Chapter 71: Suspected Engagement

“But…” Ruan Li’s voice cut off abruptly because the call suddenly dropped. She wasn’t sure if it was a signal issue or something else.

On the other end, Fu Huaizhou glanced at his phone, which had lost the call due to the poor signal in the remote area. He frowned and turned back to the person in front of him. “Continue,” he said.

Ruan Li stared at the now blank screen, feeling a twinge of frustration. Fu Huaizhou had never refused her before. She pouted slightly, feeling a bit upset.

In the end, she called Chen Jing, huffing slightly. Why did it have to be Fu Huaizhou or his people? She had her own driver too.

When Chen Jing pulled up at the Yu Garden, Ruan Li came down, bundled tightly in a coat, with only her eyes visible. She made sure that no one on the street could recognize her.

“Are you hiding from the paparazzi? Why call me to pick you up when so many people are waiting?” Chen Jing teased.

“The hospital,” Ruan Li replied cautiously, settling into the car.

“Is it really necessary? Just because I told you to watch your figure, you’re heading to a hospital?” Chen Jing widened her eyes.

“It’s not about that.” Ruan Li wasn’t even sure of her own situation yet. It was best not to alarm anyone until the results were clear. She knew that if Chen Jing found out she might be pregnant, she’d be shocked.

After all, Chen Jing had often joked that if Ruan Li got married and became a stay-at-home wife, she’d be out of a job.

Back then, Ruan Li had laughed off her worries.

“Find a hospital with good privacy,” Ruan Li added, “I’m quite popular right now, and getting spotted would make headlines.”

Chen Jing nodded. “No problem.”

For a celebrity, such requests were routine, avoiding unnecessary complications.

Chen Jing thought Ruan Li was overreacting, but as they entered the hospital, a nurse politely asked what department she needed.

“Obstetrics and gynecology,” Ruan Li whispered.

Chen Jing almost thought she’d misheard. She turned to see Ruan Li’s calm face, still processing the shock. Half an hour later…

They sat together, listening to the doctor give the verdict.

“You definitely have pregnancy symptoms it’s been two months.”

Ruan Li finally felt grounded after seeing the test results. If it was two months, it must have been that night in the bathroom. She was genuinely surprised it had happened from just one encounter.

With her hand on her stomach, she asked softly, “Is the baby healthy? I didn’t prepare for this, so I wasn’t exactly living a healthy lifestyle.”

“He’s fine. Everything looks normal. If you’re still concerned, you can schedule regular check-ups,” the doctor reassured her.

Chen Jing finally absorbed what had happened. Recalling the sweet dessert commercial incident, she questioned the doctor, “But she had her period recently. Isn’t that supposed to stop during pregnancy?”

The doctor shook her head. “A small percentage of women can still experience menstrual like bleeding in the early stages due to individual body conditions or hormonal fluctuations. But if there’s bleeding later on, it’s crucial to come back for a check-up.”

Ruan Li felt a weight lift from her chest. She asked Chen Jing to ensure that her condition remained confidential due to her sensitive status. An exposure could complicate her life.

When Chen Jing returned from speaking with the doctor, she saw Ruan Li sitting quietly on the hallway bench. She gently asked, “What’s your plan? It seems you want to keep it.”

“I don’t know yet.” Ruan Li gently touched her stomach. “It feels like it’s meant to be… hard to just let go.”

“Then why not tell Mr. Fu now? You can start planning the wedding sooner rather than later. You don’t want to wear a wedding dress with a big belly,” Chen Jing suggested, a hint of regret in her voice over Ruan Li’s young age, though the child wouldn’t be an issue with her current lifestyle.

“Wouldn’t that look like I’m forcing him to marry?” Ruan Li worried about being accused of using the baby to trap him.

“If Mr. Fu thinks that way, I’ll gain fifty pounds this year,” Chen Jing scoffed. It was clear, even to an outsider, how serious Fu Huaizhou was.

Thinking back to the call that had abruptly ended, Ruan Li decided it was best to tell him face-to-face. “Let’s go home first.”

On the way back, she called Qin, Fu Huaizhou’s assistant, unable to resist a bit of mischief. It would be fun to surprise him at the office preferably during a meeting to see his reaction.

“Mr. Fu isn’t in today. Is there anything urgent, Miss Ruan? I can let him know when he returns,” Qin said.

“No, it’s nothing important,” Ruan Li replied, puzzled about why he was being so secretive.

“Checking up on him, huh? I understand. I’ll keep it confidential,” Qin teased. He had become a firm supporter of Ruan Li, as her presence had noticeably lightened the mood at Fu Corporation, making mornings less tense.

Chen Jing helped Ruan Li out of the car at the Yu Garden, cautioning her to get plenty of rest.

Ruan Li nodded and returned to the master bedroom, exhausted from the short trip. She slipped back into bed for a nap. Normally, if he hadn’t messaged otherwise, Fu Huaizhou was always home in the evening.

There was a faint rustling, waking her up. Assuming it was Fu Huaizhou, she rolled over, only to find Lucky, their pet, chewing on the window curtain’s tassels.

“Stop that,” she scolded softly. Lucky had already ruined five sets of curtains. Checking the time on her phone, she noticed it was 10 p.m., and Fu Huaizhou still wasn’t home.

Just as she was about to call him, a sudden news alert popped up on her screen. Her name was in the headline.

Her eyes widened, focusing on a photo taken at a Beijing airport. A man and woman walked side-by-side, looking like a perfect match, talking and smiling.

The headline had a provocative title:

“Fu Corporation’s CEO Escorts Ming Family Heiress Suspected Engagement? Ruan Li’s Dream of Marrying Into a Wealthy Family Shattered.”