Chapter 73 Let Her Give Birth

Fu Chen’s tall figure was accentuated by his long black overcoat, making him appear particularly handsome. Under the stark white hospital lights, his skin took on a cooler, pale hue, and his usually deep-set, brooding eyes seemed brighter than usual. His gaze softened remarkably as he looked at Lin Yiqing.

In his left hand, he carried Lin Yiqing’s delicate, pale blue purse; in his right, her medical report. Lin Yiqing’s petite, oval face was tinged with a gentle blush, her large, dark eyes clear and pristine. She naturally held onto Fu Chen’s arm.

Anyone witnessing the scene would surely praise them as a perfect couple. They looked just like a married pair who had been together for years. Song Hui had never expected Fu Chen to openly bring Lin Yiqing for a check-up in such a manner.

Back when Song Hui herself had pretended to be pregnant, she had taken every precaution, wrapping herself in layers of secrecy. Yet now, these two could walk together in public without a hint of concern.

Lin Yiqing’s bright, innocent smile pierced Song Hui’s heart like a knife. Her face drained of all color in an instant. She tried desperately to suppress her emotions, but a wave of sorrow surged up, hot and uncontrollable, stinging her eyes. Her vision blurred with the threat of tears.

All she could think of now was escaping. She didn’t want to see, or know, just how sweet things were between Lin Yiqing and Fu Chen. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a narrow corridor nearby and hurried toward it.

But Lin Yiqing noticed Song Hui first. Instantly, the memory of the humiliation she had suffered at Song Hui’s home came flooding back. There was no way Lin Yiqing would let Song Hui slip away so easily.

Without hesitation, Lin Yiqing tugged Fu Chen along and rushed to block Song Hui’s path.

Only then did Fu Chen realize Song Hui was also here. In the mere two days since he’d last seen her, she seemed to have grown much thinner. Her once fair face was now ghostly pale, her eyes sunken, and the cunning gleam in her foxlike eyes had faded into a dull lifelessness.

Song Hui was taller than Lin Yiqing. She glanced down coldly and said, “Good dogs don’t block the way.”

“You—!” Lin Yiqing could never get the better of Song Hui in an exchange like this. Suddenly, however, something clicked—this was the obstetrics and gynecology department. Was Song Hui pregnant?

Lin Yiqing could not allow such a thing to happen.

“Shen Huaiqing, this is the OB-GYN department. Are you pregnant?” Lin Yiqing asked, her gaze fixed intently on Fu Chen as she spoke.

A flicker of emotion crossed Fu Chen’s brow, a surge of turbulence in his eyes. His voice was tinged with urgency. “Are you pregnant?”

It seemed Fu Chen was keeping his promise and hadn’t revealed her identity. But Song Hui had no intention of letting Fu Chen know, either. Without a sound, she slipped the paper in her hand into her pocket and replied coolly,

“I don’t see how this concerns either of you.”

“I have things to do. Excuse me.” With that, Song Hui brushed past the two of them.

Lin Yiqing used all her strength to grab her, almond-shaped eyes staring intently as she repeated her question.

“Are you pregnant?”

At that moment, a cold, mechanical voice echoed from the hospital’s intercom, “Patient number forty-five, please proceed to consultation room three… Patient number forty-five, please proceed to consultation room three…”

Without another word, Fu Chen pulled Lin Yiqing toward the consultation room.

—

Song Hui let out a sigh of relief. If that confrontation had continued, there was no telling what Lin Yiqing might have done. Regardless of whether she decided to keep the child, she would never tell Fu Chen.

Lin Yiqing struggled with all her might to break free, but Fu Chen’s grip on her slender wrist was unyielding.

“Why won’t you let me ask?” Lin Yiqing glared at Fu Chen, tears shimmering in her eyes.

Fu Chen’s earlier warmth vanished. His expression grew somber, his tone cold, “Why do you need to ask? Whether or not she’s pregnant has nothing to do with you.”

“Fu Chen, do you still have feelings for her?” Lin Yiqing’s emotions threatened to spill over. The only reason she had managed to win Fu Chen back was because of the child she carried. If Song Hui was also pregnant, she would lose all her leverage.

He dragged her to the door of consultation room three, throwing out a few icy words through gritted teeth.

“Go in for your check-up.” He showed no mercy, pushing the indignant Lin Yiqing inside.

As soon as she was gone, Fu Chen dialed a number.

“I need you to check someone’s medical records.”

A languid voice answered, “You treat me like your assistant now? Alright, who is it? Which hospital?”

“Song Hui. First People’s Hospital of South City.”

“You and Yiqing ran into her?”

“Yes.”

“What’s your suspicion?”

“She might be pregnant.”

A series of crashing noises sounded over the phone, making Fu Chen’s ear ache. He held the phone away from his head.

“You two slept together? Didn’t use protection?”

“Cut the nonsense. Just look into it.”

After a long silence, Lin Yu’s voice sounded hesitant. “If it’s true, what are you planning to do?”

“Let her have the baby.” His tone was calm, but beneath his words, a quiet storm seemed to be gathering.

“You’re insane! That child is a ticking time bomb—you absolutely can’t let it be born.”

“Don’t concern yourself. Just find out.” Fu Chen hung up, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins on his hands stood out.

—

When Song Hui got home, she went straight to her bedroom. She had thought she could remain calm, but seeing him again had made her heart ache with a pain so sharp she could hardly breathe. Wrapped in her comforter, she cried as quietly as she could, terrified of making even the slightest sound—like a wounded animal hiding alone, licking its wounds in the dark.

By the time Yu Yunxi came home from work, Song Hui had already prepared a steaming bowl of egg noodles.

“Huihui, you’re such a perfect wife and mother!” Yu Yunxi rushed over to give her an enthusiastic hug, then gazed longingly at the fragrant, delicious noodles.

Song Hui nudged her with a smile, her voice gentle. “Go wash your hands.”

Yu Yunxi washed up at lightning speed and began to savor her meal.

“This is amazing!” she murmured between mouthfuls. Swallowing, she looked at Song Hui with concern. “Oh, right, you said you were going for a check-up today. Was everything okay?”

Song Hui ate her noodles unhurriedly. The taste of this bowl reminded her of the one Fu Chen had made her—it seemed his was even better.

“I’m pregnant.”

Yu Yunxi immediately put down her chopsticks, feigning nonchalance, “No problem! I’ve saved up a lot over the years. The two of us can raise this child together!”

Song Hui lowered her head, tears falling silently into her bowl.

“Maybe it’s better not to.”

Yu Yunxi quickly moved to sit beside her, offering tissues and speaking gently, “No matter what you decide, I’ll support you. If you choose not to keep it, I’ll go to the hospital with you.”

Song Hui grabbed a tissue and wiped her tears haphazardly, her eyes swollen and red like a rabbit’s. She forced a smile, revealing two small dimples.

“Yunxi, I’m so glad I have you.”

“There’s no need for thanks. Eat up and keep up your strength—you’re so thin, you could be blown away by the wind.”

“This is important. We should take care of it soon. I’ll ask around for a reliable doctor in the city.”

“Just focus on taking care of yourself.”

Yu Yunxi’s steady stream of reassurances warmed Song Hui’s heart, like a sudden ray of sunshine breaking through the chill of winter.