But pregnancy was not the crucial issue; the most important thing at the moment was money.
The last bit of money was to pay for her father's medical expenses, and then to settle the debt her brother had incurred.
Now, the child in her womb was almost four months along. Not only would it become more apparent, but there would also be significant expenses after the child's birth.
The three children would require a postpartum confinement nanny, and money would be needed for formula, diapers, and other necessities. The monthly expenses would be at least fifteen thousand yuan.
If it were a few months ago, when Shi Ran had firmly wanted three children, she now hesitated.
Without money, how could she raise children?
Her parents had lost their house and still needed money to arrange a place for them to live; her brother's debts had to be repaid; and the children had expenses.
The cumulative effect of these expenses was like a mountain pressing down on Shi Ran's shoulders, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
Shi Ran had pinned her hopes of finding her brother on Meng Jingwei, but she couldn't reach Meng Jingwei for an entire morning.
She wanted to contact Lin Meng, even thought about borrowing money from her, but considering Lin Meng's husband was in prison, she had been driven out of her home by her mother-in-law, and she herself was struggling with a child, living a very difficult life, she dismissed the idea.
Now, what was she to do?
She waited for Meng Jingwei's call until the afternoon, but still couldn't reach her.
Seeing her parents' anxious state, Shi Ran finally contacted Lin Meng to inquire about Meng Jingwei's situation. As it turned out, Meng Jingwei was attending a twenty-day closed training session.
Shi Ran exchanged pleasantries with Lin Meng for a few sentences and hung up, never mentioning her own predicament.
Twenty days.
How could it be such a coincidence?
Shi Ran felt somewhat on the verge of collapse.
Ring, ring, ring—
At this moment, Yuan Wei called Shi Ran.
"Yuan Wei?"
Answering the call, Shi Ran adjusted her demeanor and replied.
"Ranran, what's the situation on your end? Are you alright?" Yuan Wei called Shi Ran immediately after finishing his work, showing his concern.
Shi Ran was preoccupied with her worries but didn't want to burden Yuan Wei, so she pretended to be relaxed and said, "It's nothing. My dad just had a fall and broke his bone. I'm accompanying him at the hospital. Everything is fine, no need to worry."
"Your situation... Do your parents know?" Yuan Wei was referring to her face, and the pregnancy.
Shi Ran glanced at her parents, got up, and walked out, standing in the corridor. "Yes, I've told them."
They didn't know about the pregnancy yet, but Shi Ran decided to tell them in the next few days and seek their opinion.
Now, the fate of the three children was no longer hers to decide.
If she were to have them, and couldn't afford a confinement nanny, she would have to grit her teeth and ask her parents to help look after the children.
If she wanted their help, how could she conceal this matter?
On the other end of the phone, Yuan Wei was silent for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Did you also mention... that it's Tang Si's child?"
"Not yet."
Yuan Wei immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Just say it's my child. That way, your parents won't have to worry."
His words held a hint of selfishness, but he was also genuinely afraid of worrying Shi Ran's parents.
"I told them the father of the child died unexpectedly," Shi Ran gave Yuan Wei no hope at all.
As expected, after her words fell, the other end of the phone fell silent for even longer.
Yuan Wei knew Shi Ran's stance, so he didn't say anything further, just gave a few more instructions, telling her to take good care of herself and stay with her parents in their hometown before hanging up.
Shi Ran sat on a long bench in the corridor for a while, finally deciding to go to Zhuo Rui Technology to find Qing Muye.
Sister Wei wasn't there, but President Qing could help.
Having made up her mind, Shi Ran informed her parents and left the hospital, taking a taxi directly to Zhuo Rui Technology.
It took about thirty minutes to travel from the hospital to Zhuo Rui Technology.