1143 You Are My Hope!

It was out of guilt that Lu Jinnan took care of Hong Jinyun.

Now, he knew that Bai Xiaonian had lost their child. So… was it also out of guilt that he treated her well?

Bai Xiaonian couldn't distinguish. The more she thought, the worse her headache.

Bai Xiaonian turned around and sat on the sofa, taking out a pack of ladies' cigarettes from her bag. She shook out a peppermint-scented cigarette, bit it at the corner of her lips, and pressed the lighter. Behind the flicker of flame… was Bai Xiaonian's stunning and gorgeous facial features.

She casually tossed the lighter on the coffee table. Back then, when Bai Xiaonian was pregnant, she had thought about accepting Lu Jinnan's care towards Hong Jinyun for their child.

But this care could just be in terms of money. So long as Lu Jinnan didn't have too many entanglements with Hong Jinyun, Bai Xiaonian could accept it.

Now, without Bai Xiaonian asking, Lu Jinnan had already done so. But it was too late…

Their child was gone, and Bai Xiaonian no longer wished to be together with Lu Jinnan.

Warm tears seeped out the corner of her eyes. Bai Xiaonian gently wiped away her tears with her cigarette-wielding hand and tapped away the cigarette ash. She tucked her stray hair behind her ear and exhaled a thin layer of white smoke, her emotions calming down.

Bai Xiaonian went downstairs. She wanted to leave…

She had just pulled open the French windows leading to the garden at the back when a bodyguard came up. "Ms. Bai, where are you going?"

Bai Xiaonian looked at the bodyguard. "Did Lu Jinnan instruct you guys that I'm not even allowed to go to the garden and can only stay in the house?"

The bodyguard said honestly, "Mr. Lu instructed us not to let Bai Xiaonian leave the villa."

"Is the garden not inside the villa?" Bai Xiaonian asked.

Just as the bodyguard pondered her question, Bai Xiaonian had turned around and went back into the house.

Indeed, Lu Jinnan was still Lu Jinnan, only knowing to use an aggressive tactic! Bai Xiaonian's face appeared colder.

…

As Lu Jinnan drove to the affiliated hospital of Haicheng Medical University, Bai Jinyu told his colleagues on duty to give Lu Jinnan the medicine. When Bai Jinyu returned Lu Jinnan's call, he asked, "Why are you asking for sleeping pills again? Don't tell me you have insomnia like Old Fu! Is it because… you fell out with Bai Xiaonian?"

With one hand on the steering wheel, Lu Jinnan didn't answer.

Bai Jinyu frowned. "That shouldn't be the case. You guys didn't go to Old Fu's place. Didn't you guys go off to do something unspeakable?"

For some reason, Lu Jinnan thought about the child he and Bai Xiaonian lost again. Throat vibrating, he merely said, "Hanging up first…"

"I can give you the sleeping pills, but don't learn from Xiao Liuli…"

"Bai Xiaonian is no Old Gu. If you drug her with sleeping pills and do something to her, based on her personality… you can forget about reconciling with her in the future, got it?"

Bai Jinyu was anxious for Lu Jinnan from the bottom of his heart…

That was especially so now that he had already registered his marriage!

Looking at Yun Liuli and Gu Qingcheng, the two of them were nearly a done deal too!

Bai Jinyu could see You Nainai and Tang Zheng's relationship from the way they behaved at dinner. When Tang Zheng put lychee prawn balls in You Nainai's bowl, even though she blushed, she still ate them.

Now, Lu Jinnan was the only one left. It felt like he and Bai Xiaonian were separated by tens of thousands of miles… Happiness wasn't in the foreseeable future for them.

"I know, don't worry!" Lu Jinnan sounded emotionless. He then hung up.

When Lu Jinnan came back from the hospital with the sleeping pills, he went downstairs to pour a glass of warm water, then took the medication up with him…

The bedroom door wasn't closed, and the smell of cigarettes was strong. Frowning, Lu Jinnan entered with the glass of water and saw Bai Xiaonian flicking through the channels with the remote control in hand, looking bored.

She held a ladies' cigarette in her slim and long fingers. Lu Jinnan walked over and sat on the coffee table. He set down the glass of water, then took the cigarette from Bai Xiaonian's hand and put it out in the ashtray that was already filled with cigarette butts.

He smiled at Bai Xiaonian. "I'm back. I'm right before you, so you don't need to miss me… Don't smoke so many cigarettes! Come… take your pills!"

Bai Xiaonian saw Lu Jinnan hand the glass of water to her. She took it from him, as well as the sleeping pills Lu Jinnan attentively handed to her. She put the pills in her mouth, then gulped them down with some water. "I don't usually smoke so much. I wouldn't be doing this if you hadn't trapped me here and made me feel vexed!"

"Moreover… you've misinterpreted what I meant by missing you. What I miss are the things you did, not you!" Bai Xiaonian held the glass of water and leaned against the sofa, smiling.

"Mm!" Lu Jinnan nodded at Bai Xiaonian. "Then, I'll work hard so that one day, when you think of me, all you think of are happy things! After you take the pills… have a good sleep."

"Lu Jinnan, let's stop beating around the bush. Are you planning to force me to live here from today on?"

Lu Jinnan hesitated for a moment, as if pondering how to put it. Finally, he shook his head. "Not forcing you, but hoping you'll stay here!"

"But I don't want to let you have your way…" Bai Xiaonian smiled slightly, pricking at Lu Jinnan's heart.

"Then, I'll work hard to keep you!" Lu Jinnan propped both hands by Bai Xiaonian's legs, edging closer to her, attempting to lean his forehead against hers.

Bai Xiaonian turned her head sideways to avoid him. She pressed her hand against Lu Jinnan's chest. "Work hard how? Are you going to rape me again?"

"That never crossed my mind, much less will I do that. Unless…" Lu Jinnan's throat vibrated. "Unless you agree…"

"You can give up on that thought!" Bai Xiaonian maintained the slight emotionless smile, cold and distant.

"One has got to have hope. You're my hope!" Lu Jinnan's deep and raspy voice sounded sincere.

Ultimately, Lu Jinnan restrained the urge to kiss Bai Xiaonian. He straightened his body and heard Bai Xiaonian say, "I also need a phone charger. Before coming here, my phone's only left with 4% battery."

"Have a good night's sleep first. We'll go shopping tomorrow. Whatever you lack, we'll buy tomorrow, okay?" Lu Jinnan sounded as if he was coaxing a kid.

"What if my phone runs out of battery before that? What if I'm needed urgently at work? Or… what if my dad needs to contact me for pressing matters?"

"I've given Dad our house number. You can set aside work for now… Look at your dark circles, you nearly look like a panda. Rest well for a few days before going back to work!" Lu Jinnan urged in a gentle voice.

Bai Xiaonian didn't reply.

"The effects of the sleeping pills will kick in after 20 minutes or so. I'll make you a glass of hot milk. I saw that you didn't eat much for dinner. You're so skinny that you're nearly reduced to a pile of bones now. And a slice of cake to go with that, okay? You'll be able to sleep more soundly on a full stomach."

Without giving Bai Xiaonian a chance to reject him, Lu Jinnan went downstairs…