When she opened her eyes again, what greeted her was the white ward and the strong smell of disinfectant.
She was lying alone in the bed. Muffled voices of conversation came from outside the half - closed door. It sounded like it was Li Nanchuan and Gu Zhiyuan.
"If you want to marry her, you should first see if she's willing."
"She's my girlfriend now. Why wouldn't she be willing?"
"When did Mr. Gu learn to respect her opinion?"
"Mr. Li does respect her, but isn't he just an ex - boyfriend now?"
"… Anyway, Mr. Gu had better think twice before acting."
Shen Youjin listened and slowly got up and opened the door. Her pale little face made her look even more frail.
"What are you guys talking about?"
Her voice was soft, but it sounded like a thunderclap to the two men.
"Xiaojin, you're awake?" Gu Zhiyuan immediately put on a smiling face and walked quickly towards her. "The doctor said you fainted because of excessive emotional fluctuations. You'll be fine after resting for a couple of days."
Shen Youjin glanced at Li Nanchuan. He was standing there, but a veil of loneliness had fallen over his handsome face, which made one's heart ache.
"What were you guys talking about?" She averted her gaze and looked at Gu Zhiyuan. "What marriage?"
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Gu Zhiyuan's face. He had just wanted to provoke Li Nanchuan, so he'd said he was planning to marry Shen Youjin soon to make him give up.
He never expected Shen Youjin to wake up and overhear them.
"Go back and have a good rest first." Gu Zhiyuan tucked the flower beside her ear in place, looking gentle. "Ling Qiuqiu came to see you, but you were unconscious. Since someone needed to watch over the studio, she left first. Do you want to call her back?"
Shen Youjin knew he was trying to change the subject and downplay the matter. But Gu Zhiyuan had also contributed to the case's reversal this time. She didn't want to argue with him over such a trivial thing.
"I'll call Qiuqiu back later." She pursed her lips. "I'd like to have a private talk with Mr. Li. Could you go back to the ward and wait for me? I haven't thanked him yet."
Gu Zhiyuan was naturally reluctant, but when his eyes fell on Shen Youjin's abdomen, he finally agreed.
Just before leaving, he ruffled her hair. His touch was gentle but full of warning and possessiveness.
Shen Youjin's back stiffened for a moment. Only after the ward door was tightly closed did she look at Li Nanchuan and say, "You see, human nature can't be changed."
Even though she was pregnant and they were planning to get married, deep down, he still regarded her as a canary.
It was truly suffocating, as if no matter what sacrifices she made, things would never change.
"If you don't love him, I can take you away." Li Nanchuan seemed to have everything planned out. His words were well - organized. "The property your mother left in the Shen family has been squandered over the years, and there's not much left. I'll ask my family to buy that seaside villa. Although Fu Qingye is a bit of a scoundrel, he always listens to his father. I gave Xu Jiale two million and sent her to a new city to live. You don't have to worry about her safety. As long as you're willing, I can take you anywhere."
Shen Youjin listened quietly. After a while, she looked at him and asked, "Even if this child isn't yours?"
Li Nanchuan nodded. "It doesn't matter. I'll raise him as our own child."
Shen Youjin asked again, "What about your job and your family?"
It was because everything had already been settled that she couldn't be so selfish.
"I can resign. My family doesn't object anymore." Li Nanchuan smiled, stopped walking, and looked at her seriously and calmly. "I've said that any problem can be solved."
Shen Youjin's heart raced under his deep, intense gaze. That feeling of being surrounded by warmth returned once again.
After a while, she took a deep breath. "Could you give me some time? I still have some things to take care of."
She really wanted to give Li Nanchuan a definite answer, but she couldn't. She still hadn't sorted things out with Gu Zhiyuan.
Li Nanchuan smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair. It was a doting and indulgent caress, completely different from Gu Zhiyuan's.
"It's okay. I'll wait for you."
Shen Youjin's eyes welled up with tears. "Okay."
"I have some work to deal with at the unit. I'll leave first." Li Nanchuan glanced at his watch. "You have a good rest."
Shen Youjin nodded. After watching Li Nanchuan leave, she returned to the ward.
As soon as she pushed open the ward door, she saw Gu Zhiyuan standing by the window. His posture was elegant, but there was no trace of emotion.
"You're back?" Hearing the sound, he turned his head and looked at Shen Youjin in the blue - and - white hospital gown. "I just thought of many ways to win you back if you left with Li Nanchuan. But I found... I seem to be powerless."
When Shen Youjin first looked between him and Li Nanchuan, her eyes landed on Li Nanchuan. This kind of concern was the most direct. The first person she cared about was Li Nanchuan, not him, Gu Zhiyuan.
"Gu Zhiyuan, I don't think I can be with you anymore." Shen Youjin walked in slowly and gently closed the door. "I can't go against my own heart."
Although Gu Zhiyuan had already anticipated this outcome, after he learned that it was mostly Li Nanchuan who had been behind this court hearing, he knew he had no hope.
This had nothing to do with gratitude. He was well aware that Shen Youjin wasn't the kind of person who would be with someone just out of gratitude.
The only answer was that she still loved Li Nanchuan.
But this was a hard thing for him to accept.
"Are you going to break up with me?" Gu Zhiyuan walked towards her and gently stroked her pale but beautiful cheek. "My family is very satisfied with you. They won't make things difficult for you. You and the baby will have a good life after the baby is born. Are you really going to give up?"
He was really at his wit's end and could only use these few things to try to tempt her.
Feeling Gu Zhiyuan's slightly cool fingertips, Shen Youjin grabbed his hand, looked up at him, and asked, "Would you be willing to accept a woman who will be on guard against you for the rest of her life? The child will also be affected in the future."
Gu Zhiyuan's expression changed. "What if I say I'm willing?"
As long as Shen Youjin was willing to stay by his side, he was willing to do anything.
He used to think Fu Qingye was crazy, but now he felt he was no less so.
For a moment, he even thought that if pleading with Shen Youjin could make her stay, he wouldn't hesitate for a second.
"I'm not willing." Shen Youjin took a step back, as if she had made up her mind. "I'll have this child aborted. There's still more than a month left until the three - month contract is up. Everything can go according to the notarized terms."
Hearing that Shen Youjin was going to abort the child, the pain in Gu Zhiyuan's eyes was almost overflowing.
For the sake of being with Li Nanchuan, she was even willing to abandon their child!
"Xiaojin, Fu Qingye isn't the only madman in this capital city." He took a deep breath, as if he had made a certain decision. "Keep this child, or..."