Her lips parted as if to say something, but the words never came. She stood there, rooted to the spot, as Qin Yuheng strode toward the door.
He paused briefly at the threshold, his hand on the doorknob. "Take care of yourself," he said without turning around. Then, the door clicked shut, leaving Shen Ning standing alone in the quiet room.
She stared at the closed door for a long moment, a strange hollowness spreading through her chest. I'm not gonna drag this anymore. When he comes back I'll tell him everything.
Little did she know, this marked the beginning of a storm that would test the very foundation of their marriage.
Hong Kong, three days later...
The meeting had run late into the evening, but Qin Yuheng's mind was sharper than ever. He'd cut through the negotiations with ruthless precision, leaving no room for error. By the time the deal was secured, it was nearly midnight.
"Congratulations, Mr. Qin," one of the clients said, extending a hand. "Your reputation precedes you. We look forward to a successful partnership."
"Likewise," Qin Yuheng replied, offering a polite smile.
Back at his hotel suite, he loosened his tie and poured a glass of whiskey. The city's lights stretched out before him, a glittering reminder of his achievements. Yet, the hollow feeling in his chest remained.
He pulled out his phone, staring at the screen. His finger hovered over Shen Ning's contact, but he hesitated. What would he even say? That he missed her?
He scoffed, setting the phone aside. She wouldn't care. Must be busy with that surname Mu.
Across from him sat an old acquaintance, Tsz Ho, a shrewd businessman with a reputation as sharp as his suits.
"You look troubled, Qin," Tsz Ho remarked, swirling his drink. "Trouble at home?"
Qin Yuheng's eyes narrowed slightly. "Not your concern."
Tsz Ho chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough. But take it from me—relationships are like business. Ignore the small cracks, and they'll bring the whole structure down."
Qin Yuheng's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Tsz Ho leaned forward, his tone dropping. "Hey, if it's a misunderstanding, clear it up before it's too late."
Qin Yuheng's gaze shifted to the window, the lights of Hong Kong glittering in the distance. His thoughts, however, were miles away, back home with Shen Ning.
"I'll take my leave then. Have a good night." Tsz Ho stood up, his hands in his pocket.
"Good night."
---------
The next day, at Beijing Medical College...
In the chemistry class...
"Shen Ning!"
"Shen Ning!"
"Hey, Shen Ning, the teacher is calling you for sometime." Her deskmate nudged her, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Huh? Sir, you said something?"
"I'm asking you to complete this reaction," the teacher said, pointing to the board.
Argininosuccinate → ? + ?
(Involved in the urea cycle)
"... Sir, it's Arginine and Fumarate," Shen Ning replied, her voice steady.
"Sit down, and don't lose focus again," the teacher chided.
---------
After classes, Shen Ning returned home, ate lunch, and retreated to her bedroom.
After a relaxing bath, she took out her phone and dialed Mu Chen. The call connected after a few rings.
"Ning."
She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her tone unusually soft. "Can you... ask your aunt to come to Moon Villa? I can't meet her anywhere else."
There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by his understanding reply. "Sure. I'll bring her this evening."
"Yeah," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Alright," he said firmly. "Consider it done."
As the call ended, she exhaled deeply.
Moon Villa, 7 : 30 pm...
Ding dong!
The doorbell echoed through the villa.
Aunt Rong, wiping her hands on a dish towel, emerged from the kitchen. "Who could it be at this hour?" she murmured to herself, making her way toward the door.
"You are...?" she asked, as the visitors stood on the doorstep.
"We're here to meet Shen Ning," Mu Chen said, pointing to his aunt. "This is my aunt."
The woman stepped forward with a polite smile. "Hello, I'm Rong Xin."
"Come in, please," Aunt Rong motioned them inside. "I'll call for young madam." Just as she turned to call, Shen Ning appeared from her study.
"Hello, Aunt."
"Hi."
Shen Ning nodded.
"Aunt Rong, could you please bring the tea?" Shen Ning asked, her voice gentle.
"Of course, young madam." Aunt Rong went to the kitchen to prepare the tea.
"I heard you're also a medical student. Best of luck with your dream," Rong Xin said as she settled into the sofa.
"Thank you, Aunt," Shen Ning replied softly.
After they finished their tea, Shen Ning looked at Mu Chen then that his aunt, biting her lower lip.
Rong Xin noticed the discomfort. "Shall we go somewhere else to discuss the purpose of my visit?" she asked kindly.
Shen Ning looked at her in surprise, then nodded gratefully. "Yes, sure. Mu Chen, you..."
"Go ahead." He waved a hand dismissively, smiling. "Don't worry about me."
Shen Ning led Rong Xin to her study.
Once the door closed, the smile faded from Mu Chen's face. Sadness flickered in his eyes as he stared at the shut door.
His aunt was a renowned gynecologist overseas. Last month, he'd run into Shen Ning at the hospital unexpectedly. From that encounter, he learned that she had been planning to have a child with her husband. But the reports showed some of her health complications.
At that moment, he couldn't bear the sadness in her eyes. That's when he recommended his aunt to her.
In Shen Ning's study...
Rong Xin sat across from her. "As I mentioned over the phone, I strongly advise against getting pregnant right now to avoid complications. You follow the medications first ."