"Number 23, Ms. Qiao Ruoxing, have you contacted your family yet?"

The nurse reminded Qiao Ruoxing for god knows how many times already. Qiao Ruoxing looked at her phone with her head down. Gu Jingyan’s calls were still going unanswered.

A multiple-vehicle collision occurred on the North Third Ring Road overpass in Jiang city, with a bus capsizing into the river. Dozens of the injured have been sent to hospital, and their relatives trickle in one after another. However, she was the only one whose family member hasn’t contacted her yet.

The gruesome scene of the accident was still fresh in her mind, but the horror couldn't compare to her present feeling of desolation.

She suddenly wondered, if she died in that accident today, would she not even have someone to collect her corpse?

"Ms. Qiao?"

Pulling herself together, spotty blood stains on her body making her face look paler, she spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice. Her disheveled state still exuding decorum, "I apologize, but he might be busy. Can I sign it myself?"

"Sorry, but if your relatives are not here to sign, we would recommend staying in the hospital for observation. A concussion can range from minor to severe. We have to be responsible for your life."

Lips pressing together, Qiao Ruoxing replied, "Let me try again then."

She stepped out of the hospital ward holding her phone. As she passed two nurses pushing a trolley of instruments, she moved aside to give them space. She caught snippets of their conversation, "Did you know who's in bed sixteen?"

"Who?"

"Yao Kexin! The famous star! She was the lead actress of that super popular drama, 'Mysterious Lover', a while ago!"

"My God! Is she seriously hurt?"

"Just a minor scrape on her arm, which would heal if left alone for some time later. But she's a big star, making a living off her looks, and naturally a lot more delicate than us commoners. If I were that good-looking, I'd get insurance for my entire body!"

"Oh yeah! I saw her boyfriend too! Him, who was photographed with her in the lake villa awhile back!"

Joe Ruoxing stopped in her tracks.

"He's tall and handsome. Judging by his attire, he must be quite rich. Most importantly, he treats Yao Kexin so well. He rushed over as soon as the accident occurred, going through the hospital's VIP passage, and accompanied her the entire time. Why is it that some women are just born winners in life..."

Their voices faded as they walked further away. Joe gripped her phone tighter, her knuckles turning white.

Outside room 16, Gu Jingyan was speaking with Yao Kexin's agent. From where she was standing, Joe couldn't hear anything, but she inexplicably felt he was questioning the agent about Yao Kexin's car accident.

She took out her phone and dialed Gu Jingyan's number.

Gu Jingyan hesitated for a moment, glanced at his phone. His brows were already furrowed and now, they furrowed even deeper.

As he picked up, an impatient voice came from the other end, "What is it?"

"Where are you?"

Joe's voice was hoarse, and there was a brittleness in her tone.

However, Gu Jingyan didn't catch this and responded indifferently, "At the company."

"Has Gu's Corporation branched into the hospital business now?"

Gu Jingyan froze, his expression darkened, "Are you following me?"

A bitter laugh came up in Joe, but her eyes turned slightly red as the annoyance in his voice made her heart tighten.

"Mr. Gu thinks too highly of me," she paused, then continued, "I saw it on the news, someone looked like you, I was just asking."

Gu Jingyan dismissed her with two words—"Boring", then hung up and went into the room.

With a self-mocking smile, Qiao Ruoxing thought it was quite dull. Despite clear knowledge of the situation, she had still made that humiliatiung phone call.

Qiao Ruoxing was eventually whisked away by Tang Xiaoxiao. If she had any relatives to call upon, she wouldn't have bothered her friend. Evidently, no one likes to showcase their own messy lives. Either being mocked or pitied would only cause her embarrassment.

"Where is Gu Jingyan?" asked Tang Xiaoxiao.

"He should be at the company." That’s what he said.

Upon gripping the steering wheel, Tang Xiaoxiao cursed, "What a dog! His wife has had an accident and he doesn't even show up. Is he earning all that money for buying his own coffin?"

Qiao Ruoxing joked, "Or maybe it's for buying my coffin."

Tang Xiaoxiao glared at her, "You are still in the mood for jokes! The car behind you nearly had a fatality!"

"Yes," she sighed, almost inaudibly, "Nearly died..."

Tang Xiaoxiao had to rush off for an emergency, leaving Qiao Ruoxing behind.

Once Qiao Ruoxing arrived home, she greeted the housemaid and headed upstairs.

After her bath, she learnt from the trending news that the accident on North Third Ring had made the headlines, except most of them were related to Yao Kexin.

Aside from the official media focusing on the seriousness of the accident, the entertainment media was more interested in Yao Kexin's mystery boyfriend.

The media didn't dare to expose Gu Jingyan's identity, merely suggesting that he was a man of considerable wealth. Yao Kexin's fans were bustling about on major media comment sections, expressing concern for Yao Kexin's injuries, while also denying the dating rumours on behalf of Yao Kexin.

Qiao Ruoxing found it somewhat amusing. The nurse had said that Yao Kexin had only sustained minor abrasions, were these people blowing things out of proportion?

However, her smile soon froze and her heart clenched - Yao Kexin had posted a pregnancy test result on her social media circle.

Six weeks pregnant, it was exactly six weeks ago that he was photographed at the lakeside villa.

The timing matched up.

Qiao Ruoxing stared blankly at the screen, her heart squeezed into a knot.

Three years of marriage, once a blank sheet.

Before Gu Jingyan married her, he was already with Yao Kexin. Lady Gu detested Yao Kexin's family status and forcibly separated the two.

Despairing, Gu Jingyan, amidst numerous socialites, picked her, a woman of the poorest background, to defy his family.

Qiao family sought the shelter of the Gu family, and Gu Jingyan wanted her status. This marriage was agreed upon in a snap, each getting what they needed.

No one knew that what she desired was the man, Gu Jingyan.

In love, the first person to fall always loses first. Yao Kexin's existence was like a thorn in her marriage.

She tried hard to ignore it, let it go deeper into her flesh, always thinking she could bear it, yet this thorn rooted and sprouted in her flesh, tearing her marriage into an unrecognizable shred.

Her perseverance became the biggest joke.

By the time Gu Jingyan returned, it was almost ten at night.

The house downstairs was quiet, only the nanny was present.

"Where is she?"

The nanny took his coat and whispered, "The lady returned and went to her room. She hasn't come out since, she didn’t even eat dinner."

Gu Jingyan knitted his brows.

"I'll reheat the porridge and bring it to madam's room," he suggested.

"No need," Gu Jinryan replied indifferently, "she'll come down if she's hungry."

The maid didn't ask anything else.

After taking a bath, Gu Jinryan stayed in the study for a while. At eleven o'clock, he glanced at the clock.

At this time in the past, Qiao Ruoxing would always come in serving him milk. Even in times of quarrel, she would have the maid bring it in.

However, today, when it was more than ten minutes past eleven, there was no movement at the door of the study room.

Unable to concentrate on the documents, he idled for several more minutes before finally got up and returned to his bedroom.

Pushing open the door, the room was dark without any light left on. He could faintly see the person lying sideways on the bed.

The moment the door opened, Qiao Ruoxing opened her eyes. She didn't move, feeling the bed beside her dip as Gu Jinryan laid down.

She turned over, with her hand slipping into his sleepwear.

Feeling the muscles under her hand tighten suddenly, her hand became more audacious.

Gu Jingyan's breathing became heavy. As she continued to move her hand downwards, he grabbed her hand, turned over, and pinned her underneath him, "What are you doing?"