Gu Xia knew that what she had done was not honorable.
But she had no other choice.
The reason Lu Jianming and Lu Ye dared to act so arrogantly against the Gu family was precisely because they had Lu Shaoting as their backing, wasn’t it?
That was why, upon learning that Lu Shaoting was stationed at the northwestern military camp, she had decided to seduce him and use him.
She recalled her past life, when she had gone to seek him out. Back then, he had only said indifferently, “The Lu family has wronged the Gu family.”
Why had he said that? Did he know about Lu Jianming and Lu Ye reporting the Gu family?
Gu Xia didn’t dare to gamble. Instead, she resorted to drugging him—direct and swift. Lu Jianming and his son couldn’t stop it, and with Lu Shaoting involved, even if they wanted to do something, they would have to think twice.
But today, after arriving in Beicheng and seeing the rigid, stern, cold-hearted Lu Shaoting, who seemed as if he wanted to strangle her on the spot, she felt uncertain again.
Lu Shaoting would never willingly listen to her.
He might not even try to placate her but would instead take her directly to the hospital to abort the child.
If the child in her womb were gone, she would have no leverage left.
Whether she lived or died didn’t matter, but what about her parents and sister?
No! She would never allow them to be slandered and driven to death again!
Thinking of this, Gu Xia glanced at the man in the car and turned to run…
How could a young girl like her outrun a man with the agility and training of a soldier?
“Lu Shaoting, you can’t force me to have an abortion. You can’t do this.”
Gu Xia, dragged back like a helpless chick, trembled uncontrollably.
She looked at Lu Shaoting, tears blurring her vision.
Lu Shaoting hadn’t expected that Gu Xia, who had come all the way to his home for him, would try to run away.
What was she running for?
If he let her escape now, would she return ten months later, holding a child?
Wouldn’t that leave him even more passive, forced to decide whether to acknowledge the child or not?
Lu Shaoting’s grip on Gu Xia’s clothes tightened. He lowered his gaze to look at her, the distance between them now dangerously close.
So close that they could feel each other’s breath.
Gu Xia’s mind went blank, and in a moment of desperate, almost vengeful impulse, she rose on her tiptoes.
Her soft, pink lips brushed against Lu Shaoting’s thin ones.
With a tearful voice, she called out to him softly, “Uncle Lu, don’t be so cruel to me.”
Gu Xia truly didn’t know Lu Shaoting’s temperament. She had tried being tough, and it hadn’t worked. Now she wanted to try being gentle.
But seeing Lu Shaoting’s increasingly dark and stern expression, Gu Xia realized he was impervious to both hardness and softness.
The frustration of reality made her want to cry.
Just then, Lu Shaoting abruptly pushed Gu Xia away, as if she were a virus, bacteria, or some monstrous threat.
Gu Xia stumbled back two steps before steadying herself.
Lu Shaoting irritably tugged at his collar and barked, “Get in the car!”
But he added an explanation, “I need to confirm whether you’re really pregnant.”
With tears 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, and I haven’t had one.”
She was a young girl who had been well-protected by her parents and sister. After suspecting she was pregnant, she didn’t dare go to the hospital or see a proper doctor.
Instead, she secretly sought out a blind, barefoot doctor to check her pulse.
She was also afraid she wasn’t pregnant, that she had come all the way to Beicheng for nothing and wasted money.
She had only dared to come after confirming her pregnancy.
On the way here, she had worried whether the baby in her belly might be lost.
If that happened, Lu Shaoting would surely deny ever having been involved with her.
So she had been extra careful, protecting this evidence all along the journey.
Lu Shaoting opened the car door, his gaze fixed on Gu Xia as she got in.
After driving to the hospital, Lu Shaoting directly pushed Gu Xia in front of the doctor and said coldly, “Give her a checkup.”
The doctor looked puzzled, glancing at Lu Shaoting as he turned and walked away.
Then the doctor’s eyes fell back on Gu Xia.
The young girl was very pretty, with a small face the size of a palm, her eyes taking up nearly a third of it.
Her skin was pale, almost translucent, her two braids neatly tied, and though her clothes were worn, they were clean. Her whole demeanor radiated nervousness and fear.
Seeing such a lovely young girl, the doctor asked with concern, “What kind of checkup are you here for? Who was that man just now? Why didn’t your parents come with you?”
The doctor thought Gu Xia was underage and very young.
Gu Xia immediately replied, “Doctor, I’m here for a pregnancy checkup. I’m pregnant. But I’m an adult—I just look a bit young. Please examine me and write me a report.”
Hearing this, the doctor asked about her situation, where she worked, and whether she had a referral letter.
Gu Xia had no idea that getting a pregnancy checkup in the city required so many things.
She was just thinking about what to do when Lu Shaoting returned, seemingly still uneasy.
The doctor repeated to Lu Shaoting what she had said to Gu Xia.
Lu Shaoting had no choice but to show his identification 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 nodded without further questions and asked Gu Xia to come in for the examination.
Once inside, Gu Xia lay down and waited as the doctor moved the ultrasound device over her belly.
Soon, the doctor went to write a report.
Instead of telling Gu Xia, she went to the door and called out, “Family of Gu Xia.”
After Lu Shaoting entered, the doctor showed him the report.
“Comrade Gu Xia is pregnant, probably over two months along. The fetus is developing normally, and there are no issues. Make sure to come for regular prenatal checkups later on. Also, bring your marriage certificate. If your workplace provides proof, you can get some of the examination costs reimbursed.”
The doctor gave the usual instructions.
Gu Xia stood nervously in place as the doctor looked her over.
Hesitating for a moment, the doctor still offered a reminder: “I don’t know the specifics of your situation, but young women should take care of their bodies.”
The doctor assumed Gu Xia had gotten pregnant while in a relationship, was too afraid to tell her parents, and had asked some “uncle” to bring her to the hospital.
But seeing such a young and pretty girl, she couldn’t help but offer an extra word of caution.
Gu Xia pursed her lips and smiled at the doctor but said nothing.
The pregnancy confirmation report was taken by Lu Shaoting.
Gu Xia didn’t mind—after all, she had wanted him to know she really was pregnant and not lying to deceive him.
After leaving the hospital, Lu Shaoting remained silent the whole time.
Gu Xia didn’t speak either. She had said all she needed to say, and now she was just waiting for Lu Shaoting to make a decision.
Just as Gu Xia thought Lu Shaoting would remain silent forever, he finally spoke.
“Less than three months, it’s just right for an abortion. If you wait until the pregnancy is further along, you might end up with two lives lost. Gu Xia, have you thought it through? Will you listen to me and have it aborted now…”