chapter 7

“I spent three years as Cheng Hui’s ‘wet nurse’ and two years as his lover. I used the money I earned to finish my education and bury my father.

“After graduating, I left Cheng Hui and moved to another city. I got married, had a child, and lived a very happy life.”

You Hua sounded a bit surprised. “I thought you would have clung to Cheng Hui and stayed with him for good.”

I shook my head. “The ‘golden period’ for a wet nurse’s milk production is two to three years. I’d already pushed myself to the limit by the third year.

“After three years as a blood bag and three years as a wet nurse, my body was severely depleted. I had lost all my value.

“If I had stayed any longer, I would have been moved into the next phase of Cheng Hui’s company’s operations. That’s when things truly become irredeemable.”

He couldn’t help but ask, “What is the next phase?”

I stood up and slowly walked over to him. “In your opinion, how much am I worth?”

He looked me up and down, his gaze blunt. “A woman over thirty, married, and has already given birth. You still have some reproductive value, but not much. Your looks are above average, and you still have some lingering charm.

“But having been in prison… that’s a major flaw.

“If I were to give you a price, three hundred yuan a night. If we’re talking human trafficking, a hundred thousand at most.

“To be honest, I’m curious. Cheng Hui was never short of women back then. Why would he marry someone as unremarkable as you?”

There was an unmistakable malice radiating from him.

But then again, so did I.