Chapter 3 : To Have or Not to Have

Yan Mian hid behind a tombstone, not daring to take a breath. As the sound of footsteps grew fainter, she clenched her teeth and prepared to continue running, but...the dizziness in her brain became increasingly intense. In the end, unable to hold on any longer, she closed her eyes and fainted completely. During this sleep, it felt as if a century had passed. When she regained consciousness, she smelled the strong scent of disinfectant. Her eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes. She wanted to speak, but only a hoarse sound came out. "Cough..." Soon, footsteps approached, and a man's face blocked the dim yellow light. "You're awake." His warm voice flowed like a gentle stream, pleasant to the ears. "Water..." She managed to utter a word, but her throat felt like it was on fire. Qin Lu understood and helped her up, handing her a cup of warm water. "Here, moisten your throat. You've been unconscious for a week, and your body is weak now. You can't leave the hospital, as it may lead to a miscarriage." Huh? Unconscious for a week? Has it been that long... As she wondered, a sudden shock jolted her back to reality, and her voice became sharp with astonishment. "What did you just say? Miscarriage?" "A miscarriage. You're pregnant," Qin Lu replied in the same calm tone. Yan Mian instinctively grabbed his arm, trembling uncontrollably. "I'm pregnant?" "Yes, and it's twins." Seeing Qin Lu nod, her mind went blank. She, she! She was actually pregnant! She had conceived that night! Afterward, she was busy dealing with her grandmother's affairs and forgot about taking precautions! After a full ten minutes, Yan Mian's expression finally returned to normal, but an indescribable mix of emotions surged in her heart. Should she keep the children or not? She didn't even know who the father of the children was, but... She gently touched her abdomen, feeling a pang of heartache. The children were innocent! Qin Lu, dressed in a white coat, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and spoke in a gentle and refined manner, "It seems like you've encountered some unexpected circumstances. If you don't want these children, I suggest you consider it carefully. If you decide not to keep them, I can arrange for the operation..." Before he could finish his sentence, Yan Mian squeezed his hand firmly, her tone unusually resolute. "I want them!" She wanted to keep these two children, at least as a consolation! She had no family left! Qin Lu pursed his lips, his gaze filled with complexity. He hesitated for a moment before changing his words. "Alright, then rest well." He left these words in a calm tone. "Don't worry, I will help you." In the following months, Yan Mian recuperated in a secluded house in the suburbs. Qin Lu visited her regularly fifteen times a month, getting to know all her preferences. Even during the days when she experienced morning sickness and her temper flared due to hormonal changes, he always accompanied her with a good attitude. The due date was approaching, and it was already midsummer. Yan Mian half-closed her eyes, wanting to get up, but a sudden wet and sticky sensation reached her nerves. She lowered her head and glanced, her amniotic fluid...had broken! She hurriedly called Qin Lu, but there was no answer on the other end. Yan Mian gritted her teeth and had no choice but to support her belly and leave the apartment. Fortunately, there was a taxi parked by the roadside with its hazard lights on. She waved her hand in a hurry, "Driver, People's Hospital, quickly!" ... Yan Mian fainted from the pain. When she woke up in a daze, the overhead surgical light made it impossible for her to open her eyes. "It's a stillborn?" "The stillborn is useless, throw it away, there's still one more!" Yan Mian's pupils suddenly contracted. Stillborn? Useless? What did they mean? Were these people really doctors?! She was full of doubts but didn't have time to think further. The second baby was about to come out, and wave after wave of pain was about to take her life! "Ah!" One cry after another echoed against the wall. She tightly gripped the bedsheet and suddenly sat up. "Ah!!!" She even felt her throat bleeding as she screamed, finally... "Waa!" The cry of a baby filled the room, and she was filled with joy. She wanted to go and see, but she saw a group of medical staff carrying the baby and leaving. "Dispose of any traces that need to be dealt with, let's go!" Yan Mian widened her eyes, her bloodshot pupils almost popping out. Her voice was so sharp that it was on the verge of breaking. "My child, my child!"