Chapter 114: What's Wrong with the Belly?

Actually, from outside you can't see clearly; you only see a human silhouette inside, like a ghost.

Song Huan Yan finally couldn't help but step forward and knocked on the car window.

Qiao An frowned, pressed the window down, and wore a timid, frightened expression.

Song Huan Yan said coldly, "You'd better have some self‑awareness and let go early. Whether you're worthy of Marquis Nan Gong, you know better than anyone how you think he sees you."

Qiao An's eyes widened in terror as she watched Song Huan Yan turn and walk away, with Meng Zhangfeng following behind her.

Qiao An felt an inexplicable panic inside and instinctively covered her lower abdomen.

She kept feeling that Song Huan Yan was deliberately, even maliciously, targeting her.

Could it be that Song Huan Yan knows something?

Impossible!

Only she and Qin Zi Mo know about her pregnancy.

She went to the hospital using a temporary fake ID, and kept it tightly concealed; how could Song Huan Yan possibly know?

Unless Song Huan Yan hired someone to stalk her.

But no one was following her.

At that moment, the car door slammed open; Marquis Nan Gong got in.

Qiao An was startled, then steadied herself and pulled out of the panic.

No way, Song Huan Yan couldn't possibly know!

Song Huan Yan simply despised her, wanted to crush her forever, and said that because she was unworthy of Marquis Nan Gong.

"What did she say to you?" Marquis asked, but his gaze instantly fell on Qiao An's hand.

Qiao An's hand was still unconsciously covering her belly.

She hadn't even realized she was still doing that.

Qiao An's eyes watery, she felt instantly aggrieved and said, "She said... I'm not worthy of you. She told me... to have some self‑awareness and leave you early."

Marquis Nan Gong's face darkened, "You don't need to care what she says. Whether you leave or not, I decide."

Marquis was very domineering.

Qiao An was slightly stunned.

Then she heard Marquis suddenly ask gently and concerned, "What's wrong with your belly?"

Qiao An's eyes widened a bit, came to herself, glanced down, hurriedly released her hand, shook her head, "No, nothing."

"Then why are you covering your belly?" Marquis asked worriedly, "Does it hurt? Go to the hospital for a check."

After speaking, Marquis ordered the driver, "Go to the hospital."

"Yes," the driver started the car.

Qiao An's face turned pale with fear, she quickly grabbed Marquis's hand, "I'm not uncomfortable, Marquis brother, you don't need to be nervous or make a big deal. I won't go to the hospital."

She then told the driver, "Return to the Bieshu, we aren't going to the hospital."

She felt guilty and very nervous.

Marquis said, "Even if your belly isn't uncomfortable, still go to the hospital for a check‑up."

As he spoke, his caring gaze fell on Qiao An's slightly swollen face.

Meng Zhangfeng was a big man, and also quite skillful.

Could those two slaps be gentle?

"No, no, really no need," Qiao An shook her head desperately, "For this kind of injury, just apply ice back home; the hospital won't help. Besides, I'm tired and don't want to trouble myself."

After she kept insisting, Marquis finally said, "Fine, let's return to the Bieshu."

The two returned to the Bieshu, and Marquis had a servant bring ice to apply to her face.

Then he said directly, "Song Huan Yan just told me something earlier."

Qiao An's heart suddenly hammered, and she asked cautiously, "What matter?"

Marquis looked at her, "She said you spread rumors that she had a child with her ex‑boyfriend. What's that about?"

Only then did Qiao An sigh in relief; she realized Song Huan Yan had nothing else to target her about, just these two points.

Qiao An said, "Do you know that before the Marriage Alliance with your elder brother, Song Huan Yan had a blind date with Leng Jian Yue, but it didn't work out?"

"I know," Marquis replied.

Qiao An said calmly, "Later Leng Jian Yue didn't give up; he kept pursuing Song Huan Yan. I boasted about chasing Qin Yingdi, but it was just talk, because I knew Qin Yingdi liked her. That day Leng Jian Yue brought many bodyguards to the set looking for Qin Yingdi, and also brought me and his manager along, then aggressively asked Qin Yingdi how far his relationship with Song Huan Yan had progressed."

Qin Yingdi answered honestly, saying he had done everything he should, and I... lied that I saw Song Huan Yan having a child at the hospital. But the truth was I knew Qin Yingdi didn't want Leng Jian Yue to pursue Song Huan Yan and wanted him to back off, so... I lied to help Qin Yingdi, because compared with Leng Jian Yue, Qin Yingdi had no chance at all.

Qiao An's explanation was obviously prepared in advance, airtight.

She didn't dare to insist that Song Huan Yan had a child, because it was false.

Hearing that, Marquis furrowed his brows, "Why are you helping that Qin family person?"

Qiao An lowered her eyes, "Before you showed up, I somewhat idolized Qin Yingdi. I knew his mind and eyes were all about Song Huan Yan... I... could I not help him?"

Saying that, she really seemed overly kind!

But after speaking, she immediately lifted her eyes to Marquis, "Marquis brother, do you mind that I... once idolized him?"

Marquis stretched his hand and rubbed her head, "No. There's nothing to mind about the past. You... are just too kind. Your original intention was to bring them together, but the matter of having a child isn't a glamorous thing for a woman; don't ever drag dirty water onto yourself by helping others in the future."

Qiao An pretended to be obedient and nodded, "I understand."

Marquis said, "If she targets you because of this and doesn't like you, it's not surprising."

Qiao An looked at Marquis naively.

Marquis sighed and explained, "These things are already unpleasant, and she's already married to my elder brother. You spread rumors and even tried to help her reconcile with her ex, so of course she despises you. An An, you really are too simple and naive."

Qiao An shed tears, sobbing, "It's all my fault for being immature; I tried to help but only made things worse."

Marquis pulled her into his arms, "Learn from this mistake and don't repeat it again."

Qiao An is naturally sweet‑looking and cute in her youthful appearance, so committing such a foolish act is easily forgiven.

"Um, I understand, I'll never do it again!" Qiao An cooed, exploiting her looks to the utmost.

Lord Nan Gong fell silent.

Qiao An suddenly rose from his arms, tears streaming anxiously, "But brother Duke, because of the rift between me and your elder brother, he wants to expel you from the family. What should we do? Should you go explain to your elder brother? You must not be expelled!"

Lord Nan Gong remained calm and said, "My elder brother's temper has always been absolute. But never mind, An An, I have my own enterprises and career; even if I'm expelled, I'll still provide you with a comfortable life. It may not match my elder brother's, but it's not lacking either, it's still a Top‑tier wealthy family."

Lord Nan Gong is an exceptionally talented neurologist, owning his own hospital and the Nan Gong Clan's ancestral business.

Imperial Emperor, Lord Nan Gong holds shares.

Because the Imperial Emperor's predecessor was the ancestral Nan Gong Group.

Nan Gong Yu took over at seventeen, renamed himself Imperial Emperor, and then built Imperial Emperor into a massive global number‑one commercial empire.

Lord Nan Gong owns half the shares, though they stem from the former Nan Gong Group.

But out of brotherly affection, Nan Gong Yu did not touch Lord Nan Gong's shares.

Yet Lord Nan Gong, also for brotherly affection, knows Imperial Emperor is no longer the old Nan Gong Group, so he relinquishes his shares.

It was Nan Gong Yu who insisted on giving him a one‑percent stake.

There were also various properties and commercial assets, all ancestral; when Nan Gong Yu assumed the Head of the Family, he allocated them to Lord Nan Gong.

However… with the two brothers at odds, Lord Nan Gong no longer intends to take that one‑percent stake.

That is all his elder brother's hard work.

If Nan Gong Yu truly publicly expels him from the family, he will also publicly return the shares, even the dividends from these years, and he doesn't mind.

Because that was his elder brother's property to begin with.

If brotherly affection is gone, he… doesn't want these either; they're meaningless, right?

Even that one‑percent share can yield annual dividends of several hundred billion, astonishingly massive.

Thus Lord Nan Gong is certainly not poor, but it's a fact he can't match Nan Gong Yu.

Nevertheless, the assets he possesses are wealth beyond most people's reach.

Even if he establishes his own house, he would still rank among Top‑tier wealthy families, indisputable.

But Qiao An would never agree; in her heart she still wants to flirt with Nan Gong Yu.

If Lord Nan Gong leaves the Nan Gong family, how could she ever get close to Nan Gong Yu later?

Qiao An said anxiously, "No, that's not right, on what grounds? I'm not just after a good life; you are the second young master of Nan Gong, your parents' biological son, his biological younger brother. How can he drive you out of the family? Moreover, marriage is free; how could he force you to marry anyone? In any case you must not concede on this! You cannot be expelled."

Lord Nan Gong smiled and looked at her, "You're actually wrong about one thing; my elder brother certainly has the power to interfere with whom I wish to marry."

Qiao An widened her eyes, tears about to fall, "What?"

Lord Nan Gong sighed, "My elder brother's abilities are beyond your imagination. Do you believe that tomorrow I'll take you to the Civil Affairs Bureau and no one will dare to issue us a Marriage Certificate? They'll find every excuse to refuse."

"What?" Qiao An's eyes widened even more, "He, he, he's a devil!"

Lord Nan Gong said, "We may have to go abroad."

He twisted his brow and added, "But even abroad might not work. My elder brother's sphere of influence is huge; even world leaders give him a little deference. If he makes a move…"

Qiao An burst into tears, not knowing whether from sadness or from being moved by how impressive Nan Gong Yu truly is.

After all, she knows too little about such a top‑tier magnate.

"Then… then… then…" Qiao An stammered for a while before asking, "What should we do?"

Lord Nan Gong patted her head, "There's always a way."

Qiao An added, "So brother Duke, you must not be expelled! You are his biological younger brother! I absolutely disagree! All of this is because of Song Huan Yan!"

"You… are very afraid I'll be expelled? If I'm expelled, you won't want to stay with me, right?" Lord Nan Gong suddenly asked.

Qiao An was startled and quickly shook her head; how could she possibly not want to stay with Lord Nan Gong?

After all, aside from Nan Gong Yu, Lord Nan Gong is undoubtedly the second‑best candidate nationwide.

"No, that's not it. I'm just standing up for you; I also firmly refuse to agree or compromise. Your brothers have a good relationship, and your elder brother wants to expel you over a woman; I think you absolutely shouldn't agree!"

"But I don't mind," Lord Nan Gong said, "My elder brother's words are spoken; spilled water can't be retrieved, expulsion is a done‑deal. An An, you should support me."

Qiao An was stunned, almost losing her temper, "Support what the hell!"

Still doesn't matter?

Is Lord Nan Gong a fool?

What's good about expulsion?

But Qiao An, of course, didn't dare lose her temper; instead she said, "I… I'm not unsupportive; I'm just standing up for you, defending your grievance."

Lord Nan Gong replied, "No need. Even if I'm expelled I don't care; I, Lord Nan Gong, can still stand on my own."

Qiao An: "....."