Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Zhao Hong didn’t rush to defend herself to Jie Anlin. Trying to argue right now would only backfire.

Jie Anlin took a deep breath and looked at the gloating Qin Mei. ”I won’t be fooled by you.”

Qin Mei shrugged. ”Believe it or not. I don’t care either way.”

”Stop.” Seeing Qin Mei turn to leave, Jie Anlin started to rush after her but was pulled back by Zhao Hong. He gritted his teeth and growled at Qin Mei’s retreating back, ”You said you didn’t cure my private ailment. So how do you explain my wife’s pregnancy?”

”That’s right. I didn’t cure your private ailment, yet your wife is pregnant. Think about it. Just think about it.” Qin Mei kept her back to them and didn’t slow her pace, repeating the words ”Think about it.”

After Qin Mei left, Jie Anlin dragged Zhao Hong into the hospital room. His sharp gaze was fixed on her swollen stomach.

”An Lin, Qin Mei is being malicious.” Zhao Hong reached out to touch Jie Anlin’s face, but he swatted her hand away. He stared at her, his expression cold and almost cruel. Zhao Hong was terrified, but she put on a hurt expression. ”An Lin, you believe her over me?”

Jie Anlin ran a hand through his hair in frustration. ’Logic tells me I should believe Zhao Hong,’ he thought, ’but Qin Mei’s words are like a curse, haunting me.’

Zhao Hong tried to persuade him. ”An Lin, don’t let her fool you. We were married for years and couldn’t conceive. Then, after Qin Mei treated you, I got pregnant. What does that tell you? Qin Mei is just jealous! She can’t have a baby, so she’s jealous that I’m pregnant. She regrets it—regrets curing you! An Lin, your situation isn’t the same as Jing Si’s. You had an illness; Jing Si was injured. With the right treatment, your illness was easy to cure. Jing Si’s case is different.”

Jie Anlin remained silent, but his tense expression began to soften.

Zhao Hong pressed her advantage, sitting on the edge of the bed with a catch in her voice. ”An Lin, for all these years, I’ve slaved away for this family, enduring so much humiliation. What was it all for? An Lin, you know me. I’ve never been with another man. If I’m pregnant and this baby isn’t yours, whose could it possibly be?”

’He did know Zhao Hong,’ he thought. ’She might have the inclination, but she didn’t have the nerve.’

’He, on the other hand, had both the desire for Qin Mei and the guts to act on it. He was only so bold because he knew Granny would protect him. She doted on him so much that if he told her he wanted to divorce his wife for Qin Mei, she would find a way to make Qin Mei and Jing Si divorce so she could marry him.’

”An Lin, please believe me. I swear I haven’t done anything to betray you. The baby in my belly is yours, really.” Zhao Hong was practically swearing on her life.

”Stop,” Jie Anlin said, his tone dismissive. ”I believe you.”

”Do you really believe me?” Zhao Hong looked at him, disappointment in her eyes.

”We’ll get a paternity test after the baby is born,” Jie Anlin said. The more he anticipated this child, the more terrified he became. ’What if...? Only a paternity test proving the child is mine will put my suspicions to rest for good.’

Zhao Hong’s heart began to race. ’A paternity test? He’s actually demanding a paternity test.’ She couldn’t bear to imagine the consequences when the results came out.

’Jie Anlin is showing no consideration for our marriage at all. This won’t do. I have to take action first.’

Zhao Hong gritted her teeth and decided to placate him for now. ”Fine. When the baby is born, you can get a paternity test.”

Jie Anlin was stunned. He hadn’t expected her to agree. Seeing her look so calm and collected, with no hint of guilt or anxiety, he suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

”Honey.” Jie Anlin reached out and pulled her into an embrace. ”Honey, don’t overthink it. I just want to be sure, just in case.”

”I understand,” Zhao Hong said considerately. ”Don’t worry, there is no ’just in case.’ I know better than anyone that this baby is yours. I’m not afraid of a paternity test. The innocent have nothing to hide.”

The last shred of doubt in Jie Anlin’s heart vanished. ’Qin Mei is just an outsider. What does she know? It’s just like Zhao Hong said—Qin Mei is consumed by envy, jealousy, and hate. She can’t stand seeing Zhao Hong pregnant and maliciously wants to use me to harm the baby.’

”Sister Xu, Qin Mei was just outside the room. Do you think she overheard us?” Lin Yaru asked nervously.

”So what if she did?” Xu Chunyan scoffed.

”She’ll definitely expose us,” Lin Yaru fretted.

”She has no proof,” Xu Chunyan said as a vicious plan formed in her mind. ”Yaru, we’ll beat her at her own game.”

”Beat her at her own game?” Lin Yaru didn’t understand.

”Yaru,” Xu Chunyan explained, ”in a minute, I’m going to sneak out. Then you’re going to scream for help. Say that Qin Mei forced you to drink something. Say she’s trying to harm you and your baby.”