The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 434 - 436. Premature Birth

Chapter 434: 436. Premature Birth

"Okay, I’ll listen to you, but we will still need to hire a nanny. Mom is getting old, and we can’t leave all the childcare to her, we need to give her time to enjoy her later years."

Fang Tong’s lips curved upwards, "No wonder my mom likes you more than she likes me. Sometimes I really feel like you are her biological son."

Li Bo Ming laughed, "I married you, so your parents are my parents. It’s only right that I treat them well. Besides, you are also very good to my dad and Aunt Ji. My dad even called me the other day to praise you."

"Alright, let’s not keep complimenting each other back and forth. I can stay at home for a week this time. Let’s go on a vacation tomorrow. Do you have time?"

Li Bo Ming thought about his schedule for a while and nodded, "Yes, but I don’t think we’ll be able to go somewhere far."

"We can’t travel far these days anyway. By the way, that charming little town Qinglan visited last time was quite nice. Let’s go there."

"Okay."

Just as Li Bo Ming was about to engage in a conversation with Fang Tong as a couple, his phone buzzed with a notification. He picked it up, checked it expressionlessly, and foolishly deleted the message before turning off the phone.

"What’s wrong?" asked Fang Tong.

Li Bo Ming replied softly, "Nothing, just a spam message. I don’t know what’s going on with phone numbers these days, always getting all kinds of annoying spam."

"Just ignore it then, I always just delete them straight away," Fang Tong comforted him.

Li Bo Ming smiled faintly and leaned down to kiss Fang Tong’s lips.

Tong Yushi waited quite a while and saw no reply from Li Bo Ming. Glancing at the time, she made a call to him only to find his phone had been turned off. She sadly set her phone down, looking at the leaking faucet in the bathroom. Her only option was to turn off the main valve.

The next morning, as Fang Tong and Li Bo Ming were heading downstairs, they ran into Tong Yushi in the garage, "Bo Ming, good morning." Her gaze shifted to the woman beside Li Bo Ming, scrutinizing her, "Is this your wife?"

Li Bo Ming nodded, "Yes, this is my wife, Fang Tong. Tong Tong, this is Tong Yushi, a classmate of mine from M-country. We ran into each other at the supermarket yesterday and found out we live in the same complex."

"Yes, I live on the fourteenth floor," Tong Yushi said with a smile, extending her hand, "Nice to meet you, I’m Tong Yushi, Bo Ming’s friend from M-country."

Fang Tong’s eyes flickered slightly, her lips curving into a polite and appropriate smile, "Hello, I’m Bo Ming’s wife, Fang Tong."

Their hands touched briefly before quickly parting. As Tong Yushi sized up Fang Tong, Fang Tong was also assessing her. Definitely quite pretty but not particularly clever. After a man has made his position clear, to still try and make her presence felt in front of his official wife, this person must either be too self-impressed or a bit dense.

Having finished her assessment, Fang Tong withdrew her gaze, paying no further heed to the woman, "Bo Ming, it’s about time. Let’s go."

"Are you guys heading to work? I was wondering if it would be convenient to give me a ride along the way? My car broke down today."

Fang Tong buckled her seat belt, "I’m sorry, Miss Tong, but we are going on a vacation, so it’s probably not convenient."

Tong Yushi’s smile stiffened a bit, "No worries, it was presumptuous of me. I’ll just call a cab later."

"Goodbye, Miss Tong," Fang Tong chimed in naturally.

Tong Yushi stepped aside to let them drive out, watching the car gradually pull away, she lightly bit her lip.

In the car, Fang Tong looked at Li Bo Ming with interest, "I never thought my dear Bo Ming would be so popular. She rushed all the way from M-country for you."

Li Bo Ming couldn’t help but laugh, "What are you talking about? She’s back to work in the country. I just happened to run into her at the supermarket yesterday and we exchanged a few words."

"Come on, don’t tell me you can’t tell that she’s into you."

"So what? I’m a married man now and I love my wife very much. I don’t even spare a second glance for other women," Li Bo Ming stated matter-of-factly.

Fang Tong chuckled and patted Li Bo Ming on the shoulder, "Comrade Li Bo Ming you’re really principled! Well done, you deserve a reward."

"Oh?" Li Bo Ming was intrigued, "What kind of reward?"

"That will depend on your performance later on."

The couple chatted and laughed the whole way, not taking Tong Yushi’s matter to heart.

**

Today, Han Yi was going on a business trip to Country F. Early in the morning, Yu Xiaoxuan got up, ostensibly to see Han Yi off, "Xiao Xuan, I’ll be back in three days. There’s no need to come."

Yu Xiaoxuan was packing Han Yi’s luggage. Han Yi was a man with a meticulous lifestyle. Even though it was just a three-day trip, the things he needed were not few—ties, tie clips, watches, shoes, everything had to be coordinated. After being with Han Yi for a long time, Yu Xiaoxuan had also learned a lot about fashion coordination.

"I’m bored at home anyway, let me just come see you off. I’m telling you, you only get this kind of treatment now. It won’t happen again in the future." Yu Xiaoxuan said, her head down, but her hands kept moving.

Back when she was working, she used to be even busier than Han Yi. She never had the time to see him off on his business trips. Today, she was just in the mood.

Although there were many items to pack, Yu Xiaoxuan was quite fast at it. It was a skill she had honed. She could now put together an outfit in the shortest time possible, unlike in the beginning, when coordinating an outfit could easily take more than half an hour.

Han Yi wanted to help, but Yu Xiaoxuan shooed him away. He leaned on the doorway of the wardrobe, watching Yu Xiaoxuan busily work, his face full of doting smile, "Xiao Xuan, you are becoming more and more like a devoted wife."

Yu Xiaoxuan rolled her eyes, "Was I not like that before?"

"You definitely were before, but now even more so. Everyone must be very envious of me, having a wife who is as beautiful, cute, smart, lively, and virtuous as you." Han Yi’s compliments came tumbling out freely. After all, every woman likes to hear sweet nothings.

Yu Xiaoxuan’s eyes curved into crescents, "Han Yi, you haven’t done something to wrong me today, have you? You’re quite the sweet talker."

Han Yi raised his hands, "I’m wronged. I’m just speaking from the heart, these are my truest thoughts. Or would you rather I say that you’re ugly?"

"You wouldn’t dare." Yu Xiaoxuan glared.

Han Yi laughed, "So I can’t go against my conscience."

Yu Xiaoxuan smiled too, "Just keep joking." Closing the lid of the suitcase, Yu Xiaoxuan finished packing.

Han Yi stepped forward to take the suitcase downstairs. Yu Xiaoxuan insisted on taking Han Yi to the airport, and Han Yi did not refuse.

"While I’m away these three days, be good, cooperate with the nutritionist, and eat well," Han Yi instructed, uneasy.

"I know."

"Your due date is coming up soon. If you feel any discomfort, you must speak up immediately. Don’t bear it silently."

"Han Yi, my due date is almost a month away, and do I look like someone who would suffer in silence?" Yu Xiaoxuan said exasperatedly.

Han Yi reached out and touched her cheek, "I’m just worried, you know. If you weren’t so far along, making traveling difficult, I would’ve taken you with me."

Yu Xiaoxuan swatted Han Yi’s hand away, "Alright, alright, stop being mushy and get on the plane. You’re going to be late, and remember to call me once you land to let me know you’re safe."

Han Yi lowered his head and kissed Yu Xiaoxuan on the lips, "Alright, you should head back too. I’ll watch you go."

Yu Xiaoxuan nodded her head and turned around without hesitation, not even a hint of reluctance.

Han Yi shook his head and laughed bitterly, this ungrateful guy, not even saying he’d miss him.

On her way home, Yu Xiaoxuan remembered she hadn’t visited Shengxuan in quite a while. Sister Linda, who had been busy recently with new hires, hadn’t had time to see her either. After thinking it over, Yu Xiaoxuan decided to make a trip to Shengxuan first.

She bought quite a few drinks and snacks on the way, letting the driver help carry them inside.

"Sister Linda, I’m here!" Yu Xiaoxuan shouted to Sister Linda, who was busy working. Linda, seeing her walking briskly with her pregnant belly, was taken aback.

"Slow down, you!" she exclaimed, hurrying to catch up and support her.

"Sister Linda, I’m fine, really, no need to help."

Linda guided her to sit down, "What brings you here today?"

"Just checking up on you. Sister Linda, you seem to have lost weight."

"I have lost some weight, but you, on the other hand, seem to have gained. Yu Xiaoxuan, are you just letting yourself go now?" Linda asked with a sidelong glance.

Yu Xiaoxuan sheepishly replied, "Sister Linda, I’m pregnant, you know. Once I deliver this baby, I assure you, I’ll quickly get back to my perfect figure, as curvy and stunning as ever."

Sister Linda mercilessly exposed her, "Even before, you couldn’t really ’curve’."

"Sister Linda, that really hurts," Yu Xiaoxuan complained.

Linda smiled, "Have you read the script I gave you last time?"

"I did, I read it thoroughly three times, it is really good. But will the production team really wait until I’ve had the baby?" Yu Xiaoxuan asked. She really liked the script and would have taken it without hesitation in the past.

"It’s not just about waiting for you. The male lead’s schedule isn’t free right now, and the director is picky. He only wants you two and no one else. The script suits you well and presents a new challenge. If you can perform well, it will broaden your horizons as an actress."

"Mmm, I know." Yu Xiaoxuan had read the script and understood its significance. "Sister Linda, if they are willing to wait for me, I’ll use this time to thoroughly study the script at home and master it."

"That’s the spirit. This TV show will be your first major project after childbirth and is very important for your future career. That’s why I gave you the script now, so you could really delve into the character."

Suddenly, Yu Xiaoxuan hugged Sister Linda around the waist, "Sister Linda, you’re so good to me, have you fallen in love with me?"

Sister Linda looked at her speechlessly, "You really can’t stay serious for more than three seconds. Mr. Han has really spoiled you."

"Sister Linda, you’re reprimanding the boss right in front of his wife, careful, or I might just snitch," Yu Xiaoxuan said with a twinkling smile.

"Go ahead then." Linda was unfazed, knowing Yu Xiaoxuan was just joking.

The driver had already distributed everything to everyone, and knowing Yu Xiaoxuan was going to stay a bit longer, he went back to the car to wait for her.

"Sister Linda, on a serious note, when I was reading the script, I found some issues, there are a few details that always trouble me, could you take a look for me?" After the joking was over, Yu Xiaoxuan brought up the serious matter.

Although Linda was an agent, she actually studied to be a director before becoming one, and with so many years of experience, she was quite accurate in grasping the essence of general scripts.

Naturally, Linda wouldn’t refuse her artist’s eagerness to improve, and she took Yu Xiaoxuan to a quiet corner where they discussed softly.

"Hey, everyone used to say Sister Linda treats Xiaoxuan well, now it seems it really is so," said the assistant to Linda’s new artist, speaking very softly.

The new artist was an eighteen-year-old girl who had just started university when Linda discovered her and signed her to Shengxuan.

A hint of envy flashed in the young girl’s eyes; Linda was very strict with her, hardly giving any smiles, and if she didn’t do well, she would be criticized ruthlessly.

At times, the young girl was even brought to tears by Linda.

"The fame of Sister Xiaoxuan speaks for itself, now she is the hottest card under Sister Linda, no wonder Linda likes her," the assistant continued.

The wardrobe assistant overheard this conversation and glanced at the assistant, speaking quietly, "That’s because you didn’t see how strict Sister Linda was with Xiaoxuan when she first joined the company. Jiajia now is luckier than Xiaoxuan was back then."

Jiajia was the new artist Linda was currently mentoring.

Curious, the assistant looked at the wardrobe assistant, "Really? Was Sister Linda always that strict with Xiaoxuan?"

"More than strict—she was almost vicious. It helped that Xiaoxuan had a good temperament and could bear it. But Xiaoxuan herself was willing to work hard and prove herself, only then could she make rapid progress under Sister Linda’s high-pressure policy."

Actually, the wardrobe assistant intended for Jiajia to overhear this; the young girl had only been in the company for two months and already felt she couldn’t handle it. As outsiders, they could see that her mind had been wandering lately and that she often complained about Sister Linda behind her back.

Jiajia’s eyes flickered, and she asked, "Is Sister Linda this strict with every newcomer?"

The wardrobe assistant shook her head, "Definitely not. She is only harsh with those she sees great potential in. In Sister Linda’s words, a sword is honed from grinding, and without being polished, how could you become a fine sword or a piece of peerless jade? So, Jiajia, don’t blame Sister Linda for being harsh; she does it for your own good."

Jiajia bowed her head, deep in thought.

Seeing this, the wardrobe assistant decided it was enough and said no more, as some things had to be realized by oneself.

Jiajia glanced in Yu Xiaoxuan’s direction, observing her laughing and talking with Sister Linda, myriad feelings filling her heart.

"Sister Linda, is that your current new artist?" Yu Xiaoxuan noticed Jiajia’s gaze, looked in that direction, and Jiajia immediately turned her head away, not daring to meet Yu Xiaoxuan’s eyes.

Yu Xiaoxuan was the dark horse who had emerged over the past two years, who, relying on her own talent and Shengxuan’s support, had become a new generation’s popular young actress in the entertainment circle. The reason she was called "a candidate" was that she had unexpectedly become pregnant while at the height of her career and temporarily left the entertainment industry.

The entertainment industry is such a place; unless you become a top-tier star, you are merely the wave before on the sands, the slightest carelessness could result in being overtaken by newcomers.

In Yu Xiaoxuan’s situation, many talent agencies wouldn’t allow her to marry and have children now; bluntly put, it was because she had married a supportive husband. Even though she had stepped back for now, when she decides to make a comeback, her husband would also be willing to finance her return to a smooth path.

Considering this, Jiajia felt somewhat aggrieved. In terms of looks, she naturally outshone Yu Xiaoxuan, especially given Yu Xiaoxuan’s current appearance, she looked like a typical housewife, not a bit like the star she was supposed to be—chubby and with her face completely unmade, utterly disheveled.

Fortunately, these thoughts were just in Jiajia’s mind; if she dared to voice them, she would definitely be heavily criticized. Though Yu Xiaoxuan wasn’t wearing makeup, her fashion choices were very stylish, and she didn’t look unkempt at all when she went out.

Hearing Yu Xiaoxuan’s question, Linda glanced in Jiajia’s direction and nodded, "Yes, it’s her."

"This new artist looks very pure and has a unique face, unmistakably untouched by plastic surgery. Sister Linda, your eyes are getting sharper and sharper," said Yu Xiaoxuan with a smile.

In the entertainment industry, having a recognizable face gives you a significant advantage, especially in the current atmosphere where plastic surgery is so prevalent.

Linda spoke indifferently, "Even with great natural conditions, it’s useless if you don’t strive to improve."

Yu Xiaoxuan glanced sideways, "Sister Linda, she’s a newcomer, and even younger than me by a few years. Be a bit more patient. I was the same when I started."

"You, just take good care of yourself. Yu Xiaoxuan, let me tell you, if you can’t get your figure back within three months after childbirth, you’ll see how I deal with you." Sister Linda put on a stern face.

Yu Xiaoxuan, who had long figured out her temperament, was not intimidated at all. She smiled mischievously and looped her arm through Linda’s, "I know, I promise to slim down. I can’t even stand looking at myself like this right now."

This pleased Linda.

"Sister Linda, Sister Xiaoxuan." Jiajia hesitated for a long time and then summoned the courage to approach them.

Linda looked indifferent, but Yu Xiaoxuan wore a welcoming smile, "Hello, I was just telling Sister Linda that we’ve discovered a great beauty this time. How should I address you?"

"Sister Xiaoxuan, my name is Gu Jiajia, you can just call me Jiajia." Jiajia smiled shyly.

Yu Xiaoxuan pointed to the seat next to her, "Hello Jiajia, have a seat and let’s talk."

Jiajia glanced at Linda and, seeing that she hadn’t said anything, sat down next to Yu Xiaoxuan.

Linda gave her a look and asked coolly, "Did you complete the homework I assigned you?"

"I’ve finished it."

Seeing that Jiajia seemed quite afraid of Sister Linda, Yu Xiaoxuan couldn’t help but think back to her own initial days here, looking similarly intimidated, and said with a laugh, "Sister Linda, don’t be so serious. Look, you’ve scared the poor girl; she hardly dares to speak."

Sister Linda glanced at her, "I was even stricter with you initially. How come I never saw you afraid of me?"

"I was scared! Who said I wasn’t? It’s just that I’ve got thick skin; you couldn’t tell." Yu Xiaoxuan giggled, showing none of the formality expected.

Linda knew she was speaking favorably on her behalf. By now, Yu Xiaoxuan was shrewd enough to see that Jiajia had some grievances against Linda.

In the entertainment circle, the relationship between artists and their agents is crucial, especially for top agents like Linda, who had made many artists famous. Her extensive network of contacts was her strongest asset. Even if she were to leave Shengxuan and strike out on her own, Linda could still succeed.

Perhaps because of her experience, she tended to be harsher on newcomers. If the newcomers didn’t understand the importance of maintaining a good relationship with her and harbored resentment instead, then even the finest raw jade would remain just that.

"Sister Linda, I still vividly remember when you made me go on a vegetarian diet to lose weight. I nearly turned into a vegetable myself! Are you doing the same with Jiajia?" asked Yu Xiaoxuan, curiously, trying to lighten the mood.

Sister Linda rolled her eyes at her, "I didn’t let you eat, and yet you still sneaked food and ended up in the hospital. Weren’t you embarrassed?"

Yu Xiaoxuan sheepishly replied, "Sister Linda, let’s not talk about such embarrassing things."

Jiajia listened quietly on the side, and, growing curious, she looked at Yu Xiaoxuan and blurted out, "Sister Linda used to not let people eat?"

Realizing Linda was also there, she quickly glanced at her. Seeing no particular reaction, she relaxed.

"Exactly, the worst time, I had been dancing for hours, and all Sister Linda gave me was a tiny bowl of vegetable salad without any visible dressing," Yu Xiaoxuan said with a look of misery.

Jiajia was surprised. She hadn’t realized that Sister Linda was even stricter with Yu Xiaoxuan than with herself, especially when it came to diet. Although Linda wouldn’t let her eat much, she at least didn’t restrict her to only vegetables.

Thinking this, Jiajia felt suddenly balanced, realizing it wasn’t Linda intentionally targeting her, but rather treating every artist the same. Once she figured that out, Jiajia felt relieved and stood up, "Sister Linda, Sister Xiaoxuan, I’ll go continue practicing."

"Go ahead." Yu Xiaoxuan smiled, and only after Gu Jiajia had left, she turned to Linda, "Sister Linda, shouldn’t you thank me?"

Linda huffed, "You just can’t mind your own business."

Yu Xiaoxuan continued to smile, "Sister Linda, you have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. You clearly mean well for others—why not just say it? Not everyone is as clever as me to guess your thoughts." At the end, she didn’t forget to compliment herself.

Sister Linda gave her a glance and her expression turned serious, "Xiaoxuan, I need to tell you something."

Seeing her serious demeanor, Yu Xiaoxuan put away her smile, "Sister Linda, go ahead."

"The scandal about Tang Mina recently was leaked by you, right?"

"Sister Linda, how did you know?" Yu Xiaoxuan didn’t intend to conceal it from Linda.

"A couple of days ago, I intercepted some tabloid news about you. Although it was fake, such headlines are not good for you."

"What news?"

"Let’s talk in the office." Sister Linda glanced around and said, Yu Xiaoxuan nodded and stood up to follow her.

Once they arrived at the office, Linda took out a newspaper from her drawer, "I intercepted this paper before it could go public."

Yu Xiaoxuan took the newspaper and glanced at it. It was a two-day-old paper that she had seen before, but unlike the one she read featuring news of a wealthy man keeping a mistress on the front page, this one alleged she was ambiguously involved with someone and suspected of cheating during pregnancy, allegedly betraying Han Yi.

Yu Xiaoxuan’s face darkened immediately, staring at the photo, "Sister Linda, the person in this photo isn’t me." The background of the photo was a hotel entrance, one she had never visited.

"I’m well aware of that." Linda said. Yu Xiaoxuan and Han Yi were deeply in love; such behavior was inconceivable.

"The original of this photo has been sent for verification. It’s been photoshopped, the intent behind it is clear."

"Who did it?" Yu Xiaoxuan asked, her voice cold.

"Tang Mina." Linda expelled the name.

It was indeed her, "Sister Linda, in a situation like this, I can sue her for defamation, right?" Yu Xiaoxuan said coldly.

"Not yet, I’ve intercepted this news, and the outside world doesn’t know about it. Even if you want to sue her, you have no standing."

Yu Xiaoxuan had a look of regret, "So we just let this go?" She was unwilling.

Linda’s eyes turned cold, "She definitely won’t let it go that easily. Wait for her next move. Recently she’s been banned, and her situation is difficult; under these circumstances, her anger towards you is undoubtedly the greatest. People do unpredictable things when insane, so for your safety, it’s better to stay home these days and avoid going out wherever possible. Cyberbullying can be avoided, but if your body suffers injury, that would be a major loss."

Yu Xiaoxuan nodded continuously, "Mhm, I know, Sister Linda. I just came today after dropping Han Yi off at the airport, and I wanted to check on you."

"You’ve checked now, so if there’s nothing else, you should head back early," Linda said neutrally.

Yu Xiaoxuan pouted, "Sister Linda, it’s rare for me to come out, and you dislike me this much? I was hoping to have lunch with you."

"I’m eating in the company cafeteria, will you join me?"

"Sure, I’ve eaten at the company’s cafeteria too, and the taste of our lunch is actually pretty good," Yu Xiaoxuan said with a beaming smile.

Linda, having no other choice, said, "Fine, then you wait here for a bit. We’ll go eat in half an hour. In the meantime, think over the character motivations we just discussed. As for Tang Mina, I will handle it."

"Okay." Yu Xiaoxuan knew that her networking wasn’t as extensive as Linda’s. Linda could easily access certain information while she had to put in much more effort, so she naturally nodded in agreement.

Seeing that she was compliant, Linda left with relief, needing to arrange some scheduling matters for the afternoon since Gu Jiajia’s performance had never really satisfied her.

Linda wasn’t gone long before she returned, only to find Yu Xiaoxuan asleep on the desk. Linda smiled helplessly and draped a coat over Yu Xiaoxuan.

She was already forty this year, having devoted her early years to her career and remained unmarried. Yu Xiaoxuan’s age would make her a junior to Linda. Aside from their agent and artist relationship, privately, Yu Xiaoxuan was one of the closest persons she had guided through the years.

Yu Xiaoxuan didn’t sleep long and soon woke up, "Sister Linda, why didn’t you wake me?"

Linda closed her folder and stood up, "The timing is just right now, let’s go have a meal."

Yu Xiaoxuan nodded her head and stood up, still a bit groggy from just waking up.

After eating, Yu Xiaoxuan sat in Linda’s office for a while before leaving the company with her.

"Go home and study the script well. Try to secure this TV series for me. I hope, after it’s aired, that it will become your most iconic work and push for the Best Actress next year."

"Sister Linda, saying that makes me feel overwhelmed."

"Pressure creates motivation. This role challenges you greatly. If you grasp it well, your acting skills will improve significantly. If you have any questions, just give me a call," Linda said seriously.

Yu Xiaoxuan nodded, "Sister Linda, I understand. I’ll study hard. If I don’t succeed, at least I tried."

"Alright. Go home now and be careful on the road."

"Okay."

Linda waited for Yu Xiaoxuan to get in the car before she turned back to the office.

Unbeknownst to them, at the street corner, a black sedan had been watching Shengxuan’s direction. It followed immediately after Yu Xiaoxuan’s car drove away.

"Madam, shall we go directly home now?" the family driver, Master Chen asked.

"Yes, let’s head home," Yu Xiaoxuan leaned back in her seat, looking a bit tired since her usual nap was skipped today, affecting her energy.

As their car was about to pass a traffic light, a black sedan suddenly crashed into them from behind, causing Yu Xiaoxuan’s head to knock against the back of the front seat.

"Ouch, what happened?" Yu Xiaoxuan cried out, instinctively holding her stomach.

Master Chen stopped the car and looked back, "It seems like a rear-end collision. I’ll go check."

But before Master Chen could check, the vehicle that had hit them struck again forcefully, sending Yu Xiaoxuan’s head crashing against the window, turning her face pale, while the offending vehicle sped away.

This was no mere accident; it was clearly an attack. Master Chen didn’t bother to check the damage to the car but instead turned to Yu Xiaoxuan, "Madam, are you okay?"

Yu Xiaoxuan was holding her stomach, her complexion ghostly pale from fright. Hearing Master Chen’s words, she shook her head, "I’m fine, let’s hurry home."

Thankfully, the car was of good quality and performance, and even though it was hit twice, its performance was not affected.

However, as the car was halfway there, Yu Xiaoxuan’s complexion turned increasingly pale. "Master Chen, go to the hospital first, my stomach hurts."

Master Chen’s complexion changed, and after glancing at Yu Xiaoxuan and seeing her forehead sweating from pain, he quickly said, "Okay, ma’am, hold tight, I’m heading to the hospital now."

Master Chen stepped on the gas pedal and disregarded the traffic lights as he drove toward the closest hospital.

Feeling the pain in her stomach grow more intense, along with the dampness between her legs, Yu Xiaoxuan panicked. She took out her phone to call Han Yi, but his phone was off since he was on a plane. She then dialed Shen Qinglan’s number.

"Qinglan, I think I’m about to give birth," her voice carried a sob and fear.

Shen Qinglan’s complexion changed, "Where are you?"

Yu Xiaoxuan looked around and shook her head. "I... I don’t know. I’m on the way to the hospital, Qinglan, I’m scared."

"Xiao Xuan, take deep breathes. Do not be afraid. Calm down and hand the phone to the driver, I’ll speak to him."

Yu Xiaoxuan gave the phone to Master Chen, "Miss Shen."

"Master Chen, what direction are you heading in?" Shen Qinglan asked while grabbing her car keys. "Grandfather, Xiao Xuan is about to give birth, I’m going to the hospital." Before Old Sir Fu could respond, Shen Qinglan had already left.

"Master Chen, the nearest hospital to you is on Xinhua Road," Shen Qinglan said calmly; this hospital was precisely the one Han Yi had previously designated.

"Okay, Miss Shen, I’ll take the lady to the hospital now."

The driver returned the phone to Yu Xiaoxuan and sped up.

Yu Xiaoxuan could feel more and more liquid trailing down her leg, but she didn’t know if it was blood or amniotic fluid. She didn’t dare to look. "Qinglan, I’m so scared," Yu Xiaoxuan cried. For the first time in her life, encountering such a situation without her partner, family, or friends by her side, she felt as if she was on a deserted island.

Shen Qinglan drove as fast as possible, her car shooting forward like an arrow.

When Shen Qinglan arrived at the hospital, Yu Xiaoxuan had just reached the entrance. Seeing Shen Qinglan, she grabbed her hand tightly, "Wuwuwu, Qinglan."

Shen Qinglan wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and comforted her softly, "Don’t cry. You’ve just broken your waters, the baby will be fine. It can’t wait to come out and meet its mommy. Relax, you will see your baby very soon."

Yu Xiaoxuan’s tears kept flowing. "Qinglan, I can’t stop them." She was extremely scared.

"Don’t be afraid. I’ll stay here with you. Where’s Han Yi, where did he go?"

Upon hearing that, Yu Xiaoxuan cried even harder, "Han Yi went on a business trip to Country F."

Shen Qinglan’s expression hardened. Of all times for Han Yi to be away on business, it had to be now, no wonder Yu Xiaoxuan was so scared.

The doctor quickly examined Yu Xiaoxuan, "The mother’s waters have broken. Prepare for delivery immediately."

At the delivery room door, Yu Xiaoxuan was clutching Shen Qinglan’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go. "Qinglan, I’m scared."

Shen Qinglan soothed her gently, "Don’t worry; I’ll be right outside waiting for you. I won’t go anywhere."