Chapter 113: You’ve Been Taking Birth Control Pills All Along?!

Shi Runrun’s eyes curved into crescents, and she could not help but weep intensely once more; however, this time, they were tears of joy.

For the first time, she cradled his handsome face with trembling hands and whispered, "Me too..."

Then, she leaned in, pressing her lips gently against his thin ones.

"Deep in my heart, I love you so, so much... Xiao Xuezheng... I love you deeply."

"Baby..."

Stirred by her words, Xiao Xuezheng returned her kiss with fervor.

Two people, two broken hearts, after enduring so many twists and turns, were finally drawing close to one another again. As he kissed her passionately, Shi Runrun slowly closed her flushed eyes. Feeling his strength, his tenderness, and the comfort of his embrace, the trembling, adrift heart of Shi Runrun finally found its shore tonight.

***

With the misunderstandings resolved, life returned to normal.

Under the meticulous care of the doctors and nurses, Shi Runrun’s body began to improve bit by bit. Her lungs, having undergone surgery, were recovering well, and her physical wounds were gradually healing. Yet, what left her hesitant and conflicted was whether she should tell Xiao Xuezheng about her pregnancy.

This should have been a joyous occasion.

But truthfully, Shi Runrun felt a lingering fear. Even though they had reconciled, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were no longer as intimate as they once were. Although he still came to see her and kept watch over her every day, she felt an inexplicable sense of estrangement whenever she looked at him.

She could not name the feeling, but there was a voice in her heart urging her to hold back, telling her not to reveal the pregnancy to anyone just yet. For the sake of the baby’s health and safety, she kept the secret guarded tightly.

During this time, the grandparents returned from the United States. Xiao Xuezheng had told her that the grandfather’s condition was under control; he would not need a heart transplant, provided he took his medication and avoided excitement or anger. Upon learning she was hospitalized, they came to visit the very next day. Shi Runrun was grateful for their arrival, assuming their concern was the reason for their visit.

Grandmother even brought home-brewed medicinal soup, but although Grandfather came to see her, his demeanor seemed off. He pulled Xiao Xuezheng outside to talk, and Shi Runrun, listening quietly from her hospital bed, heard these words:

"How did she manage to land herself in the hospital again? At this rate, when will you two be able to have children, and when will I ever hold my great-grandchild?!"

"Grandfather, don't be anxious. Runrun fell into the river and was injured; she underwent a major surgery. Pregnancy is not something that can be rushed!"

"Hmph! I think she isn't thinking of your grandmother or me at all! How old are we? How many years do we have left?! If you don't work on it now, I fear I won't even see my precious great-grandchild before I die!"

Lying in the ward, Shi Runrun felt a bitter, heavy sensation in her heart. She sat up slightly, gently stroking her lower abdomen, biting her lip.

She was already pregnant now... The precious great-grandchild the grandfather longed for was right there in her womb. But... should she tell them now?

After the incident with the car accident, Shi Runrun was truly terrified. She feared that if she revealed her pregnancy, such a horrific event might happen again. Under no circumstances could she accept the possibility of losing the baby she had worked so hard to conceive. This time, she would protect her child even if it cost her her life.

Therefore, after much hesitation, she decided to keep the pregnancy a secret until the baby was completely stable. Ideally, she wanted to wait until the child was born.

In the future, Shi Runrun would be deeply grateful for her past self, who had guarded this secret so fiercely. Had she not kept the secret of the pregnancy, perhaps her three precious babies would not have arrived in this world safe and sound, by her side.

***

Half a month later, after the final check-up, the doctor informed her she could be discharged.

On that day, Xiao Xuezheng was unable to come due to an emergency at the company, so Qin Feng arrived to help her with the discharge procedures. Seizing the moment when she was alone with the doctor, she hurriedly asked about the precautions she needed to take for the baby after going home.

The doctor whispered that he had added fetal-protective medication to the medicine she was taking home. As long as she took it on time and kept a happy mood, there would be no major issues. At the same time, the doctor solemnly warned her not to engage in sexual intercourse with Xiao Xuezheng until the first trimester had passed.

Shi Runrun kept this strictly in mind.

That afternoon, Qin Feng drove her back to the Xiao family villa. Because of her hospitalization, she had missed her final exams, and the school was now completely on holiday. She had no choice but to accept that she would have to take make-up exams when the next semester began.

Back home, her grandparents were there. She hadn't eaten lunch, so her grandmother fussed over her, insisting she have an extra meal. As she sat at the dining table, her grandfather sat on the sofa nearby reading a newspaper, occasionally speaking to her, dropping subtle hints that she needed to get pregnant as soon as possible.

Listening to this, Shi Runrun felt a sourness in her heart. She desperately wanted to tell her grandfather that she was already carrying the great-grandchild he had been waiting for, but for some reason, his constant reminders made her feel as though she were merely a tool for continuing the Xiao family line. While she felt her perspective might be extreme, the old man’s behavior and the implications in his words made it impossible for her not to overthink.

At nine in the evening, Xiao Xuezheng returned home, his body weary from work. When he entered the bedroom, Shi Runrun was in the bathroom showering. By the time she came out, she found him standing there, his brows knitted tightly, holding a white medicine bottle.

Shi Runrun recognized the bottle in an instant. She stared at it and couldn't help but raise her voice, "Isn't that the medicine I couldn't find earlier?! Xiao Xuezheng, where did you find it?!"

However, the man did not answer. He simply stared at the medicine in the bottle, his sword-like brows furrowed deeply. Then, he took out his phone and began tapping on the screen, his sharp features tightening as he did so. His expression grew increasingly grim.

Shi Runrun walked over, bewildered, and asked, "What's wrong? Your expression is so strange. What's wrong with that medicine?"

Shi Runrun’s heart began to race.

In the next second, Xiao Xuezheng turned around abruptly, clutching the medicine bottle tightly. He looked at her and demanded in a low voice, "This is birth control! You have been taking birth control pills!"

What...

Shi Runrun widened her eyes, staring at him in disbelief. "What are you talking about?! What birth control?! Isn't this the fertility medication the doctor prescribed for me at the hospital?!"