Chapter 9: Nearly Fell Ill

Gu Mian didn't throw up anything, and after struggling for a while, she slowly recovered, rinsed her mouth, and wiped it with a tissue.

Turning around, she faced Yin Luoxue who was sizing her up and retorted instead of answering, "I've just gotten out of prison, do you think that's possible?"

At those words, Yin Luoxue's expression visibly relaxed.

Let alone Gu Mian just being released from prison, even if she hadn't been incarcerated, there was no way she could be pregnant.

That's because Li Tingshen hated children the most.

She had known since she was a child that marrying Li Tingshen meant she would never have children, as she'd never do anything to displease him.

Not having any was also good, after all, she didn't like kids either, besides, having children was the easiest way to ruin one's figure. Maintaining her good shape was a better way to hold onto Li Tingshen's heart.

Yin Luoxue collected her thoughts and continued taunting, "Gu Mian, Tingshen may have treated you unfairly, but don't feel too dejected. Once I'm cured, he will naturally agree to divorce you. Rest assured, we won't treat you unfairly. How about this, next time you give me a blood transfusion, I'll buy you an extra bag, how does that sound?"

"I've never touched those bags. Keep them and use them at your leisure," Gu Mian said.

She threw the tissue in her hand into the trash can and walked away.

Yin Luoxue's mockery did indeed make her uncomfortable, but what was even more distressing was the fact that she couldn't find a job.

Her uncle secretly gave her the inheritance left by her grandmother behind her aunt's back, less than a hundred thousand yuan. It wasn't even enough for hospital bills, and hiring a nanny in the Capital cost at least twenty thousand yuan to start. She had to figure out a way to make money, and fast.

With no other options, Gu Mian could only look for part-time jobs that didn't require background checks.

She had a nursing certificate, and that afternoon she successfully found a part-time job as a nurse at a hospital.

Just as she left the hospital, a call from Li Tingshen came in.

Gu Mian then remembered that she had forgotten to block him again last night.

She slid to answer, "What is it?"

The man on the other end of the call spoke with an icy tone, "Did you go to see Luoxue today?"

"...Yes."

Li Tingshen's voice grew even colder, "Gu Mian, are you not satisfied unless you target her?"

"How have I targeted her?"

"Luoxue, bearing no grudges, kindly offered you a job, and you called her a hypocrite. Did that happen?"

Gu Mian's grip on her phone tightened slowly, "Yes, but what I said is the truth."

"You think you're in the right?" Li Tingshen scolded, "I didn't go to Luoxue last night but took you home instead, and I explained the misunderstanding first thing this morning, nothing happened between me and Luoxue, yet not only did you not listen, but you also went on to bully Luoxue even more!"

Gu Mian gave a bitter smile.

So taking her home was a favor.

So his explanation was out of fear that she would harm his beloved Yin Luoxue.

She had thought it was a shred of tenderness he was sparing.

But it turned out she couldn't even have that shred.

Gu Mian heard her own voice, "Tingshen, in your eyes, is it only considered something serious if you've rolled in bed together?"

"You're sophistry!" Li Tingshen snapped angrily, "Gu Mian, can't you stop bringing the malice from prison back with you to affect others? Do you have any idea that Luoxue has been crying all day and almost had an attack!"

Gu Mian couldn't control herself any longer, and tears burst forth.

Yes, she had been imprisoned, she carried a heavy air of resentment, which was why even with her high qualifications from Haicheng University, she couldn't find a decent job now!

She could try to ignore Yin Luoxue's humiliation, but Li Tingshen's interrogations and accusations shattered all her pretenses of strength in an instant!

The deepest wound on her body was carved out by the man she loved the most!

"Speechless? Answer me!" Li Tingshen, seeing her silence, grew even angrier, "You will come to the Yin family right now and apologize to Luoxue!"

Gu Mian wiped away the tears on her face hastily, took a deep breath, and responded, "She likes to cry and play the grieving woman, what can I do about it?"

She ought to apologize, apologize to herself.

She was wrong, wrong to have fallen in love with Li Tingshen.

Gu Mian didn't wait for him to respond, hung up the phone, and blocked the number.

She wouldn't give him another chance to hurt her again, she must get a divorce!

...

The Yin family.

Li Tingshen stared at the hung-up phone, his rage burning fiercer than before!

He tried calling back, but as expected, he couldn't get through.

Li Tingshen sneered in anger, "Gu Mian, that's quite the move of yours…"

"Tingshen, don't be angry," Yin Luoxue maneuvered her wheelchair over, her pale face still adorned with tears, "It's my fault, trying to be kind ended up backfiring, upsetting Gu Mian… She has every reason to hate me, if it weren't for me, she wouldn't have gone to prison…"

As she observed Li Tingshen's expression, she continued, "If I had been more magnanimous back then and hadn't let her face legal punishment, maybe she wouldn't be filled with such resentment now..."

Li Tingshen glanced at his phone and casually responded, "Doing wrong must be punished; it's not your fault."

A flicker of triumphant joy crossed Yin Luoxue's eyes as she spoke with understanding and generosity, "Gu Mian likes bags. I'll go to the mall tomorrow and buy her the latest bag of the season. She will definitely be happy when she receives it, and maybe her hostility will lessen."

"You decide on the purchase, just charge it to my account."

"Okay."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I'm leaving now."

Drive safely, and remember to eat on time because of your stomach issues," Yin Luoxue gently reminded him.

"Got it."

...

In the car.

The driver could clearly feel a suffocating low pressure inside the vehicle.

Since Li Tingshen hadn't said where he wanted to go, the driver felt compelled to ask, "Sir, where are we heading now?"

The cool voice from the back seat came through, "Give me the phone."

The driver hastily unlocked his phone and handed it over.

Li Tingshen dialed Gu Mian's number, only to find out he had also been blocked.

Li Tingshen irritably pinched the bridge of his nose, "Back to Li Corporation!"

The driver reminded him, "Didn't you buy a gift for the lady and plan to go see her?"

If it hadn't been for the sudden call from the Yin family saying Miss Yin was crying so hard she was about to faint, he would have seen his wife by now.

Li Tingshen turned to look at the luxury brand bag next to him, his expression turning cold, "We'll talk when she realizes her mistake."

...

Early the next morning, Gu Mian reported on time to the hospital.

Having studied medicine and worked as a nursing aide, she picked things up quickly. Plus, her amiable nature meant she got on very well with the nurses.

"Gu Mian, you're young and pretty; why did you become a nursing aide?" The nurse chatted with her during the lunch break. "You see, the nursing aides are usually people of uncle and auntie's age; we've never seen anyone as young as you."

Gu Mian smiled, "This job pays quickly."

500 a day, and it was paid weekly.

"So you're in need of money." The nurse looked around to make sure no one was listening and whispered, "You're diligent and patient; why don't you try working in the high-class ward?"

"The high-class ward?"

"Yes, the high-class ward usually houses wealthy people. If you become a nursing aide for them, not only is the salary several times higher, but you might also get a good tip if you do a good job."

Gu Mian's interest was piqued, "Several times higher?"

"Absolutely, the ancestor in VIP bed 15 pays a daily wage of two thousand."

Gu Mian became even more interested; a daily wage of two thousand meant sixty thousand a month!

A few months of saving money, and when she could no longer work due to her pregnancy, she could rest and prepare for childbirth.

Gu Mian immediately said, "I'd like to give it a try."

"Don't be hasty; let me finish first." The nurse took a sip of the milk tea and continued, "That ancestor had five nursing aides changed in one day at most. Even those who stayed didn't last more than three days; you can imagine how difficult they are to serve."

Gu Mian hesitated for a moment, "I still want to try."

She was in need of money now and was willing to take on the challenge, no matter how difficult it might be!

...

Thanks to someone's recommendation, Gu Mian smoothly passed the interview at the VIP floor nurse station and got assigned to the highest-paying bed 15.

She received a stack of papers with instructions from the nurse station and was instantly stunned, "This many?"

The nurse slapped her forehead and immediately took out a few more sheets from the drawer, "I almost forgot, there are these too!"

Gu Mian: "..."

As she walked away with a huge stack of papers, the nurses at the station started placing bets.

"I bet one day!"

"How could she possibly take good care of bed 15 at such a young age? I bet half a day."

"I bet one hour!"

As Gu Mian walked toward the ward, she flipped through the information in her hand.

Suddenly, a familiar, coquettish voice reached her ears, "Brother Tingshen, I don't want to sit in the wheelchair anymore; will you carry me, please?"