Everyone in Jing City knew that Li Hanting loved Ruan Shiran to the depths of his soul.
For eight years of marriage, the Li family elders had constantly berated Ruan Shiran for failing to bear a child.
Grandmother Li had pressured Li Hanting several times to divorce her and marry someone else. He endured the family’s punishments three times, and even collapsed coughing blood without giving in.
“Ranran, she’s the only one I’ll ever want.”
Later, Grandmother Li brought a young woman from her hometown and forced her on Li Hanting.
The girl was called Li Suzhi. She had rough skin, bright red cheeks, and a heavy accent.
Li Hanting made no effort to hide his disdain. “She’s as country as they come. She can’t hold a candle to even one strand of Ranran’s hair.”
Ruan Shiran had never taken her seriously.
How could an ignorant country girl compare with a wealthy heiress like her?
That was until two months later, when Ruan Shiran overheard the servants gathered together, gossiping:
“This country girl has some tricks. She got pregnant so quickly. Grandmother Li must be relieved now, right?”
“Strange, isn’t it? She got pregnant on the very first try.”
“When has the master ever even looked at her? Now this sparrow’s flown up a branch and become a phoenix.”
Ruan Shiran clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her mind went completely blank.
