After asking around all the way, Ruan Xingmian finally found the computer laboratory. It had to be said—Gu Xing was quite famous. Anyone she asked knew that at this hour, “God Gu” would be in the computer lab.
She stood outside the open door, momentarily afraid to enter.
This was a top-tier program at a top-tier university.
The equipment inside looked expensive.
Having been an academic underachiever for over twenty years, a university campus felt like something she could only yearn for but never reach.
The interior of the lab was spacious, with a minimalist, modern style that exuded a strong sense of technology.
Directly opposite the entrance was a conference table.
Gu Xing sat with his back to the door.
A girl in a spaghetti-strap dress stood beside him, slightly bent over as she watched him operate the computer.
The two were talking back and forth, their thin clothing occasionally brushing against each other.
They seemed to be discussing a problem.
Although Gu Xing’s back was to the door, making his face unclear, Ruan Xingmian recognized him at a glance.
His hair was straight and smooth, enviably thick.
A little too long, it seemed to explode outward.
A loose gray T-shirt and black sweatpants.
His standard outfit.
Stain-resistant, breathable, and inexpensive—perfect for the image of a brilliant but frugal academic god.
The lab was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, making their hushed conversation unusually clear.
The atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.
An abrupt rumble from her stomach shattered the pleasant mood.
The girl looked up first.
Seeing Ruan Xingmian, her round eyes widened, her expression tinged with disdain.
It seemed that even the senior students in the research institute knew about the original host’s relentless pursuit.
Gu Xing turned his head.
First, he froze, then his lips tightened.
“Gu Xing, I need to talk to you alone.”
Ruan Xingmian pressed herself tightly against the doorframe, instinctively tilting her head slightly and offering a polite smile.
The girl looked at Gu Xing, her eyes filled with reluctance and hope.
Ruan Xingmian didn’t give them a chance to dawdle.
She walked over.
With the pregnancy test she had been clutching all the way.
She slipped it into Gu Xing’s hand, hiding it from the girl.
Then she turned and walked away.
If Gu Xing chased after her, she would talk things out with him properly.
If he didn’t, she would raise this child herself.
Later, she could at least explain to the child—I tried to find your father.
If he didn’t want you, then you’ll be mine alone.
She hadn’t even made it downstairs.
Behind her came the sound of hurried, chaotic footsteps.
The next second, someone gripped her wrist tightly.
“Gu Xing! Where are you going?!” The girl had chased after them.
Without looking back, Gu Xing dragged her with one hand, heading straight for the garden path in front of Duxing Building.
“Ruan Xingmian, what game are you trying to play now?!”
He seemed somewhat flustered and angry.
His sharp, handsome brow bones looked intimidating.
Ruan Xingmian calmly held up three fingers.
“The third time, the condom broke, and I went back with a high fever, so I didn’t have time to take emergency contraception.”
Her bluntness flushed Gu Xing’s pale face.
“No one asked you… about that night.”
Silence was the Cambridge of this noon.
“Gu Xing, you…”
“What do you plan…”
They spoke at the same time, then fell silent at the same time.
Silence was the second Cambridge of this noon.
He lowered his gaze, staring at Ruan Xingmian.
Trying to see if she was lying.
Though his features were sharp and cool, the epitome of a tough guy.
The way he pressed his lips together betrayed a hint of helplessness.
Ruan Xingmian’s gaze was bold and unflinching, like a scanner sweeping over his features, then moving downward.
Lingering on the Adam’s apple she had once bitten.
Gu Xing was silently at a loss.
Ruan Xingmian was silent too, too busy drooling.
Truly worthy of being the pitiable Second Male Lead, the academic god.
This body.
This face.
Ruan Xingmian wasn’t well-read, so the only word of praise she could muster was “amazing.”
Seeing him under the bright sun made her want to get closer to him even more.
She recalled the fiery passion of that night.
Ruan Xingmian shamefully entertained some improper thoughts.
The child had already been kept.
Why not try pursuing the child’s father?
Without the whole Transmigrating into a Book and drugging incident, she would never have met someone with both the looks of a celebrity and the intellect of an academic prodigy.
Her gaze was too direct and intense.
Gu Xing’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he turned his head to look into the distance, his hair tousled by the wind before settling back down.
He stood before Ruan Xingmian.
Like a lone wolf that had strayed into unfamiliar territory.
On full alert, yet hiding a childlike confusion.
Clearly, he believed the pregnancy news and was panicking.
In contrast, Ruan Xingmian.
Remained calm and composed.
As if she were just there to inform him. Why was she so unruffled about something as serious as a life being created?
While Ruan Xingmian was lost in thought, Gu Xing pulled paper and a pen from his backpack.
He crouched in front of the bench, flipping through his phone, and filled an entire A4 sheet.
After finishing, he nervously capped the pen.
“When are we going to the hospital? I need to request leave.”
He handed her the paper.
It was covered with a densely packed list.
Awkwardly avoiding Ruan Xingmian’s gaze, he stared at the patch of grass beneath his feet. “This is all I can offer.”
He asked again, “Is it enough?”
Ruan Xingmian glanced at it and roughly calculated.
100,860 yuan.
Including both whole numbers and change.
So Gu Xing had just been calculating how much money he could scrape together.
For the abortion procedure, postpartum recovery, Postnatal Care Center, postpartum care, postpartum nutrition, postpartum check-ups, and so on.
To compile this list, he had looked up information several times.
“You mean… to get rid of her?”
Ruan Xingmian held the thin sheet of paper.
Feeling a slight heaviness in her heart.
Gu Xing was a sincere, good kid.
He shouldn’t have ended up like in the original story.
“Gu Xing,” she looked into his eyes, “you’re the child’s father. What do you think?”
“It’s your right,” Gu Xing’s eyes were dark, “If you keep it, I’ll raise it. If you don’t, I’ll give you whatever compensation I can provide.”
Ruan Xingmian pressed him, “Even if I was the one who schemed to get pregnant with this child?”
“Yes, regardless of the cause, we deal with the consequences.”
He was rational.
Yet also gentle, sincere, and kind. It was rare to see even one of these traits in a person, but he possessed so many at once.
Ruan Xingmian demurred, “This is too much. It’s still early, an abortion doesn’t cost this much.”
What she wanted now wasn’t just the child.
“Compared to the harm your body would endure, this money is nothing.”
Ruan Xingmian sat on the bench, looking up at him with squinted eyes.
A warm breeze brushed past, bringing a touch of warmth to her face, weary from days of sleeplessness.
Her face turned toward the midday sun, revealing a smile as warm as the sunlight.
She said, “Gu Xing, let’s raise her.”
Gu Xing didn’t speak.
He stood with his back to the sun.
Carrying a heavy backpack.
His expression was unreadable.
Ruan Xingmian reached out and tugged the hem of his shirt. “I want to keep her. Do you think that’s okay?”
Gu Xing remembered that wild night.
She had made demands just as coquettishly then.
“It’s a bit cold. Can I sleep in your arms?”
She had slept restlessly, finally mumbling in her sleep, “I miss you so much, Grandma.”
Another stomach growl sounded.
Ruan Xingmian patted her empty belly, speaking up to cover a hint of embarrassment.
“Your child is hungry. Aren’t you taking me to the buffet?”
If you took the original host, you have to take me too.
Hearing the word “child,” Gu Xing’s brow furrowed slightly, his gaze thoughtful and serious.
Today’s Ruan Xingmian was exceptionally different.
In the past, whenever he saw her, he only wanted to avoid her from afar.
But today.
Seeing her clear, clean eyes, like a deer’s.
His breathing became unsteady.
“Wait five minutes.”
He left Ruan Xingmian behind, strode out with his long legs, and jogged off, disappearing to who knows where.
Five minutes later, he returned from the direction of the cafeteria, holding a pancake.
“Have this to tide you over.”
He stopped in front of Ruan Xingmian, maintaining a distance of three steps.
Ruan Xingmian looked at the pancake in his hand, filled with stir-fried meat in sauce. It smelled delicious.
“Maybe we should just eat at the cafeteria. It’s close by, and we can save some money.”
She wanted to move to a better apartment.
Closer to Gu Xing’s school.
A one-bedroom apartment would be enough, where she could cook for herself.
Not only would it save money, but she could also film Short Videos.
As for studying, Ruan Xingmian had no plans to continue for now.
She was eager to earn money and needed to solve her most fundamental financial problems first.
While the internet capital in this world was still less scheming, she had to seize the time to build up her own account.
If the big companies and capital entered the scene,
not only would they split the traffic,
but they also loved to scheme and suppress newcomers.
“I’ll earn money.” A cool, straightforward promise cut in from above.
Ruan Xingmian looked up: “?”
“Let’s just eat at the buffet.”
Gu Xing was concise. Gripping his backpack strap, he strode ahead, then turned back, waiting for Ruan Xingmian to get up and follow.
“Gu Xing,” Ruan Xingmian called out to stop him, “does this mean we’ve reached a consensus?”
She needed to confirm, pointing to her flat stomach.
“Keep her?”
Today, he wanted to listen to her.
Gu Xing thought for three seconds, then nodded solemnly. “Mm.”