178: How did I offend this ancestor again?

She didn't understand what kind of past Lei Qian had gone through to react so extremely to such a matter.

She had only asked a simple question, and he subconsciously misunderstood that she was interested in that man.

Anyone else would have probably understood what she truly wanted to ask by now.

The man was silent for a few seconds before speaking in a low voice, "I think... he was both right and wrong."

"What do you mean, 'he was right'?" Bai Wanning's tone suddenly sharpened, her eyes filled with accusation.

How could a man impregnate a woman and then just walk away be "right"? She didn't even realize her voice had taken on a harsh sharpness and an uncontrollable bitterness.

Lei Qian, sensing her emotional fluctuation, quickly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Please don't rush, let me finish."

As he backed away, he explained, "I'm not saying what that man 'did was right.' I'm saying, he was both right and wrong. He shouldn't have taken advantage of Jiang Dai being an orphan with no one to support her, using his connections to lock her up. That was wrong."

"But he didn't keep the child, nor did he forcibly take it away. That part was right. Since he couldn't bear the responsibility, he simply let go. At least... Guoguo wouldn't be dragged into the mud by him."

Bai Wanning, hearing this, keenly detected a gloom hidden in his words, so she probed, "What's wrong? Did you... never think about having children before?"

She paused, then softly asked again, "From your tone, it sounds like you're afraid a child would be a burden to you."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she bit her lip in annoyance. But since the words were out, she could only face his reaction.

Lei Qian's eyes widened when he heard this, and he quickly shook his head, "Of course I wouldn't dare! How could I dare to have children?"

He gave a bitter laugh, pouring out the suppression in his heart, "Have you forgotten about my cousin? His mother is the younger sister of a high-ranking political official. His family is rich and powerful, and they used their backing to completely swallow my grandfather's inheritance. They're also constantly eyeing my company."

"You tell me, with a group of people like that circling me, do I dare to have children? What if they went after the child? They're capable of it!"

Lei Qian paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes, "They're like venomous snakes, striking without a word. My uncle is useless, only knowing how to rely on his wife; my aunt, don't even get me started, she's practically a mad dog, making our family like enemies. She even hired thugs to cause trouble at our house and beat me severely. Luckily, I reacted quickly and escaped with my people, otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to clear my name even now."

He spoke lightly, but Bai Wanning's scalp tingled as she listened.

She looked at him for a long moment, then softly asked, "And now?"

Lei Qian was startled, "Now?"

Bai Wanning looked up at him, her gaze gentle, yet with a hint of teasing, "Now that the Apocalypse has arrived, have you ever thought about getting married and having children?"

Lei Qian heard this and smiled mischievously, "What's wrong? Do you want to have children with me?"

He then smoothly put his arm around Bai Wanning's waist, his eyes fixed on her with ill intent.

Bai Wanning rolled her eyes at him and unceremoniously stomped on his foot.

"Ouch! What are you doing!" He bent over in pain.

"I was just asking casually." Bai Wanning's tone was cold, and she snorted lightly, "When did I ever say I wanted to marry you?"

Her voice carried an imperceptible defensiveness.

Last time, she easily trusted men, and as a result, one sold her to an old man, and another sold her child for a few bottles of water.

She had learned her lesson.

Lei Qian was good to her now because she was the only one in his heart.

But what if that woman appeared? The woman who was by Lei Qian's side in her previous life? Would he still be so resolute?

She didn't dare to gamble.

He hadn't found her in the previous life; he hadn't even tried to find her. When she wasn't there, he immediately found a substitute.

She couldn't be let down again.

"But you just now--"

"I was just asking casually." Bai Wanning's expression was cold as she said faintly, "It's so cold, and the atmosphere is so dull. What's wrong with asking a question? Do you have to take it seriously?"

She paused, her voice a little lower, "Hm?"

Lei Qian rubbed his throbbing toes, looking wronged, "Hm what?"

"What about you?" She looked up at him, her eyes serious.

Lei Qian didn't smile. After a moment of silence, he said, "I... can consider getting married."

After he finished speaking, he paused, then slowly sat up straight, adding seriously, "But I won't consider having children for now. Unless I can deal with my cousin and them. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare take that risk. Once a child gets involved in these matters... it's too dangerous."

Bai Wanning listened, lowering her head in thought, complex emotions flashing in her eyes.

Originally, she had wanted to tell him they had a child, to let him know about Bai Cai's existence, but at this moment, hearing him mention those entangled relatives, she recoiled.

She decided to keep it a secret.

Everything she did was to give her child a stable future.

She didn't want Bai Cai to be implicated by anyone, and even less did she want Lei Qian's family, as complex as a mire, to tarnish her son's world.

She couldn't take that risk.

"What are you thinking?" Lei Qian asked, noticing her silence was too long, his tone tinged with unease, "What's that expression? Is there... something on my back?"

"Nothing." Bai Wanning forced a smile and said casually, "I'm tired and need to rest."

With that, without waiting for him to say anything more, she decisively "kicked" him out the door... In the afternoon, zombie activity on the streets decreased, and the convoy prepared to depart for City Hospital.

Bai Wanning and her two older brothers boarded the SUV together. Lei Qian also came uninvited, his skin thicker than a wall, and joined them by stepping onto the back of the car.

His demeanor, as if he was "born to sit beside you," made Bai Wanning roll her eyes.

She was too lazy to bother with him and simply turned her back to him: Since you're willing to be my driver, I'll make you work yourself half to death!

This bastard, he actually got her pregnant and then had no sense of responsibility whatsoever. He deserved to die alone and childless.

Or rather, did he never love her enough to want a child?

Even Bai Qingshi, that phoenix man, could sell a child. What about Lei Qian? A man born with a silver spoon in his mouth, how much better could he be?

A chill rose in her heart.

The more Bai Wanning thought about it, the angrier she got. She turned and glared fiercely at Lei Qian, grinding her teeth internally: This bastard really deserved to have his balls frozen off, never to harm humanity again!

Such a selfish and irresponsible man should just give up on the idea of children directly, to save some other foolish girl from falling for him someday.

Lei Qian, whose back felt cold under her burning gaze: "..."

What did I do now?

His face was plastered with "I'm innocent," and he secretly wailed in his heart: Damn it, he had been breathing carefully today, how did he offend this ancestor again?