Lin Mei lay on the ground, curled up, a pool of blood beneath her. She was barely alive, her brows furrowed in pain. Her once delicate features were contorted. Xing Zheng immediately rushed forward and pulled her into his arms. The sight of the blood made his eyes turn red.
Xu Shengyi and Zhou Yue reminded him, "Take her to the hospital first!"
There was only one Grade II hospital near the villa district, but the situation was urgent, and there was no time to choose. Xing Zheng carried Lin Mei into the car. Zhou Yue intended to dissuade him from going along, but seeing his state, he knew persuasion was futile and stopped wasting his breath.
Lin Mei had fallen unconscious on the way to the hospital. Xing Zheng held her tightly, his gaze never leaving her. Zhou Yue saw from the rearview mirror the tears in his eyes. They had known each other for years, and even in extreme pain, he had never seen Xing Zheng shed tears.
Lin Mei was sent to the emergency room and was in critical condition for about an hour before she was out of danger. However, the child in her womb could not be saved.
The doctor told them that Lin Mei had clear impact marks on her abdomen. Coupled with the early stage of pregnancy, the fetus was already unstable. Even the mother's mood could affect fetal development. With such external factors, the child could not be kept.
This outcome was within the expectations of Zhou Yue and Xu Shengyi. Xu Shengyi was an obstetrician and gynecologist herself. Given the severe bleeding, even with timely medical attention, the child would not have survived. Moreover, it was too late by the time they found Lin Mei.
However, the doctor said she had suffered an impact to her abdomen. How did that happen?
Zhou Yue, sharing the same curiosity, went to confirm with Xing Zheng after returning to the ward. "Was the impact to her abdomen caused by your argument and pushing?"
Xing Zheng did not answer. He looked at the frail and pale woman on the hospital bed. After a long while, he managed to utter, "She didn't want this child."
His disheartened tone left Zhou Yue and Xu Shengyi speechless. His dejected and lonely demeanor reminded Zhou Yue of how he looked when he spoke of his mother.
"She must have hit herself," Xing Zheng said, recalling Lin Mei's resolute gaze. He even chuckled. "If it's gone, then it's gone. Someone like me truly doesn't deserve to have children."
He laughed and then walked out. Zhou Yue sensed something was wrong with his mood and followed closely behind.
When Lin Mei woke up, her abdomen still ached, a sensation no different from menstrual cramps. She shifted her body and instinctively touched her stomach with her left hand. If nothing had gone wrong, the child should have been gone.
*Click.* The ward door was pushed open as she was thinking. Lin Mei looked up to see Lan Lan and Feng Feng arriving together. Seeing them, Lin Mei's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
"Have some porridge first. The doctor said you need to pay attention to nutrition. When we get back to Nanjiang, I'll find an auntie to make you soup," Lan Lan took out the breakfast she had bought and personally fed Lin Mei.
Looking at the porridge, Lin Mei realized it was already the next morning. She had little memory of when she was brought to the hospital yesterday.
After drinking half a bowl of porridge fed by Lan Lan, Lin Mei asked, "The child... is gone?"
"Yes, it's gone." Lan Lan felt heartbroken recalling what the doctor had said. "You were playing with your life. If you had come to the hospital any later, you might have lost your life too."
Lin Mei seemed indifferent, her emotions calm. "No matter the cost, I will not have this child."
Feng Feng furrowed her brows slightly, sensing something amiss. Although Lin Mei had previously decided not to have the child, she had never been so determined to the point of mutual destruction. "What did Xing Zheng say to you?"
They already knew that Xing Zheng had brought Lin Mei to Anning City. He must have sought her out to discuss the child.
"He told me to give birth to the child." Lin Mei chuckled, recalling his transactional demeanor.
"Is he crazy?" Lan Lan was the first to lose her temper and curse. "Who will take care of the child if it's born? Will he raise it? What if it inherits his illness? Who will be responsible?"
Feng Feng was also surprised. She had thought Xing Zheng took Lin Mei away to ensure the child in her womb was completely "dealt with." When Shen Su called her and asked her to visit Lin Mei in the hospital, she assumed Lin Mei had undergone an abortion. Only upon arrival did she learn that Lin Mei had miscarried due to an abdominal impact.
"He wants you to give birth to the child?" It was unbelievable. Xing Zheng and Jiang Chubai's wedding was next week. What was he thinking?
At this point, Lin Mei recounted the conditions Xing Zheng had discussed with her. Feng Feng's expression grew increasingly grim.
Lan Lan, on the other hand, swore and cursed Xing Zheng. "He's truly a lunatic, a scumbag! Buying a child for two hundred million? Why doesn't he use two hundred million to treat his own illness first? He's taking advantage of his mental issues to act recklessly. How disgusting!"
Although Feng Feng did not curse alongside Lan Lan, she also scoffed at Xing Zheng's words. Fortunately, Lin Mei had regained consciousness. Now that the child was gone and Xing Zheng was about to marry Jiang Chubai, there should be no further interaction between them. "You should rest well for a few days. Once you're feeling better, we'll return to Nanjiang. I've already requested leave for you at the bank."
Lin Mei stayed at the hospital in Anning City for a few days. When her body was no longer so weak, she returned to Nanjiang. Her physical condition was not good, and she had a miscarriage. She did not rush back to work. Coincidentally, the week after next, she was scheduled to go to Kyoto for the next phase of her courses.
After returning to Nanjiang, Xu Ying often came to see her. Lin Mei had been in a poor state recently. If not for Xu Ying's company, she would have been lost in her thoughts.
One day, Lin Mei went grocery shopping with Xu Ying. While checking out, they happened to overhear people in the queue ahead discussing Xing Zheng and Jiang Chubai's wedding. It was then that she remembered that tomorrow was their wedding day.
After her miscarriage, she had not seen Xing Zheng again and had stopped paying attention to news about him and Jiang Chubai. She wanted to completely exclude him from her world.
After leaving the supermarket, Lin Mei fell silent. Xu Ying cautiously asked her, "Are you alright?"
Lin Mei knew what he was asking. "You were right. He's not worth it. I'm fine."
Although Xu Ying could tell she was putting on a brave face, he was relieved. At least she had come to her senses and wouldn't get close to him again. "I'll accompany you to Kyoto next week!"
Lin Mei: "Don't you have final exams?"
Xu Ying: "My last exam is next Tuesday. It's the start of summer vacation, and there are a few competitions and activities over there."
Lin Mei hummed. "I've rented an apartment. If you don't mind, you can have the other bedroom."
Xu Ying beamed, his eyes showing pleasant surprise. "I don't mind, of course, I don't mind!"
He couldn't ask for more. This was the first time Lin Mei had actively invited him, and he was overjoyed.
The two returned to the apartment, laughing and entering the building.
Not far away, in a black Audi, a man clenched the steering wheel.