Chapter 136: Pregnancy

Dr. Ye checked his watch and said, "Let's go."

Having been in the hospital for only a few days with few belongings, she was discharged with ease. Dr. Ye drove her back to her dormitory, confiscated her medications, checked them over, and carefully wrote down the dosages on small sticky notes.

Cheng Hui rummaged through her boxes to find some cash. "I'll ask my family for some money in a few days to pay you back for the medical bills. I'm sorry, Dr. Ye, for causing you so much trouble."

"Don't stand on ceremony with me. I'm close with Xin Gan, and since you are my patient, it is my duty to look after you and be responsible for you."

Cheng Hui stood quietly and gave a toothy smile. "Thank you. I will pay you back as soon as I can."

"There's no rush with the money. If you're short on funds, you can take your time; don't push yourself too hard." He wasn't treating Cheng Hui solely for the money; part of it was out of consideration for Xin Gan.

Dr. Ye didn't leave immediately. He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Is your relationship with your family not very good?"

"It isn't. That's why I won't be asking you for a loan."

Dr. Ye had an epiphany; that explained it. He didn't pry any further and took the medicine with him when he left.

Now, Cheng Hui was alone again.

With nothing to do, she called Xin Gan. There was an eight-hour time difference between London and Yongcheng. It was one in the afternoon for her and eight in the evening for Xin Gan—likely after dinner, so Xin Gan should be free.

Cheng Hui desperately needed to talk to someone. She liked chatting with Xin Gan, even if it was just about trivial matters. She didn't have many friends; the ones she used to hang out with all knew Tang Yao. Ever since Tang Yao and Tang Que got together, she had gradually drifted away from them. Everyone was studying in different places, living their own lives.

Cheng Hui couldn't help but think of the phone call from the nurse. A sharp pain pierced her heart again. It turned out He Chuan had long since found someone new, and she had become a thing of the past. The vows he had once made so earnestly now seemed like a joke.

A few hours later, Cheng Hui contacted Tang Que. She couldn't bring herself to be cruel. She wasn't Tang Que, and she wasn't He Chuan; her nature was kind, and she was young, lacking malice. The fact that Tang Que, now terminally ill, had told her the truth suggested that he wasn't entirely heartless. At the very least, he had chosen to tell her in the end.

Even so, it didn't make her feel any better; if anything, it made her feel even worse.

Hearing her voice, Tang Que sounded pleasantly surprised and instinctively smiled, though Cheng Hui couldn't see it. Both fell silent for a while before Tang Que finally spoke: "What happened back then was my fault, Cheng Hui. I owe you an apology."

Cheng Hui didn't accept his apology, but considering his grave illness, she didn't want to say anything too harsh to provoke him. In a way, they were fellow sufferers. She knew what it was like to be tortured by illness, even if there was a difference—her pain was emotional, his was physical. Both were miserable.

"Are you undergoing treatment?"

Tang Que gave a pale smile, looking unexpectedly more relaxed. "I wouldn't dare ask for your forgiveness. I just owed you an explanation. As for the rest, I dare not even think about it."

Perhaps he sensed his condition worsening day by day, and if he didn't say certain things now, he never would. Though he feared death, everyone living truly feared death.

Cheng Hui said, "I won't forgive you, Tang Que. I will never forgive you in this lifetime."

Tang Que’s voice remained calm, at least on the surface, but where Cheng Hui couldn't see, his slender fingers were clenched into fists. "I know. If it were me, I wouldn't forgive either. Cheng Hui, I can only repay what I owe you in the next life. This life must end this way..."

A nurse standing outside the ward heard the indescribable pallor and powerlessness in his muffled voice. She decided not to go in and disturb him, stepping away for a moment to give him space.

Cheng Hui’s eyes welled up with heat. She blinked hard, forcing back the tears. "You should just focus on getting through the present. It's not like it's a terminal illness."

His suffering was on par with a terminal illness, and his will to live was weak. He wasn't cooperating with the doctors; the doctors just hadn't realized that he was flushing his daily medication down the toilet. What was the point of getting better? It wouldn't change the facts, and more importantly, he didn't want to waste any more time.

Tang Que said, "Cheng Hui, I know you hate me. You don't have to force yourself to comfort me. I know my own condition. I'll tell my sister later to stop bothering you."

Cheng Hui didn't know how to react. She heard the indifference in his tone. She didn't say anything more. After a moment of silence, she said, "Alright. Goodbye."

This was the final farewell.

The stone in Tang Que's heart finally lifted. He smiled and lay back on the hospital bed, his wish fulfilled. He made one last call to Tang Huaihuai: "Sister, taking revenge on innocent people for the grudges of the older generation won't solve anything. Cheng Hui has gone abroad, and she has broken things off with He Chuan. You shouldn't continue."

Tang Huaihuai replied, "Focus on your treatment at the hospital. Don't worry about other things."

"Sister..."

"I know what you're going to say again. Be good, focus on your treatment. You don't need to worry about Cheng Hui, He Chuan, or the Cheng family. You've already helped me enough; leave it all to me now. Don't get involved."

This meant Tang Huaihuai had no intention of stopping; she was going to continue. Tang Que couldn't persuade her. He sighed and said, "Sister, stop bothering Cheng Hui."

Tang Huaihuai said she understood.

...

Liang Yang asked Cheng Hui on WeChat if she was going home for the Lunar New Year. If she was, they could book flights together and have some company.

Cheng Hui had spoken to Xin Gan earlier, and Xin Gan had also asked if she was going home. Cheng Hui told her no, she had things to do in London and couldn't get away, and besides, Mrs. Cheng hadn't given her permission to return. When Mrs. Cheng had sent her abroad, she had declared that without her orders, Cheng Hui was not allowed to return to the country. Cheng Hui had remembered that well.

Xin Gan had said at the time that Mrs. Cheng was only speaking in the heat of the moment and couldn't possibly bear to let her spend the New Year alone in London.

Cheng Hui smiled, remaining firm in her decision not to go back. Even if she did, it wouldn't be now. As Mrs. Cheng had said, if she wanted a voice, she had to become independent and strong, without relying on her parents or family. Otherwise, she would be destined to live under the shadow of the Cheng family for the rest of her life, and she might not even have a say in her own marriage. She wanted to break free from the Cheng family; she had to be strong enough to have a voice so that when she finally returned, she could stand tall in front of Mrs. Cheng.

Liang Yang was going back to Yongcheng; he was from there, and returning for the New Year was a must. Upon learning Cheng Hui wasn't going, he asked, "If you aren't going home, won't your family worry? How could they let you spend the New Year alone?"

Cheng Hui didn't answer and changed the subject. Liang Yang caught the hint and didn't ask again.

Cheng Hui no longer enjoyed going out. In the past, she would constantly find excuses to go to He Chuan, begging him to take her out. He Chuan had always been responsive to her requests, especially during the New Year. One year, she had snuck out of the house to find him while he was hanging out with friends at a seaside villa. When she said she wanted to join, he didn't hesitate to drive for hours to pick her up in the city, even though it was another several hours back to the villa. Along the way, he received numerous calls from friends urging him to hurry, but by the time they arrived, his friends had already dispersed.

Because he had gone to pick up Cheng Hui, he had arrived very late and the party was long over. Cheng Hui was disappointed and upset. Without a word, He Chuan had relit the charcoal fire, called his friends to buy more ingredients, and continued the night for just the two of them.

At that time, it was just the two of them. She didn't know how to grill, so He Chuan took on all the work, not wanting her to tire herself out. He never mentioned the smoke stinging his eyes, nor did he mind the oil splattering onto his hands. Even his friends, seeing him roll up his sleeves to work, couldn't help but look on in surprise—amazed that a pampered young master had developed such domestic traits.

Cheng Hui was young then and didn't remember much. She thought He Chuan’s kindness was a given, and so she accepted everything he did for her as a matter of course. As time passed, she overlooked many details of daily life—like how He Chuan hated cooking, let alone cooking for her. He loved cleanliness, yet whenever she made a mess of his things, he never showed impatience, always patiently cleaning up after her. There were countless such instances, all of which she recalled now.

This year, it was all gone, and in the future, it likely never would be again.

In the end, Liang Yang decided not to return to Yongcheng and stayed in London for the New Year. He invited Cheng Hui, but she declined, saying she felt unwell and didn't want to go out. Liang Yang wanted to visit her, but she refused him as well.

Liang Yang felt a bit frustrated. "Have I done something to upset you? Why won't you even give me time for a meal?"

Cheng Hui: "It's not that. It's just my own problem. I'm sorry."

...

Since Cheng Hui wasn't returning this year, Cheng Jiu transferred a sum of money into her account, enough to cover her living expenses. Mrs. Cheng didn't know about this money, though she likely guessed that her brother would send some.

With Cheng Hui gone, the Cheng house seemed unusually cold. Mrs. Cheng, already in poor health, was depressed and lost even the mood to play cards. She stayed home all day and stopped going out.

Her relationship with Mr. Cheng had also hit an all-time low. Although Mr. Cheng was very concerned about her, asking after her well-being every single day, Mrs. Cheng seemed to be holding a grudge against him, ignoring everything he did.

...

The lawsuit between Xin Gan and He Cheng finally ended with He Cheng issuing a public apology. He also compensated Xin Gan for her medical and emotional distress. Seeing this, Xin Gan decided not to pursue the matter further and settled.

He Cheng’s public apology caused quite a stir, signifying the collapse of his public image and bringing a deluge of negative press. Xin Gan didn't know why He Cheng had suddenly shown weakness; she had expected him to tangle with her to the end and never bow his head in apology. A public apology meant that the fault was entirely his.

Overnight, he lost countless followers, and the vitriol was overwhelming. Even the He family was caught in the fallout and suffered significantly. He Cheng could no longer make it in the entertainment industry; all his commercial endorsements were pulled, and his name became a sensitive word, with all search results filled with negative comments.

Even so, Xin Gan had suffered a lot during this ordeal, such as having her personal information leaked by his fans online, and having radical fans go to her studio to vent by spraying paint everywhere. Although the studio was no longer hers—she had already transferred it—the impact remained.

Xin Gan didn't feel the matter was over, but there was nothing she could do about He Cheng. She didn't know why He Cheng had suddenly bowed down, until Shen Ruxin told her: it was Cheng Jiu. Cheng Jiu had found evidence of He Cheng’s past harassment and used it to threaten him.

Of course, Cheng Jiu couldn't come forward directly, so He Chuan had done it. He Chuan had even asked Song Chen for help. Usually, Shen Ruxin didn't interfere in men's business, but because it involved Xin Gan, Song Chen had told her so she would have peace of mind.

Shen Ruxin said, "You should have told me earlier; then there wouldn't have been a chance for He Cheng to succeed."

Although Keke didn't understand what the adults were talking about, seeing Xin Gan’s tearful expression, she climbed onto her lap, hugged her knees, and cried out sweetly, "Auntie, don't cry. Did Uncle bully you? Keke will help you beat Uncle; Keke will protect you."

"Keke, you can't say that. How could Uncle bully Auntie? It was other bad people who bullied Auntie, and Uncle protected Auntie."

Xin Gan picked up Keke and nuzzled her chubby cheeks. "Keke is so sweet. I didn't love you for nothing."

Xin Gan then looked at Shen Ruxin, her eyes dark and bright. A flicker of tenderness inadvertently crossed her gaze as she placed her hand on her lower abdomen and told Shen Ruxin, "I think... I'm pregnant."

"Pregnant? Are you sure?" Shen Ruxin asked in surprise, quickly setting Keke down for fear of hurting Xin Gan. "Have you been to the hospital? How many months? When did this happen? Does Cheng Jiu know?"

"Cousin, you're asking so many questions at once, how am I supposed to answer?"

"My fault. Then answer one by one."

Since they had decided to have a child, Xin Gan and Cheng Jiu had stopped using protection. As for Cheng Jiu, he was still worried about her health, but since she wanted one, he went along with her wishes.

Xin Gan said, "It's been half a month. My period didn't come, and I was really worried if something was wrong with me. Luckily, we're both fine."

"But why don't you look very happy?"

Xin Gan: "I'm a little worried. I'm afraid I won't be able to take good care of this child. It's so fragile, and I'm afraid I don't have the ability to look after it yet."

She hadn't even had the chance to get a checkup; Xin Gan was both happy and anxious.

Shen Ruxin, having been through it before, comforted her for a long time. Understanding that it was normal to be nervous for the first time, she said she would accompany her to the hospital for a checkup.

Keke also insisted on going. She didn't understand everything, but that didn't stop her from wanting to tag along.

Xin Gan was helpless. "Keke, aren't you afraid of shots? Auntie is going to the hospital."

"Auntie is carrying a baby, so you don't need shots. Keke is going to protect Auntie."

Shen Ruxin: "You're a little rascal, but you're never this eager when it comes to eating."

"Dad's cooking is too terrible; Keke can't eat it."

Xin Gan finally laughed.

...

After going to the hospital for a checkup, the doctor said everything was fine. The fetus was still small and required care, and the doctor gave a long list of precautions. The more Xin Gan listened, the more confused she became—there was too much to remember at once. It was easier to just listen to Shen Ruxin.

When Cheng Jiu returned home that night, Xin Gan found the right moment to tell him she was pregnant.

Cheng Jiu’s expression shifted—a slight愣 (daze), followed by astonishment, and then instant joy. He dropped his mouse and stood up so abruptly that his chair toppled onto the carpet without a sound. He strode over to her, carefully wrapping her in his arms, and asked, "Really?"

His voice was right by her ear, laced with suppressed excitement.

Xin Gan leaned into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Mhm. Cousin took me to the hospital for a checkup today. About three weeks. It’s real."

Actually, Cheng Jiu had a relaxed attitude about when they would conceive. He hadn't insisted on a specific timeline. When Xin Gan said she wanted a child, he put it on their agenda. However, there had been no news for the first few months. He hadn't worried about it, nor did he think it was Xin Gan’s fault; he had even thought about getting a detailed checkup himself when he had some downtime.

He hadn't expected the child to arrive just like that.

He remained still.

Xin Gan’s joy was dampened. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"I'm just so happy. It's wonderful. It’s just going to be very hard on you." Cheng Jiu’s voice was a bit hoarse. He didn't dare to hold her too tightly, afraid that in his excitement, he might accidentally hurt her.

Xin Gan nuzzled his neck. "It won't be. But it's my first time, and I have no experience, so I'm bound to be a bit clumsy. Cousin even laughed at me."

"From now on, our family has one more member, Cheng Jiu."

Cheng Jiu’s heartstrings were plucked, a tenderness rising within him. He kissed her forehead.

"Mhm."

...

The Cheng family finally had happy news. Xin Gan’s pregnancy was something worth celebrating for the family.

Cheng Jiu told Cheng Hui, and Cheng Hui, far away in London, was equally happy, saying she could finally be a little aunt.

Cheng Jiu said, "Study hard. If you want to come back, you can come anytime. I'll pick you up."

Cheng Hui was moved. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Take good care of my future nephew and Xin Gan. Pregnant women have it the hardest; spend more time with her."

"Do you really need to teach me how to cherish my wife?" Cheng Jiu’s voice carried a smile. He asked again, "Is the money enough? If not, tell me."

"Brother, I never realized you were this nice. Are you becoming gentle now that you're going to be a father? Is this that 'tender heart of an iron man'?"

Cheng Jiu: "You talk so much, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue?"

They hadn't seen each other for a while, and Cheng Hui suddenly missed Cheng Jiu quite a bit. She gathered her thoughts and asked, "How is everything at home? Is she happy to hear that Xin Gan is pregnant? You don't even need to tell me; I’ve already guessed it. She’s been wanting to hold a grandchild ever since before you guys were married. Now, it’s finally as she wished."

The "she" Cheng Hui referred to, besides Mrs. Cheng, could be no one else.

She didn't even want to call her "Mom" anymore, clearly still holding onto her anger. Cheng Jiu couldn't blame her; he understood her feelings.