Zong Jinghao tapped his knuckle against his forehead. He knew something was up with Guan Jing but he had no time to look into it. His wife was already in the third trimester and the attending doctor suggested that she should look to deliver the baby within the next two weeks. Zong Jinghao was racing against the clock to have Lin Xinyan examined by a better doctor before that.
He picked up the landline at his office and made a call.
Though the hospital Lin Xinyan visited was already considered the best in the country, Zong Jinghao still felt worried. He could not afford to be negligent, because his wife and child were too important to him.
He requested to meet with Mr. Wang, the head of the hospital.
And Mr. Wang agreed to see him.
Zong Jinghao walked out of the office with his cellphone after he ended the call. He loosened his collar with one hand as he searched through his contact list with the other. He made his representative at the overseas branch of his company to help ask around for capable doctors around the world. It was not that he did not trust local doctors; he just wanted a second opinion.
When he reached his representative, he explained Lin Xinyan’s situation.
“I’ll send the information over.”
Upon hearing that, Zong Jinghao ended the call.
He then pressed for the elevator. As he was waiting, Guan Jing came up to him.
“Mr. Zong.”
Zong Jinghao looked at him. “Are you in such a hurry to leave?”
“No…”
“Let me know when you’ve made up your mind.” The elevator doors opened and Zong Jinghao walked in.
Guan Jing stood where he was with his head bowed. He wanted to come clean with Zong Jinghao, but he was a man, after all, and he wanted to maintain his dignity.
He could not possibly admit to having slept with Gu Huiyuan. Or to confess to being threatened by her using his intimate photos.
He felt that that was something that could only happen to women.
But it so happened that Gu Huiyuan decided to pull that on him.
He tore at his hair in frustration as he still could not bring himself to tell Zong Jinghao everything.
What an utter disgrace!
Upon leaving the building, Zong Jinghao went into his car and drove out of the car park. He hit the main road shortly and cruised through the bustling downtown area filled with towering skyscrapers and dazzling neon lights. The city looked much grander than it did during the day.
Zong Jinghao drove straight home.
As he stepped out of his car and was about to enter the house, he spotted someone seated on the lounge chair by the lawn. It was Lin Xinyan.
Zong Jinghao made his way towards her.
She heard him approach but did not turn around. “Back already?”
Zong Jinghao grunted and went over to sit by her.
Lin Xinyan leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder as she watched the stars above.
After what seemed like ages, she spoke up. “I remember vividly being in pain day and night when I had Yanchen and Yanxi. My postpartum diaper had to be swapped out regularly because I could not stop bleeding. My heart ached when I saw those two tiny purplish newborns for the first time. I was shocked and afraid, as it was just the three of us. Without any relatives to lean on, I welcomed them into this world by myself. They were twins and smaller than other children; Yanxi was especially weak. They were dearest to me and I tried my best to give them everything in the absence of a father. No matter what, I hope that you will always place them above everything else, like I do.
Lin Xinyan knew that she could not withhold the truth about her physical condition for long. She was indirectly emphasizing to Zong Jinghao how important her children were to her.
Be it Zong Yanchen, Zong Yanxi, or the unborn child inside of her, they were all the same in her eyes.
She would have given her life for her twins just as she would give her life for this child.
Zong Jinghao’s back stiffened. He held his wife by the shoulder, brought her close, and kissed the top of her head. He fully understood what she meant.
However…
Lin Xinyan spoke in a low voice in his arms, “The doctor said we need to deliver the baby ahead of schedule. But that comes with certain risks for the child…”
She had to come clean with Zong Jinghao eventually, so she did.
“Your body is more important…”
“Haven’t you understood anything that I’m telling you?”
Lin Xinyan withdrew from Zong Jinghao. Everything she said was to stress how important the child was to her.
“I understand.” Zong Jinghao looked at her. “I feel the same way about the baby as you do.”
If he had to make a choice, he would definitely choose to protect the mother. Without the mother, there would be no child.
Lin Xinyan’s voice trembled; she spoke weakly and helplessly. “You still don’t get it. A baby delivered prematurely at thirty weeks faces many unknown risks. I would rather risk myself.”
“Lin Xinyan!” Zong Jinghao shook her with agitation by the shoulders. His pain was evident in his eyes. “It’s not a given. There’s a ninety percent chance that the baby would be born healthy.”
He inflated the estimates given by the doctor in the hope that Lin Xinyan would be more convinced.
A tear that welled up in Lin Xinyan’s eye ran down her cheeks and into the corner of her lips. It left a salty taste in her mouth.
“Why must I be pregnant?” She was unable to accept Zong Jinghao’s seemingly blasé attitude.
That ten percent probability was still a concern for her.
What if they were to hit upon this ten percent?
Zong Jinghao held her trembling and fragile body tightly. “I didn’t know that your body is not strong enough to bear children. Had I known, I would never have allowed it.”
He gently rubbed her back and comforted her, “I’m already working on something. Do you trust me?”
“I don’t feel secure about this.” Lin Xinyan choked up.
“I know.” Zong Jinghao enveloped her within his embrace. He, too, could not be at peace with this. Lin Xinyan was the mother, and he the father. Neither of them felt at ease.
But as a man, if he were to lose his composure, who would be there to handle what was to come?
