Xi Yuan hesitated as he contemplated how to frame the question for her—it was a sensitive, delicate topic, after all. Gently, he reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair away from Rong Xinghe's face. His touch lingered, soft and gentle, silently assuring her of his presence.
"Well..." he began, clearing his throat, his voice low and steady. "I know this pregnancy wasn't something you were prepared for. To be honest, neither was I. We used protection; we were careful. This wasn't a part of our story—at least, not yet." His eyes locked onto hers, searching for even the smallest flicker of emotion across her face.
Rong Xinghe nodded, her gaze calm but thoughtful, giving him the liberty to take as much time as he needed to find his words.
"I guess what I am trying to ask is that—the moment you realized you might be pregnant, in those woods—were you scared, or were you elated?" he added. "And if we hadn't lost the baby, would you have wanted to keep it?
