Lin Xinyan smiled wryly. So that’s what it’s been about! I thought there was something wrong with the baby.
“You have to call me right away if you feel any pain,” the doctor reminded.
Lin Xinyan nodded. “Okay.”
The doctor was worried that Lin Xinyan would despise her child for being ugly. There was a video on the Internet a while ago about a pregnant woman crying as she walked. It was all because her baby looked hideous in the ultrasound scans.
That was enough to make the mother cry.
“You and Mr. Zong are both very good-looking, so there’s no way your child will turn out ugly. It’s just too young and hasn’t developed much yet. Don’t worry too much about it.”
Lin Xinyan smiled. “I won’t.”
It doesn’t matter how the baby looks. What matters most is that it’s healthy.
The doctor left to see another patient.
Zong Jinghao walked in to find Lin Xinyan beaming. “What are you smiling about?”
Instead of answering, Lin Xinyan pointed to the breakfast on the table. “This is yours. Eat up before it gets cold.”
As Zong Jinghao sat by the table and picked up a pair of chopsticks, Lin Xinyan asked him, “Will you be upset if our child turns out ugly?”
Zong Jinghao turned to look at her as though realizing why she was smiling. “It’s still my child no matter what,” he declared, “So what if it’s ugly?”
Lin Xinyan grinned. “So you’re not frustrated anymore?”
Zong Jinghao coughed lightly. That damned doctor just can’t keep things to himself.
“Who said I was frustrated? I’m happy.”
Lin Xinyan lay down. “Are you going out today?”
Zong Jinghao nodded. He had to take care of Gu Huiyuan’s matters, so he couldn’t stay behind.
Zhuang Zijin poured him a glass of water. “In that case, I’ll stay here and watch over her. I’ll leave when you come back.”
“That works,” Zong Jinghao replied. “She can’t be alone. Call the doctor if anything happens.”
“I will.”
Zhuang Zijin did the dishes after breakfast. Meanwhile, Zong Jinghao massaged Lin Xinyan’s legs, which had begun to swell up. She was now prone to getting cramps at night too.
Some nights, she would wake up in pain several times.
Zong Jinghao had once thought pregnancy wasn’t a big deal, but ever since Lin Xinyan’s health began to deteriorate, he finally realized how difficult it was. Not only was childbirth tormenting, but even just being pregnant alone was no easy task.
Being unable to leave the ward made Lin Xinyan feel extremely bored too. “Are you going to settle some company matters?” she asked with her eyes half-closed.
“Yeah.”
He got up the moment Zhuang Zijin came back. “I’ll be back ASAP.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll be just fine here.”
Zhuang Zijin sat next to the bed. “Do you want some fruits?”
Lin Xinyan shook her head. “No, thanks.”
She had just eaten not too long ago, so she wasn’t hungry.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door, and Zhuang Zijin got up to open it. Standing outside was a nurse. “There’s a woman here to see Ms. Lin. Is she allowed to come in?”
“Who is it?” asked Zhuang Zijin.
“She says she’s Ms. Qin.”
Thinking it was Qin Ya, Zhuang Zijin let the woman in without asking Lin Xinyan.
But upon arriving at the front door, she realized it wasn’t Qin Ya. “Who are you?” she asked, barricading the door and staring at Gu Huiyuan warily.
Gu Huiyuan had dug up some information on Zong Jinghao and Lin Xinyan, so she knew that Qin Ya was Lin Xinyan’s closest female friend.
That was why she had told the nurse that she was Ms. Qin.
Gu Huiyuan held a fresh bouquet in her hand. “I’m here to visit Mrs. Zong,” she answered with a smile.
“I don’t know who you are. She’s not feeling well, so she can’t meet any guests. Please go home.”
Gu Huiyuan continued smiling. “I’m not a bad guy. You don’t have to be so worried! I’m just here to see Mrs. Zong. You can ask her if you don’t believe me.”
Lin Xinyan could hear the commotion from inside the room. She sat up and listened intently.
That voice sounds familiar.
She quickly remembered who this voice belonged to.
Gu Huiyuan?
What is she doing here?
“Mrs. Zong! Can I have a word with you, please?” Having no other choice since Zhuang Zijin refused to let her in, Gu Huiyuan could only speak this way.
Lin Xinyan remained silent.
“I’m not up to anything fishy!” she continued. “This is your turf, so I wouldn’t dare do anything. I just want to talk.”
Lin Xinyan gave it a thought. “Let her in, Mom.”
“Jinghao told me not to let any stranger in, and I don’t know who this woman is. You should not allow any visitors right now. You need to rest,” said Zhuang Zijin.
“I know who she is, so let her in.”
Zhuang Zijin cast Gu Huiyuan a glance. “Only a few minutes.”
“Okay,” Gu Huiyuan responded.
The older woman brought her into the room.
Lin Xinyan kept all her worries inside her heart, appearing calm on the outside.
This woman has constantly tried to sabotage my relationship with Jinghao. What does she want this time?
Is she up to something again?
“Can I have word with Mrs. Zong in private?” Gu Huiyuan asked, gazing at Zhuang Zijin.
Zhuang Zijin shook her head. “I have to be here.”
Gu Huiyuan’s gaze fell on Lin Xinyan. “Please?”
Lin Xinyan had a remote control in her hand. The doctor would rush over with a press of a button.
Hence, she nodded and turned to Zhuang Zijin. “It’s fine, Mom. You can wait outside the door.”
Zhuang Zijin frowned. “Jinghao doesn’t want you to talk to someone alone.”
“I know her, Mom. It’ll be fine.” Lin Xinyan smiled.
Zhuang Zijin could only oblige. “Don’t be long.”
“I know.”
Zhuang Zijin walked out of the room and closed the door.
The smile on Lin Xinyan’s face instantly disappeared. “Tell me, what are you doing here?”
Gu Huiyuan chuckled. “Oh, don’t be so hostile! I got these from a florist. I hope you like them.”
She placed the bouquet of lilies and roses on the bedside desk.
