Chapter 12 — Nine Months Post-Divorce

A few moments later, he returned holding a kraft paper bag.

Qin Yan sent this over.

I did not reach out to take it.

What is it?

A copy of the DNA test results.

There is also a statement.

I lifted my eyes.

What kind of statement?

Tingting unfolded the papers to look them over, his expression somewhat complicated.

He declares that until all investigations and lawsuits are concluded, he will not contend for the child in any form, nor will he allow anyone from the Qin family to make covert contact with you and Zhiyi.

I remained silent for a moment. This was not like something the former Qin Yan would ever do. The Qin Yan of the past always believed that a single word from him could silence everyone completely. But now, he had finally learned that empty promises were useless. I asked.

Does it have legal validity?

Tingting said.

Partially.

At the very least, it can serve as written evidence of his current stance.

I nodded.

Put it away.

Tingting placed the statement back into the file folder. Out in the hallway, Qin Yan had not yet left. Through the ajar door, I could see his shadow paused against the wall. He did not look inside. He merely stood there. Like a man who had finally been barred from entering. I did not call out to him. Zhiyi had no need for him to appear at this moment. Before long, his assistant hurried over. The man kept his voice lowered, yet I could still catch every word.

Boss Qin, the lawyer representing Miss Jiang has arrived.

She claims that the forged statement was not her doing.

She also says that the person who truly wanted to bring the child back to the Qin family was the Madam.

Qin Yan said nothing. The assistant continued.

Furthermore, the guest chat group has exploded once again.

Someone has leaked the DNA test results.

My fingers abruptly tightened. Tingting immediately strode toward the door.

Who leaked it?

Beads of sweat dotted the assistant's forehead.

Unknown.

The screenshot was taken directly from the report stored on Boss Qin's personal phone.

The hallway fell dead silent for a second. I raised my head to look in Qin Yan's direction. Qin Yan was clearly stunned as well. That test report had just been issued, and he had sent it solely to me. If the screenshot had been leaked from his phone, it meant someone had accessed his device. Or perhaps, someone had deliberately left a backdoor installed on his equipment. Qin Yan's voice turned icy.

Check the cloud login history.

The assistant nodded immediately.

I've already asked the tech department to run a check.

Tingting turned back to look at me.

Miss Wen, this matter must be handled immediately.

The DNA test concerns the privacy of the child, and unauthorized dissemination carries extremely severe legal consequences.

I gazed at Zhiyi resting inside the incubator, my chest turning slowly to ice. Since they could not snatch the child away, they had chosen to rob the baby of her identity. Lacking the courage to walk the proper path of justice, they had instead shoved a newborn infant out into the public eye to become the subject of endless gossip. I picked up my phone, my voice calm.

Call the police.

Qin Yan, standing just outside the door, abruptly lifted his head. I did not look at him.

This time, regardless of who is responsible for the leak, I will pursue this to the very end.

As soon as those words left my mouth, the assistant's phone rang. After answering the call, his face grew paler by the second.

Boss Qin, they've traced it.

The initial location from which the report screenshot was sent is the old Qin family estate.

The device name registered for that login is Madam Fang's tablet computer.

The hallway fell into absolute stillness. I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, Fang Shuhua's voice suddenly echoed from outside. She sounded as though she had run the entire way here, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Qin Yan, don't listen to their nonsense.

I sent it out simply to prove that the child belongs to the Qin family.

I was only helping you reclaim your child.

The moment Fang Shuhua uttered those words, even the nurse lost her patience. Standing at the doorway, her expression was stern.

Madam Fang, the baby is still in the critical observation period.

If you people continue to relentlessly agitate the mother like this, the hospital will be forced to restrict visitors altogether.

Yet Fang Shuhua kept her eyes fixed solely on Qin Yan.

What did I do wrong?

The DNA test results are out, and that child is undeniably a descendant of the Qin family.

Since she is of Qin blood, on what grounds should she carry the Wen surname?

Qin Yan looked at her, his gaze chillingly distant.

Who gave you permission to send out that report?

Fang Shuhua faltered slightly.

I only sent it to a few relatives.

I wanted them to know that the child Wen Lan gave birth to is not some outsider's offspring.

Doing so was for the child's own good.

Listening from behind the closed door, I finally let out a dry laugh. She always had an excuse ready. Harming me was done for Qin Yan's sake. Slandering the child was done to preserve the Qin family's face. Violating privacy was supposedly for the baby's own benefit. I spoke up.

Fang Shuhua.

She whipped her head toward the hospital room. I did not sit up. I simply leaned against the pillows, my voice low.

What you call for the child's own good is turning a newborn infant into fodder for a bunch of unrelated strangers to dissect and gossip about her parentage?