He thought that he had truly done everything he could for Tao Yunjia.
The next day, Shu Yi'an called Julie early in the morning to ask for leave, thinking she would get up early to go to the hospital for a check-up and get a number. Julie approved it without saying anything and told her she could come to the company in the afternoon and didn't need to rush back. Everyone at the company said that since Julie got engaged a week ago, she had been radiating a kind and loving glow.
Shu Yi'an chose the largest public hospital in the city, which wasn't too far from her home. It was very convenient.
The doctor on duty happened to be a very famous gynecologist in the city. He glanced at Shu Yi'an's test results and concluded, "Nine weeks pregnant, fetal growth is normal."
The doctor, seeing Shu Yi'an's youthful appearance, smiled knowingly. "This is your first pregnancy, right? Are you married? Do you want this child?"
Shu Yi'an nodded, "Yes, I'm married, and I really want to have this baby."
"That's good." The doctor quickly wrote down the medical instructions. "The first time is when both the body and the fetus are in the best condition. Pay attention to rest and avoid strenuous exercise. The first three months are the most critical."
What followed was the usual pre-arranged procedure, but Shu Yi'an listened attentively like a schoolchild until the very end. Outside the hospital, watching the expectant mothers waiting for their prenatal checkups enter the ultrasound room, Shu Yi'an's smile deepened—for herself, and for the little life soon to be born inside her.
As Shu Yi'an walked out of the hospital, she needed to detour through a side entrance to hail a taxi. Passing the main gate of the inpatient department, she saw someone in the distance who looked familiar. As she got closer, she realized it was Tao Yunjia, dressed in a hospital gown.
Clearly, Tao Yunjia also saw Shu Yi'an. The two looked at each other from a few steps apart, with Shu Yi'an's eyes showing more wariness and distance.
Tao Yunjia smiled indifferently and slowly placed her hand on her lower abdomen, her eyes showing some confusion but more disdain. But the first sentence she uttered completely shattered Shu Yi'an's previously cheerful mood.
"Chu Mu is enough to keep me company, why are you here too, Junior Sister Shu?"
Author's Note: Suddenly I feel like being a man isn't easy. There's a reason why Chu Mu has been missing for a while, so don't rush to scold him.
Are you happy that Meimei is pregnant? Do you prefer a boy or a girl?
Chapter 47 Painful Heart
Shu Yi'an's breathing quickened noticeably after hearing this, but she knew she couldn't completely trust Tao Yunjia's words. This woman might have been completely unguarded before, but since returning from Germany, Miss Shu, who had never had any enemies, had quietly placed her in the category of those she wanted to avoid.
Without flinching, Shu Yi'an stared unblinkingly at Tao Yunjia, whose face was pale but whose fighting spirit was palpable. She was somewhat skeptical, but the clothes Tao Yunjia was wearing were clearly the ones she had bought for Chu Mu a year ago.
"Is he... with you?"
Tao Yunjia sneered and waved her hand behind her back as if to show off. "He was only away on a business trip for a week, how come he's been dragging his feet on coming home for so long? You, as his wife, are not as close to me as he is to your colleague. If I hadn't been sick and he hadn't been here waiting for me because he seemed too tired, you probably wouldn't have been able to see him today. As long as I don't let him go, you won't be able to see him at all."
For some reason, Tao Yunjia felt a deep sense of fear and unease upon seeing Shu Yi'an there. She was also certain that Chu Mu, given his personality, would not tell her about what had happened recently. Therefore, she lost her composure and only wanted to use her most eloquent words to attack this young, seemingly harmless girl.
Shu Yi'an felt a vague sense of disgust, and even the hand clutching the hospital report trembled slightly. Just last night, the two of them had talked on the phone, saying they would have a proper talk, and everything was slowly getting better... how could it end like this? How could he lie to himself? Steadying himself, Shu Yi'an suddenly asked Tao Yunjia a seemingly unrelated question.
"Tao Yunjia, why did you leave him in the first place when you're going to all this trouble now?"
This question struck Tao Yunjia like a thunderbolt, instantly shaking her to her core. Because of that incident, she suffered unbearable pain and shame, a shame that could never be undone. It was because of that incident that she had fallen to her current state.
"What does this have to do with you?! Back then... it was because the timing wasn't right! We encountered many obstacles!"
Shu Yi'an smiled faintly, "Obstacles? Is the job your father arranged for you an obstacle? Or have you not found a better opportunity to choose yet?"
Even though Shu Yi'an had long been defeated by Tao Yunjia's words, her innate pride wouldn't allow her to admit defeat in front of her like a loser. Tao Yunjia didn't expect Shu Yi'an to know the reason why she left Chu Mu back then. Her expression changed, and her heart turned as dark as the most repulsive creatures that roam in the shadows.
"Anyway, he's abandoned you to be with me now!"
Seeing Shu Yi'an's eyes gradually dimming, Tao Yunjia couldn't help but retort, "If it weren't for their family's underhanded tactics, I would be Mrs. Chu by now! Besides," Tao Yunjia gently stroked her belly with both hands, "the child in my belly... still needs to recognize its father. Of course, if you're unwilling to step down and become a stepmother, I can accept that."
Shu Yi'an couldn't remember how she got back to the Lake Garden Villa. She just stared blankly at the building in front of her. If she were to touch her face now, she would surely be surprised by the cool, glistening water. Along the way, Tao Yunjia's words replayed in her mind like a documentary. Shu Yi'an followed the crowd as it moved, and she stopped when it stopped. With each step, her heart felt like it was being gripped tighter.
All she could think about was the child Tao Yunjia had mentioned... After she had his child, he actually had another child with someone else?
When her gaze slowly focused on the car parked in front of the garage door, Shu Yi'an regained some consciousness. The midday sun was at its strongest. Standing in the warm sunlight, Shu Yi'an put her things in her bag, took a deep breath, and then slowly opened the door. She knew very well that once she opened that door, the consequences might be unpredictable.
Chu Mu had just changed his clothes and come downstairs. He was about to go out when he touched the doorknob, but the door was pushed open from the outside. Clearly, Chu Mu was somewhat surprised to see Shu Yi'an at this hour. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and ask, as usual.
"Why are you back at noon? I was thinking of picking you up."
Shu Yi'an stared blankly at the person she hadn't seen for half a month, feeling that everything he said to her now sounded hypocritical. She silently took a few steps forward, put her bag on the sofa, and almost with some difficulty, asked the question she least wanted to face.
"Chu Mu...where have you been these past few days?"
As intelligent as he was, he could almost immediately sense that something was wrong with Shu Yi'an. Chu Mu also immediately sensed that she must have found out something. However, he didn't intend to lie to her. He sighed slightly and stood to the side, openly admitting it.
"At the hospital. But..."
"Can you please stop explaining?" Shu Yi'an calmly interrupted him, turning around. "I really don't want to hear another word about you and Tao Yunjia. It disgusts me."
"Tao Yunjia? You saw her? What did she say to you?" Chu Mu pursed his lips, having found the reason for Shu Yi'an's anger, and wanted to explain it to her.
Shu Yi'an thought he still wanted to excuse her, and the last spark of hope in her heart seemed to be extinguished. She closed her eyes, turned to look at the person not far away, and said, word by word, "Chu Mu, how could I have married someone like you?"
Chu Mu stepped forward with a hint of anger, grabbed Shu Yi'an's thin shoulder, and said in a stern tone, "Say that again."
Shu Yi'an abruptly slapped his hand away, collapsing to the ground in a near-breakdown, and threw whatever was at him. Her voice trembled with a weak sob. "I said, I don't want to live with you anymore! Dad told me you were busy… I thought you were having some work trouble and couldn't come home… I waited for you every day like a fool, wanting you to explain, wanting us to be together, but you were at the hospital with your first love… Chu Mu, have you considered my feelings? Do you know how I felt when I found out about your whereabouts from someone else? I'm supposed to be your wife…"
Large tears streamed down her face. Shu Yi'an, as if she had suffered a terrible injustice, squatted on the ground, refusing any touch from him, even when he merely wanted to hold her in his arms to comfort her. As if pent-up bitterness, Shu Yi'an couldn't stop muttering to herself.
“A long time ago, when Tao Yunjia told me she wanted to go to Germany with you, I wanted to ask you why she could always so confidently declare her ownership of your relationship, and why she was always so careful when mentioning her past in front of you. Chu Mu, if you loved her so much, why did you marry me in the first place…”
She rubbed her face hard with both hands, then slowly stood up, her expression cold and resolute. "If you think I'm in your way, I can give up my place. Chu Mu, as of now, I really don't want to be with you anymore."
"So?" Chu Mu stepped forward and reached out to wipe away Shu Yi'an's tears, his gesture gentle, but his tone chillingly soft. "You regret it?"
Shu Yi'an didn't dodge the question. "Yes, I regret it. Marrying you was the worst decision I ever made in my life."
Chu Mu's fingers, hanging by his sides, tightened suddenly. Ignoring the sharp pain in his chest, he slammed Shu Yi'an against the wall. He placed his hands on either side of her head and forced out a few words through his teeth, "Shu Yi'an, you say you regret it, but when have you ever truly trusted me?"
The focus of this battle was no longer on Tao Yunjia. Chu Mu was so angry that he completely ignored the source of Shu Yi'an's outburst. At this moment, all he could think about was what Shu Yi'an had said: she didn't want to be with him anymore.
Their breaths were almost audible, and Chu Mu's eyes were bloodshot and filled with exhaustion. "From the moment you married me, I told you that no matter what happened, I would never abandon you, and I would keep my promises to you. But Shu Yi'an, think about it, in these two years, have you truly relied on me in this marriage? Or have you done what you're thinking, leaving me anytime, anywhere?"