Gu Xia knew that what she was doing wasn’t right.
But she had no other choice.
Wasn’t the reason Lu Jianming and Lu Ye were acting so arrogantly toward the Gu family precisely because they had Lu Shaoting to rely on?
That was why, upon learning that Lu Shaoting was at the Northwest Military Camp, she had decided to seduce him and use him to her advantage.
She recalled her past life, when she had once gone to find him. Back then, he had merely said, “It is the Lu family who owes the Gu family an apology.”
Why had he said that? Did he know that Lu Jianming and Lu Ye had reported the Gu family to the authorities?
Gu Xia didn’t dare take that chance. She decided to simply drug him instead—a direct and swift move that Lu Jianming and his son couldn’t stop. Moreover, since Lu Shaoting was involved, even if they wanted to do something, they’d have to think twice.
But today, after arriving in Beicheng and seeing Lu Shaoting—stiff, stern, cold, and ruthless, as if he wanted to strangle her on the spot—she felt uncertain again.
Lu Shaoting would absolutely never willingly listen to her.
He might not even try to placate her—he’d likely just take her straight to the hospital to have the baby aborted.
If she lost the child in her womb, she’d have absolutely no leverage left.
Whether she lived or died didn’t matter, but what about her parents and older sister?
No! She would never allow them to be reviled and driven to their deaths again!
With that thought, Gu Xia glanced at the man in the car, then turned to run…
How could a young girl like her possibly outrun a physically fit man with a military background?
“Lu Shaoting, you can’t force me to have an abortion. You can’t do this.”
Gu Xia, who had been grabbed and dragged back like a little chick, trembled uncontrollably.
She looked at Lu Shaoting, her vision blurred by tears.
Lu Shaoting hadn’t expected that Gu Xia, who had come looking for him and even found her way to his home, would actually try to run away.
What was she going to run away for?
If he let her escape now, what if she came knocking on his door ten months later, holding a baby?
Wouldn’t that put him in an even more difficult position—whether to acknowledge the child or not?
Lu Shaoting’s grip on Gu Xia’s clothes tightened even further. He lowered his gaze to look at her; the distance between them was incredibly close.
They could even feel each other’s breath.
Gu Xia’s mind went blank, and in a fit of defiance, she stood on her tiptoes.
She pressed her soft, pink lips against Lu Shaoting’s thin ones.
Her voice trembled with tears as she softly pleaded, “Uncle Lu, please don’t be so cruel to me.”
Gu Xia truly had no idea what kind of person Lu Shaoting was. She’d tried a firm approach—it hadn’t worked—so she decided to try a gentle one.
But as she watched Lu Shaoting’s expression grow increasingly dark and stern, Gu Xia realized he wouldn’t budge no matter what.
The bitter disappointment of reality made Gu Xia want to cry.
But just then, Lu Shaoting abruptly shoved her away, as if she were a virus, a bacterium, or a raging flood.
Gu Xia staggered back two steps before regaining her balance.
Lu Shaoting tugged irritably at the collar of his shirt and snapped, “ “Get in the car!”
But he added one more sentence: “I need to confirm right now whether you’re pregnant.”
With tears welling in her eyes, Gu Xia explained earnestly.
“I really am pregnant. My periods have always been very regular, but this time, it’s been over two months since my last one.”
As a young woman who had always been well-protected by her parents and older sister, she hadn’t dared to go to the hospital or see a doctor to confirm her pregnancy after finding out.
Instead, she secretly sought out a blind, barefoot doctor who took her pulse.
She was afraid she might not actually be pregnant—that she’d have made the trip all the way to Beicheng for nothing and wasted her money.
Only after confirming she was pregnant did she dare to come.
On the way here, she’d been worried that she might miscarry.
If that happened, Lu Shaoting would surely deny ever having had a relationship with her.
So she’d been protecting this evidence with the utmost care the entire way.
Lu Shaoting opened the car door and watched as Gu Xia got in.
After driving to the hospital, Lu Shaoting practically shoved Gu Xia in front of the doctor and coldly ordered, “Give her an examination.”
The doctor cast a puzzled glance at Lu Shaoting as he turned and walked away.
He then turned his attention back to Gu Xia.
The young girl was very pretty, with a face no bigger than the palm of a hand, her eyes taking up nearly a third of it.
Her skin was very fair, almost milky white. Her two braids were neatly tied, and though her clothes were worn, they were clean. She exuded a sense of reserve, nervousness, and fear from head to toe.
Looking at the pretty young girl, the doctor asked with concern.
“What kind of checkup are you here for? Who was that person with you just now? Why aren’t your parents here with you?”
The doctor assumed Gu Xia was a minor and still very young.
Gu Xia immediately replied, “Doctor, I’m here for a prenatal checkup. I’m pregnant. But I’m an adult—I just look a little young. Please examine me and write me a prescription.”
Upon hearing this, the doctor asked about her condition, then inquired where she worked and whether she had a referral letter.
Gu Xia had no idea that getting a prenatal checkup in the city required so many things.
She was just wondering what to do.
Lu Shaoting returned, seemingly still worried.
The doctor repeated what she had said to Gu Xia to Lu Shaoting.
Lu Shaoting had no choice but to show his ID to the doctor.
The doctor looked at Lu Shaoting and asked, “What is your relationship to the patient?”
Gu Xia whispered, “He’s my uncle.”
The doctor hummed in acknowledgment, asked no further questions, and motioned for Gu Xia to go inside for her examination.
Once inside, Gu Xia lay down and waited as the doctor examined her abdomen.
Soon, the doctor went to fill out a form.
Without saying anything to Gu Xia, he walked to the door and called out, “Gu Xia’s family member.”
When Lu Shaoting stepped inside, the doctor showed him the form.
“Comrade Gu Xia is pregnant—she’s probably a little over two months along. The fetus is developing normally, and there are no issues. Just make sure to come in for prenatal checkups as the pregnancy progresses. Oh, and be sure to bring your marriage certificate; if your employer issues a certificate, you may be able to get some of the examination costs reimbursed.”
The doctor gave his usual instructions.
Gu Xia stood there stiffly, and the doctor gave her a once-over.
After a moment’s hesitation, he added, “ I don’t know the specifics of your situation, but as a young woman, you need to take care of your health.”
The doctor assumed Gu Xia was seeing someone, had gotten pregnant, didn’t dare tell her parents, and had come to the hospital accompanied by some “uncle.”
But seeing such a young and pretty girl like Gu Xia, he couldn’t help but offer a little extra advice.
Gu Xia pressed her lips together and smiled at the doctor, saying nothing.
Lu Shaoting took the test results confirming her pregnancy.
Gu Xia didn’t mind; after all, she’d wanted him to know that she was indeed pregnant, rather than making up a story to deceive him.
Lu Shaoting remained silent the entire time they walked out of the hospital.
Gu Xia didn’t speak either; she’d made her point clear, and now she was simply waiting for Lu Shaoting to make a decision.
Just as Gu Xia thought Lu Shaoting would remain silent forever, he finally spoke up.
“It’s not even three months in—perfect timing for an abortion. If you wait until the pregnancy is further along and then have an abortion, you might end up losing both lives. Gu Xia, think it through. Are you going to listen to me and terminate it now…”