Chapter 7

“Can you just die?”

Those few words kept circling in Xu Wangzhi’s mind for days.

At the time, he had answered calmly:

“No. If I die, you’ll be left alone in this world. I can’t abandon you like that.”

In his mind, the world was full of dangers. Only by staying by his side could she be safe.

But to Wen Jianxin, he was the greatest danger of all.

“You’re mentally ill,” she stated flatly.

“You should see a psychiatrist.”

—Not come here and lose your mind in front of me. (She didn’t say that last part aloud.)

Xu Wangzhi admitted without hesitation:

“You’re right. I am mentally ill. That’s why you’d better not anger me… Otherwise, even I don’t know what I might do.”

He walked to the bed, sat down, and gently caressed her face.

“Xin Xin, rest well and take care of your body. We’re going to be the happiest family of three.”

The touch on her skin felt icy and bone-deep, and his words made her feel as if she had fallen into a frozen abyss.

“What family of three?”

Xu Wangzhi’s gaze softened, his eyes drifting toward her belly beneath the quilt.

“Don’t you remember? A little over a month ago, we were together. If we’re lucky, you may already be carrying our child. Besides, your monthly cycle seems to be late this time, which makes it even more likely.”

He spoke on his own, almost dreamily.

“I prefer boys. We could have five. Girls are fine too… but I’d rather not have daughters, because I want to give all my love to you. I don’t have any to spare for another woman.”

A chill shot through Wen Jianxin.

“Who wants to have a child with you!”

Yet she couldn’t stop her gaze from falling to her stomach.

If what he said was true, then she needed to get rid of it as soon as possible—while it would still cause the least damage to her body.

It wasn’t that she hated children. She hated the thought of bearing a child with his blood.

Xu Wangzhi seemed to read her mind. His tone turned cold with warning.

“If you kill my child, the consequences will be very serious. If you don’t want to find out, you’ll obediently give birth.”

Wen Jianxin’s expression hardened. Her eyes gleamed with contempt as she looked at him.

“Threats don’t work on me. It’s my body. If I want to give birth, I will. If I don’t, I won’t. You have no say in it.”

Xu Wangzhi only nodded.

“Go ahead and try. Just don’t regret it later.”

She lowered her eyes, feigning indifference, not taking his words to heart.

The only regret she carried was not killing him the very first chance she had. As for everything else—she would never regret it.
Not even killing his child.

A few days later.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, Wen Jianxin collapsed onto the bed, face pale, staring blankly at the ceiling with deadened eyes.

Just as he had said.

She really was pregnant.

Barely more than a month old, the fragile life could be extinguished at any time.

What unsettled her most wasn’t the child itself—it was that the child belonged to him.

A man she hated to the bone, yet couldn’t kill.

At the hospital.

When it was her turn, Wen Jianxin tightened her grip on her handbag and walked in with resolve.

The doctor glanced at her, then lowered her head again.

“What’s the issue?”

Wen Jianxin sat down and held out her hand.

“Nausea, queasiness, vomiting. I think I might be pregnant. Please take my pulse.”

The doctor lifted her head for a second look.

A very young girl—strikingly beautiful, with a cold, detached aura and no expression on her face.

Her clothes weren’t the kind one could buy in Kyoto. Clearly, she came from a distinguished family.

Now, here she was, extending her hand for a pulse diagnosis, calmly saying she might be pregnant.

The doctor couldn’t help being surprised.

Most women who suspected pregnancy were either ecstatic or terrified—but usually expectant.

Yet this girl showed nothing. No joy. No fear. No anticipation.

Placing fingers on her wrist, the doctor concentrated for a while before pulling back.

“You’re pregnant, about two months along. Do a full exam to confirm.”

Wen Jianxin nodded.

“Alright.”

She stood up and left.

After the examination, she scheduled an abortion for the following day.

When she walked out of the hospital, her expression remained unchanged.

Cold, distant, and noble as ever.

But she knew full well—before long, Xu Wangzhi would learn she was pregnant.

By then, though, the child would already be gone.

He was away on a mission, not due back for a week.

On the way back, she paid no attention to the scenery. Nothing on the bustling street could catch her eye.

Yet, unknowingly, she had become the scenery others watched.

At a wonton stand, a cheerful youth nudged the aloof boy beside him.

“Hey, look—she’s beautiful.”

Huo Siyuan was about to pay when he followed his brother’s gaze.

A girl in a sky-blue dress, her jet-black hair cascading down her back, her face expressionless but ethereal.

He froze.

It was her.

Wen Jianxin didn’t notice the two. Her figure quickly vanished into the street.

As she disappeared, Huo Siyu’s very soul seemed to drift after her. He turned to his companion eagerly.

“Do you think we’ll ever see her again?”

Huo Siyuan said nothing, quietly paid, and walked away.

But his mind wandered back to years ago.

Back then, he was fifteen, and she was his class monitor. Brilliant in her studies, she patiently tutored any student who came for help—explaining step by step until they understood.

He himself had often pestered her with questions after school. She never showed impatience, always answering thoroughly.

She had been the very image of a well-bred, gentle young lady.

But one day, she changed.

She became distant, cold. Her icy gaze sent classmates fleeing, himself included.

Later, he heard she had a childhood fiancé.

He’d once met the man—whose terrifying eyes left him shaken.

Soon after, his family moved south.

Five years passed in the blink of an eye.

She was as beautiful as ever—but now a complete ice goddess.

Her smile was gone, replaced by aloofness and solitude.

He often wondered what had happened to turn her into this.

But he couldn’t ask. He had no right to.

At most, they were old classmates. And after five years, even that tenuous bond had faded.

Things had changed. Between him and her—there could never be anything.

Seeing him walk away without a word, Huo Siyu grew flustered and hurried after him.

“Hey, wait up! What’s the rush?”

But Huo Siyuan only quickened his pace.

Huo Siyu clenched his teeth in frustration.

Tight-lipped as always. As if he didn’t know what was on his brother’s mind.

He’d secretly peeked at that photo in his wallet.

The girl’s face—though the age didn’t quite fit—was unmistakable.

Even turned to ashes, he’d recognize her.

Yes, it was her.

Coward. Seeing the girl he’d secretly admired for years, and he didn’t even dare say hello.

Wen Jianxin didn’t linger outside. She soon returned home.

She concealed her pregnancy well. No one in the family knew.

That night, all was quiet.

She went to bed early—tomorrow morning, she’d have the surgery.

Meanwhile, on a smoke-filled battlefield…

Xu Wangzhi carried a wounded comrade on his back, gritting his teeth as he dashed into the forest.

Blood streamed from his arm, yet the weight of his tall, heavy comrade only drove him to summon greater strength.

Behind him, other soldiers pressed on, some wounded, some carrying the fallen.

Dust-covered, battered, but with eyes burning with resolve.

For as long as the country stood, the home would stand.

Soldiers who defended both—were truly admirable.

When the first rays of dawn lit the earth, Wen Jianxin stirred awake.

Pregnancy had made her constantly drowsy.

She felt she could sleep twenty hours a day and still not have enough.

After lying dazed for a while, she finally got up.

She waited until most of her family had left, only the servants cleaning up the house.

Then, carrying her bag, she walked out with her usual calm demeanor.

But just as she reached the hospital entrance, a man suddenly stepped in front of her.

“Miss, the master isn’t here. Please wait until he returns, and then explain the situation to him before deciding the child’s fate.”