Su Qi's mood hadn't been this relaxed and joyful in a long time.
A relaxed smile also graced her face.
Xu Lincuan glanced at Su Qi and took out his phone, capturing her profile.
Even without cosmetic surgery, she was naturally beautiful, as if sculpted.
Behind her, the amusement park lights cast a dreamlike, ethereal glow.
She looked like a princess stepping out of a fairy tale.
*Click—*
Suddenly, the carousel ground to a halt.
What happened?
Su Qi looked up, only to see the crowd parting.
The sky was already darkening, split between black and twilight, possessing a post-apocalyptic beauty.
The man seemed to arrive cloaked in night, his presence imposing, his eyes burning with rage.
Her wrist was seized tightly.
"Happy?"
It was him.
Huo Tingyun.
His guttural growl sent a tremor through Su Qi's heartstrings.
Drawing on some unknown reserve of courage, Su Qi smiled softly, tilting her head up, her eyes filled with sarcasm.
"Happy. I would have been even happier if you hadn't suddenly appeared!"
"Su Qi!"
The man spat out her name, word by word, through gritted teeth.
"Mr. Huo, didn't you personally say I wasn't your wife? Now that Xu Linyun is pregnant, it's time for a divorce. I think tomorrow morning would be a good day to finalize the divorce papers. From then on, we go our separate ways!"
"A fine 'separate ways,' but what if I say no?!"
"Mr. Huo, you jest. You were the one who said I wasn't your wife, and you're the one who got Xu Linyun pregnant. Why are you seeking revenge on me? Dragging out the divorce, is that amusing?" This man had personally destroyed her brief moment of happiness!
He was a demon!
Su Qi raised her arm, attempting to break free from Huo Tingyun's grip.
However, the man's strength was not to be underestimated or resisted.
"Tingyun, this is a public place, with so many people watching. If someone takes photos and spreads rumors, it will cause gossip. My sister is newly pregnant and not yet stable. What if she hears some rumors and miscarries..."
Xu Lincuan stepped forward to intervene, placing a hand on Su Qi's shoulder, his gaze fixed on Huo Tingyun.
He hadn't expected Huo Tingyun to show up.
Even more unexpectedly, Huo Tingyun, usually so composed, was acting like a child fighting over a toy.
He had remained unfazed even when Xu Linyun was filming kissing scenes.
Yet, seeing him out with Su Qi had provoked such a reaction.
His mood grew heavier.
Huo Tingyun's thin lips pressed into a tight line.
As if he hadn't heard Xu Lincuan, he unceremoniously scooped Su Qi into his arms and turned to leave.
Su Qi cried out, struggling fiercely the next second.
Whether it was rage clouding his judgment, making his balance unsteady, or Su Qi's violent struggle,
"Ah!"
Su Qi broke free from his embrace but fell hard onto the ground.
"Xiao Su..."
Xu Lincuan lunged forward, but it was too late. Su Qi landed squarely on the ground. Fortunately, the amusement park ground was covered in grass, so it didn't hurt. Su Qi curled up on the ground, taking a while to recover. Her lower abdomen ached slightly.
"I'll take you back," Xu Lincuan said, bending to pick up Su Qi.
"Give her to me."
The man's voice was cold and deep, like a summons from hell.
With that, he snatched Su Qi directly from Xu Lincuan's arms and, ignoring Su Qi's cries, carried her away.
His long legs carried him out of sight in a few strides.
Xu Lincuan regained his senses, his tightly clenched fist gradually relaxing.
A crowd had gathered around, staring in shock at the dramatic scene.
Some recognized Huo Tingyun and had already started whispering.
After standing there for a while, Xu Lincuan finally walked away.
Sent to the hospital and given glucose, Su Qi took a while to regain her senses.
The female doctor was the same one who had examined Su Qi a couple of days prior.
"Oh dear, didn't I tell you last time? Why are you still so vigorous? You can't do this anymore, you're almost five months along..."
After the examination, the female doctor pushed open the ward door.
Outside in the hallway stood a tall, elegant man. The female doctor couldn't help but inwardly admire how handsome the doctor was.
"Sir, you need to moderate your activities from now on, no more strenuous actions. If this continues, your wife might miscarry..."
"Wh-what?!"
Huo Tingyun had just lit a cigarette between his fingers when the female doctor's words reached him. His hand trembled, and the cigarette dropped to the floor.
He had thought she was just eating more these past few months.
He had never doubted it.
Her acting was too good; she had even fooled him.
"Pregnant?!"
"Yes, almost five months. Don't you know?" It was the female doctor's turn to be astonished, looking at him as if he were a monster.
"You need to be more careful from now on, absolutely do not do it again. Once the baby is born, you can do whatever you want. For now, be patient, and if you can't help it, buy a doll," the female doctor instructed before leaving.
Huo Tingyun leaned against the wall with one hand, taking a long time to compose himself.
Xu Lincuan, as the youngest surgeon in Shencheng, was an expert in various diseases.
How could he not have detected Su Qi's pregnancy?
From the very beginning, he had chosen to conceal it.
Perhaps it was his way of retaliating.
His lips curved slightly, a low chuckle escaping him.
Ironic.
But it wasn't too late.
His phone vibrated.
"Tingyun, where are you? Lin Yun says her stomach hurts and she's not feeling well. Come back quickly to check on her."
Qin Xue's voice came from the other end.
"Not feeling well? I'll be right there."
Su Qi heard the voice from outside and didn't move.
A moment later, the man hung up the phone and pushed open the door. Su Qi remained in the same sleeping position.
The man stood by the bedside for a while before leaving the ward.
The sound of his footsteps gradually faded.
Su Qi's hands clenched the blanket tightly.
As expected.
No matter when, as long as Xu Linyun had any trouble, she would always be Huo Tingyun's primary concern.
The most laughable thing was that for a fleeting second just now, she had held onto a sliver of hope for this man.
Su Qi suppressed the disappointment and self-mockery in her eyes, throwing off the covers.
Huo Tingyun had arranged for her admission, but she left the hospital that same night.
It was already past midnight when she returned home.
Gu Tangxue was still asleep on the living room sofa. Hearing the movement, she immediately sat up.
"Where did you go? You disappeared for so long, I thought you were going to do something desperate and kill yourself. You scared me to death, and you wouldn't answer your phone..." Gu Tangxue stood barefoot in front of Su Qi, on the verge of tears.
Her voice was already choked with emotion.
Su Qi hugged Gu Tangxue, resting her head on her shoulder and closing her eyes.
"I'm a little tired."
"Go and rest, get some good rest."
Gu Tangxue quickly ushered Su Qi into the bathroom, turning off the lights for her.
"Tell me if you're hungry."
Once the door closed, the surroundings fell completely silent.
Su Qi let out a sarcastic laugh.
Even a friend she'd known for only a month or two cared about her this much.
One year, two years, three years...
He remained the same as always.