Zhan Jiayi knew she couldn't cling to him at this moment. It was better to maintain her position and do what she should, ensuring she didn't become a nuisance.
Xie Zhendong noticed she hadn't left immediately and looked at her, asking, "Is there anything else?"
"No," Zhan Jiayi said, gently pointing to her hair. "You have more white hair. Don't overwork yourself and take care of your health."
During this period, he had been neglecting everything. Feng Rou looked at him with a gloomy expression, and when he visited his mother in the hospital, his mother would constantly nag him.
As for his subordinates and employees at the group, they were all deathly afraid of him.
Zhan Jiayi was the first person to express concern for him. He couldn't help but relax and replied, "Alright. You don't look too well yourself?"
Zhan Jiayi touched her face. She had been suffering from severe morning sickness recently, and after work, she had been unable to eat or sleep well.
"I don't think so, I'm fine. Mr. Xie, I won't disturb you. I'll be going out now." With that, she turned and left his office.
Xie Zhendong put down his work, relaxed, and leaned back in his chair.
He had completely overlooked Zhan Jiayi during this time, yet she had never complained or bothered him. She was truly a remarkably sensible woman. He allowed himself a moment of relaxation before returning his focus to his work.
He worked until it was dark, realizing that it was past closing time. Except for the employees in the President's office, everyone else in other departments had already left.
He walked out of his office, and his secretary and two male assistants immediately approached him, asking, "Mr. Xie, you just need to give us a command..."
"Isn't it time to go home? Why are you all still here?" Xie Zhendong asked, looking at them, but he didn't see Zhan Jiayi.
The secretary and assistants silently lamented, thinking that since the President hadn't left yet, they dared not go.
"I still have some work left to finish," the secretary said with a smile.
The two male assistants echoed her sentiment.
Xie Zhendong casually asked, "Where is Assistant Zhan? I don't see her."
A male assistant quickly replied, "Assistant Zhan said she wasn't feeling well and asked for leave to go home early."
"There's nothing else today. You can all leave now," Xie Zhendong said as he walked towards the elevator and left first.
Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief and quickly packed up their belongings to go home.
Xie Zhendong got into the car. The driver asked, "Sir, are we going back?"
He grunted, but the thought of facing Feng Rou's complete breakdown and gloomy expression upon returning made his head start to ache.
"I'm not going back. Take me to that apartment in the city center," he suddenly changed his mind and instructed.
The driver slowed down, made a U-turn ahead, and took him to the apartment building.
As Xie Zhendong got out of the car, he told the driver, "Don't wait for me. Call me when you need the car tomorrow."
"Yes, sir." The driver respectfully saw him into the building and then drove away.
Zhan Jiayi had taken leave and returned home early. She had vomited twice and had been lying in bed resting, but her stomach felt so uncomfortable that she couldn't sleep. She felt hungry but lacked the energy to make herself something to eat.
Xie Zhendong opened the door lock with his fingerprint and entered the apartment. He found it unusually quiet, as if no one was there.
He hadn't been there in a long time and looked around. It was still the same as before.
When he walked into the bedroom, he found Zhan Jiayi lying on the bed with a pale complexion. Although her eyes were closed, she wasn't asleep.
"What's wrong? Where do you feel unwell?"
Zhan Jiayi was startled to hear Xie Zhendong's voice. She opened her eyes and quickly sat up.
"You're here. I, I'm fine."
Xie Zhendong moved closer to her and touched her forehead. "You say you're fine, but your complexion is so bad. You should go see a doctor."
"No need. My stomach is just a bit uncomfortable. It's an old problem; I'll be fine after some rest." Zhan Jiayi held his hand and looked at him.
Xie Zhendong asked with confusion, "What old problem do you have with your stomach? I never knew about it before."
"You came straight from the group, haven't you eaten yet?" Zhan Jiayi avoided the topic, got out of bed, and said, "I'll go to the kitchen and make you something to eat."
"If you're not feeling well, why are you going to the kitchen? Let's just order food." Xie Zhendong pulled her back, wanting to pick her up, but he didn't have enough strength and ended up falling onto the bed with her.
Zhan Jiayi landed right on him. He hugged her young body, which was so fragrant and soft, and all his previous worries vanished.
"I've made you suffer during this time."
Zhan Jiayi nestled against him and said softly, "I'm not suffering. So many things have happened in the Xie family. I know you must be having a difficult time too."
Xie Zhendong patted her back and said, "It's good that you understand. I'll spend more time with you in the future."
"Really?" Zhan Jiayi said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "Actually, I'm not afraid of anything, except that you might abandon me..."
Before she could finish speaking, her stomach felt uncomfortable again. She quickly covered her mouth with one hand, broke free from him, and ran towards the bathroom.
Xie Zhendong was a bit bewildered by her actions. He propped himself up on the bed with his hands. This scene felt somewhat familiar. She probably didn't have gastritis; could it be...
As he was wondering, he saw a corner of a magazine peeking out from under her pillow. He lifted the pillow and saw that it was a parenting magazine.
He picked up the magazine, paused for a few seconds, and immediately realized that she was indeed pregnant.
Pregnant! Oh my god, she was carrying his child. This was wonderful!
Holding the magazine, he walked directly into the bathroom. Seeing that she had just finished vomiting and was about to wash her face, he asked, "Jiayi, are you pregnant?"
Zhan Jiayi wiped the water from her face, wondering how he knew. She turned her head and saw the magazine in his hand, realizing he had already guessed.
"Yes, I don't know how I got pregnant with your child." She dared not look at him. "I just felt very lonely and wanted to have this child for company. I have no other intentions, nor will I use the child to threaten you, nor will I fight for family property. Please just let me have this child."
Xie Zhendong found her words both amusing and exasperating, as if he were some kind of villain who wouldn't let her have the child.
"What are you saying? This is a joyous occasion. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Zhan Jiayi, after feigning pitifulness, continued to play dumb, looking at him blankly and asking, "Joyous occasion? But with our relationship, the child born will be illegitimate, and your wife won't let us mother and son off the hook."
"She dares! You don't need to pay attention to her," Xie Zhendong said joyfully. "I was worried about having no successor. This child of yours has come at the perfect time."
"I'm only a little over three months pregnant. By the time the child is born and grows up, it will be a long time... This child won't be able to be an heir."
Xie Zhendong picked her up and spun her around. "If I say he can be an heir, he can be. Qi Ning is too disappointing. I've completely lost hope in him."
Zhan Jiayi was overjoyed inwardly but maintained her composure outwardly, asking again with disbelief, "You really don't mind this child and won't ask me to abort it?"