Zhou Xiaoying said, "Say what you want. Maeve, if you are jealous that I earn more than you, please compete fairly and stop fabricating such lowly public opinions. I’m not falling for your tricks!"
Having said this, she picked up the folder, casually sorted out the documents, and walked towards Ling Chuan’s office to give her work report.
In the afternoon, after Lin Qi’s training session ended, she returned to the workplace and noticed out of the corner of her eye that Maeve’s seat was empty.
Han Na said, "During the lunch break, I saw Ms. Mia crying as she left President Qi’s office, and then she took leave and went home."
Lin Qi uttered a nonchalant "Oh", and sat down at her desk.
Lin Qi applied for an adjustment in her leave, switching her days off to next Monday and Tuesday, planning to go to the hospital for a thorough check-up.
Lin Qi rarely indulged in a sleep-in. When she woke up, Mo Ke had sent her a message: "Miss Lin, Mr. Huo asked me to inform you that he took this morning’s flight back to Beijing and should arrive by this afternoon."
Mo Ke, having traveled abroad with Huo Tingdong, initially had a private plane scheduled two days later, but Huo Tingdong seemed eager to return.
However, only one ticket was left for today’s flights, and it was in economy class; thus, Huo Tingdong returned to the country first, and Mo Ke would follow later on a private plane.
Although Huo Tingdong didn’t make it obvious, Mo Ke knew clearly that he was rushing back to meet someone, although he did not specify who.
Lin Qi said, "I might not be at home this afternoon."
She had slept in today, would have lunch, and then go to the hospital in the afternoon.
Mo Ke called her, "Miss Lin, where are you going this afternoon?"
Lin Qi replied, "I’m not feeling well, going to the hospital for a check."
She did not specify the details; after all, it’s commonly believed that during the first three months of pregnancy, one should keep it private. Naturally, she chose to keep it secret from Mo Ke.
Mo Ke, however, became anxious, "What’s wrong, is it serious?"
Lin Qi chuckled, "It’s nothing serious, just a minor issue and a small check-up."
Mo Ke said, "Then I’ll inform Mr. Huo."
Lin Qi replied, "There’s no need to specially report it, I’ll be heading home right after the check-up."
Lin Qi got up, washed up, brushed her teeth, had a little lunch, and then set off for the hospital.
The hospital wasn’t busy.
Specialist appointments were mainly in the morning, so by afternoon, the hospital had fewer people.
Lin Qi registered and as per the doctor’s prescription, underwent a series of tests.
Blood tests, ultrasound scans.
Since there weren’t many people, she didn’t need to queue, so Lin Qi finished quickly.
The reports would take an hour to come out.
Lin Qi patiently sat in the hall waiting.
As time approached for her to retrieve her report, she stood up and suddenly spotted a familiar figure not too far away.
It hadn’t been long, but her belly had noticeably grown.
Song Shuyan stood at the entrance of a consultation room, chatting warmly with a doctor, unable to hide the joy on her face.
The doctor said, "The two babies in your belly are developing quite well!"
Song Shuyan said, "I want to confirm again..." She leaned closer to the doctor, lowering her voice to ask, "Are you sure I’m carrying two sons?"
The doctor looked troubled, glanced around as there were many people in the hospital, and it was inconvenient to speak.
But she gave Song Shuyan a meaningful look, the two exchanged glances, understanding each other.
The doctor said meaningfully, "Sons are not as worry-free as daughters! You’ll have your hands full in the future!"
Song Shuyan smiled, "Alright, then I’m leaving."
The doctor said, "Remember to come on time next month for the maternity check-up."
Song Shuyan nodded, "Okay!"
As she turned and was about to leave, she bumped right into Lin Qi.
Lin Qi frowned slightly, eyeing her protruding belly and narrowing her eyes slightly.
Suddenly, Song Shuyan’s demeanor turned cold, ignoring her and attempting to walk past Lin Qi.
But Lin Qi stepped forward and grabbed her hand, "Hold on."
Song Shuyan lightly struggled free from her grip, "What do you want?"
Lin Qi stared straight at her belly, "You’re here for a maternity check?"
Song Shuyan said, "Yes. What are you doing in the hospital?"
She suddenly glanced at the report in Lin Qi’s hands, pausing in surprise.
Only then did Song Shuyan realize, since this place was a gynecology department, why would Lin Qi be here?
Seeing her, Song Shuyan hadn’t thought much at first, assuming Lin Qi was just here for a cold or flu, but remembering this was a gynecology unit, she started to wonder, "You’re here for a gynecology check-up?"
Lin Qi said, "Song Shuyan, whose children are you carrying in your belly?"
Although uncertain if Song Shuyan would tell the truth, she still wanted to ask clearly.
Song Shuyan retorted, "Why should I tell you?"
Lin Qi frowned, then suddenly smirked, dismissively saying, "True, I’m being nosy. Your pregnancy has nothing to do with me, it couldn’t possibly be Huo Tingdong’s, could it?"
Saying that, she turned to leave.
Seeing Lin Qi’s casual demeanor, Song Shuyan felt inexplicably upset and turned around, purposely provoking, "Why couldn’t it be Huo Tingdong’s? What if it is his?"
Lin Qi paused, slowly turned around, and leisurely countered, "’What if’? Song Shuyan, that’s an interesting statement. If it is, it is; if not, it’s not. What does ’what if’ mean? Why don’t you say, ’what if’ it’s mine!"
Song Shuyan said, "What if I told you the child is Huo Tingdong’s, what would you do?"
Her intention was to cover up the truth to provoke Lin Qi’s suspicion, the more suspicious Lin Qi was, the more it would wear on Huo Tingdong’s patience.
After all, knowing Huo Tingdong well, he hated it when others suspected or doubted him.
Instigating discord was her best tactic.
However, Lin Qi didn’t fall for it: "Even if the child in your belly is Huo Tingdong’s, what does it prove?"
Song Shuyan paused, not expecting Lin Qi’s response, suppressing her annoyance, she forced a smile, "I’m carrying twins in my belly! I’ve just confirmed with the doctor, they are two sons! Lin Qi, if you can bear sons for Huo Tingdong, I can too!"
Lin Qi said, "So what if they are sons, why don’t you give birth first. Will Huo Tingdong acknowledge your sons?"
She knew Song Shuyan was trying to provoke her.
If she took it seriously, she would lose.
Although she didn’t know by what means Song Shuyan was carrying Huo Tingdong’s child, even though it was irritating, how could she possibly give Song Shuyan an opportunity to take advantage of her vulnerability!
Lin Qi’s gaze rested on Song Shuyan’s bulging belly, no wonder her belly looked so large, it turns out, it was because she was carrying twins.
Lin Qi suddenly thought of something, "You wouldn’t have gone behind Huo Tingdong’s back and secretly done an IVF procedure, would you?"
Song Shuyan was momentarily speechless.
Lin Qi observed the guilty expression on her face, her smile deepening, "Looks like I guessed right. Back when Huo Tingdong was in a vegetative state and bedridden, the Huo Family last extracted his gene to store in a sperm bank."