Lin Mei was startled when the child suddenly approached. She looked at the boy, who appeared to be about six or seven years old, not short, and very handsome and cute. However, his hand was bandaged, as if he had just finished an IV drip.
Lin Mei hadn't initially connected the boy with Xing Zheng. She thought the child had mistaken her.
Unexpectedly, Xing Zheng bent down and started talking to the little boy.
"Yang Shuo? Why are you here alone? Where is your mother?" Xing Zheng asked him.
Lin Mei watched in surprise. Xing Zheng had skillfully called the child by name and hadn't objected to the child calling him "Dad." Could this really be his child?
Lin Mei couldn't help but observe the child's appearance more closely: sword-like eyebrows, deep eyes, a high nose bridge… he indeed resembled Xing Zheng greatly.
But the child was already this old. If he was six, then Xing Zheng must have had him at twenty.
"Mom! I'm here!" Lin Mei heard the child call out "Mom," her attention returning as she looked up.
She saw a simply dressed woman walking over. She wore a white dress, a large canvas bag slung over her shoulder, and had long black hair.
Even with such simple attire, her beauty was undeniable.
The woman stopped in front of Xing Zheng, and when she looked at him, her eyes clearly showed surprise, along with a hesitant shyness.
"Ah Zheng, why are you here?" Ruan Yufei asked, and then looked at Lin Mei beside him.
Lin Mei sensed her hostility and wariness, clearly the attitude one would have towards a love rival.
There was no need for further confirmation. This beautiful woman in white was likely one of Xing Zheng's many women, but this one was special, with a child by her side.
No wonder Xing Zheng was personally bringing her for a check-up. Perhaps, having learned from this experience, he was afraid of another child being conceived.
It was a pity, though, that she wasn't this beautiful woman, willing to sacrifice her youth and energy to have a child with an unworthy man.
"Accompanying someone for a check-up," Xing Zheng replied to Ruan Yufei's question, then asked her, "What about you? Is Yang Shuo sick again?"
Mentioning this, Ruan Yufei's face showed guilt. She bit her lip lightly, blaming herself, "It's my fault. Yang Shuo kicked off his blanket while sleeping and got a fever…"
Xing Zheng immediately became serious. "Why didn't you tell me about something this serious?"
Ruan Yufei's eyes welled up at Xing Zheng's reprimand. She hurried to explain, her voice trembling with tears, "Ah Zheng, I, I didn't mean to hide it. I was just afraid of causing you trouble…"
"Alright, don't cry." Seeing Ruan Yufei in tears, Xing Zheng softened his tone considerably. "Next time Yang Shuo gets sick, notify me immediately, okay?"
Ruan Yufei nodded and obediently said, "Okay, Ah Zheng."
"Dad, Dad!" Yang Shuo tugged at Xing Zheng's hand, excitedly saying, "Dad, can you come home today to eat with Mom and me? Doesn't Dad like Mom's fried rice the most?"
Ruan Yufei quickly held Yang Shuo back. She glanced timidly at Lin Mei and whispered to Yang Shuo, "Dad is busy with other things. Don't be willful, Yang Shuo."
Watching this loving family of three, Lin Mei felt like an intruder. Especially Ruan Yufei's gaze, which seemed to regard her as a wicked mistress disrupting someone's family.
Lin Mei checked the time. Her report should be ready soon. She turned and walked towards the report machine, not speaking to Xing Zheng.
Xing Zheng watched Lin Mei walk to the report machine before turning back to the mother and son in front of him.
Facing Yang Shuo's expectant gaze, Xing Zheng patted his shoulder and said, "I have other things to do today. I'll come see you on the weekend."
Yang Shuo was disappointed but understanding. "Okay… then Mom and I will wait for Dad on the weekend."
Ruan Yufei was extremely excited upon hearing this. She tightened her grip on her bag. "Ah Zheng, you don't have to come over. You can focus on your work first. Yang Shuo and I…"
"I'll come over on the weekend. I have something to tell you then," Xing Zheng interrupted Ruan Yufei. "Take Yang Shuo back. I'm going to be busy."
"Okay, okay…" Ruan Yufei placed her hand on her son's shoulder and watched Xing Zheng leave. When she saw Xing Zheng walk towards the radiant and beautiful woman, Ruan Yufei gently bit her lower lip.
"Mom, is that auntie Dad's new girlfriend?" Yang Shuo had naturally seen Lin Mei too. However, he harbored hostility towards this woman who was competing for Xing Zheng's attention.
"Mom doesn't know." Ruan Yufei stared in that direction, lost in thought. "Let's go home."
—
Lin Mei's report wasn't out yet. She swiped her ID card twice, but the machine didn't respond. Lin Mei didn't want to go anywhere else, so she kept trying to swipe her ID.
When Xing Zheng arrived, he saw Lin Mei repeatedly swiping her ID card on the machine with great agitation. He grabbed Lin Mei's wrist and smiled, reminding her, "If you break the machine, the hospital will charge you for it."
Lin Mei turned around. Seeing Xing Zheng's smile, she inexplicably felt angry. She flung Xing Zheng's hand away and looked behind her. The mother and son were gone.
Xing Zheng took in Lin Mei's actions but said nothing. He glanced at his watch. "The report will take at least another half hour to come out. Let's get something to eat first."
Lin Mei: "I have no appetite."
She had been a little hungry, but after seeing him with that mother and son, her appetite vanished.
Of course, the mother and son were innocent. Lin Mei was disgusted by Xing Zheng's philandering behavior. She pondered that regardless of whether she was pregnant, this check-up was necessary.
What if Xing Zheng's "dirty" germs infected her with some unclean disease!
"Your temper is getting worse and worse," Xing Zheng grabbed Lin Mei's hand and pulled her into his embrace. He lowered his head and whispered into her ear, teasingly, "When Chen Jing bullied you, why didn't you show this much spirit? You only act out in front of me."
"Don't touch me! It's disgusting!" Lin Mei cursed, struggling free from him, and actually gagged.
However, Xing Zheng didn't let go. He pulled her to the hospital cafeteria and bought breakfast for two.
With the breakfast placed before them, Lin Mei refused to eat. Xing Zheng peeled an egg and offered it to her. Lin Mei directly slapped his hand away.
Xing Zheng reminded her, "You were feeling nauseous just now because you haven't eaten for too long. If you don't eat, you'll be the one feeling uncomfortable."
Lin Mei: "You don't need to worry about me."
Xing Zheng stroked her cheek. "Be good, listen to me. Or do you want me to feed you mouth-to-mouth?"
After saying that, he leaned in towards her. Lin Mei knew too well how crazy Xing Zheng was; this scoundrel was capable of anything!
Lin Mei took the egg from his hand and took a bite. She glanced sideways at Xing Zheng, her expression clearly asking, "Are you satisfied?"
Xing Zheng touched her face again. "I care about you, and you're not grateful."
Lin Mei gave a sarcastic smile. "There are plenty of women in the world waiting for Mr. Xing's attention. You don't need to waste your time on me."
Xing Zheng pinched her chin and chuckled teasingly, "You're carrying my child. Who else would I care about if not you?"