Su Qi didn't know how she managed to say those words.
She had truly loved Huo Tingyun and sincerely wished for him to be happy with Xu Linyun.
Before she could finish speaking, she felt the man's hand on her stomach intensify slightly.
As if afraid of harming the child within her, the man's hand moved to her waist and tightened.
"Su Qi, what do I mean to you now?"
Su Qi was stunned. She hadn't expected him to ask her such a question.
It felt as if he were asking, "Do you still love me?"
"Huo Tingyun, I once loved a man for a very, very long time. I can't even recall how long. Even the most passionate ardor eventually cools. I couldn't warm his heart, so I let go. But that man refused to let me leave. I'm a bit lost. What do you think he's thinking?"
Su Qi looked up and met the man's eyes.
It was the first time she had looked at the man before her so seriously.
His chiseled facial features were like a sculpted plaster cast. His deep-set eyes were inlaid with pupils like obsidian, as profound as the sea, making one feel as if they could fall in just by looking.
The man's lips were slightly pale.
From the night of their wedding, when she had called out another man's name, he knew she always had someone else in her heart.
He had never dared to ask who that man was.
He seemed to lack the courage to face the answer.
When he encountered Su Qi in the garden of Shencheng University that day, he appeared calm on the surface, but beneath, a storm was brewing. Upon returning, he immediately had Assistant Lin pull up Su Qi's file. He spent the entire night poring over it, only falling asleep in the late hours.
When he kissed Su Qi in the Juyuan, he didn't know what had come over him. His mind seemed to lose control, and he kissed her as if compelled, becoming lost in the moment.
She was too beautiful. But as she drifted in and out of sleep, hearing her murmur a man's name, all the blood seemed to rush to his head. He had never felt such rage.
If she still had someone else in her heart, why did she climb into his bed? Why did she marry him? Was it only for money?!
For money, she would even marry someone she didn't love?!
This baseless anger made him feel an intense aversion towards her.
After their marriage, he never returned to Shallow Bay of his own accord. Even though she diligently brought him breakfast every day, and stayed by his side to care for him when he was sick, he ignored her. Her actions only made him feel more disgusted and hateful towards her.
Many times, he had wanted to ask her who the man was that she had called out that night, but he had never spoken the words.
Huo Tingyun lowered his gaze, his intense stare fixed on Su Qi's eyes, a tremor running through him. "Who is that man? The man you loved for so many years, the man you dream of even in your sleep, what is his name?"
Last time at the hospital, she had said it, but he had damn well not heard it.
This time, he wanted her to clearly state who that man was.
Su Qi didn't answer. Instead, she said with a hint of melancholy, "It's meaningless to say it now. That man's childhood sweetheart is pregnant..."
"What a scumbag."
Hearing the man say that, Su Qi found it a little amusing. Who calls themselves a scumbag?
"Huo Tingyun, Xu Linyun is pregnant. You should be responsible for her."
"She..."
The child in her belly was not his.
Huo Tingyun felt a headache coming on. Lately, many things seemed to be spiraling out of control.
He raised his hand and pressed it to the left side of his chest, over his heart.
Even his own heart seemed to be increasingly beyond his control.
Just as the man was about to say something, the phone on the bedside table vibrated.
The man picked up the phone, frowning deeply as he listened to Assistant Lin. He stood up, putting on his clothes as he said, "I'm coming over now."
Su Qi pushed herself up with her arms, finding it difficult to move. Seeing his urgency, she assumed it was something important.
Huo Tingyun walked towards the door, paused, and then turned back to Su Qi, "Rest well."
He reached out and turned off the light, plunging the spacious room into darkness, leaving Su Qi alone.
The boundless darkness seemed capable of swallowing her whole in an instant.
It was fine, she was already used to sleeping alone, eating alone, waking up alone.
Now, she was no longer alone.
She placed a hand on her slightly protruding belly.
Five months. Soon she would see her baby's face. She would go for an ultrasound in a few days.
"Baby, Mommy is sorry. Daddy doesn't want you anymore, but Mommy will love you dearly..."
The next day, Su Qi went to the hospital. Xu Linchuan performed an ultrasound for her. After applying a transparent gel to her belly, he placed the instrument on it. Soon, Su Qi saw the baby's appearance on the screen. Though blurry, it was already formed.
"Congratulations, it's a boy."
"A son or a daughter is fine..." Su Qi placed both hands over her heart, her emotions stirring, her voice trembling slightly.
She finally had her own family, blood relatives.
"Take good care of yourself. If there are no complications, your due date should be around the Spring Festival."
Xu Linchuan gently wiped away the transparent liquid from Su Qi's belly and helped her sit up.
"Li Cuiping's grave has been prepared, and she has been cremated and buried. Would you like to go to the cemetery and burn some joss paper?"
"Thank you. I'll go when I have time."
Su Qi stood up with Xu Linchuan's support.
Until she found the murderer, she didn't even have the courage to see Li Cuiping.
Too many things had happened recently. She needed to take it step by step, first resolving the company's matters, then investigating the truth.
During this time, Su Yan had been asking about Li Cuiping's whereabouts. Su Qi had made an excuse that Li Cuiping was traveling.
Ultimately, paper couldn't wrap fire. Such a lie wouldn't last long.
Su Qi stood up and walked out into the corridor. As she took a step out of the room, she saw a man standing at the end of the corridor, telling a woman to take care of herself. The woman leaned into the man's embrace, appearing delicate and dependent. After speaking, the man left the hospital, quickly disappearing down the corridor.
Su Qi stopped in her tracks. After the man left, she walked out from the doorway. Just as she was about to leave, she heard a voice from behind her, "Wait!"
She paused and turned around. "Miss Xu."
Xu Linyun couldn't believe Su Qi was also at the hospital. She glanced at Su Qi. "Strange, have you gained weight? You look a little plumper than before."
"Thank you for your concern. I've been eating and sleeping well recently. My health is good."