Perhaps because he had run too fast, his face was flushed red, making him appear even more elegant like a lotus. Ignoring the astonished gazes around him, he leaped onto the wedding stage in front of everyone, grabbed her hand, and pulled her aside. Then, waving a card in his hand, he declared, “Wanqiu, I’ve earned that money. I’ll return it to him right now. Wanqiu, don’t marry him. He doesn’t love you and can’t give you happiness.”
His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for her and Leng Muxun on the stage to hear clearly.
But the audience below had no idea what was happening, and immediately erupted into murmurs of confusion.
“Sir, may I ask who you are…”
Just as the ceremony was about to conclude, this man had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, leaving the host unsure how to proceed.
Wanqiu was momentarily stunned before snapping back to reality. “Mo Yu, where did you get that money?”
“Don’t worry about it. I earned it legitimately. I’m returning it all to him now. I don’t want you marrying him because of the Bai Family.”
“Mr. Bai, your earnings are your own affair. However, all of the Bai Family’s current assets—movable and immovable—are mortgaged to me. Unless I choose to transfer them back to you, your money has nothing to do with me. This is my wedding with Wanqiu. Please leave.” Leng Muxun spoke calmly, unruffled by the disruption, his words instantly causing Bai Moyu’s expression to shift into helpless confusion.
“You… you can’t do this.”
“Please leave, or I’ll call security.”
“Mo Yu, come down quickly! Your sister’s wedding is a joyous occasion. You can offer your congratulations after the ceremony.” From below the stage, Bai Zhanlou urgently called out to Bai Moyu in a stern voice.
Bai Moyu’s hand trembled, but he refused to let go of Zhong Wanqiu’s arm. “Wanqiu, I only need one word from you.”
With one word, she could choose not to marry, to walk away from this game.
Yet, as she glanced at Leng Muxun and then at her grandfather, she hesitated in that moment.
Watching her, Bai Moyu’s face began to pale. In contrast, Leng Muxun stood quietly by her side, saying nothing.
In truth, a single word from him would have given her no reason to withdraw from this wedding—after all, she had signed the agreement. But he remained silent, as if granting her the freedom and space to choose.
Perhaps, deep down, he too resisted this wedding. He didn’t love her.
It was all for Grandfather—what a perfect excuse.
Was that her reason as well?
Lifting her head to look at Grandfather, she knew it was only partly true.
“Mo Yu, please go down.”
“Wanqiu…”
She raised her hand to pry his fingers loose, then turned and offered her hand to Leng Muxun. “Muxun, put the ring on me.”
With that gentle gesture, the tension in the room immediately eased. She could even sense Grandfather’s relief. His spirits were better today, though they hadn’t been great yesterday. It had been over ten days since his return, and he was no longer as robust as when she’d seen him at the airport.
Bai Moyu turned away despondently and quietly departed; this wedding no longer concerned him.
By the time all the ceremonies were completed and she and Leng Muxun began toasting the guests, Liang Shuzhen and Bai Zhanlou had also left at some point.
Leng Muxun never brought up Bai Moyu again, but Wanqiu knew he must have been deeply displeased with that little interruption during the wedding.
“Wanqiu, you look beautiful today, a happy bride. A Xun, you must treat her well from now on.” Grandfather placed her hand in Leng Muxun’s palm. “A Xun, you know what Grandfather wants. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Grandfather, don’t worry. Wanqiu and I will both work hard.” He chuckled lightly, his gaze falling on her face, making her guiltily lower her head immediately. She had never given him another chance.
Perhaps it was because they knew about Grandfather’s illness—that night, she and he returned directly to the Leng family villa. No one followed to play wedding night pranks, but the villa was adorned everywhere with Double Happiness decorations. As soon as darkness fell, Grandfather pushed them into the bridal chamber.
Yet that night, nothing happened between them. She slept on the bed, he on the carpet—both had quietly grown accustomed to such nights.
However, not long after, Grandfather was admitted to the hospital. Though he resisted fiercely, he now needed oxygen to maintain his breathing.
Late-stage lung cancer.
She stayed by his bedside in the hospital day and night, never changing her clothes. Liang Shuzhen had called, urging her to take good care of Grandfather—only in old age does one realize the preciousness of health.
She fed Grandfather every meal, three times a day without fail. He ate very little, but his spirits remained fairly good. Every time Leng Muxun visited, Grandfather would take Wanqiu’s hand and place it in Leng Muxun’s.
“Grandfather, eat a bit more.” She scooped a spoonful of century egg and lean pork congee and brought it to his lips, smiling as she watched him eat.
But suddenly, her stomach felt uneasy. The sight of the shredded lean pork in the bowl made her uncomfortable. She hastily set the bowl down. “Grandfather, I need to use the restroom.”
As soon as she pushed the door open, she retched violently.
The vomiting left her feeling as if her body had fallen apart. After washing her hands and face, Zhong Wanqiu emerged looking pale.
By the bed, Leng Muxun had arrived unnoticed and was holding the bowl she had just put down, feeding Grandfather the congee.
It was hard to imagine how healthy Grandfather had seemed not long ago, yet now…
Illness strikes like a collapsing mountain.
“Wanqiu, were you vomiting?” Grandfather’s eyes sparkled as he asked her with a beaming smile.
“Yes.” She answered without much thought—probably because she hadn’t eaten well these past few days. But she couldn’t recall what might have upset her stomach.
Grandfather’s smile grew even brighter. “Muxun, why don’t you take Wanqiu for a check-up? She just vomited.”
“Alright.” Leng Muxun replied indifferently.
“Muxun, what kind of attitude is that? Wanqiu vomited! Give me the bowl, I’ll eat by myself. Take her for a check-up now.”
Seeing Grandfather’s irritation, Leng Muxun had no choice but to stand up and turn to Wanqiu. “Did you eat something unclean?”
“Probably.” She replied softly, unsure herself. “A Xun, give me the bowl.” Noticing Grandfather’s displeasure, she gently urged Leng Muxun to hand her the congee. “Grandfather, I’m fine. Please eat first, or it’ll get cold and won’t taste good. I can go for a check-up after you finish—there’s no hurry.”
Only then did Grandfather’s expression soften. He obediently ate like a child and then urged Leng Muxun to take her to see a doctor.
They walked out of the hospital room one after the other. “Wanqiu, thank you for everything these days.”
“I adore Grandfather.” She said without hesitation—she had liked him from the very first moment they met, and it was genuine.
“I truly wish Grandfather could live longer, but…”
“Mr. Leng, could you come here for a moment?” Before Leng Muxun could finish his sentence, the doctor in charge of Grandfather called out to him.
“This…” Hesitating briefly, Leng Muxun was torn between accompanying Zhong Wanqiu for her medical checkup or following the doctor to his office.
Noticing his hesitation, Zhong Wanqiu said, “You go ahead. I’ll be fine on my own. It’s not my first time at the hospital.”
“Alright then, I’ll go now. I’ll come find you after speaking with the doctor. Remember to keep your phone on.”
After hurriedly giving his instructions, Leng Muxun left with the doctor. Zhong Wanqiu genuinely felt there was no need for her to be examined, but considering Grandfather’s insistence, she went to the internal medicine department to register for a checkup. By afternoon, the number of patients had decreased, and she was called in after waiting about ten minutes. “Miss, what seems to be the problem?”
“I vomited around noon, probably from eating something bad.”
“Then some medicine should help. However, it would be best to take a urine test to check for any inflammation.”
“No… that won’t be necessary.” Wanqiu felt that taking some medicine would suffice. She had heard that such tests were often just ways for hospitals to increase revenue.
“It’s better to get checked. It doesn’t cost much, and you’ll have peace of mind.” As the doctor spoke, he filled out a urine test requisition form.
Well, since the form was already issued, she might as well go through with it. Zhong Wanqiu took the form to the laboratory department, queued up, and waited for the results. Instead of going anywhere else, she sat bored on a bench in the hospital corridor, watching a TV drama. Leng Muxun hadn’t called yet—probably still in discussion with the doctor.
After an hour of watching TV, she went to collect the test results and brought them to the doctor. She was certain she could now get the prescription—after all, it was just vomiting, and all this hassle seemed unnecessary.
The female doctor took the report, glanced at it casually, and then smiled. “Miss, congratulations. You’re not sick, and it wasn’t from eating something bad.”
“Ah…” She was stunned, unable to comprehend what was happening.
“You’re pregnant.”
A wave of dizziness washed over her. Zhong Wanqiu felt she must have misheard. “Doctor, could you please repeat that?”
“You’re pregnant.”
“Oh, th-thank you…” Her hands trembling, she took the urine test results from the doctor. Her mind was in complete disarray. This couldn’t be possible, could it? She and Leng Muxun had only been together once. How could this happen? But then she remembered—her period hadn’t come. With all the busyness of taking care of Grandfather lately, she had completely forgotten about it. It never crossed her mind that she could be pregnant. If it had, she would have taken emergency contraception. But now, the urine test results confirmed it—she was indeed pregnant.
Zhong Wanqiu didn’t know how she left the doctor’s office. In a daze, she walked out of the hospital, no longer even in the mood to visit Grandfather.
This was all too sudden. She wanted to tell Leng Muxun, but if she did, the child would never truly belong to her once it was born. No, she couldn’t bear that.
But if she didn’t tell him, how would she face this child?
Should she terminate the pregnancy or keep it?
Her hand rested on her lower abdomen, as if she could already feel the child’s presence.
Thinking of Leng Muxun’s handsome yet stern face, she truly wanted to keep his child.
She must not abort it; she would keep this child bestowed upon her by heaven.
That night, he was drunk and had no memory of their only encounter. Thus, he would never imagine this child could be his.
Reflecting on her initial concealment, she now truly wondered whether she had done right or wrong. Perhaps, through a twist of fate, heaven intended for her to have this child.