"Wanwan!" As soon as he pushed the door open, he met Lin Xiaoguai's clear eyes; the visitor paused, then approached with delight, "You're awake. Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?"
As he spoke, he placed the bag he was carrying on top of the cabinet and sat down on the foldable chair prepared for family members beside the hospital bed.
The visitor's features were rare among men—a delicate and handsome beauty that did not diminish his masculinity. Coldness mixed with indifference shone in his narrow eyes, covered with a thin layer of ice, intimidating yet uniquely charming. Paired with his tall, pine-like stature and a robust temperament, he would definitely be praised as a male deity if he were to stand on the main street.
Of course, this is from a future perspective since people back then mostly appreciated more honest and straightforward appearances.
However, even at that time, people would still commend the man in front of them as handsome—inevitably adding a silent remark in their minds about him being "somewhat frivolous" or "insincere."
But Lin Xiaoguai had no interest in appreciating the young Shen Chi; her mind was occupied with one thought—
Why was Shen Chi's reaction different from her memory?
Not to mention, she distinctly remembered that when she had originally awoken, Shen Chi's eyes were teary, but now, although his handsome face showed unhideable concern, it was not as grave as in her memories.
Suppressing the dissonance in her heart, Lin Xiaoguai asked softly, "Why am I in the hospital?" She had asked the same thing initially.
Shen Chi's expression changed, and he replied with guilt, "You're pregnant, and we almost lost the baby."
Lin Xiaoguai froze, grasping his hand incredulously, "What did you say!?"
Clearly …
Shen Chi interpreted her shock as being unprepared for the child's arrival and chuckled lightly, "You're pregnant; we are going to be parents."
Lin Xiaoguai looked dazed, her hands resting on her belly, uncertain whether to cry or laugh.
After a while, she leaned back against the pillow somewhat despondently, silent.
Seeing her abnormally muted reaction, Shen Chi's expression darkened slightly, but quickly resumed as if nothing was amiss, "Although we managed to save the baby, your condition isn't good. The doctor said the slightest carelessness could cause a miscarriage."
Outside the door, the doctor's mostly pessimistic remarks about saving the baby echoed in Shen Chi's mind, a dark glint passing quickly across his eyes.
He married her to treat her well, yet he did not anticipate causing her such suffering.
As he thought, noticing Lin Xiaoguai's distracted look, Shen Chi quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, the child will be fine."
He didn't believe his own words; Wanwan had lost so much blood before, and even without much common sense, he knew the child's situation was unclear.
Recalling the doctor's hesitantly-spoken words, Shen Chi clenched his fists—guessing that his absence would lead to trouble for Wanwan; he hadn't imagined she would be abused this severely.
Overworking and malnutrition?
Though Wanwan had been depressed after her father's death, he knew her body, pampered by her father before marriage, shouldn't have deteriorated this severely not even two months after the old man's passing.
Although malnutrition wasn't unusual in these times, her father had been notably good to Wanwan, who had always been plump and rarely caught a cold.
Thinking of the last visit home when he specially arranged through a comrade to get half a pig and dozens of kilos of smoked sausage, Shen Chi scoffed inwardly—evidently, the goodies were wasted!
Lin Xiaoguai looked down silently; she was not worried about the baby, knowing that a cup of Spiritual Water would ensure the child's safety.
But, the sudden turn of events left her with no mood to entertain Shen Chi.
"I'm tired; I want to sleep for a bit."
Shen Chi paused, then nodded, "Then sleep; I'll go buy you something to eat." He had been preoccupied with worry, consulting the doctor about his wife's condition, and only now thought about preparing food.
After Shen Chi left, Lin Xiaoguai slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling above.
What does this all mean?
Remembering the Spiritual Water she drank absentmindedly, Lin Xiaoguai realized what had led to the current situation.
For a moment, she felt lost; the baby was still there, but did that mean she should continue her life with Shen Chi?
But considering divorce—this was not the future era where divorce might be looked down upon. She could stand it herself, as she had never cared about others' views, but could her child?
Of course not!
Her child must grow up under the benevolent and blessed gaze of the public.