When Qin Tianyi arrived at the bar, Han Haoxuan had already drunk several glasses of wine, and his eyes were glazed over. A scantily clad woman was flirting with Han Haoxuan.
"You have to drink another one. You lost," the woman insisted.
"What? I... I didn't lose. You lost," Han Haoxuan said.
Qin Tianyi gave the girl some money and easily got rid of her from Han Haoxuan's side.
"What's wrong with you today? If I had been a little later, you might have done something inappropriate while drunk. Alcohol is bad for your health and always leads to trouble. You can't just drink like that!" Qin Tianyi couldn't help but say a few words to Han Haoxuan. This guy usually has a lot of self-control. He wasn't this self-destructive even when he was heartbroken. What's wrong with him today?
"You still care about me even after we broke up! So you did care about me after all!" Han Haoxuan said, already touching Qin Tianyi's face. Then, noticing something was off, he said, "You've been working too hard lately; your skin isn't as smooth as it used to be..."
"Smooth my foot! I'm not your woman, I'm your brother!" Qin Tianyi slapped away Han Haoxuan's restless hand. "Come on, buddy, I'll take you home."
The next morning, before Han Haoxuan was even fully awake, his phone was already ringing loudly. Thinking it was the alarm clock, he didn't even open his eyes and reluctantly pressed the button. But after pressing it, the phone rang again. He pressed it again. And it rang again as soon as he pressed it.
Then he realized it wasn't the alarm clock, it was the sound of an incoming call.
He opened his sleepy eyes and carefully looked at the name displayed on the screen: Xinyu. Why would she call him? It seems like they haven't been in contact for a long time, except for that time he met Xinyu when he helped Ruolin pay off her debt.
"Han Haoxuan, you bastard!" Xin Yu's voice came through the phone as soon as Han Haoxuan answered. Her voice was so loud, and so unusual right from the start, that Han Haoxuan was taken aback. He sat up and asked her, "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What do you mean, what's wrong? You got someone pregnant, don't you know how to take responsibility? You can't just dump someone because they're pregnant with your child, can you? You heartless scoundrel!" Xinyu completely forgot that as a "teacher," she should be mindful of her tone.
"I got someone pregnant?" Han Haoxuan was completely baffled. He had been living a very disciplined life lately and hadn't been involved in any such activities!
"Stop playing dumb. Come to the hospital and see Ruolin." Xinyu wasn't going to beat around the bush anymore and just told him the truth. "She's pregnant, you should take good care of her, not break up with her. Don't you know that pregnant women are the most vulnerable?"
Xin Yu's words struck Han Haoxuan like a thunderbolt, leaving him completely stunned. Without time to ponder the cause and effect, he quickly inquired about the hospital where Ruolin was, then dressed, got out of bed, hurriedly washed up, and drove to the hospital.
Chapter Seventy-Eight
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If Ruolin hadn't suddenly developed a high fever and been taken to the hospital by Xinyu, Xinyu would never have known that Ruolin was pregnant. That girl is so tight-lipped! She didn't even tell her about something this serious. Xinyu was starting to wonder if Ruolin even considered her a close friend.
However, Ruolin said with an unhappy expression, "I don't plan to tell anyone about this, because this child has no connection with this world."
"What do you mean?" Xinyu asked, puzzled. Being pregnant should be a happy occasion, something to share with close friends. Why was she so unhappy?
"Because I broke up with Han Haoxuan..."
Before Ruolin could finish speaking, Xinyu interrupted her: "What?! You broke up? How could that jerk do this?"
"This has nothing to do with him; I was the one who broke up with him." Ruolin had never told Xinyu about her breakup with Han Haoxuan, probably because Xinyu had been Han Haoxuan's girlfriend. Since Xinyu and Han Haoxuan broke up, Ruolin had almost never mentioned Han Haoxuan in front of Xinyu.
"Do you think the person who initiates the breakup suffers less? If he had no problems, would you have broken up with him? The problem is definitely with him." Xinyu knew this all too well. Although she was the one who initiated the breakup with Han Haoxuan, she was the complete victim. After the breakup, Han Haoxuan could freely date, while poor Xinyu had to use Shen Yang as a shield to make things easier for Ruolin. Now, she's not only still lying to Ruolin, but she's also still frantically going on blind dates!
Afterwards, Xinyu, who was always quick to stand up for others, immediately called Han Haoxuan to tell him the news that Ruolin was pregnant.
Xinyu has always respected life, even a tiny developing embryo. Therefore, she has always been firmly against abortion, and she encourages her sisters and colleagues to give birth whenever they become pregnant, whether planned or unexpected. How much more so for her dearest sister, Ruolin? She doesn't want Ruolin to suffer the pain of abortion, nor does she want the life Ruolin is carrying to disappear without a trace.
Xinyu couldn't deny that she had once had feelings for Han Haoxuan, but since she decided to withdraw, she sincerely hoped that Han Haoxuan and Ruolin could live a good life together. She had only just learned about their breakup, and although she didn't know the specific reason, her sixth sense told her that it must be related to Han Haoxuan's shortcomings.
Logically, she shouldn't interfere in the matter between Ruolin and Han Haoxuan, but this time it concerned Ruolin's unborn child. She hoped the child could survive and be happy. And a happy child needs a father. That's why she called Han Haoxuan without Ruolin's consent.
After arriving at the hospital, Han Haoxuan went straight to Ruolin's ward.
Once outside, he suddenly felt a pang of fear. They'd had a huge fight last night; would seeing him now affect her emotions? Would it harm the baby in her womb? That child was the fruit of their love!
Just as I was hesitating, the door opened.
"What are you standing there for? Come in." Xinyu was just about to go out to buy Ruolin something to eat when Han Haoxuan arrived so quickly. Judging from his anxious expression, he wasn't completely indifferent to Ruolin.
"Thank you," Han Haoxuan said sincerely. He was very grateful that Xinyu had informed him in time.
Xinyu didn't answer, but turned and walked out, leaving Han Haoxuan with one last sentence: "Take good care of Ruolin. I'm going to buy some food."
Only Ruolin and Han Haoxuan remained in the ward.
"I'm sorry," Han Haoxuan said gently as he approached Ruolin's bedside.
After Han Haoxuan appeared at the door, Ruolin turned her back to him. Judging from the conversation between Han Haoxuan and Xinyu, Han Haoxuan's presence here must be related to Xinyu's tattling. She knew Xinyu meant well, hoping that she and Han Haoxuan could reconcile because of the child. But a broken mirror can't be pieced back together easily, and a broken relationship can't be made perfect with a few stitches.
“Ruolin, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have torn up your precious diary, I shouldn’t have been jealous, and I shouldn’t have let you go… I know I was wrong, please forgive me.” Han Haoxuan’s tone was full of sincerity. “If you can’t forgive what I did, please forgive me for the sake of our child…”
"You can leave now. I have nothing more to say to you," Ruolin finally spoke. She feared she would lose her composure if he continued his rambling.
"Ruolin, is this really all we can do?" Han Haoxuan slowly sat down on the chair beside the bed, his brows furrowed, his face filled with pain and helplessness. "I thought a lot last night. I've never regretted meeting you, nor have I regretted giving you my heart, but my only regret is letting you go back then. Forgive me, give me a chance, and give yourself a chance too, isn't that better? Why do we have to tear each other apart and become strangers? Besides, you're carrying my child now..."
"Don't mention the child to me." Ruolin interrupted him. "Do you know how you got pregnant? Do you remember? I never dare to think about that scene. You're usually so well-dressed and dignified, but how were you any different from a beast that day?"
"I'm sorry... I lost control that day. I promise you, it will never happen again," Han Haoxuan said almost in a low voice.
"No one can predict the future, and I never think about it. But one thing is very clear: my life from now on has nothing to do with you." Ruolin didn't even know how she managed to utter those harsh words. She never liked to drag things out. Now that they had broken up and she had left his side, she wanted to make a clean break and start a new life. Her life wasn't affected by Han Haoxuan's absence. Similarly, Han Haoxuan could still thrive without her. The reason he still had feelings for her was simply because he hadn't let go yet. One day, he would let go, just as he had let go of Anxi. The earth would keep turning even without someone; there's no such thing as a love myth where no one is indispensable.
"How can it not concern me? The child in your belly is an unbreakable bond between us..." Han Haoxuan said, trying to keep his voice low and soft. He had reminded himself countless times before coming today that no matter how Ruolin scolded or said anything to him, he would not get angry; he would remain gentle. The so-called "No matter how you treat me, I will remain unmoved."
"I'm sorry... I don't plan to keep this child." Ruolin finally said it.
"What?! What did you say?" Han Haoxuan couldn't help but exclaim excitedly.
“I told her I planned to abort the child,” Ruolin repeated clearly.
"Why?" Han Haoxuan was taken aback.
"You've already broken up, why keep the child?" Ruolin tried to speak calmly, as if it were a matter of course.
“We can get back together after a breakup. Let’s get back together, Ruolin, I’m serious. And this time you’re pregnant, my parents will definitely accept you. We can have our wedding soon…” Han Haoxuan was envisioning a bright future.
“I’ve said it before, I would never use pregnancy to force your parents to agree to our marriage. That’s too low a tactic.” Ruolin quickly interrupted him. “Han Haoxuan, I think you should be more realistic. The reason we broke up was because we lacked trust in each other, and our family backgrounds were vastly different. These would all become points of conflict between us. These conflicts cannot be resolved by a child. We can’t be together, and the child can’t stay. My mind is made up, and I won’t change it. I hope you won’t be too stubborn. You will meet a better girl, you will have a better life, and you will have a child with someone else…”
“You’re the stubborn one.” Han Haoxuan didn’t want Ruolin to continue. “Which couple doesn’t have conflicts? As long as you love each other, what conflict can’t be resolved? The child belongs to me, and I won’t allow you to abort him. Do you know that abortion is illegal in other countries? If you abort the child, it’s like killing a little life. So I absolutely disagree with your decision to abort the child.”
“This isn’t abroad. I have the right to do whatever I want with my child, whether I keep it or have an abortion,” Ruolin insisted.
Han Haoxuan remained silent for a long while, trying his best to control his emotions. He couldn't get angry at the pregnant woman; he was trying to salvage a relationship, and he needed to be patient. But how could he persuade Ruolin, who was so stubborn and headstrong, to reconcile with him? How could he convince her to keep the child? He felt more helpless than ever before, a strong sense of despair enveloping him.
"You should rest well first, I'll come see you another day." In the end, Han Haoxuan had no choice but to "flee the best of the thirty-six stratagems." Before leaving, he only left one sentence: "The child must stay, because it is also my flesh and blood, and you have no right to dispose of it privately."
When Xinyu returned with the food, Han Haoxuan had already left.
Ruolin remained lying on her side on the bed, with her back to the door.
"Where is Han Haoxuan?" Xinyu asked.
"I'm leaving," Ruolin replied.
"Oh, get up and eat something." Xinyu was a little disappointed. She actually wanted to talk to Han Haoxuan alone about Ruolin's pregnancy, but he came and went in a hurry, not giving her the chance. She and he really weren't meant to be. If she had been the one on the blind date instead of Ruolin, the outcome might have been completely different? She tried to clear her mind of these chaotic thoughts.
Ruolin sat up and took the food Xinyu handed her: "It smells so good. The best thing about being sick is that you, a rich young lady, can take care of me personally. It's a life well-lived! Xinyu, thank you."
"You ungrateful wretch, only now you're thanking me? Luckily, Jianghuai Road was closed due to construction this morning, so I had to take Changchun Road past your area, otherwise you'd probably still be at home with a high fever!"
"I understand, my savior Chen Xinyu. I will never forget your great kindness and will repay you with all my heart," Ruolin said with a smile.
"Alright, I'm not expecting you to repay my kindness. I only have one request: can you please stop hiding things from me in the future? If I hadn't brought you to the hospital and the doctor hadn't found out you were pregnant, how long would you have kept it from me?" Xinyu was quite dissatisfied with Ruolin for concealing her pregnancy.
"Okay, okay, I won't hide anything from you next time."
"By the way, did Han Haoxuan say anything about wanting to marry you when he came over?" Xinyu asked casually.
"I did," Ruolin replied.
"Hey girl, can you not be so brief? At least tell me what happened. Like, did he kneel down on one knee for you?"
"Hospitals aren't romantic places. Xinyu, why don't you and Shen Yang get married? Haven't you been talking about getting married for ages?" Ruolin quickly changed the subject.
"Well, I'm not in a hurry. Besides, I plan to look around some more."
"Do you think choosing a partner is a beauty pageant? Don't get overwhelmed by all the choices. Cherish the people around you. Isn't Shen Yang great?"
"Cherish the people around you, you still know that saying! Han Haoxuan seems to care about you a lot, you should cherish it." Xin Yu felt a little bittersweet as she said this. Although Han Haoxuan had never loved her, they had at least been in a relationship.
The topic shifted back to Han Haoxuan, and Ruolin smiled bitterly to herself.
"So, when someone asked to marry you, did you say yes?" Xinyu asked.
"No."
"Ruolin, have you taken the wrong medicine? This is such a great opportunity to get married! A shotgun wedding, how romantic, how memorable!" Xinyu found it somewhat unbelievable.
"I don't want this. Xinyu, you don't know how much pressure I'm under being with him. I still don't even know if he loves me or just a substitute for his ex-girlfriend. And his mother is suffocating me too. The thought of integrating into his family makes me feel like the sky is falling." Love is always emotional, but marriage requires rationality. Ruolin also considered things rationally, feeling that there was always an insurmountable barrier between her and Han Haoxuan.
"A mother's status rises with her son's. You're pregnant now, so his mother can't really do anything about it. Besides, you're marrying Han Haoxuan, not his mother..."
“No, I read in a book called ‘Paper Marriage’ that marriage is not just about marrying a man, but also about marrying into a family. A family like Han Haoxuan’s is not suitable for me. I can imagine how out of place I would feel if I lived in his family.”
"So you're absolutely determined not to marry Han Haoxuan?" Xinyu asked.
"Yes. If you know it will be difficult and tough, why bother trying?"
"But how do you know it will be hard if you don't try? And even if you don't think about yourself, you have to think about your child. If you don't marry him, what will happen to the child? A child without a father is a huge blow to them."
“I told you, I don’t plan to have the child.”
“I disagree with that. I’m still waiting to be the godmother! Remember when we were in college, we made a pact that whoever had a child first would have to recognize the other as their godmother.”
“I remember. But I still don’t want this child.”
"Don't be so stubborn, okay? The child is a gift from God, how can you bear to abandon him?"
“Xinyu, I’m also reluctant… but if I keep the child, firstly, with my current financial situation, I can’t afford to raise it; secondly, the child will lack fatherly love compared to other children without a father,” Ruolin stated the objective facts.
“These are not problems at all. As long as you marry Han Haoxuan, these two problems will be solved. Why are you so dense? What did he do to you that makes you hate him so much?”
"I..." Ruolin found it hard to talk about Han Haoxuan forcibly taking her.
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw him kissing his ex-girlfriend." That's one of the reasons, and although it sounds pretty cheesy, at least it's easier to say out loud.
"This..." Xin Yu really didn't expect Han Haoxuan to do such a despicable thing, and she was quite disappointed in him.
"Now you don't encourage me to be with him anymore, do you? You don't urge me to have the baby anymore, do you?"
"Wrong, I still encourage you to have the child. Because I want to be the godmother! If you can't raise the child, I'll help you. Besides, finding a father for the child isn't a problem. Mu Jingyan still has feelings for you; he's perfectly capable of being a father." Xin Yu's attitude immediately made a 180-degree turn, almost overwhelming Ruolin. You can't blame Xin Yu; she hates fickle men the most! Back then, Han Haoxuan was indecisive and dragged his feet with both her and Ruolin, and she endured it for a long time before finally breaking up with him. Unexpectedly, Han Haoxuan started repeating the same old tricks. It seems that overly handsome men really are unreliable.
"How could you even think of that? That's unfair to Amu. Don't try to persuade me; I don't plan to keep the child."
"No, you have to have it. Abortion is very damaging to the body, and I don't want you to suffer that pain."
"That was just temporary pain. If I had been born, I would have suffered endless torment! Raising a child from infancy to adulthood is incredibly difficult. I don't want to repeat my mother's mistakes; she went through so much hardship." Ruolin always felt sorry for her mother, who had raised her and her sister with such difficulty, and she didn't want to repeat her mother's life.
"Sigh—" Xinyu sighed deeply, "Alright, if you insist, there's nothing I can do. It's just that you're the first close friend of mine to have a miscarriage, and it makes me very sad. Let me say a few words to the baby." Xinyu leaned down, pressing her face against Ruolin's belly, "Little baby, I'm your godmother. How are you? Remember, your godmother loves you very much. It's so sad that you couldn't come into this world, of course, it's all your fault for your philandering father and heartless mother..."
"Xinyu, please stop talking." Tears were already welling up in Ruolin's eyes; she simply couldn't bear to listen any longer.