Life, at some point, will inevitably lead you to moments of despair and hopelessness.
When you're struggling in the mud, you'll desperately wish for someone to pull you out.
Today, they were delighted to have the chance to be that person for someone else.
Leaving the man behind as easily as she had come, Zhan Beijue chatted with the woman for a while. After learning her family's address, he decided to go and pick them up.
"And the child, if he can't find you, he might go looking for the child. We'll split up, I'll go get the child."
Leaving the woman at the hotel, Zhan Beijue and Jiang Nan Fang ran out in separate directions.
Having successfully picked up the people, Zhan Beijue returned to the street where the hotel was located an hour later.
Before he could even get out of the car, he saw the street was exceptionally lively.
Pedestrians, vehicles, a massive crowd, bustling about for some unknown reason.
He opened the car window to look outside, and a pungent smell wafted towards him.
What had caught fire?
It turned out to be the hotel.
The hotel, which had been perfectly fine and impeccably clean from the outside before he left, was now spewing thick smoke, with debris falling down with crackling sounds.
It looked like a monster with its jaws agape.
The fire had started on the upper floors, and firefighters had already arrived, using high-pressure water cannons to extinguish the flames.
Zhan Beijue instinctively thought of the floor he was staying on, the person in the room, his dear Jiang Nan Fang.
His heart sank. He hurriedly took out his phone.
Zhou Jinbei had been squatting foolishly at the hotel for a week, and it wasn't until then that Jiang Sicheng returned.
There was no reunion that surpassed newlywed bliss, no gifts, no surprises. She had returned to the Jiang family.
The next day, she continued going to the hospital for injections.
Actually, she was quite resistant to this.
It always hurt when they injected it into her stomach.
But for the sake of two villas, for her parents' twilight years.
She knew she had to do it.
The marriage was already done, so there was no point in saying anything else. She had to face it head-on.
Arriving at the hospital, there were quite a few people.
She sat down to queue outside the familiar department. Suddenly, a woman ran out from the adjacent department, shouting excitedly.
Seeing her so happy, the man sitting diagonally opposite Zhou Jinbei immediately went to greet her.
"What is it, wife? Why are you so happy? Have you succeeded?"
The woman was speechless, her eyes welling up with tears, and she nodded repeatedly in excitement: "Yes! Yes!"
"I knew it, we could do it! Heavens, this is too exciting!"
The man was also overjoyed, carefully supporting her.
"Hurry, don't jump around, be careful you don't bounce the baby out. Sit down properly, tell me what the doctor said?"
"Is it confirmed? Are you really pregnant? How far along? How many?"
The woman said, "Based on my period, at most 40 days. The doctor said there are two."
"Two!"
The couple hugged each other excitedly and started crying again.
Since they were here for outpatient appointments, they were all here for the same issue.
Instantly, everyone cast envious glances at them, including Zhou Jinbei.
But as she listened, the words "based on my period" caused her mind to buzz.
She had always been very punctual with her period.
It was due a few days ago this month, but why was it delayed until now?
Listening to the chatter of the couple opposite, she was stunned for a few seconds, and it seemed like she had realized something.
She dared not enter the consultation room anymore. Grabbing her bag, she hurried out of the hospital.
There were two large pharmacies on the street opposite the hospital. She ran to buy two pregnancy tests.
She drove her car to a large supermarket parking lot.
She went to the public restroom and saw the white stick slowly reveal a red line.
Immediately after, another line appeared.
Zhou Jinbei was stunned.
She was pregnant.
My goodness.
Jiang Sicheng hadn't even done anything yet, and she was already pregnant?
It must be Ah Zhong's, that was undeniable.
But they had only been together twice in total, and she had even taken medication in between, and she still got pregnant?
She felt like the little stick wasn't that reliable, and the results weren't authoritative.
After a few seconds of unease, she threw the test into the trash and went to a private obstetrics and gynecology hospital.
After registering, queuing, and going through checks for two to three hours, the result was the same.
She was indeed pregnant.
Like the other woman, about 40 days along.
Zhou Jinbei couldn't describe her feelings at that moment.
She was shocked, scared, and also excited.
Shocked that a tiny human being had settled into her belly.
She was only 20 years old, and she could be a mother.
Scared that if Jiang Sicheng suspected her, suspected the origin of the child, this marriage would have been in vain.
Excited that this child was hers and Ah Zhong's.
Although she would never have the chance to marry Ah Zhong again, in her monotonous life, she would have a small shadow of Ah Zhong to accompany her for a lifetime.
Just thinking about it gave her more courage to live.
She was determined to keep the child.
Even if the timing was off, even if her fate would be tragic if Jiang Sicheng found out, she would still keep the child.
Mainly, she was confident.
With her intelligence, she could definitely outsmart Jiang Sicheng.
Not only could she hide the child's true identity, but she could also find a suitable opportunity in the future to expose him and get divorced.
Then, she would have the child, the money, and could retire gracefully.
This marriage would have been worth it.
Zhou Jinbei had only been married to Jiang Sicheng for a month.
If she told them she was pregnant now, the timing would definitely arouse suspicion.
Therefore, after the examination, despite her excitement, she tore up the report and threw it into the hospital's trash can.
Then, she pretended as if nothing had happened and went home.
Another half a month passed, and the timing could now align with her first injection.
Only then did she start to show symptoms.
Early one morning, the whole family was sitting together eating breakfast.
As soon as the bird's nest soup was placed in front of her, Zhou Jinbei covered her mouth and ran to the bathroom to vomit.
A moment later, she returned with a pained expression and complained to Jiang Sicheng.
"Has the chef's cooking deteriorated recently? Or have they changed the cuisine? Why do I feel nauseous with everything I eat?"
"Everything tastes strange to me, and I feel like vomiting just looking at the food."
Jiang Sicheng, for some reason, casually replied.
"I don't think so. It's still the same as before. Are you starting to get picky as you eat?"
"You say it's not, but it smells awful."
Zhou Jinbei frowned, fanning her nose and covering her mouth.
She looked like she was about to vomit again.
Jiang's mother's eyes lit up.
"Oh dear, Beibei, how long have you had these symptoms?"
"Not long. Just these past few days. But it's getting worse."
"I could barely eat before, but now I feel uncomfortable just seeing it."
"Quick, quick, quick, stop eating. Take her to the hospital!"
Jiang's mother nudged Jiang Sicheng.
Jiang Sicheng looked reluctant.
"Is it that serious? Just because she looks at this dish with disgust, you want to take her to the hospital? That's too dramatic."
"You, me, and my father are all eating fine. She's just being difficult."
"What do you know? Just go when I tell you to!"
Jiang's mother excitedly started tidying her hair.
"Beibei is very likely pregnant, let's go get her checked!"