Chapter 316: Bai Yu’s Confession
Bai Yu, surprised and flattered, held the prescription in her hands. A bright smile appeared on her face as she stepped out from behind Zhou Cheng and took a few steps forward.
“Xiyue, thank you for still being willing to talk to me.”
As she spoke, she even reached out affectionately, trying to link arms with Ning Xiyue.
Ning Xiyue: ?
What was wrong with this woman’s brain circuit? They were talking about serious matters, yet she was worrying about something as trivial as whether or not someone “still wanted to talk to her.” And besides, they weren’t nearly close enough to be holding hands while chatting.
Ning Xiyue avoided her outstretched arm, took a step back, and openly rolled her eyes, her face full of speechless irritation.
“For the sake of everyone’s lives here, please be serious and treat this matter carefully.”
Truth be told, Ning Xiyue wasn’t afraid of what had happened tonight. Even if the team leader found out, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
If this had happened during the day, the team leader would probably have gone up there with her and even asked her to help deliver the baby. He was, at heart, a softhearted man.
Otherwise, these people wouldn’t have been able to live such relatively peaceful lives—poor and hungry perhaps, but not bullied or abused. Without the team leader’s unspoken protection and discipline, the members of the team wouldn’t be so kind. In other production teams, people had even been beaten to death. From what she knew, not a single person in their team had ever been in real danger.
So Ning Xiyue wasn’t truly worried. But Bai Yu couldn’t just slack off. She had to take it seriously. Risk control measures were still necessary. The risk had to be brought down to zero.
After all, her second brother—who always worried for her and cared deeply about her—wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight if things weren’t settled properly.
Ning Xiyue looked at Bai Yu with a serious gaze. “Be normal. This doesn’t sound like the Sister Bai I know.”
Those words seemed to strike something inside Bai Yu. Her eyes flickered, and the timid fear within them faded, replaced by a glimmer of firmness. She straightened up, returning to the calm, capable woman she used to be, and nodded solemnly at Ning Xiyue, her tone sincere and steady.
“We’ll handle everything properly. We’ll make sure all the details you mentioned are in order. Don’t worry—we’ll do everything we can to make up for this mistake. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility. I guarantee it will have nothing to do with any of you. You’ll bear no risk whatsoever.”
Ning Xiyue studied her curiously. Does this cousin of mine have a split personality? One moment she was a timid little white flower who only knew how to say “sorry,” and the next, a confident and decisive wild plum blossom.
Such a quick switch—like flipping a switch—suddenly she was back to the composed, responsible Bai Yu from their first meeting.
Could she really have some kind of psychological disorder?
This couple was strange indeed—whichever one was stronger at the moment took the lead while the other quietly faded into the background. If nothing else, they had great tacit understanding—perfectly complementary.
It was… actually kind of interesting.
Still, other people’s privacy wasn’t her concern. She didn’t care to dig deeper. All she wanted now was to wrap things up and go home to sleep. She was exhausted from the night’s ordeal. The Bai couple might not be tired, but she certainly was.
Ning Xiyue curved her lips slightly into a polite smile—the kind used to gracefully end a conversation.
“Alright then, it’s settled, Sister Bai.”
Yu Zhiyu and Chen Yechu both said in unison when Bai Yu looked at them, “We’ll follow Xiyue’s lead.”
Standing nearby, Ning Qingyuan snorted coldly at Bai Yu and her husband. “Remember what you said—and remember what I said too. Otherwise, I swear I’ll scold you every time I see you. No joke.”
This time, Bai Yu didn’t lower her head or stay silent. She looked him straight in the eye and said teasingly, “I’m your coal mining team leader, after all. Can’t you give me a little face and stop scolding me?”
Ning Qingyuan wasn’t buying it. He snorted through his nose and said fiercely, “I don’t care who you are. If you bully my sister, I’ll still scold you. Worst case, I’ll just go back to work at the mine. I’ve got plenty of strength—I won’t starve.”
“Alright, I’ll remember what you said. I’ll never bully your sister.” Bai Yu didn’t get angry. On the contrary, she smiled brightly and turned to Ning Xiyue. “Xiyue, you’re lucky to have such a good brother. I’m really envious.”
Ning Xiyue forced a stiff smile, not saying a word. Bai Yu’s sentimental words were so awkward she could practically curl her toes into the ground and dig out a whole magical fairy castle.
Bai Yu didn’t seem to mind her silence. She gently pulled Ning Xiyue aside and began to speak quietly.
“I know you’ve been wary of me from the beginning—that you don’t trust my intentions for getting close to you. You’ve been cautious and guarded ever since we met. I understand that, and honestly, I admire your calmness and vigilance. You have a very clear head.”
Ning Xiyue held the umbrella, crossed her arms, lifted her chin slightly, then lowered it—a subtle gesture to show she acknowledged Bai Yu’s words and was ready to listen.
Bai Yu smiled faintly and began to confess everything.
“You’re right. I wronged you—and my cousin, who’s always believed in me. The truth is, I did have ulterior motives when I sought you out to reconnect.”
Ning Xiyue’s expression didn’t change. She calmly nodded. “Mm, I know. Go on.”
“Maybe you’ve already guessed it. The main reason I volunteered to come work here was because of a friend of mine.
“When I was a child, she saved my life. To put it plainly, I owe my entire life to her. Without her, there would be no me today. Later, her family suffered a huge tragedy—her husband died—and I felt it was my duty to help her.”
Bai Yu spoke with a gentle smile.
“I couldn’t help her with her family matters—they were beyond my power—but after she was sent to the countryside as a collateral figure, I could still look after her as best I could.
“But then she got pregnant. In her current living conditions, having a baby is extremely dangerous. By chance, I learned that Li Hui was in your production team.”
“Through your husband, Comrade Ji, right?” Ning Xiyue immediately saw through it.
Bai Yu nodded, her face full of apology.
“Yes. I also heard that you were an outstanding barefoot doctor. She couldn’t give birth safely without a doctor or midwife—and you, though you’ve only helped pigs give birth before, seemed the best choice available. I truly believe in your medical skills.”
Ning Xiyue gave a cold snort. “Oh, you trust my ‘skills’ because I helped pigs give birth? The sow had twenty piglets in one litter—do you think a human can do the same? Who gave you that kind of courage to believe that?” She huffed impatiently. “So what happened next?”
“At first, I planned to slowly build a good relationship with you, get closer, then gently bring up the matter. Given your personality, I thought you might eventually agree to help.”
Bai Yu sighed and lightly tapped her own hand in frustration.
“But then fate had other ideas. Li Hui suddenly fell and went into premature labor, and all my plans fell apart. That’s why we came to you so suddenly tonight. So… I’m deeply sorry. I don’t expect your forgiveness—I just hope this doesn’t affect you all. I’ll do everything I can to make it right.”
Ning Xiyue rolled her eyes dramatically again. She had never heard anything so exasperating in her life.
