Chapter 4

Officer Zhao said to me, “Your wife has already taken the emergency contraceptive pill after being persuaded by my colleague. You can rest assured.”

I nodded and thanked him.

“Yesterday afternoon, your wife actually went to a private reproductive hospital for treatment. Did you know about this?”

I was surprised. “I really didn’t know.”

The female officer spoke, lowering her voice: “Your wife told me that one of her fallopian tubes is unobstructed, while the other is blocked. In theory, as long as one tube is open, it shouldn’t affect pregnancy.”

“However, after examination, it turns out she always ovulates from the blocked side, so her chances of getting pregnant are much lower than the average woman.”

I stammered, “I didn’t even know when she went to the hospital for these check-ups…”

The female officer’s tone was a bit reproachful: “She goes to the hospital every month to monitor ovulation. It’s been more than half a year now. So, couples really need to communicate more. Now that this has happened, you need to be even more understanding of your wife.”

“If you don’t have children, just keep up with the treatment. It will happen eventually. Don’t put too much psychological pressure on yourselves.”

“Also, about this matter, don’t press her for details. Otherwise, it might trigger an emotional breakdown. If necessary, seeing a psychologist is also an option.”

Even so, I couldn’t help but ask, “That night… have you figured out how many people were involved? When will they be caught?”

Officer Zhang said, “Our colleagues in the Technical Department worked overnight reviewing the surveillance footage. It was indeed two people. But it’s hard to see clearly, because both of them were wearing masks, hats, and glasses.”

“The Technical Department is still working overtime to process the images, trying to see if they can get a clearer picture.”

I was still confused. “If my wife clearly didn’t meet her lover yesterday, then why was there DNA from a third person in her body?”

“Well…” The female officer seemed a bit embarrassed. She paused before saying, “Your wife told me she privately gave a red envelope to a doctor at the private reproductive hospital and specifically chose the best quality sperm from that hospital to undergo donor insemination. She was afraid that if she couldn’t get pregnant again, you would ask for a divorce, and she couldn’t accept the breakdown of your marriage.”

I was stunned. “No… Is that true?”

“We went to the reproductive hospital this morning to verify the situation. What your wife told us is basically true.”

I blurted out, “How… how could she be so foolish?!”

“Yes,” the female officer looked at me sympathetically. “I just criticized her as well. How could she be so foolish? A child is supposed to be the crystallization of a couple’s love. Conceiving a child in such a dubious way, even if the child is born, it won’t help your relationship-it will only destroy the trust between you.”

Before leaving, the female officer reminded me again that my wife and I should communicate more.

When I returned to the hospital room, it was deathly silent.

My wife, that foolish woman, had pulled the blanket over her head, covering her entire face.

I sneered. She must be so ashamed of her own stupidity that she can’t even face herself, right?

Not only foolish, but also cheap.

Looking at her like that, I really couldn’t even be bothered to glance at her. And she still expects me to take care of her?

I’m no saint. I have feelings too.

Hiring a caregiver for her is already more than enough kindness.

Finally, I returned home, took out a phone registered under my brother-in-law’s name, and dialed a number: “Let’s meet up. See you at the bridgehead of the Nanan River.”

Almost reflexively, a wave of nausea surged in my heart.

Yes, in order to have full control over the situation, I took the initiative to arrange a meeting with my wife’s lover.