After Zhou Huai'an left, Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Dong Hongmei lying pitifully in the hospital bed. Her face was swollen, and dried blood marked the corner of her mouth. How hard had he hit her to cause this?

Two hours later, Dong Hongmei gradually woke. Seeing Lin Xiaoxiao sitting by her bedside, she tried to sit up.

Lin Xiaoxiao quickly pressed her shoulder. "Don't move around yet. The bleeding just stopped.

You need to rest and recover."

She had to admit, the hemostatic injection was powerful, though she wondered about its side effects.

But Dong Hongmei couldn't lie still. "Xiaoxiao, I should go home. I'll be careful."

Lin Xiaoxiao disagreed, her expression turning serious. "No. Going back now wouldn't be good for your health. Stay for observation. I'll take you home later."

Unable to argue and feeling weak, Dong Hongmei gave in. Li Guohao's furious face flashed in her mind—this wasn't the first time he'd hit her, but it was the worst. And it was over some woman from outside. The thought made her eyes well up.

Seeing her distress, Lin Xiaoxiao ventured carefully, "Did Director Li hit you? You could report him to the Women's Federation at his unit. How could he raise his hand to a woman? Has he no shame?"

Dong Hongmei quickly shook her head, wiping her tears. "No, it was my fault. I shouldn't have said those things."

Lin Xiaoxiao was surprised Dong Hongmei would still defend him. "Whatever you said, hitting is never justified. Men are stronger—we can't fight them physically. If you let him get away with it this time, he'll do it again."

Those words broke Dong Hongmei's composure. Tears fell freely as she suddenly felt the need to confide. "Life in the countryside was hard. It wasn't easy for him to get where he is. And we have three children—how would they face people if we divorced?"

"I don't want this either, but how would I live after a divorce? What would become of me?"

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't fully understand. "You'd live your life. Private businesses are allowed now—you could do something to support yourself. A woman must be strong and independent."

Dong Hongmei cried silently, disagreeing inwardly. Don't all couples fight? You don't divorce over arguments. And plenty of men fooled around—was that really grounds for divorce?

Seeing her silence, Lin Xiaoxiao reconsidered. Divorce was rare in these times. Domestic violence was common, but many women endured it quietly, as if it were natural for a husband to hit his wife.

Realizing Dong Hongmei likely didn't want to leave, Lin Xiaoxiao softened. "Don't overthink it now. Focus on getting better. If nothing else, don't let this leave you with lasting health problems. You're the one who'll suffer."

The kindness made Dong Hongmei cry harder. Through sobs, she confessed everything—how she'd discovered Li Guohao's affair, that Luo Caixia was no cousin.

Lin Xiaoxiao was surprised the affair had been exposed so soon, and that Dong Hongmei had known all along, smiling through the humiliation to protect her husband's reputation. She really can endure a lot.

Suddenly, she saw no point in persuading her further. Dong Hongmei knew the truth but chose to accept it. Pushing too hard might only turn her against you.

Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't about to waste her effort.

When Dong Hongmei noticed Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't joining her in cursing Luo Caixia, she wiped her tears. "How can that woman be so shameless? Is she that easy? A young girl like her—doesn't she want to marry someday?"

She held back cruder words in front of Lin Xiaoxiao, though inwardly she wished she could tear Luo Caixia apart.

Lin Xiaoxiao still didn't agree. Instead, she urged Dong Hongmei to calm down and focus on healing.

Luo Caixia might be vile and shameless, but Li Guohao was no saint either. An affair wasn't one person's fault alone.

What good would righteous anger do if Dong Hongmei herself wasn't willing to act?

Lin Xiaoxiao was clever and pragmatic. She picked her battles wisely. She wouldn't side with Dong Hongmei just to punish Luo Caixia. If she wanted to deal with her, she could do it alone.

After venting for a while with no reaction from Lin Xiaoxiao, Dong Hongmei grew tired. She lay back, staring at the ceiling, feeling as if she had no tears left.

Near the end of the workday, Zhou Huai'an, worried about Lin Xiaoxiao, left early and came to the medical station.

Lin Xiaoxiao was surprised to see him. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

Zhou Huai'an noticed she was alone in the office. "I finished early today. Thought I'd see if you were done so we could head home together."

Lin Xiaoxiao remembered something. "Oh, that's right—last time you brought me here, you said you'd take me somewhere. What place? You still haven't told me."

"It's not a good time right now. We'll go another day. How is Sister Hongmei? Is she better?"

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't press the issue. "Xiao Yan is taking care of her. She's fine now. Let's go home."

As they stepped out, they ran into Xiao Yan helping Dong Hongmei walk out. Seeing Zhou Huai'an and Lin Xiaoxiao side by side, a flicker of envy passed through Xiao Yan's eyes before she steadied Dong Hongmei. "Let's take it slow, Sis. You don't want to hinder your recovery."

Dong Hongmei hadn't told Xiao Yan about Li Guohao and Luo Caixia. Shortly after confiding in Lin Xiaoxiao, she'd regretted it. She still wanted to make her marriage work, hoped Li Guohao's career would thrive, and even dreamed he might leave Luo Caixia and return to her.

Spotting Lin Xiaoxiao, she spoke first. "It's alright—just my carelessness. You must think I'm foolish. A woman my age, pregnant, and then I fell and lost the baby..."

Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly found Dong Hongmei's denial pathetic and frustrating. She forced a smile.

"Take care, Sis. Rest well at home."

After Xiao Yan left with Dong Hongmei on her bicycle, Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Huai'an walked home slowly. Only then did her fiercely principled side show. "Just watch. If she forgives Li Guohao now, she's in for more misery."

Just outside the gate, they ran into Luo Caixia returning with a basket.

Caught off guard, Luo Caixia looked timid, hesitating as if unsure whether to greet Zhou Huai'an.

But Lin Xiaoxiao didn't let it slide. "Let's not pretend to be friendly. Not every man is easy to seduce. And you should take care of yourself—who knows what diseases you might catch."

Luo Caixia froze, her face flushing with anger. "What are you implying?"

Lin Xiaoxiao stared back. "Exactly what it sounds like—"

She broke off, stunned. The skin around Luo Caixia's brow and the color of her lips had taken on a dark, purplish-black tint...