Running Away While Pregnant with the Villain’s Child - Chapter 31

The more Tan Nuannuan spoke with Shen Yao, the more she realized that Shen Yao was the best stepping stone available.

If she truly wanted to change her destiny, rather than choosing a brainless fool, it was better to choose a “silly sweet” heiress with capital and family status. Clearly, Li Dan was the former, and Shen Yao was the latter.

Looking at Shen Yao’s features, Tan Nuannuan felt a flicker of—to her surprise—reluctance.

What is this? Do I finally have that non-existent thing called a conscience? No. Even if she possessed such a nebulous thing, she should still feel that she was doing the right thing. If Shen Yao was deceived by her, she would at most lose some money. But if she were deceived by that bastard Li Dan… her entire family would be ruined.

“Was I being too harsh…” Tan Nuannuan gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, putting on an act of being frail and helpless. “Just now, he even told me to enter the Pei Corporation by any means necessary…”

At these words, Shen Yao clenched her fists. She had already stepped into Tan Nuannuan’s trap. If this were the usual Shen Yao, she wouldn’t have believed Tan Nuannuan so easily; after all, this was her once-gentle “Brother Li Dan.”

However, Tan Nuannuan had recordings and photos—everything she needed—leaving Shen Yao with no choice but to believe. Moreover, there was a voice in her heart whispering: Maybe she’s right.

Meanwhile, in the void space, the Pseudo-Heavenly Dao was nearly driven to madness. He didn’t understand why everything was deviating from his preset trajectory. Why was his descendant, despite being given a second life, still so stupid?

“You think you can control everything? Keep dreaming,” Luo Xingxing said. She was sitting in a corner, looking extremely weak.

“Hmph, what do you know! All of this will be mine. Before long, I will have absorbed you completely. When that time comes, what do you think they can do?”

“If I want Luo Xingran to marry someone, what can Pei Junzhuo do? I can even make her die first.”

Hearing the Pseudo-Heavenly Dao’s words, Luo Xingxing’s eyes widened, filled with shock. “You’re insane! They are both ‘Heavenly Destined Daughters.’ They are the true pillars of this world. If she dies, do you think this world can continue to function?”

“Isn’t there another one in Luo Xingran’s belly?” The Pseudo-Heavenly Dao’s voice was cold, making Luo Xingxing’s skin crawl. “As long as I have Li Dan crush this mother and daughter, this world will forever belong to the Li family. Even if that Pei Junzhuo is a Heavenly Destined Daughter, so what?”

“She can only return her power to the world. Don’t worry, I’ll have Li Dan take ‘good care’ of the mother and daughter. As you know, my junior loves women most of all. Once Luo Xingran’s child grows up, it wouldn’t hurt to bring her into the harem as well.”

The Pseudo-Heavenly Dao’s smile was nauseating and triggered a deep sense of loathing. Luo Xingxing felt that this person was simply a lunatic.

“You madman! You bastard who deserves to rot in hell! I’m telling you, you will never succeed.” Luo Xingxing’s face was flushed with rage; she wanted nothing more than to tear him apart.

If she hadn’t known Luo Xingran, hadn’t felt that she was her sister, perhaps she wouldn’t be in this much pain. But ever since she entered the Luo family, everything had changed.

“Watch me,” the Pseudo-Heavenly Dao said, his once-handsome face now twisted and grotesque. “I don’t know what kind of fit you’ve been throwing since you entered the Luo family, but I hope you understand one thing: your life and death are in my hands.”

With that, he turned and vanished from the void.

Watching him disappear, Luo Xingxing felt a surge of regret. If only she were stronger, if only she were more capable, if only she had known these things sooner… would things have turned out this way?

“Why are you crying?” A weak girl’s voice suddenly appeared in the stark white void.

“Who are you?” Luo Xingxing asked warily. The voice seemed startled and took a long time to respond.

“I don’t know who I am… but why are you crying? Please don’t cry. It makes me feel uncomfortable when you do.”

Luo Xingxing did not lower her guard, but she stopped crying and remained silent.

At that moment, the Pseudo-Heavenly Dao arrived at Pei Junzhuo’s office. He stood directly behind her, yet no one could see him.

“That concludes this quarter’s report. We’ll discuss the rest at the next meeting.” Pei Junzhuo took off her glasses and rubbed her temples. For some reason, she felt an abrupt, overwhelming fatigue.

Once everyone had left the office, Pei Junzhuo stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window to overlook the city. Her energy today was indeed lower than usual.

“Die, so-called Daughter of Heaven.” The Pseudo-Heavenly Dao brandished a dagger and stabbed toward Pei Junzhuo’s heart.

However, he passed right through her. He lunged into thin air.

“Tch. It must be because Luo Xingran hasn’t given birth yet. The world lacks its pillar, so it’s desperate to protect you. Fine. Then I shall make your daughter be born this very instant.”

The Pseudo-Heavenly Dao clicked his tongue and turned to leave.

Back at her desk, Pei Junzhuo found she couldn’t focus on a single word on her screen. Her mind was suddenly filled with Luo Xingran. It was strange. Logically, Luo Xingran had disappeared, and she had sent people to find her. Why was she thinking of her so intensely?

It didn’t make sense, but Pei Junzhuo didn’t want to go against her heart. She picked up her phone and dialed her private investigator.

“Have you found the person I asked you to look for?”

A weak, pleading voice came from the other end. “Boss, it’s not that I don’t want to find her, it’s that Miss Luo is too good at running! America, Japan, Europe… I really can’t keep up with her, Boss!”

“So, you haven’t searched domestically at all?” Pei Junzhuo’s voice was icy.

“Uh… Miss Luo shouldn’t be in the country, right?” The investigator replied weakly, followed by the beep-beep of the call being disconnected.

“Old Cao, get the car. We’re going to the Luo residence,” Pei Junzhuo frowned. With such idiots working for her, it was no wonder she couldn’t find Luo Xingran. Regardless of the outcome, Luo Xingran shouldn’t have just walked away like that.

“Miss, which Luo villa are we going to?” Old Cao’s voice came through the line.

“The nearest one. We’re visiting every single one of them today.” Pei Junzhuo’s voice was like frozen shards, ruthlessly cold. In this moment, she truly embodied the role of the cold antagonist in the story.

“Understood, Miss. No problem.” Old Cao expertly flipped through a notebook filled with Pei Junzhuo’s handwriting, listing all of the Luo family’s villas—both public and private.

After mapping them out by distance, Old Cao saw his mistress walking out of the company building.

“Switch cars. Drive my secretary’s car,” Pei Junzhuo tossed the keys to Old Cao. She knew Luo Xingran’s timid personality all too well. If she was intentionally hiding, she would recognize the family cars and flee before Pei Junzhuo could even get close.

Meanwhile, at the Luo house, the family was discussing how to evade Pei Junzhuo’s search.

“Even though we’ve chosen the best private hospital and the delivery should go smoothly, I’m still worried about what happens if Pei Junzhuo finds us,” Mr. Luo said, his face clouded with anxiety.

“She can’t do anything to us anyway. Pei Junzhuo is powerful, but she isn’t above the law,” Luo Xingran said, stroking her belly as she felt the little life inside turn over.

“Exactly. Old Luo, stop worrying about nonsense,” Mrs. Luo gave her husband a disdainful look. Having been scolded, Mr. Luo could only retreat to a corner to feel sorry for himself.

After chatting for a while, the family decided it was time for the daily prenatal exercise.

“But Ranran, you’re almost due. Maybe we shouldn’t go today?” Mrs. Luo looked at her daughter’s belly, her concern deepening.

“But she seems so happy when we go for walks,” Luo Xingran pointed helplessly at her stomach.

“How about this? We’ll just take a short walk and come right back,” Mr. Luo suggested a compromise, braving his wife’s “death stare.” Once they were out, his daughter could walk as long as she wanted.

Mrs. Luo shot him another look of annoyance.

“It all depends on your mother. I’ll listen to her,” Mr. Luo immediately surrendered.

“You’re always the ‘good guy.’ Since you’ve put it that way, what else can I say?” Mrs. Luo rolled her eyes.

“My dearest Mother, I really want to go for a walk. I promise to walk slowly, okay?” Luo Xingran grabbed her mother’s hand and acted spoiled. Seeing her daughter like this, Mrs. Luo immediately gave in.

“Who could ever outtalk you, you naughty girl?” Mrs. Luo looked at her daughter with a mix of amusement and helplessness.

“And we’re off!” The moment she stepped out of the house, Luo Xingran began walking briskly. Her belly was significantly smaller than a typical pregnancy, and she had very little “maternal awareness,” which left Mrs. Luo trailing behind in a state of constant fear.

“Daughter, dear, slow down, slow down!” Mr. Luo felt a pang of regret watching her.

Mrs. Luo was more direct. She grabbed Luo Xingran’s wrist and said, “If you keep walking at this speed…” Her gaze turned dangerous.

“Okay, Mama. No problem, Mama,” Luo Xingran immediately became obedient.

“You naughty girl,” Mrs. Luo gently tapped her daughter’s head, her eyes full of affection.

“Hehe,” Luo Xingran laughed. But in the next second, a look of agony flashed across her face.

“Mom… Mom, my stomach hurts so much.” Her features crumpled in pain.

“Quick! Get the driver! Get Ranran to the hospital!” Mrs. Luo panicked.

“What happened to her?”

Pei Junzhuo had just walked in and witnessed the scene.

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