Chapter Seventy-Two: Truly Pregnant

Memories surged like waves in Song Hui’s heart—the scene of their wedding, the times she and Fu Chen sparred with wit, mistrusted each other, cautiously probed each other’s intentions. Unbeknownst to her, they had accumulated many memories belonging only to the two of them.

Especially in Yun Gui Town, Fu Chen’s tenderness and indulgence had been so real, she truly felt the goodness of that man.

Yet, in the end, they never managed to take a single photograph together.

Did she hate him?

Song Hui’s heart felt as if scalding wax had been poured onto it; before she could even feel the pain, numbness and emptiness had already settled in.

“Hate him or not, it makes no difference. I could never cooperate with you now.”

“Song Hui, I’ll wait for you to change your mind.” A strange laugh echoed from Fu Yixing on the other end of the call.

After hanging up, Yu Yunxi was beside her, popping a potato chip into her mouth. She’d overheard Song Hui’s conversation, guessing it couldn’t have been anything good.

She brushed crumbs from her fingers. “That call sounded like trouble.”

Song Hui watched Yu Yunxi eat. The oily sheen on the potato chips made her feel nauseous for some reason. She used to love such snacks herself.

“It was Fu Chen’s older brother,” Song Hui replied, suppressing the urge to gag.

Yu Yunxi, like a girl hearing juicy gossip, quickly leaned closer and asked cautiously, “Wasn’t Fu Chen supposed to be an only child?”

Song Hui steadied herself, replying slowly, “Fu Chen is an illegitimate child. The one who called was the legitimate son, Fu Yixing.”

Yu Yunxi gasped under her breath, “Ah! Why has he never appeared before?”

“Fu Yixing’s legs are basically paralyzed. It’s not an honor, so of course they wouldn’t publicize it,” Song Hui whispered into Yu Yunxi’s ear.

As a journalist, Yu Yunxi was thrilled by such news, her excitement barely concealed.

“I see—Fu Chen must have been paving the way for his brother,” she speculated boldly.

Song Hui merely nodded without betraying emotion.

“Now Fu Yixing wants to bring Fu Chen down and wants me to cooperate with him.”

Yu Yunxi sobered instantly, her brows furrowed as she asked softly, “So what will you do?”

“I don’t know.”

“We actually have a lot of dirt on Fu Chen. Don’t forget, I still have Lin Yu’s recording,” Yu Yunxi said proudly, waving her phone.

“I know. I just can’t make this decision.”

“You’ve fallen for him.” Yu Yunxi’s eyes burned into Song Hui.

It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Only when a woman loves a man does she become soft-hearted and indecisive.

Song Hui gazed at her own palm, her eyes hollow, biting her lower lip. Her voice was as light as a feather drifting in the wind.

“Yes.”

——————

Early the next morning, Yu Yunxi went to the magazine office. The apartment still needed cleaning and wouldn’t be ready for a couple more days.

Today, Song Hui had to handle some rental paperwork.

In December, a relentless cold rain fell over South City. Overhead, God had wrapped the entire city in leaden clouds, then poured down a dense shower, darkening the light and weighing down the mood.

Song Hui walked beneath the gloomy sky, feeling as though the whole city flowed with damp oppression, submerging her in this hollow and profound atmosphere.

She felt weak as she walked, her mind in a constant fog, unable to truly wake up.

Even foods she once loved now nauseated her.

Worried about her health, she hurried through her paperwork and went straight to the hospital.

She registered for internal medicine, underwent blood tests, and handed the sheet filled with medical jargon to an elderly doctor with glasses.

The old doctor pushed his slipping glasses up his nose, glanced at the sheet, and sized Song Hui up and down.

His gaze unsettled her. She quickly asked, “Doctor, is it anything serious?”

He smiled brightly and handed the sheet back. “Young lady, you should go to obstetrics. You’re pregnant!”

Obstetrics? Pregnant?

Song Hui stared at the sheet, mouth agape, incredulous. “Doctor, are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?”

The doctor looked at her with solemn seriousness. “This is the simplest blood indicator. How could I get it wrong? Think about it—how long has it been since your last period?”

Indeed! She’d been so entangled in recent events, she hadn’t paid attention at all. Now that she thought about it, her period was already two weeks late.

Song Hui couldn’t even remember how she made it out of the consultation room. Her hand clenched the test sheet so tightly it was crumpled, her long, thick lashes trembling like butterfly wings, anxious and uneasy.

This sudden new life left her completely at a loss. Rationally, she knew she absolutely couldn’t keep this child, but emotionally, she couldn’t bear to give it up.

Perhaps because it was her and Fu Chen’s child.

She couldn’t decide to abort it yet; she had to go to obstetrics first and see if there were any other issues.

Song Hui ran back and forth alone, registering, queueing, collecting reports. The effort left fine beads of sweat on her forehead.

The doctor was a middle-aged woman with neatly combed hair and piercing eyes that seemed to see right through people.

“Hmm.” The doctor coughed lightly, scrutinized the test sheet, and announced, “You’re eight weeks pregnant. Judging by the report, the baby is healthy—no major problems.”

Song Hui swallowed, hesitating. “If I don’t want it, is it better to decide sooner?”

The doctor, clearly used to such situations, replied with a blank expression, “Of course. The best time for surgery is before three months.” She took a sip of water and added, “If you don’t want it, do it as soon as possible.”

Song Hui’s palm was slick with nervous sweat. She asked anxiously, “Will it have a big impact on my health?”

The doctor snorted dismissively, “There’s always some impact—it depends on your constitution. Some women can never conceive again after one abortion; others have several and are fine.”

“But no one should gamble with their luck, right?” The doctor looked down at the sheet, but her eyes fixed sharply on Song Hui.

Song Hui nodded woodenly and left the consultation room. She noticed that most women in obstetrics were accompanied by husbands, their faces radiant with happiness, anticipating a new life.

She seemed to be the only one clouded with worry.

As she walked forward, a familiar face appeared in the crowd.

It was Lin Yiqing!

She wore a pale pink pinafore dress, revealing slender calves, her brown hair tied high behind her head. She seemed wrapped in sweetness and happiness.

At that moment, Lin Yiqing was standing on tiptoe, looking around as if waiting for someone.