Yan Zhirou covered her face, speaking with an expression of grievance yet magnanimity.
The male and female colleagues around, upon hearing her, felt even more sympathy toward Yan Zhirou and started giving Yan Xinxin peculiar looks.
"So she’s a lunatic!"
"Such a beauty, but she’s mentally ill—what a waste!"
Listening to these ignorant remarks about herself, Yan Xinxin felt as if she was about to explode from anger.
Yan Zhirou, that woman, was clearly acting, yet everyone believed her.
"Sis, this is where I work. You should go home first. Mom will be worried if she can’t find you."
Yan Zhirou, teary-eyed, spoke in a frail tone.
"Yan Zhirou, stop pretending to be so innocent and understanding. You’re the one who’s sick!"
Yan Xinxin couldn’t hold back and snapped angrily.
"You earn that filthy, immoral money, flaunt your wealth here pretending to be rich, and you even plagiarized my art drafts and claimed them as your own. Aren’t you ashamed?!"
"Sis, what nonsense are you talking about? I earn my money with my own hands to treat my friends to a cup of coffee. How can you say that about me? And when did I plagiarize your art drafts? Obviously, it’s you who’s been stealing my designs all along!"
Yan Xinxin froze on the spot, her delicate, pearly face showing a trace of astonishment. She looked at Yan Zhirou with a mocking smile and opened her lips to question her.
"I’ve been stealing your designs?"
"I didn’t want to say it, but if you keep acting crazy , I might as well spill everything."
Yan Zhirou suddenly adopted a serious and righteous demeanor, making Yan Xinxin look as if she were the one being unreasonable.
"What’s going on here?"
Xiao Yize’s clear and gentle voice suddenly echoed through the spacious office.
The group collectively paused in surprise, and Yan Xinxin was somewhat taken aback too. Xiao Yize was part of this department?
"Young Master Xiao, I’m so sorry you had to see this. My sister suddenly showed up causing trouble. She has some mental health issues, but I’ll take her home right away."
Yan Zhirou spoke in a generous yet gentle tone, extending her hand to pull Yan Xinxin away but was instantly shrugged off by her.
"Yan Zhirou, don’t touch me. And you’re still saying such things now? Not everyone is so easy to deceive!"
Xiao Yize instantly recognized Yan Xinxin’s figure from her back. Hearing Yan Zhirou’s words, a trace of astonishment flickered across his strikingly handsome face.
"Are you Yan Xinxin’s sister?"
He opened his lips to ask.
But this question also made Yan Zhirou pick up on something unexpected.
How did Young Master Xiao know Yan Xinxin? If they didn’t know each other, why would he ask like that?
"Yan Xinxin, are you ill?"
Yan Xinxin gave a sarcastic chuckle.
"Of course I’m not sick. The one who’s sick around here is your beloved ’Miss Sunny’ over there!"
"No, sister. You are sick!"
Yan Zhirou’s expression suddenly shifted. Her gaze bore a deeply meaningful edge as she stared at Yan Xinxin.
"Ever since that incident five years ago on the operating table, your mental health started deteriorating. Have you forgotten how much effort Mom, Dad, and I put into stabilizing you back then?"
As her voice faded, Xiao Yize couldn’t help but notice the color draining from Yan Xinxin’s face, her once-bright and clear eyes growing dim in an instant.
Five years ago on the operating table?
What had she gone through?
And did she really develop mental health issues because of it?
"Do you remember now?"
Yan Zhirou prompted again, her words biting. Yan Xinxin raised her now-dull, beautiful eyes; her rims slowly turned crimson.
Yan Zhirou was even colder, more heartless, and inhumane than she had ever imagined!
Yan Xinxin’s heart felt like it was trembling, as if the very core of her being was shaking. She didn’t dare to think about it, let alone summon the courage to face the memory of losing her little daughter—who was pronounced dead the moment she was separated from her body...