Chapter 034: Caught in the Act

The tranquil days passed by just like that.

In the blink of an eye, Shi Runrun was two months pregnant, and it was time for her very first prenatal checkup.

Naturally, Xiao Xuezheng was to accompany her. It was not only at the insistence of his grandparents—he had volunteered himself.

Early the next morning, everything was ready. Just as they were about to leave for the hospital, Xiao Xuezheng received a call from Xiao Shujing.

“Xuezheng, Rou Rou just found out you’re having a wedding and insists on flying back from abroad to attend. Her flight lands this afternoon, but I can’t get away right now. Could you pick her up for me?”

Xiao Rourou was Xiao Shujing’s only daughter, studying overseas.

The man pursed his lips, glanced at Shi Runrun beside him, and after a moment’s thought, said in a low voice, “I’ll see how things go. If I don’t have time, I’ll send the driver to fetch her.”

With that, they drove to the hospital.

He accompanied her up to the third floor, to the obstetrics and gynecology department.

To be honest, Shi Runrun truly felt that Xiao Xuezheng was fulfilling his duties as both a husband and a father. For this first prenatal checkup, he was willing to put aside his work and come with her in person, which showed how much he valued both the baby and her.

With his company, her nerves eased, and she felt a gentle warmth and a sense of security.

The afternoon arrived. After a series of examinations with good results, only the final ultrasound remained.

Shi Runrun noticed he kept glancing at his wristwatch. Remembering what Xiao Shujing had said to him that morning, she couldn’t help but say, “Xiao Xuezheng, why don’t you go pick up your aunt’s daughter from the airport? I’ll be fine here on my own.”

He turned his deep black eyes toward her, considered for a moment, then nodded.

“When you finish this last test, send me a photo of the results. I’ll have the driver come pick you up.”

She nodded, watching as he reached out to ruffle her hair before leaving.

After he left, Shi Runrun waited outside the ultrasound room.

From three o’clock until three thirty, she waited for her name to be called. Finally, it was her turn, but as soon as she lay down, she was told the ultrasound machine had suddenly broken down.

So, there would be no ultrasound today.

Shi Runrun wondered at her bad luck as she pulled her clothes back down and left the room, just as her phone rang in her pocket.

She took out the phone and answered without checking the caller ID.

The next moment, a familiar, deep male voice came through the receiver.

“Runrun, I’m back. I’m at the airport. Come pick me up.”

At those words, Shi Runrun froze. Her breath caught in her throat.

She stood there, gripping her phone, wide-eyed and unable to process what she was hearing. Yet the voice on the line was unmistakable—after all these years, still etched into her bones... Qiao Yu...

She couldn’t help but think back to that freshman welcome party in college, when she was still so naive, the first time her heart had been stirred by this man...

A girl’s first love is always beautiful, always unforgettable.

But after she confessed her feelings, he left for abroad the very next day—without even bothering to formally reject her.

“Runrun, are you listening?”

His voice continued in her ear. Shi Runrun gripped her phone tightly, struggled to find her voice, and finally mustered the courage to say, “Sorry, you’ve got the wrong number.”

She immediately hung up, forcefully quelling the flutter in her heart.

But what she couldn’t understand was why, after refusing to even reject her back then, Qiao Yu would call her on the very day of his return...

And ask her—of all people—to pick him up...

On what grounds?!

An ex-girlfriend?

No!

She hadn’t even qualified as that—her confession had failed.

Shi Runrun found it laughable. She clenched her phone and left the hospital.

But as soon as she stepped outside, her phone rang again. This time, it was the principal of Jing University.

The principal was blunt: the young master of the Qiao Corporation, who had donated a teaching building to the university, was back in the country and at the airport, and had specifically named her to pick him up.

Shi Runrun’s face turned ashen as she listened. She bit her lip, trembling with anger, but there was nothing she could do. When the principal made a request, she had no choice but to comply.

She called her grandmother first, asking her to tell the family driver not to come. Then she hailed a ride-share and headed for the airport.

Irritated the whole way, she finally arrived at the airport at five in the afternoon.

Just as she reached the exit, a tall, well-built figure appeared before her, casting a shadow that engulfed her. She was pulled toward him by a powerful force and pressed into a broad embrace!

“Runrun... you finally came...”

Shi Runrun found herself pinned against a firm chest. At such close range, his burning masculine scent overwhelmed her senses.

She shuddered, pushing him away. “Qiao Yu, let me go!”

It took all her strength, but she finally broke free, retreating two steps to put a meter between them, glaring at him breathlessly.

Qiao Yu, standing beside his luggage, seemed unfazed by her coldness. He curled his thin lips in an ardent smile, looking at her as though she were his girlfriend.

Such a scorching gaze—Shi Runrun could neither bear it nor should she, for she was now another man’s wife and carrying his child.

“Runrun, I’m sorry. About back then, I—”

Qiao Yu began, but Shi Runrun cut him off coldly before he could finish. “I don’t want to talk about the past! Qiao Yu, I’ve picked you up as requested. I have things to do, so I’ll be leaving now.”

With that, she turned to leave, but her wrist was seized in a sudden grip as Qiao Yu darted forward!

“Runrun! Wait! Please listen to me—”

“I said, there’s nothing left between us—”

She turned her head to speak, determined to shake him off. But before she could finish, her body went rigid, her almond-shaped eyes widening in shock.

What did she see...?

Not far away, just five or six meters ahead, Xiao Xuezheng—tall and imposing—stood stock still, his deep black eyes narrowed, staring directly at her.

No, more precisely, his icy, murderous gaze was fixed on Qiao Yu’s hand gripping her wrist...

In that instant, Shi Runrun felt as though a hand had closed around her throat, cutting off her breath.

A dreadful sense of being caught in the act surged through her, making her whole body tremble violently.

Xiao Xuezheng... he...

Why was he here—right at this moment?