Rebirth as the Richest Woman in the World
Chapter 883 - 885, The Little Match Girl (Part 1)

Chapter 883: 885, The Little Match Girl (Part 1)

"Okay," Tong Qiaoqiao stood up, "then Mom will take you for a bath."

Li Xiangzhi stood up and said, "You two go get your clothes first, I’ll get everything ready." With that, she headed to the bathroom.

Tong Qiaoqiao casually took two pieces of clothing from the cabinet and then led Little Jin into the bathroom.

In the bathroom, Li Xiangzhi had already filled the bathtub with water, and wisps of vapor floated above the surface.

If one looked carefully, they would realize that it wasn’t steam, but frost!

Beneath the water’s surface, there were all ice cubes.

Seeing this, Little Jin couldn’t help but shiver.

That water, it looked bone-chillingly cold.

"Hurry and take off your clothes," Tong Qiaoqiao glanced at Little Jin.

Little Jin trembled as he undressed, looking at the frost on the water’s surface and couldn’t help but shudder...

That water must be very cold.

But for his mother, for his grandmother, and for himself as well, he had to get in!

"Come here quickly." Tong Qiaoqiao, with a towel in hand, beckoned to Little Jin.

Little Jin walked over and climbed into the bathtub.

Instantly, a bone-numbing coldness spread throughout his body.

Cold, very cold, so cold it hurt to the bone—Little Jin started shivering at once, his teeth chattering from the freezing cold.

Little Jin couldn’t withstand such an ordeal and quickly stood up, "Mom, I’m cold! I’m cold..." Little Jin hugged his chest, his voice quivering as well.

He was truly very cold.

This kind of cold almost made his blood freeze together, making it hard to breathe... Utterly agonizing!

But Tong Qiaoqiao quickly pressed down on his shoulders, "Little Jin, you are Mom’s only hope. Don’t you want to become the master of this place? Do you want to endure those two good-for-nothings bullying you?"

There wasn’t a trace of pity in Tong Qiaoqiao’s eyes; in her eyes, her son was merely a tool to climb the ladder of power.

Besides, this cold water wouldn’t kill Little Jin, at worst it would only give him a severe cold...

She’s a mother, she knew limits.

Hearing this, Little Jin bit down hard on his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, and he sat back down in the bathtub.

The ice water turned his skin blue, and his lips, too, turned a dark shade of blue.

But Little Jin didn’t utter a sound anymore.

Tong Qiaoqiao wiped Little Jin’s body with the towel while speaking, "Little Jin, don’t blame Mom for being cruel. Mom is doing this because there is no other way. People, if they want something, they must pay a price for it. I promise there won’t be a next time."

By this time, Little Jin couldn’t feel any temperature at all; his whole body trembled. Though it was only September, his heart had completely chilled!

He longed for warmth.

Before consciousness dissipated, the story "The Little Match Girl" suddenly came to his mind.

In the past, he could never understand just how cold it must have been to freeze the little girl to death...

Now...

He understood.

Such coldness was truly unbearable.

Little Jin slowly closed his eyes and plunged his head into the water, falling unconscious.

"Little Jin!" Tong Qiaoqiao shouted in panic, reaching to pull Little Jin out of the water.

"Wait!" Li Xiangzhi stopped Tong Qiaoqiao’s movements with her hand.

"Mom, Little Jin has already passed out!" Tong Qiaoqiao looked at Li Xiangzhi, her tone urgent.

Regardless, Little Jin was her biological son, and in the end, Tong Qiaoqiao felt a bit of heartache.

Li Xiangzhi remained composed, slowly saying, "I know he has passed out! Little Jin is my only grandson. Do you think I don’t feel sorry? I feel more sorry than you! But this is not the time for pity! If we don’t succeed, we must be prepared for sacrifice! Little Jin’s constitution has always been good; to avoid accidents, let him soak for another ten minutes."

Hearing Li Xiangzhi’s reasoning, Tong Qiaoqiao hesitantly released her hold, somewhat uneasily saying, "Mom, you don’t think anything will happen to Little Jin, do you?"

Li Xiangzhi confidently said, "It’s just a case of freezing; nothing will happen. I have already prepared the quilts, just need to bundle him up later. So many people go winter swimming; I haven’t seen anyone having accidents. Don’t worry."

Reassured by these words, Tong Qiaoqiao finally exhaled in relief.

After ten minutes, Tong Qiaoqiao pulled Little Jin out of the water.

By that time, Little Jin had completely lost consciousness.

Tong Qiaoqiao turned on the air conditioning and placed Little Jin in the bed.

Sure enough, in the middle of the night, Little Jin developed a relentless fever and showed symptoms of a severe cold.

Only then did the mother and daughter feel at ease.

On the other side.

The Duanmu Family.

Mo Qingyi had been resting at home to care for her pregnancy these days; she was now a high-priority individual in the Duanmu Family.

To prevent accidents, Duanmu Zhe had even moved their bedroom to the first floor.

Mo Qingyi’s pregnancy was hard-won, so the entire Duanmu Family took it very seriously.

"Time for your medicine." Duanmu Zhe carried a bowl of herbal medicine to Mo Qingyi.

Before Mo Qingyi had the chance to reach for the medicine, her stomach couldn’t help but churn, and she immediately got up, rushing toward the bathroom.

"Slow down!" Duanmu Zhe put down the medicine bowl and immediately followed her.

Mo Qingyi leaned over the toilet, vomiting so intensely, she wished she could throw up her entire stomach.

Duanmu Zhe stood behind her, patting her shoulder with concern, "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine, don’t worry," Mo Qingyi waved her hand, indicating she was alright.

"You’re vomiting so much... maybe, maybe we shouldn’t keep this child?" Seeing Mo Qingyi like this, Duanmu Zhe truly couldn’t bear it. Two months into the pregnancy, Mo Qingyi had not only failed to gain weight but had actually lost some.

In Duanmu Zhe’s heart, the child was far less important than Mo Qingyi.

"What nonsense are you talking about! You’re not allowed to say that again! Everyone who’s pregnant goes through this. Before I was pregnant, I always envied those expectant mothers, even their morning sickness I envied greatly, so right now, I am happy. The baby’s turmoil indicates that it’s lively and healthy. I am happy to endure this trouble," Mo Qingyi spoke evenly, but her eyes shimmered with a mother’s radiance.

Though women may be fragile, they become strong as mothers.

What’s a little suffering if it means having a child?

Seeing Mo Qingyi like this, Duanmu Zhe could only compromise. He touched Mo Qingyi’s belly with a tender look, "Little guy, your mom has suffered so much to carry you, you must honor her well in the future and not be naughty."

Mo Qingyi also had a full smile on her face.

Back in the living room, the medicine had cooled down. Mo Qingyi struggled to suppress the churning inside her, picked up the soup medicine, took a deep breath, and drank it down in one gulp.

"Quick, have a piece of preserved fruit," Duanmu Zhe immediately offered her one.

Just after finishing the medicine, Chu Jin arrived.

Ever since Mo Qingyi became pregnant, Chu Jin would come to check on her periodically.

"Jin, why are you alone, where are Bao Bao and Bei Bei?" Mo Qingyi looked up at Chu Jin.

Chu Jin smiled slightly, "Those two rascals are too mischievous. If they came along, they would definitely disturb you. You’re at a crucial time right now, you can’t afford any mishaps because of those two little guys."

Bao Bao and Bei Bei were two Huskies, extremely rowdy, and unless they were sleeping, there wasn’t a minute of peace.

Mo Qingyi took the medical kit from Chu Jin’s hand, "It’s alright, they are very good and obedient. I’m almost bored to death at home, it would be more lively if they came."

"If you’re bored, watch more prenatal education programs. By the way, have you taken your medicine today?" Chu Jin reached out to feel Mo Qingyi’s pulse.

Mo Qingyi nodded, "I have, rest assured, I take that medicine every day, without missing a single day."

Chu Jin then said, "That’s good. You must take care of yourself during these first three months, be careful in your movements, eat more fruit, and less fried food."

"By the way, Brother Nine, Qingyi is always throwing up. Is there anything we can do to stop her from vomiting?" Duanmu Zhe asked next.

Chu Jin shook his head, "There’s really no way around it, but what an expectant mother needs most during this time is your companionship and care. Just spend more time with Qingyi, she’s not like other pregnant women, you must be careful at all times, even a sneeze could lead to a miscarriage."

Chu Jin wasn’t joking—the complications in Mo Qingyi’s body were severe from the start, and it hadn’t been easy for her to conceive. This wasn’t a matter to be taken lightly.

"Okay, Brother Nine, rest assured, I know what’s at stake," Duanmu Zhe nodded seriously.

Mo Qingyi continued to ask, "Jin, how’s the baby?"

Chu Jin smiled faintly, releasing Mo Qingyi’s wrist. "The baby is in much better condition than I expected. Just hold on for one more month. After a month, once the pregnancy is stable, you won’t need to take anti-miscarriage medicine anymore."

"Good, thank you, Jin." Mo Qingyi was very happy.

Looking at Mo Qingyi, Chu Jin expressed his concern, "Qingyi, have you lost weight recently?"

Without speaking, Duanmu Zhe added, "Indeed, she’s suffering from severe morning sickness and can’t stomach anything. She’s lost two pounds in the last few days alone!"

Chu Jin frowned slightly, "That won’t do! If this goes on for too long, even if the baby is okay, your body won’t be able to take it. You must eat, even if it means forcing yourself, so you can provide nutrients for your body. Your food intake must return to its normal state."

Mo Qingyi said with some difficulty, "But what if I really can’t eat? Is there any other way, like nutritional injections or something?"

Chu Jin shook his head. "No, if you want the child, you must eat," he said earnestly.

"What if I eat and then throw up?" Mo Qingyi continued to ask.

Chu Jin replied gravely, "Then you keep eating until you’ve finished. I know it may be difficult at first, but you’ll manage if you just persevere. Qingyi, we can’t afford for you to lose any more weight." As he said this, Chu Jin took hold of Mo Qingyi’s hands.

Mo Qingyi instantly understood the meaning in Chu Jin’s eyes and nodded solemnly in agreement.

"Duanmu, it’s your responsibility to supervise Qingyi. If I come back and find her still this thin, it means you haven’t been taking good enough care of her," Chu Jin said, glancing at Duanmu Zhe.

Duanmu Zhe replied with a smile, "Don’t worry, Ninth Sister-in-law, I’ve got this covered."

Chu Jin nodded with a smile in his eyes.

Duanmu Zhe then said, "By the way, Ninth Sister-in-law, there’s something else I need to tell you."

"What is it?" Chu Jin raised his eyebrows slightly.

"It’s about Xi He," Duanmu Zhe said, his expression becoming serious.

Chu Jin knitted his brows lightly. "Isn’t she dead?" Chu Jin had personally examined Xi He’s body and confirmed there was no issue.

Duanmu Zhe continued, "She did die, but she’s also still alive. The reason Qingyi ended up like this is all her doing." Duanmu Zhe had uncovered everything. The reason Mo Qingyi had been infertile for so many years was because of the problematic fruits sent by Lin Xiyuan.

The virus hidden in her body wasn’t directly causing her infertility.

Lin Xiyuan had pretended to get together with Zhou Yiheng, aiming for this very outcome.

As long as Zhou Yiheng was her shield, no one would suspect her.

"What do you mean by that?" Chu Jin narrowed his eyes slightly, a flicker of confusion in his gaze.

Duanmu Zhe explained further, "Lin Xiyuan is Xi He. She deliberately got close to my cousin to approach our family. All of this was premeditated by Xi He." Now, looking back, Duanmu Zhe had many regrets.

He should have realized something was wrong from the moment Lin Xiyuan insisted on having his child...

But he didn’t...

He never imagined that Xi He would be reborn in Lin Xiyuan...

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