Child My Child

The gang leader snatched her phone.

"11?"

"Trying to call the police?"

The gang leader sneered, "You dare to call the police right in front of me? Do you think I don’t exist?"

Jiang Shuqin pleaded fearfully, "I know I was wrong. I won’t call the police again. Please, have mercy and let me go."

"Since you dared to call the police, you’ll have to pay the price!" The gang leader sneered, and with those words, he kicked her in the stomach.

"Ah—"

Jiang Shuqin clutched her abdomen, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

She felt waves of intense pain radiating from her stomach.

"I’m pregnant. Do whatever you want to me, but please, don’t hurt my child…" Jiang Shuqin groaned in agony.

"Pregnant?"

"Hahaha—"

The gang leader burst into laughter. "Pregnant, huh? Perfect. I’ve never beaten up a pregnant woman before. This should be interesting."

He pointed at his lackeys and said with a grin, "Come on, let’s give this old woman a proper welcome, especially the kid in her belly!"

"No, please don’t!"

Jiang Shuqin tried to escape, covering her stomach.

This was a boy she was carrying. She couldn’t let anything happen to her child!

"Trying to run?"

The gang leader grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back, throwing her to the ground.

The thugs surrounded her, their faces twisted with malicious grins. Jiang Shuqin felt overwhelming terror as she looked at them.

"I beg you," Jiang Shuqin pleaded again. "I’ll give you money. You can have as much as you want. Just let me go…"

The gang leader sneered, "Money? Let me tell you something—no amount of money will save you now."

"Brothers, let’s do it. While no one’s around, let’s take care of the kid in her belly. Aim for her stomach. Kick her! Beat her!"

"Yes, boss!"

The thugs began punching and kicking Jiang Shuqin’s stomach.

She curled up, her hands covering her abdomen, trying to shield herself from their blows.

But it was no use.

Her stomach bore the brunt of their vicious attacks.

Soon, bright red blood began to trickle down her thighs.

Jiang Shuqin wiped her hand and saw the blood.

Her eyes widened in horror.

"Blood! It’s blood!"

The thugs kicked her stomach a few more times before finally stopping.

They had come under the pretense of robbing her, but to avoid suspicion, they still took her money.

It was an extra bonus for them.

They ransacked her car, stuffing anything valuable into their pockets.

The gang leader received a message on his phone.

He crouched down and sneered, "Still thinking about calling the police? Still want to try?"

"My baby… my baby…" Jiang Shuqin clutched her stomach, moaning in pain. Her face was as pale as a sheet of paper.

The gang leader stood up, laughing coldly, and delivered one last kick to her stomach.

"What are you doing?" Lin Li rushed over from a distance.

He stood in front of Jiang Shuqin, gritting his teeth. "Do you even realize this is a crime?"

"Oh, look, another fool who’s not afraid to die," the gang leader sneered.

"Li’er," Jiang Shuqin cried out anxiously, "Go! Don’t worry about me."

"Mom, I could never leave you," Lin Li said firmly. "I’ll protect you."

The gang leader spat out the blade of grass he’d been chewing.

He clapped his hands mockingly.

"How touching. A mother and son’s love. Truly moving."

The acting was convincing enough.

The gang leader despised Lin Li’s scheming, but the money—tens of thousands—was too good to pass up.

And there was no risk of being caught by the police.

It was a foolproof plan. Only an idiot would turn it down.

"Since you’re so devoted to your mother, why don’t you take the beating for her?" the gang leader said coldly.

"Li’er, run!" Jiang Shuqin gritted her teeth, using all her strength to push Lin Li away.

But Lin Li remained standing in front of her.

Jiang Shuqin was deeply moved.

They say that in times of crisis, a person’s true character is revealed.

Li’er truly was a filial son.

The gang leader gestured to his men. "Brothers, teach him a lesson. Let him know that if you don’t have the skills, don’t try to be a hero."

The thugs quickly surrounded Lin Li and Jiang Shuqin.

Afraid that Jiang Shuqin might get hurt, Lin Li said, "I’m worried about my mother. Can we move somewhere else?"

"Sure," the gang leader agreed.

So, Lin Li moved to a spot farther away from Jiang Shuqin.

He was no match for the thugs.

Soon, he was on the ground, enduring their punches and kicks.

"Li’er, my Li’er!" Jiang Shuqin wept uncontrollably. She crawled over and grabbed the gang leader’s pant leg, begging tearfully, "Please, let my son go. I’m begging you."

The gang leader, hands in his pockets, replied nonchalantly, "He’s the one who wanted to play the hero. He asked for this. Don’t blame me."

Soon, Lin Li’s face was bruised and swollen.

The gang leader, seeing that they’d done enough, said, "Alright, that’s enough. Let’s go. Don’t kill anyone."

After they left, Lin Li stumbled over to Jiang Shuqin. "Mom, are you okay?"

His eyes fell on the blood between her legs, and he gasped, "Why is there so much blood?"

"Li’er, they kept hitting my stomach. I think… I think the baby’s gone…" Jiang Shuqin sobbed.

This was the child she had been longing for…

"Mom, the baby will be fine," Lin Li said urgently. "I’ll take you to the hospital right now."

Lin Li lifted Jiang Shuqin into the backseat of the car and sped toward the hospital.

On the way, Jiang Shuqin passed out from the pain.

Lin Li couldn’t help but smile.

Everything that had happened today was part of his plan.

Including taking the beating.

This way, not only would the Lin family feel pity and affection for him, seeing him as a dutiful son, but Jiang Shuqin would never suspect him.

He wasn’t at fault. He had only tried to save his mother and unborn brother from the gang.

It seemed that Jiang Shuqin’s child had been successfully aborted.

And she would never be able to get pregnant again.

Without a biological son, Jiang Shuqin would have no one to compete with him for the Lin family fortune.

From now on, all of the Lin family’s wealth would belong to him.

Lin Li found a large hospital nearby. Jiang Shuqin was rushed into the emergency room, and Lin Chang and Lin Qingwan, along with her sisters, hurried over.

"Sir, do you want to have your wounds treated?" a passing nurse asked.

"No, thank you," Lin Li shook his head. "I’d rather stay here and wait for my mother. These are just minor injuries. They’re nothing serious."

His current appearance would evoke sympathy from the Lin family. Why would he want to treat his wounds now?

The nurse was impressed.

This man was truly filial.

"Alright, if you need anything, just let us know."

After the nurse left, Lin Li slumped into a chair, looking utterly distressed.

When Lin Chang and Lin Qingwan arrived and saw Lin Li covered in injuries, they were shocked.

"Li’er, why haven’t you treated your wounds?" Lin Qingwan asked with concern.

"It’s my fault. I didn’t protect Mom and the baby. If I hadn’t taken her to the temple, if I hadn’t left to get the car fixed, maybe Mom wouldn’t have been beaten and lost the baby…" Lin Li muttered in anguish.

Seeing him like this, Lin Qingwan’s heart ached. She comforted him, "Li’er, this isn’t your fault. No one wanted this to happen."

The surgery ended.

A doctor emerged from the operating room.

"How is she?" Lin Chang asked anxiously. "Is the baby still alive?"

Lin Li clenched his fists slightly.

As expected, everyone was most concerned about the male fetus in Jiang Shuqin’s womb. Even though Lin Chang knew Lin Li was his biological son, it didn’t matter.

Thankfully, he had gotten rid of the child, and Jiang Shuqin would never be able to conceive again.

"Doctor, please tell us," Lin Chang urged.

"The mother is stable, but the baby…" The doctor shook his head.

Lin Chang staggered back.

The last glimmer of hope in his eyes faded completely.

He had thought he might have another son, but it was just wishful thinking.

Lin Qingwan and her sisters also looked deeply worried.

Mom was so looking forward to the birth of this child. If she were to find out that the baby was gone, how heartbroken she would be.

And then there’s Lin Li.

He, too, was eagerly anticipating having a little brother.

Lin Qingwan placed her hand on Lin Li’s shoulder, wanting to comfort him.

“Big sister,” Lin Li looked up, his eyes bloodshot. “It’s my fault, it’s my fault.”

He kept repeating those words, “It’s my fault.”

Lin Qingwan sighed.

Jiang Shuqin had been unconscious for an entire day, and Lin Li had stayed by her side the whole time.

This was something Lin Chang and Lin Qingwan, along with their sisters, had all witnessed.