Chapter 34: If You Don't Want It, I Can Get an Abortion!

The man paused in his stride and turned around with cold detachment. "Are you sure it's my child? I never touched you!"

Bai Cixian shielded her lower abdomen. "That night you first came back to the country, in the hotel room, you called Miss Meng, but she was busy restoring ancient beads and didn't pick up.

Later you got drunk, and we..."

As she spoke, her eyes brimmed with pink tears, gazing at him timidly, full of grievance and helplessness. "If you don't want it, I'll go to the hospital right now and get an abortion."

The man looked at her, for the first time doubting himself about the matter of drinking.

He had always been disciplined and moderate, never overindulging, with everything under control.

But Bai Cixian said that years ago, he got drunk and gave her a white jade hairpin, and now had a fleeting tryst with her as well.

Before the man could think further, Gu Yeheng's call came through.

"Cixian's mother—your Aunt Bai—just called to say Cixian is pregnant, and it's your child.

This is wonderful news. Hurry up and bring Cixian home so your grandmother can see.

Your grandmother has always wanted a great-grandchild, and now here one comes."

"Understood." Gu Yunci hung up the phone and said to Qin Zheng, "Help her up."

With that, the man turned and walked outside. Passing by the Starry Pavilion, he stopped and glanced inside.

Meng Shutang was still busy. A breeze blew by, a strand of hair caught at her red lips. She lifted her hand and gently brushed it away, serene and gentle.

When she looked up to grab a tool, she met the man's gaze, froze for half a second, then calmly looked away.

He gazed inside until his phone vibrated again. Only then did he withdraw his eyes, bend down, and get into the car.

A moment later, Bai Cixian also came out of the coffee shop and sat down beside Gu Yunci.

The Rolls-Royce slowly started up and disappeared at the mouth of the alley.

Inside the studio, Meng Shutang had just picked up a fine-bristled brush. From the corner of her eye she caught the movement outside the window, cast a cold glance at Bai Cixian in the passenger seat, and the brush at her fingertips paused briefly on the ancient bead before quickly resuming its steady rhythm.

She lowered her head, focused on brushing dust from the crevices of the ancient bead, as if everything outside the window had nothing to do with her.

The Gu family old residence.

Gu Yunci had not yet arrived, but Gu Yeheng had already told the old lady the good news.

"I knew it—it was that girl Meng Shutang's problem. Three years, and not a peep from her belly.

Cixian, just once, and she's pregnant.

Looks like it's not the seed that's no good, it's the soil."

Hearing this, the old lady was so angry she nearly passed out.

This father and son—neither one was any good.

One flattered a mistress, the other cheated in marriage.

The old lady picked up a broom and began sweeping. "Today's a big cleaning day at home, so no outside guests. If you want to celebrate, go find somewhere else—just not here with me."

Gu Yeheng sat without moving. "Mom, you're going too far!

Cixian is carrying a Gu family descendant. How can you side with an outsider like Meng Shutang?"

"I don't know about outsiders or insiders. I only know she can't carry herself with dignity.

If I let her in to pour me tea and I throw the cup on the floor, it won't look good.

Chairman Gu, my temple here is small—move your behind!"

Saying that, she picked up the broom and started hitting him with it.

Gu Yeheng didn't dare push back against the old lady—after all, her health was poor, and if something happened to her, that would be terrible.

He got up and left. The old lady's trusted aide, Aunt Song, came out and locked the door.

Half an hour later, Gu Yunci and his party arrived.

Bai Cixian was even warmer seeing Gu Yeheng than Gu Yunci was. "Uncle Gu, you didn't go inside—you were waiting for us on purpose, weren't you?"

Gu Yeheng gave an awkward smile and turned to look at Gu Yunci. "Yunci, knock on the door. Let's... go in together."

The old lady doted most on this eldest grandson, feeling he was most like her husband.

Gu Yeheng figured that if Gu Yunci knocked, the old lady wouldn't have the heart not to open up.

Gu Yunci walked over and pressed the doorbell.

Five minutes later, the door opened, but only a crack.

Aunt Song stood at the door. "The old lady has a few words to pass along."

With that, she faced Gu Yunci. "The Gu family's door is not for just any Tom, Dick, or Harry to enter.

Yunci, if you still acknowledge me as your grandmother, then don't bring irrelevant people here to be an eyesore."

After saying that, she looked at Bai Cixian. "Young lady, you should know your place.

The Gu family doesn't take in those with crooked intentions. Go on your way, and don't come disturb this old woman's peace."

Then Aunt Song looked last at Gu Yeheng, her tone sharpening. "Gu Yeheng, do you have nothing better to do? Someone else gets pregnant—what the hell does it have to do with you?

If you really have nothing to do, the latrine pit in the back courtyard is full. Go haul the manure.

If you ever say another one of your tone-deaf things in front of me again, I'll drag you to the back courtyard and see if that shuts your mouth.

I don't care what anyone says out there—the Gu family's eldest daughter-in-law is Sweetie and only Sweetie.

After saying that, Aunt Song was about to shut the door, but suddenly seemed to remember something and spat at Gu Yeheng, "Bah, how did I give birth to a son like you?"

Bang—the door was slammed shut.

The three of them stood there dumbfounded.

Bai Cixian especially, her face alternating between white and red.

Didn't Gu Yeheng say the old lady wanted a great-grandchild most of all? She was pregnant—so why did the old lady refuse to acknowledge it now?

Or was it that what the old lady wanted was only a child that Meng Shutang carried?

Seeing this, Gu Yeheng consoled her. "Cixian, don't be upset. The old lady is old-fashioned. She'll come around in a while."

After saying that, he again said to Gu Yunci, "The old lady handled this matter improperly today; later, you should comfort Bai Cixian well."

After saying that, he made an excuse that he still had things to do and left.

Gu Yunci comforted Bai Cixian with a few words, then escorted her home.

At the doorstep, Bai Cixian grabbed his arm, "Gu Yunci, my belly is growing day by day; when are we getting married?"

"The child… will also need to be registered in the household registry later."

Gu Yunci pulled his arm away, "Let's talk about it later!"

"Let's talk about it later," rather than promising to marry her after divorcing Meng Shutang.

"Does that mean, even if he divorces Meng Shutang, he still won't marry her?"

"He would only keep her like a caged goldfinch, giving her no status?"

Bai Cixian dared not think that, but she wasn't afraid; she now carried Gu Yunci's child, and she believed that one day the gates of the Gu family would open wide for her.

……

Night fell; Gu Yunci didn't see Meng Shutang return, so he asked Zhang Ma, "Young Mistress… hasn't gotten off work yet?"

Zhang Ma said, "I'll give her a call to ask."

Zhang Ma took out her phone and patiently asked Meng Shutang when she would be back.

Meng Shutang said, "Zhang Ma, I was about to call you to say I went to Jiangcheng Yiyuan to see my mother.

"I'll head to Auspicious Hutong later to bring something to my grandmother; these two days I won't be returning to Qian Shui Wan."

"Please let President Gu know."

Zhang Ma nodded, "Okay."

Zhang Ma thought Gu Yunci was just casually asking about Meng Shutang; after pouring water, he went upstairs.

Turning around, she saw him standing there with one hand in his pocket, and she was startled.

"President Gu, you didn't go upstairs?"

Gu Yunci asked, "What did she say?"

Zhang Ma composed herself, wondering what was wrong with this master today, why he suddenly started caring about the Young Mistress!

"The Young Mistress said she's going to the hospital to see her mother, then later to Auspicious Hutong, and won't be coming back these two days."

The man's eyes flickered slightly; this works out well, as he had been worrying about how to tell Meng Shutang that Bai Cixian is pregnant.