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His jaw sported a hint of blue stubble, and there were a few bloodshot strands in his eyes. He sat in the chair maintaining a rigid posture as if he had not moved the whole time.

Seeing her wake up, he leaned over close to her and gently stroked her head, his voice tender as he asked, "How do you feel? Does your stomach still hurt?"

Lin Xinlan immediately touched her stomach, her complexion turning a shade paler, "What about the baby?"

"Don’t worry, it’s still there. My, Rong Shaoze’s, child wouldn’t be that fragile." The man’s handsome, thin lips curved upward, a glint of brightness in his eyes.

Lin Xinlan breathed a sigh of relief, the weight in her heart lifted.

After this ordeal, she had decided to keep the child and not to abort it.

Like Xiaocong, it was her child too. She had already been cruel to Xiaocong once; she couldn’t bear to be cruel to this child as well.

The only problem was how to separate from Rong Shaoze once the child was born.

After staying in the hospital for a day, Rong Shaoze was by her side the whole time.

Even though Lin Xinlan did not show it, she knew that her heart felt somewhat warmed.

No matter what, having someone by her side the entire time she was sick and hospitalized was indeed touching.

When she returned home after being discharged, Lin Xinlan lay in the hospital bed, hardly having to do anything, even getting off the bed only to go to the restroom.

She ate her meals in bed too.

Every time she made the slightest move, Rong Shaoze would hold her still, urging her not to move.

He was very concerned about her health, and Lin Xinlan thought to herself that Rong Shaoze’s kindness and his not hurting her were all thanks to the child she was carrying.

————

Lady Du arrived at the mall, looking to add a few pieces of clothing to her wardrobe.

Having spent all day in the hospital, she almost forgot to dress herself up.

She walked into a designer store where the clothes were pricy, yet, without even batting an eye, she picked out three outfits.

One of them was a red cheongsam that particularly caught her fancy. Though it cost tens of thousands, as long as it was beautiful, it was worth it.

"Wrap these three up for me," she commanded without even trying them on, choosing three outfits with a single glance.

The clerk smiled apologetically, "I’m sorry, but this red cheongsam has been reserved by someone else."

"Has it been sold already?" she asked arrogantly.

"Not yet, but it has been reserved over the phone."

"Since it hasn’t been sold, anyone has the opportunity to buy it. I’m here with cash; wrap it up for me," she said.

"I’m really sorry, but we can’t sell that piece," the clerk insisted, shaking her head firmly.

Lady Du immediately grew angry, slapping a VIP gold card onto the counter and said imperiously, "Is this how you treat customers?! I want to buy it, and you dare to refuse! Do you think I can’t afford it, or do you think I won’t take this to court?"

The clerk looked distressed and unsure of how to respond when she saw someone entering the store.

With a smile, she hastily said, "The lady who reserved this cheongsam has arrived. She’s one of the shareholders of this store. The outfit has been reserved for her, so we can’t sell it to anyone else."

Lady Du turned around and, upon seeing the newcomer, showed a look of astonishment, immediately followed by delight.

"My dear, it’s you?" she greeted her with a beaming smile.

Rong’s mother, seeing Lady Du, was also surprised, "Lady Du, long time no see."

She did not address her as an in-law, and the smile on her face was just right, not overly joyous.