Gu Shao Tao was indebted by tens of millions from gambling outside, and the more he lost, the more unwilling he became. He tried to win it all back several more times, which resulted in a mix of wins and losses, but overall, he lost more than he won. The deficit naturally snowballed, adding over twenty million in external debt in just over a month. Not wanting to have his hands chopped off and then be sold off as a kept man to pay off his debts, he racked his brain for a solution. However, being an orphan from a humble background, how could he possibly earn tens of millions in such a short time? The worry aged him until he looked haggard, yet no solution came to him.

Luckily, the Gu family still didn't know about the massive debt he owed outside. Otherwise, he couldn't imagine what Gu Xian would think if she found out about everything. But Gu Shao Tao's feelings toward the Gu family were no longer as protective as before; instead, a subtle discomfort had taken root. While he was trying to figure out how to borrow money, Gu Yingnuo had actually tried to distance herself from him last time. He had clearly taken action against the old man of the Ning family to avenge Gu Yingxi, but when it truly mattered, a non-blood relation proved to be just that. Not only did Gu Xian fail to speak up for him, but she was also trying to shift all the blame onto him.

What disappointed him even more was Gu Yingxi, whom he considered an ethereal fairy sister. At the critical moment of peril, instead of announcing she was safe, she had secretly fled to enjoy comfort. If Sister Yingxi had been around, he wouldn't have desperately turned to gambling just to scrape together the surgery fee for Gu Xian. Now that he had fallen into such misfortune, the Gu family had received the money Gu Yingxi brought back, and everything seemed fine for them. In contrast, he was now left wondering how to navigate this crisis!

The thought filled Gu Shao Tao with immense resentment. Gu Yingxi could have produced the money, so why didn't she bring it back sooner? Why only return when he was in deep trouble? What use was it now? Moreover, perhaps due to Ning Yunhuan's insinuation last time about the questionable source of Gu Yingxi’s money, he couldn't shake the feeling lately that Gu Yingxi’s money was earned through selling herself, which made him feel disgusted looking at her. Every day, he left early and returned late, precisely to avoid this group of Gu family members.

Gu Xian was already staying in the hospital. With her eldest daughter returned and bringing back enough money to save her life, Gu Xian naturally felt a sense of relief, and a smile touched her lips. Seeing her three daughters gathered around her early in the morning, she couldn't help but say to Gu Yingxi on the side, "Don't worry about me anymore. You've worked hard taking care of me these past few days; you look much thinner too. Once Mom's surgery is done, I'll stew some nourishing soup for you."

Now that her survival was secured, Gu Xian felt significantly lighter. If the right kidney donor hadn't yet been found, she might be jumping with joy right now.

Seeing the smile on Gu Xian's face, Gu Yingxi managed a strained smile. The past two months had been agonizing for her. The ordeal of being violated weighed heavily on her heart, and she deeply regretted it now. She regretted risking everything alone for Liu Jinjun and others that day, and she regretted her impulsive and reckless actions. Now that she had suffered such a blow, her body was no longer pure; how could she ever face Brother Lan Jiu again?

She recalled the scene of that day; it felt as if those disgusting people were still surrounding her. Gu Yingxi retched involuntarily, gagging twice, nearly throwing up.

"What's wrong?" Seeing her eldest daughter's pale face, Gu Xian panicked. She sat up quickly and hurried to call out to Gu Yingnuo, "Nuo Nuo, peel an apple for your big sister. Did you skip breakfast? Is your stomach bothering you?"

Gu Yingnuo's face showed hesitation, just about to speak, but seeing Gu Yingxi lean over and dry heave again, she too panicked. She quickly set down her schoolbag, picked up an apple, washed it, and started peeling it for Gu Yingxi.

The youngest, Gu Yingyu, had fewer reservations. Having just graduated from middle school, she was at an age where words were unrestrained. Seeing Gu Yingxi like this, she remembered a television show she watched the night before and said cheerfully, "Is Sister pregnant? That's how they always show it on TV." The moment her words fell, the knife in Gu Yingnuo's hand slipped, instantly pricking her palm. She hissed, drawing in a sharp breath of cold air, then brought her hand to her mouth, enduring the sharp pain.

Gu Xian's face paled. Gu Yingnuo's action jolted her back to her senses, and her expression suddenly brightened, "Is it true, Yingxi?"

At this moment, Gu Yingxi dared not answer. She had been staying at the Mu residence for nearly two months, constantly dwelling on the violation. She had lived in a haze between choosing death or life, unaware of whether her period had come. It was only when Gu Yingyu reminded her that she realized there was a possibility she was pregnant. This news instantly stunned her into immobility.

She began to recall the situation before she was gang-raped. At that time, Xie Zhuoyin had been taken back by the Xie family, and Ning Yuncheng was under police surveillance, making it impossible for him to be with her. Her period only arrived after both men had left, so it couldn't be a pregnancy from before. After that, she had not done anything like that again, except for the time she was violated by that group of beasts. The realization made Gu Yingxi tremble all over, her lips turning blue-white, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

"What's wrong?" Gu Xian panicked upon seeing her daughter's state. She quickly took her daughter's hand and said with a smile, "Silly girl, why are you crying? Pregnancy is a good thing. Yuncheng isn't young anymore; his parents must be thinking about grandchildren, right? If you give birth to a child for the Ning family now, won't the past be forgotten? I don't believe the Ning couple will still look down on you once they know you're expecting!"

Gu Yingxi could only shake her head at Gu Xian's words. She didn't know how to tell Gu Xian about the matter. She had already decided to bury the humiliation she suffered forever in her heart, but she hadn't expected such physical evidence to remain. She didn't want anyone to know she was pregnant, and even less did she want anyone to know she had been touched by such a group of men.

Thinking of this, Gu Yingxi hastily grasped Gu Xian’s hand and pleaded, "Mom, don't say..."

"Don't say what?" At that moment, Ning Yuncheng entered the ward beaming, carrying a large amount of breakfast. He had lost a lot of weight recently, which the Gu family attributed to his worry over Gu Yingxi's whereabouts. But no one knew the reason for his weight loss was also the pressure of being chased for debts. However, just seeing the figure of his beloved healed something in his heart instantly. He just stared at her (adoringly), feeling his heart melt.

Gu Xian, unaware of her daughter's inner turmoil, was delighted to see Ning Yuncheng. "Yuncheng, Yingxi is pregnant—it's your child. Take her home and tell your parents."

Hearing this, a wave of ecstasy surged through Ning Yuncheng first, but upon seeing the forced look on Gu Yingxi's face, his expression changed. "Xi'er, you don't want to bear my child?"

"How could I not, Brother Yuncheng? How could I not want to have your child? But, but I have my difficulties!" Gu Yingxi’s eyes welled up with tears, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.

Seeing her like this, Ning Yuncheng lost all reason, quickly patting her back: "Good Xi'er, what difficulties can you not share with Brother Ning? Whatever you say, even poison would be a life-saving elixir to me..."

"Brother Ning..."

"Xi'er..."

...

The two gazed at each other deeply and embraced tightly. Gu Xian and the others smiled contentedly, voluntarily yielding the hospital room to the deeply in love young couple.

Outside the ward door, Gu Shao Tao, who had arrived with a bag of steamed buns and soy milk, had originally come over feeling gloomy to check on Sister Yingxi and bring her something to eat. But as he approached, he overheard the two Gu sisters pushing Gu Xian out and heard the news that his beloved Sister Yingxi was pregnant with Ning Yuncheng's child.

A nameless fire raged within him, stirring an impulse to smash the food he was carrying onto Gu Yingxi, to demand why. Why could she accept two men, yet not accept one more—him! Since she was willing to sleep with one for money, why wasn't he acceptable?

He treated her like a goddess, afraid to defile her, yet she treated him so mercilessly! Gu Shao Tao felt he had taken on such massive debt for the Gu family, yet not a single person in the family cared how he was doing now. He didn't want his gambling debt exposed, but why was he always the one suffering?

In that moment, a sense of injustice and resentment welled up in Gu Shao Tao's heart. He clenched his fist fiercely, looking at the pair clinging together inside. The sight was blindingly harsh, making his heart ache even more profoundly.

Although Gu Yingxi was touched by Ning Yuncheng’s genuine affection, she truly did not want the child in her womb, but she dared not voice it. Otherwise, Ning Yuncheng would surely ask her what was going on. She knew that if Ning Yuncheng discovered she was carrying someone else's child, he would certainly be displeased. The words reached her lips but were swallowed back down.

At this time, the two pseudo-siblings of the Gu family were lost in their own anxieties. In contrast, Ning Yunhuan hadn't enjoyed her good days for long—her son, Lan Yi, was sick!

Perhaps it was the fright from Lin Xi poking his nose a few days ago, or maybe she had taken the young Lan Yi out to play in the garden when it was cold, exposing him to a chill. For the past two days, little Lan Yi hadn't just had a cold and runny nose; he had also begun to run intermittent high fevers. This was also why Ning Yunhuan decided at the end of October to stop attending classes; she submitted the prepared assignments in advance. Since Principal Su Ying knew Lan Lingyan, no one at Imperial Capital University dared to give her trouble for doing so. Instead, Ning Yunhuan began to focus on staying home to accompany her son.

ps: First update... There will be two updates today because everyone has been too kind to me, but those little pink votes still need to be squeezed out... I suddenly feel like I've embodied Zhou Bapi at this moment... RP