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Ding Ming’s expressionless face suddenly twisted around, and just when Ding Liang thought he was about to blow up, he heard Ding Ming say in an unexcited tone, "So it was you who’ve been using my snowflake cream. But it’s all wasted, even if you used it, it’s a waste!"

Ding Liang: ...

Lin Yuan couldn’t help but snicker while secretly shaking her head; it was no wonder these two got along so well with Liu Zhiguang. They were all such clowns!

With the Ding brothers taking care of things at home, Lin Yuan felt relieved. She was willing to let the thief off the hook, respecting Lin Jiaxin’s decision, if they truly repented. However, if the person persisted in their wrongdoing, the Ding brothers would surely not show mercy.

It was strange, ever since the two guards arrived at Lin family’s hollow, the thief had not shown up again.

As time went by, the village chief even withdrew the men who were patrolling the village; after all, everyone had to work in the fields during the day, and continuing to patrol at night was too much even for the strongest among them.

Thus, life in Lin family’s hollow returned to the peaceful existence it once was.

But Zhuma Town was not at peace.

That day, Lin Yuan was checking the accounts when Shopkeeper Liu hurried in with someone.

Upon looking up, Lin Yuan was startled. Could this pale and swollen-eyed woman really be Panpan?

Seeing Panpan’s frantic appearance, Lin Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

After having Shopkeeper Liu step out, she carefully closed the door of the room, quickly returned to Panpan’s side whose lips were turning white, and cautiously asked, "Panpan, what’s wrong with you?

Could it be that Li Chengzhi, that animal. .."

Could it be that Li Chengzhi, that animal, had bullied her?

No wonder Lin Yuan was concerned. After all, Panpan was almost twelve, with a pretty appearance and spending her days by Lin Siyu’s side—she was almost constantly in that animal’s sight!

This wasn’t only Lin Yuan’s worry but also Uncle Wang’s greatest fear.

He had already lost one daughter and couldn’t afford to lose this little girl too.

That’s why Uncle Wang had strongly insisted on Panpan returning home.

But the girl was brave, refusing to leave the Li Mansion without avenging her sister.

If Panpan had been ruined by Li Chengzhi, Uncle Wang and his wife...

Lin Yuan dared not think further. She clutched Panpan’s icy hand tightly, her heart growing cold with fear.

Fortunately, Panpan finally came to her senses and quickly relieved her of her worries.

"No, not me," said Panpan, in agony, as her shoulders began to tremble, "It was, it was Jin Lingling. Lin Siyu caused her to lose her baby! She did it herself! She did it with her own hands!"

What?!

Lin Yuan’s eyes widened in shock. Although she had suspected that Jin Lingling would not have a long life, hearing the news firsthand left her utterly stunned.

"What happened? Take your time, don’t be afraid!" After giving Panpan a cup of hot water into her freezing hands, Lin Yuan crouched before her, gently massaging her equally cold cheeks, trying to calm her down.

Seeing Panpan’s condition, Lin Yuan guessed the incident must have happened not too long ago.

Panpan gripped the scalding cup with both hands. Despite it being summer, she felt an all-consuming chill, so severe that her tongue was getting tied and she found it difficult to speak.

"It was Lin Siyu. She doesn’t have children and got so angry and hateful every time she saw Jin Lingling’s belly. And Li Chengzhi, that animal, clearly favored Jin Lingling more which made Lin Siyu even angrier," Panpan spoke, her emotions gradually steadying.

"She’s resented that child for a long time. But that was just a little child, barely over seven months along. As Jin Lingling’s belly grew, Lin Siyu’s heart grew smaller. She would always tell me to induce a miscarriage."

At this point, Panpan became agitated, looking intently at Lin Yuan, her voice rising, "But I didn’t do it, I really didn’t! You have to believe me, I didn’t even think about it!"

"Alright, alright, I believe you, I believe you!"

Panpan was just a child, a cautious and kind-hearted one at that.

Had her sister not been so terribly wronged by Li Chengzhi, leading to her death, she wouldn’t have gone to the Li Mansion seeking revenge.

And even in revenge, she never intended to kill Li Chengzhi—she just wanted some evidence to bring him to justice.

Having comforted her for a while, Panpan calmed down once more, tears swirling in her eyes, "She asked me to drug her, to spill water where she often walked, and I didn’t.

Several times I even warned Hong Mei to take care of her young mistress’s pregnancy.

But, but she still fell. She just lay there on the garden path, heavy with child, and I can even imagine the unborn child being crushed by its own mother.

It must have been in so much pain, so much pain," she sobbed.