Chapter 387: Miao Yijia Has Had an Accident

Xia Xuan woke up after seven, had breakfast, returned to her room, turned on the computer, and continued drawing.

The painting was at the coloring stage; she was focused, the phone rang for a long while, then her thoughts drifted, she picked up the phone on the desk and glanced at it.

An utterly unexpected name came into view—Miao Yijia.

Xia Xuan felt there was nothing to say between them.

The ringing went on, but she didn't answer the call.

Probably guessing her thoughts, Miao Yijia sent a text: "Cousin's wife, let's meet; I have a few things to say. I know you don't want to see me, but it concerns your cousin—I think you should know."

Xia Xuan instinctively frowned; that "cousin's wife" really sounded ironic.

She put the phone down and kept drawing.

However, she couldn't calm down; what she drew never felt right, so Xia Xuan closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She grabbed her phone and typed: "What do you want to say?"

After hesitating a long time, Xia Xuan clicked send.

Miao Yijia replied quickly: "Let's talk in person. I'm in the small park near your home."

Xia Xuan sat quietly for a few minutes, then suddenly stood up, put on a cardigan, and left the room.

Su Jinru was cleaning, Xia Yue had taken Youyou to school, and morning light streamed through the window, a scene of tranquil peace.

"Mom, I'm going out for a bit," Xia Xuan said.

Su Jinru straightened her back with the mop handle, not asking where she was going, secretly hoping she could go out more, breathe fresh air, change her surroundings and mood—being cooped up all the time could make a person feel stifled: "Will you be back at noon?"

Xia Xuan: "I'll be back soon."

She brought only her phone and walked to the small park less than four hundred meters from the residential complex.

Some elderly men and women were still finishing their morning exercises, wearing comfortable silk clothes, practicing tai chi, shaking bamboo sticks, waving fans—it was quite lively.

Xia Xuan saw Miao Yijia's figure on a stone bench, slowed her steps, and walked over.

Miao Yijia lifted her eyelashes; Xia Xuan then noticed her complexion was poor, she bore no victorious pride, even looking somewhat disheveled. Xia Xuan didn't know what she had gone through, nor did she want to.

She decided to strike first: "What do you really want to say by coming to me? Last time Chen Songbai's parents came to my house causing a scene, I made my stance clear—I agree to divorce and will make room for you. Moreover, my second older sister has already talked to Chen Songbai, persuading him to agree as well. I don't know what else you need to see me for."

Miao Yijia said self-mockingly: "Has Chen Songbai been persuaded? He hasn't."

Xia Xuan frowned: "It's not my concern."

"I'm pregnant," Miao Yijia said. "I can wait, but the child in my womb cannot; he keeps refusing to divorce, I have no security, so I had to come to you."

Xia Xuan staggered, those four words echoing in her ears; her gaze slowly drifted down to rest on Miao Yijia's still-unrounded belly.

She was pregnant.

She was carrying Chen Songbai's child.

At that moment, Xia Xuan felt a mix of emotions; her body couldn't bear children, she couldn't give Chen Songbai a child, but another woman could.

Xia Xuan's breathing grew heavy; she opened her mouth, then pressed her lips together, not knowing what else to say. After a long while, she struggled to stay calm, repeating word by word: "I said, it's not my concern."

"How is it not your concern?" Miao Yijia exclaimed, jumping to her feet, grabbing Xia Xuan's hands, eyes brimming with tears: "I beg you, my child needs a father; stop entangling with your cousin, persuade him to just get the divorce over with, okay?"

Xia Xuan didn't want physical contact with her, feeling disgusted: "You're really bewildering; do you not understand what I'm saying? I haven't objected to divorce, I've also urged Chen Songbai. Besides, I too want to be free—I don't want to get involved in your sick relationship."

Miao Yijia gripped her and turned her aside, her emotions intensifying: "You're lying! You don't really want to let go of Chen Songbai; you still want to hold onto him, wait for him to dispose of me and my child, then you two can get back together."

Xia Xuan shook her head: "You're wrong; your presence is like a thorn forever lodged in flesh—there's no way I could ever get back together with him."

The longer it dragged on, the clearer she became. She had already passed the initial stage of hesitation, pain, and struggle; now she just wanted to cut the knot quickly and return to her peaceful life.

The morning-exercising elders were drawn by the arguing voices, all turning to look: two girls were tugging at each other, when suddenly one fell from the steps, rolling down eight or nine steps onto a small fountain below. The other girl was stunned, her hands hanging midair, staring blankly at the girl on the ground groaning in pain.

Enthusiastic elders hurried over, shouting anxiously: "Why haven't you called 120 yet? Good heavens, look at all that blood."

"This doesn't seem right, it looks like..." an experienced elder sensed something, but fearing she might be mistaken, she didn't dare say it outright.

However, the elder soon realized her judgment was correct—the girl on the ground clutched her belly, sweat beading on her forehead: "My baby, please save me..."

Xia Xuan's face turned pale; as if waking from a dream, she fumbled for her phone, trembling fingers dialing the emergency number.

The ambulance arrived, loading the nearly unconscious Miao Yijia and heading to the hospital; Xia Xuan had to accompany her. Along the way, she heard Miao Yijia's hoarse cries of pain, her panic rising to the extreme.

It had nothing to do with her; Miao Yijia herself, while arguing, stepped back without paying attention and stumbled down the steps.

Bright red blood flowed down her leg, staining her skirt—could the baby still be saved?

Someone's phone kept ringing nonstop; the medical staff in the vehicle reminded: "Ma'am? Ma'am?"

Miao Yijia also broke out in a sweat on her neck, hairs sticking to her skin; she lifted her neck, feeling something draining from her body—what should have been a relief instead filled her with dread.

The ringing phone stimulated her nerves.

The medical staff's voice brought Xia Xuan back to awareness; she picked up the ringing phone—it wasn't hers, it was Miao Yijia's, and the caller ID showed Miao Cuixia.

She answered mechanically, explaining the current situation and giving the hospital's name.

After a moment's thought, Xia Xuan used her own phone to call Chen Songbai; it was connected right away. His voice sounded surprised, even a little delighted—this was the first time since their falling out that she had initiated contact.

"Xiao Xuan, you finally—"

"Miao Yijia's had an accident—come to the hospital." Xia Xuan cut him off, pinching her own fingers, trying to keep her voice from shaking too badly.

She thought, Chen Songbai is the child's father; he ought to know.

Miao Yijia was taken into the emergency room; Xia Xuan waited outside.

She felt sure that, given Miao Cuixia's temperament, the matter wouldn't be let slide; Miao Cuixia disliked her, she had done nothing wrong, yet Miao Cuixia could find fault in an egg—how much more would she not let her off, considering Miao Yijia's mishap happened while she was with her?

But given the circumstances, she couldn't just walk away.

Xia Xuan regretted it; had she known Miao Yijia wanted to say those things, she wouldn't have agreed to meet.

She had gotten herself into trouble for no reason.

Xia Xuan thought it over, still uneasy; she opened her phone contacts, her gaze landing on "second older sister." Not wanting to constantly bother Xia Xi, who also had her own work and life—every time something came up at home they'd call her, she had already done so much for the family, and now she'd finally eased into a comfortable life, she shouldn't keep interrupting her.

But she didn't know who else she could turn to.

Su Jinru's health wasn't great; she'd been taking some regulating medicines, which Xia Xuan knew about, so she inevitably worried—plus Xia Yue had been busy lately looking for a job…

After some hesitation, Xia Xuan still called Xia Xi.

"Hey, Xuanxuan, what's up?"

Xia Xi's gentle voice came through the earpiece, Xia Xuan's nose tingled, and those anxious, fearful, and aggrieved feelings, as if they'd found an outlet, all welled up.

Not hearing her sister's voice, Xia Xi sensed something was wrong: "What's wrong, Xuanxuan?"