Who on earth is the heartless one?

Zhou Jiayan saw the news while abroad, chattered excitedly on the phone, and clamored to return to the country.

This was a critical moment, and her return at this juncture would only cause chaos. Zhou Lichuan quickly snatched the phone from Jiang Zao and forced her to stay put overseas, turning back to message Du Bin and instruct him to keep Zhou Jiayan under control.

Following this incident, Lin Rui would inevitably make his next move and drag Zhou Kuan down with him in a desperate final struggle.

To lure everyone out into the open, Jiang Zao had spent a long time setting up this stage; she certainly could not let this little rascal ruin it.

Setting down his phone, Zhou Lichuan pressed his head against Jiang Zao’s protruding belly, straining his ears to listen to the sounds inside.

Jiang Zao nestled deep into the plush sofa cushions, completely unfazed by the sudden pressure.

"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Zao asked him.

Without raising his head, Zhou Lichuan replied, "Zhou Jiayan is only a year younger than you. She is still so naive and ignorant, just like a child, yet you are already going to be a mother."

Jiang Zao stroked her belly, her eyes softening completely. "Isn't being a mother a good thing?"

"It is. But you will lose a lot of your personal freedom. It's a bit unfair to you."

Jiang Zao poked Zhou Lichuan in the face with her finger. "Then you only have yourself to blame. Without you, I wouldn't have this child."

"I am indeed to blame," Zhou Lichuan said in a low voice. "I didn't take proper precautions and subjected you to a difficult experience. It is truly my fault."

With that, he lowered his head once more to kiss her rounded abdomen.

Jiang Zao changed her poke into a push. "Alright now, the baby is almost ready to be born, it's too late to say these things. Instead of wasting time on this, you'd better go check on Shen Mushishi. He was whispering with Xiaobai during the camping trip; is there something he didn't tell you?"

Zhou Lichuan chuckled and collapsed backward, his voice full of casual indifference. "He only ever tells me when he can't handle things himself, so I can clean up his messes and take the blame. Whatever brings him to Xiaobai can't possibly be a major issue. Let them sort it out themselves."

"Fair enough."

Sister Hui walked over carrying a few folders of documents and placed them in front of Jiang Zao and Zhou Lichuan.

"Professor Shen has shortlisted several nannies and maternity matrons to specially care for Zaozao's postpartum recovery and the baby's condition. These are the finalized candidates; take your pick."

Zhou Lichuan immediately sat up straight, taking the thick stack of documents to study them carefully. His eagle-like eyes scrutinized every single piece of data, terrified of missing even the smallest detail.

"Why isn't there any arrangement for a postpartum care center?"

Jiang Zao scratched her ear. "I don't want to go. It's too much of a hassle, and I don't want to see strangers either. It's the same at home, and it's not like there's no one here. With all the nannies Mom picked out, plus Sister Hui, it'll be just as professional as any postpartum care center."

Sister Hui chimed in, "Professor Shen has also arranged for a new live-in doctor who can start next week. They will dedicate the first three months exclusively to caring for Zaozao and the baby. The house is large enough and the environment is more stable. I also think staying home is better than going to a confinement center."

Zhou Lichuan continued to flip through the nannies' resumes with meticulous care. He hadn't been this rigorous even when selecting his own financial assistant.

"Of course you have the final say on these matters. Whatever you want to do is fine. As long as you and the baby are happy and safe, anything goes."

As he spoke, Zhou Lichuan tucked the profile of a nanny he favored into Jiang Zao's hands, gesturing for her to take a look as well.

Since these people had already been screened by Shen Xiaonan, there was no doubt their professional competence and personal character were thoroughly reliable.

Without examining them too closely, Jiang Zao picked two whose profile photos she found vaguely pleasing and kept them.

While the Zhou family was busy choosing nannies, the Meng family was busy choosing rings.

Both families stood at the crossroads of the next phase of life, yet their moods were entirely different.

Meng Qiaochong had made a public appearance in the media, and after the peak of the trending topic subsided, during the calm lull that followed, he unexpectedly became the latest point of fascination for internet users.

How could someone capable of going camping with Zhou Lichuan possibly be an ordinary nobody? Sure enough, through the enthusiastic digging of netizens, Meng Qiaochong's background information was finally uncovered.

*Oh my god! Look at those long legs! That slim waist! His damp hair draped over his forehead, still dripping wet! President Meng of the Meng Group has always been a name of legend, but he's actually this handsome in person? I'm alive again!*

So the netizens proclaimed.

The Meng Group seized upon this focus, instantly utilizing their boss's good looks for a new marketing campaign.

The public relations department edited footage of Meng Qiaochong attending meetings, signing documents, and waiting for elevators into a promotional video released on their official account. Broad shoulders in a tailored suit, long legs, and the occasional flash of gold-rimmed glasses gave off the distinct aura of an urbane scoundrel.

And naturally, this exact archetype was the most lethal weapon in the online world.

Almost overnight, Meng Qiaochong became the ultimate embodiment of the internet trope: the "refined scoundrel CEO."

The Meng Group's stock soared instantly, a veritable miracle.

Meng Qiaoyuan messaged Jiang Zao afterward to vent jokingly.

"If I had known showing his face would work this well, I should have just had my brother take some provocative photos and post them. Why bother putting so much effort into managing things for so long?"

Her words sent Jiang Zao into fits of laughter, trembling like a blossoming branch tucked securely inside Zhou Lichuan's embrace.

...

After a storm of news, some rejoiced while others despaired.

Since joy had landed on Jiang Zao's side, sorrow naturally fell upon Lin Rui.

Li Shu'an contacted Lin Rui immediately after her failure, and Lin Rui was so furious he smashed his phone on the spot.

"Why were you so careless? Knowing there was only a tiny stream between you, why didn't you prepare better? Didn't you even bother to check who was beside you when you entered the tent? When did you become so impulsive?"

Having changed her clothes, Li Shu'an arrived at Lin Rui's cottage, only to be pointed at and scolded before she could even speak.

A sharp pain tore through her heart, yet on the surface, she was forced to put on a fierce front. "What right do you have to lecture me? At least I went! At least I actually took action! And you? You only know how to cower in here! You only know how to point fingers when things go wrong! I did all of that, wasn't it all for you?!"

Lin Rui flew into a rage. "For me?! Li Shu'an, put your hand on your heart and tell me, were you really doing it for me? Who was the one talking about marrying into the Zhou family, claiming she would sacrifice everything to achieve that goal? How greedy can you be? Wanting to cling to the Zhou family's coattails, you even came crawling into my bed!"

"A conscience?" Li Shu'an retorted. "I have a conscience, but do you? Wasn't it you who claimed it was love at first sight? Wasn't it you who said you liked me first? If you hadn't made the first move, why would I have wanted to give up on Zhou Lichuan? Why would I have wanted to be with you?!"

Back in high school, Li Shu'an had sought out Zhou Lichuan, attempting to bring up the childhood engagement arranged by their parents, only to be spotted by Lin Rui, who was studying at the same school at the time and had deliberately seduced her.

A pure-hearted young girl was utterly incapable of distinguishing between the humans and monsters surrounding her. Immersed in flattery and sweet nothings, she had handed over all her cards without a second thought.

Including her heart.

And her body.

As time passed and the world underwent earth-shattering changes, by the time she finally woke up in adulthood, she was already mired too deep, pinned mercilessly at the bottom of a swamp. There was no way out short of complete destruction and turning to ashes together.