Letting He Rou rant and rave like a madwoman here.
It couldn't be blamed on them; they hadn't forced He Rou to break the law.
In the end, it was human greed at play.
He Rou hadn't expected to see Xia Shi Xue again. Upon seeing her, He Rou disregarded her own disheveled state and rushed to embrace Xia Shi Xue, asking softly, "Shi Xue, the baby, how is it? Did you go for your prenatal check-ups on time? Did you eat well? Did the doctor say if it's a boy or a girl?"
Xia Shi Xue's face was extremely grim.
But, Xia Shi Xue dared not do anything to Fu Yan Ting.
She could only remain silent.
He Rou, acting as if she knew nothing, continued to nag, "Shi Xue, don't be afraid of hardship. As women, we all have to get through such difficult times. Once you give birth, your troubles will be over, and you'll finally have your happy ending."
"Mom, please stop lecturing me."
Xia Shi Xue really didn't want to explain so much to He Rou. She gently interrupted her mother.
He Rou, perhaps her mind had rusted from being locked up here during this time.
She scrutinized Xia Shi Xue and continued, "Shi Xue, you should drink more fish soup. Babies whose mothers drink a lot of fish soup and eat a lot of fish will be smart. That way, Fu Yan Ting will like the child even more. Only when he likes and accepts the child will your chances of rising in status through your child be greater."
"Mom, how are you doing here?"
Xia Shi Xue now dared not meet Fu Yan Ting's gaze. She couldn't understand it; her mother was usually a shrewd woman, so why was she so clueless at this critical juncture?
Xia Shi Xue had already interrupted He Rou once, so why did He Rou continue to speak?
Xia Shi Xue felt as if she was about to be executed by Fu Yan Ting's glare.
However, when Xia Shi Xue came to see He Rou, He Rou did not complain about her situation here. Her first concern was always for Xia Shi Xue and the child she carried.
Only, she didn't know that the child in Xia Shi Xue's womb was long gone.
During this period, Fu Yan Ting knew she was going through a false pregnancy, so he hadn't been too cruel to her, but her days were far from good.
Although He Rou's methods were questionable, her concern for Xia Shi Xue was genuine.
Xia Shi Xue dared not blame He Rou.
Indeed, upon hearing Xia Shi Xue's question, He Rou sighed and said, "Don't even mention it. This is no place for humans. The conditions are terrible."
Xia Shi Xue didn't know the conditions here, but looking at the disheveled He Rou and hearing her words, it was not difficult for Xia Shi Xue to imagine the kind of life He Rou was enduring here.
After all, she was her own mother. Xia Shi Xue's heart ached. Embracing He Rou, the mother and daughter cried uncontrollably, regardless of the situation.
After an unknown amount of time, He Rou was the first to compose herself. She released Xia Shi Xue and said softly, "Shi Xue, you're carrying Fu Yan Ting's child now. Your words should carry weight with Fu Yan Ting. Go and plead with him to get me out of here. The lights here are blinding at night, and there are mosquitoes. It's truly torture. And what kind of food do they serve here? It's barely fit for human consumption. Go home and tell Aunt Mei to make me a king crab and an Australian lobster."
Fu Yan Ting and the others couldn't help but twitch at He Rou's words.
Did this woman truly believe she had a way to get out of here?
Get real. With the evidence of her crimes, it was only because Fu Yan Ting had pleaded with the judge for leniency that she wasn't sentenced to death. Yet, she was still thinking about eating Australian lobster and king crab back home. She truly had no idea of the immensity of heaven and earth.
Xia Shi Xue's face was extremely grim. She was truly worried that everyone would soon know that she had undergone artificial insemination to conceive Fu Yan Ting's child just to marry him.
Xia Shi Xue secretly glanced at Fu Yan Ting. As expected, Fu Yan Ting's expression was extremely unpleasant.
Xia Shi Xue turned around to plead for He Rou, imploring, "Mr. Fu, my mother was just temporarily not thinking clearly. Please don't take her words to heart."
"Xia Shi Xue, I am your mother! How can you speak about your mother like this? What do you mean by 'not thinking clearly'? Are you with Fu Yan Ting now and desperately trying to distance yourself from me, not wanting a mother like me?"
Xia Shi Xue whispered, "Mom, please, just say a few less words."
He Rou was not one to be easily appeased. Just as she was about to speak, Fu Yan Ting suddenly took out the recording pen containing Xia Shi Xue's confession about He Rou's crimes and played it.
In an instant, He Rou's criminal evidence was all spoken out by Xia Shi Xue.
He Rou's face was extremely grim. She looked at Xia Shi Xue and angrily asked, "Xia Shi Xue, what do you mean by this? You can't stand to see me do well, can you? You want me to die, don't you?"
Xia Shi Xue offered no explanation.
He Rou was too irrational now. No matter what Xia Shi Xue said, He Rou wouldn't believe her.
Since that was the case, Xia Shi Xue decided not to explain.
However, He Rou was relentless. She pushed Xia Shi Xue hard with her hand. Xia Shi Xue lost her balance and stumbled back several steps.
But He Rou's eyes were filled with rage, and she questioned, "I'm talking to you. What's the use of you playing mute?"
"Mom, I'm sorry."
Whether it was for the child or to protect He Rou, Xia Shi Xue had failed at both.
If Xia Shi Xue had been able to remain calm and preserve the child, perhaps she could have used the child to threaten Fu Yan Ting.
Or, after the child was born, she could have made a deal with Fu Yan Ting using the child.
But now, she could only watch helplessly as He Rou faced imprisonment, unable to do anything.
He Rou had not waited this long for Xia Shi Xue to apologize to her.
She was waiting for Xia Shi Xue to get her out of here.
But at this moment, not only did Xia Shi Xue have no intention of taking her away, but she was also apologizing to her. He Rou felt extremely disappointed.
Originally, He Rou had not confessed, intending to wait for them to release her. Then, she could find a lawyer and sue them.
But now, Xia Shi Xue's confession had shattered all of He Rou's prolonged persistence and forbearance.
At this point, He Rou knew clearly that it was impossible for her to walk out of here.
Instantly, all her anger, fear, and unease filled He Rou. Without reason, she raised her hand and slapped Xia Shi Xue.
This was the first time He Rou had ever hit Xia Shi Xue since her birth, and it would likely be the last.
Xia Shi Xue only felt a burning pain on her face, but she didn't blame He Rou. She was only worried about He Rou and felt heartache for her.
Even after being hit, she stumbled back several steps, her waist hitting the corner of the table behind her, yet she didn't cry.