Lin Qiqi took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. What was done was done; there was no point dwelling on it. She should focus on how to stay by his side.
Her almond-shaped eyes lowered slightly, and a flash of determination crossed them. No matter what, for her and the baby’s sake, she had to stay with the man for now.
With that in mind, Lin Qiqi looked up at Lu Beicheng and began to tell him about what had happened more than a month ago:
“That day, I happened to have some business up in the mountains. On my way back, I found you unconscious and covered in blood, so I kindly rescued you and took you home. I took good care of you, and little by little, you recovered…”
She left out the parts she didn’t want him to know and told him everything else.
After listening, Lu Beicheng fell silent. According to her account, everything fit.
And then there was what she had said in the living room earlier…
Lu Beicheng’s gaze swept over Lin Qiqi’s belly. So this baby really was his?
His eyes met hers again. “Then why didn’t I see you after I woke up?”
She had saved him and stayed by his side to care for him. And she had… she had slept with him.
Shouldn’t she have been the first person there when he woke up?
“…” Lin Qiqi felt guilty. When she’d just told him the story, she had deliberately avoided that part.
Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, and her black-pearl eyes darted about.
Knowing the man as she did, if he found out that she had slept with him and then sneaked away, who knew what kind of trouble might follow?
Lin Qiqi bit down on her pearly teeth, then pinched her thigh hard with the hand hanging at her side.
In an instant, her eyes filled with tears.
She gazed at the man through tear-blurred eyes and accused him pitifully, “You—you have the nerve to say that.
“That day, after you woke up, I wasn’t feeling well, so I just went out for a little while. When I came back, you were nowhere to be found.”
Lu Beicheng gave a cold snort, his dark eyes sweeping over her.
Liar!
She made him sound like some heartless bastard who had taken off without a word after sleeping with her.
Lu Beicheng gritted his teeth inwardly. After waking up that day, he had waited a whole day. She never came back!
Lin Qiqi sniffled and pretended to be strong as she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “If you don’t want to acknowledge this child, that’s fine too.
“I’ve caused you a lot of trouble today. Just pretend I never came. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
With that, she turned and started to leave.
Lu Beicheng narrowed his deep-set eyes. This woman was quite the actress.
But given the situation, how could he let her walk away just like that?
Whether or not what she said was true, if he let her go and someone with ulterior motives found out and exploited the situation, his own future would become “difficult.”
So this matter had to be dealt with slowly. If she was a fox, she would show her tail eventually.
“Wait.” Lu Beicheng parted his thin lips and spoke in a low voice.
Lin Qiqi stopped and looked back at him, her eyes rimmed with red. “Comrade Lu, is there something else?”
“Since you’re pregnant, have the baby…” Lu Beicheng paused. His narrow eyes narrowed further as he looked straight at her.
“There’s a test abroad that can determine whether the child is mine. I’ll arrange for the baby and me to take it when the time comes. If the child really is mine, I certainly won’t mistreat him…”
Lin Qiqi pursed her lips. He didn’t need to tell her; she was going to have the baby anyway.
She understood what he was implying: if the child wasn’t his, she shouldn’t expect to cling to him.
Lin Qiqi gave a casual “Oh.”
It was just a test. Who was afraid of that?
Lu Beicheng looked away and pressed his long, clearly knuckled fingers to the spot between his brows. Then he continued:
“Stay here for now. I’ll have to submit an application to the unit before we can get married. Once it’s approved, I’ll take you to register.”
“…Wait.” Lin Qiqi hurriedly stopped him. “Um, I don’t think there’s any need to get married.”
All she wanted was the baby in her belly. As for the baby’s father…
Well, men were such a hassle.
So her goal was to keep the baby and leave the father behind.
If she married him and got tied to him, how would she ever leave?
At that, Lu Beicheng’s dark eyes grew even heavier. “What do you mean?”
Did she not want him to take responsibility?
Then what was the point of her coming to find him today?
And did she really find the idea of marrying him so repulsive?
Lu Beicheng suddenly felt deeply uncomfortable.
Lin Qiqi lightly bit her lip. How could she explain what she wanted in a tactful way?
Besides, given his temper, would he slap her to death once he learned what she was thinking?
“Um… I just think we don’t know each other well enough. Wouldn’t it be a little rash to get married just like that?”
As soon as she’d said it, Lin Qiqi cautiously suggested, “Why don’t we try dating first and see if we’re compatible? Then we can talk about what comes next.”
Of course, she was only suggesting it to buy time.
Lu Beicheng saw right through her. “We already have a child together, and you’re saying we don’t know each other well enough? Hmm?”
“…” Lin Qiqi glanced at him nervously. “That night was an accident.”
As she spoke, a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
That night, she had carelessly fallen into that scumbag’s trap, and that was why…
Lin Qiqi clenched her teeth again and again. Just wait, you scumbag. Once I’ve recovered a little, I’ll go back and kill you.
Lu Beicheng had no idea what she was thinking. Seeing her expression, he assumed she was so opposed to registering their marriage.
His already stern face darkened further.
This woman really was something!
After being rejected again and again, he was getting angry too.
After a moment of silence, he said coldly, “Suit yourself.”
If she didn’t want to marry him, there was no reason for him to keep pressing her to do so.
Besides, women were such troublesome creatures. He didn’t want to bring one into his life!
At that, Lin Qiqi breathed a sigh of relief. This man was actually pretty easy to talk to.
“By the way.” She suddenly remembered something. “You just said I could stay here?”
Lu Beicheng gave a detached nod. That was indeed what he’d said.
But judging by the way she looked, she probably didn’t want to stay here. So he added, “Do as you like.”
“…” Lin Qiqi pressed her red lips together.
She could be casual about anything else, but not this.
“Do you usually live here?”
Lu Beicheng glanced at her. “No.”
“Then where do you live?” Lin Qiqi turned back, tilted her little face up toward him, and blinked her pretty almond-shaped eyes.
“At the unit,” Lu Beicheng replied calmly.
He usually lived at the unit. Although his home was nearby, he rarely had a chance to come back.
Lin Qiqi paused, then stared straight at him. “I want to live with you.”
She had come to Kyoto to find him. Now that she had finally found him, how could they live apart?
Lu Beicheng gave her a cold glance and couldn’t be bothered to answer.
This woman really had some imagination. The unit wasn’t his private property; he couldn’t just bring anyone in.
Seeing him say nothing, Lin Qiqi grew anxious. “Lu Beicheng?”
She had to stay with him to ease her heart condition more effectively.
That way, the baby wouldn’t be in danger—and neither would she.