Shi Nuan’s social media friends went into a frenzy when they saw her post as she awaited Zhou Zheng to pick her up at the hospital.
Song Rongrong and Su Yian immediately commented below her post: You’re pregnant? Why didn’t you tell us about it?
There was also Pei Jingxiu and others who had been invited to follow one another on social media out of courtesy. Everyone commented below Shi Nuan’s post the moment they saw it. Everyone except for Fu Chengyan and Su Shaoqing.
One was in the middle of a meeting, whereas the other one was performing surgery, so of course they had yet to see it.
Amongst those who commented was Shen Shixiu. He had been friends with Shi Nuan on social media even though Shi Nuan never knew who he was.
He was busy with work when he saw Shi Nuan’s pregnancy post. Since he had turned on post notifications from Shi Nuan, he could see all of her posts the first moment they appeared.
The smile on his face was a little awkward when he read her post.
The man he was negotiating with couldn’t help but narrowed his eyes when he saw the look on Shen Shixiu’s face. “Mr. Shen?”
Shen Shixiu put his phone down and gestured for the man to continue with the negotiation. “I’m so sorry.”
Jiang Zhan was already waiting for Shen Shixiu outside the building when the two finally reached a deal. “Sir, I’ve booked the flight tickets to the capital. We’ll be flying at noon the day after tomorrow.”
Shen Shixiu nodded. “How is it going with Shen Qianan?”
“Everything is fine.” What could possibly go wrong with her? Shen Qianan had been dealt a devastating blow ever since she found out she was just a stand-in for Shi Nuan. In the past few days she had locked herself in the hotel room, refusing to see anyone and barely ate anything.
Although Jiang Zhan had been working for a long time under Shen Shixiu, he always felt that his boss’ methods of handling sticky situations were especially heartless. Shen Qianan was Shen Shixiu’s sister, but the way he treated her was no better than a stranger.
Shen Shixiu swept his gaze over to Jiang Zhan and the latter immediately lowered his head. He knew deep down that he was in no position to interfere.
Shen Shixiu raised his hand. “Are there any updates on Fu Chengyan?”
“Fu Chengyan is still investigating Ms. Shi’s birth family.” Jiang Zhan paused before continuing, “Oh right, Fu Chengyan is investigating Ms. Shen these days!”
“Shen Qianan?” Shen Shixiu was stunned and frowned. “Is there anything else? Did he check out the Shen family, too?”
“He investigated a woman called Shu Qing.”
Shu Qing!
Shen Shixiu paused with a hand on his cufflink as his eyes turned cold. “Why her?”
“Shu Qing will be coming to Jiang City soon to build momentum for a new movie, which will be released early next month.”
“Why did you wait till now to tell me something so important?” Shen Shixiu gave Jiang Zhan a sharp look. Jiang Zhan was taken aback as he stared at Shen Shixiu dumbfounded. He was puzzled as to why he had to inform Shen Shixiu about Shu Qing since she was just an actress.
Shen Shixiu never paid much attention to film stars in the past, even though there had been rumors of him being involved with some of these actresses or models. These celebrities were all young women, whereas Shu Qing was old enough to be his mother.
Of course, Jiang Zhan didn’t say it out loud. He only lowered his head and said, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”
Shen Shixiu narrowed his eyes. “When is Shu Qing arriving?”
He grew increasingly hostile as Jiang Zhan didn’t have an answer to his query. He looked at Jiang Zhan sharply and gritted his teeth. One could easily tell he was freaking mad at the moment.
“Check it out right this instance. When is her flight, where will she be heading these days, and who she is meeting. I’ll give you one day to find out. If not, don’t follow me back to the capital.”
“Ok, I will get down to it immediately!”
Shen Shixiu’s brows were knitted tightly as he watched Jiang Zhan scurried off.
Shu Qing! She’s finally back! Don’t blame me for being merciless since you dare to return.
Shen Shixiu pinched his cufflinks and returned to his calm and composed demeanor again.
He took his things, turned around, and saw Shen Qianan standing at the door with Yu in her arms. Shen Qianan was staring at him coldly as if he were a stranger to her.
Shen Shixiu gave Shen Qianan a once-over and noticed she was a little pale. In fact, she didn’t even hear Yu calling out to her.
Shen Shixiu subconsciously frowned, clenched his fists, and pursed his lips.
Shen Qianan stood rooted to the ground, stunned. Her eyes were glazed over and she was at a loss of what to think or do. She turned a little timid when she saw the look on Shen Shixiu’s face.
Shen Shixiu glanced at her. “Come here!”
Shen Qianan walked over obediently. With a closer look, one would notice her quivering lips.
Her gaze started to change. There was a trace of hope in her eyes when she met eyes with Shen Shixiu. “She’s… back?”
Shen Shixiu stared at Shen Qianan and noticed she was acting odd. He simply nodded. “Maybe.”
For a moment there, the two siblings had nothing to say to one another once more.
Shen Qianan curled her lips to appear relaxed. But the truth was she couldn’t suppress her excitement anymore after receiving news that Shu Qing would be coming back.
“Do you miss her? She abandoned you for almost 25 years. Why do you still miss her?” Shen Qianan’s fingers trembled. “You’re 27 now, all grown up. Just think of your life in the past few years. Do you think you’re still a child?”
“Shen Shixiu, that’s enough! Why do you have to be so cruel?” Shen Qianan bellowed uncontrollably, “I’m not the one at fault here, nor the one who had hurt your mother!”
Shen Shixiu pursed his lips. “Did I say it was you?”
Shen Shixiu looked at Shen Qianan coldly. He loomed over her as if she was an insignificant insect. Shen Qianan couldn’t help but tremble——she had always appeared inferior when faced with Shen Shixiu. This was also why Shen Qianan would rather come to Jiang City when she was young, and the reason why she would rather face Fu Chengyan than Shen Shixiu.
Shen Shixiu was like the devil himself in Shen Qianan’s eyes.
However, Shen Shixiu wasn’t aware of Shen Qianan’s thoughts. He merely looked at her like a stranger. “You should be glad you didn’t do anything wrong, or else you wouldn’t be who you are today.”
Shen Shixiu loosened his grip and gave his amber cufflinks a look. “It’s getting late now, go and grab something to eat with Yu. I’ve asked Jiang Zhan to book flight tickets to the capital for the day after tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to go back to the capital!” Shen Qianan spoke up once again, agitated. “I’ve told you before I don’t want to go back to the capital. Don’t you understand?”
“Are you going to continue staying in Jiang City if you’re not going back to the capital? Are you still waiting for Fu Chengyan?” Shen Shixiu tugged the corner of his lips. “Do you know that Shi Nuan is pregnant now?”
Shen Qianan stared at Shen Shixiu, stunned. “That’s not possible.”
“Why not? Shi Nuan is his wife. Isn’t it normal for her to be pregnant since they’re a couple?” Shen Shixiu saw that Shen Qianan’s face had gone totally pale. Nevertheless, he continued nonchalantly, “I’ve told you before to give up.”
“How could I give up on him? He’s my everything, he’s all my youth. If not for Shi Nuan…” No, Fu Chengyan still wouldn’t have married her even if Shi Nuan weren’t around.
Shen Qianan’s eyes glazed over. “I don’t care what you say. I can do what you say on anything, except for this.” She didn’t want to go back. Going back to the capital would mean she would have nothing more to do with Fu Chengyan.
Shen Shixiu frowned as he stared at the stubborn Shen Qianan. He commented coldly, “I don’t care whether you’re willing to or not, but you must leave the day after tomorrow. You know I have ways to make you leave even if you’re not willing.”
Shen Shixiu left without hesitation after saying that, leaving Shen Qianan staring blankly into space. She had yet to recover from the shock after hearing what Shen Shixiu said.
Shi Nuan is pregnant! Shu Qing is coming back!
Hah!
Shu Qing, you’re finally coming back? You’re finally coming back after abandoning me for so many years. What’s your first stop upon your arrival?
Shi Nuan was still at the hospital waiting for Zhou Zheng, totally oblivious to the chain of events that had occurred following her social media posting.
She recalled how Fu Chengyan had reminded her repeatedly not to spend too much time on her phone. Hence, after bidding goodbye to Song Rongrong and Su Yian, she put her phone into her bag and went out for a walk.
Shi Nuan had always been in a hurry every time she visited Su Shaoqing’s hospital. She had not taken a leisurely stroll through the hospital grounds before.
She had always thought Su Shaoqing was the cynical type before getting to know him. Who would have thought he was actually a doctor? It was really hard for her to associate Su Shaoqing with being a doctor, but he managed to pull it off.
Shi Nuan was walking through the hospital’s garden when she noticed a middle-aged man limping around with some difficulty.
She paused before heading towards him to offer him some help. “Sir, are you okay?”
Su Huaibei froze when Shi Nuan reached out to help him. He gave her a sidelong glance and noticed Shi Nuan was also looking at him. “Sir, are you okay?” She asked again, “Do you want to have a seat over there? Are you here to visit someone?”
Su Huaibei stared at her inquisitively.
He sized up Shi Nuan before nodding after a long while. “I’m here to visit someone, young lady.”
Shi Nuan smiled. “Then, would you like to have a seat first?”
“Sure.”
