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墨書 Inktalez
The city was unfamiliar to Qiao Nuo, and a night of insomnia left her looking less than her best. The next morning, she took a taxi to a private hospital she had found online, known for its good reputation.
She paid a substantial amount and emphasized that her information must remain confidential. Previously, celebrities had given birth there, and the hospital's privacy measures were excellent—this was one of the reasons Qiao Nuo chose this place.
After a series of examinations, the results were not ideal. The female doctor held the test report, her brow slightly furrowed. In the past, when pregnant women brought in their test results, she would usually greet them with a smile. However, facing Qiao Nuo...
"Miss Qiao, I believe it would be better if your husband were here," the doctor said. Qiao Nuo was showing signs of a potential miscarriage, compounded by a previous abortion that had damaged her uterus—this was serious.
"He’s on a business trip," Qiao Nuo offered as an excuse.
"Miss Qiao, my advice is for you to discuss this with your husband. We do not recommend keeping this child; you are both still young..."
"Doctor, please don’t say that. I absolutely want this child. Even if it means I have to stay in the hospital until I give birth, I agree. I just want this baby..." Tears glimmered in Qiao Nuo's eyes, a desperate hope shining through.
The doctor was moved by Qiao Nuo's emotion. She could choose to terminate the pregnancy, but she would never have the chance to be a mother again and would regret it for the rest of her life. This was Qiao Nuo's wish; if it couldn't be fulfilled, she would live with that regret forever.
"If you truly intend to keep this child, then I..."
Before the doctor could finish her sentence, a familiar male voice interrupted their conversation.
"I searched everywhere; turns out you’re here."
Qiao Nuo turned around to see the man from the airplane standing at the door, his hand resting on the doorknob, his eyes filled with relief at having found her.
But how did he end up here? And why did he interrupt her conversation with the doctor?
"This is...?" the doctor asked, puzzled.
"I don't..."
"Husband!"
Qiao Nuo: "..."
Qiao Nuo, I'm sorry, but let me be selfish just this once; otherwise, I may never have the chance again.
"Ah, so you are Miss Qiao's husband. We were just discussing the matter of children. As her husband, you should know that your wife is not in a suitable condition to become pregnant right now. However, she insists on having this child. I wonder if it's because you particularly want a child and your wife is trying to fulfill that desire for you, or if there are other reasons. You young people have a strong emotional foundation and no outdated beliefs; surely you don't think that carrying on the family line is still a big deal? If it really comes to it, you could always adopt; there's no need to have one biologically, as it can cause significant harm to the woman! It could very well be irreversible."
The doctor went on with a lengthy discourse.
"I feel the same way, but my wife insists on having a child. I will go home and persuade her!" With that, Yan Beiting stepped forward and grasped Qiao Nuo's wrist.
However, Qiao Nuo had no idea who he was at that moment and didn't understand why he was claiming to be her husband!
"You... I..."
"Qiao Nuo, let's step outside and talk. We shouldn't keep the doctor waiting for the next patient." Yan Beiting smiled gently and pulled Qiao Nuo along.
"Think carefully about it, both of you!" The doctor called after them, still concerned.
Once outside the doctor's office, Qiao Nuo shook off Yan Beiting's hand.
"You—" Qiao Nuo suddenly realized that she didn't even know his name; she only knew he was acquainted with Ye Yun and likely had some connection to Yan Beiting as well.
But that couldn't possibly be the reason he inexplicably barged in to tell the doctor he was her husband!
"Don't think just because you know Ye Yun, you can boss me around! This is my own business, and I don't need your concern." Anyone who tried to stop her from having a child was a bad person.
"Why are you so angry?" Yan Beiting thought back to the Qiao Nuo he used to know, whose temper was never this explosive. Could it be because she was pregnant?
How could Qiao Nuo not be angry? Seeing him like this filled her with an ominous premonition.
"Why do you keep following me? Who sent you? Is it Jin Chengyan who sent you?" That would make sense as to why this person was trailing her.
Yan Beiting felt a bit helpless. Did his face really scream "Do not trust me"?
"I came to the hospital for a check-up too. I didn't expect to see you here. Since we know each other, I thought I'd come over and check on you. But when I overheard your conversation with the doctor, I felt you were being a bit irrational, so I decided to interrupt."
That seemed reasonable enough.
However, Qiao Nuo still looked at Yan Beiting with some skepticism.
Was he really not stalking her?
Was he truly not sent by Jin Chengyan?
"Seeing how guarded you are, do you really think I would harm you?" Although he said that, Yan Beiting was still worried that Qiao Nuo might actually reject him. "You must be exhausted from the check-up this morning; your face looks pale. Haven't you eaten breakfast yet? Let me take you out for some local snacks?"
Though it was phrased as a question, Yan Beiting had already taken Qiao Nuo by the hand and started walking.
As soon as the two people's gazes disappeared from sight, the man who had been hiding in the shadows stepped forward.
He was holding a little girl in his arms, and as he entered the female doctor's office, Jin Chengyan nodded slightly to the doctor as a gesture of thanks.
The doctor shook her head, indicating that it was no trouble and that she understood the man's concerns.
Indeed, when Jin Chengyan had discussed Qiao Nuo's situation with the doctor while she was undergoing her examination, the doctor had also advised against having a child. Naturally, she supported Jin Chengyan in persuading Qiao Nuo.
If one person said it was not advisable to have a child, Qiao Nuo might still consider it; if two people said so, she would still contemplate it.
But what if a thousand or ten thousand people said it? Would Qiao Nuo then have to oppose the entire world?
“Daddy, why are we at the hospital?” Qiao Kawai asked, wrapping her arms around Jin Chengyan's neck, looking puzzled. “I haven’t seen Mommy in a long time. I miss her so much!”
Jin Chengyan patted Qiao Kawai on the head and replied, “You’ll see Mommy very soon, and then we’ll never be apart again.”
“Yeah, never apart!” Jin Chengyan spoke with such certainty; he firmly believed that he could be with Qiao Nuo for a lifetime!
…
After leaving the hospital with Yan Beiting, Qiao Nuo realized that she was genuinely hungry. She hadn’t slept at all last night and hadn’t eaten anything before coming to the hospital today, leaving her feeling a bit faint.
Yan Beiting took Qiao Nuo to a Shanghai cuisine restaurant. It was close to noon but not quite mealtime yet; there weren’t many people around. The dining hall had only a few tables occupied, but that didn’t mean their food wasn’t delicious.
Yan Beiting ordered some dim sum for Qiao Nuo to help settle her stomach.
Qiao Nuo was hungry, and as soon as the snacks arrived, she began to eat, feeling a bit... strange.
It was odd to be having a meal with a man whose name she didn't even know.
Yet, it didn't feel unfamiliar.
"Qiao Nuo, look, you still really enjoy these things," Yan Beiting said.
Qiao Nuo didn't understand the meaning behind his words. Why wouldn't she like them?
The restaurant gradually filled with more people, becoming somewhat noisy; however, Qiao Nuo didn’t find it bothersome at all. Everything felt just right.
At that moment, a family of three walked in—a young couple with their daughter—looking very happy together.
"I guess your innermost thoughts are similar to theirs. You want to live happily as a family of three. Who wouldn’t wish for such a life?"
Qiao Nuo scooped spoonfuls of seafood porridge while absorbing Yan Beiting's words.
"But have you ever thought about this? If you recklessly decide to have a child and something goes wrong during childbirth, do you know how painful it would be for those living in this world?"
Those living in this world.
Suddenly, Qiao Nuo thought of Yan Beiting.
He had fulfilled her wishes, but he did so at the cost of his own life. This approach weighed heavily on Qiao Nuo’s heart, leaving her with lingering regrets.
What would Jin Chengyan do if she truly perished from childbirth?
Qiao Nuo had never considered this question before; she only focused on bringing the child into the world to fulfill her own wish.
However, she had not thought about how many people would be heartbroken by the realization of this wish.
"You still say you're not someone sent by Jin Chengyan!" Qiao Nuo said helplessly. He had been persuading her from the very beginning. Would a completely unrelated person engage in such a tedious task? "He must know I'm here now, right? First, he sends you as a negotiator, and if I remain stubborn, he'll come in force and drag me to the operating table?"
That must be Jin Chengyan's plan.
But why send this man instead of any of Qiao Nuo's or Jin Chengyan's friends?
"Of course not. If he knew you were here, would he delay even a minute in coming to your side?"
It seemed that was indeed the case.
"You still know Jin Chengyan well." However, Qiao Nuo found a flaw in his words.
"I never said I didn't know him."
This person was truly...
Qiao Nuo cast him a faint glance.
"Look at that happy family over there, with a father and a mother. That's what a complete family looks like. Wanting your own child is understandable. But Qiao Nuo, your true purpose for wanting a child isn't to get back at Jin Chengyan!"
Qiao Nuo turned to Yan Beiting in shock. What was he saying?
Yan Beiting, however, remained calm.
"Four years ago, he accidentally hurt you, causing your miscarriage. Now you want to take revenge on him by using your inability to have a child as a weapon, making him regret what he did. You've already achieved your goal; why not stop now? Do you really want to... leave this world? Do you want to find Yan Beiting?"
"Enough!" Qiao Nuo said coldly. She didn't know how this man knew so much, but her anger stemmed from the fact that he had hit the nail on the head.
It was an uncomfortable feeling to be seen through in an instant.
And worse, it was by a man she barely knew.
"I struck a chord with you, didn't I? That's why you're angry," Yan Beiting remarked, clearly understanding Qiao Nuo.
Taking a deep breath, Qiao Nuo looked at the man before her. "What else do you know?" This mysterious man—where did he come from? What did he want? Qiao Nuo had no idea.
"Qiao Nuo..." Yan Beiting wanted to say that he was Yan Beiting, the one she had always been concerned about. "There are still people who care about you and want you to be happy, even if you don't realize it. You don't need to keep dwelling on your grievances; some people come into your life just so you can find more happiness."
Qiao Nuo found herself speechless.
"You know, whether in the past, present, or future, there has always been someone wishing for your happiness."
Qiao Nuo opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something but unsure where to begin.
"Yan..." Yan Beiting began.
But the last two words choked in her throat.
Four years ago, when he left, he said: "Qiao Nuo, you must be happy!"
Later, Qiao Nuo was never happy.
"Qiao Nuo, have you come to terms with it?" If you haven't, I can continue to guide you, giving me a reason to stay by your side.
Qiao Nuo looked at him and felt a sense of familiarity.
"Maybe at first I really wanted revenge because Jin Chengyan took away my child. But then I thought, what did he do wrong? I was the one who fell in love first, I was the one who let go first, and even the one who wanted revenge first. But now, I don’t want to think about that. Is there really no way for me to have this child?" In the end, she couldn't bear to let go.
"Do you love Jin Chengyan? Are you willing to see him spend the rest of his life alone, guarding your child in solitude?"
She wasn't willing; that would be too cruel to Jin Chengyan.
"Qiao Nuo, if right now Jin Chengyan were standing in front of you, what would you say?" Suddenly, Yan Beiting asked this question.
Qiao Nuo didn't know whether to nod or shake her head; it was a difficult question to answer.
She wanted to see him but was also afraid of seeing him.
What she could never understand was why she and Jin Chengyan had to endure so many hardships. Why couldn't they just be together? She would have accepted a simple life!
But what did it matter if it was full of ups and downs?
Qiao Nuo had just thought of this person when, without any warning, Yan Beiting appeared right in front of her as if he had teleported.
She glared at Yan Beiting, feeling a surge of anger. He must have colluded with Jin Chengyan long ago, coordinating everything from the plane to the hotel, and now to the doctor's office!
Along with Jin Chengyan was Qiao Kawai. Qiao Nuo couldn't vent her frustration on Qiao Kawai, which meant that Jin Chengyan had planned everything meticulously! That scheming man!
Seeing Jin Chengyan arrive, Yan Beiting felt a sense of accomplishment, as if he had finally completed a lifelong endeavor.
He could finally hand Qiao Nuo over to Jin Chengyan.
In truth, if he were a bit more despicable, he could have stayed by Qiao Nuo's side these days without mentioning anything about the pregnancy. It wouldn't have been impossible.
But Yan Beiting wasn't that kind of person. He understood that if Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan continued to delay, things could become even worse. Therefore, he needed to quickly hand Qiao Nuo over to Jin Chengyan.
Deep down, however, he didn't want to do this.
In his heart, he felt as though he had already lived several lifetimes with Qiao Nuo.
So in the next lifetime, Qiao Nuo could only belong to him, Yan Beiting.
Jin Chengyan gave Yan Beiting a grateful look, and Yan Beiting responded with a gesture that indicated it was no trouble at all.
After finding the breakthrough with Qiao Nuo, his first action was to inform Jin Chengyan that he could come over now.
Now that Jin Chengyan was here, it was clear that the two of them would handle the situation themselves—no one else could interfere!
At that moment, Qiao Kawai was still nestled in Jin Chengyan's arms. Upon seeing Qiao Nuo, she excitedly waved her hand.
“Mommy, Daddy said I could see you soon, and now I really get to see you! Kawai misses you so much!” She expressed her longing for Qiao Nuo, but her body remained comfortably settled in Jin Chengyan's embrace.
This little one had never been held by her father before; now, whenever she had the chance, she would snuggle up to Jin Chengyan.
Hearing Qiao Kawai call her "Mommy," Qiao Nuo couldn't help but feel tears welling up in her eyes.
It hadn't even been twenty-four hours since Qin Cheng left for this place, yet Qiao Nuo felt as if a lifetime had passed, filled with various heartaches and suffering.
She thought she would never see Qiao Kawai again, but unexpectedly, Jin Chengyan brought her here so quickly.
Earlier, Yan Beiting had asked her if she truly wanted to give birth to this child, even at the risk of her own life.
Before she saw Qiao Kawai and Jin Chengyan appear, she had thought so. But now that she was face to face with them, she hesitated.
Should she choose these two people who looked at her with longing eyes, or the child in her womb who had never seen the light of day?
“Qiao Nuo, come home with me.” Jin Chengyan's deep and magnetic voice reached Qiao Nuo's ears, a call she ultimately could not refuse.
“Mommy, Mommy! Let's go home!” Qiao Kawai chimed in, not fully understanding why Daddy wanted to talk about going home as soon as he saw Mommy.
Overwhelmed with mixed emotions, Qiao Nuo finally succumbed to the warmth of reality and nodded.
If it weren't for Qiao Kawai being there, tears would have surely streamed down her face immediately.
She had always known that she was not a particularly strong person, but her stubbornness was frightening.
Holding her bag, she wanted to follow Jin Chengyan, thinking of the man with whom she had shared breakfast and lunch.
"By the way, I haven't asked your name yet, and thank you." If it hadn't been for his advice, perhaps when she saw Jin Chengyan, she would have chosen to run away immediately.
Now, she understood the inner turmoil of Jin Chengyan; he merely wanted to spend his life with the one he loved. If she couldn't give him that, it would be like punishing him for a lifetime.
Yan Beiting quickly exchanged glances with Jin Chengyan, a look only the two of them understood.
He knew he was Yan Beiting; he knew he was there to help persuade Qiao Nuo to return. This gratitude was something Jin Chengyan could never repay.
But he also understood that Yan Beiting's concern for Qiao Nuo stemmed more from his love.
Such love was great and selfless.
But what could be done? There was only one Qiao Nuo, and Jin Chengyan could not give his beloved away.
"Forget it; I won't tell you my name. I'm afraid you'll keep thinking about me." It was a typical joke, yet Qiao Nuo could still sense the genuine emotion behind it—a feeling that was hard to describe. "Goodbye." He waved as he saw off Qiao Nuo, Jin Chengyan, and Qiao Kawai.
Qiao Nuo didn't know what to say and could only wave goodbye as she left with Jin Chengyan.
Qiao Kawai smiled and waved farewell to Handsome Uncle, unaware that it was Yan Beiting who had taken care of her for several days when she was still in her cradle.
In the end, Jin Chengyan glanced at Yan Beiting, filled with gratitude. Yan Beiting responded with a smile.
He watched as the three of them disappeared through the restaurant door.
He stood there, gazing at the entrance for a long time.
The first time he saw Qiao Nuo was when she was sixteen, shining under the sun as she played volleyball with her classmates. Her laughter seemed to linger in his ears even now.
He regretted not recognizing her at first glance when he returned to the country, missing that opportunity.
Seeing her with Jin Chengyan stirred feelings of jealousy and frustration within him. He thought about breaking them apart, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her, allowing her to be with him instead.
He had considered being selfish, staying with Qiao Nuo in Shanghai or taking her somewhere else. If a year wasn’t enough, he would spend a lifetime trying to win her heart. She wasn’t a cold-hearted person.
Eventually, Qiao Nuo would be moved by him.
But it would only be a feeling of gratitude, not love.
So, he chose to let Qiao Nuo return to Jin Chengyan. He watched as she left him once more.
Now, he found himself sending the one he loved into someone else's arms again, and it felt truly painful.
Qiao Nuo, I hope you find happiness!
Qiao Nuo, in the next life, I’ll reserve you first!
If life could be like the first meeting again, if he could go back to that year, he would run onto the court and no matter how surprised that girl looked, he would say: You look just like my future girlfriend.
Perhaps, this was the best outcome for them.
Yan Beiting's lips curled slightly, yet his eyes held an endless chill.
He rose from his chair and walked out of the restaurant.
The streets of Shanghai were busy and chaotic, and for a moment, Yan Beiting found himself unsure of where to go.
Should he find Ye Yun to go to Canada together? Or should he return to Qin Cheng first to see his grandfather? At the very least, he wanted to see him once and ensure he was healthy.
Or perhaps, he should go to Canada alone. He had troubled Ye Yun enough over the past few years.
After taking just a couple of steps, Yan Beiting felt that something was off. He raised his hand to touch his nose, only to find his fingers damp. When he looked down, he realized it was blood!
The nosebleed kept flowing, and he felt weak. He wanted to take a taxi to the hospital, but everything around him faded into a blinding white light.
He collapsed onto the ground and heard someone shout, "Someone has fainted! Call an ambulance..."
He closed his eyes.
...
Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan sat in the back seat. Perhaps wanting to ease their emotions, Qiao Nuo pretended to search for something and casually rummaged through her bag.
But inside, she discovered a necklace that did not belong to her.
A jade pendant and a little rabbit.
Qiao Nuo truly could not remember ever buying such an item.
Jin Chengyan watched as Qiao Nuo stared blankly at the object in her hand. His gaze fell upon the pendant, and suddenly, he shivered.
Qiao Nuo recalled that it was the pendant that Yan Beiting always wore around his neck!
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