Lin Yang entered the hospital.
To his surprise, the place was packed, and the elevators were completely full.
Resigned, he climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, eventually finding Room 12 after circling around.
It was a two-bed room, though the other bed was unoccupied.
As soon as he walked in, Lin Yang saw Shu Mengyao lying on the hospital bed, her face pale. Beside her were two small cribs, each holding a tiny baby fast asleep.
The sight was so shocking that even someone as composed as Lin Yang couldn't help but widen his eyes in disbelief.
The campus queen not only got pregnant but had already given birth?!
And to twins, no less!
Lin Yang swallowed hard and quietly took a seat next to Shu Mengyao's bed, still feeling as though this was all surreal.
When Shu Mengyao saw him, tears began streaming down her pale cheeks.
"Lin Yang, do you remember that night during our junior year class gathering?"
Her voice was soft and weak.
"Of course, I remember. A lot of unexpected things happened that night."
Lin Yang nodded. How could he forget? That night was engraved in his memory forever.
"I'm so sorry, Lin Yang. I can't keep this from you any longer," she said, tears flowing freely.
"Actually, the person who went to the hotel with you that night was me.
"I was drunk, too, and everything just… happened naturally.
"When I woke up and realized what had happened, I was terrified.
"I secretly saved your phone number and left without saying a word."
Shu Mengyao's voice trembled as she spoke, her hands nervously fidgeting.
"I thought it was just a one-time thing, and that we'd never have any connection afterward.
"But a month later, I found out I was pregnant."
She grew more emotional, tears streaming down.
"I'm so sorry, Lin Yang. I never meant to deceive you. These are my children, and I couldn't bear to… to get rid of them.
"At first, I thought I could handle everything on my own. I lied to my parents about working outside the city, secretly rented an apartment, and prepared to raise them by myself.
"But now… I've run out of money.
"I didn't want to involve you, but I can't manage anymore. I don't know how to support these two babies on my own."
Lin Yang listened in stunned silence, trying to process her words.
"So, you're saying… these two babies are mine?" he asked hesitantly.
The campus queen was not only pregnant, but she had given birth, and now he was being told he was their father.
Shu Mengyao nodded, guilt written all over her face.
"I understand this is unfair to you. I didn't even discuss this with you… It's my fault.
"I just wanted to ask if you could lend me some money. I'll write you an IOU.
"I promise to repay you when I get through this rough patch."
Lin Yang finally managed to process the situation.
"If they're really my children, of course, I'll take responsibility," he said. "But I think we should do a paternity test first. What do you think?"
Shu Mengyao looked surprised but quickly nodded in agreement.
"You're right. I understand why you'd want to confirm it. I support doing a paternity test."
Her calm response caught Lin Yang off guard.
"You're… not angry? Don't you think I'm doubting you?"
"Why would I be angry?" Shu Mengyao said, smiling weakly.
"If it were me, and someone suddenly told me I had two kids, I'd want proof, too."
Lin Yang didn't say anything more and immediately went to the hospital's paternity testing department. Luckily, he had brought his ID with him that day.
After explaining the situation, the test was arranged.
For newborns, DNA samples are collected using a cheek swab.
The doctor came to collect samples from both Lin Yang and the two babies.
"How soon can we get the results?" Lin Yang asked.
"With an expedited service, you can have the results in 24 hours," the doctor replied with a detached tone—he had seen plenty of such cases.
"How much for expedited results?"
"1,000 yuan per sample."
The total cost came to 4,400 yuan, including the base fee for the test and the expedited service for two samples.
Lin Yang winced at the expense but went to pay without hesitation.
Fortunately, he had the habit of saving money and had about 10,000 yuan set aside. While it hurt to spend so much, he knew it was worth it to resolve this quickly.
By the time everything was done, the sun had set, painting the sky a golden hue.
Lin Yang returned to the hospital room, looking at the exhausted Shu Mengyao and the two babies.
He walked over to the cribs and took a closer look.
"Why are these babies so ugly? They look nothing like you," he remarked, frowning.
Shu Mengyao's skin was fair and flawless, yet the babies' faces were wrinkly and scrunched up. They looked nothing like her.
Just then, a nurse entered to check on them and overheard Lin Yang's comment. She burst into laughter.
"All newborns look like that," the nurse explained. "They've been in amniotic fluid for so long that their skin is wrinkled. Give them a month, and they'll start to look much better."
"Is that so?" Lin Yang murmured, still skeptical.
He couldn't imagine Shu Mengyao looking like this when she was born.
Although the paternity test results weren't out yet, there was a high chance these were his children.
Lin Yang decided to stay the night at the hospital to help take care of the babies.
Shu Mengyao was still weak from childbirth, so most of the work fell on Lin Yang's shoulders.
The two babies were fussy, and the night was long and exhausting.
Lin Yang couldn't believe how chaotic life had suddenly become.