The next morning, the sky was a hazy gray, misting with a fine rain and a biting cold wind.
Despite the frigid weather, Old Madam Ling was still worried about Ling Yuchen taking Xia Wantang out, but the prenatal check-up couldn't be missed.
She could only repeatedly instruct Ling Yuchen to take good care of Xia Wantang.
After breakfast, Ling Yuchen took Xia Wantang and left.
Xia Wantang tugged at her seatbelt, preventing it from digging into her stomach. She gazed out at the misty window, her brow furrowed.
The weather was truly unlikable.
As she was lost in thought, her phone received several messages from Zhu Yunfei.
They were mostly concerned inquiries, asking her to stay warm in this cold weather and so on.
She had gone to the new city with Ling Junye, and all the group's affairs were now handled by Ling Junye.
Xia Wantang replied casually to a few messages and then felt very sleepy as the car swayed.
However, she forced herself to stay awake, as they would be arriving at the hospital soon.
Ling Yuchen had arranged for a doctor in advance, so upon entering the hospital, they went directly to the ultrasound room for the examination.
Lying on the small bed, she could see the ultrasound images on the small television mounted on the opposite wall.
The doctor was very gentle, the coupling gel was warm, and the room was also air-conditioned.
The baby in her belly was quite active from the moment she lay down. The doctor couldn't help but smile and say, "This baby is so mischievous."
Xia Wantang smiled shyly, her eyes fixed on the small television screen opposite.
A rough outline appeared in the center of the image. The doctor zoomed in and explained, "This is the baby's head. See how she's hiding her face? Her little fists are clenched tightly..."
Ling Yuchen also stared at the small television, his heart pounding with a tension no less than when he first took over the company.
Was that dark, blurry mass his child?
The examination proceeded smoothly for less than two minutes, and the doctor couldn't help but laugh again, "This baby is really active. She'll be a tough girl when she grows up."
Xia Wantang's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "Is it a girl?"
The doctor fell silent, instead changing angles to continue the examination.
Ling Yuchen appeared as if he had expected it. He had always felt it would be a girl.
There was no particular reason, just a feeling.
"Go down the stairs and have some chocolate. This baby keeps covering her face and showing me her bottom..."
Xia Wantang felt embarrassed. With Ling Yuchen's support, she left the ultrasound room.
As soon as they were out, she couldn't help but complain, "Look at your daughter. Even the doctor says she's a tough girl and isn't cooperating with the examination. She even made me go down the stairs..."
Xia Wantang chattered on, while Ling Yuchen remained silent, steadfastly supporting her.
After walking down just two steps of the stairs, Xia Wantang whined that she was tired.
Ling Yuchen had her sit down to rest and peeled a piece of chocolate to put in her mouth.
The melt-in-your-mouth silkiness awakened her taste buds. Xia Wantang savored it in her mouth, her eyes narrowing in delight.
Normally, Ling Yuchen didn't allow her to eat much, but today she could do so openly.
After eating several pieces, she felt the baby in her belly stirring even more vigorously.
Ling Yuchen looked at her stomach, which bulged even through her clothes, and his brow furrowed with a hint of a headache.
This baby was too naughty. She'd have to be disciplined when she was born; look at how much trouble she was causing already.
After walking back and forth in the corridor a few times, the doctor finally called her back.
However, the baby was still not cooperative and refused to reveal the areas that needed examination, requiring further activity.
After repeated attempts, they couldn't complete the examination in the morning and had to continue in the afternoon.
The two could only eat at a nearby restaurant and inform their family of the situation.
This news left everyone both amused and exasperated. This little girl would likely be a handful from the moment she was born.
Although Old Master Ling was a bit disappointed to learn it was a girl, he was still looking forward to her arrival!
While the full prenatal check-up wasn't completed, they took several 5D photos, including a clear shot of her face.
From the picture, she was clearly a little girl with delicate features.
Xia Wantang sent the photos to Old Madam Ling and then to Zhu Yunfei.
Old Madam Ling and Old Master Ling sat on the sofa, looking at the photos several times through their reading glasses.
They kept remarking on how advanced technology was now, allowing them to see what their grandchild looked like while still in her mother's womb.
After having their fill at lunch, Xia Wantang rested for a while before going for another 5D scan. Fortunately, it was completed in less than ten minutes this time.
While happy, Xia Wantang couldn't help but mutter, "Is this baby only obedient after eating? It seems she's a greedy little thing..."
Before they even reached home, she fell asleep in the car. Ling Yuchen drove slowly.
Upon arriving home, he carefully carried Xia Wantang back to the East Courtyard, placed her on the bed, and his heart melted as he watched her sleep soundly.
She had indeed been exhausted all day.
While Xia Wantang's life was smooth and pleasant, life in prison was anything but.
Xia Linfeng and Han Wenjuan were accustomed to a life of ease. Although they had experienced hardship before, they had lived in luxury for over twenty years.
Now, in middle age, they had to undergo daily labor reform in prison.
Han Wenjuan sewed clothes on a sewing machine, while Xia Linfeng performed repetitive tasks on an assembly line, driving him to the brink of madness.
In just a few months, both of them aged several years.
Their hair turned gray, and their complexions became sallow, especially Han Wenjuan's.
Fine lines appeared on her meticulously cared-for face, and her hands, once pampered, were now rough and calloused from daily work.
If they couldn't bear it, how much less could Xia Yichen, who had lived a life of luxury and never lifted a finger?
He had injured the other person seriously, intentionally. However, the other person had provoked him first, so they were also partly at fault. In the end, he was sentenced to two years.
Despite being in prison, he showed no remorse. If he had to choose again, he would do the same thing.
The main reason was that the other person had spoken too harshly, mocking his family's bankruptcy, bad luck, and his parents' imprisonment with various insults.
He harbored a small hope that Xia Wanfu would save him, especially since Xia Wanfu had a very powerful boyfriend.
He waited day after day in prison, but only received disappointment.
During this time, Xia Wanfu visited them once.
Xia Yichen only clamored for her to find a way to get him out, completely ignoring Xia Wanfu's attempts to advise him.
Xia Linfeng's attitude towards her was also unfavorable. Upon learning of the company's bankruptcy, he constantly found fault with her.
He probably still harbored thoughts of making a comeback after his release and using everyone he could.
Besides that, the person he inquired about most often was Xia Wantang, still fantasizing about getting something from her after his release.
Xia Wanfu had no desire to deal with him and was too afraid to tell him about Jiang Zexi.
Her only solace was Han Wenjuan, who cared about whether she was eating well and staying warm.
She was also willing to tell her about her situation outside.
Hearing that her daughter was living well and had a boyfriend, she felt gratified.
Only her unfilial son brought her both heartache and helplessness.
Now, she too was looking forward to her release.
They would be out next spring.