They all pity Su Yan, but what about her? Isn't she innocent? Did she choose to be born an illegitimate child? Did she choose to have a relationship with Shen Muzhi? Did she choose to get pregnant and be forced to marry him?

Xiang Zhilan suppressed her inner rage, feeling so heartbroken that she could hardly breathe, and at one point she couldn't catch her breath.

Every word she uttered in her heart was a cry of anguish, as if she were about to die.

"Ah..." She finally couldn't hold back anymore, letting out a low growl from her throat and raising her hand to cover her chest.

"Zhi Lan, Zhi Lan, what's wrong?" Shen Muzhi snapped out of his daze, looked up and saw that Zhi Lan's face was deathly pale, her forehead was covered in sweat, and her expression was extremely painful. He panicked and hurriedly pressed the call button.

Xiang Zhilan did not open her eyes. She was afraid that she would not be able to hide her resentment and anger, and would not be able to resist the urge to strangle this man.

She tried to hide it, pretending it was just the ramblings of a nightmare. After groaning in pain a few times, she suppressed her overwhelming anger.

Gradually, she used reason to control her emotions, and she couldn't reveal even a hint that she already knew in front of him.

Judging from the way he imprisoned her before, he might imprison her again and have a doctor perform a pre-operative abdominal surgery to force her to donate bone marrow.

She couldn't let her child take even the slightest risk; her child had to be born full-term!

Perhaps it was the strength that comes with motherhood; Xiang Zhilan gradually calmed down and relaxed.

When the doctors and nurses came to examine her, they could only say that the pregnant woman was probably having nightmares and had a rapid heart rate.

After calming down, Xiang Zhilan was like a dehydrated fish that had survived a life-or-death ordeal, lying limp on the bed, unable to move.

She was truly exhausted, utterly exhausted. After the storm of emotions subsided, she calmed down and slowly fell asleep.

After watching Xiang Zhilan's pained expression gradually calm down, Shen Muzhi assumed that her nightmare was over. He took a tissue and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, then continued to sit by the bedside to keep her company.

Xiang Zhilan slept until 8 p.m. When she woke up, she felt as if she had died once and was now reborn.

She opened her eyes, her pupils as dark as deep pools, all her rage and violence hidden beneath, making her unusually calm.

She looked at Shen Muzhi, who was lying on the edge of her bed, watching over her as she slept, without a trace of emotion or ripples.

As if sensing that she had woken up, Shen Muzhi raised his head and looked at her.

Xiang Zhilan lowered her eyes, not wanting him to notice anything unusual about her.

"You're awake. How are you feeling? Does your stomach still hurt?" Shen Muzhi got up, touched her forehead to make sure she didn't have a fever, and then relaxed. Seeing that she remained silent, he asked worriedly, "Is there anything else that's bothering you?"

Xiang Zhilan shook her head, feeling like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat as she spoke to him. After adjusting her breathing without making a sound, she said in a hoarse voice, "I'm hungry."

"Okay, I'll go buy some food right away." Shen Muzhi glanced at his watch. The hospital cafeteria was probably closed by now, so he patted her head and said, "I'll go outside to buy it. It might take a while. I'll be back as soon as possible."

Xiang Zhilan lowered her eyes and nodded.

Shen Muzhi assumed she was feeling unwell and therefore in low spirits, so he didn't think much of it and turned to leave.

After he left, Xiang Zhilan slowly raised her eyes, her eyes filled with tears and bloodshot. She slowly closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears fell.

She did love him after all, otherwise she wouldn't be feeling so bad right now. When he protected Su Yan back then, she only felt heartbroken and indignant on behalf of the child.

Things are different now. She feels her heart is dead, so dead that not even ashes remain.