Chapter 8: Pregnant?

A rough hand with thin calluses brushed against Tao Wanxing’s skin. Her eyelids fluttered slightly, dark lashes trembling as she slowly opened her eyes.

Her misty gaze settled on the man before her.

Meng Chu withdrew his hand, his voice indifferent. “You have a fever.”

His dark eyes held a silent warning. “My patience has limits.”

Tao Wanxing lowered her gaze, fingers tightening beneath the blanket. Her voice came out hoarse. “I thought I was better. The department is so busy—I didn’t want to…”

“Cloud Province Hospital won’t collapse just because one little nurse is absent,” Meng Chu interrupted coldly, his brow sharp with displeasure.

Tao Wanxing turned her head away in silence.

She didn’t want to argue with him—didn’t dare to.

This version of Meng Chu was intimidating, exuding authority even without anger, making it hard for her to breathe, let alone meet his eyes.

He must be angry.

Angry that she’d fainted right in front of him, disrupting his time alone with Zhu Yan?

A faint sneer flickered at the corner of Tao Wanxing’s lips.

Her current situation felt like that of a mistress intruding on a married couple’s relationship—unable to hold her head up in front of the rightful wife.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered.

Meng Chu’s gaze lingered on her pale face, flushed faintly pink from the fever, before he looked away. “Going back to rest?”

Tao Wanxing didn’t want to answer. She forced herself to speak instead. “Where’s Sister Zhu Yan?”

Meng Chu’s hand, reaching for a cigarette, paused. He pulled one out and held it between his teeth unlit. “Why ask about her?”

The question pricked at Tao Wanxing’s heart. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Meng Chu’s barely relaxed brow furrowed again.

The atmosphere in the hospital room grew icy.

A phone chimed.

Meng Chu glanced at his phone and stepped out.

By sheer coincidence, Tao Wanxing caught a glimpse of the caller—Zhu Yan.

Lying in bed, her tense spine slumped. She pulled the blanket over her face.

The corners of her eyes grew damp.

When Meng Chu returned after ending the call, he found Tao Wanxing curled under the blanket like a shrimp, her face hidden. A flicker of amusement crossed his eyes before cooling again at the thought of her fearful, distant attitude.

“Trying to suffocate yourself?” His voice startled her, making her tremble under the covers.

Tao Wanxing felt even more humiliated by her own spinelessness, staying buried without a sound.

“Starting today, I’ll oversee your IV treatments daily. You’re not to return to work without my permission.”

If she received such special treatment, what would her colleagues think?

Panic rose in Tao Wanxing’s chest, a dread of being scorned and pitied crawling up her spine. She hastily threw off the blanket. “There’s no need for that. I really don’t need this much rest.”

Meng Chu’s voice turned razor-sharp. “Shall I make it clearer for you, Tao Wanxing?”

“Resign and transfer, or rest?”

His gaze was cutting, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The very thing she feared most was happening.

Tao Wanxing’s throat felt stuffed with cotton, unable to produce a sound.

Meng Chu continued, “The Ministry of Health has positions that—”

“Governor Meng!”

Tao Wanxing clenched her fists, her voice low but sharp, eyes red-tinged at the corners. A mocking smile played on her lips. “I know Governor Meng’s influence reaches everywhere. Transferring someone is as easy as a single word.”

“But has Governor Meng considered the consequences?”

“You’re not afraid, but I am.”

Their marriage must not leak even the slightest hint.

After she spoke, she could feel Meng Chu’s gaze growing increasingly terrifying. She didn’t dare turn her head to meet his eyes.

His phone rang again, and he turned to stride out of the room.

Tao Wanxing exhaled heavily, releasing a pent-up breath.

Meng Chu left the ward and walked into another room.

No sooner had he left than Gu Yue entered to change Tao Wanxing’s IV.

With a gossipy tone, she said, “Wow, your second brother and Zhu Yan are so close! It’s just a minor allergy, but he’s acting like it’s a huge deal. He only stopped by to see you briefly before leaving, even though you fainted.”

“Tsk tsk, what a devoted husband!”

So he hadn’t been keeping vigil by her side—he’d only come to check on her briefly.

Tao Wanxing struggled to swallow the sour discomfort and sense of loss rising in her throat.

“I don’t know much about it.”

“Huh?” Noticing Tao Wanxing’s odd mood, Gu Yue’s expression soured slightly. She muttered, “I was just asking. It’s not like I’m trying to steal your brother. No need to be like this!”

After hanging the IV bag, she turned and wheeled the medication cart away.

The nausea surged up again.

Tao Wanxing quickly removed the IV and rushed to the bathroom, retching several times but bringing nothing up.

“Teacher Tao, are you okay?” A gentle male voice came from behind her.

Tao Wanxing turned to see Zhao Qingyuan standing at the bathroom door, his face filled with concern.

He was a resident doctor in the emergency department, and they often worked shifts together.

“I’m fine,” Tao Wanxing forced a smile.

Zhao Qingyuan handed her a tissue. “You look terrible. I heard from the head nurse that your family requested leave for you. You shouldn’t have come to work today.”

Tao Wanxing shook her head, her face pale. “I’m fine.”

Clearly, she didn’t want to discuss it further.

Zhao Qingyuan understood and quickly held up the milk tea in his hand. “I got you your favorite milk tea. Drink it while it’s hot—it’ll warm your stomach.”

He then helped Tao Wanxing carry the IV bag and reached out to support her, but sensing her slight resistance, he withdrew his hand.

Once Tao Wanxing was back in bed, Zhao Qingyuan deftly tore open the straw, inserted it into the cup, and handed it to her.

His enthusiasm was overwhelming. Tao Wanxing’s stomach was already upset, and she had no appetite, but she didn’t want to refuse outright. She took a small sip just to be polite.

The usually sweet and refreshing milk tea, however, made her gag again.

She retched violently, her eyes reddening and her face turning deathly pale, looking utterly drained.

Zhao Qingyuan was at a loss.

A surprised female voice came from the doorway.

“Oh my god, Wanxing, are you pregnant?!”

Everyone in the room froze.

Tao Wanxing instinctively looked at the two figures outside and denied it. “Impossible.”

Zhu Yan and Meng Chu, who had been standing at the door, now walked in.

Zhu Yan eyed Zhao Qingyuan and Tao Wanxing suspiciously, her gaze suggestive.

“Wanxing, it’s okay. You’re an adult—dating isn’t some scandal. Don’t be afraid of your brother getting mad.”

Tao Wanxing weakly defended herself, “It’s probably just my stomach acting up from the fever these past few days.”

Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, and she avoided looking at Meng Chu.

But she could feel the icy aura radiating from him.

No way.

Silently, she counted the days of her menstrual cycle in her mind.

Her menstrual cycle had always been irregular due to long-term sleep deprivation.  

Except for their first reunion… she had drunk quite a bit and couldn’t remember whether they had taken any safety measures.  

Could she really be pregnant?