Xin Yu, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, leaned against Mu Yichuan's chest, feeling the interplay of chill in the car and the warmth of his embrace…
This day and night had truly felt incredibly long, and her heart seemed to have experienced a rollercoaster ride!
From the excitement and joy of seeing her friend, to the confusion and bewilderment of being embraced by Liu Shuihan, to the thrill and panic of Mu Yi'ai drugging her and taking her racing, to the wariness and relaxation after being rescued by Nan Yu, and finally to seeing Mu Yichuan now…
Was this feeling of security?
But why couldn't she stop thinking about the authorization Mu Yi'ai had mentioned?
Why couldn't she stop thinking about Nan Yu's warning not to get too emotionally involved!
What kind of person had she met? What kind of world had she entered?
She was just an ordinary student, a girl harboring dreams of family…
"What are you thinking about? Still not feeling well?" His cold, deep voice rang in her ears, making her tremble.
"It's alright now. Don't run around like that again." Mu Yichuan gently lifted Xin Yu's chin, bringing their eyes together. In that instant, one was cold, the other warm; one calm, the other bewildered.
Running around…
She had never had any trouble moving her family from the north to the south before; she had never encountered danger while working odd jobs alone. But yesterday, she had only come from the capital to visit a friend—how could things have turned out so drastically!
"I…we…that marriage agreement—"
"You dare say that!" Mu Yichuan immediately silenced Xin Yu with a kiss. She had brought it up again!
"Mmm…" Xin Yu tried to push him away, but this only emboldened him further.
She flinched, panting, "I...I'm not feeling well, and...I vomited earlier."
Seeing her pale face, Mu Yichuan reluctantly released her. "Don't worry, I'll have Mu Jian accompany you from now on."
Mu Jian, who was driving, paused...
However, Xin Yu simply leaned silently against his broad shoulder, neither rejecting nor accepting. She knew he would never allow her to leave him like this!
Being rejected by a woman—what a blow to a man's pride!
Besides, he was the famous Ninth Master, a powerful and domineering man; he'd probably been the one rejecting others since childhood!
"Why are you at Nan Yu's house?"
Yes, she didn't know why Nan Yu was in Beishi!
"Probably because he couldn't bear to see Mu Yi'ai suffer?" Xin Yu said, somewhat angrily, closing her eyes, unwilling to mention that she-devil.
Mu Yichuan gently stroked Xin Yu's back, asking no more questions. Upon arriving at the hotel, he placed her in the warm bathtub…
After soaking for nearly an hour, Xin Yu felt the chill and weakness throughout her body dissipate somewhat. However, as soon as she stood up, the nausea returned.
…!
Xin Yu subconsciously touched her slightly aching stomach. Although it was still flat, she remembered…
It seemed like it had been a month since her period!
Oh God! Xin Yu leaned against the wall, covering her mouth, her mind a jumbled mess…
Could she…could she be pregnant?
This realization almost drove Xin Yu to despair. When Mu Yichuan pushed open the door, he saw Xin Yu leaning against the wall, tears streaming down her face, water droplets still on her body…
He quickly grabbed a towel, wrapped her in it, and carried her to the large bed. "Why are you crying?"
This little thing about Mu Yi'ai has defeated her? He has so many brothers and sisters…
Being asked such a heartless question, Xin Yu felt even more frightened and wronged. She curled up, buried herself in the blankets, and burst into tears.
"Ayu!" Mu Yichuan turned her over, his long fingers wiping away her tears, but her face was immediately flooded with tears again.
"Who…who gave you permission to call me that!" Xin Yu was furious. If she was pregnant, it was all this man's fault!
"Ayu" was a name only family members could use. How could she be that close to him? She didn't even know him! She didn't understand him!
"Then what should I call you? Wife." Mu Yichuan pulled her into his arms, wiping away her tears with his lips. "Don't cry anymore. Stay by my side from now on, and I promise no one will dare to mess with you."
"I don't want to! I still want to go to so many places!" She still had so many dreams to fulfill, but everywhere was dangerous… and she was pregnant? Xin Yu's heart felt like it was drowning in a vast ocean, unable to breathe properly. Her grievances, fear, and panic had nowhere to go, so the hand that had been tightly clutching Mu Yichuan's clothes began to wave...
She had truly been ruined by Mu Yichuan. Didn't he think about the child when he took her?!
"You hit me so many times, shouldn't I return the favor?" Seeing that Xin Yu had vented her anger and was now exhausted, Mu Yichuan asked intimately, his powerful masculine breath making her tremble.
"You dare?!" Xin Yu was panicked and confused. She hadn't even confirmed whether she was pregnant. If he...
"Questioning me?" Mu Yichuan's tall frame suddenly loomed over her. Xin Yu felt a sudden darkness before her eyes. His cold, handsome face was so close, she could feel his fair, firm skin even through the fabric...
Xin Yu's body stiffened, her breathing erratic. She hurriedly explained, "I...I didn't!"
"Are you still feeling unwell?" Mu Yichuan grabbed Xin Yu's small hand and gently bit it.
She could barely suppress her trembling. Seeing the man's predatory gaze, as if he wanted to devour her whole, Xin Yu nodded vigorously. "I...I feel terrible. Not only was I drugged by Mu Yi'ai, but I also sparred with her so many times. I'm covered in so many wounds..."
Mu Yichuan's sharp black eyes released a dark pressure, then softened as he looked at Xin Yu. "You even sparred?" Weren't you terrified and crying?
Xin Yu nodded casually. "I want to sleep." She needed to go to the hospital for a checkup tomorrow.
"I'll let you go for one night. We'll talk about it after we get back to the capital tomorrow."
"I'm not going back tomorrow—" Mu Yichuan's dark eyes flashed with a cold light, and Xin Yu swallowed her words.
Oh well, she could get checked out back in the capital. One more day wouldn't make a difference. Maybe she was just overthinking things! Xin Yu comforted herself silently and soon fell into a deep sleep…
When she woke up again, looking at the warm sunlight outside the window, she belatedly realized that she was back at the Nanlong Villa. After calling Cheng Yuan, she discovered—
"It's already Monday?!" Good heavens, how long had she slept? "I'm sorry, Yuanzi, I… I took you to Beishi, but I made you come back on your own."
"Silly girl, you forgot? I came with Liu Hen!"
"Liu Hen really came? Uncle Liu and the others agreed?" This surprised Xin Yu; she hadn't expected the Liu family to be so open-minded.
"Why wouldn't they agree? I heard that Mu Yichuan personally went to the Liu family to invite Brother Shuihan to the capital, so…"
Xin Yu almost ignored Cheng Yuan's last words, her mind still replaying the earlier statement. Mu Yichuan invited Liu Shuihan to the capital?!
Why?
"Ayu, were you picked up by Mu Yichuan that night?" Cheng Yuan gossiped.
But Xin Yu felt a chill creep up her spine. Could it be that Mu Yichuan's actions were to suppress Mu Yi'ai's misdeeds?
They really are a family…
"Yuanzi, I—" Xin Yu shook her head, no longer asking anything else. She had something of paramount importance to do. "Could you come with me to the hospital today?"
"Hospital?! Ayu, what's wrong?" Cheng Yuan was startled by the word!
"I…Let's talk in person?" Xin Yu could imagine Cheng Yuan's expression at that moment, but she hadn't expected her to bring up the suspected pregnancy directly. Cheng Yuan was practically petrified.
She stood frozen for a full ten minutes…
"Can you come with me for the checkup? I—" Xin Yu said sadly, "I'm scared."
Cheng Yuan held Xin Yu's hand tightly, and the two rushed to the hospital without further delay. After a series of tests, they sat in the corridor outside the gynecology department waiting for the results.
"Ayu, don't be afraid. No matter what, I'll always be by your side." Cheng Yuan hugged Xin Yu, though she was also terrified. Wasn't premarital pregnancy something that only happened in dramas?
Xin Yu's face flushed red, a mixture of shame and grievance!
She still remembered the doctor's gaze and questioning tone. Yes, she was only 21, still a student, less than a semester into her studies, and she… was here for a pregnancy checkup!
"Child, you must learn to protect yourself, especially as a girl. Otherwise, your parents will worry and be heartbroken," the kind doctor said earnestly.
This was the first time Xin Yu felt that not having her parents' love and care had its advantages, though these advantages were heartbreaking.
"I'm fine, Yuanzi." Xin Yu took a deep breath and patted Cheng Yuan's hand. No matter the outcome, she was determined to start earning money as quickly as possible, lots of money.
Only then is freedom possible…
"Xin Yu." Hearing the nurse's voice, Xin Yu's body trembled. She stood up, her hands shaking, and took the heavy examination report…
"Ah! What should I do? I'm pregnant… Do I have to abort it…" A weak voice came from beside her, startling Xin Yu so much that she almost dropped the report.
"Xin Yu, let's go outside and see." Cheng Yuan supported Xin Yu; the atmosphere was incredibly nerve-wracking.
Xin Yu bit her lip tightly and nodded, her fingers crumpling the report.
But before they even reached the elevator, she was grabbed by Cheng Yuan, her mind still reeling, and the report fell to the ground in shock.
"Ah, Xin Yu, look, isn't that Mu Yichuan?"
Mu Yichuan?
…!
Xin Yu quickly looked down from the third-floor corridor. Two rows of bodyguards in black followed her. Who else could it be but Mu Yichuan?!
Why was he here? What had he discovered! What would he do if he knew she was pregnant?!
For a moment, her mind was a complete blank, and Xin Yu had no idea what to do. Her back and palms were drenched in sweat…
"I can't let him see me!" With that, Xin Yu turned and ran, taking the elevator all the way to the top floor. She stepped out, trying to catch her breath.
Just as she calmed down a bit, she looked at the report in her hand, and her heart clenched again.
"Ah!" She tried to lean against the door, but it was only slightly ajar, and Xin Yu stumbled into the room.
Phew… Luckily, she reacted quickly and grabbed a chair near the door.
"Ah!" Seeing the view inside, Xin Yu screamed again.