Chapter 48: I Cannot Afford the Trouble

The next morning, An Yuan prepared to visit the hospital to say goodbye to Li Tian'er. The ward door was closed; he knocked a few times, but no one responded. Pushing the door open, he found the room empty, the bedding already removed. A nurse informed him that Li Tian'er had been discharged.

An Yuan called her phone, but it was switched off. He guessed her phone must have run out of battery.

For some reason, if he didn’t see Li Tian’er one last time, he couldn’t leave in peace.

At the moment when a woman is most vulnerable and needs a man’s company, it’s bad enough if he’s not there; to make her worry and suffer twice over is unbearable.

Li Tian’er wasn’t at the garment factory, so An Yuan went to Chen Bo’s home. The housekeeper eyed him suspiciously through the iron gate before saying the lady had gone out last night and hadn’t returned, probably with the master of the house.

An Yuan was stunned. A pregnant woman about to give birth, not at work or at home—where else could she be? He called after the housekeeper, who was turning to go back inside, and asked if Li Tian’er might have gone back to her parents’ home. She shook her head uncertainly. “Maybe. Tian’er rarely goes home to her parents. She’s been to her in-laws more often.”

“That’s okay. Give me the address; I’ll go look.”

A voice inside seemed to urge him—today, he must find that woman.

An Yuan hailed a taxi and went from Li Tian’er’s parents’ home to Chen Bo’s parents’ house. Chen Bo’s parents did not yet know about his accident. When a stranger came looking for their daughter-in-law, they were on guard.

Later, An Yuan wondered if he’d lost his mind—why go to Chen Bo’s parents to look for Li Tian’er? Wasn’t he just making it obvious that he had feelings for their daughter-in-law?

He explained to them that he was a friend of Chen Bo’s, that Chen Bo had an accident, and since he couldn’t find Chen Bo’s wife, he had come to them.

That explanation seemed reasonable. Chen Bo’s parents were terrified, thinking something terrible had happened. An Yuan reassured them that Chen Bo would probably only face a fine and an administrative warning.

“No need to worry.”

When their children stumble, parents' hearts race. This was Chen Bo’s second time in trouble; the elderly couple couldn’t bear any more shocks and immediately asked An Yuan to take them to find him.

The taxi stopped by the roadside, and An Yuan was the first to get out. He immediately spotted the white BMW that Li Tian’er drove.

How foolish he had been—not thinking at the hospital why Li Tian’er was so eager to leave despite her condition. She was worried about Chen Bo!

Leading the way, An Yuan was almost at the inquiry desk when Chen Bo and Li Tian’er came out together. Chen Bo’s parents, following behind, excitedly rushed forward to grab Chen Bo and ask questions.

Having been detained for two days, Chen Bo’s chin was covered with stubble. Walking alongside Li Tian’er, he looked like a middle-aged man, suddenly aged and weary.

An Yuan stood still, watching this family reunion. He didn’t know if such a scene would ever happen again. After this incident, he was certain Li Tian’er would leave Chen Bo.

Which woman would stay with a husband who cheated, supported a mistress, was broke, and had a failed career?

Li Tian’er’s expression was calm, revealing nothing of her thoughts.

“Chen Bo, you’re finally out.”

An Yuan withdrew his gaze from Li Tian’er, smiled at Chen Bo, and patted him on the shoulder.

“I’m clear and aboveboard, with a clear conscience. If they don’t let me out, are they going to keep me locked up forever?”

Chen Bo wiped his brow and rubbed his face to dispel fatigue. An Yuan’s concern felt a bit ironic. Even without solid evidence, being questioned here left stains that couldn’t be washed away.

He didn’t know how to explain to his wife that he never did those sordid things—that he was set up. But this was not the time or place. His arms were held firmly by his parents, and he couldn’t break free.

“You’re right. It’s good you’re out. I have some things to attend to. Don’t open the nightclub for now; I’ll think of another way to get it running again. You should spend time with your wife—she was hospitalized last night; it was serious. Goodbye, keep in touch.”

Hearing An Yuan’s words, Li Tian’er could no longer pretend to be calm.

She shot An Yuan a sharp glance. He returned a meaningful smile, his eyes crescent-shaped, eyebrows raised slightly, then turned and strode away with grace.

“Who is he? So warm-hearted. He came all the way to our home for your sake, even brought your parents to pick you up. You’d better treat him well. I think he’s quite a catch—charming, elegant, probably a big boss, right? Must be very rich...”

Mrs. Chen craned her neck watching An Yuan get into the car and mumbling to herself.

“You were hospitalized last night?”

Mr. and Mrs. Chen were so focused on learning about An Yuan they didn’t notice what he had told Chen Bo.

In front of An Yuan, Chen Bo held back questions. Once An Yuan left, he hurriedly pulled Li Tian’er aside.

“You saw it too; I’m standing here just fine!”

“Did he take you to the hospital?”

From An Yuan’s implication, Chen Bo understood but still wanted Li Tian’er to confirm.

Li Tian’er nodded and gave a rough account. Her face then darkened. Holding her belly, she headed straight outside.

She had encountered a young girl, barely developed, who said she was a student occasionally forced by Chen Bo to entertain at the nightclub. Chen Bo controlled her movements; today she was finally free.

Perhaps fearing Li Tian’er wouldn’t believe her, the girl leaned in and whispered about a hidden mole on Chen Bo’s body.

Such a mole’s location would only be known through intimate contact; even sharing a bath might not reveal it. Li Tian’er had no choice but to believe her.

Mrs. Chen wanted to invite Chen Bo and Li Tian’er home for a meal to calm Chen Bo’s nerves, but Li Tian’er insisted on resting at home. She wanted to confront Chen Bo. He also wished to explain.

Seeing her unwillingness, her mother could not force her. Noticing Li Tian’er’s heavily swollen belly, Mrs. Chen reminded her to monitor the baby’s movements closely and to go to the hospital early, warning against delaying at home.

“Childbirth is like stepping halfway into the gates of hell.”

Li Tian’er, already anxious and fearful of giving birth, felt a dull pain in her abdomen at Chen Bo’s words. Her complexion worsened. Chen Bo hurriedly embraced her and got her into the car, signaling his parents to return inside.

On the way home, Chen Bo tried several times to break the silence, but Li Tian’er ignored him.

It was nearly noon by then. Worried she might be exhausted, Chen Bo decided to let her rest quietly. They could close the door and talk properly once they got home.