The person in his arms had stopped moving. Ying Qingcang had noticed moments ago that Xin Qing's body had grown stiff. He quickly sat down and stared at her. "The contraceptive implant has failed. You've been pregnant for almost 50 days."
Xin Qing rounded her eyes, staring at him in disbelief. Her hands stroked her belly.
"It's true. The doctors have confirmed it." Ying Qingcang did not know how to tell her his next words.
The news had been too sudden. For a moment, Xin Qing did not know how to react. All she could do was stare at her belly. Then she heard Ying Qingcang's voice as he went on.
"The baby... I'm afraid it has to be aborted."
Xin Qing's head shot up. She looked at Ying Qingcang, completely aghast.
Ying Qingcang knew she must have taken his words the wrong way and immediately pulled her into a tight hug. "Don't overthink. It's only because the doctors think that your body hasn't been in the best form lately. You weren't psychologically stable either. That's likely to affect the baby's development. If we don't abort it now, you'll be even more devastated if you find out two months later that your body won't be able to go through with the birth after all."
Xin Qing's sobs filled the room. She never thought she would ever have a child with Ying Qingcang. For one, she had got an implant. Plus, they were not even married to each other yet. Having kids was something that seemed so far away. But when Ying Qingcang told her that she was pregnant, the first thing she felt was disbelief. After that, she felt excitement and joy. If they really had a child together, then she would have shared a true bond with Ying Qingcang regardless of the ancestral behest. It would have been an everlasting bond.
"Don't cry. Let's not talk about this first. We'll discuss this further once you've recovered, okay?" Ying Qingcang moved to help her lie down. "The doctors said you need to rest more and think less."
Xin Qing sniffed. Being stripped of her ability to speak felt horrible. She kept holding Ying Qingcang's hand, refusing to let go. Ying Qingcang lowered his head and kissed her. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be sitting here, watching over you. Now go to sleep."
Before sleep claimed her, Xin Qing's mind was filled with only one thought. "Regardless of what the doctors said, I want to try... this is my first child with Ying Qingcang. This is also my first time being a mother."
Even if the chances were slim, she did not feel like giving up. No mother would want to give up her own child. She wanted to fight for her child until the very last moment.
It took three days for Xin Qing's throat to fully recover. She had been so relieved when she found out that she could speak again. She had been so afraid that she would go mute just like that...
Zhang Mi and Shi Qianqian came to see her again. This time, it was all three of them who were hugging each other and letting their tears spill. While crying, Zhang Mi was also cursing.
"Forget it. She's already dead anyway." Xin Qing had known about Lu Manman's death. She was sure that the masked man had murdered Lu Manman. The police had already taken her statement, but they still could not identify the man.
Shi Qianqian stroked Xin Qing's belly, looking a little envious. "Are you planning to keep the child?"
"Of course she's not keeping it! You're still so young!" Zhang Mi disagreed. "After all, she already has Ah Sa. You should wait until after graduation and when you and Ying Qingcang are married. Then you can start trying again."
Beside them, Ying Qingcang was looking at Zhang Mi approvingly. He was thinking along the same lines too. Xin Qing was still very young. Also, she had been continuously suffering from minor illnesses for the past year. After everything she had gone through during the abduction, the doctors felt it was best to focus solely on her body's recovery. That would not be possible if she was pregnant with a baby, since there would then be the baby to take care of too.
"I honestly don't know." Xin Qing kept staring at Ying Qingcang, her mind swirling with contradictory thoughts. Ying Qingcang smiled at her and said, "There's no rush. There are still two more days for you to decide."
Zhang Mi had begun shouting at that point. "What are you even waiting for? Isn't it the same..."
Shi Qianqian clamped her hand over Zhang Mi's mouth and gave her a look before glancing at Ying Qingcang. After that, she dragged Zhang Mi out the door. "We'll come back tomorrow. We have to head back to school!" Shi Qianqian said. When they were out of the room, Zhang Mi asked Shi Qianqian anxiously, "What?"
Shi Qianqian glared at her. "Can't you see that Xin Qing wants to keep the baby? But Ying Qingcang doesn't want her to keep it."
"So Ying Qingcang doesn't plan to marry her?" All of a sudden, Zhang Mi's eyes turned murderous.
Shi Qianqian poked her head once. "Idiot. Ying Qingcang was concerned about Xin Qing's health. Didn't you notice how anxious he was, yet he still held his tongue?"
"Even so, it's not a good idea to drag this out." Zhang Mi pouted. "Or else, she'd be emotionally attached."
"Nah. Ying Qingcang probably already has a plan," Shi Qianqian said, dragging Zhang Mi along as they walked. The elevator doors opened. Both women were just about to enter when Young Master Shen stepped out from the elevator. When he saw Zhang Mi, he paused for a brief moment before he grinned. "Yo, done seeing Xiao Qingqing?"
"None of your business," Zhang Mi said, turning her nose up at him. Rolling her eyes, Zhang Mi pulled Shi Qianqian with her and stepped into the elevator. She pressed the close button. Shrugging, Young Master Shen turned around and walked away. Shi Qianqian looked at Zhang Mi suspiciously. "Has he done something to offend you?"
"Huh? No?" Zhang Mi said.
"Then what's with the b*itchy attitude just now?"
"The guy changes his women like he changes his underwear. Don't you find that disgusting?" Zhang Mi said with a look of disdain.
Shi Qianqian observed Zhang Mi for a long time. Zhang Mi dragged Shi Qianqian out of the elevator in annoyance. "Come on, let's go. We're going to be late for class!"
Xin Qing stayed in the hospital for another week. Today, the moment the sky turned dark, she had begun feeling restless. Whenever Ying Qingcang looked at her, she would avoid his gaze. This happened for a few more times before Ying Qingcang held her shoulder and asked, "What is it? Is there something you want to tell me?"
"No, no!" Xin Qing lowered her head. Ying Qingcang placed his finger on her chin and found that he could only feel bone under his fingers. Frowning, he began to wonder how much time it would take for her to regain her weight.
"If you have something to tell me, just say it. What's the point of keeping it bottled up?"
Hesitantly, Xin Qing took out her phone and showed Ying Qingcang the date on the lock screen. Ying Qingcang glanced at the screen once before he smiled. "Oh, so you're hungry!"
"Who says I'm hungry?"Xin Qing blushed. She glared at him. "Stop making things up."
Indeed, tonight was the night of the full moon. But considering the circumstances...
"Even if you want to, we can't. Your body has just recovered. Also, let's not forget that you're pregnant." Ying Qingcang teased. Xin Qing gave him a shove. "Who do you think this is for, huh? You, you... if you don't want it, fine. Forget it."
Seeing her outburst, Ying Qingcang pulled her to him and began coaxing. "Who says I don't want it?" He held Xin Qing's hand. Xin Qing struggled her hand free and leaped onto the bed. She crawled under the covers.
"Hu... hurry up and come here," she said in a muffled tone. Ying Qingcang looked at her in surprise. "This girl's for real?" he thought.
They had been sleeping on separate beds for the past few nights. In truth, Ying Qingcang had long since reached the limits of his self-control. But Xin Qing's body really was not in the right condition for sex, so all he had done was hug her while he slept.
Xin Qing leaned against him and buried her head against his chest. She said something in a small, muffled voice.
"Is this really okay?" Ying Qingcang was so afraid he would hurt her.
Xin Qing nodded. "Or else I won't be able to be at ease. Uncle Ying had especially reminded me before we returned from England. He said we must follow the ancestral behest."
"Ignore him," Ying Qingcang said, his face darkening. "Your body isn't in the right condition."
"You can't get it up any more?" Xin Qing remarked daringly when she saw Ying Qingcang's blank look.
Ying Qingcang glared at her before baring his teeth. "Oh, you'll find out in a second!"
Xin Qing paid the price for her words indeed. She slept all the way until noon. During inspection, the doctor noticed the hickeys on her arm. Ying Qingcang was immediately dragged out of the room for a lecture.
Ying Qingcang followed the doctor out nonchalantly. "No sh*t. Of course I know how to be gentle," he thought. Last night, his 'junior' had only made half an entrance. "Then again, the feeling's not too bad!" he mused. After reliving the experience, he decided that he could try more of that in the future.
Xin Qing regretted her decision greatly. His 'methods' had failed to satisfy her. In fact, it felt entirely horrible to be brought only halfway to her release without going up any further. In the end, Ying Qingcang had taken mercy on her after hearing her desperate moans. He had pleasured her with his mouth and hands. She had been glaring at him ever since she woke up at noon.
"Stop glaring. When you've recovered, I'll make you feel good!"
Xin Qing was having lunch. "Shut up," she said, throwing the spoon at him.
"Okay. Okay. Eat slowly. I'll shut up." Ying Qingcang paused in thought. "You'll be released from the hospital tomorrow."
All of a sudden, the piece of fish she had been swallowing got stuck in her throat. She looked at Ying Qingcang in panic. "I, I haven't decided yet."
"It's okay. You don't have to rush. Just take your time." Ying Qingcang had said the same thing again. Xin Qing lowered her head and went back to her rice. She did not have the courage to look at him. Ying Qingcang knew what she was thinking all along, but he chose to keep quiet. The following morning, the doctor gave Xin Qing a full-body examination. After that, they were allowed to go home. Ah Che rushed to open the car door the moment he saw Xin Qing. While she was entering the car, her movement paused for a brief moment. She grinned at Ah Che.
"Ah Che! Thank you! If it weren't because of the lead you'd found, Ying Qingcang would never have found me."
Ah Che's lips moved slightly without forming any words. He covered the car's roof with his hand to prevent Xin Qing from knocking her head against metal. Xin Qing patted his shoulder and climbed into the car. Aunt Tian had prepared a feast to celebrate Xin Qing's return from the hospital. Xin Qing discovered a huge wooden kennel for Le Le in the backyard.
When Young Master Shen came by for the feast, he told her, "These are all top quality pet accessories. Right now, Le Le is living a life of luxury."
Le Le had played a huge role in Xin Qing's rescue. Ying Qingcang had even accepted the homosexual chihuahua that Le Le was infatuated with. Right now, those two little guys were leading a life of comfort in the backyard. Le Le had nearly wagged its tail off when it saw Xin Qing.
Xin Qing had no idea what came over Young Master Shen during dinner when he started speaking to her secretively. "Tomorrow, a stylist will drop by to doll you up. Don't go out during the afternoon, okay!"
"Why do I have to get dolled up?"
"Because we'll be attending a party tomorrow." Young Master Shen shot a glance at Ying Qingcang.
"Is it appropriate for me to be present at your corporate parties?" she asked, feeling strange.
"There's nothing inappropriate at all," Ying Qingcang said with a straight face, placing a piece of pork ribs on her bowl.
Xin Qing nodded. "Okay then. I just hope you two won't blame me for getting in your way when the time comes."
The following night, Ying Qingcang did not come back to fetch her. Ah Che was tasked to bring her to the party. Xin Qing felt a little disappointed. The stylist had done a fantastic job. Her white silk dress flowed to her ankles. The round neck of the dress was ornamented with diamonds, which were gold in color. The best thing about the ornaments was that they had been among the random designs that she had sketched during her free time. She did not have her hair up. Instead, she wore a loose ponytail, which flowed down the curve of her back. When Xin Qing looked into her own reflection in the mirror, she could not deny her own beauty. She was looking forward to seeing the look on Ying Qingcang's face when he saw her.
The car did not enter the urban area. Instead, it was heading for the beach. The entire beach was surrounded in darkness when they arrived. Xin Qing stared into the darkness for a while. She did not have the courage to get down.
"Ah Che, what's this place?"