Chapter 9 Usurping the Body

Yu Xiangqiao’s crying gradually softened. She wiped the tears from her face and asked Xu Lianghan if she had become ugly.

Xu Lianghan, of course, said everything sweet he could to comfort her.

For some reason, Yu Xiangqiao said she no longer wanted to breastfeed the child. She was afraid her breasts would sag.

“Anyway, technology is so advanced now, and the Xu family even has its own formula milk business. Why not let Xu Lingxuan drink formula? That way, we can also be endorsing our own products.”

Xu Lianghan froze for a moment. “But… didn’t you say before that breast milk is better for the child? You breastfed the previous three. We have professional nutritionists who can tailor meals according to your body and assist in recovery. If you exercise properly, you should be able to return to your previous form. Even if you don’t fully recover, it doesn’t matter. In my eyes, the fact that you breastfed four children is a feat, not something to feel ugly about. Every time I see it, I feel touched. Because I know everything you’ve done is for me, for our child.”

“You’re saying all the right things now, but what if later you start to dislike it? It’s on my body, not yours. This isn’t like clothing—you can’t just throw it away if you don’t like it. If it really becomes that way, how am I supposed to face anyone?” Yu Xiangqiao’s words trailed off as tears welled up again, and she began to sob softly.

That strange feeling came over him again. Xu Lianghan grew worried, suspecting his wife might be depressed—otherwise, why would she say something so strange?

From his understanding of Xiangqiao, although she cared deeply about herself, she cared even more about her children. She would never sacrifice her child over something like this.

Sagging breasts were nothing. Through nutrition, exercise, maintenance, or even medical methods, they could easily be made to look normal again.

She was always confident and had never cried over her appearance.

If someone said she was too fat or that her clothes were unflattering, she would certainly argue back, claiming that person had bad taste. She respected others’ opinions but expected the same in return.

Xu Lianghan’s tone remained gentle as he tried to “persuade” her again.

But he quickly realized it was futile. Yu Xiangqiao seemed to have fixated on this point—she simply wanted to wean Xu Lingxuan and refused to breastfeed any longer.

Xu Lianghan had no choice but to prioritize his wife’s mental well-being and chose to compromise.

“Fine, if you don’t want to feed her, then don’t. You’re the most important. With you, we have a child. In my eyes, you will always come first.” Xu Lianghan cupped her face, kissed her forehead, and comforted her. “Wife, I love you!”

Yu Xiangqiao cried again. “Wuwuwu… really? You really love me? Do you love the old me, or the current me?”

Could this be a test? Xu Lianghan stayed alert, his tone firm. “I love both the old you and the current you. And I know that as time passes, my love for you will only deepen, unchanging until death.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re lying. You said the same before. Don’t you remember? You even liked Cao Manhui back then. At that time, you loved her so much, you were willing to do anything for her. But now? How are you treating her? She just wanted her child to be by your side, to accompany you, and you wanted to put her in prison…”

That strange feeling confirmed itself! Xu Lianghan stared at the familiar face in front of him, utterly bewildered.

His wife was actually accusing him of changing his heart—and the reason for this supposed change was that he no longer loved a woman he used to like?!

She was his wife—did she want him to like someone else?!

This…

Could it be depression?

Wait—how does his wife know about the baby swap? He was certain that since she gave birth and was in confinement, he had never mentioned it. How did she find out?

Surely no one would have told her, right?

No, even if someone had told her, she shouldn’t have reacted this way. With her temperament, she would have confronted him angrily, demanded an explanation…

Suddenly, cold sweat broke out on Xu Lianghan’s back. He thought of the most improbable possibility—though he didn’t want to consider it. If one day he could suddenly hear his mother, Ruan Yaoyao’s, thoughts, then nothing in this world would be too strange.

After all, he was the protagonist of a modern urban fantasy—he could hear other people’s thoughts. Wasn’t that a golden gift from heaven?

Xu Lianghan had read plenty of male-oriented novels to give his imagination some plausibility.

Although it was possible he was only convincing himself.

“Wife, I was wrong,” Xu Lianghan knelt immediately to test Yu Xiangqiao, speaking softly, admitting fault. “I apologize. Remember, we agreed that whenever I kneel, no matter what I did wrong, you would forgive me. Do you forgive me now?”

Of course, there was no such agreement. He just wanted to see her reaction. If she really believed it…

Sure enough, the woman standing before him froze. First, she looked incredulous, then her eyes reddened. She spoke in a wronged, restrained voice: “I forgive you,” allowing him to rise.

He was stunned. How could this woman have such power over him?!

Wasn’t he supposed to love her before?

She only tested him slightly, and he completely forgot about her. Cao Manhui felt a pang of heartache. How blind had she been back then, not choosing Xu Lianghan—the man who would kneel for his wife—but choosing Cheng Xiangrong, who wouldn’t even apologize, at most saying a few sweet words to comfort her?

And yet, Cheng Xiangrong called himself a “domineering CEO.” But the Cheng Corporation he ran was problematic; only the exterior looked glossy. Otherwise, how could he have silently aided her, enabling her to drug Xu Lianghan’s wife, inducing premature birth to facilitate her “baby swap”?

All of Cao Manhui’s abilities couldn’t have done this—Cheng Xiangrong was the one secretly orchestrating everything.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t expose him, or he would ensure she couldn’t live or die. He was ruthless, using any means necessary, but his disguise was perfect. Had she not experienced it herself, she wouldn’t believe him capable of such deeds.

Back then, that was exactly how he “tricked” her into his grasp.

Tears fell from Cao Manhui’s eyes as she said to Xu Lianghan, “I forgive you. I never held a grudge. I just felt sad, heartbroken. You loved someone so deeply back then, but changed your heart and loved another. Now that I have grown ugly, why wouldn’t someone fall in love with another? Lianghan, I’m afraid… do you know? I’m really afraid. I just want you to give me a promise. Swear that you truly love me and that you will never love anyone else in this life. If not, may thunder strike me, or may I be run over by a car when I go outside.”