures in a honey-colored glow.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

While Ye Nian'an was working at the medical station, several uninvited guests arrived.

Ye Nian'an remembered two of them as Yang Haoran and Xiang Min.

The other two people who looked older must be Mr. and Mrs. Yang.

I didn't see Yang Qiaoqiao.

That's true. I bet she's hiding at her parents' house right now and doesn't dare to come out and see anyone.

Yang's mother was still holding a basket of eggs when Ye Nian'an said coldly, "If you're trying to plead for Yang Qiaoqiao, auntie, you should take the things back and forget about it."

"The brigade leader has already reported this matter to the commune, and the punishment for Yang Qiaoqiao has been determined. No one can change that."

Ye Nian'an took the initiative, which made Yang's mother a little embarrassed.

"Oh... Dr. Ye, I know my daughter made a mistake. She was confused for a moment and did something so foolish."

“These past few days at home, we’ve talked to her and scolded her countless times. She has deeply realized her mistakes and spends all her time in tears. She looks more than ten years older.”

Is there really absolutely no room for negotiation in this matter?

Ye Nian'an shook her head: "In that case, you should talk to the brigade leader or the commune staff, instead of telling me that you have the wrong person."

"……Why!"

Mr. Yang couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.

With things having developed to this point, Yang's father knew that hope was slim.

This is no longer something that can be easily resolved by simply seeking Ye Nian'an's forgiveness.

This daughter of mine is utterly useless and only brings shame upon the Bai family, dragging our Yang family down with her! What a good-for-nothing!

Now, Yang's mother couldn't care less about Yang Qiaoqiao anymore and continued to smile apologetically: "Alright, Dr. Ye, Qiaoqiao really has only herself to blame for this."

“Although we are Qiaoqiao’s family, we cannot help the wicked. We have done wrong, and no one can save her. Only she herself can save her.”

"But Dr. Ye, we knew nothing about this from beginning to end. We were kept in the dark. Now that things have turned out this way, our Yang family has also lost face and is also a victim. We hope you can understand."

Ye Nian'an immediately guessed what it was: "Just say what you want to say, there's no need to beat around the bush."

"Yes...it's like this...my son and daughter-in-law have been married for over a year, but my daughter-in-law still isn't pregnant."

"The eldest son of the Bai family and his wife had a miscarriage a few years ago and then there was no sign of pregnancy. They were extremely anxious, but after hearing that you had examined them and they had taken your medicine, they actually got pregnant a few months later."

"I was thinking that Dr. Ye's medical skills are so good that he can help people get pregnant. Could he also take a look at my daughter-in-law? What's wrong with her that she hasn't been able to conceive?"