Chapter 073: I Want to Have Children with You!

Her words made Shi Runrun's face instantly turn deathly pale.

She couldn't stop herself from trembling, and, unable to keep her balance, sank onto the sofa.

Especially when she heard that question—had the child been lost…

Her heart felt as though a knife had been thrust into it, slicing mercilessly, as if a piece of flesh had been torn away.

Xiao Shujing watched her reaction and immediately confirmed her suspicions.

Looking at Shi Runrun, she sighed deeply. "When did this happen?"

Shi Runrun bit her lip, letting her eyes redden as hot tears slowly fell from the corners.

She didn’t dare to look at Xiao Shujing, couldn’t meet her gaze, and kept her head bowed, answering in a hoarse, quiet voice.

"About twenty days ago, I was in a car accident..."

As she spoke, Shi Runrun found herself unable to continue.

She had thought, after so much time had passed since that day, that she could face it calmly, could speak of it again without pain. But now, as the memory returned, her heart still ached terribly.

Like a scar on her chest—though the wound had scabbed over, just a gentle touch would make it bleed again, the pain suffocating.

She could clearly feel the tears on her face flowing more and more, unstoppable, utterly uncontrollable…

The blood-red haze of that afternoon was a nightmare she would never escape.

Watching her, Xiao Shujing felt her own heart tighten, and she began to ache for this fragile girl before her.

She stepped closer and sat down beside her, softening her tone. "I never supported your relationship with Xuezheng, so I was prejudiced against you. But the child was innocent. What’s more, that child was the only heir of our Xiao family, and now… gone… Ah…"

The heavy sigh at the end echoed in Shi Runrun’s heart.

A surge of self-reproach and guilt rose from deep within her. Shi Runrun wiped away the hot tears from her eyes, pressed her aching chest, turned to Xiao Shujing, and pleaded, "Auntie, I know you don’t like me. Not being able to earn your favor is my own fault, I have nothing to say. But… may I ask you for a favor?"

"What is it?"

Shi Runrun bit her lip, sobbing softly. "Please, don’t tell Grandpa and Grandma about this yet. Especially Grandpa—his health is poor, he’s hospitalized, and the doctor warned us not to let him get upset. If he finds out I didn’t keep the child, he will…"

She couldn’t finish the sentence.

Xiao Shujing listened and suddenly found herself reconsidering this young girl.

Even now, she was thinking of the Xiao family…

But, alas… she was the daughter of Ji Yunfeng and Ji Yashu…

Xiao Shujing dared not imagine the day her true parentage would be revealed to Xuezheng, when he would learn she was the daughter of the man who killed his beloved first love. When that day came, how could they possibly go on together?

Just thinking about it, Xiao Shujing felt the consequences were terrifying, truly terrifying!

She feared there would be no way to end things between them.

Still, Xiao Shujing agreed to her request, nodding. "I promise I won’t tell Grandpa and Grandma for now. But Runrun, have you thought about it? Today I could see you’d lost the child; one day, Grandpa and Grandma will see it too. Do you plan to hide it from them for the rest of your life?"

"And after ten months, your belly should grow—how will you hide that?"

Shi Runrun fell into silence.

Indeed, hiding and lying were shameful acts.

She had thought of these problems, but right now, aside from concealing the truth, she could think of nothing else…

Guilt and regret weighed heavily on her heart.

If only she had been more careful that afternoon, more attentive, perhaps she wouldn’t have been hit by that car.

Then maybe the baby wouldn’t have left her…

Tears welled again from her eyes, and she took a deep breath, speaking to Xiao Shujing. "Auntie, Xiao Xuezheng said he will try to help me conceive again, so we can better explain things to Grandpa and Grandma. I believe this is the only way, and I hope you can keep this secret until then."

Xiao Shujing listened, hesitating, thinking it over, and finally nodded.

Suddenly, Xiao Shujing stood and glanced at her, advising, "Runrun, now that you have no child, perhaps separating from Xuezheng is the best outcome."

Shi Runrun said nothing.

…

She returned to her bedroom, weighed down with anxiety.

Shi Runrun curled up in bed, pondering how she might conceive quickly, and drifted into a heavy sleep.

In her dreams, she replayed Xiao Shujing’s words.

Auntie was right—one can only hide the truth for a while, not forever. She must conceive a child as soon as possible.

She slept until evening, as night fell and shrouded the city.

When Shi Runrun awoke, she found Xiao Xuezheng had returned.

He sat by the bed, operating his laptop on his lap, waiting for her to wake.

Shi Runrun opened her eyes and sat up, gazing at his handsome face in the dim bedroom light, and spoke softly, "You’re back."

Xiao Xuezheng sat beside her, looked up, and noticed her red-rimmed eyes. He put aside his laptop and frowned, asking, "Why are your eyes so red? Did you cry? Did you go out today? Who did you see?"

A barrage of questions, each filled with concern.

Shi Runrun listened, and her heart softened.

She told him honestly how Xiao Shujing had “seen through” her loss of the child today, and added, "It’s not Auntie’s fault, don’t ask her. I was just too careless."

Xiao Xuezheng listened, pursed his thin lips, and felt a surge of pity for her. He sighed, pulled her into his arms, gently caressing her, "You’ve suffered."

Shi Runrun snuggled against him, rubbing against his chest, letting his masculine presence soothe her anxious heart.

"Xiao Xuezheng…" she murmured his name.

He responded, a beautiful curve appearing at his lips, and asked, "What is it? Do you want to talk to me?"

She said, "I’ve asked for leave from school tomorrow. Can you spare some time to go to the hospital with me? I want to get a check-up."

He asked, "Why do you want a check-up?"

"To see if I’ve fully recovered, if I’m fit to conceive. I want to have a child with you…"

His breath quickened in that instant…