C2 You're Pregnant

Zhuang Zijin understood Lin Xinyan's intentions, but that didn't mean that she agreed to it. Placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder, she quickly warned, "Marriage is a lifelong commitment. You shouldn't just toss it so carelessly to a stranger–I can't let you go through with that."

"I'm not marrying just anyone, you know." She placed her tray on the bedside cabinet. "It's your friend's son."

"My friend had died a long time ago, and her son..." A few seconds had passed, and Zhuang Zijin sighed. "I don't know anything about him. Even if things were different, I'd still want you to marry someone whom you actually love–not use it as some bargaining chip for the both of us. I'd rather just rot here for the rest of my life."

Someone she loved?

Even if she were to meet him in the future, she wouldn't be qualified–especially after everything that she had gone through.

Lin Xinyan simply lowered her head in response. It didn't matter who she married. Whether he had a physical or mental defect, none of it mattered anymore as long as she could get everything back.

Seeing her daughter like this, Zhuang Zijin sighed and turned her head. There was nothing else she could do to convince her, so they returned to China the next day.

Lin Guoan had long since despised the mother-and-daughter pair, especially after the conversation they had back in the hospital. By the time they had returned, he didn't bother letting them into the Lin family door. Instead, he rented a place for them to stay until the long-awaited wedding day.

Lin Xinyan didn't bother to complain. After all, the last thing they needed was for her mother to confront the woman who had ruined their marriage. She'd rather stay here in this dump than be subjected to years of animosity.

They sat inside the apartment.

"Xinyan, there's still time to back out," the older woman warned. "It won't fall on your head–I promise you."

"Mom, hurry up and eat something. The vegetables will grow cold." Not wanting to talk about this any further, she quickly placed bits of pork on top of her mother's bowl.

"I..." Zhuang Zijin sighed. No matter how many times she had brought the topic up, her daughter would always just turn the other way. She had done nothing but help her all these years, and now, she had to sacrifice herself one more time.

Lin Xinyan held the chopsticks in her hand, but she had no appetite. Even when she tried to dip her vegetables into soy sauce, all it had done was increase her urge to vomit. "I...I need a minute."

"Hey, are you not feeling well?"

"I'm probably just airsick from the flight. I'll head back to my room."

Without another word, Lin Xinyan placed her chopsticks on the side and sprinted into the bathroom.

As soon as the doors slammed shut, she leaned against the surface, breathing heavily. Although she had never been pregnant, she saw how her mother acted when she was. Zhuang Zijin had always felt lightheaded, with absolutely no appetite.

That was exactly how she was feeling right now.

It had been more than a month since that dreaded night, and her period was already more than ten days late. Did that mean–

No. Lin Xinyan turned her head to the side, trembling. The night was more than humiliating enough. "Stay calm, Xinyan, stay calm," she murmured to herself, staring into her reflection. Maybe it was all just in her head.

Maybe everything will be fine. However, she had spoken too soon.

"You're already six-weeks pregnant."

Lin Xinyan clutched her bag as the doctor's words repeated in her mind.

At this point, she didn't even know what to do. Lin Xinyan stared up at the sky, as her nails dug into her skin. Should she raise it? Or should she have an abortion? The possibilities were dire, but...

Her hands moved towards her lower abdomen. Although she had felt surprised, and even disgusted at first, she couldn't help but feel a little reluctant for the child–for her child.

She was finally becoming a mother. But at eighteen...was that even reasonable?

Even when her mother was done with her assessment, Lin Xinyan was still in a trance. They didn't speak the entire duration of the walk, and she didn't say anything about the news. After all, it was best not to add too much stress to her plate.

When they finally returned to their residence, she shoved the medical forms into her pocket and pushed the door open.

However, as soon as she stepped inside, she saw Lin Guoan standing in the middle of the room. Her face darkened.

What the hell was he doing here?

The man didn't look like he was in the best of moods either. "Go and change," he snapped.

"I–why?" She frowned.

"You said you wanted to marry into the Zong family, didn't you? Well, you should meet him." Glancing at her up and down, he sneered. "Do you think I'll let you see him dressed in that–that rags? Are you trying to humiliate me?"

Why was her pain never ending?

She had once thought that selling herself had already numbed her, that her brother's death had already cooled her heart.

Yet, upon hearing her estranged father's heartless words, she couldn't help but ache in silence.

Lin Guoan was the reason they had been this way. Not only had he sent them to a poorer country in the West, but he had all-out abandoned them.

Where the hell was she going to get the money like this?

If he had been there...maybe her brother wouldn't have died.

Her jaw clenched. And now he thought he had the right to speak to her like this? Like a father to a daughter? Fuck him!

Lin Guoan must've had a similar thought because he immediately turned away. Looking slightly embarrassed, he waved his hand. "Let's go," he murmured. "The Zong family should already be there. It wouldn't be good for us to let them wait."

"Xinyan," Zhuang Zijin weakly called out, wanting to persuade her still. She had already lost her son in the accident. If she were to lose her daughter too–the thought was enough to make her insides stir. Money was not as important as family.

She didn't want her to step into the burdens she had created for herself, and she certainly didn't want her to get mixed up with the Zong family.

The wealthy class had always been very complicated, and she didn't even know what kind of man the young master was.

To say she was worried was an understatement.

"Mom, I'll be fine. I promise."

"Hurry up," Lin Guoan urged impatiently. A part of him was afraid that she'd back out last minute, so he quickly gave her a shove towards the door–only to receive a dirty look.

Doesn't matter. The dislike was mutual.

Eight years had passed, and all the blood ties they had tied were already worn out.

Lin Xinyan's clothes were too shabby–especially if she planned on meeting the young master of the Zong family. He quickly took her to an upscale women's clothing store to buy her a decent set of clothes.

Once they entered the store, a staff came to receive them. "She can afford them," the older man snapped, giving his daughter a little nudge towards the dressing room. "Let her in."

The assistant looked her up and down, before slowly nodding. "Come with me."

"Why don't you try this out?" The assistant pulled a light blue long skirt and handed it to her.

"Thanks." She walked over to the fitting room.

As she was walking over, she heard a woman's voice echoing from the back. "Hao, do you really have to marry someone from the Lin family?"

Lin Xinyan suddenly heard a voice from the back and glanced at the room next door. Through the crack, she could see a woman wrapping her arms around the man's neck and acting like a spoiled child. "Do you really want to marry some stranger?"

Zong Jinghao glanced at the woman, only to feel helpless. If not for his mother's arranged marriage, this wouldn't have happened, but he couldn't go back on his word.

Thinking about the night he had, he couldn't bear to disappoint her. "Were you in pain that night?"

A month ago, he had gone abroad to some lesser privileged country in the West to study for a project, only to be bitten by a venomous snake. The snake's venom was incredibly strong, as was the lust that had contained him. If he hadn't vent it on a woman, then he would've already died from the heat.

Bai Zhuwei was the one who had cared for him.

Otherwise, he would've been unable to control himself anymore.

There were rumors how a woman's first time could be painful, yet he had spared no pity that night. One could only imagine how much pain she had felt during those hours.

Yet, instead of screaming, Bai Zhuwei didn't utter a sound. Instead, she simply trembled against his arms.

Zong Jinghao knew how much the woman had liked him, but he had never really given her a chance.

Not only did he not love her, but her mother had already secured an arranged marriage for him. Falling in love was definitely not on his list.

However, there was no denying how steadfast Bai Zhuwei had been as she stood right by his side. After that incident, he had felt more responsible for her–wanting to give this woman a chance.

Even now, he could still remember the stain on the sheets and her skin against his–everything was vivid.

Bai Zhuwei simply tilted her head against his chest in acknowledgment, lowering her eyes.

She liked Zong Jinghao, and she had accompanied him as his secretary all these years. However, she wasn't a virgin anymore, but she wasn't planning on letting him know. That was why she had gone out and spent a fortune on a stranger.

After the girl had gone out, she went in to make it look like she was the one who had slept with him that night.

"If you like these clothes, then buy more, okay?" Zong Jinghao stroked her hair.

"You can't enter the VIP room, but you can use the other one on the right," the assistant immediately reminded.

In this kind of high-end clothing store, there were fitting rooms built on the far end. But they also had VIP rooms–one created for their most privileged guests. It was far larger than the fitting room she had been directed to.

"Ah..." With one last glance at the VIP room, she grabbed her clothes and left.

Even while she was changing clothes, Lin Xinyan couldn't help but think back to the conversation she had overheard.

Could it be that he was...