Zheng Peipei pursed her lips, "Can you tell me how you've arranged things for Yuxi?"
"Before I leave, I'll have two of the most experienced instructors from Nocas transferred to Xi'er. Once Xi'er can train instructors herself, they can return."
"If you leave, will it affect Yuxi's side?"
"No, you absolutely mustn't underestimate Xi'er. If she's willing to take over the Lan Corporation, she'll be even more capable than my elder brother."
"I'm actually very envious of Yuxi. If I could be like her, I wouldn't be looked down upon by my family."
Lan Musi affectionately rubbed her head, "They just don't recognize your brilliance. In my eyes, you'll always be the best!"
Zheng Peipei's lips curved upwards slightly. She raised her hand and took off her white coat. "Do you have somewhere you need to go?"
"No, do you have somewhere you want to go?"
Zheng Peipei's face turned red, and after a long pause, she softly said, "Can you accompany me to the hospital?"
Lan Musi was slightly stunned. "Are you going to see Hanyi?"
Zheng Peipei shook her head. "Not Hanyi for now. Can you take me to a hospital where there won't be any acquaintances?"
"You..." Lan Musi's forehead immediately broke out in a sweat. He suddenly remembered what his sister had told him and, feigning calmness, said, "Alright. But before we go, can you tell me what's bothering you?"
"Nothing's bothering me."
Lan Musi's eyes darkened. "I see. You must resent me right now. It's all my fault for being too oblivious and not noticing you were unwell. How about I take your pulse now?"
Zheng Peipei looked at him with great hesitation for a while before pulling him towards the car. "We can talk in the car."
Lan Musi quickly opened the passenger door and helped her in.
Zheng Peipei touched her lower abdomen, and after he got in, she took a long moment before speaking. "Musis, I might be pregnant."
Lan Musi was momentarily stunned, then reached out and took her hand. "Really? That's wonderful!"
Zheng Peipei hesitated for a moment, then gently withdrew her hand. "Do you like children?"
"Of course, I do! This is our child, how could I not like it!"
"But I still have at least three years of study before I can finish my postgraduate degree. This child has come at a rather inconvenient time."
"Who says you can't pursue your postgraduate studies after getting pregnant? You just focus on giving birth, and I'll handle taking care of the child. You go to school."
"But after giving birth, you need at least a month to rest."
"If I'm not mistaken, your due date should be in May. King Nocas's birthday is also in May, and all schools have a break in May for rehearsals. I suspect Professor Gao will choose to return home for a holiday. By the time he gets back, you'll be nearly a month postpartum. Even if you miss a few days of class, with Xi'er's relationship with Professor Gao, he'll grant you leave."
"But..."
Seeing Zheng Peipei's troubled expression, Lan Musi interrupted her. "The choice is yours, after all, the child is in your belly. I won't force you. Although I really want a child, if you truly don't want it, I'll accompany you to the hospital to terminate the pregnancy immediately."
Tears welled up in Zheng Peipei's eyes and began to fall. "If we do that, wouldn't I be very cruel?"
Lan Musi raised his wrist to cover his slightly red eyes, his voice choked with emotion. "This is not your fault. It's my fault. I gave him life but couldn't protect him as he entered this world."
Zheng Peipei was slightly taken aback, then quickly grabbed his hand. "Musis, don't cry. I haven't decided yet."
"Since you've had this thought, it means you don't like him. A child who isn't loved by its mother will suffer in this world. I don't want him to become like you are now in the future."
Lan Musi lowered his arm, tears in his eyes, and took out his phone.
"I'll apply for a month's maternity leave from Professor Gao for you, and then we'll go to the hospital. The later this procedure is done, the more you'll suffer."
Zheng Peipei snatched the phone away. "How can you be like this! Who says I don't like him! I was abandoned by my family, and he's the closest person I have in this world."
Lan Musi stared at her blankly for a moment, then suddenly pulled her into a hug. "That's wonderful! You've finally agreed to keep our child!"
Zheng Peipei pouted aggrievedly. "I never thought about not having him. I said that just to know your true feelings."
Lan Musi's body stiffened slightly, then he smiled and ruffled her hair. "Who taught you this? You scared me to death!"
"Are you that timid?"
"Yes!" Lan Musi laughed and started the engine. "Did you bring your ID?"
"Yes, I did. Why?"
"I'm taking you somewhere." Lan Musi whistled and drove away with a smile.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll know when we get there." Lan Musi dialed Nan Xiao's number with a smile. "Call that comrade of yours named Ma. I'll go find him shortly."
Nan Xiao asked with a smile, "Success so quickly?"
"Absolutely!"
"Okay, I'll call him right away. We'll celebrate when we get back tonight."
Lan Musi hung up the Bluetooth and glanced at Zheng Peipei, who looked suspicious.
Zheng Peipei pouted. Since she was already on this boat, she might as well let him have his way. After all, he wouldn't harm her and the child.
However, when she saw the words "Civil Affairs Bureau," she was a little dumbfounded.
"Why are we here?"
"We're here to register our marriage, of course. I don't want our child to be called illegitimate!"
Lan Musi got out of the car.
Zheng Peipei suddenly felt an urge to run away, but before she could act, Lan Musi pulled her into the hall.
Hongmen.
Lan Zixin looked at the tall vermilion gate and pressed the doorbell.
The main door slowly opened, and a young disciple of Si Wan ran out with a smile. "Miss Zixin, please come in!"
Lan Zixin was slightly surprised. "You know me?"
"Of course, I do! My Grandmaster talks about you all the time." The little boy gestured for her to enter, took the gifts from the bodyguards, and led them to the main hall.
Elder Hong heard the voices outside and walked out with a smile.
"Child Zixin, I recognized your voice the moment you arrived. You truly kept your word and came to see me."
Lan Zixin clasped her hands in a fist and solemnly bowed. "Grandmaster, please accept this junior's salute."
"This child!" Elder Hong laughed and helped her up. "Your complexion is even better than a few days ago."
"Xi'er and my mother have been feeding me all sorts of nourishing things daily. I can't help but look better." Lan Zixin smiled and linked her arm with Elder Hong's. "Grandmaster, please show me around Hongmen. I'd like to see the place where my maternal grandmother lived as a child."
"Alright. We'll go to your grandmother's courtyard first. Then, Grandmaster will take you to the training grounds and the garden in the back. Many of the flowers there were planted by your grandmother when she was a child."
"If my grandmother knew that the flowers she planted as a child are still alive, she'd be very happy. Actually, she's wanted to visit you for a long time, but I've been dragging her down. Later, when An Lanshu came up with that treaty, my grandmother didn't want to cause trouble for Xi'er, so she decided not to come back."