Volume One, Chapter 58: Charity Event and Fake Vaccines
The woman wore a red baseball cap and a pink mask emblazoned with a Hello Kitty pattern, wrapping herself tightly so that only her eyes were visible. She cast a coy glance at Liu, her tone playful. “If I didn’t show up, would I just let you get scolded by the comments?”
The man was a head shorter than the woman, but every gesture revealed his respect and care for her.
“My husband sent all those gifts with my permission,” the woman said, looking into the camera. Her candor carried a hint of pride.
“Training your own husband to keep a mistress? You’re quite the magnanimous wife.”
“Could she just be hopelessly in love?”
“What’s all this talk about mistresses? Mind your language.”
“But I think these two are so loving, not at all like what you say.”
“I don’t understand the world of the rich—I can only watch and weep with envy.”
Qin Yu’s eyes swept over the comments, her voice so cold it could freeze, “Are you trying to get yourselves killed, spreading filthy rumors like this?”
At her words, the barrage of comments instantly quieted down.
“Wife! You’re so cool! I love it!”
Just as Qin Yu finished, the woman blew her a kiss on camera.
Qin Yu: …
“Wife, even when you’re speechless, you’re adorable…”
It was the first time Qin Yu had been flirted with by a woman, and she blushed despite herself.
“Wow! She’s blushing, she’s blushing! Too cute, too cute!”
Qin Yu’s inner monologue: What’s wrong with this generation of netizens? Why are they so wild?
“Hahahaha, I’ve never seen Master Qiu act like this before. It’s really cute.”
“I declare I’m switching from being a fan of the master to a fan of the wife.”
“Ugh, I want to tease my wife like this too.”
“Wife, you’re too adorable!”
“I think I’m starting to ship them—do I have a problem?”
“Liu is probably thinking: With you all shipping this couple so hard, has anyone considered my feelings?”
Qin Yu took a tactical sip of coffee. The slight bitterness grounded her, allowing her voice to return. “Ahem.”
“Wife, my name is Li Youyou. You can just call me Youyou.”
Qin Yu considered herself neither overly extroverted nor shy, but when speaking with Youyou, she couldn’t help but feel a little bashful. “Alright, Youyou.”
“It sounds so sweet when you say my name, wife. I’m so happy today.”
Qin Yu: …
“Haha, I’ll stop teasing you, wife.” Li Youyou’s laughter was unstoppable. “My husband, Master Qiu, said the reason he sent gifts was actually for me.”
As she spoke, she took off her cap, and as her fingers touched her ears, she pulled down her mask as well.
Li Youyou’s appearance had already piqued everyone’s curiosity. But when her shaved head and swollen, acne-ridden face appeared on screen, everyone in the livestream was shocked—except for Qin Yu.
“Whoa, I thought it would be a beauty and her kappa husband, but the woman is so ugly.”
“Seriously, Liu, what are you after?”
“Maybe rich people have different tastes.”
“Why are you all so shallow? Is judging by appearances all you’re good for? Seriously, take a long hard look at yourselves. Where do these basic, tasteless men come from?”
“Sister, you’re awesome! I hereby appoint you as my official internet mouthpiece!”
“Sister above, I’m a guy, haha.”
“Simpering for women—what a disgrace to men!”
“Don’t pay attention to those comments,” Qin Yu advised.
Li Youyou’s expression faltered, but Liu Xijun squeezed her shoulder in silent support.
Li Youyou managed a smile for Qin Yu. “The fact that I can show my face in the livestream now means I’ve begun to accept who I am.”
Qin Yu smiled back, moved by her gentle yet resilient spirit. As her mindset shifted, something subtle changed in her appearance as well.
“I didn’t always look like this. My face became swollen and round from the medications and hormonal treatments for IVF. As for my hair, the doctor said I lost it from stress.”
“Is having a child really worth all this? Sister, if your body can’t take it, you shouldn’t force yourself.”
“Exactly, you’re only hurting yourself.”
“There was a rich woman in our neighborhood who did IVF for a child, ended up with breast cancer, and had to have her chest removed. She used to be so beautiful, now she looks like a man.”
“I don’t understand why people insist on having kids. Isn’t life as a couple enough?”
Li Youyou looked at the comments and smiled calmly. “Everyone has their own beliefs about love. Some think children are a burden to love; but I…”
She glanced at Liu Xijun, their eyes meeting. He kissed the corner of her eye. “For me, a child is the crystallization of our love. Just knowing our child would be half me and half Liu fills me with happiness.”
“I honestly don’t know whether to call this being lovesick or true love.”
“I want to believe this is true love! Just look at their eyes—it’s electric! If this doesn’t count as true love, what does?”
“Oh no, I’m becoming lovesick. Need to watch a crime show to recover.”
“Wife, you said I could have my own child—did you mean it?” Li Youyou decided to step forward because of Qin Yu’s words.
“Wife, let’s forget it. Even without a child, I’ll still love you. I don’t want to see you suffer anymore,” Liu Xijun objected immediately.
But Li Youyou shook her head. “Liu, I want this child.”
Liu Xijun gazed into her determined eyes, overcome with emotion. What he loved most was her unwavering resilience in everything she did.
“Then I have one condition: if your health suffers in any way, we stop immediately. Understand?”
“Yes, yes!” Li Youyou’s joy was palpable.
Qin Yu silently sent her blessings to them. These two were fated for each other—a pair made in heaven.
“The reason you’re infertile is because of a charity event your husband participated in years ago.”
At these words, both Liu Xijun and Li Youyou’s faces changed, exchanging glances.
“Wife, please help us! We didn’t know it was a fake vaccine when we were doing charity work!”
With “fake vaccine” and “charity event” mentioned, the internet’s memory was quick to recall. Soon, people began to remember.
“Could it be the notorious fake vaccine incident five years ago?”
“I don’t recall all the details, but I remember five thousand children from rural areas died.”
“Oh, I remember now! They said unscrupulous businessmen switched the good vaccines to make money from the charity fund.”
“I heard another version: the good vaccines were reserved for rich kids, while those that hadn’t passed testing were given to rural children.”