Chapter 304: Chapter 283: Cannot Keep
Gu Qili left the coffee shop and started walking aimlessly forward, not knowing where she wanted to go. She crossed the main streets, passed through the alleys, just kept walking until her legs became numb, but her heart, it never ceased to ache.
It turns out the truth is even more cruel than betrayal. Right from the start, their love was doomed, caught in this labyrinth where he always looked down on her foolishness like an emperor from above.
When she told him she loved him, his heart must have been filled with mockery and self-satisfaction, for that was the outcome he desired—to be loved and then cruelly abandoned. Just how wonderfully he must have played his part in this show, probably even he was bewildered by his own act.
Gu Qili finally stopped on an overpass. Cars moved to and fro below, while the bridge was nearly void of pedestrians. She stood there high above, the wind blowing past her, with the sound of car horns echoing in her ears.
Suddenly, she quickly walked down from the bridge and hailed a taxi, barely sitting down before she said to the driver: "Central Hospital."
After registering, Gu Qili waited for her turn to be called, coincidentally, by the doctor who had examined her before.
"You again, what’s the matter now? Don’t be too worried, it’s not good for the baby," the doctor recognized her and immediately smiled reassuringly, "You’re so young, normally there shouldn’t be any problems. Look at the pregnant woman who just left, she’s already forty."
Gu Qili seemed not to hear what the doctor had said, she stared down at her flat belly, just a second ago she was still proudly thinking about having his child, now she felt overwhelmed by guilt. With such enmity between him and her, how could she possibly bear his child?
"Doctor, I want to schedule an abortion."
"What?" The always chattering doctor suddenly looked at her incredulously, "Did I hear wrong? What are you doing?"
Gu Qili’s tone became even more resolute: "I want to schedule an abortion, I don’t want this child."
"Why? Everything was fine before," The girl in front of him, her eyes filled with nothing but despair and hatred, devoid of any joy. What could she have possibly gone through in such a short time?
"Doctor, please check the time." Gu Qili didn’t respond to her question, her gaze steadfast.
The doctor helplessly shook his head, checked the computer, and said, "How about Friday? I’m on duty Friday morning. You’re in the early stages of pregnancy, you could opt for a medication abortion. If that doesn’t work, then consider a surgical procedure."
Friday? The day after tomorrow?
That’s better, to avoid more sleepless nights.
Gu Qili left the hospital. What was clear skies before was now overcast, a perfect reflection of her mood, from heaven to hell in one day.
After getting into the car, she made a phone call, and by the time she got home, Xiao Mi was already waiting at the door.
"Qiqi, what happened? You sounded so panicked inviting me over." Mickey had rushed over by taxi, seeing her pale face lifted her own heart into her throat, remembering how devastated she was when she broke up with Mu Shuoqian.
Gu Qili didn’t answer immediately but instead took out her keys and opened the door, Mickey hurriedly followed inside and changed into slippers.
"Qiqi, speak up."
She saw her walking to the kitchen to pour a glass of water, she followed.
"Xiao Mi, I’m pregnant." Gu Qili held the cup in her hands, her eyes fixated on the trembling surface of the water, her hand shaking violently. It should have been a happy announcement, yet her tears fiercely fell down, one dropping into the cup, causing ripples on the calm water surface.
"Ah? Is it Mu Shuoqian’s?"
Gu Qili nodded lightly, though there were moments of negligence.
She always had stomach pain during her periods. Mu Shuoqian had Luo Shangqing ask someone to prepare some medicinal adjustments, but they only worked if taken continuously for three months.
So, when she didn’t have her period for two months, she wasn’t surprised, but she didn’t expect a pregnancy test to turn positive.
"How did you only find out now? Haven’t you felt anything unusual?"
"No." Except occasionally craving something sour, there were absolutely no signs, like nausea, vomiting or heartburn—common symptoms that others frequently experienced, she had none of them.
"What are you going to do?" Mickey was also a bit confused, it made sense that they had broken up, she shouldn’t keep this child, but after all, it’s a small life.
"Xiao Mi, our Gu Family’s bankruptcy was his doing." Gu Qili said it nonchalantly, as if she didn’t care, yet her hand gripped the cup so tightly her knuckles turned white, "He admitted it himself."
"What?" Xiao Mi blinked twice, "Why would Mu Shuoqian do that?"
"No matter why, my dad died because of him, now to me, he’s just a man who killed my father. Should I keep the child of my enemy?" A bitter smile appeared on Gu Qili’s lips.
Mickey, seeing her sorrowful appearance, felt heartache too. She knew Gu Qili was hesitant; otherwise, she wouldn’t have called her over for miles, although she might not accept her advice.
"Qiqi, this is a small life after all, don’t you really feel heartbroken?"
Heartbroken, she feels more heartbroken than anyone else.
Gu Qili suddenly hugged her and began to cry loudly.
From the moment she knew the child existed, such hopes had been ignited in her heart, and even now, she is still warmed by the lingering glow of hope. However, she clearly knows that the child cannot be kept.
"Alright, Qiqi, don’t cry anymore. Since you’ve decided not to keep it, then don’t. The child was not meant to be yours, and you are still so young. There will be plenty of chances to have children in the future, so stop crying.
She gently patted her back, then suddenly thought, "By the way, does Mu Shuoqian know? Does he know that you are pregnant?"
Gu Qili shook her head: "I haven’t told him, Xiao Mi, will you go to the hospital with me the day after tomorrow?"
"Yes, I will accompany you, no matter what."
However, Mickey had not expected that she would see Mu Shuoqian the very next day after agreeing to accompany Gu Qili to the hospital.
She has a student who lives in the same community as Mu Shuoqian; his father usually picks him up after his Taekwondo class, but today his father was busy, and no one else in the family could spare the time, so she was asked to take the child back home.
Mickey and the child got off at the gate, and after entering the community, the child suddenly told her, "Teacher Mi, there’s someone in our community who grows grapes, do you want to go see?"
Originally, Mickey wasn’t interested, but seeing the child so excited, she couldn’t bear to disappoint him, and smiled, "Sure."
Thus, she saw Mu Shuoqian.
He was dressed in black home clothes, the pant legs rolled up high, squatting in front of a grapevine, fertilizing it, his expression very serious as if he was handling a precious treasure.
"It’s this uncle who grows them," the child pointed at Mu Shuoqian and happily said, "Last time, that auntie told me, when the grapes ripen,
Hearing the sound, Mu Shuoqian, who had been squatting, raised his head to look over here; seeing Mickey, a hint of surprise flashed through his eyes, but he quickly bent down again and continued fussing over the tree."
Mickey, although a bit frightened, really wanted to rush up and confront him, asking why he abandoned Qiqi, why he framed the Gu Family, what deep hatred or grudge could make him so cruel and ruthless.
But these words were only confined to her thoughts, even if she disliked Mu Shuoqian, she didn’t dare to rush up so recklessly.
Actually, before this, her impression of Mu Shuoqian had always been good, though he was a bit aloof, he was nice to Qiqi, nice enough to make everyone envious, she originally thought he would treat Qiqi well for a lifetime, she never expected all that kindness was founded on revenge; even if Qiqi’s father did something to wrong him, Qiqi was innocent."
Mickey reached out and pulled the approaching child, "Let’s go."
Mu Shuoqian looked up at her again, but soon lowered his gaze.
Some words were on the tip of her tongue, but Mickey swallowed them down again. Mu Shuoqian didn’t know about Qiqi’s pregnancy, right? What would he do if he knew? He resented the Gu Family so much, he probably wouldn’t want their child to be born either.
"Is there something?" Mu Shuoqian suddenly straightened up, his hand brushing his forehead lightly, smearing a bit of soil on his skin.
Mickey was startled when she realized he was talking to her. She had only met Mu Shuoqian a few times and exchanged no more than a couple of sentences, so when he suddenly initiated a conversation, she actually stuttered.
"Is there something?" Mu Shuoqian repeated, remembering she is Gu Qili’s best friend, her name seemed to be Xiao Mi; since she’s her friend, he regarded her differently, even though she was a woman.
Do you know Qiqi is pregnant? Do you know she wants to abort your child, just because of your cruelty, just because of your revenge on the Gu Family?
These words had been brewing in her heart for a long time, and under his indifferent gaze, her mouth had already opened, as if ready to let everything out.
Just as Mickey had uttered the word "you," her phone suddenly started ringing urgently.
"Teacher, your phone is ringing." The child tugged at her clothing.
Mickey hurriedly fished out her phone, the child’s sharp eyes shouted, "It’s my dad."
"Yes, Mr. Xu, I’m already at your front door. Is the housemaid there? Alright, I’ll bring Xiaozhi over now, don’t worry, no need to thank me, this is what I should do."
Mickey hung up the phone, and Mu Shuoqian had already stopped looking at her, carrying an empty bucket back inside the house.
Mickey opened her mouth, but ultimately did not call out to him.
If this was Qiqi’s decision, then she would choose to respect her.